I watched the scene unfold, whispers were growing as the sniggers followed. Whispers of how the son of the devil was in trouble yet again. And the bad boy vampire, the biggest troublemaker of this school. Between the two of them, they'd caused a lot of mischief and were the bane of Emery's working life.
Emery was ready to march them off to her office yet again.
"Mrs Emery." I said as I stepped out to her.
"Miss Feldman I'm not in the mood for your interest in things that do not concern you."
"I'm afraid it does Mrs Emery."
I could feel the attention of the two near me perk up, watching with interest.
"I was in the library and I don't recall seeing Luca there. I did however see one of the Duroman kids in there."
"Are you suggesting that they have shifted for the purpose of framing Mister Delacroix?"
"I try not to assume things Mrs Emery. I merely observe my surroundings. I saw Luca meet with Brannon over there."
The woman looked to where I nodded my head, the corner where she'd found them whispering. She turned back with a menacing smile.
"Miss Feldman, is there a reason that you were following Mister Delacroix?"
"Yeah, he had a dark arts history book I was hoping to borrow for a few minutes."
Luca looked at the books in his hands, frowning at them.
"There's a chapter about the early fifteen hundreds that I needed to do some fact checking on."
"Alright Miss Feldman, you can attend the office as well. Once you have submitted a statement of facts that clears Mister Dremain and Mister Delacroix, I shall be satisfied. However, I am still required to notify their parents of the incident."
She gestured to the long corridor and waited for me to follow after Brannon and Luca. Did I really need to get involved with their misbehaviour? Did I need to have the whispers turn to me? No but I had my reasons.
Emery walked into the administration, not seeing Luca as he smiled at the receptionist. She flushed with pink cheeks, darting her gaze away. I wanted to smack her, he might be eighteen but that did not allow her to fall for his charms. Staff were set to a series of strict rules, harsh punishments would follow if the rules were broken and she'd broken at least three that I knew of.
Three chairs were placed in front of her desk, a piece of blank paper and a pen was thumped onto the desk for me. Emery looked at her watch as I pulled the chair closer, beginning to write the lie.
She watched me for the entire time as I tried to speed my way through it. I did not want to be here when Brannon's father turned up.
"I can assume that your parents are still at work so one call will be sufficient." She said as she looked at Luca.
The phone was pushed to Brannon. "Mister Dremain, make the call."
He dialled the number, I could hear it ringing and a deep male voice answered.
"Hey Igor." Brannon said a little reluctantly. "Yeah, at the office again... oh okay."
Brannon sheepishly held out the phone to Emery.
"Mister Dremain, I do not wish to speak with the chef in your kitchen again."
"My mother is asleep, she is days away from having a child and needs her rest. My father is in the pit."
"And what of Mister Delacroix parents?"
"Nick's in the pit with my father and Rowan's not there."
The woman glowered at Brannon and took the phone.
"Mister Rurikovic... yes I understand they are unavailable however you are not a suitable replacement for such times."
She huffed, rather annoyed.
"Yes, fine. However, I will be sending their parents an email."
Emery handed the phone back to Brannon, staring at him.
"Hey Igor."
Brannon rolled his eyes as he turned away from Emery's harsh gaze.
"No you don't need to come and get me. Igor?"
He looked at the phone a little exasperated and then hung up.
"Igor's coming to get us."
I quickly finished off the statement, signing it and waiting for Emery to let me leave. I didn't want to be here when the demon showed up. I had to go yet the woman seemed intent on making me stay.
The phone shrilled and I could feel the creeping dread fill me. Emery answered it, talking in her usual tone of annoyance.
"Send him in."
She hung up the phone and sat back on her chair, looking like she wanted to sigh.
"Mrs Emery, I am done."
"Thank you Miss Feldman."
"Can I go now?"
She said nothing which was more frustrating than a straight refusal. I could feel Brannon and Luca looking at me, still thoroughly confused as to why I was helping them. The door swung open and a behemoth of a man stood at the threshold, looking rather unimpressed.
"Good afternoon Mister Rurikovic, tell your master that I shall be forwarding the email soon. You may take them away."
Her hand flicked to the door as she became disinterested in the whole situation.
I tried to hold off moving until the demon had moved away but he stood and waited for me. Edging past him I felt the tingle of this kind when I got to close to them. He looked like a normal man, a little larger than most. He had a dull tanned skin, short spiked hair and a menacing face as he stared at Brannon and Luca.
"What you do now?" He said in the thickest Russian accent I've ever heard.
"I did nothing!" Brannon protested.
Their argument was what I had hoped would be enough for me to slip away but two rich ruby eyes found me. The demon tilted his head with slight confusion. It was obvious that I wasn't human, otherwise I wouldn't be here but the man didn't know what I was.
"Boys, who is your friend?"
Two sets of eyes swung to me, one set a deep green, the other set the deepest of reds.
"That's Emily." Luca offered.
"Why?" Brannon asked as he stalked closer. "Why did you help?"
"You know, I'm late for class. Got to go before I get detention."
I turned, only to have Brannon pull my arm back. As he stopped me I looked back at him. Deep black hair fell into those almost black eyes, a shimmer of red passed over them.
"I want to know why."
Shrugging I pulled my arm free of his grip.
"No reason."
Then I walked away as fast as I could without being obvious. Helping them was a mistake though I don't think that I realise how much of a mistake it was. This was going to come back and bite me on the ass big time.