The shivering got worse as I strolled closer to Ms. Meyer. Could I get frostbite if I imagine it vividly enough? The dream was still in my head. Oskar was an idiot for hiking during a snowstorm, and now I was suffering for his mistake. The cold was not real, I repeated the saying in my mind, and it steadily warmed me. But I still hold on to my useless blazer. Next year, I hoped the school would provide better winter options; otherwise, I would be another Oskar.

Ms. Meyer didn't notice me approaching her. Her grey eyes change to brown in the natural sun. I didn't say anything and watched her like the creep I am, staring at a sword goddess in her natural habit, organizing books to be placed on shelves. It was boring, to say at least, but even warriors need some downtime, I guess. I kept staring until she jumped with fright, dropping a paperback book on the floor.

"Are you alright?" She said, with words so sweet as pie.

"Ye-yeah," I whispered, "I have a question, and I was hoping you answer them, please?"

She narrowed her eyes at me, "can it wait?"

"No."

I would not waste my time waiting for Mr. Ross to pop in unannounced. I need information, more than I got yesterday, and I won't get it from him.

I looked around me to see if anyone was eavesdropping. A few students walked, but they didn't seem to notice or care that I was there. It kinda hurt, not gonna lie. I took a deep breath and turned my attention back to Ms. Meyer, my mouth twitching before I spoke.

"I need to ask you about Mariel."

"What about her?"

"Is… is she a part of all of this? You know, the agency."

"What makes you think that?"

"She just gave off that vibe, you know?"

She didn't answer as she picked up a book and plopped it on the wooden desk. Her strange eyes stabbed me with suspicion. I avoided her gaze and stared at the red book on the desk. It looked like it didn't belong there, appearing more like a journal than a novel. I looked back at her, still looking at me as if she were waiting for me to do something. Does she want me to take it? I reached for it, and Ms. Meyer grabbed my wrist, yanking me closer to her face. My eyes widened, and I instantly tried to pull free from her grasp, but she had a good hold on me.

"Do you feed off of magic?"

I shook my head, daring not to look at her. What kind of question was that?

"Be honest with me, Ellis. Do you? Or do you feed on something else? Let's say emotions?"

"Of course not," I screamed, "I'm normal."

Normal is a funny word, especially if it involves me. 

I bit my lip when the words came out and glanced around the library to see if anyone had heard me. If they did, they weren't looking in my direction. I guess being ignored has its perks. 

"Oh? Then why did you call Ross empty?"

"I wasn't talking about him. I-I was talking bout my stomach."

Who's going to believe that shit?

"Ellis, it's fine. Nothing you say is going to change my mind."

The sweet taste was still there. Ms. Meyer was scared to know the truth of my odd habit, but how did she come to that conclusion? Mr. Ross obviously planted the idea in her head. My hand formed a fist revealing the white of my knuckles. Did he ask me to join to be some freakshow toy? Does she think that too? I didn't want to look at Ms. Meyer, but I raised my head and stared at her. I should tell her about my weird ability as we would be working together now.

"E-emotions. I can taste emotions…." I mumbled, "But I-I don't feed off them."

I was not sure if that was a lie or not. I don't need to feed off emotions to live, but the taste of fear was so damn satisfying. Ms. Meyer nodded and let go of my wrist. Her face showed nothing, which was terrifying. I let my hand hang there before slowly pulling it back, copying her nod and blank expression.

"We expected that, but it's nice for you to confirm that," she said sympathetically as she put the red journal away, "as for Mariel, she isn't part of the agency, so don't tell her, okay?"

"Then…"

Should I ask about the strange pull Mariel has? No, I shouldn't. It would make me even more of a freak.

"What?"

"Then... why did she give me this pin? It protected me from that thing."

I gave her the golden tree pin. Ms. Meyer turned it over with a grin and handed it back to me.

"Ross made that sigil," she chuckled, pointing at the tiny blue round symbol on the back, "he probably told her to give it to you."

"He… gave this for me?

It was hard to believe that someone like him would give me anything to protect me from. Mr. Ross might have given this to Mariel, and she gave it to me without a second thought. I haven't known Mariel for that long, but she seems to be that type of person. Or maybe Mr. Ross did want to give this to me and knows I won't take it if he gave it? I rubbed the back of my neck, remembering him and Ms. Meyer alone in the blue-tinted gym.

I'm overthinking this.

Ms.Meyer nodded and handed the pin back to me. I placed it in my pocket, feeling the warmth in my plaid pants. Knowing that it came from him, I don't feel comfortable wearing it, but at the same time, I refuse to depart it. It protected me from that shadow monster. It would do it again and maybe from other threats. Who knows?

I left the room, feeling somewhat satisfied with my answer, even though Ms. Meyer was hiding something or not telling me everything. I didn't taste anything weird in our conversation, but I could tell she was holding something back. 

Mariel may not be part of the organization, but she was connected to it, and I may never know the answer. At least that was what they were hoping for. I would let it slide for now, but they better believe I would figure it out.

One way or another.

~~~~~

Meyer yawed as she watched Ross study the documents file for the fifth time. She could never sit that long staring at boring pictures and was glad he was around to do the boring stuff in times like these. He had the patience and focus for these types of things. Meyer prefers hands-on experiences.

"You're tired already?" Ross said without looking up.

"I talked to Ellis today."

"What did you find out?"

"That he can taste emotions. Not eat but taste," Meyer paused, then chuckled," I guess you really are emotionless."

"That's nice," he said, setting the papers down.

He got up from his wooden desk and unlocked his familiar's cage near the window. The rat's dark round eyes shined seeing his master, and he ran up Ross's arm and sat confidently on his shoulders. The rat's whiskers twitched at Meyer when he noticed her stare. She remembered the day the rat chose Ross to be his master and the months of it being nameless that she decided to call it Churro due to its cinnamon color fur. Ross didn't agree or disagree, and the tiny rat was happy with the name, so it stuck. 

Ross scratched Churro's chin as he pulled out his phone. He stared at the black screen for a moment before starting typing something. Meyer tilted her head in curiosity and sidled to him to see what he was doing, but Ross put the phone away before she got a good look.

"Let's check out the place tomorrow," Ross said, scooting away from Meyer and walking back to his desk.

"Talking to Mariel?"

"No, Ranger. I doubt this is paranormal, but if it is, we can use him to lure the creature out."

"What if it doesn't work?"

Monsters or any other strange and weird creature would be pulled in by him, but weak ones tend to ignore him. But even weak monsters were a bother to deal with.

"It's better than nothing," Ross shrugged, " By the way, can I have my grimoire back?"

Meyer plopped the red grimoire on his desk, and he proceeded to put it in his suitcase along with the rest of the critical documents and school work. Churro glanced at Meyer one last time, slid down, and hid inside Ross's black suit jacket. He patted the clothing to ensure the rat was secure and closed the leather case. Ross was curious about why Meyer took his book in the first place without asking, but it might be nothing. She might have wanted to know if he could do other things besides protection spells. The book does provide all kinds of spells outside of Arcane magic, but he would not dare touch them.

"Let's go," Ross said flatly, "Mariel is waiting for me."

~~~~~

When I got to my room, I wrapped myself with blankets without eating dinner. My parents were worried about me as I often skip eating when I have a terrible day. Although I told them I was tired and not to worry, I could taste that sweet fear in their calm words when they said dinner would be in the microwave when I got hungry. I bit my lip when I sensed the smile forming from their tasteful words and nodded to acknowledge my understanding.

What kind of person smiles at someone's worry? A horrible one.

I didn't open curtains in fear of seeing something I would dread, leaving the lamp by my bedside as my only light source. I stared at the light, mesmerized by the glow, when I felt my phone buzz beside me. I fumbled through the sheets and looked at the text from a number I didn't recognize. 

Meet us at school exactly at 10 am tomorrow. Don't be late.

I charged the phone on the nightstand near my drawing pad without responding. I can guess who it was from. Who else would be texting me? I groaned as I removed the extra sheets, turned off the light, and lay in my bed staring at the ceiling, debating whether or not I should go. Hours ticked by before I finally closed my eyes to sleep.

Tomorrow was going to be entertaining, to say at least.