THESE HIDDEN WINGS

[24.1] ORIGINS CLASS 521: DECEPTIONS

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"When the designer creates it begins from matter."

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I PULLED MY hair up in a solid bun, staring at my reflection in the mirror, timid shy eyes staring back at me. They didn't suit my face. I knew those eyes. They usually sat on my mother's face and she never showed this expression, and yet if mine were so identical to hers, why couldn't I have even an ounce of the bravery she had?

Oh, that's right, because the one time I decided to go against my usual survival instinct I ended up waist-deep in ice-cold water, unable to control my own body and at the mercy of a mind-compelling convert.

Yes, bravery wasn't meant for me, it didn't matter what Mr. Ogustus said about being born a leader.

It was clear destiny had got it wrong with me this time around.

That didn't matter anymore, because now that I knew my limits, I was sure to not make the same mistake. There was a certain safety to being average and doing as you're told. I did not regret going into the restricted area because getting the roses was not the problem, it was only when I abandoned all sanity and decided I owed myself a mystery.

But now I was back to my senses, never to fall into the trap of intrigue again. For the rest of my stay here at Kingsland, I was to follow these three rules I had repeated to myself all through last night.

Number 1: Stay Low

Number 2: Keep my circle small

Number 3: Stay away from Hallway boy.

I was very sure if I remained the quiet girl, there was no chance I would ever meet him again which I prayed for with all my heart. I simply have to be me, the girl I've always been for the last 17 years. Nothing exciting has ever happened to me, true, but I was always safe, which is exactly what both my parents and Gravis needed from me at this moment.

And for that reason, I would not tell a soul about what I saw.

He may be able to see I had snitched if it's true he does read minds and, in all honesty, his dark-toned threat paired with those ice-cold eyes, let me know he was not one to go back on his word.

I was a human, no match for a convert like him.

So no, I would not be taking chances anymore, I had to be ordinary.

Ordinary.

I breathed in, I could be ordinary. I was born to be ordinary; I've never felt like a true princess before-

"You've been staring at your reflection for the past 2 minutes, T," Claire said, concern laced her tone. Getting up from her chair, she glanced down at her watch, "And it's ten minutes till Origins Class, so we better go," she continued picking up her bag from the table.

I breathed in, giving myself one last look in the mirror, nodding at the average-looking reflection staring back at me. The rules I had come up with, circled my mind over and over as I grabbed my bag from the bed.

"Are you alright T?" Claire suddenly asked, pausing in the middle of the room. I pursed my lips, slinging my bag over my shoulder before my eyes shifted back to her.

She was doing that thing again. Trying to read me like a puzzle. But I knew how to play this quite well as I had been on the other end before courtesy of my meddlesome mom. I shrugged topping it off with a bright smile.

Her eyes narrowed on me, seemingly not buying it at all, "Are you sure? Cause you're acting a bit...strange..." she trailed off, tightening her bag strap. My eyes faltered for a second, my eyes dashing to the bed in search of my notebook, fingers feeling up the side of my bag for it. When it came up empty, I opted with a wobbly thumbs-up sign, feeling a little weak, this time only managing a feeble smile on my face.