Chapter 9
Nah.This isn’t going to work for me. I’m already a freak, with my bubblegum eyes, white hair, and body full of tattoos. Not that they’ll see it, but I don’t need the other students finding out I’m rooming with the professors and heckle me for it. That’s something I doubt will stay secret for long. It’s not like I can ask them to put a glamour on that.
My arm shoots out as I halt in my tracks. Thaddeus must not be paying attention as he plows into my outstretched limb, sending us both almost toppling to the floor. He catches me effortlessly and rights us both before turning wide eyes on me.
“What’s wrong?”
“This.” I snatch the fallen folder from the floor and shove it into his hands before flipping it open and poking my finger right on my dorm room assignment. “The faculty wing? What the fuck is this shit, Thaddy!”
He chuckles before closing the folder and tucking it under his arm. “I had a feeling you’d react like that. But you need to understand that all the student rooms are shared dorms. There are no singles, so we need to put you in an apartment in the faculty wing. Plus, it’s the safest place for you. Jasper and I both reside in that wing, on the same floor, so if there are any issues, we are right there to take care of them.”
I sputter, trying to come up with some type of rebuttal, but there is none. He’s right. Putting me near the two who know what I am is the safest place for me, but it doesn’t change the fact that I can kiss any chance at friendship goodbye. How the hell would I explain this to someone?
“Fine,” I mutter, sounding suspiciously like a petulant child. I’m two seconds away from stomping my foot, but think better of it.
Thaddeus continues through the hall, not looking back to make sure I’m following, but dammit. I do follow because I have no freaking clue where I am.
Since no words are being spoken, I use the chance to look around. Not that there’s much to see. It’s a hallway like you’d see in a freaking castle. Dark wood covers the walls with gilded frames here and there, depicting different supernaturals, battles, and more all captured as a moment in time with oil paints. I don’t know what half of them are, but I’m sure that’ll be something I learn in my history class. Not that I’m looking forward to it. I thought I was done with schooling, but surprise, I guess not.
Instead of continuing to look at the boring walls, I turn my attention to the man now climbing a circular staircase at the end of the hall. I quicken my pace to catch up so I’m right behind him, and damn. What a view I have. He’s definitely on the tall and skinny side—a frame somewhat like Axel’s—with one hell of an ass in the dark wash jeans he’s wearing. A navy button-up shirt is tucked into said jeans with the sleeves rolled up, showing off pale blue forearms and a darker-hued maze of veins underneath his flesh. His white hair is left loose around his shoulders instead of pulled back and secure. Even with his hair styled as it is, I can still see where his ears start tapering off, ending in pointed tips. The blue of his skin sticks out like a sore thumb—or ear in this case—against the white of his mane.
I wonder if those things are sensitive. One would think they are, given they are so different in comparison to a human ear. But I definitely don’t have the lady balls to ask. Not just because he’s virtually a stranger, but it’s also a rude ass question. That would be like someone asking me if my nipples are sensitive. And even though the answer to that is a no-brainer, they’d earn a swift kick to the nuts for the audacity of even asking.
The circular metal staircase ends in another hallway, just like the one we were in previously. Same dark wooden walls, same wooden floors with a red runner down the middle, but the only thing that’s noticeably different is the absence of gilded portraits. In their place are sconces brightening up the place in between the doors lining each side of the hall. Which, notably, aren’t that close in proximity.
“These are the faculty apartments. There aren’t many of us per floor, which, I’ll admit, I like the extra space. I don’t feel like I’m not on top of my neighbor. When Jasper’s grandfather originally built the castle, these rooms were for dignitaries and other guests who came to visit. They’ve been updated since, but the structure of them is very much the same.”
Thaddeus stops in front of a door with a golden plaque off to the right, the numbers five-eight-zero glinting in the glow of the sconce above it. He removes the brass key from my folder and inserts it into the lock, the click of the lock giving away like a gunshot in the silence of the hall. Then he pushes the door open and holds his hand out with a flourish, waiting for me to go first.
At least someone around here is a gentleman. Gentlesmurf? Gentlefae? Gah. Whatever.
Dying sunlight pours through the bank of floor-to-ceiling windows on the back wall, lighting up the entire apartment in pinks and purples. Instead of the drab wooden walls, these ones are an inviting light gray color, accented with pops of white. A plush charcoal gray couch sits directly in the middle of what I’m guessing is the living room, and a large screen TV is hung on the wall I share with my neighbor. Drapes of the same shade as the couch are bunched up in the corner of the room, ready to block out the light from the windows. Off to the left is a decent-sized kitchen with stainless steel appliances and a couple of bar stools tucked under the island. Past the kitchen looks like a small hallway that I can only assume leads to the bathroom and the bedroom.
A warm hand on the small of my back nudges me inside, and after passing over the threshold, the door shuts behind us. If it wasn’t for the mint and eucalyptus scent, I would think I was alone. But that scent seems to be all Thaddeus, and it permeates the space, making me think he’s been in here recently.
Stacked next to the couch are my two duffel bags, my old backpack, and my purse. Someone—cough, Axel—must have dropped them off on his way to meet us while I took the short route.
“The kitchen has been fully stocked for your arrival, and there are brand new sheets on the bed. If there’s anything you need, just let me know, and I’ll make sure to get it for you.” I wave his words away, not taking my eyes off the space that is now mine.
“Axel mentioned a stipend, so if I need anything, I can definitely get it myself. I would hate for you to spend money when you shouldn’t have to.” Lies. He didn’t say anything about a stipend, but I don’t want this man spending his hard-earned money on me.
“It’s not that I have to.” Thaddeus shakes his head with a wry grin on his face. “I want to. Most new supernaturals come with next to nothing.” His crystal blue eyes flit to my meager belongings and back to me. “If I were in your unique position, I”d turn down help too. But it”s a helping hand I want to give you so when you”re in my place one day, you can remember this one moment and do the same.”
Well, shit. When he puts it like that, how can I turn it down? Especially because I want to be in his position one day. Not as a teacher. Oh no. Teaching the future generations is not for me. The degree I busted my ass for in the human sector is in business management, not dealing with other people”s snot-nosed kids.
The position I want to be in now is helping any new humans who come over to the supernatural side of the sectors. How I decided that less than twenty-four hours into being a supe myself, I have no clue. But something about it just feels right.
“Okay,” I finally agree a moment later.
Thaddeus’ lopsided smile lights up his face at my agreement. But just because I agree, it doesn”t mean I”ll actually ask. Especially since there’s a bank account with my name on it now. Axel didn”t mention if they knew about it, so it’s probably best to keep that to myself.
“Alright, Bailey. The only thing left to do before I leave you for the night is set your glamour in place. Do you have any jewelry that you’d normally wear? It’ll be our best bet to attach the glamour to it so you can easily remove it without me needing to redo it each time.”
Oh, I like the idea of that. That way when I”m in my room, I can easily slip it off and just be me, but if anyone shows up announced, it”s easy to put back in place. If only I had a piece of said jewelry.
I shake my head with a grimace. “I don”t. Everything I owned was just cheap costume jewelry, and I left it behind since I didn”t have much use for it.”
“That’s okay. Come, let’s take a seat.” I follow obediently behind Thaddeus, then plop down the fluffy couch, sinking into the cloud-like pillows.
He takes a spot next to me, looking me over with a keen eye. I have no idea what he sees when he looks at me, but hopefully, it’s not a clueless little girl. Even though that’s how I’ve felt most of the day.
“I have the perfect thing.” He lifts his hand, and magically, it disappears in thin air.
“What the fuck, Thaddy!” I squeak in shock. “Where the hell did your hand go?” I wave mine around in the spot his hand once was, not feeling the missing appendage. This must be one of his Fae tricks, kind of like the one Jasper pulled on me with his stone statue crap.
“It’s a pocket dimension I’m utilizing. Depending on your abilities, you may be able to do the same. I store important things in it that I want to access at any time.” Thaddeus’ eyes close, and his tongue pokes into his cheek as he roots around in his little secret place. “Ah ha. Found it.” His eyes reopen as soon as his hand reappears. Only instead of the empty hand that disappeared, there’s now a beautiful leather necklace dangling from his fingers with a silver snowflake pendant.
“Thaddeus, it’s beautiful,” I murmur in awe. “But I can’t accept that. It’s yours.”
What’s with these sweet men today? Okay, sweet is a stretch when it comes to Jasper and his stunt earlier. But between Axel and Thaddeus, it’s almost an overload of tooth-rotting sweetness. Not that I’m really complaining.
“And now it’s yours. Before I left the Fae realm, my sister gave it to me and told me it would be important one day. She never told me why, only that I’d know when it was needed. And I think this is what she meant.” His eyes get a faraway look as he talks about his sister. It makes me wonder just how long it’s been since he’s seen her.
“How would she know you would need it?”
“Ah.” Thaddeus’ lips curl in a grin. “My sister had a rare ability among the winter Fae. She has Seer abilities. She can see the past and the future. And while the future she sees isn’t set in stone, it at least gives her an idea of what may be coming. It all depends on the circumstances surrounding what she’s seen.”
“That’s amazing. Is that something I might be able to do too?” That would be freaking awesome. Heck, I could have used that when I was younger to sneak out of Mom and Dad’s house.
“Maybe.” He shrugs a broad shoulder. “It all depends on what your runes are.”
“Okay.” That possibility alone excites me. Along with all the others I may be capable of. Maybe this isn’t as bad as I thought it would be.
Famous last words, right?
Let’s hope not.
My jaw cracks in a yawn as the events of the day catch up to me. The nap in Axel’s car on the way here didn’t do enough to combat all I’ve been through today, so sleep is definitely in order. Soon.
“Do you happen to have a picture of you before the lagoon? It’ll be easiest to copy that over to the glamour if I have something to look at. While I may have a good imagination,” he winks, making me giggle, “I doubt you want people thinking you have purple hair.”
I snort. As if white hair and pink eyes aren’t bad enough.
“Yeah, I have something. One second.” I jump up from the couch and crouch down next to my pile of belongings, knowing exactly what I’m looking for. I’m doubly glad now that I snagged that photo of me and my parents before I left. There are a few selfies on my phone, but I doubt duck lips and winking for the camera is something he needs to see. “Here it is.”
Passing the photo over to Thaddeus, I kick off my Vans and retake my seat, tucking my legs underneath me. He eyes the picture for a moment, his gaze darting from the framed picture to me and back again. After a few more back and forths, he sets the frame on his lap and clasps the pendant between both hands before closing his eyes and murmuring something too low for me to hear. A blue glow emanates from between his closed fists for a moment, then it disappears like it was never there in the first place.
“Perfect.” Thaddeus opens his fist to reveal the silver snowflake is now a stunning rainbow color, the hues dancing around fluidly like they’re made of liquid. He holds it out to me with the clasp open. “May I?”
“Of course.” I pick my long hair up off my neck and lean forward, letting him place the necklace around my nape. Excitement courses through me to see myself as me once more. No longer will I look like a tattoo artist’s canvas but just plain ole’ Bailey again.
Shoving my sleeve up, my shoulders drop at the sight of the runes still there. “I don’t think it worked,” I mutter dejectedly.
“It did, I assure you. But since you’re wearing the glamour, you’ll see yourself as your true self. Not the glamoured version. And there’s also a chance that you’ll have the ability to see through glamours, which we’ll find out eventually.”
“Oh. Alright.” That sucks. But I guess it is what it is. Not like I can change it now.
“Buck up, sunshine.” Thaddeus taps my chin. “It’ll all get better. For now, relax and get some sleep.” He slaps his hands on his thighs before standing. “I’ll come by tomorrow around noon with some lunch, and we’ll get started.”
“Sounds good.” Another yawn takes over, and I’m grateful that I’m only minutes away from the sleep I so desperately want right now.
Thaddeus makes his way toward the door and glances over his shoulder as he opens it. “Sweet dreams, Bailey.”
“Night, Thaddy,” I murmur sleepily.
His lopsided smile is the last thing I see before the door shuts. Exhaustion hits me harder now that he’s gone, and I don’t even make it off the couch, letting sleep take me under.