Chapter 3

Turmoil in the King's Room

It was dinnertime and all the children at Bloor's Academy were all going through a corridor that was beneath the city. On the walls of the corridor were portraits of people, and Melody dare not look at them. There were torches so they would know where they were going.

"Why are we going down here?" Melody asked.

"At dinnertime all the students and all the teacher from the departments, music, art, and drama dine together," Billy explained.

"What do we have for dinner?" Melody asked.

"We pretty much have meatloaf, green casserole, and spinach. Then we have some soup, and if we're in luck we get an apple or a pear for dessert," Billy said frowning. Melody looked at Billy then she looked ahead and frowned in disgust.

After five minutes Melody and Billy were inside a large room. It was three times bigger than the blue cafeteria. There were three long tables and one more at the head of the room. Children from the music department sat at the table at the far left of the room, art was at the far right, drama was right in the middle, and the teachers were at the head table. Melody and Billy head over to their table and sat down next to each other near the middle of the table. Soon four employees that work in the kitchen brought the food for everyone. When Melody got her food she just looked at it in disgust. Billy noticed the look and said, "You better eat that or you won't get any soup."

"It's like Jesse says, don't knock it until you try it," Melody sighed. She grabbed her fork and plunged it into the meatloaf, she closed her eyes, and then she forcefully put it in her mouth. She frowned; ready to spit it out, but instead she forced herself to swallow it.

"I think I'm going to be sick," Melody mumbled. The face Melody had made was so funny to Billy that he spit out his juice and cracked up.

"Hey!" Bragger Brain whined. Bragger Brain's face and shirt were wet. "You spit your juice at me!"

"Sorry Brain. Here, you can have my napkin to wipe yourself. I haven't used it," Billy said trying to keep a straight face. Brain snatched the napkin from Billy and didn't even thank him. Billy looked at Melody who was forcing herself to eat her dinner, and then he cracked up again. Melody moaned as she clutched her stomach.

"What's wrong?" Billy asked.

"I don't feel so good," Melody confessed.

"Don't worry you'll get better. I felt the same way as you when I first tried this food," Billy said. "At least you finished your dinner."

"Yup," Melody said. After everyone passed their plates to the head of their table, bowls of soup were brought out. Melody enjoyed her soup better then the meatloaf, green casserole, and spinach. As Melody ate her soup a, big broad man walked up to her. Melody noticed the man's shadow. She turned around and looked into his cold, pale eyes.

"You must be Melody Serpent," the man finally said.

"Yes," Melody said hesitantly.

"I'm Dr. Bloor, headmaster of the academy. Welcome to Bloor's Academy. I hope you find it wonderful," Dr. Bloor said.

"Thank-you," Melody said politely. Dr. Bloor smiled then he walked off towards the drama table. "So he's the headmaster."

"Yup. He's Manfred's father, too," Billy said.

"I see," Melody said as she watched Dr. Bloor talk to Manfred at the drama table. She turned to her soup and stared at it for a few seconds before grabbing her spoon. Soon enough everyone was done with their soup and had already passed their bowl to the head of their table, and soon enough everyone got a pear for dessert. After everyone ate his or her pear, Dr. Bloor, who was already at his table, stood up from his seat. The room fell silent as soon as he stood up from his seat.

"It's a new term here at Bloor's Academy, I hope you all had a wonderful break," Dr. Bloor said. "DISMISSED!"

Everyone started to leave; Melody got up from the bench and checked her pocket for Renegade. Renegade was curled up in a ball and sound asleep in the pocket.

"Where are we going?" Melody asked Billy as they left the dinner hall.

"We have to go to our coat room and get our supplies and then we go to the King's room," Billy answered.

"Billy, what's the Kings room?" Melody asked Billy after they got their books and pens from their coatroom.

"It's a room where all the endowed children go to do their work," Billy explained. "There are eleven of us, counting you."

"Why are we endowed?" Melody asked.

"I don't really know," Billy said. "All I know that all the endowed children are descended from the Red King, and one of his ten children. Like Manfred, he's descended from Borlath, the Red Kings eldest son.

"I wonder who's my ancestor," Melody said. Three feet away Melody and Billy were Charlie and his friends.

"We'll find out sooner or later if she's Lillian or not. Gabriel what color are her eyes?" Charlie asked Gabriel.

"They're gray," Gabriel said. "But what's so important about her eyes?"

"Uncle P said Lillian's eyes were gray," Charlie said. "It brings us one step closer to know if Melody is actually Lillian."

"Yeah but Melody's hair is brown not white like Lillian's," Lysander said.

"Maybe she just dyed her hair brown, worried that she would look to different from the others, and she's the same age as Lillian," Charlie said thoughtfully.

"He does have a point," Tancred said. "But I'm still worried that she might be on the Bloor's side.

"Me too," Emma said. For the rest of their walk to the King's room they were silent. Melody and Billy thought they were the last to go in the King's room, but then they noticed that Manfred still wasn't there. There were two groups; Asa, Zelda, and Dorcas were one group and Charlie, Emma, Gabriel, Lysander, and Tancred were another.

"Manfred is soon going to join their group," Billy said pointing at the table where Asa, Zelda, and Dorcas sat. "We can't both sit at Charlie's table, we'll be too crowded. So I decided to go sit at Manfred's table."

"No it's okay, I'll sit at Manfred's table and you can go to Charlie's table," Melody insisted.

"But what if they're mean to you," Billy said worriedly.

"Then I'll be mean to them," Melody said. "Don't worry Billy I know how to handle things. I wasn't born yesterday."

"Alright," Billy said after a few moments. Billy went towards Charlie's table and sat between Charlie and Gabriel. Melody, on the other hand, sat between Asa and Zelda. Dorcas was once a smiling girl, full of happiness and joy, but now she tries to get Charlie and his friends in trouble and hardly smiles anymore. Dorcas can bewitch clothes. Zelda is a telekinetic; she had black hair and a hooked nose.

"Why isn't your friend going to sit with us Billy?" Tancred asked who sat across from Billy.

"There isn't enough room at the table," Billy mumbled.

"I see," Tancred said.

"But why did she go over there, instead of you," Lysander asked.

"I don't know," Billy muttered.

"I she a nice girl?" Charlie asked.

"Of course she is," Billy said with a frown. "She wouldn't hurt a fly."

"Have you noticed anything strange about her?" Tancred asked, as he eyed Billy as though he was trying to tell if he's telling the truth.

"No," Billy said. Tancred, Charlie, Emma, Lysander, and Gabriel all looked at one another.

"Why are you asking me questions about Melody?" Billy said suspiciously.

"We are just curious," Emma said.

"If you like I could introduce you to her," Billy said.

"Excellent, but can you do it tomorrow?" Charlie said.

"Why not now?" Billy asked.

"So we can talk to her more than just a few minutes," Charlie said.

"Alright," Billy said as he looked over at Melody's table.

Melody was staring at a portrait of a man dressed in red robes and wore a jeweled crown on top his head. He had brown curly hair, brown curly beard and mustache, and Melody noticed that he had sad black eyes.

"That must be the Red King," Melody thought.

"I can see you have interest in the Red King's portrait," Asa said, startling Melody.

"So that is the King," Melody said.

"Yup, that's the King," Asa said, his yellow eyes flashed a sign of interest. "By the way, this is Zelda and that's Dorcas. Zelda, Dorcas, this is Melody."

Zelda grunted a hi, but Dorcas said, "What's your endowedment?"

"I don't like to talk about it," Melody said gently. Dorcas glared at Melody then she started to do her work. Melody suddenly got a bad feeling; she knew at once that trouble is near. At that moment Manfred walked into the room and closed the doors of the King's room. He walked towards Melody's table and sat between Asa and Dorcas, but before he sat down he said, "We have a new endowed in our mists."

"She's new here at Bloor's Academy, her name is Melody," Manfred said and then he sat down.

"Melody what," Tancred said suddenly.

"Like I told you before, it's none of your business," Manfred snarled.

"And like I told you before I like to know people by their whole name," Tancred snarled back. Glared his hypnotizing stare at Tancred.

"Why does Tancred have to be so stubborn," Charlie thought.

"I'm Torsson," Tancred said looking at Melody.

"You better shut-up, if you know what's good for you, Torsson,"

Manfred threatened.

"Serpent," Melody said unexpectedly. "My name is Melody Serpent."

"You now know her name Torsson. I don't want another peep out of you," Manfred warned.

The King's room was quiet except for the small noises from the pencils or a cough. Melody looked up at the Red King's portrait. Every time she looked at it she would get a warm comforting feeling, the feeling she had this time was stronger. Melody looked at Billy's table expecting Billy to be looking at her too, but he was silently working. She glanced at everyone at Billy's table and her eyes landed on the boy who was asking for her whole name. Melody new at once that the boy's name was Tancred from the info that Charlie had told her in the dream. Tancred was staring at her, watching her carefully. This made Melody feel a bit uneasy so she frowned at him and Tancred frowned back. Melody looked away and cracked her knuckles; she noticed that Tancred did the same. She got the feeling that he was coping her every move. Melody tapped on her table twice and looked at Tancred who did the same at his table. Melody sighed deeply; Tancred had did the same. Melody now was going to play dirty. She looked away from Tancred so he could only see the side of her face, then she put her finger next to her nose so it could look like that she was picking her nose. Melody looked sideways at Tancred to see him looking at her and stick his finger right into his nose. She turned her head to face him so he could see what she actually did. As soon as he saw the trick, he pulled his finger out of his nose. Tancred stared at his finger and Melody noticed a big booger on his finger. Tancred looked at Melody and shrugged. Before Melody knew it Tancred put his finger in his mouth and ate the big booger.

Before Melody could do anything, Zelda screamed a piercing scream. She was pointing at a little gray mouse; Melody looked inside her pocket, Renegade was gone. Dorcas screamed too and stood on top of her table. Zelda on the other hand was trying to kill the mouse with her foot. There were lots of shouts in the room and a lot of running around from everyone who was trying to catch the mouse before Zelda did, but the mouse was too fast for them. Zelda was out of control; she was stomping everywhere and wouldn't stop. Every stomp Zelda made, Zelda would think that she had killed the mouse, but then she would see the mouse running for its life. Soon enough Zelda had cornered the mouse, and the mouse couldn't escape from Zelda this time. Melody ran towards Zelda and dived to catch Renegade before Zelda squashed him. Melody snatched Renegade just as Zelda raised her foot. Melody was about to get up when Zelda brought her foot down on Melody's left hand. Melody felt a lot of pain in her hand. Zelda brought her foot on Melody's hand three more times before Melody heard three horrible cracks, coming from her hand. Luckily Zelda stopped stomping, it seamed that when she heard the cracks she thought she killed the mouse for sure.

"I killed the mouse!" Zelda shrieked with joy.

"No you didn't, stupid!" Melody said. "He still in the room."

"How do you know?" Zelda snarled.

"I know for three reasons," Melody snarled back. "One, there's no bloody body of a mouse on the floor. Two, he's right here in my hand. And three, your so stupid, you wouldn't know what death is even if it bit you in the butt."

"What did you say?" Zelda shrieked.

"I said, you're so stupid you wouldn't know what death is even if it bit you in butt," Melody said in her gentle voice, but everyone sensed the hint of danger in her voice. Zelda glared at Melody, then turned her furious gaze at a book next to Dorcas, who was still on the table. Melody turn to look at the book and notice it was now floating in mid air. Before she new it the book flew at her with full force, but luckily, Melody ducked just in time. Melody put Renegade in her pocket as she stood up and looked behind her; she saw the same book zoom towards her again this time it was aiming for shins. Melody jumped on top of the book and forced the book to hit the ground. Thinking that she had all ready won, Melody was about to face Zelda when something slammed into her back hard. Melody felt pain run all over her back. The pain was too severe, that Melody fell on her knees.

"That's enough!" Manfred shouted.

"What is going on in here," boomed a voice. It was Dr. Bloor standing at the door. No one answered him nor paid any attention to him.

"Not as tough as you thought you were, huh little girl," Zelda sneered, ignoring Manfred and Dr. Bloor's demands. Dr. Bloor now realized the fight between the two girls. He was about go up to Zelda and scold at her, but decided to see what would happen next. Zelda turned her back to Melody. Melody, who knew she was injured, ignored the pain and got up, picking up the thick book that hit her first. She stared at Zelda for a few moments then through the book with all her strength a Zelda then she said, "I'm not a little girl, you witch."

The book had hit Zelda on the back. The moment the book hit her; Zelda turned around and picked up the book. She walked towards Melody glaring at her. Melody narrowed her eyes as Zelda walked towards her. Zelda raised the book and was about bring it down on Melody who didn't flinch once, when Billy shoved Zelda to the ground with all his strength.

"Leave her alone!" Billy shouted at a very shocked Zelda. Billy looked at Melody who seemed to be impressed. Billy smiled at her, and Melody managed to smile back, as she blushed a bit. Everyone in the room was staring at Billy, gaping at him too. They couldn't believe what Billy had just done, because when there was trouble in the King's room Billy would always stay out of trouble.

"She isn't a witch Melody. She's a troll," Billy told Melody. Zelda made a grab for Billy for insulting her, but he dodged. "Admit it, you only hurt people, because you know they're much stronger than you and because you're scared."

Zelda didn't say anything, but glared at Billy. Billy turned his back to Zelda and walked towards Melody. Billy notice that Melody tried to move her left hand. She only lifted it for a second before wincing, and bringing it back down to her side.

"You didn't have to do that, you know," Melody mumbled.

"I know," Billy said. "Let me see your left hand. To see how bad it is injured."

"You really don't want to see it," Melody warned faintly. "Even I haven't seen it, but I have a feeling it won't be a pretty sight."

"Come on, I have to see your hand. I don't want you to get in worse conditions," Billy sweet-talked Melody.

"If you weren't so good at sweet-talking. I wouldn't be showing you my hand," Melody murmured as she showed her hand to Billy.

Billy gasped and Renegade squeaked loudly, when they both saw Melody's hand. Melody felt the pain in her hand and back, grow more severe that she closed her eyes. She knew that the others were close by her, for she kept on hearing people gasp. Melody knew she was growing weaker by the second, she knew she could faint any second. Melody opened her eyes and looked at her hand. The last thing she saw was her hand all twisted up, before everything blacked out.


"What did he say? Who did this to her?"

"Manfred said that there was a mouse in the room, and this girl named Zelda, was trying to kill it. She had the mouse cornered, but then Melody jumped in to save the mouse. So instead of stepping on the mouse, she stepped on Melody's hand four times, well actually she stomped on it-

"The point is Zelda busted up Melody's hand and maybe her back too, son."

"Some nerve she has to hurt Melody. Trust me if that so called Zelda wasn't a girl, she would've been finished by now. I want to now one more thing, how the heck did Melody survive?"

Melody opened her eyes and was blinded from the light. She groaned and blocked the light with her good hand.

"Melody! You're awake!" Someone shouted with glee. Melody looked at the person who had just spoken. It took a while for her to realize that the person was Jesse.

"Jesse?" Melody said. Melody noticed that her mother and father were there, too. "Mom, Dad? Where am I?"

"You're at the hospital, dear," Mrs. Serpent said.

"What?" Melody shouted, she tried to sit up, but the pain made her lie back down on her pillow. She turned her head from side to side; she saw other people in beds or in a wheel chair. "How did I get here? The last thing I remember is being next to Billy and Renegade. Wait a minute, Renegade the mouse! Where is he?"

"Right here in my hand, safe and sound," Jesse said as he showed the little gray mouse to Melody. Melody took the mouse with her good hand and put it on her chest, stroking it. The mouse squeaked a few times, and for some reason Melody just knew he was begging for forgiveness.

"Apology accepted," Melody said smiling at Renegade who stopped squeaking. "So where's Jessica and the dweebs?"

"They were busy, we would've brought Dip Stick, but the hospital doesn't allow pets," Mr. Serpent said. "Speaking of pets, where did you get the mouse?"

"A friend of mine gave him to me just today at school," Melody lied. "Oh please, can we keep him?"

"I don't know dear. Taking care of a mouse is a big responsibility," Mr. Serpent said.

"We've managed to take care of Dip Stick, and face it, he's way bigger than Renegade. We can take care of Renegade no problem," Jesse coaxed.

Mr. Serpent looked at Mrs. Serpent for advice. Mrs. Serpent merely nodded. Mr. Serpent looked at Melody and at Jesse then said, "Alright, you can keep the mouse."

"Yes!" Melody and Jesse cheered. "And you still haven't answered my question."

"What were your questions again?" Mrs Serpent asked.

"Mine was how did I get here?" Melody said.

"Dr. Bloor immediately called the hospital, then called us to come to the hospital right away," Mrs. Serpent said. 'What about you Jesse? What was your question?"

"How did Melody survive," Jesse said.

"That, I can answer," Melody said. "If Billy haven't helped me back there in the King's room, who knows what would've happen to me."

"Billy is your Prince Charming isn't he," Jesse teased.

"Shut-up," Melody said, blushing.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Manfred and Dr. Bloor are outside the door wanting to see you, oh and they have another boy with the," Mrs. Serpent said. "Your father and I will be out side while they come in and talk to you. Jesse you can stay with your sister." Jesse nodded, and then Mr. and Mrs. Serpent both pecked Melody on the cheek and then left the room.

"Wonder who the other kid is," Jesse said looking at Melody, who was still stroking Renegade. "So Melody, I thought I wouldn't be seeing you until the weekends, but I guess I was wrong. It's 8:30 right now, I haven't seen you for about twelve hours."

"How time flies when your having fun, huh Jesse," Melody said sarcastically. "I had such a fun day; getting lost a few times in an academy, eating garbage for dinner, but most of all, getting my hand broken and getting my back hurt. Yup, that's a load of fun."

"Come on, it couldn't have been all that bad?" Jesse said.

"No it wasn't. I had a good friend with me and I made a good friend at school," Melody said feeling a bit better.

"Good. I just want to know something. Aren't you glad to see me?" Jesse asked.

"Of course I am, Jesse," Melody said. "I'm sorry Jesse if I offended you."

"It's okay," Jesse said grinning. "You know, I've noticed that you haven't looked at your left hand." Melody forgot all about her hand, she looked at her hand and was relieved that her hand was in a cast. At that moment the door opened, and in came Manfred, Dr. Bloor, and Billy.

"Billy! Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be at the academy?" Melody asked.

"Dr. Bloor let me come along so I can see you," Billy said. "How do you feel? Is your hand okay? What about you back? Is your back okay?"

"I feel great, Billy. You worry to much," Melody said smiling.

"Of course I worry, you're my best friend," Billy said and Melody blushed. Billy noticed Jesse standing beside Melody on the other side of the bed. "Who are you?"

"I'm Jesse. Melody's big brother, and who are you?"

"I'm Billy. I'm Melody's friend. Melody has told me a lot about you, Jesse."

"Did she," Jesse said. "It's nice to meet you, Billy."

"Like wise," Billy said. They were all silent until Dr. Bloor cleared his throat.

"Well Melody, Manfred, Billy, and I came to see if you were okay and by the look of it, you're a bit better," Dr. Bloor said with a smile. "We also came to tell you that Zelda has been-

"Expelled!" Jesse said hopefully.

"No. Sorry, but we can't expel the endowed. We can only give them detention," Dr. Bloor explained.

"Zelda has been given detention for two months," Manfred said. Melody was disappointed she was hoping Zelda would be expelled.

"Anyways I think we should leave," Dr. Bloor said. Let us know when you get better, and let us know when you'll be coming back to Bloor's Academy. Come along Manfred and Billy."

Dr. Bloor noticed the disappointment on Melody and Billy's faces as they said their good-byes, and quickly added, "We'll come and visit you soon Melody, and we'll bring Billy along, too."

"Really!" Melody and Billy said looking at Dr. Bloor with grateful looks.

"Yes really, we'll try to visit you to tomorrow around 9:30 PM," Dr. Bloor said.

Melody and Billy look at each other, both grinning from ear to ear, and Renegade squeaked with joy. Then all of a sudden the two eight year-olds were talking non-stop. The others were amazed how fast they could talk for their age. Then they suddenly stopped talking. There was a long silence but it was broken by Melody's giggling.

"Sorry, but I felt like giggling," Melody said after she stopped giggling. "Anyways…I'll see you soon Billy!"

"Yeah," Billy agreed. Then he led Manfred and Dr. Bloor out of the room. Melody watched them leave, her eyes gleaming.

Jesse leaned against Melody's bed close to her then he said, "Are you sure you don't like Billy Raven more then just a friend.

"Shut-up Jesse," Melody said blushing into a shade of pink. Jesse and Melody sat there talking as their family came in to join into the conversation.


Billy silently entered into his dormitory; he tiptoed towards his bed and got his nightclothes out of his suitcase. He quickly and silently put them on, and then he quickly got into bed.

"Billy is that you?" a whisper came from Charlie's bed.

"Yes," Billy whispered back. There was rustling of covers being pulled off. Billy heard Charlie tiptoeing towards him. He felt someone sit on his bed. Before Charlie could say a word two more figures sat on Billy's bed.

"Where were you Billy?" It was Gabriel. "Where did the Bloor's take you?"

"Yeah," said Fidelio's voice.

"They took me to see Melody," Billy whispered.

"How is she?" Gabriel said in a worried voice. "She isn't badly injured, is she?"

"She looked fine when I saw her," Billy said.

"That was a horrible thing Zelda did to the girl. I mean, she so innocent looking, and really pretty for a girl her age," Charlie said. "She was really brave and strong when she was fighting with Zelda."

"You must really like the girl Billy, I mean you stood up for the girl. You even insulted Zelda to defend the girl," Fidelio teased. Billy blushed, he didn't want to admit it, but he did like Melody a lot.

"I still can't believe that Melody lied to me," Gabriel said. "She said she wasn't new here at the academy."

"She must've had a good reason to lie to you," Billy said.

"She better," Gabriel grumbled. "I hope she gets better soon."

"I'll tell you how she's doing," Billy said.

"What do you mean?" Fidelio asked. "You're going to be visiting her, or something.

"Yup. Dr. Bloor said he was going to take me and see Melody tomorrow," Billy said.

"Too bad you couldn't introduce us to her," Charlie mumbled.

"I'll introduce her when she comes back to Bloor's Academy," Billy reassured Charlie.

"Okay," Charlie said, smiling. "Well, I'm beat. I'll see you guys in the morning."

"That goes double for me," Fidelio and Gabriel said. The three boys slipped off Billy's bed and went to their own. Billy lied in his bed, thinking about Melody, hoping that she would get better. His eyes got heavier by the second, and before he knew it he was asleep.


Third Chapter is done. Alright! Anyways, please review. Tell me if it sort of sucked, or if it was okay, or if it was awsome. Tell me how I can improve, and stuff. This one was sort of long, was it.