So sorry for not updating! I had the convention Sunday and then was really upset after work yesterday. (Long story). Any who, I'm back now and should be updating everyday this week. IDK I'm getting my permit tomorrow and I don't know how long the DMV will take. Sigh. Sorry, I'm rambling (what's new) on with the tale.

GUYS DID YOU KNOW APPARENTLY THERE IS AN OFFICIAL NAME FOR THE SCHOOL? GOSH IGNORE ALL FORMER REFERENCE TO FROBISHER ACADEMY THE SCHOOL IS CALLED AMUN BOARDING SCHOOL AND I'M AN IDIOT.


Chapter 11

House of Suspition

Rufus and Eddie already stood anxiously in Mr. Rodenmaar's office when Sarah and I arrived. Mr. Rodenmaar stood paddle in hand and I cringed thinking of the barbaric treatment. Still, I had to keep my mouth shut. Me speaking up would lead to nothing good.

And I kept my head until Mr. Rodenmaar made Rufus turn around, then, I just couldn't let the injustice slide, "What kind of horrible monster are you beating people? I don't see what the difference is between paddling and abuse except one is illegal!"

"Nina don't," Eddie warned, but I wasn't going to listen. He may be my protector, but this time I was saving his butt (quite literally).

"No! It's ridiculous and cruel and I won't stand by and watch it."

Mr. Rodenmaar gave me a look before stepping closer to Sarah and me, "How dare you speak to me in that way. How about I give you his smacks then and we're done with it."

I would have probably accepted the abuse in Eddie's place, but he wasn't hearing of it. The primal Osirian instinct quickly flared up as Eddie twisted the old man's arm knocking the paddle from Mr. Rodenmaar's hand. With a shrug, Rufus picked up the weapon and snapped it in half right over his knee.

Mr. Rodenmaar's eyes flamed, but I think he had some idea what he was dealing with. After all, he knew about Rufus and Sarah's identities and Eddie's actions were incredibly Osirian like. "Very well then, since you chose not to face your punishment I will supply a new one. You four will scrub every toilet in this academy…with a toothbrush. Now get out of my sight!"

Pleased that we'd gotten away with only the usual Rodenmaar punishment, I turned on my heels to follow my quick-footed friends from the room. Just as I went to go, Mr. Rodenmaar spoke, "Not you Miss Martin. I'd like a word." Eddie teetered in the doorway not as my Osirian, but as my friend, so I nodded it would be okay. Reluctantly he followed Sarah and Rufus out leaving me alone with Mr. Rodenmaar.

As my eyes scanned his body, I couldn't get over how much he looked like his son. (Or I guess his son looked like him, but whatever.) Even more startling, however, was how different he looked from the ghost version of him I met beneath the Senet board. I guess that would be because the ghost had already lost everything, but the living man thought he had nothing to lose.

"That necklace you're wearing, where did you get it?" The man inquired shutting the door so we were completely cut off from the others.

Instinctively, my hand flew to the locket that had come out from its hiding place beneath the dress, "Um. Sarah gave it to me." Actually not a lie.

"Hmm, but it's not hers. She still has her copy. Funny, I always thought it was one of a kind," the man mused sitting down at his desk and motioning for me to do the same. I practically jumped in the chair as I nervously spoke.

"Two of a kind I guess. Uncle Robert shipped it to me in America, where I live with my Gran, I didn't even know Sarah had one 'till I arrived. We'd never actually met. Planes don't exactly like making the trip so I had to take a boat and it was a long trip."

Mr. Rodenmaar made that weird noise of disbelieving acceptance, "Yes, yes. I see. I'd still like to know what you and your friends were doing in the basement yesterday when you weren't even registered yet."

"Um, well we knew we were going to be registered," I gulped my nervous fingers playing with the tips of my hair. "And we were dared to go down so…"

"I see," the man gruffly replied tidying his incessantly neat desk. "Just one more question for you: what do you know of your cousin's destiny?"

I tried to put on my best shocked face, but really I'm no actress. "I…I don't think I know what you're talking about," I lied with a smile before becoming an idiot and speaking period-ly. "No man has a destiny only a plan in the eyes of God."

Mr. Rodenmaar's laugh matched his son's gruff one perfectly, "Yes, God, of course. Are you Christian then, Miss Martin?" I nodded because what else was I going to say after my little outburst? "Of course you are. What is your Christian name then since there's no saint Nina?"

"Evelyn," I lied quickly thinking of my Gran (and praying to a God I don't believe in that that was indeed a saint's name. Soon as I spoke, I realized it had been a trick. There was a saint Nina after all, and Mr. Rodenmaar had just fooled me.

"Just as I thought," he mused with a sweet smile. "So tell me, Miss Martin, if that even is your real name, what are you really doing at this school?"

I sighed as if pretending to drop the act (all the while creating a new one.) "Look, I can't say much, you know how things are. I've known Sarah for years, and when my parents died she suggested I come here to get away from America. Things are different there…what I know, what we know, is not so well received."

"And what do you know," Mr. Rodenmaar asked suspiciously leaning forward in his chair.

I laughed while I shrugged, "Not as much as you're hoping. I know in four years and every 25 years after that Sarah has the opportunity to re-assemble the Cup of Ankh. I know that no one has any idea where the cup is, and I know the use of the cup will result in the death of an innocent. Now, Mr. Rodenmaar, what do you know?"

I hoped for a condescending laugh, but instead I received a hard glare, "I know that if you repeat a word of this conversation I'll handpick the 'innocent' from your little group of friends. Now go."

I didn't look at the borderline-evil man as I disappeared from the office sweat sticking to my back. Boy were we in trouble, and it was all my fault.


Anyone else feel like Victor Rodenmaar Sr. was always a bit darker than his son? I feel like he'd go to much greater lengths to be immortal. Also, sorry if Nina is a bit out of character, but it doesn't matter how much I write her i just can't get her voice to stick in my head. In this chapter she probably sounds like Buffy because that's all I've been watching. Hey, they're both Chosen Ones so maybe it's not that off. Gosh I need sleep so I'll stop talking. Hope you enjoyed!