Chapter 61 - A Peculiar Turn of Events (2/2)
Bennox's attention was no longer on Lydis but on the little annoyance stepping on Owen's leg. As he rose off the floor his cold voice shocked a few of the children present.
”Get your filthy paws off my brother.” Without caring if the girl got hurt, Bennox kicked her leg away.
”Ah! It hurts! It hurts!” The girl was no longer standing with her chin in the air, now she sat crouched over her leg, rubbing the spot where Bennox had kicked her. Tears streaming down her face, the girl refused to back down. ”Everyone, everyone look! He is a brute, a monster, how could he hit a defenseless girl like me?”
Sobbing and wailing, the girl used every ounce of strength she had to project her voice for everyone to hear. Soon a group more than three times the original size had formed. Their curious whispers and biased comments filling the hall. Taking advantage of the situation, the girl pleaded her case.
”Those two attacked me! I only asked a question and suddenly that boy viciously kicked me!”
Pointing her small finger at Bennox, the girl's tears seemed endless.
Bennox's face twitched in anger but he held silent due to a tug from Owen. As they were both standing, Owen cupped Bennox's ear with his hand. As silently as he could, Owen whispered to Bennox.
”The one screeching is called Edith. She's a lower Baron but acts like royalty. She's quick to act and crafty with her words. Just, think before you speak is what I'm trying to say I guess?”
Bennox eyed Owen, a small smirk forming on his face.
”You think you're one to lecture 'me' about my words? Did you already forget your promise before we entered the academy?”
Owen turned his face away in embarrassment. If it wasn't for him falling into one of Edith's traps earlier, he never would've told Bennox to be careful. It had happened too fast for him to think about it at the time. Edith with her four-person entourage had approached Owen and asked about Bianca but when he refused to answer Edith had one of her followers punch her arm. Using her irritating voice, Edith had quickly gathered a group of people that took her side.
Just like now, Edith used the simple-minded kids to ignite the others into action.
Bennox looked over at Edith and saw her smirking back at him. As the saying goes, Edith was like the big fish in a small pond. Too self-engrossed, Edith's mind could only think of insults for those she saw as lower than her. If dirty slum kids like those two wanted to ignore someone like her, well, they'll have to pay the price for doing so!
”Are all of you fools? Or are you all just too bored? Don't any of you have something to be doing?” Bennox met eyes with all that stared back at him. ”All of you should know that this is the academy, not a social gathering place for fun and games. How can you laze around like this knowing that classes start tomorrow?”
A few of the kids turned and mumbled to themselves but no one left the circle. If anything, it seemed that the circle was getting smaller. Seeing as no one wanted to leave Bennox sighed.
”Look closely and choose wisely.” On purpose, Bennox dusted himself off even though the amount of dirt on him was little almost close to nothing. The movements of his hands brought the children's attention to the pristine white of his uniform, the purple undertones inside his cuffs and coat, and the left Gemini stitched to his left shoulder. The undeniable colors of the Horoscopes suddenly seemed to be the only thing the crowd could see.
Involuntarily, their eyes shifted to Owen who was standing next to Bennox. Dressed in the same colors, the right Gemini was stitched to his right shoulder as well.
For a few moments no one moved nor spoke. Edith seemed to have her tongue twisted as well. Bennox quickly reached down to help Owen up.
”He is also a member of the Horoscopes, now, I'll ask you again. Are all of you fools?”
The children holding the circle together faltered. When one child took a step back, it soon spread to the rest of the others. Now the circle was more like a distorted oval. Bennox eyed the kids again, his voice loud and overbearing.
”Who was it? Who instigated this farce?”
Some children exchanged confused looks, they didn't know what a 'farce' was but by the way Bennox had spoken it seemed like a bad thing. The children who did understand quickly parted from Edith. Like magic, the once camouflaged Edith was like a deer caught in headlights, frozen with fear, is what Bennox and Owen should've seen but instead when the group parted Edith had already disappeared. Her torn ribbon lay in a sad pile where she once was.