Please take a seat.” The female officer gestured toward the all too familiar waiting room of the Headmistress’s office before following her male partner back out into the hall. Their walkie talkies crackled. Someone in the village had lost a sheep.
The green cushion slowly deflated as Rhian sat down. This was her third visit this week. Soon she’d be on a first name basis with the secretary; a kind old woman who was currently asking another student, across the room, if he’d care for a tea or coffee.
“That’d be lovely,” the student answered “Tea, please. Milk no sugar.”
It was Alaric. What was Alaric doing being questioned by the police, was he a suspect? Was she? Rhian requested a tea as well when asked, though she wasn’t in the mood for one. Her head was already jumbled with anxious thoughts. She knew she wasn’t behind the attacks and there was no way Alaric was involved. He was too good a guy.
“Thanks.”
Rhian shot a look to Alaric. He half-grinned back.
“I never suspected you either,” he said inside of her head.
Why are you here?
“My roommate.”
Rhian raised a brow. Alaric didn’t have a roommate. His telepathy made the others students weary about bunking with him. Nervous he’d see their pervy dreams or something.
Alaric smirked and Rhian realised he was still reading her thoughts.
“Joo-won. The new student from South Korea. Late entry. I believe you met him.”
The Gumiho? Rhian took a sharp breath. Is he…
“Missing.”
Rhian brought her hand to her mouth. Two students targeted in one day.
“No,” said Alaric. “Not like the other students. All of his stuff is missing too. He’s left.”
No way. Rhian tried to think back to their meeting in the library. There didn’t seem to be anything suspicious about him, other than being very attractive — which Gretchen warned was part of his ability. Could he be the one killing her classmates? Gretchen did say Gumihos ate gizzards or something and could shape shift. Maybe he shape shifted into her when he went after Sabina and that was why Braith claimed to have seen her.
“Livers,” corrected Alaric, eavesdropping again. “and come now, Rhian. Just because Joo-won is descended from a Gumiho doesn’t mean he eats livers. You don’t hoard treasure and steal beautiful maidens, do you?”
“What are you talking about?” Rhian said aloud, earning her an odd look from the secretary who was returning with their teas.
“You know, because you’re descended from a dragon? It’s a stereotype about dragons, I apologise if I’ve offended you.” Alaric’s eyes slowly widened. He turned away and looked at his lap. “Ah… you didn’t know. I presumed you did. The administration does. It’s where your fire ability comes from. But back to the matter at hand, no. Joo-won can’t shape shift into other people and he was still in Korea when the disappearances started.”
Then why did he run?
“Spooked I guess.”
The Heddlu returned with another student whom they requested sit and took Alaric into the office.
The new arrival stared down at his knees. He tucked his mousy brown hair behind an ear, revealing a light dusting of freckles across his face. Rhian didn’t recognise him which meant he didn’t have a special ability — else she would have seen him in Ms Landeg power controlling class. Would that make him safer? Mrs Mackerel had said the spider golem was syphoning awen and stealing abilities. Or did it make him a suspect?
The other student noticed her staring and raised an eyebrow. Rhian snapped her eyes back to her own lap.
“They found him,” Alaric updated her through the walls. “At a Bed and Breakfast in Carmarthen.”
Rhian nodded. It was strange having someone speak inside her mind. While she appreciated the information, she really needed to think privately about things — like, was she really descended from a dragon? Why didn’t anyone tell her? Did her Dad know? What was the word Alaric had told her to banish a telepath? Would it be rude to use it now? Did he hear this?
“I’m sorry,” said Alaric. “its bod yn mynd. I don’t normally invade people’s heads. I’m just… it’s a strange situation. I’m sorry, Rhian.”
Yep. He heard it. And she’d made him sad. Grez would never forgive her.
“One more thing though, and then I want you to think bod yn mynd and banish me. Sabina is alive.”
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Rhian sat up straight. Are you sure? I saw her being carried out. She was covered by a sheet.
“They wanted to hide her face. There was a… significant injury. She’s in serious condition, but she’s alive. And you know what that means?”
It meant her friend was still alive. There was still hope. Relief washed over her.
“It means,” Alaric said, answering his own question, “she might be able to tell us who attacked her.”
Of course! And not just her; whoever attacked Sabina was most likely behind all the attacks. How do you know this?
“Your thoughts aren’t the only ones leaking out. Now say the words, please.”
Bod yn mynd.
Rhian’s mind went quiet. She mouthed the words thank you to Alaric as the male officer led him out of the office and into the hall. He tipped his head as to say you’re welcome.
The heddlu brought her in next. The female officer in the bowler cap smiled from behind the headmistress’ polished oak desk. The headmistress loomed in the corner of the room wearing a black frock and a stern expression.
Rhian took a seat in an uncomfortable wooden chair. It was Braith’s fault she’d been brought in. The police took turns asking questions about Sabina. How long had they known each other? Did the two of them ever have any disagreements or fights? Was there anyone who might want to hurt Miss Begum?
It seemed they knew nothing about the other students and were only aware of Sabina due to the ambulance being called. The headmistress butted in on occasion to stir the conversation away from the supernatural and spiders. The entire meeting was a farce.
Seemingly satisfied they were getting nowhere, the officers excused themselves leaving Rhian alone with the school head.
Where most people might smooth down their unmanageable hair, the headmistress flicked her silver mane out. She tsked and lowered herself into her rightful seat.
“There’s another matter we need to discuss before I can allow you back to your quarters, Miss Peregrine.”
“Okay.” Rhian’s jaw tightened to keep her from saying something she might regret, because there was a multitude of things she’d like to discuss as well, starting with what is the school doing to catch the psycho attacking students and why were they failing so hard.
“I’m afraid, in the best interest of the school, that I must exclude you from attending classes for the time being.”
The warmth inside Rhian chilled. “You what?”
“Other students have raised concerns. They feel uncomfortable with your presence, given your connection with the on-going situation.”
Rhian was gobsmacked. “Braith was lying. Or mistaken. I wasn’t in her room. I’ve never been in her room.”
The headmistress raised a palm to shush her. Each finger of her hand wore a ring. “Miss Evan’s outburst this morning aside, an incident between you and Mr Harris during the memorial was also reported — ”
“He wrote Afia a threatening letter before she was murdered.”
“Please allow me to finish. You also broke curfew and left the building without permission.”
“And found the spider. I saved Gretchen’s life! If I hadn’t gone searching for her, she’d have died because it’s quite clear that you are doing nothing to keep us safe!”
“Miss Peregrine, please calm yourself. That chair was a gift to this institution from Henry IIV.”
Rhian looked down to see steam rising off her. “Sorry.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “This is ridiculous. There is a killer out there, hunting us down one by one — ”
The headmistress raised her palm again. “I assure you, we are doing everything we can to ensure the perpetrator is caught. Until then, it is in everyone’s best interest, including your own, that you refrain from attending classes. You may still attend meals at the cafeteria and access the gym, library, and school grounds. You will be expected to maintain curfew. Do I have your understanding?”
“Sure.” Rhian gritted her teeth.
“Despite your circumstances, you’ll of course be expected to maintain an acceptable grade point average to continue attending here at Crymych. I suggest you use the time away from class for independent study and not consider it free time.”
“You can’t be serious. How am I supposed to teach myself?” Rhian struggled enough keeping up with the other year tens with the help of fully- fledged druids and bards to instruct her. It’d be impossible to progress on her own. If she wasn’t getting taught, why was she even there?
“Some students find they learn better when left to their own devices,” said the headmistress. “You may find you’re one of them.”
“And if I’m not? Who knows how long it’ll take you to find the one responsible. What if I — — will my parents be able to get a refund?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“What if I left now, could they be refunded for the rest of the year at least?”
“Miss Peregrine, it is not our policy to issue reimbursements for student places that have already been accepted and paid for. Frankly, it saddens me you’d so easily give up a rare opportunity such as attending this school over something as trivial as private study time.”
“You’re right.” Rhian glared. “Why should I let something as trivial as my friends being murdered and potential expulsion upset me? I should be cool about it — reptilian. After all, I have the blood of dragons. Isn’t that right?”
The headmistress raised an eyebrow. She wasn’t expecting that. Rhian gave a hard smirk.
“That’s right. You may go now, Miss Peregrine. I’ll let you know when circumstances change.”
Rhian stormed out. It was completely unfair. Concerns? Uncomfortable? She made a flame in her palm and extinguished it with a clenched fist. When she found out who was responsible, she’d — she’d do nothing. What could she do that wouldn’t get her in worse trouble? Her parents had sacrificed everything to get her into Crymych. If she was kicked out before even finishing her first year, what would they have to show for it?
Two girls stood outside Braith and Sabina’s room. They whispered when they saw her then scurried away. They’d left a pair of snowdrop flowers, with drooping white petals and soft green stalks, taped to the door. There were other items stuck around it, handmade cards, drawings, and handwritten letters. Sabina would be moved.
Rhian entered into her dorm. Gretchen still wasn’t there. Had she come back at all? Rhian walked over to Gretchen’s side of the room. It almost felt as if Grez was avoiding her. Which was strange, all things considered, and unfortunate, because Rhian could really do with talking to her. Her bed was neatly made. Two stacks of library tomes sat on her desk. And Rhian’s missing puffy coat lay on the floor beside her dresser. The coat Braith had said she saw Rhian wearing in her room before Sabina was attacked.