Call of the Water (COMPLETE)

48. BEHIND THE CLOSED DOOR

As if he woke up from a trance, Mathias bent in the waist and put his hands on his knees like he just finished running a marathon.

On the top of the staircase, someone coughed. We all looked up to see Doctor Kasian with Professor Cyan by his side.

We must have been some sight. Ardea and Mathias, face to face; Opal and Harper, bewildered and frightened; me, not knowing who to turn to first. The clash between the two boys alarmed some of the students because curious heads were peeking in our direction.

One of them did not keep her distance. "What happened?" Nia asked when she approached us.

"It's fine," I answered, choosing to address her first. "Everyone is fine. No need to worry."

Judging by the look in her eyes, she was not convinced, and the whispers of others let me know they too had trouble believing my statement.

On the top of the stairs, Mr. August walked up to Doctor Kasian. Using his firm voice, he said, "The five of you," he was looking directly at us as he spoke those words, "come to my office at once. As for the rest of you," his brown eyes encircled the other students, "go about your business."

Mathias headed up the staircase in obedience, followed by the rest of us. I decided to stay close to Harper since he still hadn't entirely shook the feeling of fear.

"Miss Nia, I don't believe I asked you to come with," Mr. August said.

I looked over my shoulder and noticed she was right behind me.

"They are my friends," she said while her sparkling eyes met the headmaster's stern face.

"Niatesikleamaniena, go about your business." Her full name just rolled over his tongue, as if he had been using it on a daily basis. I for one, have never pronounced it in full.

"May I join them?" Ardea's father asked. Of course he wanted to be there, his daughter was right in the middle of that mess downstairs.

Mr. August nodded. "You may join us as well, Professor Cyan. That is, if you wish to do so."

I was surprised to see her follow us into the room behind the door with the silver plate on. Once inside, we unknowingly lined up. We must have looked like the suspects brought in for questioning. Mathias was the first in line, Ardea beside to him, Opal next to her, me next to Opal and Harper by my side, as far away as possible from the werewolf. Doctor Kasian and Ms. Cyan stood on the side, next to the wall, so they could keep an eye on all of us.

The headmaster looked at each of us, but at the end, his eyes landed on me. "Would you care to explain the events that lead up to the unpleasant situation we witnessed just moments ago?" he asked.

I struggled to maintain eye contact. It wasn't easy to look at him when his face was this serious. My voice was shaky when I started telling him about my conversation with Harper, but I got a bit bolder when I reached the part concerning Mathias.

When I finished, he walked up to his nephew and asked, "Do you have anything to add?"

"Yes," Mathias replied. "I know what I did was wrong. I shouldn't have reacted like that. I already said I was sorry, but I'll say it again." He turned to the side to look at the faun. "Harper, I'm sorry I attacked you. You did nothing wrong. I want you to know that. I was just having a really bad day." His skin was visibly pale and I was sure his hands would be shaky if they weren't inside the pockets.

"Mathias, go open the window," Professor Cyan suggested.

"Do as she said," Mr. August added.

Some of the color returned to Mathias' cheeks once he breathed in the fresh air. He remained standing by the window, his chest undulating with every breath.