Deviant Academy

Orphan Girl

Rachel’s POV

Every once in a while, the parents come over.

By “the parents,” I mean their parents—Dash’s, Nate’s, and Stella’s. My parents never come to the Academy; I don’t want them to.

For all intents and purposes, I’m an orphan.

Okay, that’s a little dramatic, I guess. My parents do love and support me. They send me money and ask me how I’m doing. I’m sure they would visit, if I asked them to.

But the only thing more embarrassing than being the spawn of Normals is having to introduce those Normals to your Deviant-born friends.

Anyway, today is one of those days where the parents visit.

Which is really poor timing, because I’ve got a party to be thinking about.

The Worthingtons and the Everettes—that is, Nate and Stella’s parents—have always been mostly polite to me, if a little stiff. It’s the Tellers—Dash’s parents—who really suck.

Which is a major bummer, since they’re the leaders of the entire Deviant Society, and the ones I’d like to impress the most.

I put on my best dress, both for the party and for them—a sexy, red frock that’s still sophisticated enough not to look trashy. I straightened my already long and straight hair, and spent about three hours on my makeup. And still, when I greet them, they don’t so much as blink at me.

“Dash,” Dash's father says as Dash leads all the parents into the living room. “How are your grades?”

Dash shrugs unenthusiastically. “Fine. A’s and B’s.”

“And tourney class?” asks his mother. “Are you still winning the tourneys?”

“Mostly.”

“When he’s not losing to me and Rach,” Nate explains proudly. “You know how it is.”

Dash’s mother eyes me with a hint of a scowl. “You’ve beaten him, then?”

“Just once.” I’m not sure why I feel the need to belittle myself for her, but I do. “I got lucky.”

“She’s being modest,” Dash tells her. “Between the fire blasts and the Compulsion, she’s not an easy competitor to beat.”

I look away as my cheeks flush. I wish it didn’t feel this good to be complimented by him.

“We’ve talked about this,” says his father. “You’ve got to knock them back with their own force before they can make their moves.”

Dash’s jaw tightens, and he nods, but says nothing.

“Tell us about the girl,” says Nate’s father. “Harley Harris. Have you befriended her?”

I do my best to hide my own scoff, but Stella isn’t quite as smooth. “As if. She’s a pariah. Spends all her time with Seth and that weird Shields girl.”

Dash’s father lifts an eyebrow at this. “Seth Oliver?”

Nate waves a hand dismissively. “You know how he is. He’d like to go there, but he doesn’t stand a chance. She’s not interested.”

I’m not so sure about that, but maybe it’s just wishful thinking; I’d much rather Harley hook up with Seth than Dash or even Nate. The further she is from the Squad, the better.

“I don’t want her getting involved with him,” says Dash’s father. “We want her in our camp, not his. Surely one of you two boys can make a move on her?”

Stella cackles at that. “Believe me—they’ve tried. Nate has, anyway.”

Nate’s father looks sharply up at his son. “Without success, you mean?”

“I’m getting there,” Nate grumbles. “It’s not gonna happen overnight.”

“Why does it matter?” I ask suddenly, even though I know it’s the last thing I should do. “Why do you want her in ‘your camp?’”

“You mean, besides the obvious?” Nate asks with a sloppy grin, reaching out to fist bump Dash, who unenthusiastically returns it.

“I wouldn’t expect a Normal-born to understand,” Dash’s father says sharply to me. His words cut like a knife. “But given that she’s the most powerful Deviant the world has ever seen, we’d like to ensure that she’s on the path toward the Deviant Society.”

“It’s not going to be easy,” warns Stella after shooting me a sympathetic glance. “That roommate of hers—I’ve been doing a little digging, and I’m pretty sure she’s a sympathizer. Apparently her brother’s in the Protective Society.”

The parents all exchange concerned glances at this, but Dash’s father, as usual, takes the lead. “We’ll need to get them separated. I’ll speak with the headmaster.”

“You know what his stipulation will be,” warns Dash’s mother. “Remember what he said about Seth?”

My ears perk up at this. “What does that mean?”

She scowls at me, but explains for the sake of the rest of the group. “He wanted to fire him for student-teacher relations. We told him he couldn’t.”

Student-teacher relations? Did someone tell the headmaster about me?

“With who?” Dash asks immediately. “Harley?”

Why would he ask that? Why does he sound so concerned about it?

Why isn’t it my secret he’s concerned with? He knows I slept with Seth; he should worry about my honor, not hers. 

“No,” his father tells him. “Some other student. His son told him about it, but wouldn’t name names.”

“f*****g Will,” Nate says, rolling his eyes. “What a little shit.”

“Why can’t you just let them fire him?” Dash asks. “Seth’s a creep.”

I’d like to imagine he’s saying this for my benefit, but I can’t ignore the stinging feeling that his comment is more for Harley’s benefit than for mine.

The parents exchange glances, and it’s clear that whatever reason they have for protecting Seth isn’t something they’re willing to share with the group.

“Why don’t you just convince her to move in here?” suggests Stella’s mom. “If not the boys, then you girls can do it, can’t you?”

Stella wrinkles her nose, but shrugs. “I can try. Like I said, she’s a bit of a pariah.”

Dash’s father slams his fist down on the table so hard, we all jump. “There is a war going on outside these walls—a war you’ll all be joining as soon as your educations are complete. You’re adults now, and I’d like to believe you’re smarter than you’re acting. Are you really going to half-ass the most important thing we’ve ever asked you to do because she’s a ‘pariah’?”

A long, painful pause hangs over the room for several seconds. Stella, Dash, and Nate all glance at each other as if debating whether to talk back to their parents—something I, of course, have no say in.

But I do have a say in one thing—my future.

The future is bleak for Magics. It’s either the Deviant Society, the Protective Society, or living here as a teacher. 

I’m too powerful and too special to stay here forever. 

The Protective Society… Well, they’re weak. They’re poor. And they’re losing the war.

It has to be the Deviant Society. And unfortunately for me, I’m not a shoe-in like the rest of them. I’m the Orphan Girl… until I can prove otherwise.

“I’ll do it,” I tell them. “I’ll convince her to move in with us. I’ll get her into the Deviant Squad.”