Finally Some Answers 2

Week 4 Day 3 Ruken continued...

"So, what does this ring do that makes her so dangerous she needs to be locked up?" Asked Instructor Drakkon as the door closed behind Lorien.

"It's making her form change." Aven said firmly. Sky's eyes took in the room again. She longed to be part of the conversation but knew that, though these creatures were treating her nicely, they wouldn't like it if she just started questioning them like an equal. Her gaze found Vaeryn's. He was watching her with another flat expression that gave nothing away.

"What does that mean?" Instructor Drakkon asked.

"It means that during the course of one day Sky will present not only as a human but also as a siren, eccubae, vampire, dragonkin, or shadow devi. Each one of these presentations creates its own problem. The devi is temperamental, to say the least. The siren is extremely conceited and bossy and those two are the best forms. You know of the feeding requirements of the others. And sometimes, she will take some combination of these forms, like a succubus with the voice. She did that to me once when she needed to feed. I had no choice but to let her do as she liked with me. Can you imagine what would happen if she did that to someone like Uriel or yourself?" Instructor Drakkon grimaced. Sky stared in shock at Aven.

"What do you mean I did what I liked with you?" She asked in a small voice. Aven's eyes opened wide and a look of guilt flashed across his face. Sky gasped and blushed crimson. She hurriedly crossed the room and looked out the window as an image of tanned, exposed skin flashed through her mind.

"You used the voice on me. You commanded me to let you do it. I had no choice." Aven said desperately. Sky's shoulders hunched as she gazed out over the school grounds with hollow eyes. "I never touched you! I swear!" She took a deep, steadying breath and turned around. Guilt was written in every line of her body.

"I- I am sorry, Aven, for making you do that. I know that must have been an unpleasant experience for you and even if you were locking me in my rooms, no one deserves that." Sky swallowed hard against the lump in her throat. Aven didn't respond. He simply stared at her in utter surprise. No one spoke for a minute.

Then Instructor Drakkon, the first to recover asked, "Why? What is it trying to do by changing her form?" He was looking at Aven, but it was Vaeryn who answered his question.

He said, "The ring is trying to find the optimal arrangement of active and dormant genes. That is the one that gives her the most bloodline abilities, greatest magical strength, and the best physical abilities."

Instructor Drakkon thought for a long moment, "Well, I don't see why she needs to be locked up." he said finally. Sky's eyes darted to him, half in hope, half in fear.

"What?" Aven asked in disbelief. "She could attack someone, even kill them in her attempt to feed."

"So could any vampire or eccubae and they are allowed to be in classes."

"We have had years of practice and her form is not yet settled." Vaeryn pointed out.

"I'm not saying we just let her do as she likes, but I think if she obeys certain rules it will be safe enough."

"I will. Does that mean I can return to class?" Sky asked a desperate edge to her voice.

"Yes, but you will study by yourself in a practice room. You will only be allowed to leave it when escorted by either myself of a member of this committee."

"If we want to go talk to her, can we?" West asked. Dain's left hand clutched the right sleeve of his brother's uniform. Instructor Drakkon considered this for two minutes. West glanced uneasily at Dain. At last Instructor Drakkon sighed.

"Yes, I will allow people to visit her, but I will have to inform the class that she is dangerous." Dain released an audible breath. Instructor Drakkon turned to Sky. "Are you alright with this? You will only be allowed out of your rooms for class and to get to-go meals. That's it." Sky nodded emphatically; her throat was too tight to speak. She swallowed hard and waited. "Fine. Then that's what we'll do."

Aven looked at him angrily, "This is irresponsible. You are playing with fire."

"I am her teacher, Aven. If I decide that she is safe enough to be in class, then that is my decision. Sky come on. You are decades behind the other students and need to work hard to catch up." Sky nodded and hurried after Instructor Drakkon as he left the room.

***

After they left the Magical Oversight Committee Room, Instructor Drakkon took Sky to the Tower, the massive one in the center of the castle. It was simply referred to as the Tower. He assigned her a room on the eight floor, room 802 and gave her a tour of it.

The rooms, for it was a suite of rooms, were huge. Everything in them, from the plush, oversized armchairs to the four-post king-sized bed, looked sparklingly brand new. Even after Instructor Drakkon had left, ordering her to practice in her private practice room, it took Sky a while to get used to the rooms. She couldn't get comfortable in such a big bed, so she took a bath to relax and ended up falling asleep in the tub.

***

Week 4 Day 4 Nephil

The next day, Sky was awoken by a persistent, insistent, percussive noise. Once she'd awakened enough to recognize it as someone knocking on the front door and noticed the fact that she was naked in a tub of water that should have been cold but wasn't, she jumped out.

Throwing her wig on top of her wet hair and wrapping a towel that barely fit around her body, she raced to the door. She had just gained the spacious living room-kitchen area when the door was roughly opened.

Instructor Drakkon walked in. He didn't see her at first, as he was glaring at the ground and muttering to himself about females who couldn't wake up at reasonable times. Then he stopped and sniffed. He raised his head and looked directly at Sky who wasn't wearing her glasses.

Crossing the room in three strides, he grabbed her by the shoulders and sniffed again.

"Do you have to be so close?" Sky asked, "I'm not dressed. And how did you get into my rooms anyway?" Instructor Drakkon just stared at her for a long moment. His eyes dropped lower to her clenched hand holding the towel closed. He stiffened.

"Go get dressed. You have five minutes to get ready or you can stay in here all day." Sky's mouth shot open in indignation. "I see. I will have someone bring you to-go meals then." Instructor Drakkon said coldly. He turned and started to leave the room.

"No, no. I'll get ready. Extra-fast." Sky said turning around and racing down the hall. She heard the sound of the sofa creaking from the other room.