Flunked: Chapters 11–12

“A swimsuit won’t be necessary,” the Wicked Stepmother says cryptically.

“You’ll start etiquette classes here later this week as well. You’ll see we keep students busy. It keeps you from getting bored and, shall we say, interested in less savory extracurricular activities.”

It’s mass chaos to get in before the final bell. When it tolls, the doors shut behind us, and with another slurp, I hear them seal shut again.

There is a poof of purple smoke, and Jocelyn materializes in the middle of the room.

Jax looks intrigued.

Soon Cleo’s gentle demeanor is gone, and for a second I can see a flash of the sea siren she must have been.

“Once a villain, always a villain,” she says in a monotone voice that sounds nothing like her own.

Professor Harlow and Professor Wolfington flank the headmistress, each in long, green embroidered robes, while Jocelyn—shocker—stands nearby.

A few feet away I hear someone say, “Hey! What happened to my cologne?” Ollie doesn’t blink an eye as he dabs away. The musky smell makes my eyes water.

“You never know when one of these princesses is going to ditch her prince and go looking for a more worldly fella.”

A group of girls wearing hot pink Royal Ladies-in-Waiting sashes pushes past us.

Kayla’s eyes have black rings under them, and her short, blond hair is unusually unkempt.

“Presenting Enchantasia’s royal court,” Miri announces in a regal voice I’ve never heard her use before.

Usually the only time we get a glimpse of royalty is when they’re riding by in a carriage waving a white-gloved hand to the adoring masses.

Headmistress Flora demurely curtsies. Then Ella curtsies back.

“I’ve had enough. I’d rather go to stargazing class than listen to all this fawning.” She gives me a look as a boy next to us faints at the sight of Rapunzel. “And you know how much I hate stargazing.”

“The Sea Siren doesn’t remember her name half the time. You think she’s going to be right about a villain uprising?”

“I’m thinking of doing a sleight-of-hand trick to conjure up a hall pass,” Ollie tells me gleefully.

“How could Madame Cleo’s tank break?” I ask more importantly, and the girls turn to look at me with disdain.

“Nothing’s strong enough to compete with black magic,” says Jocelyn, walking past us. The torches lighting the hallway dim as if they sense her darkness. “The crack in the tank, the swarm of pernicious peony ants that were accidentally released in the botany lab, the poisoned fruit found in the cafeteria at the breakfast buffet.”

Silk banners hang from each wall touting our various sports teams (Magic Carpet Racing! Castle Storming! Synchronized Snake Charming!).

I see Jax, Ollie, and the other boys in our class emerge from the boys’ dressing room, and I make a beeline for them.

Is Jax daft?

Sleeping Beauty is watching us, but Ella is stifling a yawn, and Rapunzel is holding an ice bag to her nose, which is a nasty shade of blue.

Kayla wipes sweat from her brow. “The hallways weren’t working right, and I couldn’t find my way to the gym. It’s no big deal.” She sounds testy again, so I let it drop.