"Hey girls, everyone needs to be down in the assembly hall in about twenty minutes okay?" Zoey pokes her head into our room and announces. The other five girls that had been standing in here talking nod to her.
I grip my wadded up sheet to my chest. I don't have a backup plan this time. If I can't stay here then I'm sleeping on the streets. The manager at Dunkin' had started to get privy to my game so I know that I can't go there again, and there aren't too many safe places for a young girl by herself out there. Or worse what if there is some sort of stiff punishment? Like what if they turn me into some sort of animal? Or use my body parts for their potions? Or burn me at the stake? No, this is too much, I cannot do this. I grab my ratty old back pack, throw in my couple of outfits, and head for the door.
"Iris, hi." The last person on this earth that I'd want to see steps in front of me.
"Oh, Hi Ms. Goode." I say to the ground.
"Honey, call me Cordelia. I just wanted to make sure that you were going to make the meeting tonight. I know that you struggle a bit with attendance but wanted to make sure that you knew that this was a mandatory meeting." The warmth of her smile and tone make the harshness of her words all the more eerie.
"Oh, of course Ms… I mean Cordelia. I'll be there."
"Good. I'll be sure to see you then." She smiles and clicks her heels away.
I guess I'm stuck. Honestly, if I have to go out of this world at least I'm doing it while I'm at the top. And at least it will be by someone I respect. That is certainly not how I saw my end happening but I'll gladly accept it. I set my bag down by my bed and head for the annex where the assembly hall is located. I sit next to some girls that I did a project with in my incantations class last week. They're pretty nice, certainly not the worst company to depart from this world with. Cordelia steps up to the microphone and everyone slowly hushes into silence.
"Good evening girls. I'm sure that you were all looking forward to some free time tonight but unfortunately there has been a little incident that has hit very close to my heart. As you all know I like to keep an environment of trust and freedom here, but unfortunately that trust appears to have been broken today. There is one room in this house that more than any others I have asked you girls to respect and to leave in one piece. Up until today you have all been very good and understanding about this. But today I found the door to Misty Day's room left open. I had not entered or exited the room and I am the only one with the key." She pauses for a long time scanning to the room and I can feel the burning hot lava again, churning and bubbling in my stomach.
"What's more is that I cannot understand why the room was entered. Nothing was disturbed and there is nothing of value there. So if one of you did this I just, I really need to understand why and maybe to help you understand why it cannot happen again." I have never seen Cordelia so upset about anything before, she has cried off all of her makeup and her voice sounds hoarse from it.
"Now if one of you has something to do with this and confesses now, then there will be no repercussions. This does not need to be a terrible thing. But, if one of you has done something and you chooses to lie about it… than there will be a very serious discussion about your stay here at Miss Robichaux's. I don't want there to be any fear or hostility here and would love for things to return to normal as soon as possible so now you are all free to go back to your rooms, no common space tonight, and I will be waiting in my office. If someone would like to talk to me they must do so by 9 PM. After that I will be left with no choice but to escalate the investigation. Thank you ladies." She steps down from the podium and walks away before anyone can stop her or comfort her.
The house is a flurry of hushed whispers and I make a dash for my room. I am almost to the staircase when she grabs my arm. I don't turn to look at her, I just kind of stop moving but remain at the end of her reach. When I don't respond to her she finally speaks.
"Iris honey, can I talk to you?" her voice is as light and unassuming as ever.
"Do I have a choice?" I wish I knew how to not be mean to those who are nice to me.
"You always have a choice, but I'd really like to speak with you." Even my hostility can't bring fire from the peaceful pool that is Cordelia Goode. I don't answer her with words I just follow her to the kitchen where we are alone.
"Iris is there anything you want to tell me or maybe talk to me about?"
I shake my head no. Damn it I know I should tell her about skipping class but the words are all caught in my throat.
"I just want you to know that it's safe to talk to me and that if you made a mistake or something that it would be okay. I'm not going to yell or get upset. I care about you and I don't ever want you to feel afraid of me or anyone else here."
"I'm not afraid of anything Miss Cordelia." A voice that is hardly my own comes out of me.
"Just know that my office is open. In case you have anything that you want to tell me. Anything you want to say." She disappears into her office.
I go upstairs and think of a plan.