Excerpt: Odd One Out

“Aww, she does have a friend,” the Coal sibling said, obviously meaning me. “I was afraid little Annie would be excluded from all the reindeer games.”

“Do you have any idea how dumb you sound?” Ophelia asked her. “Like, seriously?”

Zaneta’s eyes narrowed. “What’s your name?” she demanded.

Ophelia stuck her nose up slightly, arching one of her eyebrows, but she didn’t say anything. Zaneta laughed, it was almost a giggle, but more malicious.

“It doesn’t matter,” she scoffed. “All that matters is that you’re low enough to be friends with someone who doesn’t have anything magical about her.”

“You and I must have different definitions of magic,” Ophelia said, coolly.

Zaneta’s eyes flashed. “Clearly,” she agreed.

“Your brother doesn’t seem to have a problem with me,” I said, feeling a little more brave with Ophelia by my side.

“Yeah,” Ophelia said. “In fact, you’re the only person in this whole school who seems to have a problem with Annie.”

“Or the only one open about it,” Zaneta said, putting her icy gaze on me for a couple of seconds. “Don’t feel so safe and secure, little Annie. Silver Grove isn’t all rainbows and unicorns, especially for humans.”

“Just stuff it, Zaneta,” Ophelia said. “Does it make you feel better about yourself to pick on others?”

“Feel better about myself?” Zaneta repeated. She threw her head back and laughed. “As if I would have any reason for that. Do you have any idea how rich my family is?”

“Your clothes give it away,” Ophelia said. “But if those are what rich and expensive clothes look like, I’d rather be middle-class.”

I bit my tongue to keep from laughing out loud. Zaneta was wearing a plain-looking dress that hugged her curves, made of a gray, stiff-looking material. There was a large, oversized belt around her waist, and she had gray heels to match. It was actually a very suave outfit, I thought, but it didn’t flatter Zaneta’s attitude.

“Middle-class?” Zaneta asked with a very unattractive snort. “Honey, if that top is what you consider ‘middle-class,’ then you might need to seek help. Maybe it’s middle-class for a serf, or a peasant.”

“Are you done yet?” Ophelia cocked her head, putting on what I could only describe as a feigned look of sympathy.

“Listen here, Sparky,” Zaneta said, “You can defend your little human friend here all you want, but that doesn’t change a thing. She’s normal, she doesn’t deserve to be here.” Her tan eyes moved slowly over me, and I lowered my gaze awkwardly. “Other humans have been killed in the past when they’ve discovered our world.”

“If Annie was just a regular human,” Ophelia said, “Do you really think Dr. McCrane would’ve let her attend Silver Grove?”

Suddenly, Zaneta smirked. As if she knew something we didn’t. Her eyes glittered again, and her hands went to her hips, her chin lifting slightly and ultimately making her look even more arrogant. “You two are so clueless,” she said. “It’s so cute.”

Ophelia grabbed my arm. “Come on, Annie,” she said, starting to pull me passed Zaneta. “Ichabod’s waiting.”

“You should leave now,” Zaneta called after me. “Save yourself the humiliation.” When neither Ophelia or I responded, she added, “I tried to warn you.”