Chapter 1: Curiosity Killed the Raven
Billy Raven ambled along in the courtyard at Bloor's Academy, wishing, as he always did, that he had a family to go home to. But Billy didn't have any parents. He was an orphan who currently was in the care of Harold Bloor, headmaster of Bloor's Academy. Billy had spent thirteen years trapped inside of the school with no friends to keep him company. Well, friends with opposable thumbs that is. Because Billy was special.
He was a direct descendant of the Red King and his ten children. He was Endowed. Imbued with a special gift by the Red King's magic. Billy's gift? He could communicate with animals. That was the only reason Billy could stand being stuck at Bloor's, there was always something to talk to.
-Three Days Later-
Billy bounced out of bed as soon as he heard the Matron's shrill voice. Not getting out of bed when the Matron called would result in a demerit. Not everyone took that as seriously as Billy though. By the time everyone else was sitting up, wiping the sleep out of their eyes, Billy was already through the adjacent doorway to the showering rooms.
Bloor's didn't have private showers; instead there was a row of about twenty shower heads built straight into the walls. None of the students liked this much, but no one dared to complain to Dr. Bloor. Each room held thirty students, with girls on the floor above the boys. So, it was first come, first serve. Billy was always first and always got the shower farthest away from the door.
His plan was to get in first, finish fast, and pray that no one would see him. He, like his room mates, didn't think too highly of being naked in a group with the other boys. Warm water cascaded down his pale, skinny body as he applied shampoo to his stark white hair. Several other boys slumped into the room and got to their own showers, which meant to Billy that it was time to finish up. Rinsing off the rest of his shampoo and body wash, Billy wrapped a towel around his waist and started into the sleeping room to get his clothes.
Just as he was reaching for the door handle, a boy on the other side pushed it open. It was a new kid, with messy brown hair and matching eyes. Speaking of his eyes, when Billy looked into them he felt a flicker of something familiar. Something he felt in Manfred Bloor, the headmaster's son, as well. The new boy was Endowed, Billy was positive.
Billy raised his hand to wave, not thinking that he was using that hand to hold his towel up. But as soon as he did, he felt the fabric slide down his hips to puddle around his ankles. Billy reached down to cover himself up with his hands, but the other boy was quicker. His eyes flicked downward to stare right at Billy's private parts. After securing the towel in place again, Billy looked back up at the boy with a dark blush on his pale cheeks.
The other boy was grinning. Without saying a single word he walked past Billy and claimed the shower at the far end. Billy's shower. Billy should have left, should have just walked away. He shouldn't have looked back at the other boy. But, as with the cat, curiosity killed the Raven.
