Page 10

Asha Avery

“So um…I’m just the intern here,” the high pitched voice said from behind the computer screen. I was sitting in the chair across from the desk in the stuffy office when a mousy looking girl with a pointy nose and tiny, beady eyes came in with a file. “Mrs. Levelle is who you’re going to be dealing with but…I’m…not sure why you’re supposed to be here. Are you sure you received an email to meet here?”

I sighed, trying not to get annoyed. I was already wearing these itchy ass black tights underneath this skirt. The white blouse did me no favors since I was sweating through this bitch and my scars were just…I was noticing the scars more than usual this morning. Just all around, irritated as fuck and just ready to get this over with.

“Yes, I’m sure I got the email. I’m supposed to be leaving due to unpaid school fees by the end of the semester–––”

“It says here…it’s been paid for…”

“Yes, well I still have to pay–––”

“No, I mean…You have a full-ride scholarship since the beginning of May,” she said. “You aren’t scheduled for any type of departure. Maybe I’m not looking at the right or updated file but as of this morning…on here …You should be in class, not here. Now I do see you used to be a legacy but you were recently put out of that due to grades. Other than that…You are still a full-time student.”

I stared at her before shooting up to lean over the desk and look at the screen. I saw where Solomon’s name and bank was written with the last four digits of his account. He paid for all of it. So, where did the money from Maggie go? Did she even pay? Where did Solo get that kind of money from in the first place? Asha Avery. Mythical Student. Uniform colors. Black & White. Status, full time. Siren. Taluwi. Rare.

“Please don’t get me to lying,” the girl said with a nervous tone. “Like I said, I’m just an intern. I could be looking at an outdated file on you.”

“Well how does the departure thing work since this lady isn’t here?”

“It usually depends on whether you live here or above ground…For you…You’ll probably just have your train or plane ride paid for to go back home.”

“That’s it?”

“Basically. You will leave with what you came in with or bought and head back home… If you plan on staying in The Underground then you’ll just be escorted off The Grounds and just visit friends on the weekend. It’s usually simple like that. Nothing nefarious. It happened to my friend and he still comes to hang out on the weekend when he gets the chance. He’s from Me mphis.” She nodded like it was a big deal to know someone above ground. Memphis of all places . “They’ll escort you through a door and arrive at an airport, grab you a ticket, and you head home…really simple if you’re familiar with how doors work.”

“So my memories are safe?” I asked, confused. She looked just as confused as she poked her lips out in thought.

“Um…yes? I’m not sure what you mean by that. The wiping of memories is usually for those who…pose a threat or have no immediate connection or family here… You are a siren. You automatically fall under the sirens here…You’re going to always have family.”

“Even if they aren’t in the Underground anymore?”

She nodded before adding, “Oh well actually, I heard that they are slowly but surely making their way back as things begin to clear up…It’s exciting. Next semester, we should see a drastic change in population here at Drew Collins.”

“They’re coming back?” I asked.

“Mmm hmm, some are deciding to come back…Have they not told you?” she asked. “Personally, you can’t let that type of money walk out without doing something drastic to get it back. Have you been to the new auxiliary gym to see the pool?”

I shook my head .

“You should definitely check it out when you get a chance. It’s actually really beautiful, like one massive aquarium.”

The door opened to the office as the woman known as Ms. Levelle stepped in with her breakfast and bag in hand.

“Sorry I’m late, Ms. Avery…Line at the hall was longer than expected,” she said. “That will be all, Chrissy…”

The intern hurried up to scurry out of the office with a small wave at me before the door closed. Ms. Levelle sat her things down with a heavy sigh and made herself comfortable as she looked up at the screen.

“Right, so it says here…You are scheduled to depart soon…Did she go over the process with you about what to expect?”

I felt my body swell with nerves as I froze. Did this woman just lie ? She just flat out lied. I saw the screen with my own eyes, and she hadn’t touched the computer, not once.

“Ms. Avery?” Ms. Levelle called out as she took a bite of her breakfast sandwich.

“Yes?” I said, sounding overly professional. My heart began to throb. Something else was going on here .

“Has she gone over what to expect?”

“Um…no…we got to talking about other things,” I managed to say before clearing my throat. “She didn’t mention it.”

“Well, we are doing things a little different this time around when it comes to taking away your memory. Seeing as you don’t have any immediate connection to The Underground…we will be sending you to the clinic where you’ll be given a shot….

My mind spaced out at the word shot and instantly thought about Isis. Didn’t she say she was injected with something that made her body go numb?

“Ms. Avery?” She called out. “Are you listening to me?”

“You said a clinic? I’m going to a clinic?”

“Yes. The local clinic here at Cedar Park will go over a few things to make sure you’re healthy before giving you a shot. All very legal of course, just recently passed.”

“A shot?”

“Yes, a shot. We’ve already had a successful departure of several students within the past few months. It’s much easier than taking your memories and placing you on a train or plane…unsure of where to go or how you got there. It's a lot that comes with doing it the old way. With this shot, it’s instant and you won’t feel a thing. It is First Family-approved…certified by all the experts here. Still magic, of course, but just a quicker way of taking it in without messing with your brain. ”

“So…where do I get poked or–––”

She tapped the side of her neck, the same spot Isis touched.

“Think of it as a blessed bite from our First Family, herself,” she giggled. “You’ll wake up back home in your own bed with no memories, no disturbances, and little to no interruptions in your life. It may be fuzzy for a few days but you’ll adjust quite nicely. Any questions?”

I burst out of the building and into the cloudy late morning of Drew Collins grounds. The wind was picking up like another storm was rolling in when I heard a name that I will never forget. It was coming from two guys walking up the steps in their uniforms as they spoke.

“That’s how Ronan makes his money…He gets paid per girl that he gets to come out to the club. I’m trying to get put on, for real…You see how much he’s been making?”

“Yeah, I’ma see if he can put us on because this school shit is for the fucking birds…”

I turned around as I watched the walk inside the building. Ronan gets paid per girl? The shot he gave Isis…the clinic…All of this shit was connected but where did it lead to? I started to turn back around before stopping when a tall figure was starting up the steps directly towards me. His hair was pulled back in a small man bun, his bright hazel yellow eyes were sharp and intense, and he wore the maroon sweatsuit with the school trojan mascot in the corner with rolled up paper in his hand. We had some old ass students here but there was no way this man was a student. I would have easily spotted him and the trail of women that gathered behind him, watching in awe. Didn’t matter to me though. I didn’t like men with more hair than me, and I had other shit to worry about.

“Excuse me,” I said, stepping aside, not realizing he turned to watch me walk down. He called out to me again but I kept walking.

“Excuse me, sweetheart. I know you hear me talking to you, Queen …”

Being down here, you just knew when someone either spent too much time above ground or consumed a lot of the shit up top because nobody down here called me queen . It might actually be some real queens and kings running around here but that was something strictly to Black Americans. I turned around with a frown as I stared at his intense gaze. He looked like a dark bronzed statue with his sculpted face and body.

“Ahhh, you’re already frowning, and I haven’t even started talking yet.” He chuckled as he came back down the steps. “What’s up? What’s wrong?”

“Do we know each other from somewhere?” I asked.

“No––– ”

“So, why are you talking to me?” I asked. He grinned as he stepped back to get a good look at me.

“I’ve never seen a siren this close up before…I just wanted to see what the hype was about…Truthfully…the scars make you look extra tribal.” He motioned to my face. “I like it though. What happened to your face? Was it a fire or something?”

“SETH?!”

We both turned to see Namir waving his hand for him to keep walking.

“If you’re going to take this seriously then do the fucking job and go sign the paperwork!” He shouted, annoyed. Seth ran his tongue across his white teeth before looking me over again, being open with his obvious attraction.

“You on the swim team?”

“I can’t swim,” I said. His eyes lit up in surprise and intrigue when Namir suddenly barged over and immediately stepped in between the two of us like he was blocking this man from talking to me.

“What did I just say?”

“I’m not getting paid to be here–––”

“But you asked me to get you on The Grounds and that’s what I did. Why are you harassing students?”

“They keep following me.” I watched more girls surround the steps to get a good look at this Seth guy. Turning around, I started to walk off again when he called out to me. “We’re hosting a hunter’s game soon! You should come see about me! Predator vs Prey. I’ll be one of the predators…”

“Ignore my brother and keep going!”

“Say less,” I said with my deuces chucked. “Later, Coach!”

Like I said, I had bigger problems to worry about. I pulled out my phone and shuffled through the messages before texting Souxie to tell her she was right. Something was definitely going on.