The Isadora Interviews (The Network Series #1.5)(12)

“I’m always completely honest with my applicants,” Isadora said, looking Camille straight in the eye. “Academically, you are not a good choice based on what I can see in regards to your current level of education. Miss Mabel’s is a very difficult school as far as the curriculum is concerned. There are many witches who simply can’t keep up with the school work and expectations.”

A cold feeling welled up in Camille’s chest. It reminded her of the fear she first felt when she saw her parents lying in their graves.

“Your ability to concentrate is weak. As you said, you’re prone to fits of daydreaming, emotion, and apathy. And there are many things at Miss Mabel’s that you will not be interested in learning.” A small smile came to Isadora’s face. “Algebra included.”

Camille looked down at her hands.

“You also rely on other people more than most, which dependency is not a trait of most girls at the school. I’ve seen it work out in a few cases, but most girls who attend Miss Mabel’s are self-motivated, organized, and driven.”

Bettina’s words came back with haunting clarity.

Otherwise it’ll be just your usual chaotic madness and you’ll have no motivation.

Camille couldn’t bear to look up, and could hardly endure the interminable stillness of the office in the meantime. She wondered how long she could keep it together, wondered how she would keep the scream in her throat.

Not long.

Of course Isadora was going to tell her that she wasn’t what Miss Mabel’s wanted. Why had she even hoped? She wasn’t Leda or Fitz or Miss Kathy or Bettina. She was Camille, and that wasn’t good enough. Isadora, seeing the look on her face, stopped and said, “Are you all right, Camille?”

Camille broke, crumbling into barely discernible cries.

“I hate Hansham!” she wailed, shame washing over her. “I hate the quiet house. I hate Bettina and Angie! I want to be with girls my own age. And even though Bettina says I should know, I don’t know what I want to be! Maybe I’ll be an apothecary so I can save people like my parents. Th-then little g-girls like me won’t h-have to grow up an orphan with aunts that d-don’t love her!”

The sobs wouldn’t stop.

Camille’s pent up craving for human touch, the overwhelming need for the comfort of a loving family, the hope of an escape from the austere grip of Bettina and Angie’s house all bubbled up, flowing out of her in great hiccups and sobs.

Isadora waited patiently, her hands folded, her thumbs twiddling, for the emotional current to subside. As soon as Camille had let it all out, when her face was red and her nose dripping, Isadora floated a handkerchief over to Camille.

“Thank you,” Camille mumbled, mopping her face and gazing up through her red, swollen eyes.

“Do you feel better?” Isadora asked.

Camille stopped to think it over.

“Yes,” she said. “A little.”

“I thought so. I’d like to invite you to Miss Mabel’s School for Girls, Camille.”

Camille’s eyes shot up to meet hers.

“What?”

Isadora leaned back in her seat, but her twisted spine made it look like she was hunching forward.

“Welcome to Miss Mabel’s School for Girls. You are invited to attend, if you would like to accept the offer.”

Camille blinked, rendered speechless for the first time in her life.

“You’re accepting me?”

“Yes.”

“B-but why?”

“Because you belong.”

“I can’t belong there. I have so many weaknesses. You just told me all of them.”

Isadora chuckled. “Yes, well, there’s more to Miss Mabel’s than that.”

“Like what?”

“I’m accepting you for more reasons than your academic abilities, or lack thereof,” she replied in an easy tone.

“So you’re accepting me because you feel sorry for me?” Camille said, tears welling up in her eyes once more.

“No. I’m accepting you because you have an incredibly large heart, which is often a characteristic lacking at a school like Miss Mabel’s. Your ability to love and be loved is much stronger than most witches’, which is not a weakness at all. You belong at Miss Mabel’s because you are more than just a student; you’re a friend. And, from what I can see, you will be a very important friend to many people. You may not have found your purpose yet,” Isadora allowed with a little twinkle in her eye, “but trust me when I say that you do have a path. Once you find it, it will be as clear as day.”

A world of understanding seemed to pass between them in that moment.

Camille thought over what Isadora had said. Something was filling her, and she wasn’t sure if it was relief or a new kind of fear—the kind of fear that came before she’d take on something much bigger and more frightening than she’d ever known before.

“Accepting the invitation to Miss Mabel’s will mean a few things,” Isadora said. “You’ll be required to work hard over the summer to make sure you’re caught up with the required education level, and you’ll have to maintain that level of work ethic throughout your whole stay at Miss Mabel’s. Learning doesn’t come as easily for you as it does others, but with a lot of hard work, you can earn your marks.”