Chapter 5: Almost There..

The past few days have been quite normal. My dorm still feels uneasy at times. I don't think I'll ever know why or how I ended up getting hit in the head...

Classes are okay too. The new students were just as my friends said they were. Taryn was really talkative for someone with her background (parents abandoning them, remember?) The twins kept to themselves for the most part. Jazz was right though. Not only was the fire school twin 'hot', all three had stunning appearances.

Now that the level cap has increased to 70, Dworgan has been prepping all the level 68 death students for  Dr. Von's Monster, the new spell. It was really boring for those who didn't need to learn it, so at the lunch break I decided I'd ditch the rest of the day. It's not like I'm learning anything yet.
I slipped out of Nightside and stumbled through the water. I continued on toward Unicorn Way. No one goes to Unicorn Way when they ditch. I'll be safe there.
It was easy getting in because the guards were trading posts and the one who usually stands by the gate to Unicorn Way had left. I go in. Hmm. Even the usual guard who stands in front of Unicorn park wasn't there...

No one is here. Not the Pvp guy or Diego, or the merchant.
Pushing the fact away, I walk to the little river in Unicorn Park. Quickly, I notice there is another student there. A boy with blue hair and looks to be from the School of Ice (as anyone would assume) wearing my favorite style of WC clothing: Elegant. He was sitting across the river with his knees pulled up to his chest.
My maternal side kicks in and my heart longs to see if he's alright. Acting on that, I noisily and clumsily attempt to cross the river. He watches me. By the time I had fallen over three times in the same spot, amusement had painted a smile on his lips and he got up to help me.
I see his face is flushed.

"Thanks" I say once we are situated. He only nods shyly sending blue hair over his face. Trying to avoid awkward silences, I attempt to start a conversation.
"So, er, you, I mean, w-what are you doing here?"
"Same thing you're doing. Ditching." he mumbled avoiding eye contact.
"Oh, cool. Um, I'm Courtney-"
"I'm not looking for any friendships." Damn. Wasn't he grinning just a moment ago? The boy gets up to leave. With a sudden wave of courage I grab his hand before he can go anywhere.
He paused and glared at me. For the first time I saw his eyes. They are are very light shade of blue. An unnatural kind of color. I can tell he's not blind, but they could be mistaken for that.

Once we made eye contact, he snatched his hand away from my grip.
"What do you want from me?"
Slightly offended, I murmur "I want to know your name"
He glares at me more. "Dakota Frostheart. I thought you knew who I was?"
"No. Why should I?" I return with a hostile tone.
"Doesn't everyone know the new students?"
"I'm not everyone." He's the Ice twin?
I looked down. He stood thinking.

"If that's all you want I'm go-" Dakota was interrupted by a guard who angrily barreled over to us.

"YOU THERE! GOOD FOR NOTHING DELINQUENTS!" He cursed at us and took us by our sleeves. "Skipping class?! You ought to be expelled! How can the people of Wizard City feel comfortable trusting the spiral to kids like you?"

The large man tore us from the ground and walked toward Headmaster Ambrose's Office dragging us behind him. I glanced at Dakota. His face is a light shade of crimson. I laugh aloud at how small he looks compared to the guard. He frowns at me, but it slowly fades into the shy smile he'd shown me earlier.
I feel the grip on my sleeve tighten before the large brute decided I should be thrown on the ground in front of him.
I don't move for a moment.  A trusted Wizard City guard throwing a student on the ground is shocking. He even looks proud of himself. The man got a hold of my hair and pulled up. It hurt like hell, so as he yanked at my head, I moved around accordingly to help take away some of the pain. He growled in delight and glared at me.
"Don't look so shocked Miss. Deathwhisper. You know what happened." He took a hold of my arm and jolted onward.

He left us outside Ambrose's office and went in alone. Dakota and I sat in a rather mocking silence. I wonder what possessed that guard to throw me on the ground for laughing.

After some time, we are called into the Headmaster's office. Both of us go in with our heads down. Skipping class is something I don't normally do, and when I DO skip, I'm careful to not get caught.

We are sentenced to detention for a week. Not too bad, but it's going on record. Once our fate is decided, I am sent out of the office. Dakota was told to stay.
Instead of leaving, I hide by the office door to eavesdrop.
My ears strain to translate Ambrose's mumbling: "Your punishment will not be any better just because you are a new student..." I roll my eyes. Ugh. Typical teacher talk. He goes on "I understand your condition and situation, however skipping classes is not the answer."
Dakota speaks up "No. You do not know what is like in my position." A rather bold statement for a seemingly shy boy. Ambrose sighs loudly.
"That is true, but it is also not the point. Before you go, I have received a letter addressed to you." I hear papers shuffle. "It is from Bestia Headquarters. I believe they are trying to track your progress. An agent was here earlier checking in on your siblings while you skipped class."
What the hell is Bestia?
I stop listening and run outside Headmaster's office. Dakota is being tracked?
The door opens behind me and my new acquaintance leaves the building.
"You're still here?" He gives me a cold look.
"Uh, yeah.." I look away. He sure is moody.
I turn away from him. Dakota doesn't speak to me again and walks into Ravenwood, probably going to his dorm. I head that way too.

....

Later in my dorm, a wave coolness swallows me as I lay in bed unable to sleep. In spite of that, I get up and wander around my small living space. The rose... That gold rose was still on my desk, softly illuminating a small chunk of Onyx. I grab it expecting it to the the one with the letter P etched in the side, but it is not. It is a very misshapen gem with a distinct letter E carved on a more smooth region.

PE..?

Once again, my head feeling like it's going to explode so I go back to my inviting bed. With so many questions keeping my mind wired, I find I cannot sleep.

Who is Dakota Frostheart exactly? What is Bestia and how/why do they know Dakota and his siblings? What is with the Onyx? and the remaining question: Who knocked me unconscious the other day?