The first class was Poisons and Herbs. Jackie was reunited with Jade when she saw him standing outside the class, too nervous to walk in alone. "They won't bite." Jackie said and linked her arms with his, walking inside. The classroom was huge. There were 8 potted plants lined against either side of the class. The odor of different flowers and herbs made her head spin. She noticed other students had also pinched their noses and were gagging. Jackie and Jade took their seats in the second row.
Then the professor entered, carrying a wooden box. He was a plump middle-aged man, wearing a gray suit and round glasses. He had silver curly hair which resembled Alaric. Jackie smiled, hoping Alaric would look like this when he turns 40. "Good morning class, before we start, please take these drops. It's a potion which will help block the smell." One by one, the students went to the professor, who asked their name and made them drink three drops of a swirly green liquid. When it was Jackie's turn, she introduced herself and opened her mouth. The drink tasted bitter and spicy but it was effective. In less than a minute, she was feeling better, she couldn't smell anything.
"Before entering my class, please consume three drops of this potion. You can take them at the end of the class. Now, my name is Professor Vidarr, I was the previous Potions Master to the Magister himself, and now i teach Poisons and Herbs. My family's specialty is Nature Magic. I hope by the end of the semester, you will have learned about all the poisons, antidote, and herbs for healing. Let's begin." Jackie had told herself she will concentrate in the class, but she couldn't help her mind drifting to the thought that he was Alaric's uncle. She really needed to win the bet.
Professor Vidarr had asked a student to bring the plant, which had yellow leaves. He explained that the plant was called Yellowbark, and its roots were poisonous. "If eaten through food, your body will start paralyzing. Though the poison is mild, it is still dangerous for you, as it will give the enemy the opportunity to kill you without struggle." Jackie was taking notes when Jade put a folded paper on her lap under the desk. She looked at Jade, who just shrugged and went back to listening to the professor. Jackie opened the paper. "You're in danger." The note said. She turned around, but only saw students either on their phones or concentrating. She saw Alaric, who was taking notes, at the back of the class, Daisy and Bobby sitting either side of him. He looked up and then raised an eyebrow. She raised a note in the air but he just shrugged. He was lying, Jackie thought. Who else could've warned her? Alaric wanted her gone.
"Miss Vandame, what is so interesting in the back?" shit, Jackie turned around quickly hearing her name. Her cheeks flushed. "Nothing professor, sorry." She saw he wasn't convinced. "Then answer this; what is the antidote for Anhelo?" She could hear her heart hammering, the whispers. She had never been called by a teacher like this, and this was humiliating, especially on her first day. Think Jackie, think, she forced herself. Jackie remembered suddenly, the professor hadn't started teaching the antidotes. We were still covering poisonous plants. But then her grandmother's voice rang in her ear, "the scorpion sting." Jackie said it out loud.
Professor Vidarr's face went from angry to happy. "Excellent Miss Vandame, we haven't even reached antidotes yet, but you knew the answer. Few know about this. Tell me, how did you know?" Jackie smiled, her flush disappearing and confidence brewing. "My grandmother was poisoned with Anhelo when she was working. She told me about it when i was young."
"That is horrible. What is your family's magic, Miss vandame?"
"Psychic."
"Umm, powerful. That student is how you use your worldly knowledge in the classroom. Please share your knowledge with us."
The class ended 30 minutes after her confrontation with the professor, and Jackie packed her bag, ready for the last class for the day, which was starting in 30 minutes. "That was awesome." Jade playfully punched her in the arm, and she grinned. "I noticed some students were throwing daggers at you." They went outside the class and Jackie remembered the note. "Hey who gave you the note?" she asked. "The girl behind me said to pass it on." Jackie tried to remember who the girl was, but she couldn't make the face. "If i were you, I wouldn't be this happy." Alaric drawled on, leaning against the wall. Jackie turned to him. "Did you send the note?" she asked, but he made a confused expression and just walked away. "Why do you think he sends it?" Jade asked. "Because he's the only asshole in the class."
Suddenly, her phone rang, and she opened her bag to retrieve it. It was her mother. "Hey, what's up?" Jackie said.
"Jackie, would you like to be my date for the conference?" Her mother sounded quirky and happy. It was rare.
"Umm, will there be food?" Jackie asked.
"A seafood buffet, too. The chairman is hosting."
"Sure, I'm in." She heard her mother squeal in excitement and felt thrilled for her.
"Jackie, this fell out of your bag." Jade handed her another similar folded note. How did this get in my bag? It was zipped. She unfolded the paper, and, upon reading the content, got angry. Alaric had taken it too far. This was not bullying, it was torture. "I'm going to kill him," she said, marching down the hallway where Alaric had left earlier. The content of the paper swirling in her mind.
"Your father's death wasn't an accident, it was murder."