Despite highly suspecting the reason behind my day-to-day panic attacks, Rhea’s eyebrows shot up so high up her face, I almost feared they would fly off.
After recovering from her shock, she raised her hand to her forehead and massaged her fingers against it. I could tell the situation was stressing her out. She took several deep breaths before she spoke.
“That despicable boy,” Rhea muttered, “That little - pardon my language - piece of shit. I can’t believe he’s still bothering you.”
I nodded in agreement. “It’s always been that way between us. Ever since we met, he’s been desperate for my attention. I don’t know what he wants, but I want nothing to do with him.”
That was a lie.
I knew what Jude wanted. I've known from the very moment I accidentally walked into the Forbidden Room. However, I wasn't about to discuss it with Rhea. Something told me that what I had witnessed during that time could not be brought up so casually.
As much as I trusted Rhea, I wasn't too sure it was wise to reveal how much I knew about Jude.
Not yet, anyways.
Rhea reached into her pocket and pulled out a cigarette.
“Mind if I smoke?” she asked.
“It's alright. It's not as if you'll get in trouble if you get caught, anyways.”
Rhea chuckled, sounding somewhere between worried and amused. She lifted a finger towards the cigarette and with a snap of her finger, ignited it. A spark of red fire danced on the tip of her finger before making its way into lighting the cigarette.
No matter how many times I've seen her perform that, it always astounded me at how awesome, how weird it looked. I mean, it's not every day you see someone lighting a cigarette by snapping their fingers.
“I don't even know why I'm still working here,” Rhea was saying, gradually scratching off her nurse-like attitude and acting like her genuine self. “The pay's terrible and the school's downright ridiculous. There are only two positive things about this place. One: nobody seriously gives a flying shit if staff breaks the rules.”
A snort escaped my mouth. Rhea picked on it easily.
“Ah, come on, Damian. You can't play innocent anymore. Even the rats of St. Vanhill Academy know about the affair between the principal and the janitor. As a member of the staff faculty, I am in no position to bring up these type of subjects with a student, yet I'm close to losing my shit here. Really.”
“Why don't you quit then?” Curiosity got the better of me and I asked the question I've always been meaning to know the answer to.
Rhea took a drag out of her cigarette, turned sideways and blew the smoke towards the walls. “I recall my stating there were two positive things about this shithole. One of them was I would not receive any severe penalties if I violated the school's rules. Not that I worry my act won't leak one day, but you get what I mean.”
“Then, what's the second part?”
“You, of course.”
I blushed. Now this was the Rhea nobody knew about. She appeared kind and dignified to pretty much the entire school, but to me, she was down to earth and blunt. I liked that about her. I liked her character very much. To hell with Nicolas and the rest of her crushers. What if Rhea Malakai reciprocated my feelings? What if we -
“Because you're like the brother I should have been blessed with, instead of that psychopath,” she finished.
Oh. Ouch.
Okay...
I quickly tried to change the subject. “No offense to you or other sorcerers of this world, Rhea, but Jude...I-I just can’t deal with him,” I said much too quickly. My face grew hot and I was hoping she wouldn't notice how hurt I was.
Rhea did not seem fazed at all by my attempt to hide my disappointment. In fact, she rapidly switched back to her professional tone, as business-like as ever. “Indeed, my little brother has always been quite troublesome. However, there is no need to worry so much.”
“So, he really is far away from here, right? There’s no way he could just track down my address and - I gulped - take me back, right?” Just the thought alone was enough to cause me to start hyperventilating. No. Not with Jude again.
Rhea placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, instantly washing down my worries. “Relax, Damian. Take a deep breath and relax. Everything will be alright.”
I obeyed and after a while, my heartbeat went back to normal.
“After we discovered what he did to you, with the addition of that incident, he’s been placed on lockdown. Even after he managed to figure out a way to ensure that the police does not get involved, there is absolutely no way for him to leave, unless he's granted special permission from our parents.”
I must have made a face because Rhea quickly added, “Of course, I do not believe they would allow him to patrol the streets alone anymore. Nobody noticed it at first, but we're all watching him. After proper examination, it was concluded that he's...he’s not quite there in the head.”
She paused, and then flicked her unlit cigarette out the open window, behind her. “He called you only twice this month, correct?”
I nodded.
“He must have smuggled his phone from its hiding place. I will need to verify that with our parents. Again…” Rhea looked at me and smiled sadly, “It’s okay, Damian. I won’t let Jude hurt you again. I was blind before, and I sincerely apologize for my incompetence, but right now, I am on your side. You were exposed to witchcraft, and sworn to secrecy at such a young age. I cannot even begin to imagine how you must have felt throughout all these years. I will do my best to ensure you and your grandmother’s safety. As always, I will remain hidden behind the shadows.”
Rhea knew as well as I did that the world of sorcery was a subject that many people believed were nothing but fiction. Nonetheless, magic was present, in every shape and size.
According to Rhea, there weren’t many sorcerers left in the world. About 1 in a billion were born every year, so they were quite rare. And it was even more uncommon for non-sorcerers to be aware of their existence, and to actually encounter them without the masks they wore to integrate within society.
Rhea lifted her wrist and checked her watch. “Well, I have an appointment. I also think it would be wise of you to head home, as soon as you deem fit. Remember the rules, Damian. Never speak about what happened that night to anyone, or it will endanger your life and the lives of the people you care about. And most important of all, if Jude ever tries to reach you again -
“Don’t answer the phone and contact you immediately,” I interrupted, “I know.”
Rhea raised an eyebrow, “Just making sure.”
And with that, she slipped out of the room, leaving me deep in my thoughts.
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