In the middle of the woods, I see a beautiful elegant woman, dressing all in white, sitting in a crystal throne. She is skinny, has a pale complexion, long silver hair, and light-gray eyes with thin pupils, just like mines when I'm on my druidess form. But her eyes display an endless sadness as if something is missing in her life. Beside her, on her left side, a white wolf sitting, as it is her guardian. She stretches her right hand into my direction, and I can hear her calling my name in a whisper.
?: Khawla...? Khawla...?
I wake up and sit on the bed, feeling a little bit lost and confused. I'm breathing short, as I'm a little bit scared.
"Who is she?"
Sebastian: Khawla...?
I look at Sebastian that is sitting on the edge of the bed. It was him that was calling me, not the lady in my dream.
Sebastian: Are you okay?
I can see a worried expression on his face and in his fierce amber eyes too. He is apprehensive and nervous.
"What's up to Seb?"
Sebastian: You were irresponsive for a while like you were in a trance.
I'm still looking at him, and my disturbance is palpable as much as his. Sebastian is also staring at me, waiting for me to spill the beans. He is studying me right now; he wants to understand what phenomena are happening with me, or what powers I'm using at this very moment. And guess. I don't have the answers to these questions. I don't know what has happened to me to be irresponsive, and I don't know why I have dreamed of this mysterious lady and her wolf. Things are getting odder... By the way, what isn't odd in Mystery Spell?
I glance at the clock, and it states 06:20. I have only 10 minutes to get ready, in my uniform, to go to the College. I jump from the bed without answering Sebastian. I rush to the bathroom to a quick shower, to remove his fragrance from my skin, or people will start talking and gossiping about us two, what wouldn't bode well at all, as a Professor cannot get involved with his student. It is against what states the Code of Ethics of Mystery Spell University. It could imply severe consequences for both of us and have a severe impact on his career as a teacher forever. I still have to talk to him about this, as it was the reason for me not answering his proposal to move to his before.
I let the water runs freely throughout my body while I rub the soap against my skin. I'm doing it fast without thinking about my vision, as the clock tics against me. I cannot make Sebastian late. We have to arrive early, before the other people, because no one can see us together, as we have to keep our relationship in a very low profile.
I leave the bathroom wrapped in a towel, and Sebastian devours me with his fierce amber eyes of a predator ready to attack his prey as soon as he spots me. But we both know that we don't have time for a second, a third, and, maybe, a fourth round of sex right now, as we must go to the College. Me, to attend classes; he, to teach.
Khawla: Seb, if you want to go, go. I don't want to make you late. I can go on foot to the campus.
I say this while choosing my underwear in the drawers.
Sebastian: No. I will wait for you, little fairy. I don't want to lose this spectacle...
He says these very words with a husky and deep voice and bites his lower lip. It seems that the big bad wolf is hungry and wants to savor the view of me doing a reversed striptease.
I wear my panties without removing the towel, as I get embarrassed in his wish of seeing me getting dressed. Then, I turn around to him not see my boobs, as I know how he loves them, their volume, and the way they bounce. I remove the towel and wear my bra. I keep my back to him while I dress the blouse, the skirt, and the sweater, as I don't want to get flushed and soaked knowing how much he desires me.
Sebastian is laughing at my attitude, in nothing resembling his worry towards me of earlier as he gets to know I'm fine now. Then, I get my socks and sit on the bed to wear them, followed by my College's trainers. I'm almost ready. The tie I can dress in the car, as it isn't complicated to do the knot.
Sebastian is observing me as a predator does with his prey. None of my movements pass unnoticed to him. I tie my long ash-blond hair in a bun, as I don't have the time to brush it. Then, I turn to him and gesticulate, opening my arms, indicating that I'm ready to go.
Khawla: Ta-da!
Sebastian nods, stands up from the edge of the bed, walks till the hallway, gets his material and mine, and opens the door to me go before him.
***
Sebastian is driving us to the College, but his curiosity is gaining him. He still wants to know what has happened to me while he was showering.
Sebastian: I'm pretty sure you were in a trance earlier, little fairy. Would you like to talk about this?
I'm still tying my tie when I was gotten by surprise by his question. Well, not so much a surprise, as he is a scholar and researcher and, for sure, he would like to know what has happened to his dearest druidess, a mythological, legendary, and folklore creature.
I tease him, trying to disguise what I'm unable to understand. Reading memories? Having visions? Definitely, they are not part of my usual range of known druids' abilities.
Khawla: Maybe another K.O. in sex to you, Mr. Big Bad Wolf.
Sebastian opens a cocky smile, feeling proud of himself; however, he isn't easily fooled. He knows that it was not what has happened this time. That wasn't him that has put me irresponsive.
Sebastian: I wish it were me this time again, little fairy, but I know that's far from the truth.
I get a last glance at the mirror to ensure my tie is in the right place before answering him. I shrug in response, as it was nothing important or that deserves any special attention.
Khawla: Perhaps I was in my REM sleep.
Well, it isn't a lie at all. In your REM sleep, it is when you have dreams, and it is when it's harder to wake up. A plausible explanation for what has happened to me earlier this morning. But I'm not going to tell him about what I was dreaming of yet, just yet. First, I have to know who this lady is, why she has appeared in my dream, and what she wants from me.
Sebastian nods and repeats my very words to himself to memorize them, as he always does. I think he is pondering about my answer, checking if it makes any sense or not or if I'm hiding things from him.
I let out a long tired sigh.
"Oh well, my beloved Professor, there are so many things that I'm hiding from you!"
We go the rest of the way in silence. Sebastian is thinking about my words. I'm immersed in my thoughts, trying to figure out all these things. It's the second vision that I have in a short period. First, it was Viktor Bartholy, my grandma, and the teenager Lorie. Now, this almost ethereal woman.
"What messages my subconscious is trying to send to me?"
Sebastian parks his orange 4x4 off-road car on the University's parking lot. As we arrive early, no one is around to gossip about the Professor of Myths & Legends, giving a ride to one of his students. He gets my material to handover it to me, then he winks and heads to the teachers' room, and I go to the cafeteria to grab my morning black booster. Only coffee to make my brain works properly and find any sense in all these riddles, puzzles, and mysteries.
***
I'm in my second cup of coffee when Sarah enters the cafeteria. She looks gloomy today. In nothing, she resembles that radiant, full of life Sarah that I know very well. The sunshine has gone, and only a storm has left.
"What is upsetting my dearest friend? Did Drogo break up with her? I'll kick his ass if he dared to do so!"
Sarah grabs one cup of coffee from the vending machine and comes to join me on my table. She collapses on the chair, defeated.
Khawla: Sarah, what's up?
She lets out a long tired sigh. It seems the subject is really a serious issue. She looks around to ensure no one can listen to what she will confide me.
Sarah: I talked to my grandmother on the phone last night. She is worried to the bones because the Descendants of Templar are in town. She doesn't know what they are up to or what they are looking for.
I sip my coffee, pensive. Viktor Bartholy is also apprehensive about the activities of the group in Mystery Spell. If the two most powerful creatures around are worried, for sure, it is a bad omen. Even in my worst nightmares, I would never dream that there still have witch hunters after the great carnage in the Middle Ages. Everybody was sure the Descendants of Templar were dismantled Centuries ago.
"What makes the group resurge?"
I look around to ensure no one is paying any attention to us. What I'm about to say must be kept locked under seven keys.
Khawla: Viktor is also worried. He expelled me from the manor, as he thinks I will be safer at Sebastian's.
Sarah is stunned. She opens her eyes wide open, and her mouth is ajar. She isn't sure she has listened to it right.
Sarah: I beg your pardon?
I glance around again and lower even more my voice, as the cafeteria is getting full, not to run the risk of someone ending up listening to what I'm telling Sarah.
Khawla: Viktor has phoned Nicolae and ordered him to pack my things to me move to Sebastian's studio, as he thinks the group doesn't suspect on Professor Jones.
Sarah: Suspect on Professor Jones? And why they would suspect on him, Khawla?
"Oh-oh... I think I have said too much..."
I wear my best innocent face and sip my coffee slowly before answering Sarah, that is getting extremely curious with my very words. I look around once more to ensure no one is listening to our chit-chat.
Khawla: Exactly! There is nothing to suspect on him, as Sebastian is only an ordinary human being, so I would be safe beside him.
"And the Oscar goes to..."
Sarah nods, agreeing with me.
"Phew! It was close!"
I cannot unveil a secret that is not mine. I cannot tell her that Sebastian is a werewolf and all the craziness that has followed. No. It is not the place or the right time for so.
I stand up, tap Sarah's shoulder, and I head to the vending machine to grab one more cup of coffee. I also get another to my BFF, as she is desperately in need of it as well. It seems our day will be long.
***
Today is Thursday. A day that I don't have Myths & Legends classes, but I have my particular time with Professor Jones at the library when he mentors me, preparing me for my Master's. However, today, I'm not asking him about druids as per the books. I need to know if transformed vampires can grow old. The view of a teenager Lorie doesn't leave me since my nightmare a few days back. I need to know if, at some moment, she can turn 16.
I'm already at the library, sitting on a desk afar from everybody, as I don't want the other students listening to my questions to Professor Jones, as it is something out of the syllabus and out of my vast knowledge about vampires either. Lorie is still an enigma to me, as vampires have a non-spoken agreement on not transforming kids. Well, Viktor Bartholy doesn't follow any rules. He is an old fox, without any morals or scrupulous.
I don't have to wait much. Sebastian enters the library, and his face lights up as soon as he spots me, a broad smile pops up on his lips, and his fierce amber eyes sparkle in happiness.
"How sexy he is! It should be against the law being such a hunk!"
He heads to the desk I'm on and pulls a chair to sit. His woody perfume invades my nostrils. I can't help feeling flushed by his presence.
"What powers does he have over me that always makes me lose my mind?"
Sebastian: So, here I am. You can ask me about druids.
Khawla: I have a question, but it isn't about druids, Seb.
Sebastian: Since it isn't about werewolves.
He smiles in a silly way. I know there are things about werewolves that Sebastian isn't ready to tell me and that, probably, they aren't in the syllabus either. But one mystery per time. I already have too much to worry about.
Khawla: No. It's about vampires.
Sebastian opens his fierce amber eyes wide in surprise. He wasn't expecting it from me because I know almost everything that involves these bloodthirsty creatures, as I have lived all my life among them.
Sebastian: Tomorrow, it is the day to ask what you haven't understood in Vampirology, little fairy.
Khawla: But what I want to know is not in the syllabus, or you have had talked about in class.
Sebastian is intrigued. He is paying close attention to what I'm saying. As a researcher, the curiosity always keeps him moving on and seeking for answers.
Sebastian: You have all my attention.
"As if I didn't have before..."
Khawla: Does a small child, transformed into a vampire, grow old at any time of its existence?
Sebastian raises one eyebrow and puts his right hand on his face while thinking about my question. I'm observing him closely. None of his movements escape from my piercing gray-blue eyes. After a while, he responds to me.
Sebastian: What I know is that vampires born vampires grow old till the age of 30 when they achieve their maximum capabilities and stay stuck forever. But who is turned into a vampire keeps the same age, when he or she was transformed, for the rest of the existence. And no child was turned into a vampire in the literature available for Myths & Legends. Why, little fairy?
I beat the bush, as there is no room for secrets or mysteries. Well, I won't tell him why I'm asking him this.
Khawla: So, Lorie Bartholy will be 6 years-old forever?
Sebastian: Yes. As per my knowledge, yes.
I keep in silence, thinking about what Sebastian has just explained to me.
"If that teenager in my dream isn't Lorie, who is she? And if it was Lorie, why have I dreamed of her older?"
Sebastian's ironic tone of voice brings me back to reality.
Sebastian: Anything else I can do for you, milady? Or can we go back to druids?
I shake my head from one side to another in a no and let out a long sigh. Then, I get my attention to my notebook and notes about my findings on druids as per the literature available for Myths & Legends to continue in my private class with Professor Jones.