wanted your opinion I’d give it to you.”
Everyone turned to stare at Nathan and Leticia. Leticia was holding her ground, “I was merely making a suggestion. There’s no need to shout.”
“I don’t need your suggestions,” Nathan retorted, backhanding her.
There was a collective gasp and then a roar of anger as one of the older boys tackled Nathan. Eleanor was desperately trying to pull him away as Leticia stood rooted to the spot, tears welling in her eyes, her cheeks red with embarrassment and one throbbing with pain. “Please, Benjamin, no. Stop!” Eleanor was crying, still trying to no avail to pull him away.
“Don’t you ever hit my sister again,” Benjamin growled, punctuating each word with a well-aimed blow to Nathan.
“Benjamin.” Leticia’s voice was barely a whisper, but it carried over the entire room as the fairies swarmed in to pull the boys apart. “I know you’re just protecting me, but he is not worth your efforts. Leave him to the witches.”
“But look what he did to you,” he said, touching her cheek gently as angry tears rolled down his cheeks.
She covered his hand with hers. “I know, but the pain will stop, and the fairies will take care of this. Don’t stoop to his level. You’re too good a person.”
“Normally, Nathan,” Calista said, fury evident in her tone, “I try to take care of punishment and discipline privately. But you have committed your last offence in my school.” As Althea entered the room she continued, “After Althea has set your punishment, you will gather your belongings and leave Charming Academy, never to return. I will not tolerate the abuse of our princesses within my walls. Never in over three thousand years of existence has this school ever been so shamefully represented. What kind of example are you setting for the younger boys? I cannot afford for them to believe that such behavior is ever acceptable. What kind of message are you sending the princesses who visit? I cannot afford for you to fill their hearts with fear and distrust and pain. You have disgraced my school and yourself. Althea, he is yours to do with as you see fit.”
Althea glared at Nathan. “We meet again, prince. In all our years, the Sisters have never had a prince that each of us have had to punish multiple times. In all your punishments, you have yet to learn the lesson. You are still the same uncouth child you were upon your arrival. Every word of anger, every act of malice, every feeling of loathing,” she said, her hair billowing as the white stone on her crown began to glow and her eyes darkened to coal black, “will be shown as a scar on your body. Every lash of the tongue a lash on your back. Every evil thought a pockmark on your face. Every hurtful act a source of pain to you forever.”
Blinding white light surrounded Nathan and several princes shielded their princesses from the glare. Lucian turned Moira away as Adrian did the same with Allegra. Neither knew what would happen, but didn’t want his princess to witness it. Many covered their ears as howls of pain emitted from where Nathan was standing amidst the blinding light. When the light faded, no one would have recognized Nathan in the hideous form before them. He howled again before running from the room, his gait lopsided and limping.
Calista stopped Althea from leaving. “We have another student to deal with.”
“Please, Calista,” Leticia pleaded. “Don’t punish Benjamin. He was trying to protect me, as a gentleman would protect the women he loves. I’m not saying that his actions were right, but they came from good intentions and a loving heart.”
Smiling slightly, Althea said, “A gentleman does indeed protect and revere the women in his life. But he must also show self-restraint. Have no fear; your brother’s punishment will be small in comparison to your prince.”
Benjamin put a gentle hand on Leticia’s shoulder. “My actions were out of control. I deserve punishment. But I appreciate you standing up for me.”
“You’re my brother. I’ll always stand up for you.”
Calista and Althea walked out with Benjamin while several of Leticia and Eleanor’s friends surrounded the sisters. Soon the tone in the gym returned to normal as people continued to play and talk together. Lucian knew no one would forget the fate Nathan had brought upon himself. He was sure he’d have nightmares of the scarred, hideous face that had glowered at them as Nathan had run from the room. He was glad that at least Moira and Allegra wouldn’t have to remember that face.
As the gym emptied slightly while first and second year students went to eat lunch, the group of friends sat together in front of one of the fireplaces, having exhausted the games they wished to play. Eleanor was sitting close to Leticia. They had left long enough for Eleanor to help powder Leticia’s face. Even with the dusting of rouge and powder, the bruise Nathan left was still visible. No one mentioned it to her and she did not bring it up; no one wanted to. When it was time for the rest of the students to go to lunch, Benjamin and his princess, Grace, went with the friends. No one mentioned the unsightly wart on Benjamin’s nose. They knew it would go away soon enough. A silent conversation passed between brother and sister. Lucian knew that Leticia was assuring her brother that she really was alright. Laughter soon spread over the table. Benjamin was much like his sisters; kind, smiling and full of laughter. The meal continued pleasantly and then the third year students, as well as Clarissa and Allegra who were told that since their princes were third year students, they would follow their schedule, went upstairs to wait for their interviews. Most of the parents had begun arriving. Queen Lavinia was there and showered Moira with praise before greeting Adrian. “Looks like you’ve grown again,” she said, her voice strained. “We’ll have to go to the tailor for new trousers.”
“Yes, Mother, Lucian will need to come too,” Adrian replied.
She nodded as Calista called both Adrian and Lavinia to her office for their end of semester interview. Lucian looked curiously at Moira who shook her head. Instead, Allegra began talking to Moira about how they would get to Traifloran for the art competition. “Don’t worry,” Moira said, “I’ve already talked with Mother about it. We’ll all be going up. I was thinking of entering anyway, so I told Mother to take care of both our fees.”
“How could you have known I would decide to enter? I just made the decision this morning.”
“I’m your best friend, that’s how. I knew you couldn’t resist the temptation, especially with everything going on.”
Soon Adrian left the office, but Lavinia stayed behind. “What’s going on?” Moira asked.
Adrian shrugged, “Calista said she needed to speak with Mother privately for a moment.”
Not long after, Lavinia left the room, looking as though she’d swallowed a lemon. Thankfully Moira was called to go to the office Melantha was borrowing and she took her mother with her. Lucian wasn’t given time to ponder this as Calista called for him.
As she shut the door behind them, Calista said, “I’ll be having our conversation recorded so that I can mail it to your parents. I do wish that they could be here, but understand that under the circumstances they need to be where they are.” A pen on Calista’s desk was busily writing every word she said on a piece of lavender parchment. “Not every word. Wait until I start the interview,” she scolded. The parchment was suddenly wiped clean and the pen seemed to be looking innocently at Calista. She glared at it before saying, “Now, Lucian, how would you say this semester has gone?”
“It’s been hard,” he admitted at length. “I allowed myself to get discouraged, but then I thought of what my dad would want. It helped give me the strength to really do my best. I’m still a little behind, at least I think so. But I’m working hard now.”
“According to your teachers, you are doing remarkably well, despite your lapse in work. I’ve heard only positives from all of them. Raphael says that you are making progress in your right-handed work, even if you’re having trouble seeing it. He requests that you spend some time over the break practicing. I believe Adrian will be able to work with you. Vulcan says he expects you to continue to do extremely well in his class,” she added.
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“Really? I didn’t think anyone was doing well. I mean, no one has beat Drone…I mean, Draconus at all.”
She laughed, “I see he’s earned his nickname once again. Back to the topic though, my understanding is that you are getting closer than your peers to being able to defeat him. Vulcan did say to beware of anger. Attacking in anger allows the dragon to have the upper hand. It distracts you. Keep your mind clear while you’re fighting. I’m proud of you, Lucian; you have done very well in spite of the challenges that have faced you this semester.”
“I’m only here because of Dad,” he said, hoping that the pen would continue writing. “Dad was the one who saw the Prince Charming in me. I think it’s because he’s a Prince Charming himself, underneath it all.”
Calista smiled and picked the pen up before setting it, motionless, back on the desk. “Nicely phrased, Lucian. And your point has been taken. I do hope that during the break you will take the opportunity to better acquaint yourself not only with your princess, but also with Adrian. I realize that you are already friends, but there is much that you can still learn about each other. Perhaps this winter, you’ll be able to solve some of the puzzles you’ve been dealing with.” When Lucian stared at her in disbelief, she