12. A new family
A new family
GAbrIELLA
Time seems to fly by, before I know it, I’m heading back to the cabin on the edge of the woods surrounding the school. April and I were shown to our residence this morning, even though I was given a dorm room with the rest of the students, I don’t feel like staying there tonight. I’d rather stay with April. Someone friendly who’s going through the same freak out I am over this magic stuff.
Almost all of my classes were the same, magic this, magic that, it was crazy to see people accepting such a strange concept as normal. I felt more and more like a freak as the day wore on.
I study April’s cabin, trying to figure out if what I’m seeing is real or a figment of my tired imagination. Surrounding the small wood building are several adults. All with flaming torches pointing at something on the wooden veranda near the door. I’m so focused on the lump near their feet that I let out a small scream as someone steps into me, pushing me backwards. “You really don’t want to see this.”
“Aunt April?” I shout, struggling against the hold of the strange man. “April!”
“Miss, I need you to calm down, I can’t let you go until you calm down. There’s nothing you can do for her. She’s already gone.”
His words aren’t making any sense. I thrash against his hold, screaming as loud as I can for April. Several people walk towards me, their faces are masks of sympathy and it sends my mind into a numb state. “April.” I cry weakly as the words finally sink in.
Aunt April is dead. The lump lying in front of the door is her dead body.
Two days pass in a blur of sorrow and numbingly robotic movements as I pack both mine and April’s things. I was given permission to skip classes until after the funeral and the court hearing.
April was the nicest person I’ve ever met, she treated me like I was her real niece, spoiling me and taking care of me even though she’d only known me for a few months.
After the funeral I stumble to the car that’s taking me to the courthouse. I know the drill by now. Been through it enough times. Being under eighteen means I have to have a new state appointed guardian who will be assigned to me and then I’ll most likely be leaving again.
Moving on to the next place and leaving this magical world behind.
I’m almost sorry to be doing so.
The car pulls up to the courthouse, the same judge who sent me to Dane Academy is standing on the steps as I climb out of the car. He smiles a wobbly smile before coming down the path and standing in front of me. He looks exactly the same as he did the first time that I met him, same grey Armani suit that matches his thinning hair, same red silk tie, even the gold music note cufflinks on his wrists are the same. His wobbly smile slips as he finally speaks, “This won’t take long dear, we’ve already found you a family who’s aware of your unique talents. You’ll be staying at the academy during the school year and then returning to their residence during holidays.” He pats my shoulder and starts guiding me up the stairs, “You’ll love this family, they even have a son your age, I’m sure you’ll be best of friends in no time.”
I don’t meet his crinkled green eyes; I know what it means to be being sent to a home with kids my own age. It’s only the millionth time I’ve been relocated since being dragged off the streets at the young age of ten. I’m sure I’ll be the new punching bag or the maid or some other demeaning position that will slowly eat at my soul until I’m running for the hills again.
The courthouse chambers the judge leads me to are the same ones as last time, the green leather chairs surrounding the elevated platform with his desk and gavel are just as intimidating as they were the first time I saw them. Only this time the very air feels heavy with something akin to power. As though the three people dressed like they’re going to a ball are important somehow. The woman wearing the off-white knee length gown turns to us first, her lips curling up into a smile that makes my spine shiver with fear but as the elder man turns my breath catches in my throat. He looks like an elder version of Parker Walker. Even his eyes hold that same determined blue that took my breath away the first time I saw him up close.
My eyes flit to the last man standing slightly behind them and my knees threaten to give out as he turns to face me.