~Author's note~ Chapter six is in da mix!

~Disclaimer~ Yeah...

The teacher stared at her, her eyes wavering slightly. "Who told you that?" she asked laughing nervously. "Because, you know, you really shouldn't believe things like that."

Aaliyah and Ariu stared at her suspiciously, but Ryanna sighed, and said, "Oh good! My parents live in the middle of the city!"

Aaliyah looked at Ariu questioningly.

"It's true though!" Ariu exclaimed.

"No, it is not!"

Aaliyah interjected. "I believe it if Ariu is sure that it's true."

"Hush, girl!" the woman said sternly.

Aaliyah looked angry, and Ariu knew she had to say something to keep her friend out of trouble. Aaliyah had a problem with teachers and other authority. Ryanna just looked like she was about to cry. "Look, Mrs..." she searched for a name. "Finaley. I know it must be true, because--"

"My last name is Finolet. And how would you know?"

It was getting too frustrating for her. Ariu knew that Mrs. Finolet knew that the sickness had reached the city as well as she did. But she was acting as if she were right.

"Because it has! Look! I had a dream, and when I woke up, there was screaming, and we came down here to see what it was." She paused. "Eh... Uh. It seemed to be radiating from around here."

"My quarters are just around the corner, and I did not hear any screaming."

Ryanna bit her nail as she said, "But I did! I heard someone screaming. It sounded like a man, a bit like the principal, but since he was screaming, I couldn't tell." She winked at her friends.

Ariu and Aaliyah looked confused, but Ryanna was good at listening and figuring things out, and they trusted that whatever she meant was important.

The teacher turned red and looked flustered and angry. "It was not your principal screaming, if anyone was, which--" she paused for effect and looked at each of the girls. "--I seriously doubt."

"Stupid," Ryanna whispered.

Ariu thought she felt her jaw hit the floor, and Aaliyah's eyes stretched.

"Pardon me?"

"You are stupid!" she said, louder this time. "What? Are you deaf now too?"

The woman's face turned white. She pointed her finger in the girls' face. "Don't you ever speak to any adult in that manner again!"

"I don't like your attitude, ma'am." she said in a sugary voice. "Please don't speak to me in that manner again."

The other three people were completely speechless.

"I heard... Maybe this isn't true... but you and Principal Walters have been having a little affair and--"

"Watch your mouth!"

"Ry--" Ariu said, grabbing her friend's arm. But Ryanna didn't notice.

"Watch yours. Since you're so up for lying, why ever should I believe you? Anyhow. Since you have such a close personal relationship with the principal, I am requesting an audience right here right now with him. Unless, for whatever reason, he can't be reached."

The teacher was completely enraged. "Wh--"

"What do you think I mean?"

Ariu and Aaliyah had no idea what their friend was talking about. Anyway, they were just so shocked that the girl was even talking back to a teacher.

"I truly do not know where the Principal is... However, I am going to offer you all detention, so that you will be able to meet him."

Ariu gasped, because in all of her years at school, she had gotten away with no detentions.

"Now," Mrs. Finolet said. "I am going to open the doors, if you'll excuse me. Breakfast needs to be brought in, and students will be arriving soon."

As Ariu looked around, she saw that servants carrying serving platters were gathered nearby, silent, and with the eyes and tails of their dog daemons facing downward.

"Can you imagine what it must be like?" Aaliyah asked her. "No freedom at all! I'd never ever let Baby sit around like that."

Ariu looked back at them and smiled slightly. She hated how servants never talked back and didn't even seem to have minds, though, of course, they did. She agreed with Aaliy--that was no way to live. She couldn't even imagine not being able to talk whenever she wanted--she never followed the silent rules in class-- and how horrible to have to do whatever some rich person wished of you!

"Yes. I shall never have servants."

But then they walked into the room, and the conversation was forgotten, as two loud screams filled the air.

~Author's note~ Hi again everyone. I didn't drop off the face of the earth or anything. Just so you know.