Reckless Magic

“I saw what you did in thetheater,” he whispered. He leaned in so that only I could hear him. “And weboth know what happened on the stairs. Now look at you; you are clearly aboutto go into some type of shock.” I should have been grateful for his discretion,but his nearness caused my vision to blur from the intensity of energy. Hiswarm breath tickled my ear, but a cold shiver ran down the back of my neck.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Itried to deflect again, but now I realized Kiran and Talbott weren’t late toEnglish because they had continued their argument; they had gone to investigatethe theater after I passed them. It was stupid of me to rush up the stairs soquickly, and it was stupid of me to linger on the stairs with Kiran. Why was heso damn nosey?

“Yes, you do,” Kiran leaned in closerto my neck, his lips nearly touching my ear. His silky and soft voice lost itsedge; his lips brushed my hair. “What’s wrong with you?” He sat back quickly.

I began to convulse, and wonderedto myself if this was a seizure. Surely, I was too coherent for a seizure, butmy body shook so violently, I could barely stay seated. A small part of mewondered if I should bite down on a spoon, but before I could react, I feltmyself falling backwards, slightly aware I was causing a scene.

I fully expected to hit the floor,but instead, I felt strong arms reach out and catch me. I looked up assuming tosee Kiran, but instead I was shocked to see Principal Saint looking down at me.His eyes were full of concern and I could see his mouth was moving, but the ringingin my ears drowned out the sound. That was the last thing I saw before I lostconsciousness for the second time that day.

Chapter Nine

I regained consciousness in anunfamiliar place. My head was pounding and my mouth felt like sandpaper. Theelectricity inside me slowed to a soft hum and my blood temperature cooled downa bit. I must have been in the Nurse’s Office because I was lying on a soft cotand a metal medicine cabinet sat directly to the left of me.

As I slowly pulled myself into asitting position, I realized I was not alone. I rubbed my eyes and moved mytongue around in my mouth, but it was no use. I needed a glass of water.

Arms folded, Principal Saint sat ata desk, staring. A wave of trepidation swept over me.

“Are you feeling alright, Ms.Matthews? You took quite a fall,” his distinct, elegant voice was crisp andserious. He stood up and reached over to hand me a glass of water. I took it,my hands trembling a bit, and drank it quickly.

“I think so,” I still felt weak,and my head was especially fuzzy. “Thank you,” I said hesitantly. He took thecup out of my hand and walked over to fill it again at a sink positioned behindhim.

“For what?” he sounded surprised.

“For the water.… and for notletting me fall,” I replied matter-of-factly.

“I did no such thing. You did fall;you fell hard. The student, who brought you here, said you possibly had aseizure. I am here to make sure that you don’t have another,” his voice wasfull of conviction, but I could have sworn I saw him catch me.

“A seizure?” I said pretending tobe confused. Although confident that I was conscious of what was happening tome, I was not so sure now. I didn’t remember hitting the floor at all. I rubbedthe back of my head, but nothing felt sore or tender.

“Yes, Mr. Angelo said you beganshaking uncontrollably before passing out; you were fortunate he was near andable to act so quickly. Do you not remember any of this?” he looked at meskeptically.

“No,” I said simply. I leaned myhead forward to look at the ground, letting my long hair fall in front of myface. I could not look at this man in the eye when I lied to him; he seemed asif he would be impervious to a dishonest student. Obviously still confused, Ididn’t remember Talbott being there at all.

“Hmmm…” he clearly didn’t buy it;but I wasn’t sure I bought it either. “Well, the important thing is that youare alright. Do you have any idea of what could have caused this? Has thishappened before? What is the last thing you remember?”

“I don’t know,” I paused, trying toremember what happened. What made me convulse so terribly? “I remember talkingwith Kiran and then nothing.”

“Mr. Kendrick?” Principal Saint’svoice raised in alarm, although I had no idea why. “This is worse than Ithought,” he mumbled cryptically under his breath. “Eden, I am afraid there issomething we need to discuss. This has gotten out of control,” he looked at megravely, but did not attempt to stand or come closer. A feeling of dread washedover me, but before he could continue, Mrs. Truance stepped through the door.

“Eden’s aunt is here, sir. Wouldyou like me to send her in?” I was amazed at the tone of respect Mrs. Truanceused with Principal Saint. Her quiet, subservient demeanor was nothing I hadever seen her exhibit before.

“Yes, that would be fine. I am sureshe is anxious to see her niece,” Mrs. Truance left the room and PrincipalSaint turned his attention back to me. “Our discussion will have to wait. I amsending you home for the day, and strongly suggest you take the rest of theweek off to recuperate. Kingsley does not tolerate sick and fainting students.”He said it with finality and stood to take his leave.

“Oh my word, Eden are you allright?” Aunt Syl was through the door and in front of my face before I couldreact. She was still in her green doctor’s scrubs, and her hair was frazzled.She reached out to put my face in her hands and I inhaled the strong smell ofhospital soap.

“I’m fine, really, I’m fine,” Itried to reassure her, but she reached into her pocket and pulled out a smallflashlight to begin examining my eyes. I attempted to push her away but she waspersistent.

“They said it was a seizure, I wasso worried,” she exclaimed, finally giving up the impromptu checkup and huggingme tightly.

“Aunt Syl, I can’t breathe,” Isaid, struggling for oxygen.

“Oh, I’m so sorry dear,” she pulledback, but didn’t take her hands off my shoulders.

“I have excused her for the day, aswell as the rest of the week,” Principal Saint interrupted from the doorway.“Please, take this time to recover, and we will see you back here on Monday,healthy. I will have Ms. Mason bring over your homework and make sure you arecaught up on classes.” With his final instructions, he left us alone, closingthe door behind him.

“What happened?” Aunt Syl askedexasperatedly. “The school called me at the hospital and I rushed over hereright away.”

“I guess I had some sort of seizureor something…. I don’t really remember to be honest. But I feel much betternow; I think I’m fine. Let’s just go home,” I looked up at her with pleadingeyes, giving her my most charming smile, hoping to convince her.

“Nice try, but seizures are seriousEden. I am going to take you to the hospital for a full checkup, and then wewill go home…. Ok? Who is Ms. Mason?” Aunt Syl was serious. I knew there was nogetting out of all of the tests I was about to have run on me. I inwardlygroaned, not sure if I was up to being poked and prodded. Still, I wondered ifthere was a diagnosis for blood made out of lightning.

“Lilly, the girl I was telling youabout yesterday,” I hopped off the cot and adjusted my uniform. Aunt Sylchecked out with Mrs. Truance before we left; but we eventually made our waydown to her car, parked slightly askew in front of the school.

Before we could begin our escapeand to my utter despair and frustration, I noticed Kiran jogging down to usfrom the Administration Building. I cringed, unsure why he just couldn’t leaveme alone. Since I was still not feeling like myself, I was in no mood to dealwith him.

“Eden,” he called from a few feetaway as I tried to slide into the passenger’s seat as quickly as my tremblingappendages would let me. “Eden!”