Persephone

Chapter 8: Something Hidden, Something Found

Chapter 8: Something Hidden, Something Found

7 Hours Earlier, Percy's School Grounds

Principal Natalie Norton had more different plans, and none of them was the arrival of a dashing young teacher who was skilled in Math, Linguistics and English, all along with a decent upholding and a quite prestigious family. She couldn't just tell him that he wasn't qualified: he had the looks and bearing of dignity and wisdom, things that she could hardly find in other teachers. Not exactly all, but there was still something that distinguished the Mr. Gavriel Rayne from the other teachers employed here in the school. The glimmer in his eyes, the way his lips curled upward when he smiled-- Stop, Nat. He's a teacher. You're a teacher. Let's do our job now, please? Flirting isn't one of them!

Nat wasn't really too old either: 39 and still running. Some would say that she is successful in bringing in so much awards, others would say that it was only sheer luck of being. But unfortunately, she was single. Or maybe not so 'unfortunate' as the others. She still enjoyed her nights alone, checking the reports and papers of the employees in a baggy sweat shirt while she listened to Nirvana or Pink Floyd. She had her own apartments, owned her own car, often visited orphanages when she had the time rather than checking up every time in the school (Students call it "School-Stalking" and the term for those who does that is "School-Stalker" and she didn't want to be that) and then her family. Dan and Elise were having twins! Nat just hoped that Dan would support her sister all the way, no doubting that either! The two just loved each other too much.

"I'm leaving, Ms. Norton." The suave voice caught her and brought her back to earth, where she saw Mr. Rayne pushing the door open, a wad of papers tucked in the crook of his arm as the other held his coat.  "I'm off to the math class you had so kindly provided me to teach to. Do I have your leave?"

"Ah..." Nat trailed off, not remembering anything about giving him a space of any of the classes. Did she even get to see his resume? She had also just seen him this morning, and not any other day nor the day before and after that. He was just there, with a cocked eyebrow, inquiring eyes and she had no other choice but wave him on his way. "A-Are you sure you know the way already?"

"Why, I believe you've just told me how to get there, Ms. Norton. And," he paused to smirk, "I never get lost when my instructor had given me the right directions." 

The statement made her blush violently as a little schoolgirl will after her crush had just kissed her. She tried to say something intelligent, or as wise as the Wise Old Owl would do, but she was tongue-tied to the quick. It took only Mr. Rayne to give her a nod before he disappeared behind the door.

Poof.

Like it really sounded like a popping soap bubble, or a ballooning bubblegum that burst, Nat looked around her blankly, like she'd just waken up from a long sleep. Oh, she was still in her office. Might've slept through my work hours, she sighed as she rose from the table, her joints creaking all the time. Nat rubbed her nape as she approached her coffee machine (she didn't want the other teachers to do her own stuff for her) and pressed the button for a cappucino. 

Her eyes strayed to her metal drawers, and she noticed the key on room M1A, the one without the math teacher for today. She frowned and left the cup to fill itself, and unhooked the keys from the lock. Weird, Nat thought. She usually kept them near her in fear that all precious documents would be lost, thus she looked in. The pile looked neat and orderly.

But then...

She hooked a finger on the H folder, where a single document was supposedly be inside. The folder was empty, but the cache read, 'Adeline Persephone V. Hale'. 

Nat shrugged. Maybe one of the teachers just borrowed it from her a while ago, then she had forgotten to take the keys from this drawer when she took this little sleep. Nothing wrong. Nothing wrong at all. 

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Dark, coily hair tight in a ponytail reveals a fine, unblemished face with smart brown eyes, although set dreadfully within their sockets. These eyes watched anxiously from atop the playground's tower, trained through a telescope that zoomed in the 6th story of the school building. 

It wasn't really a real telescope; who would let their little girl out with a five-thousand dollar telescope used for stars? Of course it wasn't real. It was what kids used in the playground, a cylindrical tube painted brilliant green so that it could imitate the likes of what a pirate would use. 

Amber Snowlocke pushed another curl out of her face before peeking in the tube again. In a maroon petticoat, she just looked a lot like another rich man's daughter. Another spoiled kid with the variably pretty Barbies every girl envied in the classroom. Little cutiepie down the street who was everybody's apple of their eyes. Amber rubbed her nose as she hopped off the play slide, pondering about the younger man who had taken away Persephone. What had this man have with Persephone? She thought as her Doc Marten's kicked up clods of grassy earth.

Just beyond the park, there was a sleek black car waiting for her, its interior polished to a sheen. She neared it and then tapped on the backseat's window. It rolled down. No one could really see who Amber talked to, but only the half-fae saw Hecate's immaculate face contorted with rage.

"He's taken her away?!" She kept on a cool face but her voice betrayed her. Hecate was shaking with fury. Amber pursed her lips.

"Better him than the warlock, mistress..." she said quietly and sniffed. The herbs' scent wafted from the car and Amber leaned towards it slightly. As all fae was, Amber was rejuvenated just by its scent.

But then Hecate snapped her fingers, and Amber recoiled like a child caught stealing. "Find her," she told the half-fae disguised as a child (to be honest, she found her cute), "But if the stupid twat who stole her managed to do something about the thing--" at this point she looked at Amber, scrutinising her like a cat to a swallow-- "Alert me, immediately."

"Yes, mistress," Amber dipped her head in respect.

"Ah, Amber..." Hecate called back as the little fae began to totter away from the car. She looked back at the goddess, a questioning gaze set on her. "There's pizza waiting for you back at your place." With that and a gleeful giggle, the fae took off full speed from the scene, faster than the human eye could register.