By car the travel distance between Morston and the academy may have seemed a breeze. On foot, it was an entirely different story. Not that I minded doing it but I wasn't exactly in optimal physical condition. Bruised and battered like a peach, I struggled to keep a steady pace. No wonder that people began screaming so quickly when they caught sight of me and Lissete quarreling in the town center.
It will heal with time. For now, I had more pressing matters to deal with.
I wasn't sure if all my belongings were still there but it was worth a try. I wasn't brave enough to face Mason. Not just yet. I'm hoping that his ire would have cooled by the time I worked up the courage to face him.
Plus it was an opportunity to speak with Aldo as well. Two birds with one stone, they say. I didn't have enough stones for the amount of birds circling over my head.
Pausing in front of the gate, I look around at the empty grounds. The year hasn't started yet, but there are a few stragglers roaming aimlessly on the well-manicured lawn.
The semester is about to start in a week or so. Rubbing my arms, I hug myself, to keep at bay the chill of the early autumn. The clothing I'm wearing is not exactly fit this time of year. A thin tunic and a pair of linen trousers, perfectly adequate for Helej Norun. Not so much on this side of the land, might as well consider myself naked.
With steady steps, I cross the grounds, taking everything in, the building with red and white brickwork spanning from one fence to another. It is bigger than I remembered, or perhaps I'm seeing it with different eyes.
Slowly, I climb the steps and walk into the reception area. Frankie stands, gasps, and faints on the spot. I guess Mason wasn't lying when he said that he'd buried me. Or perhaps the sight of me is more horrifying than I thought.
Glancing over her desk I see her sprawled on the floor, pale as a ghost. Only one thing to do and I believe it is rather poetic, considering that at one point Frankie had done exactly the same to knock some sense into me.
Even though Taethi's brutal training has taught me to be vicious, and merciless, I find that I'm still not fond of violence.
It was time to claim that debt. Although, I was slightly gentler than she was with me. She has already fainted, and don't want to add more to her list of problems for the day.
After a few taps, Frankie slowly comes to her senses, opens her eyes, screams, scrambles off the floor arms and legs all over the place, and makes a run for it, straight into Aldo's office.
I don't get a word in. I barely had time to take a breath in the time she got up and ran. For fuck sake.
Pushing myself up, I follow after her, slip into Aldo's office, and find Frankie frantically trying to explain to Aldo what is happening. To my surprise, Eric is in there as well.
Aldo does a double take, his eyes bulge out of his sockets and pales when he catches sight of me. Eric turns, nods in greeting, unfazed. Mason had made him aware, then of the fact I'm still alive. As for the well part, it is a little subjective.
" Good afternoon," I break the silence, walk closer, and peruse the shiny office. Not much has changed in a year, but I guess men like Aldo have a preference for order. So, changing things isn't something that comes easy.
Everyone has lost the ability to speak. Eric waves towards a seat and I plop myself in the cushy dark amber armchair. So, comfortable. After sleeping on the floor for a year, anything feel cushy.
" Miss Abernathy," Eric begins, swiping a glass with what I assume contains hard liquor in it and takes a sip.
" Welcome back to the living," He says with slanted smile, and I turn for the door when it opens. The strawberry blonde beauty walks in light steps and pauses when she finally realises who I am. She looks at me with a curios eye, and nods in greeting. We have but we also haven't met. I remember her quite well, even after all this time.
Nodding back, I rise to my feet to introduce myself. She takes my hand in herself, and firmly shakes it. For such a delicate creature she is stronger than she appears to be.
" Lily Abernathy, " I smile but I know ot comes off disturbing rather than pleasing, because of my split and chapped lips.
" Emmeline Garousche, " She takes her hand out of mine and looks at Eric for answers. The exchange of looks seems to be one of familiarity and I believe that she and Eric are more than colleagues.
" Miss Abernathy was about to tell us, how she managed to come back from the dead," Eric answer an unspoken question and I turn my attention to Aldo who is still precupied in calming down Frankie, who is still pale and a little shaky. Way to go,Lily.
" I don't know what happened in the past year but I never died. Despite the fact that everyone seems to be inclined to believe so. I was in Helej Norun, " Eric nods and looks up at Emmeline.
" We understand that the circumstances of your dissapearence have been a little suspicious. You'll have to forgive us. We are still in shock. News such as this tends to have that effect on people," Eric says as Emmeline settles in a chair next to him. I'm surprised at his even tone, a quality that probably has taken years to master. But then again, we only met once so, what do I know.
" What brings you to us?" Eric follows with another question, and I don't know where to begin.
" To begin with," I take a deep breath and look at Aldo. He looks back at me a little surprised and piches the bridge of his nose when it dawns on him what I'm about to ask.
" I knew you were trouble," He mutters under his breath, and waves for me to continue my thoughts.
" I would like to know if there is still a place for me here," I stop speaking when Aldo chuckles in disbelief. I can understand that but there is no harm in asking is there?
" Abso-," He is about to say, absolutely not but Eric raises a hand to stop him from speaking and I want to hug the man, but I hold off and wait to hear what he has to say.
" Miss Abernathy, " Eric pushes himself to sit straight in the armchair and I find myself fidgeting, because it sounds like I'm going to be told off. It's not that I don't deserve it. I let everyone believe that I was dead. Until I wasn't.
" This institution is not here to tend to your whims. This a respectable place and I'm inclined to believe that you are not the person who I thought you were. I understand that you are going through a difficult time but there are certain steps to be be undertaken. We do not live in the dark ages anymore. We are accountable for your well being. And you are accountable for your actions. Do you understand?" Eric rubs his forehead and looks down at the floor for a few seconds. I'm well aware that what I did was reprehensible but it wasn't out of desire to cause trouble.