Mind of Distinction (Hawthorn Academy Book 7) by D.R. Perry

Author:D.R. Perry [Perry, D.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LMBPN Publishing
Published: 2021-08-25T22:00:00+00:00

I sat in the front row at the end of the aisle. Grace sat beside me, and Logan directly behind. Dorian sat across the aisle. The clock on the wall behind the empty podium stood at scant seconds to ten in the morning although the lights made it feel like high noon. The squeak of rubber-soled shoes made me turn my head, expecting Dylan, late from a shift at the cafe.

He doesn't work there anymore, remember?

"Can I—"

A crack and rush of air interrupted Alex, who stood like a deer in headlights, holding his green apron in one hand. I nudged Grace, and we both scooted over. As Alex was about to take the seat, he vanished in another one of those whooshing cracks.

"Mr. Onassis." The voice boomed through the room but was somehow raspy with a slight quaver. "I don't tolerate tardiness. If it happens again, there will be consequences."

Alex stared out at the audience. Yes, the bunch of us felt more like a group watching a staged performance than a gaggle of assorted students at their first day of boarding school, because that's what Hiram Hawkins intended, of course.

Astute. Your new headmaster is, as you say, "old school" and will employ methods your parents are more accustomed to. Consult them, and there's hope for you yet.

I wasn't the only one who noticed, either. It wasn't much of a surprise that the kid from the school for delinquents knew that to do next.

"Sorry, sir," Dorian whispered from across the aisle.

Unbelievably, Alex took his advice. Sort of.

"I'm deeply sorry, Headmaster." He bowed so sharply his jet curls bounced.

"Purchase a timepiece." Hiram Hawkins narrowed his eyes, and Alex vanished again, reappearing at my side in the seat, head over knees.

"Sit up." I elbowed him.

He did.

"For the First-Years, welcome. It's my hope that you'll thrive in the structure I've built since my arrival." The new headmaster grinned. "As for the upperclassmen, you'll have some changes to get used to. First, some faculty arithmetic. Ezekiel Brown is working elsewhere. Nurse Smith will be assisted this year by an Emergency Medical Magus. We have another new addition to staff, Ms. Rupi Khan, our school counselor."

A smattering of applause covered Grace's question.

"Ms.?" She nudged me.

"Divorced. Ask Dylan."

"Additionally, all seven of the trustees on our board will live on campus this year. You'll get the chance to meet them at the mixer this evening. They'll be auditing your classes, so take the chance to get to know them sooner rather than later."

This time, whispers and gasps sounded throughout the lobby.

"However, their quarters in the Faculty Annex are strictly off-limits to students. Likewise, they are restricted from entering your dormitories. Including those who are family members. I demand professional levels of decorum from both the trustees and you students."

"Relief city." Alex leaned back in his seat but shot me an intense glance. "You'd better avoid my mother, Morgenstern."

Easier said than done, but nice of him to warn you, I suppose.

Warn me? I thought.

Yes. I imagine learning to speak Prince of Darkness will be useful this year.

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