Hi everyone, this Strange Angel's story begins right after Dru, Graves and the Werwulfen arrive at the main Schola. This story is going to be based on what I think (or hope) will happen in the next Strange Angel's novel. Please review my story, I'm interested to hear anything you have to say on it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Strange Angles; it belongs to Lili St. Crow. I'm just an excited fan.

The bed was so comfortable I felt like I could sleep forever, but the bell was ringing loudly pulling me unwillingly into consciousness. I sat up wearily opening my eyes. More than anything I wanted to go back to sleep, it felt like I hadn't slept properly in months. The light didn't hurt my eyes as it was beginning to get dark. I yawned widely; my body clock still had to adjust to waking up as darkness came. I dressed bumbling and uncaring, though I was glad that it wasn't so cold anymore. I didn't want to have to dress in thick layers anymore. So brushed my teeth in my small but very clean bathroom and I left my hair hanging as it was. It had finally decided to behave and stay in its curls. So I guess it was breakfast then, or dinner, whatever you'd call it. I wondered what way to go, I'd only arrived here the day before. I pulled open the door and jumped as three Djamphir were stood outside my door. My hand twitched to my pocket which held my switch blade. Why were they standing outside my bedroom like that? 'We're your body guard', the one nearest to me smiled. His hair was caramel coloured and short, his eyes were vivid green and he had a nice smile.

'Body guard?' I repeated disdainfully.

'Yes', he answered smothering a smile.

'But I don't want one', I told them. As if I wanted to be followed around. 'Any', I quickly tacked on.

'Well its orders', one of the others said, his dark brown eyes staring deep into mine.

'For Christ sake', I muttered under my breath irritated.

The first one laughed cheerfully, 'I'm Eric by the way', he beamed, 'that's Joe,' he pointed to the only other one that had spoken. 'And that's Neil.' Neil nodded briefly.

'Well do you want to go down to breakfast then?' Eric asked.

'Yeah, sure', I muttered already wondering how I could get rid of them.

So we walked down in silence all the while I was thinking of a plan.

'This is the dinning hall', Eric told me cheerfully but I wasn't really listening because of two things. I had a gross taste in my mouth, though it was faint. But I knew what it meant, and secondly the entire room full of boys were staring at me silently. I dropped my eyes glaring at the floor. 'Dru!' a voice shouted, one full of familiarity. I looked up and Graves waved me over on the far side of the room. I let out a sigh of relief and made my way instantly over all the while every head in the room turned to watch me. At last I reached my table, with Shanks, Dibs and Graves. They were looking at me very carefully, 'what?' I asked.

'Who are they?' Graves asked looking past me and nodding his head.

I looked around and there were my three bodyguards, I turned to face to guys again. 'Bodyguards', I muttered sullenly.

Graves flashed an enormous grin. 'Bet you love that', he said.

I spun around in my chair to face them; they were stood staring at me, 'Look you guys can go and eat or whatever. I don't think I'll be attacked in the middle of the lunch room.' I waited; they all looked at each other, unsure.

'Our orders are to stay with you,' Joe said in a hard voice.

'Well stay with me over there', I said disgruntled pointing to a table.

Eric hesitated and then he moved to sit down and the other's joined him. But they all faced my back so they could watch me I guessed. I rolled my eyes and turned to face the others once more. I leant forward, 'have you heard anything?' I whispered.

Graves leant forward too, 'not much, they knew the other school had been attacked but no one knew about you.'

'Hmm', I mumbled thinking hard, but nothing new occurred to me.

'What I want to know is what happened to everyone at the other Schola?' Shanks whispered.

'Maybe the damage there wasn't as bad as we thought?' I said shrugging. 'Assuming someone will actually answer my questions this time then we can ask.'

'God I don't like it', Dibs said suddenly glancing around his cheeks reddening and he looked at the table. 'Its worse here, it is.'

'What's worse?' I asked.

'The staring', he whispered barely moving his lips. 'There are three times as many eyes on you, Dru, all staring and….and waiting for something.'

'Oh, well thanks a lot Dibs', I said sarcastically, 'that's a way to cheer someone up.'

They all laughed and I had to smile reluctantly. 'I can feel the traitor here', I told them casually. Their smiles all disappeared at once and then Graves was shaking. 'Graves', I hissed placing my hand on his. Throughout the room there was suddenly a quick murmur. The taste erupted in my mouth again and faded once more into nothing.

'They really hate me', I muttered whispering, and 'I can feel it, their trying to calm themselves and stay neutral but they're finding it difficult.'

'Urgh', Dibs shuddered, 'how do you know?'

'I can taste it', I answered absent-minded listening very carefully.

'Taste?' Shanks said frowning.

'Yeah when I'm in danger or if something fucked up is about to happen then I get this taste. Wax oranges usually, but that's not what I'm getting…' I picked up some bacon and shovelled it into my mouth.

'I wonder what their waiting for though', Shanks said stealing a glance around the room. He didn't look down like Dibs did, instead he glared around.

'Their waiting for her to bloom', Graves said meeting my eyes darkly.

'Yeah and when's that gonna happen? I'm sick of waiting. I want to be able to heal and have speed.'

'You've got speed', Shanks said taken aback.

'Only sometimes', I answered with a shrug. I was glad our table was over here and I was glad that I was facing the wall, because I could feel hundreds of eyes upon me watching my every movement.

'I wonder if they'll actually teach you this time', Graves said thoughtfully while casting his eyes around the room.

'I don't know', I said nervousness seeping into my voice. 'And if they don't what am I supposed to do then?' I let out a shaky breath.

I looked at them all; they shrugged in answer except for Dibs who was staring at the table. 'Can you feel it?' he whispered.

'Feel what?' I asked in surprise.

'Their jealously', Dibs whispered finally looking up at me.

'Jealously?' I repeated puzzled.

'Because their not sitting with you and we are', Graves looked proud. 'It was like that at the other schola too', he grinned.

'Not for me, they don't see me as a threat'; Dibs said his eyes darting around the room once. 'They want to sit with you too', Dibs told me nodding his head.

'Well fuck them', I answered. Graves grin was even bigger.

'Why didn't you bother making friends at the other school?' Shanks asked.

'Because I figured that I wouldn't be there long', I answered simply.

'But you made friends with Wulfen over Djamphir, why was that?'

I shrugged, 'Djamphir want me dead, maybe some Wulfen do too, but like I said I didn't think I'd be there long enough.' I sounded depressed now, I glanced over my shoulder, and hundreds of eyes were still on me. I looked back again and sighed heavily. The bell rang then and suddenly there was loud chatter once again and chairs scraping backwards, the Werwulfen stood up and Graves. 'We've got to go Dru, see you back here at lunch though', his eyes were stern and I knew he was willing me to turn up. I just nodded blankly and then they left.

I sat where I was for a moment, no one had really told me anything yet. 'The headmaster would like to talk to you now Dru', Eric said and I jumped at his sudden voice. I stood up. 'Alright', I said tiredly.