Blazing Academy: Semester One (Academy For All Things Scorching #1) - Avery Song Page 0,18

the privilege of raising her due to Liz's absence, but all of this build-up of anxiety and stress started with you putting your unrealistic dreams on Alice."

"Unrealistic dreams?! Every child attends school!"

"No," he fought back. "Liz never got that chance. You homeschooled her because your family had no means of taking care of her. You spent the money on gambling and your stupid bingo games, leaving poor Liz to defend herself and grow up fast, getting a job and supporting the two of you!"

"How...how do you know that?!"

"Liz is my wife! She may have left us, but we're still married. I wear this damn ring, even though we're miles apart and I'm left to raise our only daughter to the best of my ability. You judge me and want to crucify me for every mistake I make, but dismiss everything you did to Liz? Now you think that Alice is your second-chance card. That you'll raise her right by putting her into school when the exact same problems that happened to Liz are happening to her! You act blind to all of it when deep down, you KNOW Alice took whatever Liz had that forced you to homeschool her. Your stress reliever was gambling, just like your husband likes to spend ridiculous amounts of money on fishing and going to casinos privately. I see it all, Violet, and I pretend like I don't because I'm the unworthy one. I'm the one you painted to the world as a horrible father to my only child who lights my world. But now look at the consequences."

"Why...why didn't she tell me?"

"Why? How many times has she tried to get through to you and you did exactly what you just did moments earlier?! Denial. Brushing away the subject. Making people's feelings seem invalid and disregarding them. I may not be there physically, but I text Alice often enough to know when she's having a good day or a horrible one. She tells me about how hard school can be. That it's not the homework or the assignments and tests. It's the people. The transferring. The constant introductions and starting over. She's tired, Violet, and I don't fucking blame her. If you had to go to a new bingo gathering every other week and no matter where you went, the reasons from your past ban followed you along, I'm sure you would have dropped the sport. Now match that with the number of times Alice has transferred. Put yourself in her shoes for one damn second and see where she's coming from!"

The man caught his breath, and the two women were quiet.

"I need some air. Let me know when the paperwork is ready, and I'll sign it. Also, let me know when you have a feeling that Alice will wake up soon."

"Alright," the woman with an authoritative tone replied.

"Woof?"

"Come here, Cyrus. Let's get you some air as well. Alice will be okay."

The footsteps faded, and the door slid open and closed from the sound of it, leaving the room thick with silence.

"Is...it that bad?" Violet whispered.

"I'm not sure how much Alice tells you, but I've done some digging, Violet. None of the councillors or principals showed you their reports?"

"They offered. I'd tell them it wasn't necessary, and we'd take her to another school."

"She's been bullied on all occasions, Violet. She's been looked at and given physical exams and it's been noted in the notes, loud and clear, that there are bruises, scratches...cuts. I'm sorry, my friend, but it's about time you accept what Alice is. It's time for you to acknowledge that she took every bit of Liz's gifts, if not more. You and I both know the fire is not of natural cause. I believe this incident also proves that she's holding far more than just a single talent."

"I...there's no way..."

"Violet. She can see what I am."

"You don't-"

"Headaches. Nausea. Vomiting. Fevers. Memory loss. Do I need to continue?"

"You still don't-"

"She will surpass her parents. She will be double if not triple their strength. Today is her sixteenth birthday and all of this occurred. Do you think it’s a coincidence?"

"I won't acknowledge it."

"Alice will die if we don't set things straight now, Violet." The woman's voice was harsh and had a hint of anger laced through it. "The seal is breaking and that's what's causing all of this. The physical illness, her tiredness, her constant need to nap. You are seriously going to watch your grandchild die because you won't want to acknowledge what is