Chapter 6: Back to School With a New Student

The following morning, Elise stood in the kitchen and prepared breakfast for everyone. She cooked some French toast, per Chloe’s complaint that she doesn’t make it often enough, and some eggs and bacon. The smell of her cooking very quickly whetted their appetites.

“I’m not wearing the naked apron,” Elise mentioned as she set a plate in front of Chloe.

“Yet,” Chloe added.

“Naked apron?” Neferu asked when Elise served her plate.

“A trend in just some of the entertainment I enjoy,” Elise replied as she poured glasses of orange juice. “Women wear short clothing on just the front of their bodies while cleaning or cooking, and nothing more. It’s meant to tantalize people.”

Neferu grinned with interest. “How shameless. I’m intrigued. Please show me.”

“Not a chance.” Chloe’s jealousy flared up again, and she wanted to change the subject. “Have you studied for that history exam yet?” Elise coughed on a piece of French toast. “I’ll take that as a ‘no.’”

“No, wait!” Elise downed her class of orange juice to clear the obstruction. “You can get Neferu into St. Botolph High School.”

“I can? Wait, why would I?”

“She needs to learn about the modern world, right? And it’s better than being cooped up here all day. You can just pull some strings and forge a fake identity for her.”

Chloe looked at her for a moment, then laughed. “Before or after I rig an election or two? Honey, I have no strings to pull.”

Elise was confused. “Aren’t you like a badass ace agent at this S.P.D. place?”

Chloe laughed again. “Nope! I appreciate the vote of confidence, though. I’m a rank-and-file grunt. Why do you think I’m stationed at a high school to make sure the goth kids haven’t found actual magic to curse the jocks?”

Elise narrowed her eyes. “Wait, now that I think about it, you’re spilling everything. Full disclosure,” she demanded. “We’ve known each other our entire lives. You’re my first crush, and I never knew about this secret magic hunter job.”

Chloe smiled weakly. “It’s classified?” she quipped. “I’m sorry, I wanted to tell you, but it’s too dangerous.”

Neferu agreed. “It’s true, mere knowledge of something can invite disaster,” she reasoned. “It may seem a betrayal, and you may feel the sting of silence, but this knowledge was not kept out of malice, but love.”

“Yeah, thanks…” Chloe muttered, hating that her supposed rival defended her. “The truth is, I come from a long line of hunters, people who challenge evil creatures, like vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, even the odd zombie. My ancestor helped found the first incarnation of the Supernatural Patrol Division when the American government was finding its footing. Not that that grants me any special perks.” She felt liberated to tell her girlfriend the truth. There would be no more secrets between them.

Elise used her ultimate weapon: puppy dog eyes, a weapon that Chloe couldn’t bear for too long. “Okay, okay! I’ll call my uncle Jeff and ask him for help. I’ll just say that Neferu is a tourist and she saw a normal crime, and the police aren’t helping.”

Elise excitedly ran around the table to hug her. “Yes! Thank you thank you thank you.”

Chloe laughed and returned her hug. “You’re welcome. Now put those puppy dog eyes of yours on a cool down, or I’m patching them out.”

Neferu finished her plate and turned to them. “Where is it you intend to take me?”

Elise stood up and went back to her seat. “A place of learning where you can acclimate to the modern day. It’s where Chloe and I go to learn new things.”

“Ah, I see. I look forward to joining you there.”

Chloe eyed her with suspicion. “This has been bugging me for a while: how do you already know modern English? Nothing close to this language was being spoken back in Ancient Egypt.”

Neferu gave her a small smile. “I have a gift of language. I need only read or hear a few words to understand it well enough to speak with others.”

Elise was relieved that they didn’t have to deal with a language barrier. “Good! You’ll put it to good use at school. We just need to make sure you have our same schedule.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Chloe assured her in a flat voice. Elise stuck her tongue out at her.

The three girls stood outside the school gates. Elise helped Neferu change into modern clothes, stylish jeans, and a t-shirt. She found the underwear to be comfortable enough, if a bit tight around her chest, much to Elise’s chagrin. “Hmm. I’m actually excited to see what lies beyond this gate, Ahneith.”

“It won’t last long,” Chloe commented. “I don’t know how schools worked back in your day, but here, they suck most of the time.”

“Yep,” Elise agreed. “Oh, yeah. Neferu, people typically call me ‘Elise’ nowadays. So, if you wouldn’t mind…” Elise gently told her.

Nefer gave her a reassuring smile and took her hand. “Of course, Elise. You are still my beloved, no matter which name you prefer.”

Chloe tried to think of something sweet to say, and sighed in defeat when she saw Neferu pull Elise toward the school.

A teacher Elise had never met handed them an envelope and a book bag, and walked away. Chloe accepted it and confirmed its contents. “Neferu Kemet, you now have an ID, birth certificate, and social security number. You’re also a proud student of our fair school.”

“Neferu Kemet? Someone is either bad at coming up with names or they have a sense of humor,” Elise commented.

“Hm? Is there a joke somewhere in that?” Chloe asked.

“Yeah, Kemet is one of the names for Ancient Egypt. I’m very curious, and a little concerned, that one of your friends is on to us.”

Chloe rested her hand on Elise’s shoulder. “If they are, it’s fine. There’s no Area 51-style metal slab with your name on it. That’s not how we work.”

“Still, the teachers work for you?” Elise asked.

“Some of them. Boston is a hotbed for supernatural activity. It’s all hands on deck in places like this.” She nodded her head in another direction. “We can talk more later. For now, Science class awaits.”

Elise, Chloe, and Neferu sat in the back of the classroom, with Neferu sitting between them so they could help her.

Their Science teacher, Mr. Franklin, noticed his new student. “Huh? Oh, right. We have a transfer student from Egypt. Please welcome Neferu Kemet.”

The class turned to the new student to get a look at her. Neferu smiled kindly and spoke. “Thank you, good teacher. I look forward to your lessons.” Her natural beauty, charisma, and the years of lessons to rule Egypt immediately charmed the class.

Elise liked to see Neferu so invested in the class. She paid close attention and asked questions whenever necessary. It was clear she had a great interest in science. Elise planned to ask her about it during their free period.

The bell rang, signaling the end of first period. Elise tried to strike up a conversation with Neferu, but she was immediately surrounded by their classmates who peppered her with questions. She was able to answer their questions without giving herself away, for example, by explaining that she had traveled from Egypt and studied the old world.

“Soooo are you single?” one of the guys asked. Elise and Chloe immediately leapt to cut off the unplanned Q&A session before it got out of hand.

“I would hate to disappoint potential suitors, but my heart and soul belong to Elise,” she confessed, her voice filled with love and affection.

The students turned their attention toward Elise and eyed her with suspicion. “Aren’t you dating Chloe?” one of them asked.

“Yes? It’s…complicated.” She could barely wrap her mind around how complicated her love life had become, and there was no chance she could explain it to other people without sounding crazy.

“She’s two-timing,” someone chimed in.

“Nope, she’s going for the harem route, and I fully support her,” yet another added.

Elise smiled weakly as her classmates decided she was greedy. Neferu and Chloe took some small amount of pleasure in watching her squirm.