{"id":3240,"date":"2022-09-14T19:52:23","date_gmt":"2022-09-14T19:52:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mazimai.com\/?p=3240"},"modified":"2022-09-14T19:52:24","modified_gmt":"2022-09-14T19:52:24","slug":"makutu-academy-secret-admirer-chapter-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mazimai.com\/?p=3240","title":{"rendered":"Makutu Academy – Secret Admirer – Chapter 6"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Chapter 6<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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The drive is longer than I expected. I expected them to live near the capital city but they don\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI only live a couple of hours from here,\u201d I say learning we are only a short way from their home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cReally?\u201d Vincent asks surprised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRose Heights, I read it in your notes but no idea it where it is,\u201d Nicholas admits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a town where everyone is over fifty but my parents and me. It\u2019s surrounded by a lake and forest,\u201d I explain they look intrigued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hidden, so easy to miss. You have to have a boat to get there and move around. All the buildings are built on little pieces of land but instead of roads we have canals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have only left my town once and that was to go to school but I was taught local geography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLake\u2026 You don\u2019t mean Paddlefoot lake?\u201d Vincent asks curiously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe forest in the centre?\u201d Conrad adds. Then both look to Nicholas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTold you!\u201d He says smugly. It is so unlike Nicholas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I look to his brothers for explanation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe used to go there a lot as kids. Fishing with our dads and uncle. Nicholas used to say he saw a child in the trees in the centre forest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, but we never saw it. So no one believed him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I light up. \u201cThat was me!\u201d I say excited. \u201cI was the only child in town. I used to climb tree and people watch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There wasn\u2019t any children, but I wasn\u2019t lonely. I loved my childhood. But my parents were always reluctant to leave town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nicholas seems to smile brighter and hugs me. He is buzzing with happiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We don\u2019t speak anymore about it because Cloud wakes up and we arrive at the Forster property. It appears to be huge and gated off. It takes a few minutes to drive from the gate to the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arriving at the manor house, Conrad takes hold of Snow\u2019s box and gets out first with Vincent close behind while Nicholas, Cloud, the driver and I wait in the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can\u2019t risk opening the back and taking out the luggage because Cloud is fast and would very likely escape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a while. He probably needs a toilet break,\u201d Nicholas says and I nod, leaning over to the back to stroke the dog\u2019s back. He whimpering and taps the door with his paw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf I let you out do you promise to stay close to me until I say otherwise?\u201d I ask not certain he understands me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think we have much choice, unless we want a mess in the car,\u201d Nicholas says. I agree and both climb out of the car closely followed by Cloud who quickly heads to some bushes and trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess I\u2019m going this way,\u201d I tell him before quickly following the dog not wanting him to get into any trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He chuckles and tells me to go ahead. He and the driver start moving the luggage from the car into the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can hear the guys and some other people speaking walking closer towards us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou finished?\u201d I ask Cloud quietly. He let out a yap and gives me a toothy grin before stepping out of the brush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat the\u2026?! Get back!\u201d I hear a man exclaim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDad, it\u2019s alright,\u201d The guys are trying to tell him but no one is listening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s not. It\u2019s a ceberus!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know straight away something bad is going to happen. Cloud must have sensed it too because he bares his teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, dad!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hearing chanting I step beside Cloud. \u201cNo!\u201d I say in a firm tone staring directly at the group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Panic from the guys as a jolt shots towards me. But before reaching us it hit an invisible shield which seems to absorb it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs we were trying to tell you,\u201d Conrad begins to explain. \u201cThat is Cloud. He is our intended\u2019s familiar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI made a shield!\u201d I say excited and look down at Cloud who is still on guard but not growling anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood job, Kat. See I told you that you could do it,\u201d Nicholas says proudly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is with his brothers, a woman and two men. I\u2019m guessing they are his parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSorry about that,\u201d One says as they all approach me. But stop abruptly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAway,\u201d I say to the shield and it disappears. All three of his parents look surprised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs I was trying to explain,\u201d Nicholas says in a very proper tone. \u201cThis is Katrina, she is our fianc\u00e9e and is an untrained level ten. She is here for protection.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His fathers nod but his mother asks, \u201cProtection? What can we do that she can\u2019t?\u201d I know it isn\u2019t meant maliciously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI got lucky,\u201d I state. \u201cLast time I tried a protection spell I made a hat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes. She\u2019s good at spontaneous magic, not so much at spells.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I stick me tongue out at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was very impressive,\u201d One of the men says and his brother and wife agree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And glance at Cloud who is unsure about the new people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is Cloud.\u201d I stroke his heads making both his heads give big toothy smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe is a good boy. Mostly harmless. But needs training too.\u201d Speaking of which he dashes off and before we realize what he\u2019s doing he is crunching on what appears to be a cat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat wasn\u2019t a pet, was it?\u201d I ask nervously as he comes walking back over to me happily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo. Don\u2019t worry. It was a wild cat,\u201d One of the men answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKat, these are our fathers, Lewis and Ryan and our mother, Ellen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHello,\u201d I greets them nervously. \u201cSorry, he scared you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They greet me, assuring me everything is fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ellen appears afraid of Cloud whereas her partners are more curious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can touch him, he won\u2019t bite you.\u201d He is a lot happier now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you sure?\u201d Ellen asks and Vincent nods. \u201cHe would have bit you already if he was going to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I half expected Cloud to bite someone but he is really good. Ellen quickly gets over her fears and is soon all but hugging him. \u201cMam really loves dogs,\u201d Vincent says amused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just to be on the safe side, knowing their pet dog can\u2019t stay in the house the whole time and it isn\u2019t likely Cloud will be in the house much, we decide to introduce Cloud to Suga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A tiny toy poodle, Cloud appears friendly with the dog. But we decide to be sure to have at least one of us out when Suga goes out, just to be on the safe side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We tell them about the bad guys trying to find me and they are completely surprised. In fact they are convinced it is a member of staff. Makes sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou only started at the academy this term, correct?\u201d Ellen asks me over tea. I am sat with her in the garden and the boys are walking through the garden speaking to their fathers about me and our return I am guessing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, I had finished my formal education when Jules Harington visited my town. Only I didn\u2019t know he was an academy principal until I was offered a place. Nicholas was my greeting party.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd it was love it first sight?\u201d She says with a dreamy look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can\u2019t help but laugh. \u201cI thought was beautiful alright. But then he opened his mouth and I wanted to do is slap him,\u201d I admit. She is genuinely surprised. \u201cDon\u2019t get me wrong, I do love him, but he can be incredibly arrogant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She smiles amused and nods agreeing. \u201cBut you must have done something to win him over all those over girls. My boys have many admirers,\u201d She says proudly. She is a little arrogant too, but I say nothing. She seems nice enough. Though every now and then I\u2019ll catch her looking at me strangely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe actually pursued me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTruly?\u201d She asks taken by surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes. He sent me love letters, signing them \u2018from your secret admirer.\u2019 I had no idea it was him until recently.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh my goodness,\u201d She exclaims covering her mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat is it, my love?\u201d The guys have returned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She turns to her husbands. \u201cNicholas is such a romantic. Why didn\u2019t you send me love letters?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His parents all look to him and he looks embarrassed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI always got the impression you disliked her, that she annoyed you,\u201d One of his fathers says amused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never disliked her. But she can be infuriating, especially trying to teach her spells.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can do spells!\u201d I try to argue. \u201cThe disappearing spell technically worked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat wasn\u2019t a spell!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt made it disappear.\u201d He gives me a look I know all too well. He is amused but hiding it behind his strict expression. \u201cMy tea spell and dinner yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey aren\u2019t spells,\u201d We continue back and forth like until Conrad interrupts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey aren\u2019t traditional spells as we know them, but they are spells and work for her. But I do agree with Nicholas, she needs to work on them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you really a level ten?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAccording to the principal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Nicholas and I answer his mother at the same time. \u201cShe can do magic without saying a word.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He begins to ramble about me. I don\u2019t think he realised, he has a faraway happy look. Saying how beautiful and intelligent I am, that even my clumsiness is cute. His parents and brothers listen amused. He continues for a minute until my face is red from embarrassment. Noticing my face instead of shying away, he pulls me into his arms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo you still have the letters?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI do. Nicholas wasn\u2019t even on my list of possible admirers,\u201d I admit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She nods understanding. \u201cIt is quite a shock for us when the ring disappeared. We had thought the ring was stolen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNicholas is the last we expected to find our bride,\u201d Vincent says agreeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their fathers agree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut then again the other two didn\u2019t seem very interested in any of the women they were introduced to either.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their parents are very open with everything. The family hold gatherings and dinner parties where they would meet daughters of family friends. The guys have many admirers but they have never been interested in any of them before now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This makes me very happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then the questions about my family begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy mother is a vet and my father a doctor in a small village.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAny other family?\u201d I shake my head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey must be high levels too?\u201d One of their fathers ask curiously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cActually they don\u2019t have any.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot even low level?\u201d They appear surprised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo. I was the only person with any magic in the whole village.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They ask about my childhood, education and then finally my surname.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before I have a chance to answer the final question a man comes around the side of the house, calling to them, \u201cSorry, is this a good time?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As he grows closer I recognise him straight away. He is identical to my father, only with longer hair. He even sounded the same. But I know he isn\u2019t my dad. Don\u2019t ask me how, I just do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My parents always insisted they never had any family. I am almost certain he is related to my dad, but know they must have had a good reason to lie, so hide any sign of recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But seeing Nicholas\u2019s parents glancing back to me I realise why they have been asking so many questions and looking at me strangely all the time. If he truly is related to my dad then maybe these people have met my mother before. I have always looked like her younger twin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, this is a perfect time. They boys fianc\u00e9e is here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He raises his brows and moves his eyes to me. He slows to almost a stop, his eyes gloss over and he looks depressed. But blinks the tears always and easily hides it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is Katrina,\u201d They introduce me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKatrina, this Evan Wren, a close life long family friend.\u201d An odd introduction, but then again the family are all a little odd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Chapter 6 The drive is longer than I expected. I expected them to live near the capital city but they don\u2019t. \u201cI only live a couple of hours from here,\u201d I say learning we are only a short way from their home. \u201cReally?\u201d Vincent asks surprised. \u201cRose Heights, I read it in your notes but […]<\/p>\n

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