Mark of the Dagger (The Marked Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

looking mid-evil; part castle, part fortress. There were even turrets.
    Placed in the middle, it was the focal point of the campus.  The other buildings surrounded it, creating a shield as if to protect its heart.
    "Holy Cow,” Dani exclaimed. She could think of nothing else to say about it.
    "This place is amazing," Sarah said in awe.
    "Yeah! What she said," Dani said jerking her thumb in her mother’s direction.
    Once in Headmaster Charleston’s office, Dani tried to get the stupefied expression of seeing the campus off of her face. She already felt like a fool, no need in letting the Headmaster know she was one. She wasn't sure what she expected him to be like, but what she got, definitely wasn't it.
    Headmaster Charleston was a short, plump man with a receding hair line. He had rosy cheeks like Santa and his glasses kept sliding down his nose. He seemed genuinely nice and happy that she was there. Sometimes when he spoke to her he sounded as if she were royalty.  Dani didn’t know if this was because of her bloodline or if he was that way with everyone, but she was uncomfortable with the attention regardless.  He talked on and on to Sarah, saying everything he could think of to ease her nerves about leaving Dani here.
    "So Professor DuPont, I assume that you've gotten yourself settled in?" he asked Joe. Dani whipped her head around to stare at Joe who was watching her with a bemused expression. He answered the Headmaster with a yes.
    "You're staying here? You'll be a teacher?"
    "Yep. I'm your new trainer, kid."
    "That’s fantastic," Dani said on a laugh. She felt so much better knowing that she wasn't going to be completely alone. "I'm glad you will be staying, but won’t you miss going out on your own?"
    "I'm getting to be an old man Dani, I need the break."
    "You're thirty five, that’s hardly old. I don't want you giving that up because you think I need you here. I mean I want you here and I'm glad you want to be here too, but please don’t pick up and leave home because of me."
    "I'm here and I took this job for me. The fact that you are here is an added bonus. Now shut up and listen to Headmaster Charleston," he said with a gentle pat on her shoulder.
    "Well like I said, I'm glad you'll be here," Dani turned back to the Headmaster.
    "Yes, yes, I thought you might like that," Headmaster Charleston said. "Now, let’s show you to your dorm room Miss DuPont."
    The building that housed her dorm was the closest to the pond. When she found out that they were co-ed dorm rooms she quickly looked to her mom to make sure she wasn't going to start a fuss. Only the tightening around her eyes gave away her tension. Headmaster Charleston must have noticed too because he quickly went on to explain the rules of the house.
    “Down here we have the common room, small kitchen and four study rooms.  The first two floors house the girls rooms, the third and fourth floor are the boys.”
    "How do you keep them from mingling in their rooms?" Sarah asked. Joe laughed, and she ignored him, her eyes only for the headmaster.
    "Well Mrs. DuPont, we have spells on the stairways. None of the opposite sex can go up to their undesignated floors except for staff members."
    "What do you mean spells? You cast spells?" Dani asked excitedly.
    "No, not me," he said with a laugh. "We have witches on staff. They doctor our ill and broken and they keep the wards up around the school. They are a big part of our security here."
    Joe laughed at Dani again as her mouth dropped to the floor. She never knew witches existed yet she probably should have after learning of her heritage.
    Headmaster Charleston turned around to finish the downstairs tour. It all looked pretty normal to Dani. The common room was the only room with a TV. It was furnished like a living room in a house would be but with more seating. The study rooms each had computers for the students to use. The kitchen was stocked with bottled water, and other healthy foods.
    Her room was all