Elemental Shining (Paranormal Public Series) by Maddy Edwards Page B

ah, yes,” said Lough, the color staining his face deepening. “Yeah. Sorry. Good call.”
     
    “This is amazing,” said Sip, looking around in wonder as we entered the new dining room. We all agreed. The basement of the library was windowless, but somehow light poured in. There were multi-colored chandeliers and the floor was far enough below ground that the ceilings were very high, reminding me of the ballroom in Astra. The thought of the ballroom made me stiffen, but only for a moment. I didn’t want to think about the elemental trapped in the vision.
    Everywhere I looked I saw my classmates. Just like in the old dining hall, there were many circular tables, only instead of being propped up on thin legs each table was propped up on a pile of books. Pixies, vampires, and fallen angels were everywhere.
    The stairs came down into the middle of the room, and the buffet style serving area was behind them. The smells wafted together, creating a wonderful scent in the air that caused my mouth to water. After my ordeal a little while ago I was hungry. Only the smell of food banished my anger at the deans.
    Suddenly, a very pretty blond girl with delicate features materialized in front of us. She was perfectly dressed, without so much as a crease in her button down white shirt. She wore a plaid skirt and shoes, like the perfect private school girl. Her honey-colored hair fell in ringlets over her shoulders to fan perfectly around her face.
    “Keller!” she cried, throwing her arms around his neck.
    Keller looked surprised for a second, then returned the hug, grinning. “Hey Vanni,” he said, smiling. “I knew you’d get here eventually.”
    Playfully she swatted his shoulder. “Don’t tease,” she said. “Daddy would have killed me if I didn’t get in.” She stuck her lower lip out in a pout.
    “I’m going to go get food,” said Lisabelle more loudly than was necessary. Keller glanced at her, and then at me.
    “Yeah, alright,” he said. “I’m going to catch up with Vanni for a few minutes. Then I’ll find you guys.”
    Hurt, I started to turn and walk away, but Keller caught my arm. “First, Vanni, I want you to meet Charlotte.”
    My friends had already left. I stood there feeling nervous.
    “Oh, the famous Charlotte Rollins, who’s going to save us all. That’s awesome! We learned about you in Paranormal Civics last night,” Vanni gushed, rushing up to grab my hand and shake it, giggling as she wrung my hand.
    “Um, oh, really,” I said, feeling awkward. I had no idea I was being discussed by paranormals far and wide. And civics class?
    “It’s the biggest, most awesome pleasure to meet you,” Vanni continued, beaming. “It really is.”
    “Thanks,” I said.
    Looking over Keller’s shoulder, I saw Sip motioning for me.
    “I should go,” I said reluctantly. I didn’t want to leave Keller alone with this girl, but I didn’t really have a choice.
    “Sure, of course. We’ll be seeing tons of each other now,” said Vanni, with more giggles. “And it will be awesome. Because I totally go here now. Awesome.”
    “Yeah,” I said. “Awesome.” I hurried away.
    “Since when do we let Barbies into this school?” Lisabelle asked when I joined my friends.
    “Since they’re super-accomplished fallen angels,” Sip explained. “That girl right there grew up with Keller. Her family is more purely fallen angel even than his. She’s basically royalty.”
    “She’s pretty,” said Lough. I made a strangled noise. “What?” he asked. “Wrong thing to say? I always say the wrong thing.” He sighed heavily. “My sister told me so this summer.”
    “Let’s eat,” said Sip. “Classes haven’t even started yet and we already have a lot to do.”
    I piled my plate with spaghetti, salad, and a piece of chocolate cake for dessert. It wasn’t any easier than it normally was to find a seat, but at least none of the professors or deans were there. An announcement had been sent out that the