Smoldered Flames: Part I of the Edonia Series
Chapter 12

Valeri

A bird. My professor was a damn bird. I’m sorry, a CRANE. It’s beady red-brown eyes study my entire person. Its long webbed feet hold a stick of chalk while standing in front of a chalkboard that reads: “The Original Five.”

Apparently, I was a little more than a few minutes late. Turning towards the other side of the room, I also noticed that this classroom was full of children ranging from six to ten years old. Their little faces hold curiosity and wonder. Some hold fear. I don’t blame them for their immediate reactions. I was practically a murderer in their eyes. Trying to ease the building tension in the air, I crack a smile. Suddenly I’m bombarded with questions.

“Did you really kill the Hunters with your bare hands?” A little boy of about seven years old asks. His hair was like the fiery sun. It held gingery tones with hints of blonde. His eyes were a sweet apricot color.

“What are you doing in the kids’ Learning Center?” Another child asked. This one was about ten years old. Her little arms are crossed as her bright green orbs gaze skeptically at me. Her dark brown curly hair cascades around her little face.

“What is your species?” A third child asks. This little lady seemed to be the youngest. She sits by the window that reveals blue skies. Her dark umbre skin shone in the sunlight revealed golden undertones.

The bird professor gently quiets the students before introducing me. “Class, meet our new student, Miss Valeri. She will learn about the history of Edonia just like the rest of you. Treat her like you would any other fellow student; with respect.”

It’s voice carried a feminine quality. I then remembered the name Professor Dawn Blossom. True to her namesake, her feathers held light colors of lilac and titian before the sun fully rose in the sky.

“Please have a seat next to Miss Keita and we will do a little recap of today’s lesson.”

The youngest little lady waves her hand my way. About a dozen wooden rectangular desks make two rows. She sits in the back with another child. Miss Keita -in which the professor calls her- smiles widely as I make my way to her. The other student was of light complexion with light hazel eyes.

The hazel-eyed girl introduces herself first. “Hi! I’m Nevaeh.”

“Please call me Amara. I hate when people refer to my last name,” say Amara.

They were both well mannered for their age. Both held a sense of maturity you don’t see much in adults. Go figure.

“Well as you both know, I’m Valeri. Nice to meet you.” I awkwardly hold out my hand.

“Miss Valeri, We are learning about how shifters came to be. Will someone list the original five gods and their affinity?”

Someone blurts out an answer. “Eteri, goddess of air!” It was the little ginger guy.

Professor Blossom gives him a stern gaze.“Now Rowan, what have I told you about raising your hand before answering?”

“Awh! Come on, Professor Blossom, where’s the fun in that?” Rowan exasperates.

Her stern gaze turned motherly as she answered. “Raise your hand the next time or I’ll have you write sentences. But you are correct.”

Eyeing the class she asked, “Can anyone name another god?”

Amara raises her hand enthusiastically.

“Miss Keita?”

“Goddess Ayla, mother of the heavens and light.”

“Very good, Miss Keita. We now have three more to name.”

One of the older kids raised their hands. It was the skeptical child that asked about me being in the class.

“Yes Miss Silverthorne?”

“Sereia, goddess of water and Afra, goddess of earth.” She responds.

“Perfect. And can someone name the last god?” asked the professor.

The class went silent. It seemed everyone was afraid of raising a hand.

Finally someone spoke softly. “A...adr...adramalach.”

The professor stared at the little girl huddled in the far corner of her table. No one sat with her and I wondered why. She seemed sweet with her little glasses covering most of her milky white face. Her olive green eyes rimmed with fright. She was skin and bones. Why has this gone unnoticed?

“Correct, Gwendolyn. He is the god of fire.”

A gong-like bell rings.

“It seems class has ended for today. Study up on which species belongs to which god and the reasons behind it! There may be a pop quiz by the end of the week!”

Everyone gets up to leave. I do the same but Professor Blossom calls my name. She gracefully struts towards me.

“Follow me please.”

I follow her to the back of the classroom and a large hardwood desk appears in my line of sight. The professor pulls out a drawer and withdrawals a circular metal device in her webbed talons.

She hands it to me.“This should help speed along your adaptation to Sundancer University. It is now bound to you. If you lose it, it shall reappear in your hand.”

This was unexpected. I was expecting a scolding for being late. “Th-, thank you, professor!”

“Don’t thank me just yet. The other professors won’t be as kind. Hurry now, before you are late again,” she says.

Just then a knock comes from the door. The Silent Guard, Kamau, stands at attention.

“Well that’s my cue. Thanks, again professor!” I repeat with gratitude.

Walking up to the gloomy-looking guard, I see that he gives a far away look out the window. I wave my hands over his sexy face and he grabs it mid-wave

“Never do that again,” he snarls. Kamau’s canines lengthen and his storm gray eyes turn amber with rage.

“There will be no shifting in my classroom! Get out, the both of you!” shouts the professor.

She flaps her coral-brown wings hysterically, her feathers clearly ruffled. Kamau’s grip on my hand tightens before letting go. That’s definitely going to leave a bruise.

We quickly take our leave.

I’m staring at his back, and suddenly I’m pissed. “What are you doing here? I thought your job was finished. Tanni is my guide around here.”

He stops before whirling around to me. His face is set in a snarl. “You don’t get to question me, jailbird.”

Just then Tanni comes up to me. “What did I say?” she whispers.

“I didn’t do anything!” I whisper-shout.

“You know I can hear you?” Kamau sardonically asks.

Tanni seemed to wilt under his gaze.

“Don’t you dare take your anger out on her!” I yelled.

A gathering crowd starts to surround us again. Shocked gasps echo along the wall.

Here we go again.

I glare at the growing crowd, not wanting to show fear. “What the hell are you looking at? Don’t y’all have classes to attend to?” I shout.

I start to bum rush through the annoying crowd before suddenly being tripped up by an invisible force. Someone catches my fall. My face flushes in embarrassment as a calloused hand hauls me to my feet. Everyone is silent.

“EVERYONE TO CLASS NOW!” commands the voice. The tone of this voice demanded immediate respect.

The crowd scatters. I look up at my savior to only internally wither. “You?!” I sneered.

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