Residue by Laury Falter Page B

and left the room, I figured he was heading for the principal’s office, or whatever the equivalent was here.
    The sparring lesson resumed but not without stares from the Caldwells. I figured they were each planning a different end to my demise. To take my mind off it, I focused on learning as much as I could, picking up a few spell incantations and learning how a voodoo doll and a few more stones could be used.
    Jameson still hadn’t returned by the end of the two-hour class, which made me start to wonder if he’d been expelled from it, a thought that made me feel guilty even though I had been a bystander during the incident. He’d been defending me, and if I were honest with myself I’d have to admit I was flattered. Eventually, Ms. Boudreaux would have stopped Emery but Jameson couldn’t wait that long, he couldn’t bear to see me in pain. I knew this for certain without him having to tell me.
    For this reason, I sought him out after class was dismissed. While the rest of the students left through the archway toward the street, my direction took me toward the only other lit window in the courtyard.
    But I didn’t get very far.
    I found Alison was suddenly in my way.
    How she’d gotten around me without my noticing was actually remarkable. Even in the darkness, I should have seen some movement, along the walkway to my left or around the planter to my right. There had been none. I made a mental note that she had the ability, the gift to move fast and without sound.
    Her glare conveyed her thoughts adequately but she insisted on voicing them. “You’ve done enough. Leave him alone.”
    “ You’re blocking me. Get out of my way,” I demanded, making an effort to move around her. She didn’t allow it.
    Then Charlotte was beside her, forming another human wall between Jameson and me.
    “ You heard her,” she said, the anger visible in her as well.
    Then the Caldwell boys appeared on both sides of the girls, coming around me from both sides.
    I scanned the line, seeing no genial expressions.
    “ You don’t scare me,” I stated. “None of you do.”
    “ Let’s test that theory, shall we?” Charlotte hissed, a smirk rising up, already stepping forward.
    “ Let’s not,” came Estelle’s voice behind me.
    I rotated and noticed my cousins had lined up beside me. This was getting out of hand.
    “ All right. All right,” I said, holding up my hands. I didn’t want to see a fight break out over something that could be said to Jameson in private during class tomorrow. More importantly, I needed to get my family out of here. If Jameson appeared, that would definitely upset the delicate balance we’d reached.
    Slowly, as one would in the presence of a snake, I moved to the side, toward the archway. Thankfully, my cousins followed.
    With the exit in sight, it appeared that disaster had been avoided…that was until I heard my name.
    “ Jocelyn, Jameson called out.
    A simple word, but what he didn’t realize was that with everyone’s nerves flared and tensions heightened, he’d just set the fire to a brewing conflict.
    Suddenly, I found Vinnia and Nolan suspended above my head, their legs curled behind them, their arms at their sides, readied for whatever might come.
    My jaw fell and I believe a sigh was released but I couldn’t be sure. I was watching their feet dangle over my head.
    Then Charlotte and Alison were in the air, hovering at the same height as my cousins. Apparently, they have the same ability, I thought, feeling surreal as I watched it.
    Then there was scuffling, mumbles as those on the ground took their positions, poising themselves for the coming attack.
    A line of defense formed on both sides, in the air and on the ground, all five of my cousins pairing up with all five of the Caldwells.
    Shouting began, voices rising over each other so that words were obscured in one long, intermingled utterance.
    Jameson, stunned by the abrupt, unexplainable conflict rushed in to the center of it,