Princess of Ruin

Chapter 2 - Basics

Emery

I had to fight the urge to turn around at the sight of who'd opened the door for me. It was the girl from my first class, the one with a body far denser than my own, who was unfortunately just slightly taller than I. And she was also the one who was so damnably nice, with such a naïve demeanor.

"Emery? What're you doing here?" the girl asked, frowning down at me. The tanned skin around her brown eyes creased as I heard a startled squeal coming from behind her.

"That's Emery?" another girl with dark skin who was wearing worn jeans and a cream-colored sweater said, stepping out from what seemed to be a kitchen separated from the carpeted living room by an island that jutted out from the wall furthest from me. A teapot trailed the girl, and I briefly considered informing her of its presence, but decided against it. "I mean, I'd heard she was beautiful, but I was not expecting a princess."

My cheeks warmed involuntarily, and I was uncomfortably aware of the fact that there was no hiding the blush underneath my skin that was as pale as rice paper. "Hi," I murmured quietly.

"So what was it you're doing here again?" the one closer to me asked.

"I was given this room number by the headmaster. As my dorm room, I mean." The two stared at each other, looking rather perplexed. "I suppose there've been mishaps regarding my presence all day. I really shouldn't be surprised to have this added to the list as well." I mentally cursed the fools running this institution for being so damnably incompetent that they couldn't even inform their teachers of a new student. I'd almost been booted out of my calculus classroom because the professor thought me an intruder.

"You were right, Aria," the dark-skinned girl said, smiling. "She's got a sense of humor."

"I'm terribly sorry if I've offended you," I said quickly.

"For being sarcastic? In what world would that be offensive?"

"That was sarcasm?" Aria asked, looking rather confused.

"We really need to work on your people-reading skills, darling. Emery, why don't you come inside and put your bags down so that we can figure this all out? I'm Mikela, by the way." The girl reached around Aria and extended her hand to me. I shook it warily, incredibly relieved when nothing happened. It seemed I owed Elle something of an apology for doubting her crafting skills.

"Thank you," I replied with a dip of my head. A strand of wavy hair fell into my face, and I blew it away with a huffing breath as I limped into the dorm suite.

The room was far nicer than anything I'd ever seen, with a small kitchen off to the left, a carpeted living room to the right, and a hallway that I presumed led to bedrooms directly across from me. "This is rather nice for a boarding school room," I commented.

"Isn't it?" Aria said, her eyes almost sparkling with wonder. "It's far larger than the apartment where my parents live."

"So why did you say you were here again?" the girl called Mikela inquired, waving her hand and sending the floating teapot back onto the counter.

"May I sit down?" I waved a gloved hand at a sofa with a rather hideous grey cushion. Though I'd been told not to intrude, not to interact, as much as possible, my right leg was unused to moving around so much, and it was aching terribly.

"Of course," Mikela replied. I eased myself into the sofa and set my messenger and duffel bags next to me as Aria flopped down on the other end, where the cushions were covered with papers and pencils strewn about.

"To answer your question, I was informed by the headmaster that this would be the place where I'd take up residence. Unfortunately, it seems few people were informed of my arrival today, which I suspect is why you were unaware of my moving in."

"Well, I guess I could go ask the dorm master if she knows anything about a transfer. I'll be right back," Mikela said, striding out the door and leaving Aria and myself alone in the quiet room.

"Why do you talk so funny?" Aria said, breaking the silence, settling herself so that she was laying on her stomach amidst the chaos of papers.

"I'm afraid I'm not quite sure what you mean."

"Like that. You talk like the people in those old-timey history books."

"I learned how to speak by reading old books and fairytales. Satisfied?" That would be far easier to understand than the truth. Aria let out a small sound and picked up an abandoned pencil before turning her attention to a paper that, from my angle, looked to have some sort of mathematics on it.

"Why didn't your parents teach you?" The question was perfectly innocent in its intentions, but it hurt by heart a bit regardless. "Emery? Is there something wrong?" I gave myself a little shake.

"Nothing. My parents just weren't very keen on reading."

"That sucks. My mom and dad always used to read me bedtime stories every night. Before I grew out of them, that is."

"What manner of assignment is that?" I asked in an attempt to change the subject.

"Algebra. It's never been my strong subject."

"Would you care for any assistance?"

"But you weren't in my math class. Do you know what we're learning?" I let out a small snort, almost offended that she would doubt my capability.

"I think you'll find that I'm quite well versed in the realm of mathematics. May I?" I asked, extending my hand and scooting a bit closer.

"Have at it." I took the paper and peered at it, sweeping a chunk of hair behind my ear. It was simple algebra, something I could practically do in my sleep.

"Do it like this," I said as I scribbled numbers on the paper.

"How the hell did you do that?" I stared at her blankly, confused.

"Simply isolate the variable you wish to know the value of."

"You sound like my teacher," Aria muttered, squinting at the page. She tilted her head to the side, as though looking at the equation from another angle might help.

"Then your teacher must be quite a brilliant being," I said with a smile.

"Well, you two seem to be getting along just fine," a voice said, and I turned to find Mikela standing just inside the doorway, grinning.

"Apparently, I'm a damned fool. Did you know that, Mikela?"

"Watch your language, Aria," a rather severe-looking woman said as she stepped through the doorway behind Mikela. "I assume you're the student in question?"

I reached for my cane, which was lying abandoned on a cushion a few feet away, and used it to push myself before limping over to the woman. "It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am," I said as I extended my gloved right hand. If I'd learned nothing else from my storybooks, I'd certainly learned how to be charming. "My name is Emery. I'm terribly sorry for all the confusion. It seems the headmaster has been rather slow in informing people of my arrival."

"What a polite young lady you are," the woman said, taking my hand and blushing lightly. "I do remember hearing something about a new student moving into my dorm. It must have slipped my mind to inform Aria and Mikela. Very sorry for the mistake."

"Oh, that's quite alright. Is everything figured out, then?"

"Yes, I guess so. I'll leave you three alone, alright?" The woman turned around and left, closing the door behind her.

"I never liked that woman," Aria muttered under her breath as she scribbled something else on the page.

I frowned. "Whyever not?"

"Too much of a suck-up."

"Ah." I paused, rather uncertain of what was appropriate to say next.

"Do you want a tour?" Mikela offered, seeming to sense my unvoiced discomfort.

"Yes, that would be lovely." I picked up my messenger and duffel bags from the sofa and swung one over each shoulder, expertly juggling my cane as I did so.

"Let's go!" Aria said, seemingly rejuvenated as she jumped off the cushions, leaving her homework abandoned.

"Absolutely not." Mikela placed a dark hand on her friend's shoulder and pushed the girl back down. "You need to do your homework. Or do you want to be kicked out of the school?" I raised a pale eyebrow in surprise. This girl reminded me of someone.

"But-"

"No buts. You can talk to Emery later. Right now, do your algebra."

"You sound like my teacher," Aria grumbled, all excitement gone as she settled in dejectedly and picked up her pencil in a dramatic huff.

"Does she often behave like that?" I whispered as Mikela guided me out of the living room and down the hallway.

"All the time. It's quite exhausting, really. But you'll get used to it. Eventually." We passed by an open door in the hallway that seemed to lead to a bathroom, though I only caught a glimpse of a marble sink and floors tiled in white. "That's the bathroom in there. We've got enough toiletries to share, but you should probably get your own when you get the chance. Aria tends to use a lot of shampoo in her hair." I fingered my short, snowy waves, momentarily grateful that I'd cut them from their once-horrendous length.

"Noted. I appreciate your willingness to share."

"Anytime." Mikela stopped in front of a closed door at the very end of the hallway. "Here's your room." She pushed the door open, revealing a room with blank white walls, a bed with a mattress and folded blanket, a desk and chair, and a large window with a cushioned seat. I looked off to the side and found a small closet. "Sorry that it's so small. Aria and I kinda took the big rooms for ourselves."

"Do I look to you like I take up much space?" I said jokingly, smirking. "It's perfect. Thank you."

"No problem. I'll leave you to get settled in." Mikela walked towards the door and was closing it behind her when she paused, turned back, and said, "I'd suggest getting yourself a new blanket. The school-issued ones are kinda itchy."

"Right," I muttered as she left. "Because I know exactly where to find that." I set my duffel bag down on the bed and my messenger bag on the wooden desk chair, looking around the small room. It was seven paces from the door to the opposite wall, where the bed was tucked into a corner, and five paces from the window seat to the desk. It was far more than I'd grown accustomed to.

I opened the door to the closet and peered inside. It was only just enough space for me to step in and turn around, but when I glanced back at the small duffel bag that held all my belongings, I was reminded that space didn't matter much.

Limping back over to the perfectly-made bed, I set my cane down and unzipped the duffel bag, pulling out its contents and setting them in their proper places.

"Stop fussing, will you?" I grumbled, setting a folded turtleneck sweater in the closet. I shot a glare at my right leg, which was aching terribly, clearly unhappy that I was putting my full weight on it. "You're simply going to have to put up with it." I went back over to the bed and peered into the duffel bag, which was empty save for a single, well-worn book, which I took out with extreme care.

"I don't recall packing you," I murmured, flipping it over in my hand to look at the cover. Princess of Ruin, the title read in faded gold lettering that sprawled fancily across the hard cover. Below it was an illustration of a faceless girl wearing a black stone tiara and darkly-colored dress. I let out a long sigh. "Elle, you know me too well." I set the book on the floor next to the bed and sat down at the desk, pondering whether or not I should do my homework. After all, I'd entered almost halfway through the year, and I didn't want to leave a bad impression on my instructors.

A knock sounded at the door, and I turned my head to find Aria pushing the dark wood open. "D'ya wanna go to the dining hall with us for dinner? It's grilled cheese and tomato soup night." Her brown eyes were alight with excitement, and I held back a small smile.

"This should be entertaining," I said with a grin.