Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
ROOMMATES AND FIRST DATES
Ballin’s sneer stretches from one side of my screen to the other, but I force myself to sit still and not even blink. He’s already called me out for not paying attention more than once.
“It is not my issue if you are in isolation. I expect all work to be submitted before Monday morning, including the practical elements I set. Class dismissed.”
I don’t move an inch because I don’t trust him. I stay frozen like a statue, keeping my face set in a mask until a message saying the lesson has ended flashes on the screen.
It comes right at the perfect time, because the raven, who was still corporeal when I woke up, hops onto the top of my screen. His long talons nearly pierce through the front as he shifts his balance.
I grab him with both hands and pluck him off my computer, putting him back on my desk.
“You cannot roost on my laptop. Honestly, what do you think people would say? Or better yet, how do you think I’d explain a broken screen to the IT department, if there even is one here?
” I change my voice, mimicking what I think they’d sound like.
“Under rule 973, subsection (2a), no mystical ravens are permitted to use Thales-owned devices.”
I recognize that I’m having a full-blown conversation with a raven. Again. I scrub my hand over my face, desperately trying to keep things real. My fragile state is made worse because I’ve been locked inside my dorm room all day, barred from leaving for any reason, including to get food.
The last twenty-four hours have been… strange. I’m starting to wonder if this is my new reality.
When I woke, I nearly went into cardiac arrest because my feathered friend was real and still present in my room.
A note from House Master Maddern appeared before I stopped screeching, which has meant that between classes I’ve been packing boxes, plus searching for anything to do with ravens and ancient gold bracelets, while also researching on archery websites to confirm that the piece I found is a part of a quill.
My morning didn’t end there. It continued with said raven revealing his name is Bugby—seriously, he used his beak and my keyboard to type it out. I cried and rocked on my bed while watching him, wondering if I was suffering a breakdown.
A door slams, and Bugby pivots in the direction the noise came from, making a low, garbling noise that vibrates in warning. I stand up, listening nervously as someone approaches my door. Then, despite knowing what’s coming next, I nearly jump out of my skin when the person knocks on my door.
“Miss. Ellis, it’s Rodderick.”
Racing to the door, I pull it open and barely stop myself from hugging him, I’m so relieved to see a friendly face. “I was hoping you’d be the one to help me. All day I’ve watched a steady stream of students helping Noms move, and it hasn’t been fun.”
He nods along as he listens to me unload, and I stop blabbering when I notice him avoiding my eyes or saying anything back. It’s then I realize what he doesn’t want to tell me.
“Oh, so they were meant to help. Right?”
He doesn’t answer but looks up and grins at me. “At least now I get to spend some time with you.” His eyes jump behind me. “What in the world, Miss. Ellis? A raven? He sure is a beauty.”
I kind of forgot about Bugby. “Will I get in trouble for having a pet?”
“Just don’t say it’s a pet, and you’ll be fine.”
“Pardon?”
“A lot of magikals have familiars. Vampires have thralls, and demons have whatever they want.”
I scoff, rolling my eyes. “The only problem with that, Rodderick, is I’m a Nom.”
“I’d check the student handbook if I were you, to see if there are any restrictions about Noms not being permitted a familiar.”
The cheeky grin on his face has me grabbing my device off my bed.
Rodderick walks closer to Bugby while I search.
I split my focus between the screen and watching him, to make sure neither of them does something to the other.
The results show up quickly. I read the first, then work my way through all the other search results, but they all say the same thing.
“You knew, didn’t you?” I ask, satisfied by my findings, which all confirm that any being can have a familiar.
“I had an inkling. Only because I’ve read those rules maybe a hundred times or more. And with that resolved, let’s get you two moved.”
“Sounds good. Though your diversion didn’t go unnoticed, by the way. Were they really supposed to come and help me move?”
“I focus on you and me catching up over everything else, Maya.”
“True. Though I don’t get why I have to take everything with me if it’s only for a few days,” I grumble.
“Ah, that’s because no matter where you are, opportunity often brings out the worst in individuals. This way, your possessions remain your own.”
“Can’t argue with that logic.”
Rodderick wheels in a hand trolley, parking it in the middle of my room.
“Why did you replace those old chests with these cardboard boxes?”
I look up at him and then stare down at the old chests he’s referring to.
Before I can say a word, Bugby hops to the biggest one, the one filled with all the old relics and books.
It takes a moment to register, maybe because everything I see is now outlined in shimmering colors, but now that I notice it, I can’t look away.
My ‘boxes’—aka, my ancient tea chests—share the same deep blue pulse of energy as Bugby.
I’ve been here long enough to recognize magik at play.
It feels both right and important that I continue the illusion.
“They weren’t really matching the shabby-chic vibe I was going for in here. And in all honesty, I thought if anyone saw them, I’d have a lot of explaining to do.”
Bugby taps a foot, also making a small cawing sound, and Rodderick nods at my explanation.
We load his trolley with my tea chests that now look like cardboard packing boxes, along with all my bedding.
On top he balances my clothes, which I wrapped in a sheet off my bed.
I grab everything else I’m taking, including Bugby.
I sit him on my shoulder like a pirate does a parrot.
He takes offense and flies off, waiting for us on the balustrade.
“Will my mattress be okay? And my desk and side table?”
“Debatable. But if they’re gone when we get back, we’ll worry about it then.”
I lean over and rest my head on his shoulder. “You know, you sound like my dad.”
“Is that a good thing?” he asks, and I feel him tense up under me.
“The best.”
Before it gets weird, I straighten up and step out of his space. “Lead on, because I have no idea where we’re going.”
He chuckles and pushes his trolley out of my room. With a final look, I close the door behind us. I’m a little surprised by how nostalgic I feel. The crappy dorm room was starting to feel like home.
Getting down the stairs is an act of patience and strength, but we finally manage, no thanks to the guard who sits in his chair and does nothing but watch.
I hold the front door open for Rodderick. “Holy crap, it’s getting cold.”
Bugby flies outside, disappearing into the shadows, before Rodderick pushes the trolley through the doorway. I guess he’ll catch up—or not—I’ve never had a pet bird, so it’s hard to know what to expect.
As soon as we’re on the paved path, I muscle in on Rodderick and hip-bump him out of the way.
“Pushy, aren’t you?”
I waggle my eyebrows. “If I had asked, you would have said no.”
“True. Give me your bags then. I’ll get in trouble if you’re carrying everything and I’m empty-handed.”
“No, you won’t. We both know you’d get into more trouble for being seen helping a Nom.”
He scowls, and I know I’ve hit close to the truth.
“As soon as we’re out of the main area, you bet your bottom dollar, I’ll be returning the favor and bumping you out of the way.”
I giggle at his threat, and he steps ahead of me, clearly aware of how many students and faculty members are probably watching us right this second.
We walk straight to the fountain in the center of Thales, where we’re surrounded by the five Houses, the library, and the administration building.
No matter where you look, there’s history here.
It’s impressive and awe-inspiring. You just have to block out who resides in the five Houses to truly appreciate what you see.
Rodderick turns to take a path I’ve been told not to walk down.
Knowing I’m going somewhere I’ve been warned away from makes me pull to a stop.
Not because I’m scared, per se, but I am tired of being constantly targeted for doing nothing wrong.
I can imagine what would happen if Alpha Roberts found me here.
I get an impatient beak snap, very close to my ear, from Bugby.
“No sassing,” I snarl at him, but he’s already melded back into the shadows again, leaving me sounding like I’m talking to the empty sky.
Rodderick catches me doing it, but I wave and pretend everything’s fine. I’m not sure he believes me though, because he waits until I’m next to him before taking the path to the unit housing. I mean, it makes sense because that’s where Master Maddern said I’d be going in his email.
It feels wrong because not only have I been told to stay away, but I’m not commissioned to any group.
Although I got roped into acting as Professor Cane’s Nom at training for all of an hour, despite what the guys from my run-in on Sunday morning said, I have no connection with the Professor or any of his friends.
I mean, Emrys made his thoughts on me pretty clear at detention later that day.
Clear as mud, really. Even now, the memory of how hot and cold he was within the space of a few seconds makes me feel sick.
Yet my short time at Thales has consistently shown me that these beings are firmly in the camp of doing whatever they please without needing to justify their actions.
Rodderick doesn’t stop at any of the sign-posted unit houses until we’ve reached the end of the path. The house he veers toward is tucked deep into the forest.