| RED'S POV |
After the awkward meeting with Xavier, I bumped into Miss Allysn. Her warning words made me remember my own high school days, bringing back bad memories.
To clear my head, I went to the library. Surrounded by books and quiet, I tried to make sense of things. I couldn't shake off the worry from what I saw earlier. What if others were doing the same thing? It scared me.
Trying to push away those thoughts, I left the library quickly, not sure why I felt so urgent.
"Watch out!" Someone yelled. But it was too late. I collided with someone, and we both fell down.
As I lay there, dizzy and out of breath, I realized I was on top of a girl. She looked enchanting with her purple eyes and calm demeanor.
"That's one way to meet," she said with a smile. I apologized and helped her up.
"It's okay," she reassured me, brushing off the accident.
Luckily, not many people saw us. I was grateful for that. While she fixed herself up, I couldn't help but notice her beauty.
Was she a vampire too? I quickly dismissed the thought. She seemed too alive compared to Xavier.
"What are you thinking?" she asked, noticing my distraction.
"Nothing important," I replied, not ready to share my confusion and questions yet.
But part of me was curious.
"Just ask," The voice spoke, which gave me courage to ask.
"Are you, by any chance, a vampire?" The words escaped my lips before I could fully consider their weight, tinged with a mix of embarrassment and genuine curiosity. I braced myself for her reaction, apprehensive yet eager for enlightenment.
Her expression shifted from surprise to a more composed demeanor, her gaze holding mine as she processed my question. She seemed unfazed by my audacity, her features settling into a gentle smile.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to assume. It's just... you possess an ethereal beauty, and your eyes are absolutely captivating," I stumbled over my words, attempting to explain my inquiry while simultaneously grappling with the vulnerability of the moment.
Time seemed suspended, hanging in the balance, until the resonant soundof a bell shattered the fragile silence, signaling the start of another class. The abrupt interruption jolted us back to reality, reminding us of the pressing demands of the school day.
"Um... are you headed to the same class?" she asked, her curiosity palpable in her voice. It was a simple question, yet it revealed her genuine interest in continuing our newfound connection.
Truth be told, I had no idea where I was supposed to be. The labyrinth in the corridors and unfamiliar layout of the school had left me disoriented and adrift.
"I suppose so," I replied, a mixture of uncertainty and honesty lacing my words. In this vast sea of unfamiliar faces and uncharted territory, finding common ground with her seemed like an unexpected lifeline.
She nodded, and I followed her as we made our way to her destination. The silence between us was palpable, hanging in the air like an unspoken question waiting to be answered. Then, unexpectedly, she broke the silence.
"You're the girl who broke the Crystal of Souls, right?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity. I stopped in my tracks, surprised by her knowledge, and she turned to face me, a smile playing on her lips.
"Does everyone know about it?" I questioned, a hint of worry creeping into my voice. The last thing I wanted was to draw attention to myself. I had come to this place seeking refuge and anonymity, not to become a topic of conversation.
"There's no secret that stays shut in this place," she replied, her tone laced with a hint of resignation. Her words sent a shiver down my spine, as the realization sank in that my desire for secrecy might have been in vain.
"By the way, I'm Avery Sparks," she introduced herself, her smile widening. "And to answer your first question, I'm not a vampire but a witch. Specifically, a Blood witch. Thanks for the compliment, though."
A sense of awe washed over me as her name rolled off her tongue. Avery Sparks. It sounded befitting of a witch, conjuring images of flickering flames and mystical enchantments.
"That's so cringe, Red," a voice in my head scoffed at my thoughts.
Shaking off the internal banter, I introduced myself. "I'm Red Musee, and if the gossip you heard was right, then yes, I have no idea how I got here." I expected her to laugh or giggle at my chosen pseudonym, but instead, she nodded in understanding.
"Weird last name though," she remarked, her smile lingering.
"Right," I replied, feeling a glimmer of relief that she didn't press further into the matter of my peculiar name choice.
"Well, I know you might want to be friends with me, but I don't think it's a good idea," She confessed, a note of hesitation coloring her words.
"How did you..." I began, wondering how she guessed my thoughts.
"Your facial expression wants us to be friends," she stated matter-of-factly, her perceptive gaze meeting mine.
Do I look that desperate? I pondered internally, a mixture of self-consciousness and curiosity swirling within me.
"But why do you say that?" I frowned, genuinely intrigued by her assessment.
"Well, for starters, Blood witches are not known for having friends outside of their own kind. Plus, people believe that we are the worst kind of beings," she explained, her voice tinged with a hint of resignation.
"How are you the worst beings?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued. The stereotypes and preconceived notions about witches had always fascinated me, and here, standing before me, was an opportunity to gain firsthand insight.
"Let's talk about it later and head to class. You don't want to miss Magic 102," she suggested, redirecting the conversation. The urgency in her voice reminded me of the pressing demands of our academic pursuits.
"Let's go," she said, and I fell into step beside her as we walked toward the classroom.
A few minutes later, we entered the classroom, and I couldn't help but notice that Avery appeared somewhat uncomfortable in my presence. Doubts gnawed at the edges of my mind, and I couldn't help but voice my concerns.
"You don't like having me with you, right?" I questioned, a tinge of sadness seeping into my words. The thought of being an annoyance to someone I had hoped to forge a connection with weighed heavily on my heart.
"Oh no, that's not it," she quickly reassured me. "I'm just looking for seats that aren't next to the A-list." She explained her discomfort, and with a swift motion, she grabbed my hand and led me toward a nearby pair of seats.
"Why is she with Avery?"
"Does she want to get herself killed?"
"Isn't that the girl who broke the Crystal?"
Whispered comments and rumors fluttered through the air as we navigated our way through the sea of students. I couldn't help but feel the weight of their judgment, but I chose to remain silent and took the seat Avery had chosen for us.
"Oh, thanks," I expressed my gratitude, offering her a smile.
"I don't kill people," She blurted out, shifting her seat close to mine.
"What do you mean?" I inquired, my words filled with a mix of confusion and slight bewilderment.
"I know you heard what they were saying, but I don't kill people. They just think I do because I don't hang out with anyone who isn't a witch," She clarified, hoping to dispel any misconceptions.
I nodded in understanding, her expression softening. " I mean Blood witches," she affirmed, confirming her statement.
"How do they know that I'm not a Blood witch like you?" I asked, genuinely intrigued by the concept of beings being identified by their scent.
"You're not," Avery replied, her voice filled with certainty. "Every creature here has a specific scent that announces which being they are. Right now, your scent is more like bubblegum or strawberry."
I couldn't help but be taken aback by her words. I smelled like strawberries? After everything that had happened, I had expected my scent to be something darker, more foreboding, considering the incident in the forest.
"Thanks for the compliment," I responded, a faint smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "But which being do you think I am?"
Avery's eyes sparkled with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty. "I have zero clue. Since you were able to enter this school, which most people rarely find, I guess you're special then."
Special? The word echoed in my mind, mingling with doubt and disbelief. I had always considered myself anything but special. Yet, here I was, standing amidst a world I had only discovered yesterday, confronted with the possibility that I might be something more than ordinary.
"I want us to be friends," I blurted out, unable to contain the newfound boldness that surged within me. It was a statement that carried vulnerability, a plea for connection in a realm where I felt like an outsider.
Avery's laughter danced through the air, light and melodious. "I do have friends, you know," she giggled, teasing me gently.
"I mean, I want to be your first friend who isn't of your kind. Even though I don't know who I am or how you knew that, I still want us to be friends, if that's cool with you," I expressed, baring my thoughts and desires with a courage I didn't know I possessed.
The room fell into a brief silence, and I watched Avery, waiting for her response. Her expression held a mixture of surprise and contemplation, as if my words had caught her off guard.
"You, my dear, are a strange person," she finally spoke, her voice laced with a hint of amusement. "But I would love to be friends with you too." Her words washed over me like a warm embrace, filling me with a sense of joy and contentment.
Just as I was about to respond, a woman in her late forties, wearing glasses, stepped into the classroom, commanding the attention of the students. The murmurs and whispers subsided as everyone quickly took their seats.
"We can talk later," Avery whispered, her focus shifting to the woman at the front of the room.
I nodded, a smile tugging at my lips. In that moment, I knew that Avery had just made my entire day brighter, dispelling the initial apprehension and uncertainty that had clouded my arrival in this new world.
I guess today's wasn't all bad.
~~~~~~
About picture is Avery aesthetic ✨

| Hope you enjoyed this Chapter|