The sound of the door opening had both Oracle and I jumping. Without another word, Oracle disappeared in a shower of glitter which left me feeling sad and frustrated. I didn't get to ask her about the two voices in my head and whether she heard them before she appeared to me.
Who were they?
When I heard a stall open and close, I stood and flushed my toilet for good measure before opening the door of my stall. When I got outside, I could see that the stall beside mine was now occupied.
I quickly washed my hands and splashed water onto my face. Sighing, I pulled some tissue from the dispenser and left the bathroom while dabbing the water from my face. Once outside, I adjusted my bag pack and threw away the soaked tissue paper before heading down the Hall.
Olive said that I needed to meet her before she left for her volleyball practice so I needed to hustle. I had already used enough time in the bathroom with Oracle.
When I rounded the corner, I saw her familiar figure leaning against the wall beside an open door. She had her arms folded and was frowning with her eyes closed. If I didn't know any better, I would think she was asleep but the way she held herself told me that she was awake.
"Olive?" I called out.
Her eyes flew opened and she turned to me with wide eyes," Where have you been?! I was worried you got abducted or something."
I stopped in front of her and frowned," I doubt someone can kidnap me in a school."
"Don't hold your breath, it's been done before," Olive told me. She adjusted her gym bag strap and put her arm through mine before dragging me into the open classroom," Come on, everyone's been waiting for you."
I stuttered," Wait, you haven't told me -"
Inside the classroom was a group of students already sitting in a circle of desks and they had a single yellow ball in between them. A girl was standing in the center of the desk circle and was holding a black clipboard. I then looked to the blackboard that had the words "Game Club."
My jaw dropped.
No.
Freaking.
Way.
"Sorry she's late, she just had to go to the principal's office for an intro meeting," Olive told the girl in charge. She was wearing a grey shirt that had Master Chief from Halo on it and I was blown away. The other students had little accessories on them that showed off one or another Game character.
Suddenly, I wish I never left my Pokemon cap back home.
"It's all good, we were just done with our rollcall, she can just slide in," The girl replied with a grin.
Olive nodded and then turned to pat my back before whispering," Have fun."
I nodded in daze before I moved to take an empty desk near a girl that had a head scarf with Pac Man and a boy who was sporting a Need for Speed Cap. I scanned the room before muttering, "How -"
"What's your name, new girl?" The leader asked.
I faced forward and croaked, "Lia. Thalia Dimants."
She nodded and wrote on her clipboard, "Could you spell your last name?"
I mumbled the spelling before she gestured for me to sit down. I sat down and tried to still my racing thoughts.
There was a Game Club. A Game Club in the school and I didn't know until Olive found out and signed me up for it.
"You alright?" The girl in the desk on my right asked.
"I didn't know that there was a Game Club," I told her.
"We try to stay below the radar," The leader spoke up and I frowned at her," The others in this school aren't exactly nice when it comes to characters of the digital world."
"Or fictional world," The boy on my left added with a scowl.
"This is heaven," I flat out admitted.
Everyone laughed and I smiled as they all introduced themselves.
Game Club meetings were every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays. Mondays were their days off to get settled in for the week. Fridays were Challenge Days while the rest of the days were used for discussions and ideas. Their major project is to come up with a game at the end of the year. So cool.
Today, everyone introduced themselves to me and I tried to place their faces in my classes. They were all wearing normal outfits when they were in class but in the club, they had their games merchandise on. I could do that.
That afternoon, we spent it talking about the New Halo and the old one and how the creators had improved from the last update. It was so fun. I mostly listened because I hadn't played Halo but everyone had something amazing to say. Our club president, who I learned was called Yasmine and was a Senior, even played a video of the game in a projector for everyone to see.
I loved it.
It was so fun.
I honestly, didn't want the meeting to end so when Olive came for me, I pouted and wished everyone a safe trip home.
When we got outside, I didn't realize how late it had gotten. The evening sun was going to set soon and there weren't a lot of students in the parking lot.
Quin was our ride home and I was glad for his calming presence. As soon as we were all in, he drove off out of the school parking lot. I put my bag on the floor and laid down facing the roof of the car. A few minutes into the drive, I sat up and ran had over my forehead. I needed a shower when I got to me room.
"I heard your wolf made an appearance today," Olive said as she turned in her seat towards me.
"You told her?" I arched a brow at Quin who glanced at me from his head rearview mirror and shook his head," I told her about the growl, we heard on the mind link that you lost it in side History class."
I groaned and fell sideways in the back seat again.
"I'm sure it wasn't that bad," Quin tried to cheer me up.
"Yeah, I think the girls just exaggerated on the details," Olive added.
"What did they say? "I then doubled back," No, never mind, I don't think I want to know. I'll know when Peter the Apex Alpha and Marcus rain down on me when I get back to the house."
"Sorry, Lia."
I shrugged as I sat up again and fold my arms, "Stuff happens."
"And speaking of an Apex Alpha, "Olive exclaimed with a smile and wiggled her eyebrows," What happened last night with you?"
I arched a brow at her unimpressed with where her thoughts were headed.
"Something happened last night between them?" Quin asked incredulously.
I glared at him and Olive, "Not the way you think or the way Olive is making it sound."
"Then what was it?" Olive questioned me and this time she turned completely in her seat to give me her full attention with her smile still on her face.
I bit my lip and considered whether I should tell her or Quin. They were good people who had been nice to me since I Turned so, what could happen if I told them? Finally, I sighed and looked them both squarely in the face, "Promise not tell the others?"
Olive nodded while Quin muttered a yes.
Sighing, I leaned forward and came clean, "When I touched his hand last night. I had a vision of him, Richard and Marcus, talking about the Rogues who've been coming onto the land."
Olive and Quin exchanged glances before Quin asked, "And?"
"Apparently they were sent to kill me by someone. But things went wrong because I turned successfully."
Olive leaned back, her face turning ashen, "Did they say who wanted you dead?"
I shook my head, "No."
"That's why you looked so scared."
"It is kind of heartstopping," I agreed.
"What else did they say?" Quin asked.
I thought about the last words, "Marcus mentioned that the reason I may have survived may have to do with my family name."
Olive titled her head to the left, "Has one of your ancestors been turned?"
I shook my head, "Not that I know of. And even if I there was one, I wouldn't know," I laughed dryly," My family pretty much convinced me my entire life that Witches were the only supernatural creatures on the planet."
"Must have been a shock to you when you saw us transform," Quin commented and I nodded before adding," It was an even bigger shock when I saw them inside my house."
"Wait, they attack you in your house?" Quin asked and I nodded, he then pursed his lips and turned," So they knew you were going to be in town?"
"I guess so," I answered slowly, not knowing why he was asking that question.
"You told me you were here for a special ceremony for your birthday. How many people knew about it?" Olive asked.
I blinked and tried to remember everyone who had a part to play in my Ceremony, "Just my family and the leaders of the Great Witch Mansions," I then frowned, "Where are you going with this?"
Quin and Olive exchanged another glance and I was so close to screaming at the both of them. I didn't speak eye language! Before I could voice my thoughts, Quin spoke up, "Someone on your side didn't want you to become a witch."
That got me pausing in my tracks.
Not become a witch?
That's crazy.
I shook my head, "No, that's ridiculous."
Quin shook his head, "No, you need think about it, Thalia. Who else would know when you were going to be here and at your house at the exact moment you would be?"
"The rogues must have been tipped off by a witch," Olive connected the last dots," If they had killed you when they had the chance, your death would be -"
"Used as a reason to start a fight between us,regardlessof them being rogues, "Quin finished.
I put my hands up to stop them, "Yeah, but I'm alive and changed, so now where does that leave the original plan?"
They both went quiet for a second. Finally, Quin spoke, "I think we should ask Peter to train you how to fight," I frowned at his words as he continued," If those rogues come back or the if that person who wants you gone comes back, you need to be able to defend yourself. Both with your wolf and with your magic."