Later, after the endowed finished their homework, they were ready to hit the covers. "Did you know how many books I had to go through?" Tancred was complaining to the others as they walked along the corridors back to the dorms. "Seven, seven stupid books. Who knew that they had so many books on pottery."
"You should've done it earlier when you had plenty of time," Lysander mused.
"Yeah, but then what's the point if you're going to do it early?" Tancred yawned.
"Let's see," Gabriel said, tapping his chin mockingly. "You would be done earlier and, uh, oh! Right...You wouldn't have to do much today."
"Yeah, but I could do that any other day." said Tancred.
"Yeah, while you still have homework," Charlie said.
"Touche, Bone." Tancred muttered.
Everyone laughed. Billy glanced back to see if the new boy, Elijah, was trailing slowly behind them.
He was. He lingered around the walls, eyes fixed on the floor ahead of him. Billy stopped and backtracked back to Elijah.
No one else from the group noticed until they heard Billy's soft voice say, "You know where you're sleeping?"
They turned around and watched before inching over to help.
Elijah was nodding his head slowly, holding his head.
"You have a headache, don't you?" Billy said. "You'll get used to it, spending an hour or two everyday in the King's Room gives you headaches sometimes."
Elijah gave a tiny nod. He didn't look brooding anymore. He looked worried. His eyes widened at little Billy and he flinched.
"Hey, are you okay?" Charlie called, walking quickly up to Elijah and Billy.
Elijah shook his head vigorously. "Sorry," he gasped. He spun around and dashed away back down the hall and around the corner.
"What's wrong with him?" asked Lysander quietly. "I feel sorry for him."
"Maybe it's his endowment," Tancred suggested. "What if he can't hold his power in and he's bursting." He gave a little pause. "Or maybe he has a really bad headache. Mind you I wouldn't blame him. He had to listen to Manfred in the King's Room before we came in remember? No wonder the guy's troubled. Manfred's got to him."
"Tanc," Lysander muttered, shaking his head with a smile.
"It's just a theory." Tancred said defensively.
Emma shook her head. "We'll see how he is tomorrow." she said. "Hope he's okay."
"I'm sure he'll be okay," said Billy, slowly walking back towards the rest of the group.
Charlie followed him, throwing peeks behind his back. He had a feeling of pity and sympathy for Elijah. It bothered him that he couldn't do more to help.
As Emma walked down to the cafeteria the next morning for lunch, she was suddenly aware of some people looking at her strangely. She frowned to herself. Was there something stuck to her hair? Her shirt? Maybe her cape was put on weirdly or out of order. She sat down and looked at her arms. Nothing there...
She patted her head a little, relieved to find nothing there. So then why were they staring?
Self conscious of herself, she waited where she was, not getting up to get breakfast.
"Em!"
Emma looked up. Olivia and Charlie ran up to her. "Have you heard what's going on?" Olivia asked.
Emma shook her head and glanced into Olivia's shiny red hair. "Erm..."
"That's my expression when I saw it too," Charlie said.
Olivia cast a glare at Charlie and then turned back to Emma. "They're saying that Elijah's a mind controller."
Emma gaped. "Really?" she said. "Is that true or just rumors?"
"No one knows." Olivia breathed. "I heard from Allie who heard from Greta's group who heard from Johnny who heard from one of Elijah's roomies who said that he looked like he was arguing with himself."
Charlie shrugged. "It was as if he had a good side and an evil side. But we don't know if the roommate is making it up."
"Have you seen Elijah though?" asked Emma.
Olivia opened her mouth to say something but she quickly closed it. "Good point,"
Charlie glanced around quickly as the rest of the art students stared at the music and drama student over at the art table. "We might have to leave Liv," Charlie murmured. "We're getting looks and Dr. Bloor's gonna be really mad."
Olivia sighed. "See you in second period Em," she said as she and Charlie left to their own tables, Olivia heading to the middle table and Charlie walking the whole way from the art to the music.
Tancred and Lysander took a seat next to Emma. "Here you go Em," Lysander said, passing a plate to Emma.
"We noticed you didn't look like you had the time to go get breakfast so we got some for you," said Tancred. "I hope you like cinnamon rolls."
Emma smiled. "Thanks guys."
"So..." Lysander said casually. He glanced at Tancred who poked at his bacon, licking his lips. "Have you heard about Elijah?"
Emma nodded her head. "Well, some of it."
"He's a mind controller." said Tancred. "Not a mind reader, but a mind controller. But then if he can control minds then he can pretty much read it if he's the one coming up with all the actions and thoughts." He took a thoughtful bite into his bacon.
"What department is he in anyway?" asked Lysander.
A boy next to Lysander turned around and said, "I heard he's in the music department. I think he plays the piano."
"He does seem like to play the piano." said Tancred.
A girl passed them and glanced at them, stopping. "He plays piano?" she said, puzzled.
"That's what I heard." the boy said.
"But, he's in drama, right?" the girl said.
Tancred and Emma exchanged looks. Lysander cocked his head. "Which table is he sitting at?" he asked.
The five scanned their table and then stood up to look at the other two.
"I don't see him," said Emma, sitting back down and biting into her apple.
The girl shrugged. "Oh well," she went off again and the boy returned to his own friends.
"We'll find out later." said Lysander. "But for now, I'm digging into my cinnamon roll. It's glazed to perfection."
He picked his roll up and eyed it.
Tancred held his up and the two knocked their rolls together and held theirs in front of Emma, who smiled and knocked her roll against theirs.
"Bon appetite." said Tancred.
It was nighttime at Bloor's. Each and every student was ready to go to sleep. There wasn't a yawn that wasn't to be heard throughout the school or dorms. They snuggled in their blankets and peaceful sleep took over.
Except Emma. Emma lay awake. She tossed and turned, unable to find a comfortable position. She sat up and sighed. Maybe a drink of water would help. She got up and went to the table near the window and poured a glass of water.
She lifted the glass to take a blissful sip. She gasped when there was a loud thump from outside. It sounded distant.
She glanced around her dorm. Everyone was sound asleep. She rushed to her bed and groped around under it. Her fingers closed in around a cold metal tube-like object. She pulled it out. A flashlight.
Perfect...
She tip toed to the door and exited. She froze so she could listen. No footsteps. Matron wasn't there. That was good. Emma leaned forward and peered down the steps that led to the hallway. The thump came back again. It sounded as if it was near the music boys' dorms.
She descended the stairs and her flashlight flickered on. The strong beam made even Emma squint by the brightness. She glided over to the music dorms. She aimed it up the boys stairs and someone hissed, "Whoa!"
"Who's there?" Emma whispered.
There wasn't a reply. Footsteps hurried back upstairs. Emma peered up the stairs. Whoever was there was gone. Her nerves started to kick in and she started to worry if Matron had discovered her empty bed. Or maybe she'll be discovered in the halls. She turned around and fast walked back.
When she got back, she was relieved that Matron wasn't standing there, glaring down at her. She slipped into bed and switched the flashlight off, rolling it under the bed.
Elijah was breathing heavily. He was almost caught. He waited until the footsteps went away before he peeked down. The flashlight beam blinded him and he stumbled back, praying that whoever shone it didn't have enough time to notice his face.
He went down the steps, his head pounding. There was something bothering him though. A feeling at the back of his head that said that whatever he was about to do, it was a bad idea.
That was only ten percent though. The other ninety scolded the ten percent. Elijah shook his head to clear his mind and ran down the halls. He entered the East Wing and Ezekiel waited there in his wheelchair for him.
"Glad you could make it," Ezekiel croaked.
Elijah's head throbbed again, but only harder. He rubbed his temples and the pain went away.
"Head ache?" Ezekiel asked.
Elijah looked worried. "Why?" he murmured. "Why do you want me to see you?"
"You're not in trouble if that's what you think." Ezekiel smiled. "Come into my office and we'll discuss a few things."
Elijah hesitated.
"Well, come on. I won't bite." Ezekiel chuckled.
Elijah gave in and followed.
"Well, I heard that you control minds." Ezekiel said calmly as the settled down in the office.
Elijah nodded slowly.
"And I also heard from your foster parents that you sometimes can't control your endowment and it takes over you." Ezekiel said with interest.
Elijah froze.
"It's alright son, I'm here to listen to your story." said Ezekiel.
Elijah shook his head, his eyes brimming with tears.
"Hush now," Ezekiel said softly. He rolled over to Elijah and patted his shoulders. "Come now. Tell old Mr. Ezekiel everything."