The history paper was finally coming along. Or at least it stopped being a little shit. The first draft was done. I could edit tomorrow.

  I sighed and laid back on my bed and covered my eyes. At least something had gone right today. A little longer and the day would be over. One more day closer to the end of the year.

  Was it too early to start a countdown?

  It felt too early. It wasn’t even a month into the school year. We were barely into the third week.

  Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.

  No.

  No.

  I was here. I made it this far. I was not going to be stopped by something this trivial. So what if the whole school knows I have human parentage? So what if I can’t cast a spell on command or use a rune?

  Giving up means letting Albenion win. And screw that noise.

  It is going to be okay, Serafina.

  My thoughts were shattered by my ComMirror singing Oingo Boingo’s “Weird Science.”

  I tapped the glass, causing it to ripple and reveal my father’s face.

  “Hey Dad!”

  “Hello Serafina.”

  Uh oh. “What’s wrong?”

  “Parents can sign up for the school paper. Yes, your mother did.”

  I flinched.

  “You read it then?” he asked. His voice was calm, but I could hear the measuredness of it.

  “Some. Enough to get the gist of the piece. Decided the rest wasn’t worth my time.”

  “I didn’t. Your mother incinerated it. She’s outside by way.”

  “Don’t worry about it. The guy who wrote it has had his ‘privileges suspended’ according to Professor Vivian Hearth.”

  “You spoke with her?”

  “I guess she wanted to check in, given what happened. Also, all of my friends are trouble makers.”

  “Are you sure I shouldn’t be worried?”

  “It’s fine. All harmless.”

  “Define harmless, please.”

  “Graffiti. And talking centipedes.”

  Dad laughed. “Graffiti? Really?”

  “The guy responsible for the article is a Pegasus. Because of course the newspaper staff is filled with the gossips. And because this friend and I are Dragons and the article is about our Tower, she decided to paint a Pegasus that lost a fight with a Dragon right over the door to Pegasus Tower. It was lovely. And brutal.”

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  Dad whistled. “Glad to hear you’re making friends. I was worried, but you’re settling in better that I thought you would.”

  “You and me both. I was expecting maybe one or two people willing to put up with my nonsense but apparently there’s a whole Tower of crazies. Lucky me.”

  “I’m happy for you. Your mother is too, once she calms down enough from this morning’s excitement.”

  “She burn anything else?”

  “Just the paper. But the cicadas have been very quiet today.”

  I chuckled. “You must be thrilled.”

  “While I worry for Lucinda’s blood pressure, I can’t argue with getting a little peace and quiet.”

  “You should take her to that smoothie place she likes. Triple berry and kale should help.”

  “Maybe once she’s a little calmer. Tell me more about your friends.”

  “Celica’s the one responsible for the graffiti. Fethris is cool, he’s…I don’t know. He nice to just be around.”

  “Ah. This must be the part where I’m glad you’ll never want to rant to me about boys.”

  “You’re the one who wanted to know!”

  “It’s okay. I’m just happy you know that your mother and I will always care. It’s not that my life didn’t have meaning until Lucinda, but I would never trade either of you for anything.”

  “Even a daughter who gets crushes?”

  “I wasn’t joking. I’m much more at ease knowing you aren’t running around with some other trouble-finding teen. It has certainly helped me get some sleep while you’re away.”

  I smiled. “Thanks Dad.”

  “Is that Serafina? Does she look upset? Do I have to go over there?”

  I laughed. “I’m okay Mom.”

  “Did you read that trash?”

  I still couldn’t see her face but her voice came in clear enough.

  “I cannot believe this! What was anyone thinking letting that garbage go to print! You did put in a complaint right?!”

  “It’s already been handled. Vivian Hearth has been handing out punishments like candy today.”

  “Not to you, I hope.”

  “No. I’m in the clear.”

  “Good. The woman still has sense in her head.”

  “Serafina’s friends are apparently about as happy with all of this as you are,” Dad decided to add.

  Mom’s face peered over Dad’s shoulder. “What happened?”

  “One of my friends, Russel Kingsley, made a bunch of floating skulls to mess with the people responsible.”

  “Kingsley?” Mom mumbled.

  “He’s like me. Kind of. His Mom’s a human, but he’s adopted.”

  Mom’s eyes went wide and then she started to laugh. “That Kingsley? Of course, you’ve made friends with him. Skulls? Floating ones? Clever for a first-year. On-command summons are usually a third-year thing. Do you know how many?”

  I shrugged. “Enough for Vivian Hearth to complain about it.”

  “I bet today was an ice rum day.” Mom was chuckling.

  “A what?”

  “She used to tease that she had a secret bottle of Frost Troll Ice Rum hidden in her desk. On really bad or stressful days she’d pour herself some. Not that she ever let anyone see her do that.”

  Dad started to smirk and then turned to Mom. “And how many times have you snuck into her office to see if it was true?”

  “I plead the fifth?”

  I laughed again.

  Mom turned her attention to me. “It’s good to hear you so happy. I was worried we’d call and find you huddled up in a corner. Or worse, we’d get a call asking us to come get you ‘cause you got yourself expelled.”

  “No expulsion. And no crying. I’m handling it. I’m going to be okay. I am okay. Really. I’m okay.”

  Mom didn’t look as convinced as I would have liked. Dad’s face remained neutral.

  Oh boy.

  “I feel better now. I really do.”

  “You’re not just saying that to make us feel better?”

  “I’m not,” I smiled.

  (*********)

  I had strange dreams that night. I could see her. The girl in red clearly as I had that day in Dragon Tower. She was standing there in an endless black abyss, still and with her hand out-reached for me.

  I reached out for her in turn, but something was pulling me back.

  She wasn’t moving, but she was getting further away.

  Who are you? What are you?

  (*********)

  The next day was better. Though that wasn’t saying much. Pixie Tower was back to its usual obnoxious antics. It was strange being grateful that everyone was yelling at each other. But at least it was happy yelling.

  Ugh. This place was growing on me like a fungus. Those professors better hurry up and reopen Dragon Tower soon.

  I couldn’t imagine anyone would keep us where us where we were after everything that happened yesterday. I think the others proved once and for all that they-we-didn’t belong where we were.