Chapter 7 CHAPTER
CHAPTER 007
Selene's Point of View
"Amazing," Esther said, and I looked up at her. "This is a junior's level of competence. Freshmen should take no more than ten.
I just gave her a quick smile since I wasn't sure what to say to that. Glancing out of the corner of my eye, I saw Elira staring at me with sharp, icy eyes.
I really had no idea what Elira might have done to me if Esther hadn't intervened and told everyone to get back seated.
"Selene," Esther said once the class settled. "Please come see me following class. I would want to talk about something specific.
The rest of the class dragged on with theory lectures. Students grabbed their belongings and hurried out when the bell rang, indicating the end of class. But I waited as Esther asked me to.
Elira, who had been aiming daggers at me all day, was now seated at my table, surrounded as usual by her group. I understood this would not be a friendly conversation. Rising to meet her eye, I got ready for whatever was ahead.
Yes? I asked.
Elira rolled her eyes very dramatically. She snipped at her friends, "I wasn't even talking to you." "But I guess some people need to be the center of attention, huh?"
Better than to argue, I knew. Reacting would only make things worse; thus, I closed my mouth, turned away, and waited patiently until she left at last.
The classroom emptied, then I moved across to Esther's desk.
She said softly, gesturing to the chair across from her. I took a seat and tried to remain cool under pressure.
With a moment to study me, Esther tucked a lock of her gray hair behind her ear. Her eyes seemed to be reading me, sizing me up in terms I wasn't sure I was ready for.
After a moment of quiet, she asked, "Your mother was Claire Hastings from the Edelweiss Pack, correct?"
I nodded, not sure where this was going. Yes... that's right.
Esther nodded steadily. "She was one of my best students," she said, almost fondly. "I likewise knew Roland, your father. He was always eager to learn and quite robust. And your Uncle Marcel as well..."
Feeling weird hearing about them like they were real people, I gently corrected her with a little smile. "My dad is okay." Not one person ever mentioned my parents back home. They regarded them as ghosts. Though it felt as though they were being discussed in a far distance, it was good to hear about them for once.
Esther carried on, seemingly lost in contemplation. "She was really good," she said gently. "I would want to extend to you the same chance I did for her."
Blinking to try to understand what she was saying, What do you mean? I asked.
"Have you heard of the elite team?” With her eyes fixed on mine, Esther enquired, waiting for my answer.
I wrinkled my brow, the name calling to me. Indeed. On that team is my cousin, um, my brother Marcel.
Esther answered nodding. Yes, he is indeed. As were your parents' years.
Comprising the top students from all years, the Elite Team was a unique group housed within Silverpine Academy. They followed a different program than the rest of us and represented the face of the institution, the defenders of the academy.
Esther said matter-of-factly, like it was the most natural thing in the world, "I want you to take trial classes with the Elite Team."
My heart came to a stop. "W-Why?" I stammered, not sure whether I was listening to her exactly.
"Because," she said, "a freshman who can heal thirty fish in one go has a bright future ahead of her."
Her comments land more forcefully than I anticipated. Though nobody had ever told me I was headed for something unique, I knew I had some ability. Back home, all I had heard were things I should have been working on, what I was neglecting. Knowing that I was good enough for something made my stomach turn in an unexpected manner.
"The Elite Team is not unusual for a member of the Edelweiss Pack," Esther said, noting my lack of response.
I stammered, her words beginning to weigh in. a defender of the academy?
Not like some of the others, I was not a great student. Although I might have been good at healing, that wasn't anything to get giddy about.
"I'm not sure..." I trailed off not sure how to express what I was experiencing.
Esther's face softened, and she gently laid a hand on the desk and turned to face me. "Selene, you are strong. Too strong. Before you grow bored, you must challenge yourself.
I tried to cool my racing ideas by exhaling slowly. "This was only the first class," I said, hardly sure of my own words.
Esther missed no beats at all. And I only needed a few seconds to find out whether someone was qualified for the Elite Team.
She fixed me with unflinching attention and confidence. I felt as though someone believed in me for the first time—that someone saw something I had not even known was there.
"Okay," I answered at last caving in. I'll take care of it.
Esther grinned, relief flashing across her face. “Good." I will email you including the specifics.
Something clicked in my head as I got up, ready to leave the door, and I suddenly had to ask a question. "By the way,," I said, "you called Liliane when we first met?”
Esther stammered for a moment, her eyes darting away before she cleared her throat. She asked, trying to dismiss it, "Did I?"
"Yeah, you did," I said, "and I spotted a picture of my mum in the hall with a girl called Liliane. Who is she?
Esther's eyes turned far-off, and for a split second I could see something deep flickering in them. She said fast, almost too fast, "They were very close friends."
"Best friends?" Pressing, I sensed something wasn't quite right.
"Yes, best friends," Esther said, but she seemed nervous, as though she weren't saying everything. "I was supposed to give Claire a call. I simply got it mixed up. My worst.
I let it go for now even though I sensed something was off. I was mentally full enough.
Curiosity aroused, I asked, "Do you have any way of contacting Liliane?" "Could I perhaps get in touch with her?"
Esther's face stiffened, and she cast a coolness I had not seen before towards me. No, she died several years ago.
My heart skipped a beat. "She passed away?" I asked again, startled by the rapid change in the discussion.
Indeed, Esther replied, her voice now more subdued. The things depression can do to a person.
Suddenly needing more, I asked, "Was she depressed?"
Esther replied nothing. Rather, from her desk she reached for a pen and some paper. She said, cutting off the exchange, "I'll write you a note." You ought to go to your next class.
Looking about, I saw other students beginning to occupy the room for the next period. Esther wrote something on the paper and handed it to me. She said, her voice now entirely different, "Here you go." Gone was the friendliness; now there was a professional coldness.
"Thanks," I said gently, not sure what else to say. But I could sense the walls rising back between us. Though my head kept whirling with questions, the conversation was obviously finished.
I turned to go, then looked back at Esther, her face a blank mask. Though I wanted to probe Liliane more about her relationship with my mother, I sensed it would not be the proper moment.
I sighed and left the classroom to go to my next one, still whirling around the mystery of Liliane.
I was already tired by the time lunch came around.
Seeking a seat, I entered the cafeteria. Students chatting and laughing abound in the packed, noisy venue. A couple were even surreptitiously kissing on the side. I felt like I belonged nowhere.
Elias was seated at a table close to the middle surrounded by friends. He waved to indicate for me to follow him.
I turned quickly to pretend I missed him. More attention did not appeal to me, particularly not from a group of Lycans.
That was about it. We attended the same institution and shared classes. I sure didn't want to mix with them, and they hardly wanted to mix with me. That is the way things were.
Instead, hoping I could eat in peace, I went over to a table in the far corner of the cafeteria. Still, I kept thinking about the Elite Team and the odd sensation I felt about being thrown into something so grand.
How could I possibly be ready for a group like that? I hardly could get through the day without embarrassing myself. I wasn't sure I could handle that kind of pressure.
Pulling my phone out, I debated whether or not I should call my dad while my finger hovered over the screen. Perhaps hearing something encouraging from him would help me feel better and help me to believe I wasn't wasting my time.
As usual, I tried his number, but it went directly to voicemail. Still, I aimed not to let it control me. In all senses, he was the Alpha. Perhaps he was simply occupied with something vital.
Trying to be laid-back, I quickly left him a note. Hey, Dad, it's Selene here. Though I haven't heard from you lately, I wanted to let you know I'm good. Love you; I miss you. See you later.
I cut off the voicemail; the words weigh heavy in my chest. I loved him from one side only. He had never been the loving kind; thus, I had no expectations of him changing. Still, I yearned for different things to be.
I sighed and started to pick at my lunch, my mind returning to the Elite Team. Given I could hardly keep my head above water here, how could I possibly fit in there?
Then, though, I heard a loud crash as a tray knocked down the table. Startled, I looked up and discovered myself squarely facing someone I knew all too well.
Grinning, Elias said, "Since you were ignoring me, I figured I'd invite myself over."
I fixed him, not sure whether to glare or laugh. What today?