The Strangely Beautiful Tale Of Miss Percy Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber Read Free Book Online Page A

courtyard toward their dormitory.
    “What are the words on each building?” Marianna asked.
    “They are odd variants of Greek names. I’ve never seen them written quite like this.”
    “Greek names?”
    “Yes, tributes to Greek gods—like my name is.”
    “Yours? I do not remember a ‘Percy’ goddess.”
    Percy smiled. “It’s a pet name of sorts.”
    “Are you the same age as me?” Marianna asked, peering at her. “I cannot tell. You could be young, or much older, with that face.”
    “I am eighteen, older than most here. I was matriculated due to my…circumstances.”
    “Ah, I see. I am…” Marianna fought for an English number. “Fifteen.”
    “And how did you find Athens?” Percy doubted the German girl was sent away due to any oddness, like herself.
    Marianna shrugged. “I desire school, my parents did not and hoped I would change my mind if they applied far away, somewhere quiet like this. But I would have done any thing to continue.” She smiled suddenly. “Of course, if they truly know what I wish to do…”
    “And what is that?” Percy prompted.
    “I would give my heart to be… eine Speilerin. ”
    “An actress?” Percy repeated.
    “ Ja, but my father would run me through with a sword!”
    Percy laughed then mused, “An actress. The only plays I have ever seen were Nativities at the abbey. I loved them, of course. They were magical. But I have read all of Shakespeare, and—”
    “ Ich liebe Shakespeare!”
    “Good, then we’ll have much to quote each other, you and I!” Percy felt a rush of pleasure at having found a possible friend—a living friend—to share her time here.
    From behind her glasses, she squinted at the blue-grey sky and added, “I never knew my parents. I wonder about them, though, and imagine how it would be to look like everyone else. To consider dreams, and futures, like they do. Of course, were I to dream of the stage, I’d only be fit to play Hamlet’s ghost.” Percy sighed.
    Marianna’s eyes lit, and she exclaimed excitedly, “Or Ariel or Titania!”
    Percy grinned as she realized this was perfectly true.
    Inside, they reached their respective chamber doors, and Marianna said, “I must…settle in and write letters now. Percy, will you sit with me at first meal?”
    “I’d be delighted,” Percy replied. A sliver of desperation edged her words as she added, “I would like to consider you a friend. May I?”
    “Of course you are a friend! Why do you ask?” The German girl seemed surprised.
    Percy stared at the cobblestones. “I look strange, Marianna. I’m nothing like the others. If things are the same here…well, people will whisper and scoff, repulsed by the look of me. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, and—”
    “I speak different. You do not…look at me strange when I talk. You help. And you think you look frightening? ”
    Percy shrugged. “My skin, my eyes, my hair…No single aspect of me is normal.”
    “Your hair is white? Your eyes, too?” Marianna asked, peering closer.
    Percy nodded, wondering if she should take off her glasses.
    Marianna shrugged. “You are…pretty as a sculpture is pretty. Do not be ashamed,” she ordered.
    “I am grateful for your kindness.”
    “And I for yours,” Marianna replied.
    “Indeed. I shall see you soon.”
    “Yes, my friend. Good afternoon!”
    Percy returned to her room, spirit uplifted. She listened to greetings spoken loudly in the hallways, friends returning and catching up, and decided she was not yet brave enough to make any other forays toward interaction. She would leave such bravery for another day.
    On the edge of the Whisper-world, the shadows rang with the voice of Darkness. “What has the dog found in London?”
    His female servant sank onto the eternally cold stones, stretching out languidly, attempting to look inviting. The shadows didn’t move, and the woman scowled. “Only East End whores. Fitting, don’t you think? Isn’t that what she is—a