A week previously, she had been the new girl, attracting all kinds of attention as she was guided through the school by Mr Payne, but this time when Phantasia entered Sapphire Second’s tutor room on Monday morning, she was one of the class. John gave her a cursory nod from behind his laptop; Lysander and Angelo had knowing looks in their mischievous eyes; and Doyle was again oblivious she could see him ogling her from behind. One thing was different about today, though, a void in the threads of friendship that troubled Phantasia as much as any demonic presence could, if not more.

Kaori and Joel had always been the first to greet her in the mornings, Kaori gliding over in one of her elegant dresses to tell Phantasia the latest gossip, while Joel followed like a faithful pet, but now Kaori sat facing out the window, adjusting bows on her corset, while her flame-haired boyfriend hovered nearby, glancing over occasionally. It took him several minutes to pluck up the courage to come and talk to her, an act that Kaori ignored.

“Dude, you really did hang out with those freaks at the gallery,” he said, his eyes glazed over as he stared at a blank spot on the wall, “I dunno how you did it. Those guys hate anyone who don’t conform,”

Joel toyed with the metal pentagram hanging around his neck as Phantasia explained her experience with the Hawks. When she mentioned Shelley, and the appearance of the envy-demon, Joel’s fist tightened on his pendant and he cursed under his breath.

“I’m gonna kill ‘em,” he hissed through grit teeth, before shuffling back over to Kaori and resuming his silent hovering, this time interlaced with the occasional sound of fist slamming on worktop.

The rest of the class were content to leave him to his devices, though Phantasia wished she could understand what was going on underneath all the secrets. Maybe they knew something she didn’t? She had another look at the guidebook Lysander and Angelo had given her, recalling Joel’s entry.

‘He inadvertently caused all sorts of complicated sexual politicking after transferring his admirable – yet misguided – protectionist urges from Shelley Edwards to Kaori Shimomura. The authors believe such angst-ridden drama to be a primary example of why grown-ups are boring, and why they refrain from such activity themselves.’

Phantasia tried to view the information in context to what she now knew, but still found herself confused. Even if Kaori and Shelley had some form of rivalry over Joel, that was nothing to do with her! Surely it wasn’t wrong to try and be friends with both of them? Frustrated by her inability to understand such odd behaviour, she waltzed over to the back of the classroom, where the one student who seemed detached from everything sat, observing the class.

Dante, the quiet boy in the long white coat and black scarf, had always blended into the background, but Phantasia could sense his aura. A thick shell, he maintained his barriers at all times and he was ever-vigilant about the world around him. It was as if he was watching everyone with a cynical eye, observing their patterns and behaviours so he could better defend against them.

Chapter 10
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