Star Crossed

Studies

Astrid twirled a pencil absently between her forefinger and thumb, feeling her hairs all stand on end from a tall male with white hair walk in from the doorway. Small whispers sound out in her ear, while she grits her teeth, trying to tune them out, the back of her neck with her birth mark burning. It wasn't rare that she heard random voices in her mind, the closer to a different part of the year, the louder some became, along with the gender changing. She grimaces, as soon as her eyes locked onto the mysterious man's serene blue orbs, she felt her breath almost leave her body. Everything went dead silent, except his gentle voice asking her a question, noticing everyone staring back at her. Astrid of course blinked her unnatural maroon orbs, clearly uncomfortable with the sudden onslaught of attention. She sucked in her cheeks as she smoothly sits back up in her chair. "I'm sorry. Repeat your question?" She tilts aside her head, allowing rich dark curls to tumble down over her shoulder, still damp from her morning shower. "I said, Can you tell me the common myth about the Trojan war?" The man dressed in a lavish blue tunic and a rhythmic exotic accent would repeat himself once more, raising one thin eyebrow upwards. "Oh." Astrid hummed out, before leaning forward, evaluating his presence. Her best subjects were history and mythology, specifically Grecian and Roman. "The wooden horse that is now a common analogy." She answered, earning a hint of a smile across the young man's lips. "Yes, it is." He spoke out sweetly, his chiseled features mirroring his pride flickering in his eyes. Astrid would then arch upwards a brow towards him, in a heavily challenging manor.

***

Astrid pulled her bag over her shoulder, barely brushing by the younger teacher, her hairs all standing on end as if she stuck her finger within a socket of an outlet. She glances towards him with widened crimson orbs, while he calmly read, slowly glancing up from his book which dangled between his fingertips, her birthmark burning against the porcelain of her neck. They locked eyes, while he slowly smirks, revealing a dimple within his cheek. She turns her gaze away, back to the door, everything happening in almost slow motion, feeling as if she took one too many doses of DM. She shudders outward, pushing open the doors by the cold metal bar. With a small squeak and a thud, she was off tearing down the high way in her Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup Truck. She flips down her aviators, covering her sensitive orbs from the Sun's blinding rays bouncing around boisterously. After her mother's accident, most would note how surprised they would be she even hopped into a car ever again. Granted, she was broken as a bird without wings when her only parent's last breath left her before the ambulances arrived, lost as to what she'd do without her. It still felt empty to park her truck in the driveway, opening the door, to find there were no hearty scents filling the air, or teas being brewed. She bumps the door closed behind her with her hip, running a hand through her raven black curls, exhaling softly. The female places her keys into the crystal skull bowl on a nearby stand adjacent to the door. She continued on down the hallway, connected to the bar area of the kitchen, browsing the fridge for anything to eat. Thankfully she spent enough time to memorize all dishes prepared.

***

Warm flames lick outwards over the hearty wood smoking within the metal grated pit, its heat and light expanding over the small den which was littered in various works of literature. Astrid was lightly snoozing away, with a book dangling from her slender fingertips, head curled up on the arm of the chair. She didn't notice how the shadows flickered more frequently around her, nor the dwindling of flame receding. "Astrid." She still didn't budget an inch, but eyelids flickering while her orbs moved within them. "Awaken." The familiar voice coaxed out just a tad louder, when she felt something gently touch her wrist in her sleep. Without any words, only instinct, she shot up awake, slamming her fist into the nearest item there was, when the sound of glass breaking and a small chuckle emitted from a pale figure. Her blurry vision caught glimpses of white hair and a younger angelic face, making her back up against her chair, damned near falling off the back of it. "Why are you in my home? I will call the police if you don't get the hell out of here." her heart thundered in her chest, seeing her professor right in front of her,  mind spinning at a sickening rate. "Dear love. Please refrain from fearing me. I am not what you think I am." he held up his two hands, palms facing outwards in a gesture of peace. Astrid only gripped the back tighter, feeling her nails sink into the fabric covering the entirety. "Then what are you? And how did you find my home? Did you stalk me?!" her voice shot up an octave with each sentence, giving away the ebbing fear coursing through her veins. She felt her entire body quiver despite the rigidity of her muscles coiled up where she were, ready to lunge if necessary. "No. I never stalked you." His own eyebrow swept skywards, almost showing a curious disdain towards her reaction. "Then how did you find me here?" she asked as she swallowed down the lump of fear in her throat. Okay, this is totally a dream. She thought to herself, allowing to listen to his explanation when his lips parted. "You see, this will be a long session, may I offer some wine?" he said, while two glasses appeared between his fingertips in one hand, the other containing a rich red bottle of some lavish scented wine. Well, considering this is a dream, I might as well accept. She thought as she extended her hand for a glass, when he led the way to the table.