Frosty's Office

There was a knock on her door. The White Queen looked up, startled. She hadn't sensed....ah, of course. Emma was not accustomed to being surprised, and she did not take to it kindly.
"Come in."
The door opened to admit a young woman into the room.
"You wanted to see me, Ms Frost?" she asked quietly, hovering at the door.
Strange accent, thought Emma, almost English, but not quite. She flipped through her notes on the girl. Ah. New Zealand.
"Yes," Emma said aloud, "Please take a seat." She indicated to the chair in front of her desk. The girl moved across the room and sat down. Emma took a moment to analyse the child; well, young woman really, in front of her. She was small, but not fragilely so. Long reddish brown hair fell past her shoulders in layers, framing a long face and very unusual eyes. Every time Emma had seen her, including now, she had was wearing jeans of various styles, black Chuck Taylors and a range of random tops in different colours. One item on her person that never seemed to be taken off was a small greenstone pendant in an elongated teardrop shape. Sitting in front of her now, she was completely calm and collected, either not at all intimidated be a meeting with the Headmistress, or very good at hiding it. Emma couldn't see what might be hidden behind those extraordinary eyes. Swirls of green and grey with flecks of gold and blue.
Hmm. Odd.

"Now, Kestral, I understand you have explained you mutant power as a thing you call 'The Sight'."

"Yes, miss. I see things that are hidden to other people. Stuff like lies, sickness, mutant powers, personality colours and bits and pieces of people's emotions and experiences. It comes to me in pictures and colours."

Intriguing.

"When you say personality colours..?" Emma asked.

"Well, when I look at people I see a colour that sort of surrounds them. My Gran called them auras. The colours have different meanings, and I reckon.." Kestral paused, then carried on, "Well my Gran reckons anyhow, that the colours probably show up according to my interpretation of them and relate to each different person specifically. The world is a rainbow I spose," she finished, cracking a small smile.

Emma considered this for a moment before asking, "Could you give me an example?"

Kestral sat for a time, eyes out of focus as she flicked through all the people she had met in the past few days, and finally settled with a person she was sure Ms Frost would know and she herself had made friends with.
"Jubilee" she said, focussing back on the White Queen. "She's this bright, bubblegum pink colour, like those sunnys she always wears. That shade of pink I see as energy, happiness, enthusiasm and a real deep caring for people in general, but especially those she holds close to her heart. It's that energy and the whole, umm, into-lifeness, that attracts people to her. She like an enthusiasm spreader." Kestral cracked another smile. "No wonder she has so many people wrapped around her little finger. Anyhow, underneath the pink, in the centre of her chest, is a patch of black. Now normally I'd say that was sickness, but not in Jube's case. It's something that's happened in her past, something dark she still holds on to. Alot of people seem to have that around here," she muttered as an afterthought.

Her smile vanished. "And it hurts her. The pink is like a glossy cover. It's her true personality, but still a mask of sorts." Kestral shook her head as if to clear her thoughts.
"And anyway, that's how I 'see'."

Emma openly stared at her, although her face betrayed no emotion. Never had she encountered a mutation like this. It looks like another talk with Charles was in the cards. It was then that Emma wondered how much this girl saw of her. And that frightened her slightly, another emotion she didn't take to kindly.

"Ms Frost?" Kestral asked, "You ok?"

Emma blinked. "Yes, I was merely contemplating your words. Your gift is rather extraordinary and I would like to discuss it further at a later date, especially about the extent of your control." Kestral nodded in response.
"However," she continued, "There is another matter I wish to discuss with you, another ability you seem to have manifested."

Kestral was surprised, she wasn't aware of any other weird thing she could do.
"Oh ok," she replied, "Um, well, shoot. What's this other ability?"

"The fact you are invisible to all of my psychic and telepathic senses."

Kestral thought for a moment before replying with, "Say what?"

"No doubt you are aware by now that I am an omega level telepath. I read people's minds, hear their thoughts and even manipulate what they think they see. I could control people if I wish. However, I cannot gain access into your mind. I cannot even sense your mind. If you were not sitting right here in front of me, you would be completely invisible me. It is very disconcerting, I can tell you. So would you care to explain how this can be?"

Kestral's eyes clouded over, like a snapped down over them.
"Look Ms Frost, I'm not entirely sure what you're on about here. The only thing I have around my mind are my crystal walls to keep my energy in and others out, that's all."

"Crystal walls?"

"Yes."

"Care to explain?"

"No."

The White Queen narrowed her eyes. "I would appreciate it if you elaborated on your statement for me Miss Tresswell," she said coldly.

Kestral's eyes flared, "And I would appreciate it if you respected my privacy."

Silence. The two stared at each other. Emma sighed.
"Very well. You may go."

"Thanking you muchly," replied Kestral, rising from her chair and walking purposefully toward the door.
"And Miss Tresswell.." Kestral turned back, hand on the door knob, "You have an appointment with Dr McKoy at 2 o'clock the Sunday after next. Don't be late."

Kestral nodded and continued out of the office. As the door shut, Emma rested her head in her hands and muttered "Dammit."

Kestral closed the door, leaned back against it and closed her eyes. Her head was reeling with everything she had seen in the last few days and the meeting she had just walked out of with Ms Frost. Too much. Way too much. The Academy was huge. There were heaps of people, mutant and human alike. To her, the whole place was a haze of colours, bleeding into and out of each other. And Ms Frost. That woman wasn't always good, Kes knew that. Black holes punctured her diamond-like aura. No sickness, but things she had done in the past, not to her, but to other people. The woman could be downright dangerous!! Cold as ice. But Kes could see she did have her student's interests at heart... Her head was spinning, she needed to sleep and sort out her head. She was sick of all the colour and images and the headaches they brought. New Zealand was quieter and far less populated. She's been able to handle it. She missed home. Kes took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Sleep would clear her head and rest her eyes. Kes opened her eyes to find a man standing right in front of her surrounded in a haze of bright green, jumped a mile and let out a little yelp of surprise. The man held up his hands.

"I'm sorry, lass, I dinna mean to scare ye."

Kes put her head in her hands and took a few deep breaths. Lifting her head back up she attempted a smile,
"All good," she replied, "I wasn't paying attention." Well being Irish explains all the green, Kes thought, but I'm not sure what all those sonic waves are about, though.

"Are you alright, lass? Emma didn't rattle ye, did she?"

"Oh no, it's ok, I'm just tired," Kes said, "Thanks though." She smiled at him. She liked this guy, he was a good bloke. Pure even. Elsewise she wouldn't have smiled. It wasn't something she did properly very often. People tended to be dazzled for some reason.

"Well, goodnight." Kes turned and walked down the corridor in the direction of the dorm rooms.

"Night, lass." Sean turned and watched her go. Had he been in Ireland, he would have suspected her to be one of the Sidhe, the Little People from the old legends. She was willowy, fair and had a smile that left him spellbound and eyes that mesmerised. And he was old enough to be her father. The Academy sure brings in some strange kids. Shaking his head, he turned to knock on Emma's door.

"Come in, Sean," The White Queen called before he got the chance. Sean shook his head once more, then entered Emma's office.