• They were all staring at me- there was no escaping their glances. I was the unknown new girl that no one knew anything about. Due to my unsightly appearance, constantly angry scowl, and cruel misdemeanor, people immediately mistook me for a gang member. They told stories, oh, did they tell stories. One about how I had shot my own brother. Another about how my gang family had burnt all of their names into my scalp. I heard them all, whether I wanted to or not. But they didn’t bother me- the truth was so much worse. The real origins of my life were something that none of them could comprehend, making their nightmares look like pure fantasy to me. If only I could escape my past and make it that of a simple gang child. One who grew up on the outside, “bad” and “evil” temperament only from the people that raised them. But they didn’t know- had no clue- to my real beginnings and background, those of which landed me face first in the principal’s office on my mere fourth day of high school.
    “Rose Spellman,” a bored, monotonous voice called my name. I glanced over, as my long blonde hair grazed against my cheek. Someone had once told me that innocence is the very best weapon. I did my best to turn it on. As walking down the long hall to the office from the lobby that I was just in, I glimpsed my appearance in a window showing into the library. My hair, scraggly and annoyingly straight, lay limp at my shoulders, running all the way down the crook of my back and stopping just above my posterior. My arms lean and lengthy and awkward like any other fourteen year-olds, and my breasts appeared much smaller than they ought to be, which were hidden by my five-sizes-too-big red sweatshirt with a skull on it. My face, which I thought to be very large and swollen, was supposedly my prize asset according to a visitor to the Clan’s lair. He had told me that my “eyes sparkle like the stars” and my golden locks “added the shine that was craved so much by women years older” than myself. He had called me beautiful, a “mortal goddess,” to quote him. I didn’t find myself pretty. I found myself a mistake. A mutt to be put-down for being a runt, or an injured horse at gun point. I hadn’t believed him, and his persistence to tell me so infuriated me. I had told the Master that he had been bothering me, “putting ideas in my head.” This bothered him. I knew it would. I never saw the man again.
    My thoughts were shaken back to the present scenario as we reached the principal’s office and the bored, monotonous secretary took her turn back to the lobby. I approached the chair in front of the large office that a squat, balding man sat at on the other side. I could tell immediately that his chair was pulled up higher than it ought to. People from the Outside thought that height was intimidating. I knew better. I didn’t need to be tall to hurt this man if he decided to cause me any grief.
    “Rose Spellman. What are you doing in my office?” He glared at me. This was what’s known as a rhetorical question. He and I both knew what I was doing there. I knew this, because once the Master had asked me why I hadn’t been at training that day, but that was different, because he really hadn’t known. The fact that he didn’t care was what made it rhetorical. When I tried to answer and defend myself, I wish I’d had known that it was useless. I got a beating of my life that night. Well, I had gotten worse, but those were bec-
    “Rose? This is a serious matter, young lady. Beating students up in the lunch room is not only not tolerated, but you deserve to be punished. You could’ve really injured Byran. It’s a serious offense, that I, and the police, and the school board, AND your step-parents will not take lightly. We will handle this however we can.” He grimaced as he spoke, and I noticed his brow would crease whenever he tried to scare me. Principal Scotten was attempting to threaten me. This tiny, insignificant man was trying to threaten ME…I could hurt him. I could take him down at this moment. The midget would’ve fallen like a tree to a bulldozer. He’s lucky I was in a good mood; that Byran fellow was a fairly good fight and left me pleased that I hadn’t lost my abilities. I had hurt him pretty good by the end, and even if the teachers wouldn’t have lifted me off of him, I would’ve let him live. It would’ve been way too fun to watch him squirm when I walked by him in the hall…Scotten was staring at me. He wanted me to say something.
    “Principal Scotten, I’m sorry. Byran was just provoking me so much and I guess I just can’t hold my temper too well. He had called Heidi my wonderful step-mother some terrible names, and then proceeded to tell me to get out of ‘his’ town. I’m very sorry, and I deserve to be punished,” I reported as I lightly batted my eyes. Lightly enough so that he wouldn’t notice that I was doing it on purpose, but enough that he could see the tiny tears forming on my tear ducts. His eyes softened the slightest bit, and a sketchy grin spread through his dimples. Cheering proceeded in my head.
    She’s done it again, folks! Even the coldest of hearts and strongest of authority can’t resist Rose Spellman’s spell. Lies, all lies. Had I been Pinocchio, my nose would’ve stretched out a mile. I was a good liar, and I could trick just about everyone. That’s one thing I prided in myself. I may not have anything else going for me, but I was damn good liar. When I saw that softening in his eyes, I knew that I was home free. Within three minutes, my prophecy had come true and I was out in the hall again, getting my books from my locker.
    I examined the clock above me. Twenty to two, which meant there were about ten minutes left of the current class, and about an hour left of the school day. I had made it through the past four days without any issue or desire to skip. I liked this “school” thing. It was amusing to me whenever the students would dodge out of my way, like a prisoner looking at their executioner. Inside, I laughed at them. They worried for their lives. There wasn’t much that I was planning to do to them besides having a bit of fun. Soon enough, I’d be back at the Lair and all would be well again, taking my rightful place beside the Master.