The lack of explanation and abundance of haste had method behind it. Mistakes, slip-ups, that sort of thing, simply could not be afforded. Not for witches. Not for those whose blood was a bounty when spilled. Pell of course realized sheâd haphazardly dragged a helpless girl, capable of phasing, almost a half mile back to the academy. But there must have been some common understanding or at least bare curiosity. Because the stranger with the vivid hair didnât break away, slip through. Pell had to give her credit where it was due.
Shuffling discord was heard as she dropped all the shopping bags onto the ivory walkway. Pell turned back to face the other witch head on, whose questions grew more hyperbolic and avid, hints of accusation laced in the words. Above, daylight still lingered, but only in dying bands of violet and dusky hue. Her parallel had a stare that yelled, âWhat the fuck is going on here!â Pell knew that feeling all too well. A dark silence passed between them. Gunmetal gaze sweeping, some red light flashing in her brain, Pell back stepped. The unease wouldnât surface on her skin. She couldnât blunder with a new girl potentially on the hook. But something was off. It was a smell. A sensation. Like a stench of quietus and carnage in the air. She tried not to wrinkle her nose and instead pulled back her lips to gleamingly smile. Apparently that wasnât enough for the other young woman. How was Pell going to word this? How would she make it seem safe to an outsider? What could she offer besides food? And the worst part - who was watching? Or, what?
âLook,â the word was inhaled, low in tone, sincerity in the pitch, âI know. What you are. This,â she gestured to the looming building behind her, âPlace is safe.â Still, puzzlement was scrawling itself all over the harlequin ingenue, tensing her muscles, a humored chuckle and gasp here and there attempting to make light of the bizarre circumstances. Pell took her wrists into her own hands, squeezing them lightly and keeping her voice quiet, âWe are not a cult. We donât have any weird practice aside from what we were naturally given. For you, itâs passing through. For meâŠâ Gray jade eyes closed, Pell scraping her lower lip with a row of square teeth. In a neat score, all of the shopping bags began to hover busily and sort of bob toward the entrance of the school. âPay attention,â she purred, âVery closely.â The grand double doors opened wide, granting access to a very eager grocery bundle. Behind those doors were no strings. No people. No rigs.
âWeâre an academy. Safe place.â She turned on her heel, again. A trail of hazeled hair like pixie dust swayed behind her. âObviously you could have made a break for it by now if you really wanted to, you know? I donât blame you, if you decide to. Something just tells me that you wonât. You want to see whatâs inside, and I really think you should.â Slowly Pell sauntered up the brief front stairs, pulling some tresses into her palms, âI canât sit here and tell you everyone is great and youâll make friends, we actually are super abundant in bitches, bad attitudes and mind control. All that shit, really. But youâll have me.â A dash of self doubt came in the latter statement. But Pell liked to think it was well veiled. She gave a shrug and weakly dimpled, âIâm not a half bad guide. My name is Pell, by the way.â Standing in the vast doorway, she glanced at her iPhone in a lukewarm fashion, âIf you like what you see, you can stay the night and hang around. See if itâs worth the research. If you want to lead your life the way youâve been, even with the threat of being kidnapped and killed by men who put all their trust into holy water and blessed bullets, thatâs always an option. Itâs your life. Know this, thoughâŠâ She peered back, âIf they find you, you wonât know it until youâre bound and taken from your bed in the middle of the night. They will disable you, your powers, and any means of escape you think you might have. This shit isn't just in movies. Unfortunately it's real. I donât want to scare you, I just want you to be safe. Weâre a dying breed.â
Whether or not the girl chose to follow now was entirely up to her alone. Pell wouldnât further the persuasion. Sheâd taken it as far as it needed to go. Pell chuckled grimly, âThe more you know.â Pausing when she accidentally brushed Kyle, putting off his undead balance (which was bad enough without her fluky shoulder checks), Pell offered a revitalized grin. Obviously stepping out for a couple hours helped her to decompress. Softly she patted Kyleâs square shoulder, much different in form than the other. This was the way she regarded him if she ever decided to touch him. She knew touch was often associated with trauma for him, so rough or abrupt approaches may not do him well. The trace of warmth left on his shoulder would disappear in seconds. Slowly her chest rose, then fell, as she looked over Aden and Silas as well. She felt another sigh coming on. But, she choked it back. Silasâ aura was a bit less frantic and bewildered. Not quite at home, yet, but surely getting some bearing. âHope the tour is going well, roomie.â She added with a nudge of her arm that didnât even touch him. She was sure if she did, he might hastily step back and put on elbow pads or something before contact was made. Aden as per usual, had a sequence of thick smoke pooling in his mouth. His expression was dead and unamused, but Pell knew that in his head, there was mischief at work. She followed the smoke with her eyes. It absconded in an erotic fashion, forming a pithy curtain around his face.
âPotential fresh meat,â she mentioned to the trio of male inhabitants, âcaught her at the cafe in public. Fuckinâ phasing through the table. Thought she might be a good addition to Ceremony.â Pellâs fingers curled, thumb extended as she pointed with it back at the girl whose mane mirrored the image of something one might see through a kaleidoscope. The hall they stood in was so wide. All throughout, the echoes of their conversation could be heard. Past supremesâ eyes followed the occupants from their unmoving position on the wall. Pell realized this may at first be very, very creepy. But hopefully, one of the boys would at least say hello and help erase some doubt.
âAnyway, grocery shopping is done,â she commented to Kyle as she sort of skipped to the staircase, eager to put on her Ceremony garb, âGottaâ go change, maybe play dress up with the new girl.â During her giddy little caper, she passed Bambiâs room and heard a few muffled, scathing remarks which momentarily perplexed Pell. Something about shutting up and, âYouâre not real.â Pell simply rolled her shoulders and furrowed her brow. The academy had seen stranger things than arguments or imaginary friends. She was done being the moral support crusader, at least until she got dressed and had dinner. As she scaled the foyer, she was happy to know that the AC had been turned off. Bobbin lace curtains and fixtures billowed at either end of the vestibule as they moved with the oncoming evening gale. It was almost holy and celestial this way. All trimmed and adorned in ivory finery. It would give a wonderful contrast to its residents, dressed as black as a Sahara night.
The slope of her hips came to widen slightly at the waist, silhouette warmly complimented in the soft luminescence of the tiny tealights placed around both beds. Happily she flicked a pair of thigh highs out of sight. Sheâd simply go barefoot. Next came an A-cut maxi skirt, and then the crochet-inspired lace crop top which struck up an elegant divergence to her porcelain skin. The topper was a thick black choker, tied in a petite bow at the nape of her neck. Her fingers threaded themselves through her locks as she sort of paced around the room, thinking of anything else she could add. Charcoal and licorice herb filled her senses. A playful smirk met her reflection in the window, her own indication. Greyson was probably soaking that beautiful tawny skin of hers, taking her time, unfazed by time matters. Or she was nearby. With that, Pell remembered to roll on a faint lavender perfume and nonchalantly decided to call something out down the hallway, when Greyson appeared. Pell stammered for a moment, which was a rare occurrence. But Greysonâs beauty had a habit of doing that to her. Leaving her speechless, kind of in awe, looking for any way to get a grip on reality before completely dissolving into a blubbering puddle.
âHow cute, youâve brought home a pet.â
Typical. That was just like Greyson in her sort of not-interested-in-attendees-or-their-powers way. And it wasnât even just guest listed girls with their colorful hair that kept at Pellâs heels like a puppy. It was everyone. Greyson had charm and social grace, but she didnât need to exhibit it. People gravitated toward her and more often than not, she could care less. She was long term at the academy and maybe her passion and zeal had burnt out over time. Either way, Pell liked her just the way she was. Her stare crawled all over the dark-eyed girl. âSounds like jealousy,â Pell countered in a humorous tone, grabbing Greysonâs hand and pressing a mild kiss to it. âDonât worry, you wonât be replaced. Besides, this one might not make it through the night."