Chapter 8:
Before she knew it, the day was half done, allowing an hour and a half for lunch before the two final classes.
Zara took a deep breath as she stepped outside, enjoying the warmth of the afternoon light on her bare arms and face. The girl took her time walking back toward the dorms, the distance only being a few hundred feet. Zarabeth adjusted the weight of her messenger bag to her other shoulder as she neared the door leading directly into the dining hall. Letting her eyes adjust to the dimness of the space, Zara let herself into the large room, the sound of laughter and loud chatter echoing across the walls.
The sound of someone calling her name suddenly caught the girl's attention as she turned toward the noise. Zarabeth had only a moment to process what was happening before she was face to face with a squealing girl, her brown curls bouncing behind her face as she hugged Zara.
Zarabeth stiffly returned the hug, not knowing who the girl was until she pulled away. "Oh, hey Felicia."
The gray-eyed girl who'd been quiet and aloof only a few hours ago was now bouncing around as she chattered on. "Come have lunch with me! I want you to meet my roommates! We're right over there when you get your food!"
Without another word, the girl briskly walked back toward a table at the far end of the room, leaving Zara standing alone in confused silence. Making a quick scan of the room, the girl didn't see Jim anywhere. "Maybe he's still in class", she thought. "I guess I'd better just sit with Felicia."
Zarabeth carried her tray of food over to where Felicia was sitting with four other giggling girls. Two of them were feline creatures like Amelia, one with light brown skin and medium length red hair, the other was a bit darker, her chin-length hair and skin matching perfectly. The third girl had fair skin, her long black hair falling to the small of her back. The last unfamiliar face was a lightly tanned girl with light pink hair cut into a wavy bob, her eyes a startling pink like her hair.
Noticing Zara's approach, Felicia began to giggle even more freely as she pulled a chair out for her. "Zarabeth, these are my roommates. Zarabeth and I are pastry lab partners. We're practically best friends already!"
Zara smiled awkwardly as she felt Felicia wrap an arm around her shoulders. "Hey guys. What room are you in?"
The pink haired girl raised an eyebrow as she looked Zara over. "317."
"Really? I'm across the hall in 314."
The girl's unnatural eyes finally met Zarabeth's as she smiled in forced friendliness. "Bella Harper, Proteus 5."
The feline with red hair was the next to introduce herself. "Celine Claremont. I live on the other side of Kalepsia."
The other cat looked up, her tone quiet and shy as she extended a hand toward Zara. "Lynx, Calypsa Lynx."
Zarabeth's heart skipped a beat as the girl with long black hair raised her head. Zara instantly knew what she was, her bright purple eyes immediately giving her race away. She was a skin changer.
The girl didn't try to hide her obvious disdain for Zarabeth, her eyes narrowing as she smirked. "Camellia Dane, Proteus 5. Where are you from?"
Zara tried to appear more comfortable than she was, everything about this situation making her feel out of place. "I live on Montressor."
Camellia's eyes grew slightly wider, their purple hue shining brightly against her white skin. "I know someone on Montressor. He used to live on Proteus 5 a long time ago. Do you know Damian Corbett?"
Zarabeth swallowed hard before answering. "I do actually. Isn't he a skin changer too?"
Camellia chuckled as she pulled some hair away from her face. "We're pretty easy to distinguish, when we're in our normal forms anyway. I'm in a special program at the academy for secret service training. The royal family can always appreciate more people who are useful."
Zara could feel her tolerance for the girls surrounding her dwindling as she tried to eat. The only one who didn't give her an uneasy feeling was the feline next to her, Calypsa. Zarabeth hoped she could get a conversation started with her as she turned to talk directly to her. "So, Calypsa, what are you in school for?"
The girl's cat ears twitched as she answered, only meeting Zara's look now and then. "I'm in a nursing program at the College of Technical Arts. This is my first year."
Zarabeth smiled, trying to make the girl more comfortable as they continued to talk. "Where are you from?"
"Santori."
"I just met someone from Santori yesterday."
Calypsa's face slowly relaxed, a hint of a smile on her lips. "Oh really? Who was it? Maybe I know them."
"Well, I only know his first name. He's a harpy. Does the name Talyn sound familiar?"
The feline scrunched her nose as she tried to think, her concentration broken by someone approaching, setting a tray down in the last empty seat at the table.
Most of the girls' faces lit up at the presence of the newcomer. Felicia began to giggle uncontrollably as Camellia leaned an elbow on the table, propping her head on her hand as she pulled her hair away from her eyes.
A male's voice rose above the crowd of girls as he leaned over the table. "Hello ladies. Mind if I join?"
Looking up to see who had joined them, Zara froze, her breath caught in her throat as her eyes locked with the boy's. "Damian?"
