“Quan?” I asked as I began picking at my nails. “You never talk about your life as a nymph?”
“Why would I?” He asked without looking at me.
“Just curious.” I looked over at him as he continued to lick at his paw like it was injured. Come to think of it, I never heard Quan ever speak about his personal life outside of this school. He was always in the know about our lives but never the other way around. “You don’t seem as close to the water like the rest of them.”
“Yeah well…I’m close enough. When you’re a cat, there are limits to what you can and can’t do.”
Quan didn’t say much of anything else, but I did start to wonder how he managed at this school. No real supervision. Your family is supposedly above ground, and they completely forgot about you. You’re a cat that can’t control your shifting, but you’re really a nymph? Why is the school not questioning his whereabouts and what classes did he actually attend? Quan just sorta lingered around and nobody said anything. Quan cut his sharp eyes towards me with a scowl, but I only returned it in kindness.
“Are you ready for this parade and the games?” I asked instead, deciding to change the subject for now but my curiosity about Quan wouldn’t dim easily. He sneered with a twitch of his whiskers before responding.
“Yeah, I’m ready to see this shit crash and burn.”
…
“WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL SOUNNNND OF THE UNDERGROUNNND! Drum majors! TAKE YOUR POSITIONS! Let’s welcome these schools to Trojan territory!”
The sound of the drumline gearing up echoed as the snares teasing the sheep skin. I adjusted my sunglasses against my nose with a scrunch of my nostrils. Cedar Park was exceptionally hot today as the start of the parade and march of schools was just about to begin. The shoving of shoulders and scuffling of feet was constant as students, alumni, and just viewers came to spectate. Isis was nowhere to be found as she had another lab to attend. Something that was a definite lie since classes were canceled. I figured she was already starting the secret process of pledging a sorority on the Grounds, and she was no longer allowed to attend any school events. Everyone had a day off and most were coming in from above ground to view the second biggest day of the week, aside from the games. The Parade of Excellence.
“I can barely see!” Someone shouted from behind. I looked back at the young teenage girls anxiously trying to look over Quan’s height, but he stood like a building in front of everyone with a mean face. Simple black t-shirt and black basketball shorts with a small slither of a gold chain around his neck. We were lined up just at the entrance of the iron gates of the university. The small intimate town of Cedar Park was filledwith vendors sitting underneath white tents, parked cars along the street and buses, and shuttles belonging to the different schools. The Underground was lined up with everyone wanting to watch the parade as police kept a close eye on everything happening. Flyers fluttered through the air of Maggie Grey and her grandfather; Dr. Marvin T. Holmes’s face plastered on the front. Anybody seen protecting and covering for The First Family would be taken in for questioning. Quan suddenly leaned in for my ear.
“Do you see your boyfriend over there?!”
My eyes went to Harmless Harvey standing on the other side of the parade talking to another man. His arms were folded across his chest, glasses on right, and in the middle of what looked like an intense conversation until I saw the man smile and laugh. A man simply showing interest in another. Harvey was more than allowed to move around and have his freedom. What do I care?
“He’s not my boyfriend!” I shouted back as Quan rolled his eyes. “Never will be either! You’re my only real man Quan Mittens–––”
“Whatever,” he scoffed as I laughed.
“The Parade of Excellence has officially begun!” The announcer shouted as the loud booming sound of drums being hit went off like bombs in the distance.
“Remember!” A woman shouted as she marched through the center with a stack of flyers. “The First to see the First, report it here to the Coven Council! No mythic carrying the white mark is allowed in the Underground!”
The woman suddenly flicked the stack of papers high in the sky as they scattered, darting in different directions andslowly floating down, facing the ground as everyone looked up. Maggie’s face was everywhere at this point. Quan reached to grab one flyer as I held on to his thick arm and leaned in.
“This is sick.” He said with disgust in his voice. A looping image of Maggie looking innocent and beautiful in the face with a head full of white hair before suddenly turning into a fanged red eyed creature chomping at the page.
“Vampires have become dangerous to our community,” I read out loud. “If you see any signs of this predator, please report to…Coven Council Authority. The CCA…”
“Not even the damn police but a bunch of witches,” Quan spat as he balled the paper up and tossed it on the ground. “That’s how you know all of this is for show.”
“Ms. Drew Collins herself! A welcomed sight for tired eyes on this lovely morning!” The announcer shouted. I watched Clementine Harold prance on her toes with her hands on her hips, wearing a green dress. Her hair was straightened, reaching halfway down her back, she wore a white headband with heels. A white scarf tied around her neck and black shades. She stood in the middle of the parade as the drumline continued to beat from behind, waiting to make their grand entrance towards the iron gates.
“What is she doing?” I asked. Quan snorted and crossed his arms over his chest.
“The stupid greetings they do…”
Clementine suddenly raised both hands to pull her shades off as she looked around, hearing the screams and chants. She began to take a step before resting back on her hip with attitude.
“GREETINGS!” She shouted; her head scanned the crowd like a laser. “I SAID GREETINGS TO MY SIBLING UNIVERSITIES OF THEEEE UNDERGROUND!”
Everyone began cheering and clapping as she waited with a knowing and confident smile.
“ON THIS?!” She squeaked with a puff of her chest. “FINE MORNING! WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE?! EXCELLENCE IN ALL SHADES OF BLACK!”
“That’s right, Ms. Harold!”
“Yesssirrrr!” A man clapped from behind.
