A/N: Hi! I will firstly apologise for the lack of updates- I planned the whole story out in a notebook, and then typically, I lost it. Not good. But then the other day, I found it! *does little victory dance* So now I can continue, yay! Enjoy...

Chapter 4

A bitter autumn wind swept the grounds around Bloor's Academy as Emory and Fidelio marched along to where Charlie Bone and the rest of the group were huddled. Their capes billowed as they walked in companionable silence. Emory was secretly very glad she did not have to go and meet Joshua's friends; they didn't look very friendly from where Emory could see them.

As they got nearer to the group, a girl with violent orange hair came to meet them.

"Hi," she said breathlessly, grinning all the while. "You must be the new student- I'm so glad you met Fidelio first, that means we get another for the good side!" Fidelio silenced her with a look.

"Calm down, Liv- this is Emory, and actually, it seems the Bloors paired her up with Tilpin over there first."

Olivia Vertigo's smile vanished as she glared at the group of mean looking students huddled around the walls of the Academy. But it soon reappeared as she grabbed Emory's arm and led her over to meet the rest of them.

"My name's Olivia Vertigo," she began, pointing at herself. "Drama. This is my besty, Emma Tolly- she's in art. Then there's Gabriel Silk, music; Lysander Sage, art; Tancred Torsson, art; Billy Raven, music- though I dare say you've already met, right? Billy was telling me-" A cough from Fidelio brought Olivia back to introductions. "Oh, yes, sorry- and finally, this is Charlie Bone. Music. Trouble follows him wherever he goes-"

"Yeah, you," interrupted a tall blond boy whom Olivia said was Tancred. There was a bit of scattered laughter as Olivia stomped her foot.

"Ha ha, very funny- though I don't see how you can talk, Storm Boy," she replied cheekily.

Tancred attempted to swat her and missed.

"It's great to meet you all- though I'm not very good with names, I'm afraid," said Emory, feeling she had stayed silent for long enough.

"Don't worry about it," said Charlie. "Billy tells us you're endowed- is this true?"

Before Emory could reply, Fidelio spoke for her. "Yes, but she doesn't want to tell anyone until she's ready."

"Fair enough," said Emma. "But we'll tell you ours, right?"

"Wait a minute," said Lysander. "No offence to you, of course, but- how do we know you're not on the Bloor's side? I mean, Joshua Tilpin had us fooled for long enough..."

Emory raised a hand to silence him. "None taken. Trust me," she said, "from the moment I met the Bloors I disliked them. Manfred has a creepy stare- it's almost like he can hypnotise people." (At this point, knowing looks were exchanged between the rest of the group.) "Matron is like a vulture in human form, and don't get me started on the really old Bloor guy. The Bloors don't know of my endowment and I intend to keep it that way."

"Yeah," Fidelio added, "I've just spent two hours with her and it already feels like I've known her for years. So you can take my word for it too."

"And mine," piped up Billy Raven.

"Okay, okay," said Lysander, chuckling as he held up his hands in mock surrender. "I was only checking. Of course we'll give our endowments. I'll start, yes? Well, I can call up my spirit ancestors in times of need."

Emory's jaw dropped open slightly.

Emma spoke up next. She seemed to be the quiet one. "I can fly."

"I can call up storms." Really? Not hard to imagine that, thought Emory with a smile.

"I can feel memories in people's clothing."

"I can talk to animals."

"I can hear photos and paintings- on the rare occasion, I can go into them too."

"And what about you?" Emory asked, turning to Fidelio and Olivia whilst recovering from the shock of the things these people could do.

"Well, I'm not endowed," began Fidelio.

"But he's the best musician you will ever know," Charlie added.

Fidelio gave a modest smile. "Thanks for that, mate. And Liv here... You want to explain it?"

Olivia nodded, but then leant close to Emory and spoke in almost a whisper. "The Bloors don't yet know about my talent, and, like you, I want to keep it that way. Makes it more fun." She winked. "I can create illusions."

Emory smiled. "Wow- you guys have such cool endowments... makes mine seem pretty pathetic in comparison- to be honest, I don't see how mine could ever be useful."

"Awww, don't tell us that!" said Tancred. "Now it makes me even more curious!"

"Sorry," said Emory with a shrug. "But judging from the way you guys are making me feel so welcome already, it probably won't be long before I tell you all."

At that moment, the bell signalling the end of break went, and the students hurried across the grounds to the shelter and safety of the Academy.

...

The rest of the day passed without incident. A few more lessons; meeting new teachers, and just generally keeping out of trouble. By the time the bell went for dinner, Emory was pretty tired.

She met up with Billy as they made their way to the dining room. "Can't I just go to bed?" she moaned.

Billy took her seriously. "Um, I don't think so. The Bloors get pretty mad if you miss dinner..."

Emory just raised her eyebrows at him but said nothing.

As she sat at the table with her as-yet unidentified meal, she was joined by Charlie, Fidelio and Gabriel.

"Hey guys," she greeted with a weary smile, before proceeding to poke at her food with her fork.

"Hey Emory," replied Charlie. "How did the rest of your day go?"

"Tired," was the response, followed by a yawn that was hurriedly stifled. "Sorry. This day's really taken it out of me!"

"You'll get used to it," promised Gabriel with a smile.

"And we'll help you out," agreed Fidelio, and gave her a gentle bump on the shoulder with his fist.

"Thanks," Emory said, followed with another yawn.

Suddenly they heard voices arguing heatedly outside of the hall. Being close to the door, all four of them peered as far as they dared without raising suspicion and saw Dr Bloor and Manfred standing one side and Joshua Tilpin standing opposite them. The formers looked very stern and angry, whereas Joshua looked quite calm, but there were creases in his brow. Then the word "Adelaide" was mentioned.

Emory looked quizzically at the other three. "Why would they be talking about me?" she asked. "What did I do?"

Charlie looked a bit shifty. "The Bloors are probably angry that Joshua didn't manage to keep you with him all day," he said. "They're like that; very possessive. You're endowed; they probably want to keep tabs on you."

"But what's so wrong about hanging out with you? Fidelio said the Bloors weren't exactly friendly, and something about sides... care to explain?"

Charlie, Fidelio and Gabriel all exchanged guilty looks.

Emory frowned. "What?"

"Well, it's like this..." began Charlie. "The Bloors and us... We don't... That is to say..."

Fidelio cut in. "The Bloors hate our guts, is what he's trying to say."

Emory's eyebrows shot up. "Really? What did you do?"

"In a nutshell, the Bloors, and a few others- like Charlie's great aunts- are out for total control and domination of the endowed, et cetera," explained Gabriel. "They've had a few attempts, but they've been thwarted."

"By us," added Fidelio with a grin. "So, we're on opposite sides of the spectrum. They're pure evil, but we're... kind of awesome."

"So modest," smiled Emory. "But the Bloors sound dangerous... can't they just close the school or something?"

"Good point, but no. They have too much influence over the city council for that to happen, unfortunately. So, it's a case of keeping our noses clean and trying to get along unscathed. Easier said than done, mind," said Charlie.

"Ohh," said Emory slowly, as if things were just dawning on her. "That must give an edge to the school day," she added with a mischievous grin.

"To put it mildly," responded Fidelio. "But stick with us; we're the winning side."

"You know what; I think I just might..."

All four once again peered out of the door to see what was going on, but the hall was empty.

"See something interesting, Bone?"

The group all swivelled around in horror to see Manfred Bloor looming over them.

"N-no, Manfred," said Charlie quietly.

"Good," replied Manfred, a hard edge to his voice. "Adelaide, as an endowed person you are required to do your homework in the King's Room every night for two hours. No doubt one of these idiots will explain and show you the way." He stalked off, his cape billowing out behind him.

"Okay, did anyone see icicles hanging off him? Anyone? Very frosty atmosphere," whispered Emory.

The rest had to stifle giggles as they began clearing their plates and gathering their bags, with Charlie, Billy and Gabriel showing Emory to the King's Room.

...

The frosty atmosphere continued as Emory tried to do her homework. She couldn't help but notice that everyone was split into two groups; the gang she had met today on one side, and a whole bunch of creepy-looking people on the other. Manfred sat at the head of the table. Above him was a huge portrait; a kindly, but fierce-looking man, wise and serene. Every so often she couldn't help but glance at the portrait, unfortunately missing Charlie's frantic mouthed signals at her telling her to stop. Which of course, resulted in...

"Adelaide!"

Emory jumped out of her skin; at that precise moment, the lights all went out and somewhere in the room, music began to play.

Cries rose up from everyone in the room.

"What just happened?"

"Where's the light switch?"

"Help, I'm scared of the dark!"

"Everyone shut UP!"

Emory sighed and put her head in her hands. Suddenly, the lights came back on, and the music stopped playing. Everyone froze in position; some had got up and had run to the door; others had their hands over their ears, but the funniest was definitely Joshua; he had leapt into Manfred's lap and was now clinging on for dear life.

"Get off me!" shouted Manfred, and he pushed Joshua to the floor. He glared around at the composed side of the table: Charlie Bone and his friends. "Who was responsible?" he glared.

Emory tried to compose her face. She kept as still as possible as Manfred looked from one to the other.

Realising he was not going to get an answer, he shrugged, straightened his tie and said, "Freak power cut. It's an old building. Now back to work!"

Everyone stifled a groan; another half an hour of silence and misery.

Emory let out a silent sigh of relief, but not before she caught Tancred and Lysander looking at her strangely. She knew they were going to grill her after this...

...

Homework over, everyone filed out of the room. Manfred left first; probably to explain the strange tale that had unfolded that evening. Emory packed her things as quickly as she could, but every time she got her papers organised, a freak gust of wind blew them off the table, and she would have to start all over again. That soon became apparent as she realised she was the only one left in the room, except for Tancred and Lysander.

Grinning calmly at the two, she finished packing her bag. "Forgot you could do that," she motioned to Tancred. "Storms, and... stuff."

She was about to walk out of the door, when Lysander called, "Not so fast."

"Yeah," agreed Tancred. "Was that you, before? 'Cos if it was, you might as well tell us. We promise we won't tell another living soul."

Closing her eyes, Emory turned slowly. She could trust them, she knew. It was just... would they laugh? But it was time. She was going to have to tell them.