Page 162 of The Lost Ones

“I know, it’s strange but then again this is a training academy the students here are no strangers to death and should be trained to deal with it.” Jett says as they arrive behind us and then follow us to our table, Cole with them.

“Even so I’m still surprised they’re not talking about it.” I frown looking around at the unaffected and even laughing students.

“They’re not trained to deal with it. At least not that I’ve seen yet. Something else is going on.” Cole says, just as he finishes the doors open and in stroll, Rupert, Theo and several other instructors.

The room falls silent and everyone’s attention turns to them.

“Sorry to interrupt your meal, I’ll be quick.” Theo says taking the lead. “Director Annie has had to leave on a family emergency and I am going to be acting as interim Director in the meantime. Any issues or questions please don’t hesitate to come to my office, I have taken over Director Annie’s for the time being. That is all, you can now return to your meal.” He says rather abruptly before turning back around and leaving the room, the other instructors following him out.

“That was not what I was expecting at all.” Nate frowns.

“Why are they covering it up?” Kyle asks.

“We can ask Rupert in our lesson. There’s something more going on here and I want to know what.” Levi says firmly.

We finish our food in a rush. All of us keen to get out to the stables and talk to Rupert to see what the hell is going on. I thought there would’ve at least been a couple of enforcers around. Keeping an eye on the students and making sure that the Director was the only one that was betraying her kind.

“You guys done?” Dash asks us all and we nod, getting up and leaving the dining room.

Just before I leave Ghost swoops through the door and lands on my shoulder causing shocked mutters and then a hushed silence to follow me out. Great more rumours will be going around about us now.

Throughout the whole trek to the stables I feel like we’re being watched but no matter how much I look around I can’t see anyone at all let alone someone watching us.

“Rupert?” Erin calls as we get to the stables.

When he doesn’t reply, we all spread out and search the large stables for him. Not only is he not here but our horses aren’t either.

“He’s not here,” Levi says frowning.

“Well its not like we can practice by ourselves, our horses aren’t here and part of the point of them being ours is that we form a bond. I don’t know about the horses you guys ride but Dave will be pissed if I ride anyone else.” I say and they all turn to me with amusement in their eyes and it takes me a second to work out why.

“You called your horse Dave?” Kai asks, suddenly exploding with laughter.

“Yes I did.” I say primly, “It’s a very respectable name.” I defend making them all snicker.

“Ok so Sage’s questionable name choice aside. We may as well go back to our room.” Nate grins.

“It’s a bit weird though,” Erin says, “he made such a big deal yesterday about making sure we come to the lesson. Needlessly repeating himself even though he had literally just told us and now he’s not here?”

She makes a damn good point.

“He probably just didn’t want to answer all the questions he knows we’re going to have about the cover up with the Director.” Dash says logically as we make our way back to the room.

“Do you guys want to come and hang out in our room with us for a bit, since our evening is suddenly free for the first time in what feels like forever?” Levi asks Jett and the others.

“Sure that sounds good to me.”

“I should really get down to the library if we’ve got some free time there’s still so much we don’t know.” Dash says frowning heavily.

The lack of information that we are working with is clearly weighing heavily on him and Maverick judging by the matching frown on Mav’s face.

“Not tonight.” I say simply and then decide to elaborate when they all look at me with their eyebrows raised. “I just feel like we all need to stay together for some reason.” I tell them laying a hand on my churning stomach.

“Ok Sage, that’s fine. Any excuse to hang out with my girl anyway.” Dash reply’s pulling Erin in close and kissing her on the top of her head.

“Thank you, for understanding my weird.” I say as we all take seats in the guys and my room and smile shyly.

“Duh of course we do. I’m just as weird maybe not in the same way but still.” Erin grins.