I hoped that Korva would’ve had enough. She’d gotten her digs in, as I expected, and so, I figured we’d move on. But before we could even start class, Korva had already jumped on to something else.
“Miss Sosna, that hat is not an appropriate piece of the school uniform,” Korva sneered, pointing at my knit cap. “I demand you remove it at once.”
I balked. “But Lady Korva—”
“At once, Miss Sosna!”
I seethed. With a trembling hand, I reached up and took off the knit cap. All the girls in the room gasped as they witnessed my thin hair and balding patches. Kiara’s potions had helped some of my hair to grow back, but I still didn’t have the long, thick locks I did before, and wouldn’t for another week.
Gossip surged around the room. A good deal of girls looked sorry for me, but Melissa and Morgan were laughing behind their hands. The whispers grew, as well as the snickers. I felt tears well in my eyes, but I kept them submerged. I wouldn’t give these bitches the satisfaction.
Korva smirked, like she thought the situation was funny. “Well, we can’tallbe pretty, now can we?” She turned back toward the board, writing instructions upon it while I sank in my seat.
Delmare abruptly stood up, and her chair smacked against the floor. Odette jumped in her seat beside her. “Shut up, you sorry old cow,” Delmare growled.
Korva’s mouth dropped open. “Excuseme?”
“Hair doesn’t make you beautiful. It doesn’t mean shit!” Delmare seethed. She opened her hand, and in her palm formed the illusion of an electric razor. Delmare must’ve been pretty fucking serious, because her illusion became solid, as authentic as the real thing. Delmare turned the razor on, and before our very eyes, shaved off a strip of her hair right down to the scalp.
“Delmare!” I shouted. I wanted to stop her, but at the same time, I felt petrified. Kiara and Odette’s eyes grew wide as they watched Delmare’s black locks trail to the floor. The other girls in the class were stunned.
I couldn’t imagine what had prompted such a drastic response— I knew Delmare was protective of me, but this seemed over the top.
Then I remembered. Lady Korva had said Delmare was lying when she’d been assaulted by Andrik a year ago. She thought she’d made up a story about the attempted rape, even though several of us had been there to bear witness. I bet Delmare had been dying to get back at Korva in some small way ever since that moment.
Korva slammed her hand on her desk. “Miss Delmare, stop this at once!” she screamed.
“You can’t make me do anything, you stupid broad,” Delmare spat. “Fuck your beauty standards, and while I’m at it, fuck your asshole son, too. Consider this a big screw-you, from me to the king.”
Korva’s hands twitched, like she wanted to grab Delmare, or hit her, or both. Either would get her in very big trouble. By this time, all of Delmare’s hair was gone. Her black hair laid in a heap on the floor as she threw the razor down and jutted her chin out at Lady Korva.
“There.” Delmare spread her arms wide. “Go ahead and pick on me, because now I’m an easy target, and you’re too much of a coward to bully someone your own size.”
Korva was shaking. “Miss Delmare, if you do not sit down, there are going to beseriousconsequences.”
Delmare made apshingnoise. “Stick it up your own ass. I’m done taking orders from you, and so are my friends.”
Delmare stormed out of the classroom with one finger in the air. Korva’s face grew so red, I worried it would explode. Kiara, Odette and I weren’t stupid enough to stick around and face her wrath, so we gathered our things and ran out of the classroom as quickly as our feet could carry us. The moment we closed the door behind us, Korva let out an ear-splitting screech that could rival a siren’s.
“Fucking banshee,” Kiara muttered under her breath. “I can’t believe we have two more years of her.”
“If we don’t get expelled,” Odette squeaked.
We found Delmare. She was pacing in front of the pool in one of the palace courtyards— our usual meet up. She stopped pacing when she saw us, though her hands quivered in rage.
“Mare, what were you thinking?” I asked.
“I just lost control. I’m sick of watching Korva torment you,” Delmare said. “If she’s gonna make fun of you for losing your hair, then she’s gonna have to make fun of me, too, because now I’m bald.”
I frowned. I was happy she’d stuck up for me, but I didn’t want her to face consequences because of it.
“I can’t believe you shaved your head in solidarity! We shouldalldo it!” Odette gushed.
“That’s not necessary,” I said. “I appreciate it, Mare, but do you think you went too far?”
“It’s making a statement,” Delmare said. “Korva, Eli, they all think they can push us around and get us to do whatever they want. Well, they can’t, because we’re going to fight back.”
“Korva was purposefully trying to make Emma leave, you know,” Kiara pointed out. “She wants her to fail, so she has to be held back.”
