TWO

My heart pounded hard as I stepped into room 203 for the second time. I stumbled again, but fortunately this time I didn't fall. I sucked in a deep, purifying breath. No man had ever affected me the way Klaus Goldstein just did, and I could not fathom why. Was it his looks, his position, his power? I didn't understand my irrational reaction.

Surely I was overreacting to the whole thing. He was very attractive, confident, commanding, and at ease with himself, but he was also quite arrogant despite his impeccable manners. He was autocratic and cold—at least on the surface.

An involuntary shiver ran down my spine. He had a right to be arrogant since he was so accomplished for a young man his age. He didn't suffer fools gladly, but why should he? I wished Amelia would have told me more about him before I'd gone. And I really wished I would have read her questions before just blurting out the one about him being gay!

I shuddered. I couldn't believe I'd said that. My first impulse was to go to bed, just as Klaus had told me, and because I realized this I decided it was the last thing I wanted to do. But before I had much time to think of anything beyond that, Amelia stepped out of the bathroom and discovered me standing by the door.

"Liz, you're back!" she beamed, hugging me hard. "How did it go? What did you think of him?"

"I'm just glad it's over, and I don't have to see him again," I admitted. "He was rather intimidating. He seems very focused, intense even. I could feel his power pouring right off of him."

Amelia cast me an innocent look.

"Why didn't you give me some sort of biography?" I complained. "He made me feel like such an idiot for skimping on basic research."

"Sorry about that," Amelia said. "Well, let's see, he is an elite wizard, so I suppose he is quite powerful. He's such a powerful man, and he rules us all with an iron fist. The students around here call him the Emperor, and he really lives up to it. I'm so sorry I didn't think to warn you about that."

"He was mostly courteous, and stuffy, more like a professor than a student, really. How old is he, anyway?"

"Oh, about twenty-two, I would guess, like the rest of his class," Amelia supplied. "So, did you get him to answer the questions? I could get started on the report if you did."

I handed her everything I had and slumped down onto my bed. While Amelia worked on the report, I decided to study the lesson I knew I'd be expected to discuss in class tomorrow. I was thoroughly drained—exhausted from my two-day journey to the academy followed by the grueling interview.

"You've got some good stuff in the folder, Liz," Amelia said. "Well done. It had a spell placed on it to record everything the two of you said, too. I'm assuming he intends to answer my other questions as well, since he brought them with him. I'm amazed that he wanted to walk you back, though. He obviously wanted to spend more time with you."

I flushed, and my heart rate skyrocketed. Surely that wasn't his reason. He had just wanted to exert his authority over me a bit, to make sure I understood he was lord of all he surveys. I realized I was biting my lip, but Amelia was too absorbed in her work to notice.

"Too bad we don't have some original stills of the Emperor to put into the paper," she commented. "Klaus Goldstein is one good-looking wizard, right?"

I flushed again. "I suppose so," I said, feigning disinterest.

"Oh, come on, Liz, nobody is immune to his good looks."

"You probably could have gotten a lot more out of him," I replied.

"I doubt that, Liz," she scoffed. "Given that I foisted this on you at the last minute, you did very well. So, what do you really think of him?"

I bit my bottom lip, trying to think of something to say. "He's very driven, controlling, arrogant. Scary, really—but very charismatic. I can understand the fascination. But why did you want to know if he was gay? I was mortified, and it seemed to make him mad when I asked."

"He's never been seen with a date," she explained. "Some people thought maybe that was why. But he really did seem quite taken with you."

"I'm going to sleep now," Liz said decisively. "I need to be ready for my first day."

"Yes, that's true," she agreed. "We should really both get some rest. Under the covers with you. I'll turn out the lights."

I crawled under my covers and tried to sleep, but too many thoughts were spinning in my head. Sleep finally came to me, but all I could seem to do was dream of golden hair and violet eyes.

The next morning, I woke and hurried to dress, and Amelia brought me down with her to the dining hall for a quick breakfast. We had pancakes and eggs and toast, and then we headed out into the yard outside the dorm along with many other students, all of us headed for the various gates so we could walk over to the academy. I smiled as I noticed the small garden with herbs and vegetables growing. It reminded me of my own garden back home. Nobody but the neighbors would be there to tend it while I was gone, unfortunately, since my parents had died during an epidemic about three years ago. But that wasn't something I wanted to think about now, and I cast such thoughts aside.

Just outside the gates, several young men are standing around waiting, and I see several of the girls join them there. My romantic soul grins as I wonder if someday I, too, will meet a boyfriend there. So far, in all my sixteen years of life, no boy had ever made me feel remotely interested in such things. Until very recently, my subconscious added, and I felt my heart skip a beat at the thought.

Then, I spotted a golden head among the crowd, and my heart sank. No, no, it couldn't be. Not the Prefect, standing just outside the gate, leaning in the same aloof manner he'd done when I'd last seen him. Surely I had to be mistaken.

"Is that the Emperor?" Amelia gasped. "He never comes here."

"Never?" I asked as panic overtook me. "I wonder why he's here."

He absolutely couldn't be there for me, I told myself even though butterflies were sounding off alarm bells inside my belly. There must be another reason.

We stepped out of the gate, and immediately Klaus moved toward us, arms folded over his chest. "It took you long enough."

"You're—here," I replied incredulously.

Amelia stared. "Liz, what's going on?" she wanted to know.

"I've been waiting for you," he said, taking ahold of my hand. "Come with me."

"What? Where?" I gasped.

"Liz?" Amelia asked, surprised.

"It's all right, Amelia," I said. "Go on to class. I'll see you later."

"All right, then," she said uncertainly.

Klaus brought me with him to the academy and headed up the stairs, leaving me winded by the time we reached the top.

"Where are we going?" I finally asked him.

"Don't ask questions," he grumbled.

"You're not much of a morning person, are you?" I smirked, and he cast me an angry glare. "Bingo."

"Do you not have the capacity for silence?" he wanted to know as he stepped up to a large door and knocked twice.

"Enter," said a masculine voice from inside.

"We're here," he announced as we stepped inside. "I've brought her as you requested."

"Very well," said the man who waited inside. When he smiled kindly at me, I realized I was looking at Headmaster Randolph, and I quickly gave him a little bow.

"Headmaster, I must thank you for allowing me to attend this stool—I mean school!" I said as I stood up again. My face went beet red, and I saw Klaus roll his eyes.

"Don't embarrass me in front of the Headmaster," he complained.

"Excuse me," I said softly.

"No harm done," he said. "I asked Klaus to bring you here so I could make sure you're aware of all the information you'll need during your time here," Randolph explained. "I understand Klaus has explained the Judgment, but that still leaves the Buddy system to tell you about."

"What's a Buddy?" I asked, confused.

"Simply put, two students can sometimes be randomly paired together at this school," explained the Headmaster. "Their emblems will react together. If that happens, they become Buddies. Their grades, their fortunes, everything becomes joined together. It's a way to encourage them to work together if they hope to succeed."

"You mean if one fails, the other would fail right along with them?" I asked with alarm.

"Precisely," he smiled. "Most Buddies will try to help each other to succeed as a result. It works out very well for both students that way."

"I see," I replied with a nod.

"Great," he said. "So, do you have any questions for me then?"

"Yes, sir, but it's not about Buddies," I replied.

"What, then?" he asked.

"I just wondered why such an unskilled magic user like me would have been accepted into this academy," I admitted, blushing profusely.

Randolph smiled and ruffled my hair as he said, "Liz Hart, one must never judge a book by its cover. Sometimes, the true potential is only found when the time is right. It is my hope that you will become a permanent student here, and I will help you reach your goals and dreams. I understand you are interested in animals. How would you like to learn to train magical beasts?"

"I would love that!" I gasped excitedly.

"Work hard, pass the Judgment, and I will guide you on that journey," he promised. "And Klaus? I would like to ask you to help Miss Hart to pass. I know that you have always dreamed of becoming a professor at this academy someday. If you help Liz to pass, that job will be yours."

Klaus stared as if he'd been offered the most valued object ever. "Sir, do you really mean that?" he asked him.

"I do," he nodded.

"Then I will make certain that she passes, sir," he replied. "You can count on me."

"Good, I thought you would say so," Randolph smirked. "Now why don't you make sure she reaches her first class on time?"

"Yes, sir," he nodded, taking my hand to lead me away.

"Wait, Liz, just one more thing," said Randolph.

"Sir?"

"What does magic mean to you?" he asked.

"I—have never given it any thought, sir," I admitted.

"No matter," he said. "Think on it while you're here, and perhaps the next time I ask you'll have a better answer for me. And Liz, welcome to the academy."

"Thank you, Headmaster," I said. "I won't let you down."