Merlin took me home to a little house by a lake. In the middle of the lake, there was a small island with a big tower on it. He looked at it longingly. "Merlin?" I say. He shakes his head, as if coming out of a trance. "Sorry." He smiles at me and walks into the house.
Merlin taught me everything he knew. He taught me how to make a butterfly, how to unlock doors, how to see things you couldn't see with the naked eye, he taught me how to use my powers for good. "I've seen magic corrupt so many," He'd say. "I don't want that to happen to you, Eleanor."
Once I had turned 14, Merlin decided I was ready to go to school. We sat in the principal's office, filling out the paperwork. "What's your daughter's name again?" She asks Merlin. "Eleanor Abernathy." I answer. She shoots me a look. "What is your name?" She asks. "I'm Emrys Abernathy."
The principal raises an eyebrow. "It-it's Welsh." He flashes her another one of his cheeky, toothy grins. "Uh-huh," She says, scribbling on the forms. "So I'll have one of our students be a sort of, chaperone, if you will. Show her to her classes, the dos and don'ts, that sort of thing." "Sounds good." Merlin says. "All right then."
The principal picks up the phone on her desk and dials a number. She's silent for a moment. "Yes, Mrs. Finch? Hi. Could I see Arthur Nathanson in my office for a second?" She's silent for a moment. "All right. Thank you."
"Well, Mr. Abernathy, you are free to go. Your daughter is in safe hands." Merlin nods and shakes her hand. "You know," She says. "You look quite young to be her father." Merlin chuckles. "I get that a lot." The principal nods.
"Be careful." He says, walking over to me and kissing my cheek. "I will." He walks out the door. He looks through the glass and gives me a small wave. I smile and wave back. He leaves.
I sit in her office for about two more minutes until a tall boy with sandy blonde hair and bright blue eyes walks in. "You wanted to see me, Dr. Shilling?" He asks. "Yes, Arthur, this is our new student, Eleanor Abernathy." She gestures to me. I stand up. He smiles at me. "I'm Arthur Nathanson."
I was a bit dumb-founded. All I could get out was: "Hiiiii," "You two have the same schedule and I was wondering if you could show her around, give her the dos and don'ts." "No problem. I'd love to." "Thank you, Arthur. You restore my faith in humanity."
There was an awkward silence hanging above our heads. Arthur clears his throat. "Well, we'd better get going." "Yes. Thank you, Arthur."
We were walking down the hallway. Arthur kept pace with me. But I could tell it was starting to bother him, considering I walk slow and take in the view. "So, we have world history with Mrs. Finch first. Her class is so easy. And she doesn't notice if you're texting or Tweeting." He chuckles. Tweeting?
I laugh along, no idea what this "Tweeting" was. "So, Eleanor, tell me about yourself. Where are you from?" "Sussex." I answer, following Merlin's instructions. Arthur nods. "Nice. Me? I've lived here my whole life." "Really? Bet you're tired of it, huh?"
Arthur shakes his head. "No. Not really. This town surprises me sometimes. There was something about that lake at the edge of town. With the island and the tower in the middle of it?"
"Yeah. I live right by there." "Me too. I don't remember any moving trucks." I cursed under my breath. Merlin didn't have an excuse for that. "We moved in during the fall holiday."
"Oh, OK. Yeah. I was in London with my uncle then." I let out a sigh of relief. Arthur stops at a door. "This is it." I nod. "All right. Cool."
Arthur opens the door. "Oh! A new student! I wasn't told of a new student." I walk up to her. "I'm Eleanor Abernathy." I hold out my hand and smile. Mrs. Finch shakes my hand hesitantly. "Have a seat by Arthur, then."
I sit down by Arthur. He smiles at me. That smileā¦
There was something familiar about it.
Somethingā¦
