Chapitre 16: Chapter 14

He closed the book, carefully tucking it back in the bookcase, and looked at Jayde. Seeing her expression, Mr. Crea smiled and stood. “Alright, Miss. Vaninee, I think we’ll be done for the day. You look as if you’ll pass out if you learn anymore.”

Jayde took a deep breath as she met his laughing, gentle eyes. She smiled a bit, then stood, gathering her things. Glancing at the clock, she had another thirty minutes before lunch. Maybe she could go to the library and check out a book or two to read.

When she looked back up, Mr. Crea was back at his desk, reading, probably sensing how overwhelmed she felt. She slung her backup up onto her shoulder and left the classroom, walking back down the hallway to the library. Her mind felt garbled, trying to process the reality of her life as she thought over both history lessons. It was a lot to take in, honestly, and she felt like running away from the whole thing.

She ended up sitting outside of the library on a bench, leaning against the wall as she processed the information she’d been given.

Jayde ended up sitting there for the whole half hour, just rerunning her classes through her mind. It was hard for her to really grasp the reality of the world she was in. Where elves were real, students had pointy fangs or wispy wings, and she was a vampire.

Thankfully the time went fast, and Ophelia was soon dropping onto the bench next to her, a sympathetic smile on her face. “You look pale. Too much information in history today?”

“History was okay, fun,” Jayde sighed and looked at her friend. “It was the addition of vampire lore on top of the history class that got me. I’m sure tomorrow Mr. Crea has a lot more fun information for me about vampires.”

Pheli laughed and jumped to her feet, pulling Jayde up with her. The hall was starting to crowd as students of all shapes and sizes started converging on the cafeteria. “I’m sure you’re right! For now, let's just grab some food and talk about clothes.”

Jayde let out a breath, nodding slowly. She could talk about clothes. She didn’t have to stare at the student with fire for hair, or the tiny fairy that was fluttering about everyone. She walked forward, intending to get food and find a quiet space to eat. Pheli helped her get through the crowd, distracting her from the green-blue elf with gills, and then found a quiet corner to tuck themselves into. Jayde sat with her back to the rest of the cafeteria, feeling shaken. She didn’t end up eating much, either, but a little bit of food was better than none.

“Alright, they serve dinner between five o’clock and nine o’clock typically,” Pheli chattered as they placed their trays on a conveyor belt. “I like to eat about six, you?”

“Six is fine,” Jayde muttered.

Pheli smiled and wrapped an arm around Jayde’s left arm, guiding her out of the cafeteria swiftly. They quietly walked to their next class, English. Jayde was thankful it was her last class of the day, looking forward to hiding away in her room. At least they had finished eating early and were going to just sit in the classroom until it started. It would give her a chance to calm down.

As they walked up the stairs, Mr. Sharie appeared at the top. He smiled and nodded at both girls, and both of them nodded back. He waited for them to pass him before he headed down the stairs, seeming to even float over the steps. Jayde couldn’t hear any of his steps either. Creepy.

They continued down the hall, passing classrooms. Pheli had started humming softly, checking her phone, and Jayde remembered she’d left her phone in her room. Didn’t make a difference since she didn’t have anyone she wanted to talk to besides Pheli.

When they walked into the classroom, Jayde came to a roaring stop though. At the front of the room, standing by the chalkboard, was a horse-woman. Literally a horse with the top half of a human female where it’s head would normally be. She had long auburn hair pulled half up, and when she turned to look at them, Jayde noticed her eyes were a light purple-gray.

She didn’t have the will to keep her jaw from dropping, so stood there staring with her mouth open. Her head felt a little heavy, and she barely heard the thud of her bag as it slid off her shoulder to the floor.

“Oh dear,” the woman set her chalk and book down, dusting her hands off. She had a brogue, a Scottish accent, that made Jayde blink in surprise. “Ye’ve nah seen the likes o’ me before, have ye? Ophelia, help her over to the desk afore she falls.”

Pheli grabbed her arm and almost had to drag her to a chair. Jayde glanced at her friend, wonder and disbelief still in her eyes as Pheli made her sit. “Is it real?”

“Och, I told headmaster ye needed another day or two afore ye went to classes. Shoulda met ye sooner, I suppose,” the woman stepped closer, hooves making small clicking sounds on the tiles. “I’m Canna of the Highlands, yer English professor. Call me Mz. Canna.”

Jayde nodded her head, feeling numb as she stared at Canna. What was a half-horse, half-human called again? She was sure she had been told stories about them, but for the life of her she couldn’t remember what her mother had called them. The males and females had slightly different names, but there was also a name that encompassed all of them, like how the Fae encompassed any creature considered a fairy, or pixie, or whatever.

Clicking came from the hallway, then a boy was walking into the room. Jayde’s eyes widened as she realized he had the top half of a human and the bottom half of… something with hooves and fur. She must have made some kind of noise because the boy looked at her, eyes going wide with surprise, and the teacher started for her, right before she fell over in a dead faint.

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