she responded, attempting to mimic the lip to forehead movement
but failing miserably.
Abernathy laughed good-naturedly.
“That ’ s how a wizard greets someone. We adopt many rituals of
human religions. You probably recognize that as Islamic. It ’ s just one of our many traditions.
When vampires greet, and I ’ ve only seen this a few times
because there really aren ’ t that many vampires here, they grip
forearms, like this,” she showed Seph, grabbing her forearm and making Seph
grip her forearm.
“How do werewolves greet?” She asked
curiously.
“Oh, that ’ s easy,” she said, smiling brightly. “They just expose
their neck to each other, a mark of respect.” She showed her, brushing aside
her hair to reveal the side of her neck to Seph, and her eyes followed the girl ’ s jugular vein raptly.
“Miss Tran, you are not a werewolf.
Wishful thinking?” Madam Powers remarked coldly, attacking the only person who
had tried to befriend Seph in the entire classroom, further ensuring that Seph
would be viewed as a pariah.
“No, ma ’ am. I was just explaining to Seph about the different
traditions here with the different species. You stated that she seemed to be
interested with Ian over there, and he ’ s
a werewolf. I was just showing her their way of greeting each other. In case
she got confused,” Abernathy grinned happily, peppiness sparkling in the drab
classroom.
“Right…” Madam Powers said no more
on the matter, but she watched Seph and Abernathy out of the corner of her eye
carefully, just waiting for them to talk to each other so she could attack them
once again.
Always on the prowl…. She must be
bored, Seph thought
to herself. Slowly, she inched her foot forward. She nudged Abernathy ’ s black heel, wondering to herself
why anyone would wear a shoe with a heel to school. Abernathy shot her a
confused glance and opened her mouth to speak, but Seph just shook her head.
Madam Powers was watching, hazel eyes glimmering with anticipation.
Let ’ s keep talking this way, she suggested and saw Abernathy do the
same little jump Oglesby had done earlier. She also noticed, with displeasure,
that Ruby saw this also. So she was aware that Seph probably had some
telepathic powers in her, some advanced telepathic powers… Oh well… she lost an
element of surprise, but she could still catch her off guard. She and Ruby may
be enemies, but it was not like they were in a full-fledged war… yet.
Interesting thought. I see that you
and Ruby have met before, Abernathy commented in her light tone, and Seph realized too late that the
connection she had opened between them had also opened her every passing
thought to Abernathy and vice versa, if she bothered to listen.
Ya, we have. I also know a friend of
yours. Linda? My first two classes were with her, and Rodney was with us in the
last class. They both seemed to hang out a lot. She was looking for you, Seph said, watching the teacher
with a blank face so that she had no idea that the two girls were having a
conversation to themselves.
Ya, I was in the infirmary with our
other friend, Francesca. Have you met her? Before Seph could stop them, old memories of Francesca
played through her mind. Like an old movie reel, disconnected images flickered
through their shared minds. There was one of her and Francesca playing at the
shed, both much younger, playing wall ball while Nate hid in the shadows,
deciding whether to join them or not… They were a little older now, in her
cousin ’ s garage, holding each other ’ s hands while they got their
tattoos… Next, she and Francesca were facing off in the woods, Francesca in her
huge werewolf form… Then, the pair of them were standing together, side by side
in the rain, while authoritative persons exited a slick car… Linda was saying
how Francesca had been attending Monster Academy these past two months… The
vase flew to smash into the wall over Rodney ’ s head… Assailed with these memories,
but failing miserably.
Abernathy laughed good-naturedly.
“That ’ s how a wizard greets someone. We adopt many rituals of
human religions. You probably recognize that as Islamic. It ’ s just one of our many traditions.
When vampires greet, and I ’ ve only seen this a few times
because there really aren ’ t that many vampires here, they grip
forearms, like this,” she showed Seph, grabbing her forearm and making Seph
grip her forearm.
“How do werewolves greet?” She asked
curiously.
“Oh, that ’ s easy,” she said, smiling brightly. “They just expose
their neck to each other, a mark of respect.” She showed her, brushing aside
her hair to reveal the side of her neck to Seph, and her eyes followed the girl ’ s jugular vein raptly.
“Miss Tran, you are not a werewolf.
Wishful thinking?” Madam Powers remarked coldly, attacking the only person who
had tried to befriend Seph in the entire classroom, further ensuring that Seph
would be viewed as a pariah.
“No, ma ’ am. I was just explaining to Seph about the different
traditions here with the different species. You stated that she seemed to be
interested with Ian over there, and he ’ s
a werewolf. I was just showing her their way of greeting each other. In case
she got confused,” Abernathy grinned happily, peppiness sparkling in the drab
classroom.
“Right…” Madam Powers said no more
on the matter, but she watched Seph and Abernathy out of the corner of her eye
carefully, just waiting for them to talk to each other so she could attack them
once again.
Always on the prowl…. She must be
bored, Seph thought
to herself. Slowly, she inched her foot forward. She nudged Abernathy ’ s black heel, wondering to herself
why anyone would wear a shoe with a heel to school. Abernathy shot her a
confused glance and opened her mouth to speak, but Seph just shook her head.
Madam Powers was watching, hazel eyes glimmering with anticipation.
Let ’ s keep talking this way, she suggested and saw Abernathy do the
same little jump Oglesby had done earlier. She also noticed, with displeasure,
that Ruby saw this also. So she was aware that Seph probably had some
telepathic powers in her, some advanced telepathic powers… Oh well… she lost an
element of surprise, but she could still catch her off guard. She and Ruby may
be enemies, but it was not like they were in a full-fledged war… yet.
Interesting thought. I see that you
and Ruby have met before, Abernathy commented in her light tone, and Seph realized too late that the
connection she had opened between them had also opened her every passing
thought to Abernathy and vice versa, if she bothered to listen.
Ya, we have. I also know a friend of
yours. Linda? My first two classes were with her, and Rodney was with us in the
last class. They both seemed to hang out a lot. She was looking for you, Seph said, watching the teacher
with a blank face so that she had no idea that the two girls were having a
conversation to themselves.
Ya, I was in the infirmary with our
other friend, Francesca. Have you met her? Before Seph could stop them, old memories of Francesca
played through her mind. Like an old movie reel, disconnected images flickered
through their shared minds. There was one of her and Francesca playing at the
shed, both much younger, playing wall ball while Nate hid in the shadows,
deciding whether to join them or not… They were a little older now, in her
cousin ’ s garage, holding each other ’ s hands while they got their
tattoos… Next, she and Francesca were facing off in the woods, Francesca in her
huge werewolf form… Then, the pair of them were standing together, side by side
in the rain, while authoritative persons exited a slick car… Linda was saying
how Francesca had been attending Monster Academy these past two months… The
vase flew to smash into the wall over Rodney ’ s head… Assailed with these memories,
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