“Like a fraternity?”
“Not exactly.More like a brotherhood.Go against one, go against all, kind of deal.”
“Well, that doesn’t sound so bad.”She fiddled with the strap of her bag, eager to get going.Angie, on the other hand, seemed determined to share the gossip, and really, knowing who to avoid was handy information.
“Unless you’re in their way, it’s not.They don’t have time to play stupid games, most of the time.”
“Just sometimes,” Wave said, not really making it a question.
Angie shrugged.“They are powerful males.They always play games, just not the stupid, petty ones.Most of them teach or do research here, or act in some political position.They do as they please, and there’s not a lot that anyone has to say to that.As long as you are not a threat to their authority, or don’t have plans to become Mrs.Something or other, you should be fine.”
“Oh, I’m nobody—with no such plans,” Wave said with a self-deprecating smile.
“Good.Now, do you need any help finding your way around?”
Wave gave one last glance after the trio disappearing behind a corner before she focused back on Angie and smiled.“If you could point me toward the administration office, I’d really appreciate it.”
“Sure thing.I’m heading in that direction anyway, just follow me,” Angie said.“And because I think I like you, new girl, I’m going to give you another friendly warning.Those twelve live by the hit it and quit it motto.Just keep that in mind.”
“Thanks.I’ll remember that,” Wave promised.That wasn’t the feeling she had gotten from the Jerk or the God.But what did she know?Her track record with men wasn’t exactly stellar.In fact, it was quite catastrophic.
Wave resisted the urge to rub her wrists and check her neck.It was better to take her new best friend Angie’s warning to heart and stay the hell away from their radar.That shouldn’t be too hard, right?
Together they walked through the door, and Wave was immediately thankful for Angie’s help.The building was huge, and there were so many signs and directions to this and that office that she would have spent an hour just reading them.
Angie nodded knowingly.“It’s a bit overwhelming, but you’ll get used to it.”
She led them out from one of the side entrances, and Wave was confronted with more immaculate hedges and flowerbeds that dared not to have a single wilting flower in them.She didn’t recognize half of them, probably imports from another realm.
“You don’t say,” Wave muttered.
“That’s the new student admin,” Angie said and pointed at a dark brown building on the other side of the lawn.The walls were made of more polished stone, and black marble columns stood next to the door.The marbling looked geometric from a distance, unlike any marble she had seen before.
“Thanks for the guidance,” Wave said and adjusted her bag.“I really appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome.See you around, Wayla.”Angie waved her goodbyes and continued in the other direction.Wave looked at the lawn, filled with narrow, paved paths laid out in a spider web pattern, and picked her best guess which one would lead to her destination.
The administration building was just as grand up close as everything else she had seen so far in Tracthesian.Wave pushed past the double doors and into a large lobby.Huge windows let in the light and gave the place a bright and welcoming feel.A young man, who couldn’t be much older than Wave—although looks could be deceiving—glanced up from behind his desk with a placid smile.
“How can I help you?”
“Hi.I’m Wayla Spinwell.I should have a meeting with Mrs.Smith at nine a.m.?”
“Take a seat, Ms.Spinwell.I’ll let Mrs.Smith know you’ve arrived,” he replied and picked up the phone.Wave looked around for a seat, but the only thing even remotely resembling a chair was an antique-looking sofa by the windows.Surely, he didn’t mean that she should sit there?Sofas like that were made for looking, not sitting.
“Mrs.Smith will be here shortly,” the man, Tony, according to his name tag, said when he noticed her still hovering by the desk.
Wave couldn’t place him.He looked ordinary enough to be human, with his pasty skin and rather dull, wheat-colored hair.She highly doubted that he was, but there weren’t any noticeable traits of other races to latch onto.Maybe he was an ogre, and this was his glamour to pass among the general population.Knowing that ogres existed and seeing one in front of you were two completely different things.
“Thank you, Tony,” Wave said, while keeping her musings to herself.It was rude to ask.She remained standing, but she set her bag back down.Just breathe and be cool.It should all be in order.They had invited her to attend—even offered a full scholarship.She wasn’t trespassing.She belonged here by her own merits, not by her name.She had worked damned hard to make sure of that.
“Ms.Spinwell?”
“Yes?”Wave almost knocked her bags over as she spun.
Mrs.Smith looked exactly as she had expected someone working here to look.Her mahogany hair was pulled back into an immaculate low bun, not a strand out of place, and she wore designer glasses with a thick rim.Her pale skin showed blue veins running under her face, but it didn’t distract from her looks, just enhanced them.Part water fey perhaps?
“Please, follow me.”Smith turned on her sensible heels, her skirt and jacket equally polished and pressed.Or they had a wrinkle-dispelling spell on them.
