Flunked: Chapters 3–4

The woman who runs this place supposedly made her own daughters cut off part of their feet to fit into Ella’s precious glass slipper, so I wouldn’t put anything past her. But if she’s hiding a torture chamber in this building, it’s not in the swanky foyer.

The woman who runs this place supposedly made her own daughters cut off part of their feet to fit into Ella’s precious glass slipper, so I wouldn’t put anything past her. But if she’s hiding a torture chamber in this building, it’s not in the swanky foyer.

The castle doesn’t look creepy at all—well, if you ignore the fact that there are some gargoyle statues hanging around.

Our mission: To turn wicked delinquents and former villains into future heroes.

I’ve never seen so many golden chandeliers and mirrors in my life. Large mirrors; small, ornately framed, creepy, jeweled ones; and a massive oval one with a purple gilded frame that hangs in the two-story entrance.

I’ve never seen so many golden chandeliers and mirrors in my life. Large mirrors; small, ornately framed, creepy, jeweled ones; and a massive oval one with a purple gilded frame that hangs in the two-story entrance.

Mother says I got Father’s stubborn chin, which juts out when I’m making a point.

I look like the old peddler that tried to trick Snow White.

I walk away from prying Miri the Magic Mirror and find myself in front of a rack of FTRS brochures.

There’s a picture of students smiling in a potion-making class while something green and fizzy bubbles out of a bottle nearby...another of boys flying on Pegasi through the sky above the school...kids fencing...students in front of a crystal ball...the list goes on.

Next to the school photos is a plaque: FTRS Esteemed Graduates.

My eyes fall on the third picture. It’s of a girl working with Ella’s fairy godmother. The photo is of them conjuring up glass slippers.

Five years ago, she couldn’t leave Galmour Castle without being pelted with rotten radishes.

Headmistress Flora interlocks her long fingers under her chin and stares at me with interest over her mahogany desk.

Headmistress Flora, however, is not fazed. “I’m sorry to hear that, but nonetheless, I’ve been expecting you. The police commissioner has kept me abreast of your, shall we say, extracurricular activities.”

Headmistress Flora, however, is not fazed. “I’m sorry to hear that, but nonetheless, I’ve been expecting you. The police commissioner has kept me abreast of your, shall we say, extracurricular activities.”

I play with the fraying hem of my overalls.

I’m talking, of course, about the infamous villains in hiding—Alva, the cranky fairy who cursed Sleeping Beauty (Stay away from those spinning wheels!), and Gottie, Rapunzel’s kidnapper (Here’s a nice tower we can lock you in forever!).

“Once we feel you have successfully mastered the right behavior skills and knowledge to be an upstanding resident of Enchantasia, you will be released,” Flora says.

That gold quill set on Flora’s desk could get me enough money to make it at least to Parrington.

“Nice score! Wow, you seem pretty spunky for a human. I like that.”

She smiles coyly.

“You go here?” I ask, mystified by this pixie of a girl in front of me.

She rolls her eyes. “My mother is a stickler about the flying early thing, which is why she was peeved when she caught me flying over Royal Manor. I was already grounded for casting a spell on my sister that made her nose as big as her face. My aunt was able to fix it...eventually.”

“You heard me,” she says coolly, her jet-black eyes staring right through me. “Think you can do something about it? A lowly cobbler’s daughter?”