Enchanted High Book I

‘Are you okay?’

Charlie was looking down at them; June was unsure whether he was frowning, or smiling. ‘What am I saying? Of course you’re not okay! You could’ve been killed! Or – or worse!’ he clutched Dominic by surprise and hugged him.

‘What’s worse than dying?’ Dominic pointed out.

Charlie ignored him and moved on to June. Despite the fact that she was covered in mud and rain and blood, he still hugged her like a father she never knew. She remained rigid, her heart stuck in her throat. She had almost accused him of everything that had happened to them ... how could she have even thought of it?

He pulled away. ‘Tell me everything! Don’t leave out a single detail!’

‘Charlie,’ said James, ‘no offense, but right now I’m in serious need of a shower.’

‘Just the main things,’ he insisted. He looked at June. ‘After you tried to contact me when you were at a different destination, what happened? How did you make it from there, all the way to Mount Deep Pozaru? And where were you, Nicole? And Dominic?’

June felt overwhelmed by the questions. She collapsed onto the couch, inhaling deeply and began with the story right from the point she had appeared at Rain Island. Nicole told her story where it connected with hers, while Dominic pitched in a few times, even admitting that he felt as if they had abandoned him. At the part where James was explaining about Robbie, Charlie seemed particularly suspicious, although he tried his best to hide it. They told him about Hubert’s true identity, about Salvatore’s betrayal as the headmaster of Enchanted High. They told him about Linasia.

When they were done, Charlie had no more questions to ask about their experience. He gazed at June in awe, but said nothing about it.

‘Hubert,’ Charlie shook his head. ‘Prince Xavier. Unbelievable. A student. Right under our noses. And as for that Headmaster ... headmaster my foot. How could I have let this happen?’ He tapped his feet. ‘It doesn’t matter now, what matters is that you made it back safe and sound.’

‘Can we go to our dorms now?’

‘Right,’ Charlie straightened. ‘Yes, you can clean yourselves up,’ he removed a dry leaf that was tangled in Nicole’s hair. ‘... and you’ll be starting school classes again next year, as normal.’

‘But,’ said Nicole, ’we didn’t write the exams. We failed the year?

‘Well, that’s true,’ Charlie said. ‘But I think I can try to convince the teachers otherwise. Don’t worry about it, leave it to me.’ He paused, thinking. ‘The school will be looking forward to a new headmaster. Which means that the teachers will be voting whether to keep you here or not. I hope you four have been good students all year,’ he shot an accusing looked at James and Dominic.

‘So we pass?’ James asked.

‘If there are enough votes yes,’ said Charlie. ‘Also ...’ he walked to the grey cabinet and pulled out the plant they had discovered in the Rungee desert. Its petals looked as fresh as they had seen it the first time. He asked placing it on the coffee table.

‘The Fern Flower,’ said June.

‘Yes,’ said Charlie. ‘I have a question.’

Silence.

‘Did you find anything at all in the hot springs?’ Charlie asked. ‘Anything? Another flower, perhaps?’

They shook their heads. ‘No, Charlie,’ said Nicole.

Charlie was looking at James. ‘James?’

James hesitated to tell Charlie about the Agni. About the glowing flower. He would take it away from him, and that was the last thing he wanted. But Charlie’s fatherly eyes bore into him and he nodded.

‘I found this,’ he reached into his pocket and retrieved the flower. It didn’t glow like it did when the mermaid had touched it, but it still looked beautiful, white petals and all.

Charlie took it in his hands. ‘Where did you find it?’

‘Actually,’ James ran a hand through his hair, ‘someone gave it to me.’

Nicole frowned at him. ‘Who?’

‘A mermaid. She said she was an Agni.’

‘James,’ Charlie eyebrows were furrowed in deep thought, ‘fire mermaids, Agni’s, they don’t just appear before someone and hand them flowers. Especially not this flower. Even if one did, I’m amazed they didn’t drown you. They’re very dangerous. And to give you their most sacred plant; the Orthopedius Denialumungus.’

‘Ortho what?’

′Orthopedius Denialumungus,′ Charlie repeated. ‘Also called the Moon Flower. It’s extremely rare, found only at the spot where fire mermaids dwell. That’s why nobody has ever owned one.’

They all turned to James.

‘I’m telling the truth,’ said James. ‘I – she gave it to me in my hand. Without drowning me, without killing me. And she even rescued me when I almost drowned. I owe her my life.’

Charlie seemed stunned. He looked down at the flower and placed it back in James’s hand. ’If it means this much to you, then I suppose you keep it. But keep it safe. Keep it secret. That is a warning.′

James nodded and slid it into his pocket.

‘Very well, then,’ said Charlie. ‘Go up to your dorm rooms. I should gather teachers for a meeting.’

Nicole and Dominic shuffled out hastily, but June and James lingered behind, each wanting to share a thought with Charlie in private.

They looked at each other. ‘I want to speak to Charlie,’ they said in unison.

‘What is it?’ Charlie asked. ‘June?’

‘I was wondering,’ she began, her voice still sounded tired, ‘if I could borrow one of those watches.’

Charlie raised his eye brow suspiciously. ‘Very well,’ he handed one to her.

June felt it in her hands. ‘Thanks –’

‘June,’ Charlie interrupted. ‘James told me you saw something at the village when you two entered the first time. At the Rungee Desert.’

You know, sometimes I imagine myself in place of the wishing tree. Only, if I had vanished, no one would come looking for me.

--THUG.