Page 21 of A Dead Man's B-Side
There was a question on my tongue, if only to quench my curiosity left unanswered by the dean, and she must have noticed because she leaned forward ever so subtly. “Castle Hill… How does it work?”
Her eyebrows furrowed, like she couldn’t possibly understand my question. Or maybe she just couldn’t possibly understand why I’d ask a question in that manner. “Well, I’d assume you study hard to prepare yourself for the next step of your future. Though Castle Hill has a different vision compared to other high schools, considering its patrons, the goal itself remains the same.”
She was saying all of this to someone who’s lived his entire high school career not knowing if they’d wake up to a gun pointed between their eyes or put to work until the day they themselveswould beg for death. But despite the dangers of the outside world, this hidden fortress felt worse. A murky presence haunting the Scottish countryside.
“Of that, I am aware. I mean…” I wanted to reiterate. Question her on why she, as merely a student body president, required an assistant and a private office. Why didMr Brownetake up an occupation such as his current one? Why did the students remind me of spectators in a bloody gladiator match?
With Rain Atlas Jett, the empress, ruling over them.
But I held my tongue, knowing it would only do more harm than good. No one liked an unknown, curious person.
Secrets are a currency, and only a fool would assume them freely given.
“How do you find yourself fitting in?” I was growing more and more tense at the serene smile painted on her face. “Any new friends?”
“I prefer being alone,” I replied curtly. “Besides, it’s only my first day.”
“Of course,” she said. “I am curious, however, about your qualifications for Castle Hill. You understand it is a highly venerated institution.”
I inhaled slowly, gaining myself at least an extra second before I had to respond, trying to find the right words. “Reasonably. You are in the right position to be given answers. But I won’t be of any help. That is something you’ll have to take up with the dean.”
I tried appeasing her, but unlike the regular folk, thisstudentbody presidentwasn’t at all moved by my undertone of flattery. In fact, her smile slowly slid off her face, giving way to the cold tilt of her lips that wasn’t at all meant to be taken as a friendly gesture.
“I intend to. I hope you understand your past achievements, academic or otherwise, are matters I will be privy to.”
If she was going to look into my life in America, we would have a problem. But alas, I couldn’t very well tell her that. I might as well be sounding a horn for her to dig deeper. “What is it exactly you wish to know?”
She lifted one elegant shoulder before dropping it, her own version of a simple shrug. “I only wish to understand where you fit here, and how I can best accommodate you.”
I felt as if we both knew she was wrapping her suspicions in a pretty bow. I might even take it a step further and say she wanted me to know she found me incongruous.
The low tick of the clock hanging on the wall made me feel as if I was in a psychological thriller. Like something bigger was at play that I should be aware of. That if I were the reader, I’d be screaming at myself through the pages to look behind me or run.
“Is there anything else?” I really wanted to return to my dorm and wallow in my own self-paranoia.
“Alexandr, I hope you understand the importance of your role here at Castle Hill.”
Her words were soft, but her eyes were sharp, watching any twitch of facial muscle that might lead her to believe I disagree with her. This was because her words turned cold moments later. “Thosethat disregard the natural order of things do have a habit of falling into a great deal of misfortune.”
I don’t know why I said it, call it ego or pride, and despite the promise to myself to remain lost in the masses of this school, I’d decided to seal my fate. “The natural order has a habit of getting disrupted. Call it destined foreboding.”
You could hear a pin drop, but the silence felt too loud in my own ears. She peered at me as the corners of her eyes tightened the slightest bit, but it didn’t seem to give anything away. “I see.” She leaned back on her leather chair and sighed, the face of indifference. “The purpose of this meeting was to offer you a tour of the grounds, an offer I suggest you take to prevent any tardiness or issues when following your daily schedule.”
Something told me Rain Atlas Jett didn’t get her position by quarrelling with anyone she’d given the time of day.
I opened my mouth to decline her offer, only to find it wasn’t one. Her porcelain-pale finger pressed a button on the IP phone sitting only a few inches from her. “Hayes, send them in, please.”
Hayesdidn’t reply; the line cut with a beep, but only moments later did he knock and enter with two unfamiliar students.
The girl following behind the student body president’s assistant had a mean glare, and her uniform was impeccably styled with a pearl brooch and a tiny purse, the size of my fist, wrapped around her in a thin chain. She stomped in with her arms crossed over her chest and regarded me with a barely attentive glance. As though she was looking through me and wanted to be anywhere but here. Herperfectly styled blonde hair moved around her head like gold strands shimmering under candlelight, and the self-assurance in her blue eyes only accentuated the high social status she might not have been purposeful in giving off.
The boy next to her was built like a tank. Well, that would be an over exaggeration, but if I had to bet, he’s playing at least one competitive sport. He wore his uniform as most boys did, but he didn’t look like the type who’d revel in the egotistical shoulder-check I’d experienced before. His eyes looked empty, devoid of any emotions. He was really looking through me, unlike the girl who wished she could.
The student body president stood and dusted off her skirt before moving around the desk separating her from the rest of the room.
“Alexandr, this is Ajax Vesper.” She waved her arm towards the boy before moving towards the girl, whose glare deepened the closer Rain got. “And this is Paris Vega. Both great fits for showing you around the grounds and helping with any of your… questions. Though I would suggest leaving those that require more detailed answers to me, for another time.”
I picked up what she was putting down before she was able to finish her sentence, and her words alone made her even more distrustful.
