Today is the last day of classes before summer vacation. Onyx had packed up his things the night before so he could have a smooth departure. As he's walking towards the dorms, he hears a loud squeal and a heavy weight on his back, stumbling a bit to keep his balance.
“Darn it, Liv, I thought I told you to stop with these sneak attacks.” Onyx says.
“I can't help it, I'm just so excited to go home and see everyone. Aren't you, Onyx?” Olivia chuckles.
“Of course I am! I haven't seen my uncle since winter break. I'm just a little anxious because it's been so long.” Onyx says with his head down. In truth, he's more nervous about this next school year than going home. All he wants to do is survive his death flag. He's had some interactions with Dylan and Leo, but he's been sure to keep it minimal. But that doesn't mean he won't die in the end. Shaking his head of unnecessary thoughts, he gives a sincere smile.
“Plus, I'm really gonna miss them..” Onyx was interrupted by Emily and Marcus.
“Who are you gonna miss, not little ol' me, right?” Marcus says, giving him a wink. He is then elbowed in the side by Emily.
“Of course, he meant me.” Emily says with gusto.
Olivia and Onyx couldn't stop themselves from chuckling.
“Of course, I meant both of you. It's gonna be weird not seeing either of you for a whole month.”
“Oh, I can agree to that. We've spent every day together since our second week here.” Olivia says, nodding her head seriously.
“It's not like we could spend the summer with you guys at your homes... that would be crazy, right?” Marcus said questioningly.
They all stand there staring at him.
“Why didn't you say that before?” Olivia asked, getting a huge grin on her face.
“My parents definitely wouldn't mind. They are probably traveling right now anyway.” Emily says, maintaining a stoic face.
Then they all glance at Marcus.
He begins to shift where he is standing because of their stares. And then throws his hands up, “ok, ok, I'm definitely in. I'll just send a letter to my parents.”
“Yay!” They all high-five each other as they continue walking through the corridors.
The friends continued walking, but Olivia suddenly stopped in her tracks. "Oh yeah, did you guys know there's a concert hall here? There's a huge piano and some other instruments. Some I've never even seen before."
Curiosity piqued, and the group turned to Olivia, waiting for more information. Marcus, with a touch of wisdom, shared, "Yeah, usually they hold banquets and balls for the students there. But they only do it in the second year because it's the last year at this school."
Onyx's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected a school designed to train hunters to have a concert hall, let alone musical instruments. Memories of his past life as Alexander resurfaced—a life where he learned to play the piano for his mother, a talented singer. The image of his parents singing together, his father watching them with adoration, warmed his heart. Though he still missed them dearly, he felt grateful for the love and kindness he had found in this life with his mother and uncle.
Lost in his thoughts, Emily waved her hand in front of Onyx's face to bring him back to reality. Blinking a few times, he smiled and reassured her, "Yeah, I'm fine. I kind of want to go there. Liv, can you tell me where it is? "
Olivia nodded eagerly. "Sure! It's in the west building, on the first floor. Want me to show you?"
With a wave of his hand, Onyx declined her offer before darting towards the west building. "No, it's okay. Why don't we all meet at the front gate in about an hour?"
Agreeing to the plan, the friends bid each other farewell temporarily, their shared excitement lingering in the air.
As Onyx ran, each step causing him to breathe heavily, his side getting an ache from how fast he ran, Onyx walked into the west building. He passed many empty rooms, He stopped in front of one particular room. Not noticing that he was being followed. Leo didn't intend to follow him, but Onyx had a desperate look on his face he couldn't help but worry and trail after him.
Inside this room, there was a mahogany piano placed neatly by a giant bay window and a chair in front of it. Other instruments are set up at a separate corner. Contrary to the occupation of the room, the room itself was huge. He had seen banquet halls in movies and read about them in books, but they truly never did it justice. This room was beautiful on each side, which was a staircase that led to the second floor, where balconies were placed for privacy. The marble floor sparkled. The chandelier above was stunning with crystals that danced from light's reflection.
Onyx made his way over to the piano and sat down, memories flooding his mind. How he and his family would play music together and how he lost them from the accident. He really did lose everything that night.
A new wave of agony washed over him, and for the first time since he became onyx, he grieved the loss of his parents and his new mother he didn't stop the heart-wrenching sobs he let out. Onyx slowly let his fingers brush over the piano tiles before beginning to play a sad melody. The song that came to mind was his first mother's favorite elastic heart by sia she would always sing it while cleaning or cooking. It brought a smile to his face. Soon after that, he started singing.
And another one bites the dust
Oh, why can I not conquer love?
And I might've thought that we were one
Wanted to fight this war without weapons
And I wanted it, and I wanted it bad
But there were so many red flags
Now another one bites the dust
Yeah, let's be clear. I'll trust no one
As he was singing, Onyx didn't notice that he had left the doors wide open. And there stood Leo watching him intently. His red hair shimmered like rubies in the sunlight, and his eyes shone like fresh grass swaying in the wind. He was breathtaking. Leo couldn't look away.
You did not break me
I'm still fighting for peace
I've got thick skin and an elastic heart
But your blade it might be too sharp
I'm like a rubber band until you pull too hard
I may snap, and I move fast
But you won't see me fall apart
'Cause I've got an elastic heart
I've got an elastic heart
Yeah, I've got an elastic heart
By now, small, glowing sparkles of gold danced throughout the banquet hall appearing out of nowhere. The sparkles were floating softly in the air in what seemed like a waltz, moving to the rhythm of the song. The whole room was being illuminated by warm golden light, but Onyx was oblivious to it all, his eyes closed and leaking tears.
And I will stay up through the night
Let's be clear, won't close my eyes
And I know that I can survive
I'll walk through fire to save my life
And I want it, I want my life so bad
I'm doing everything I can
Then another one bites the dust
It's hard to lose a chosen one
Onyx's mind was preoccupied with how he needed to find strength to protect everyone and himself from the things to come. The faces of every person flashing in his mind. Olivia, Marcus, Felix, Emily, and then a face unexpected Leo's lingers there for a second. Shaking his the thought out of his head, he continues.
You did not break me
I'm still fighting for peace
I've got thick skin and an elastic heart
But your blade it might be too sharp
I'm like a rubber band until you pull too hard
I may snap, and I move fast
But you won't see me fall apart
'Cause I've got an elastic heart
I've got thick skin and an elastic heart
But your blade it might be too sharp
I'm like a rubber band until you pull too hard
I may snap, and I move fast
But you won't see me fall apart
'Cause I've got an elastic heart
I've got thick skin and an elastic heart
But your blade it might be too sharp
I'm like a rubber band until you pull too hard
And I may snap, and I move fast
But you won't see me fall apart
'Cause I've got an elastic heart
I've got an elastic heart
As Onyx finished his song, the last note fading into the air, he opened his eyes and finally noticed Leo standing there, a mixture of awe and concern on his face. Onyx quickly wiped away his tears, embarrassed to have been caught in such a vulnerable moment.
Leo took a step forward, his voice filled with empathy. "Onyx, I had no idea you had such a beautiful voice. That was... breathtaking."
Onyx gave Leo a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Leo. It's just a song that holds a lot of memories for me."
Leo hesitated for a moment before speaking again he lightly grabbed Onyx's hand. "Onyx, I've been watching you for a while now, and I can tell that you're going through a lot. If you ever need someone to talk to or someone to lean on, I'm here for you."
A flicker of surprise crossed Onyx's face, but he quickly composed himself. "That means a lot to me, Leo. Thank you for your kindness."
Onyx had always reminded himself to keep his distance from Leo. There was an unspoken rule, a mysterious aura that surrounded Leo, making Onyx's heart race every time they crossed paths. But try as he might, Onyx couldn't deny the enchantment that sparked between them. Their hands intertwined, sending electric currents through their veins. Onyx's cheeks flushed with both surprise and excitement.
"Um, Leo, my hand?" Onyx whispered, breaking Leo from his trance, allowing a blush to creep onto his face. "Oh, sorry about that. For some reason, I didn't want to let go," Leo said in a low voice, causing Onyx to hold his breath. Leo's words held more weight than a simple apology. It was a glimpse into his true emotions.
Attempting to regain composure, Onyx shifted the conversation, asking about their plans for the upcoming vacation. Onyx revealed his intention to return to their hometown with Olivia, accompanied by their close friends Marcus and Emily. However, Leo couldn't conceal his unwarranted irritation at the thought of Onyx spending time away with others.
With a sad smile, Leo admitted, "I don't have any plans. I was thinking of staying here for the vacation." Onyx's heart ached for Leo, imagining him alone for an entire month. Without thinking, Onyx blurted out, "Why don't you come with us?"
Leo's eyes widened in astonishment, mirroring Onyx's own confusion. In a feeble attempt to salvage the situation, Onyx stumbled over his words, "I mean, since you'll be here anyways, why not travel and see new sights?" Leo's dazzling smile illuminated the space around them as he eagerly accepted the invitation.
Half an hour later, the group met at the front gate, their excitement tangible in the air. Leo, now a part of their adventure, exuded a newfound sense of belonging. As they boarded the grand carriage, little did they know that vengeful eyes watched their every move, harboring dark intentions. Dylan stood at the gate darkness floating around him.
Their journey took them through towering mountains and forests filled with the same dangers as before. Onyx and Leo's friendship blossomed like a rare and delicate flower, each moment spent together deepening their connection. Laughter echoed through the carriage, carrying their joy far and wide.
But as their travels continued, a sense of foreboding settled upon Onyx's shoulders. He was indeed worried about how his friendship with Leo would affect his life. Would his death flag still hang there, or would he break free from the accursed fate.
One moonlit evening, as their journey neared its end, they all sat around a fire enjoying good music and laughter. As things started to settle down and everyone was going to bed, Onyx still sat next to the fire, looking up at the stars. He felt a soft touch on his shoulder. When he looked up, he saw Leo holding two mugs.
“Whats on your mind onyx?” He asked
“ Honestly, I'm just looking forward to seeing my uncle.” Onyx said thoughtfully.
Leo gave a small hum nod, nodding his head in understanding.
“You two must be very close.” Handing onyx one of the mugs he was holding. The warmth of the cup warmed his hands in the cool summer night.
“Yes we're very close he took me in and raised me after I was born. He taught me everything I know, showering me with unconditional love. He's truly a wonderful person.” He said with a small smile while gazing in the mug.
Leo couldn't help but marvel at the boy in front of him. Throughout this year, Leo had noticed how kind and thoughtful onyx was. His eyes just seemed to always find him no matter how crowded the area may be. Just the thought of Onyx made Leo's heart beat rapidly.
“He sounds like an amazing man. You can tell by how great you are.” Leo stated
“Thank you, Leo, that means a lot to me.” Onyx gave him a bright smile while gazing into his eyes. Leo couldn't help but get lost in those green orbs. They both could feel the magnetism that pulls them to each other, with their hearts pounding and minds afire. Leo leaned in towards onyx. Onyx slowly closes the distance between them and begins to shut his eyes when they hear a twig break. Scooting away at a quick rate. Both of their faces are flushed red. Onyx abruptly stands up “well good night, Leo, and thank you for talking with me. See you in the morning.” turning around racing to where he's sleeping.
Leo just watches with a smile replaying what just happened in his mind and whispers “goodnight onyx.”
As the sun rose, they packed up and watched as the beautiful meadow filled with all kinds of wild flowers came to view. Olivia and Onyx’s eyes meet; they can't help but smile because they are finally home.