Adler | The Aces of St.Sinclair BOOK 1.

Visit | A SIX

"Alright, you may go."

Right before I aimed to turn, I changed my mind and spoke up. "Actually, there's one thing I wanted to ask."

Headmaster Shepherd lifted an eyebrow. "Yes?"

My eyes absentmindedly glanced to the lamp. "I know you said that you needed me in Coeus because you don't want to take chances but why wasn't I threatened— 'influenced' to join last year?"

Headmaster Shepherd studied me and I grew antsy under her grim gaze. She contorted her lips and linked her fingers. "My, so curious lately... I see those Agatha Christie books you've been checking out is kindling the detective side of you huh?" She pulled off her reading glasses and retrieved a handkerchief from her breast pocket, giving them a quick polish. "Alright, I'll play along. The reason I didn't influence you last year Stevie was because there wasn't a threat then."

My brows drew together. "A threat?"

"Things are changing, dear. People grow more and more desperate to win. Gain recognition of their power to imprint in the eyes of society that they are superior,” she said.

"Really? That's shocking."

She dismissed my sarcastic comment and continued. "One miscreant has made a gamble to beat me and he's had tricks up his sleeves in the past, I won't let him have any openings so I need to pull out my aces."

I flinched at that part. I couldn't tell if it was just coincidental wording or she knew about Garren trying to get me as one of his puppets.

"I don't really understand what all that meant," I answered. "It was a bit cryptic."

"Well of course it was. If you're going to play detective, young lady, then be prepared to crack riddles. That's the fun in them."

Seeing that was all I was going to get out of the nutter, I clicked to my heels and exited the office. When school had ceased, I couldn't have been happier to get ready to pack for the weekend.

I'd spend it in the loving comfort of home and my family. Away from the academy, away from the crazy headmaster and away from The Aces.

**

My neighbourhood's block hadn't changed a single bit since I'd last visited. Granted, it was only three weeks ago but it felt significantly longer.

I found it amazing how the place was only a couple of miles from the academy's area but the ambiance was vastly different. In the upper class district, it was filled with extravagantly elegant houses and estates or mansions surrounded by bright green glass planes, artistic gardens with luxury cars shredding the roads by perfectly cemented pavements.

In my densely populated neighbourhood, the buildings consisted of dull, grey flats or bricked houses cramped together and there were more weeds than any flowers that grew on the soil. The closest thing to artistic decor around was the graffiti on lamp posts, walls or bus shelters. The pavements had more than a few cracks on every street and the fanciest car I'd ever seen on the sloped roads was a party limousine owned by a local night club.

It may not have been much in class but it was something.

I pushed the humble door of Barkley's and heard the gentle jingle of the bell followed by flour hitting my nose. I'm engulfed by warm hugs and bright smiles from my parents, along with the staff members who were just as close as family to me. It was an entertaining sight to see my mother act overly surprised by my visit in front of grandma too.

Who in fact, had on the closest thing to a welcoming visage she could muster as she approached me. "Hello, Stevie,” she spoke in that usual flat tone that one could never tell if it was patronising or disinterest. "Still no fetus in your womb, I take it?"