SCHOOL the next day was normal.
So was the day after that and the next week. It was the usual scowl and ignorance he received from the other students.
Reyna was absent for two days last week, while Audrey skipped it entirely. Word was she'd gotten down with a serious flu.
Leo was found in a tree badly wounded, Adrien in a toilet, and Ethan was still in his salon.
When he got to school on Monday, the gossip about him continued as usual but on a different topic. His new look was the subject.
Over the weekend, Ethan had offered to do Isaac's hair again, which he readily agreed to. He didn't want any demon yanking his hair again.
According to Ethan, he was experimenting. A mix of curls and temple fade.
Isaac had demanded it to be short- getting hair yanked wasn't pleasant- but no overdoing it. To be honest, he was worried that Ethan was going to make him bald.
After cutting it, Ethan had suggested dying the tips green but he declined.
He had to admit Ethan did a great job. Leo and Reyna were blown away by the result.
He was the topic for the whole day, but he had to admit he liked the attention.
"I repeat Isaac Wade, Leonardo Blanc, Reyna Gomez, Adrien and Audrey Reed, report to the Principal's office," a voice said over the speakers.
He wondered what he'd done now.
They all met at the reception.
Audrey was still a little pale, but Bloody Mary's possession didn't do away with her attitude. Adrien was scowling at Isaac from across the room.
"You reckon it's about the Bloody Mary incident?" Reyna asked Leo, who shrugged in reply.
The receptionist's desk was empty. Isaac wondered where he or she was.
He looked at the wooden doors in front of him. He wasn't surprised that they seemed ancient like the other parts of the castle. He looked closer and realized that there were carvings on them.
Some were of angels, others of demons, hell, heaven, humans, and wraiths. The very sight of them mesmerized him until they swung open.
She was a senior with long auburn hair and hazel eyes. Isaac guessed she was the secretary.
"You can go in," she said.
Isaac took a deep breath and walked into Blanc's office. The doors closed behind him as if they were electrical.
His office was majestic. It had seven giant mosaic windows of hooded figures chained up.
The floor was decorated with the Jewish star.
"The first shape in this school that isn't a cross," Isaac commented.
The walls were lined with shelves of books, and there were five chairs placed in front of the desk at the end of the room.
Sitting at the desk was Blanc. He was wearing a grey suit and black tie. Isaac was beginning to wonder if the man ever wore anything casual.
He studied them intently and beckoned them to sit.
"I'm sorry for the ordeal last week," Blanc apologized.
Isaac had been waiting for that apology. "Which one?"
"You know which one I'm talking about," Blanc fired back with no emotion.
"What about the roof incident?"
The others were shocked. None of them knew Isaac had that amount of boldness in him. No one talked back at Blanc.
"That wasn't my fault, and I didn't encourage you to fall off the roof the second time."
"Still doesn't stop you from clearing the school of wraiths." He was beginning to enjoy the conversation.
"Where are they? You've done a very good job of clearing them out yourself."
He didn't have a comeback for that. Blanc had scored a point.
"An exorcising spree," Blanc said, resting back into his chair. "On your first night, I presume."
"Yet you were caught unaware by a fu -"
His voice failed him. It reminded him of the last spell his mother casted, and that calmed him.
"I will not tolerate that language in my office," Blanc warned sternly.
The words came out from his mouth, but their sound didn't. It was Blanc's doing.
"Serves you right," Audrey giggled.
Isaac clenched his fist, and Leo sighed. Meanwhile, Reyna was indifferent to the rambling.
"So about Bloody Mary," Blanc sighed. "So this entity trapped students in mirrors. It possessed Audrey Reed, one of our best students -"
Isaac saw her flick her hair at the corner of his eye. As if being possessed was something she should be proud of.
"-and it took on the form of Ethan Crest. Moreover, before it possessed Audrey, it had no host, living that is."
They all nodded.
Blanc furrowed his eyebrows.
"Let's start with wraiths. They are souls of the dead, creatures that latch on to humans and, in some cases, animals. They have neither purpose nor motive. They just devour. Those are wraiths," Blanc explained. "What must be on your minds now, is that 'Are demons just wraiths but more advanced?'"
A beep erupted in the room. As if Blanc was expecting the interruption.
"Yes?" Blanc asked.
"It's time for the meeting," a voice replied.
Blanc checked his watch. "Seems so?"
They left the office and headed to their next class.
*****
It was one class Isaac hated. P.E
He had no problem with it. He was fit and didn't mind exercising. It wasn't the classes he hated. He just hated the teacher.
Isaac had learned three things about Payne since he entered the school.
One, never come late to class.
Two, never be noticed.
Most importantly, don't anger Major Payne.
And he broke all three of them at once when he opened the gym doors. He wasn't exactly late, but the last to enter the class was considered to be late. He closed the doors loudly, and everyone stared at him.
Payne was a huge man with intimidating muscles. He had pitch black eyes and greying black hair, which he always kept short. His pale skin didn't help. He looked like an action figure.
Isaac wondered why a retired general was hired in a school. Once you got on his bad side, it was the end of you. Students who pissed him up usually ended up in the infirmary.
"You're late, Wade," Payne yelled with the veins on his head bulging. "Where was I before I was interrupted? Oh yes, today's class is all about combat simulations. "
"This is required for students to learn in this institution," he explained. "This will help you in situations where your parents' money won't be of use to you."
"What kind of -" Isaac began, but he caught himself.
"Wade, thank you for volunteering," Payne bellowed. "Move to the front of the class."
He gulped and did as he was told.
"Reed step forward."
Adrien grinned and stepped forward proudly.
"You're so dead halfbreed," Adrien scowled.
Isaac sighed. If only Adrien knew that Isaac had saved the whole school from Bloody Mary, but knowing Adrien he would only be more pissed. The spoilt brat didn't have an ounce of compassion him. It definitely ran in the family.
"You know how to fight, Wade?" Payne asked.
Isaac didn't reply.
"I'll take that as a yes," said Payne. "The combat ends when one of you is unable to fight; that is unconscious. Got that?"
Isaac was confused now. What was the point of fighting until one was unconscious? Was this a test or he was being evaluated? This school sure was different.
"So no other rules?" Isaac asked.
"Begin!" Payne yelled.
Adrien moved faster than Isaac could imagine. Before he knew it he was on the ground coughing out blood with the whole class laughing at him. He watched Adrien walk away. No regular 16 year old could hit that hard.
Then it hit him.
Payne had been so clear in his explanation but Isaac just didn't process it. Adrien was a full fledged exorcist but Isaac wasn't going to lose either.
He chuckled as he got up. He dusted his shorts and wiped the blood off his lips.
"Bring it on, Reed!"