A/N: DarkAngel and Succubus, thank you so much for the support and the encouragement. i am so sorry that it took me this long to update. the exams week came up and the computer went wonky on me. i wasnt able to use the computer for one whole month! :(
Again, i would like to thank you for the wonderful reviews! they really inspire me and make my day! :)
Chapter 9
"Miss Halliwell!" Clyde cried out in surprise as Paige dropped back into her chair. "Miss Paige!"
"Uh," Paige grimaced as everything in front of her blurred into a pallet of indistinguishable colors. She felt lightheaded, and struggled to catch her breath. "Uh, Clyde?" Paige closed her eyes tightly, resisting the urge to throw up, "Tell me, is the world still spinning?"
Disoriented, Paige tried to stand, but as soon as she pushed herself upward, she staggered, falling weakly back into her chair. She closed her eyes again, her head drooping to one side.
"No, don't stand up," Clyde hurriedly rushed to Paige's side and helped her sit back down; he propped her head properly on the chair, tilting her head backward. Waving his hand over the table, a small basin of cold water and a bottle of smelling salts appeared. He reached into his robes and pulled a light blue handkerchief, and immersed it into the small basin. He placed the soaked handkerchief on Paige's forehead, then proceeded to open the small vial of smelling salts. Gingerly, he waved the small vial under Paige's nose.
As the fumes of the salts coiled into Paige's nose, her head snapped forward. The damp cloth slid down her cheek and she slowly opened her eyes. Her vision steadied dimly, and her eyes focused slightly. Coughing, she asked, "Ugh, what was that?"
Relieved that Paige was coming to, Clyde sighed in relief and replied sheepishly, "Magic Wake-me-up."
"Oh," Paige muttered as her vision became more stable. She remained silent for a few moments, waiting for her perception to return to normal. The colors that were swimming before her eyes minutes ago were gradually starting to sharpen, changing back to the familiar desks and lecture posters. She closed her eyes, and opened them once more. Her vision had completely returned to normal, and she felt better- all traces of nausea were slowly dissipating from her body. "That was some strong stuff you got there, Clyde," Paige smiled faintly at her student.
Clyde returned her smile. He glanced down and read the label, "Extra-strength." He looked up again and grinned sheepishly at his teacher.
Paige reached out from across her table and touched Clyde's hands, "Oh. Thank you very much, Clyde."
Clyde blushed, his face turning red, "It was nothing, Miss Halliwell. I was worried." His tone became serious, and it was soon laden with worry and concern. "I hope you don't mind me asking, ma'am, but what happened? Is everything alright?"
Paige hesitated. She herself was unsure and was mystified of what caused her episode. Dismissing it, Paige surmised that it was probably her lack of sleep and her brief encounters with her subconscious that were causing her sudden dizziness and lack of strength.
Paige exhaled and answered, "I…I'm fine, Clyde, thank you. I…It's just that I haven't got much sleep these past few days. That's all." She gave him a reassuring smile and, feeling her strength slowly returning to her body, pushed herself up to her feet.
Seeing this, Clyde rushed to her side and supported her up. "Miss Halliwell, are you sure that you can stand? Are you okay? I…I…"
Grasping the edge of the desk for support, Paige slowly raised her left hand. "I'm fine, Clyde. Really. Thanks to you. I just need to get a little rest." She teetered slightly as she struggled to gain balance. Regaining her stability, Paige gave a faint smile to her student and proceeded to gather the stacks of paper and her folders. Lifting them up, she saw Clyde inch forward and reach out with his hands, motioning to carry the load for her.
"Here, let me," the lanky student offered. He reached over and attempted to carry the stack of papers, but he was too thin to lift them up. "Ooof," he muttered as the weight of the papers proved to be too much for him.
"Are you sure that you can carry those?" Paige asked, this time, it was her turn to be concerned. She watched on as her student struggled to clasp the papers within his grip. Paige looked on as the frustrated conjurer tried with a great effort to contain the load.
"No, actually, they're a bit too heavy for me," the skinny teenager admitted embarrassedly, "but, I have a better idea." Sighing in defeat, Clyde waved his hands, and a small wooden wagon with a black handle and four rusty wheels appeared. "There we go!" Clyde announced, clearly pleased with his conjured wagon.
"Gee, how innovative," Paige kidded. "Come on, I'll lead the way to my office." Upon seeing the concerned look on Clyde's face, she quickly added, "I'm fine. Really." Gathering her folders, Paige walked toward the door.
Clyde trailed behind, pulling the wagon close behind him, the rusty wheels squeaking as he pulled. He meekly followed in silence, walking beside his teacher along the Great Hall. However, after a few minutes of wordless quietness, Clyde finally mustered up the courage and tried to start a conversation up. He found his voice and squeakily began, "Uhmm…Miss Halliwell? I wanna ummm…, I wanna thank you…for…um, for helping me out earlier…"
Paige looked at her student and nodded. "Don't mention it, Clyde. Just don't let them bully you again the next time around." Paige recalled the innumerous times that she had seen and heard about how other students always made fun of Clyde and she felt a twinge of anger. "I'm not saying that you should fight back, Clyde, but don't let them just boss you around. Stand up to them." Paige recounted how she herself had once been the target of bullies, and wistfully narrated how she had gathered her wits about and stood up to her antagonists. "A few wads of super glue applied to their seats in Miss Carrie's class showed them that it's not nice messing up with Paige Matt…er…Halliwell!"
The two broke out into a fit of giggles.
"Now, I'm not suggesting that you do the same thing," Paige hastily added, "All I'm saying is that, don't give them the satisfaction of bossing you around."
"I…Thanks, Miss Halliwell," Clyde whispered.
Paige nodded. She felt a rising feeling of satisfaction welling inside her; she was finally doing what she had been longing for- to teach and reach out. She felt happier and lighter, her tiredness soon slipping away. "And thank you for helping me find my path again," Paige thought to herself, mentally addressing the young Conjurer.
Turning into another corner, Paige was about to open her mouth to speak, when she saw something that made her stop. Standing in the middle of the hallway, sweeping the floor, was the same old custodian that Paige had run into earlier. As the teacher and student walked nearer the old custodian, he stopped what he was doing and looked up. He stared at them, flashing a toothless grin at Paige yet again.
"Good afternoon, miss," he greeted, the corners of his eyes creasing into wrinkles as he smiled.
Paige reluctantly smiled back. "Good afternoon," she muttered nervously. Without a moment's hesitation, she hastened her pace. "Let's go, Clyde, I still have to record those reports."
Clyde did as he was told and pulled the little wagon faster. Its rusty wheels scraped against the cool marble floor, a squeaking sound signaling the wheels' protest.
As they strode along the Great Hall, Paige walked closer to her student, her voice dropped to a mere whisper. "Clyde, do you know who that old man is?"
Clyde looked up at looked into the questioning eyes of Paige. "Oh yes, umm… that's old Mister Finchem, the new Groundskeeper. Creepy, huh," Clyde replied and watched as his teacher nodded her head in agreement.
"New Groundskeeper? What happened to Mister Patterson?" Paige inquired, a look of confusion crossing her face.
Clyde was silent for a few moments, and Paige noticed her student fidgeting around with the handle of his wagon.
"Clyde?" she asked, "Is there something you're not telling me?"
"Um," Clyde began, "Er…Well, Mister Johnson told us yesterday that Mister Patterson disappeared."
"Disappeared?" Paige cut in, troubled, "What do you mean disappeared?"
"Well, according to Mister Johnson, he simply vanished into thin air," Clyde said in a disbelieving tone. "The school was searched when his daughter, Marissa, complained that he hasn't returned to their hut all day yesterday since he reported for work. The entire school was investigated by a small group of student Trackers, but there was no sign of him anywhere."
Paige was troubled at this piece of news. Yesterday, she thought, bothered. Yesterday…that was also the same day I heard those mysterious footsteps following me! Could Mister Patterson's disappearance have anything to do with those footsteps?
"Miss Halliwell?" Clyde looked at his teacher questioningly, "Miss? Did I say something?"
Paige snapped out of her thoughts, "Oh, uh, no, no, I…I'm fine…" Shaking her head, she looked weakly at her student, "I must still be tired…" Walking into another corner, Paige pointed to a mahogany-colored door with a gold-plated sign where the words Paige Halliwell was engraved in elaborate calligraphy. "Here we are," she whispered as she turned the doorknob wearily, a tinge of doubt and hesitance clouding her mind as she pushed the door open.
"Wow, so this is where your office is…" Paige heard Clyde mutter in awe.
However, as she held the door open, gesturing for her student to enter, a slight movement caught her eye.
"What?" She gasped in shock as her eyes fell on her Wiccan altar. A sole black candle was burning excitedly on top of her altar, its orange flame dancing back and forth; the gold and silver pillar candles were nowhere to be seen on the altar. Paige stood unmoving by the open doorway; her eyes remained transfixed on the black candle and her mouth gaped open, a familiar fear crawling up her spine. Suddenly, without warning, an uninvited breeze blew in, causing the fine hairs on her body to stand on end.
"Miss?" Once more, Clyde's voice broke through the silence and brought Paige out of her thoughts.
Snapping out of her trance, she remembered that she was not alone. Head spinning, Paige looked back at her student, and hurriedly decided to send him to the safety of his room.
"Uh...Clyde, thanks for the help."Paige began,"You've been wonderful, but…erm… I really have to check these papers right away." She ushered Clyde out of her office gently, "Thanks again for the help!"
"Uh, it's my pleasure, Miss," Clyde said as Paige continued to guide him out the door. He took one last peek at the office and left the rusty wagon full of papers and reports, before he turned around to return to the Great Hall, scratching his head in confusion as he walked.
Paige closed the door as soon as Clyde left and turned to her altar, her heart beating mercilessly in her chest. She gingerly walked to her altar, eyeing the black candle carefully. "Where did this candle come from?" she thought aloud as she reached the wooden table. As if to answer her question, a small folded piece of paper materialized two inches away from the mysterious candle.
Paige's heart now pounded on her chest, and she could hear each single heartbeat thunder in her ears. With sweaty palms, she reached forward and picked the paper. She opened it and stood in shock as she read what was written. There, in the center of the paper, was a single word, written in blood, which sent jolts of fear through Paige's body- SURPRISE.
Without warning, the mysterious piece of paper suddenly erupted in flames and was instantly turned to ashes. Paige shivered as she stared at the small pile of ashes in her hand. Then, she looked at the burning black candle atop her altar, and was now shaking with fear.