Chapter 56 Play time
"Miss Hart!" Dante’s voice sliced through her thoughts like a blade of ice.
She jolted. "Huh?!"
He lifted his head slowly, his crimson eyes narrowing at her. "I asked you what happened in your classroom. Or do you prefer to stand there gawking at my plant like an idiot?"
Alina’s ears burned red. She pressed her hands together, trying not to glance at Mr. Spike again. "S-sorry, Sir. Um... Yes — the, uh, incident. Well... Boo and Drake started fighting. They called each other’s flowers ugly and then Drake... um... accidentally used his fire. And Kelpie tried to help but you know, water everywhere..." She trailed off, her voice small.
Dante sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He looked like a devil carved out of marble– so perfect, so cold, so terrifying. And somewhere in Alina’s mind, Boo’s voice whispered: Grow big for Daddy, Mr. Spike!
She almost snorted, but caught herself just in time.
He lowered his hand, glaring at her. "And do you know how to prevent such carelessness next time?"
Alina’s throat tightened for half a second but then she exhaled, her shoulders softening. She clasped her hands gently in front of her and lifted her chin, her hazel eyes steady on his.
"They’re just children, Sir," she said softly but firmly. "Even if they’re supernatural, they’re still little ones. They fight, they play rough, they make mistakes — that’s how they learn. I’ll watch them better. I’ll guide them better. But they’re still learning... and so am I."
Her words settled into the room, quiet but true. And for just a heartbeat, his glare faltered, not gone but softer, like he was weighing her words instead of dismissing them.