“Yeah, and he’ll probably be back by the end of the day,” Shade replies dismissively. “If you ask me, the guy just got lost. They’ll find him cowering under a tree somewhere, and then we’ll all be wondering why the hell any of this was necessary.”
“You’re not at all worried something might have happened to him?” Hazel asks incredulously.
“No,” Shade replies. “Like what? Eaten by a monster? There’s no one on this island except for the people at this academy.”
“Exactly,” Hazel points out. “That’s what makes me nervous. If it was foul play, how do we know someone at the school wasn’t responsible?”
“Great,” says Landon. “Now I can add ‘trapped on campus with a serial killer’ to my growing list of phobias.”
“You really think a student would have done something to that guy?” I ask, frowning.
“Maybe not a student,” Landon replies. “Maybe a faculty member.”
I shiver, muttering, “Glad I asked.”
Landon laughs, slinging an arm around my shoulders. His body feels warm and sturdy against mine. “Don’t worry, Boots. I’ll protect you.”
Hunter snorts and rolls his eyes, while Shade raises an eyebrow. We come to a stop outside the cafeteria, each of us still processing everything that was said.
“Silas?” I say, turning to the dragon shifter. He’s been strangely quiet this whole time, his head low and his shoulders hunched. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Silas replies. “It’s just… something the president said is bothering me a little, that’s all.”
“Which part?” I ask.
He looks up at me with thinly veiled worry, and something in his expression makes a fresh surge of fear rush through me. “The part about nothing like this ever happening here before,” he replies in a low voice. “That was a lie.”
Chapter 18
"Hey, bestie. I love your hair today," Hazel comments, sitting next to me in the cafeteria and flipping my braid on my shoulder. The sun is just coming up outside, marking a new day. "Can you show me how to do that kind of braid."
"It's called a waterfall braid and sure," I reply. "Did you get the message that we have siren studies all day for a special class?"
"Yup," she replies, before taking a bite of her toast. "That's why I'm here early. I wonder what it's about."
"Same," I say, just as Silas and Landon sit down opposite us.
"Morning, Boots. Hazel," Silas grumbles, never the morning person until he has had a few cups of coffee.
Landon grins and winks at me as Silas drinks his first cup of coffee and then picks up his second. "You look lovely today girls."
Hazel just rolls her eyes as I focus on Silas. "How come you are up early? I know why we three are."
"Early morning flight training," he tells me. His third cup of coffee is empty now and normal Silas is here. "It's an advanced year class, but the professor wants me to learn with the higher-ups."
"Congrats man," Landon pats his shoulder. "So, girls, we should get a move on. We have ten minutes to get to class."
We all gather up our things and get a move on to the classroom because none of us wants to be late to Mrs Leggers class. I'm intrigued by what goes on in the siren class other than reading books, which is all we have done in the lessons up to this point. I know pretty much all the history of the Siren's now. How they were created by turning seals into humans, but the magic got stuck in their souls and bred a whole new race. Sirens are faster than any creature in the water, and they can breathe underwater.
And sing. Their songs are meant to be the most enchanting sound in the entire world if they use their magic in their songs.
Landon chats to Hazel about some party coming up, but I pretty much tune them out as I try not to be nervous about whatever today holds. As much as I want to learn what clan I really belong to, at the moment it feels like I am just hovering between all the clans and never really finding a home.
At some point, we get to the classroom and I walk in first to see the room is full of students on the one side. This room is newer than most of the academy and almost shaped like a giant dome. The one side has pure glass walls, with views over the fields and trees in the distance. Right in front of the glass is Mrs Leggers and Mr Hawthorne, both of them talking quietly and not looking away from each other. Hushed whispers fill my ears as I find three empty seats and Hazel and Landon sit to either side of me.
Landon's knee presses against mine and I turn to him."You okay?" he quietly asks. "You look lost."
"Out of place, I guess," I softly admit.
He takes my hand, surprising me a little. "We all feel that way in our little group, but you aren't out of place with me. Not one little bit."
I link my fingers with his as the room quiets down, and Mr Hawthorne claps a few times.
"Welcome young members of the Siren Clan. We are delighted you could join us here for the day," he starts off. "We have a very special visitor here today who will spend the day teaching you many new things about the world of Sirens."
Mr Hawkthorne claps his hands, and so do all the students as a red-haired woman walks to his side. Her long red hair falls in waves down her back, like a river of red curls, and she wears a skintight costume of some sort. It's thin, almost leather-like in texture and covers her from her neck downwards, showing off way too much.
"Hello everyone. My name is Crystal, and I am a leader of the sirens in the Great Council. I am proud to be here today to show you what you can become
