I still couldn't believe what had transpired between me and Lucien, and the fact I'd gotten so carried away that I'd completely forgotten about the meeting. I just prayed Aurora wouldn't be too unhappy, It couldn't have been that serious right? After all, she didn't come looking for me and I didn't get any emails or text messages informing me that my absence was "unappreciated".
I had decided to go to the dining hall for dinner, Lyra was already waiting for me, sitting by one of the fountains in the pixie hollow garden.
"Hey girly!"
She greeted me with a warm smile and I returned it, walking alongside her down the path.
"I have some news..."
I said gravely, my face slowly rising with heat as I recalled the incident that took place in my cabin.
"Oh, do tell... is it juicy?"
She grinned, her eyes twinkling with intrigue.
"Um... not exactly... I ... well—
As we were walking I caught sight of Lucien walking alongside another student with dark brooding eyes and long hair that fell just below his chin, his expression was impassive but he looked somewhat immersed in the conversation he was having. Similar to his friend, he was strikingly tall. Casting a shadow of gloom in deep contrast to Lucien's chipper, carefree attitude.
But unlike Lucien... he was immensely captivating. His muscular body exuded so much sex appeal that it made my stomach tighten in knots.
"Goddamn... that's him..."
Lyra whispered, her eyes glued to the same dark-haired boy I had been looking at.
"That's the Ice Dragon from Elysian House."
And so it was... as I peered closer, I couldn't help but notice the familiarity in his brown eyes.
We tried to be as discreet as possible, walking silently behind the boys and keeping quiet... but then I stumbled over a twig, and as if on cue, Lucien with his damned demon senses whipped his head around. His eyes fell on the two of us with interest as he captured my gaze.
My throat bobbed as he grinned, his gaze set on me as he and his friend came to a stop.
"Well... if it isn't my favorite mentee and her lovely friend."
He looked between the two of us, his stoic friend inspecting us with a mixture of curiosity and unsubtle annoyance.
"Did you come to thank me?"
Lucien smirked.
"Thank you for what?"
I glowered as he pouted.
"For that taste of heaven, I gave you..."
Lyra's eyes widened in alarm to his words glancing back at me.
"Please, you're a demon, the only thing you're good at is giving hell."
"Aw, don't be like that babe... you know you enjoyed every second of it."
Lyra's eyes were as wide as saucers as she gaped at me.
My cheeks burned from humiliation as I glared at him.
"You know that's not how that went..."
I said.
"Oh? And how did it go? Enlighten me, babe."
"Don't call me that. You tricked me and fed on me..."
I snapped.
"Did I?"
He put a hand to his heart, feigning innocence.
"You knew exactly what you were doing Lucien... don't bullshit me."
"You weren't complaining when I had you pinned against the wall."
He grinned devilishly.
I swallowed, my anger replaced with shame as Lyra exclaimed.
"What?! You two? When... How??"
"It's not like that I swear... he's an incubus... He just fed from me earlier..."
"Without consent??"
Her eyes widened as she shot Lucien a scrutinizing gaze
"N-no... well—
I stammered,
Lucien chuckled,
"See, you can't even deny it. Admit it, babe, you loved when I kissed you when I put my hands on your—
"Shut up, Shut up!"
I ran up to him waving my hands around in an attempt to keep him from humiliating me further. The heat in my body rose as I heard a deep chuckle beside him.
"What are you laughing at?"
I seethed glaring at the dragon shifter who was silent until now.
"You. Also,"
He turned to his friend,
"Is she the girl you said harbored all 4 elements?"
"Yeah, cute isn't she?"
Lucien chuckled,
"A little... but very annoying...."
The dragon shifter rolled his eyes and I scowled.
It was almost like I wasn't there.
"You know what Lucien?"
He turned to me,
"Hm?"
"Just because you kissed me doesn't mean I want you. Besides, your tiny dick could hardly satisfy my needs."
A blush crept onto his face as his friend erupted in laughter.
"And you talk a big game for someone who's just trying to compensate."
I smirked,
"I am not compensating! You have no idea what you're talking about."
His eyes narrowed and his face reddened slightly.
"She got you there mate..."
His friend laughed.
"Shut the fuck up, Levi!"
Lucien's face grew an even deeper shade of red and Lyra laughed out loud.
"Watch your mouth, Scarlett... I'd be careful who you speak to."
Lucien's eyes darkened but I wasn't about to back down now.
"And who is that exactly?"
I arched my brow at him.
"Someone who could make your life hell if he wanted to."
I scoffed,
"You think I'm scared of you? What's there to fear with someone with such a small.... Appendage?"
Lyra guffawed, and I joined her in laughter as we started to walk past them but my laughter was cut short when Lucien suddenly grabbed my arm and yanked me closer to him.
"You think you can just disrespect me and walk away?"
He leaned in dangerously close.
"You have no idea what I'm capable of, princess, do you really wanna cross me?"
I ripped my arm away from him.
"The fact you resort to manipulation to get sex just tells me everything I need to know about you."
He growls and I step back, realizing I could have just kicked him in the balls when I had the chance.
"Come on Lyra... it smells like toxic masculinity here..."
I say as Lyra passes them a glare looping her arm in mine.
As soon as we're out of earshot Lyra squeals.
"That was so badass!"
I chuckle,
"I may have gone overboard..."
"Maybe... but he deserved it. Also, it's a little wild the fact you hooked up with a notorious player your first day."
I groaned.
"Don't remind me..."
"It was like he had some sort of power over me... I admit he is attractive... but I swear it felt like my body was being drawn to him, somehow... Like he had some sort of magnet that triggered those weird feelings inside of me."
"That sounds like seduction magic... what a creep!"
Lyra shuddered, wrapping her arms around herself.
"But anyways, how was that meeting?"
"Um... I didn't go."
I said sheepishly.
"Damn, why?"
"I passed out as soon as I got into the bathtub."
She laughed,
"Valid honestly."
We chatted and laughed all the way to the dining hall, many students were already gathered and seated at various tables and eating, talking with the occasional couple making out disgustingly close to the food.
I grimaced.
"I think Noah and Robynn are waiting for us."
Lyra says and I nod as she leads the way.
True to her word, Robynn and Noah were already seated near the far back of the hall talking to one another in a booth.
We gathered our food and walked over to their table.
"We have some piping hot tea..."
Lyra alerted the group immediately as she sat down and I rolled my eyes with a sigh.
"Alright alright... let them hear it from me first..:"
I said, and she grinned.
"Alright mamacita, take the floor."
I let out a disgruntled sigh and took my seat next to Robynn.
"I may have been seduced by an Incubus..."
"Oooo ok... spicy!"
Noah grinned but Lyra shook her head shutting him down.
"It was Lucien."
I said and Robynn nearly spat out her drink.
"A-Lucien!? From House of Embers??!"
She gasped in disbelief.
"Shhh keep it down! There are vampires around... and nosey supernaturals..."
I warned her,
"Sorry..."
She slumped into her seat anxiously, I supposed from the mention of "big eared-fae."
"So... what was it like? How did he taste?"
Noah leaned in, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"It wasn't like that he—
Just as I was about to explain my side of things Aurora sauntered over to our table, hips swaying and her piercing purple gaze set on me as she made her way to us with her posse.
"Oh boy..."
I groaned, she was definitely coming over to scold me for missing the meeting.
"Scarlett! We missed you at the meeting today, everything ok sweetheart?"
She said with an all-to-friendly smile.
"Um... yeah I just... lost track of time and I fell asleep after combat class.
Aurora's eyes tweaked for a split second as she looked at me with the most intense gaze I'd ever seen.
"Oh! Well, why didn't you say so!"
She continued to smile at me, but this time it didn't quite reach her eyes. I laughed nervously/
"I... I'm sorry."
"No worries... It's all good. We have a special event taking place tomorrow evening."
"Oh...ok."
"We'd love it if you attended."
She grinned but there was an edge to her voice that made me slightly uncomfortable.
But I guess I was just overreacting.
"Make sure you aren't late... I'd hate for anything bad to happen!"
Her smile faded slightly but only for a moment before she grinned and walked away with her little fangirls. My new friends turned to me with the same confused expression I had on.
"Is it just me or did that sound like a threat?"
Lyra said with wide eyes.
"Yeah.. that definitely sounded threatening..."
Noah nodded.
"Yea..."
Silence falls over us for a moment as we digest the subtle threat.
"So what's this about you making out with an Incubus?"
Noah leans on his right arm and Lyra grins.
"Oh boy..."
I roll my eyes and exhale, preparing to tell them everything that happened between me and Lucien.
***
I trek the path to my Potions and Enchantment class which happens to be located in a dome-shaped building further from the school.
The room was larger than it looked on the inside, shelves were stocked with potion ingredients and other miscellaneous items, including a few severed animal body parts in liquid jars. The desks and chairs were all connected in rows, descending down a small staircase. The room was decorated with all kinds of beautiful flowers, plants, and pictures. The top of the dome was exposed by a glass roof which allowed just enough sunlight to creep through the surface. In the far front of the room, there was a large board and desk with a few more potion shelves and demonstrative posters embedded in the walls.
The moment I walked into the class I spotted Robynn's red hair in the front row, looking attentive and slightly agitated. I grinned and approached her hoping to surprise her just a little bit.
"Hey girly."
I tapped her on her shoulder and she let out a tiny shriek. I can't lie I laughed just a little bit at the terrified expression on her face which settled to a look of surprise and excitement as soon as she saw me.
"You didn't tell me you had this class!"
She gets up to give me a tight-squeeze hug as I take my seat beside her.
"Some of these classes were chosen by my parents."
I shrugged.
"Oh, for real? Why's that?"
"Well they transferred me here because they thought I wouldn't amount to anything in Rutherville since I'm withered and I used to get into some trouble..."
"Scarlett, that's terrible!"
She gasped.
"It's ok, they aren't bad parents... in a way, they were kinda right."
I reassured her and she settled down.
"I understand. I'm not that close with my family in a way..."
"I'm sorry... you don't have to tell me if you don't feel comfortable Robynn."
I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and she smiled with gratitude.
A beautiful, strikingly tall woman with large glasses and a large puffy afro stepped into the class moments later. She was wearing an alchemist suit and her eyes scanned the room with wonder as she approached the front of the room.
"Welcome, welcome! I am so pleased to see every one of your bright, youthful faces!"
She picked up a wand and magically scribbled her name in cursive on the whiteboard.
Miss January Blossom.
"But Miss. Jan or Miss. Blossom is fine."
She curtsied turning back to us.
"Now, I would love to address the elephant in the room..."
Her brows furrowed in a straight line as she grew more serious. She looked around the classroom, and I couldn't help but follow her gaze curiously, wondering what she was talking about.
Suddenly a student gasped as a magnificent and massive holographic elephant seeped through the walls, floating a few feet above the ground. I gasped as the creature let out a triumphant hoot with its trunk, walking towards us. Students exclaimed and a few took pictures and some just stared with shock or fascination as Miss. Jan guided the large creature to her.
"Ironic isn't it?"
She grinned at us, unaffected by the presence of the large animal standing beside her.
"But this is just another illusion. A trick of the eye."
She waved her arm and the elephant exploded, showering us in sparkly glitter. Miss.Jan let out a shrill laughter, clearly pleased with her beautiful display of magic.
"Now, I'm sure you're all wondering how I did that, and why in god's name was there a floating elephant in our classroom."
I listened keenly and we all waited for her to explain.
"spellwork, potions, magic... call it what you will, it's in our nature. Every fae has the ability to brew potions but not every being is capable of creating high-class magical elements through the art of brewing potions."
She starts to write something on the board and I notice students getting out their notebooks or Epads and computers.
I take out my notebook to take notes as she writes down the 5 laws of brewing potions.
"Would you believe that an elephant was made in this very class with only a few ingredients?"
She turned to face the class as she used her wand to continue writing down the laws.
The 5 laws of Brewing potions:
1. Time
2. Adjust
3. Verify
4. Extract
5. Recite
6. Nitting.
"TAVERN"
"Time; it is important to time your potions as most potions can be time-based, and need special attention for example; Teleportation potions require moon dust, lava water, fae essence, and unicorn hair. Making Preparations beforehand is also important when brewing potions, knowing when to add the ingredients and precisely how much is needed."
"Adjust, making sure the potion well, cauldron, or bowl is adjusted to fit the correct measurements. Each potion needs a unique brewing well. Make sure the quantity is accurate to the instrument you will use in brewing, stirring, measuring, and timing. But otherwise, for most potions, a cauldron is the easiest instrument to use when brewing potions. We will get into the equipment needed later on."
"Verify, it's important to make sure you are making the correct potion, after gathering your equipment make sure you are certain of the spell you will administer."
"Extraction, extracting the correct ingredients is of the utmost importance in brewing potions, as it is with any type of spell."
"Recite, reciting the correct spell, when you have combined all the ingredients and finished the first 3 steps. If you read the magic words wrong it could create havoc and you may find yourself in a dangerous predicament. Please always recite the spell correctly, I would hate for any of you to magically combust because you couldn't recite an invisibility spell."
Laughter fills the room at her comment and I find myself growing more and more intrigued as I scribble down notes. I hadn't realized how many steps it took to brew a potion and the importance of timing it or reciting the correct spell.
"Nitting is the final step, making sure that you have gathered your materials and ingredients and have recited the correct spell. Once finalized you may now knit the potion, making sure it is bottled or entrapped and protected from harm... or to protect yourself from destruction as some potions are powerful and very dangerous."
"Now, that brings us to your first assignment of the year... I will teach you how to summon a fizzlewart!"
A student raises their hands and she points at them.
"Yes, go ahead deary."
The dark-haired student clears their throat before speaking,
"What is a fizzlewart?"
Miss. Jan beams,
"I'm so glad you asked! Well, a fizzlewart is a magical creature that can only be summoned through potion brewing."
She waves her wand and produces a hologram of a small fluffy creature with feathery wings that closely resembles a guinea pig. It has big colorful eyes that seem very perceptive and are very adorable. A long fluffy white tail wisps behind its back as it hovers above the ground flapping its feathery wings.
"Awww it's adorable!"
Robynn coos, her attention suddenly piqued by the cuddly peculiar creature.
"It is isn't it?"
Miss. Jan simpered in agreement, and Robynn immediately shied away, shrinking back in her seat as the class glanced at her.
We watch with fascination as the hologram of the small creature flies around the room, occasionally sniffing the air and licking its claws.
"Fizzlewarts are great for many things... they can help you find magical items or anything of your choosing if you train them correctly, they're also very empathetic, and can be great companions once you form a bond with them."
The class cooed with admiration at the mention of the cuddly-looking creature.
"However,"
Miss. Jan contends,
"They can be quite belligerent if angered or displeased. If overstimulated, they can become aggressive."
As she explains she waves her wand and the tiny creature bares its pointy buck teeth and growls.
"And when provoked... they can multiply..."
As she says this, the once tiny and cuddly creature duplicates itself seeming to grow in size as its teeth elongate into fangs and its eyes flare with violent rage.
"And then... before you know it..."
The creature suddenly bursts into an array of colorful fireworks, that spark violently causing a couple of students to shriek or jump out of their seats.
"They can return once they explode, but once they return they are even more aggressive and larger..."
The fizzlewart increases in size, becoming more and more frightening as it snarls at the class. It's about the same height as a bulldog now and despite its once cute and cuddly demeanor it slowly begins to resemble a large rat.
"Aaahhh!! Kill it!!"
A girl screams as the creature flies directly towards her.
A few students laugh at her reaction, but despite it being a hologram I can't help but flinch myself, the second fizzlewart whizzes towards me and Robynn.
Robynn squeals shielding herself from the frightening creature, but as soon as flies directly at us, it suddenly evaporates into thin air, the hologram dissolving with the remnants of the creature as Miss. Jan laughs heartily.
A few students chatter amongst themselves, while others scowl in annoyance or cower in fear.
"Alright, alright... calm down. It's not real. Yet."
She waves her hands in reassurance, and it seems to reduce some of the tension and fear in the room.
"The only way to get rid off a fizzlewart is by trapping it in a bubble. Once trapped it will disintegrate itself and evaporate. But finding a way to make a bubble big enough can be tricky at times..."
A student raises their hand and Miss. Jan nods in their direction.
"S-so... are...are we actually going t-to... summon them?"
She stammers, looking as if she might pass out.
"With my help and administration yes, It will be a class project to look after and monitor the fizzlewart individually. However, for class today, we will be learning the basics. We'll start simple; we will be making a healing potion. Although most of you already have healing abilities due to your fae forms... sometimes you may need some regeneration to kickstart your abilities, just in case."
"Now the potion is simple and very strong."
She gathers the ingredients passing around small cauldrons to each of us and the ingredients and tools on a platter.
"I've given you all a sage leaf, ginger, honey, rosemary, water, and fairy dust."
"You need 3 sage leaves, 3 rhizomes of ginger, 4 tablespoons of honey, a pinch of rosemary and a cup of water, and a sprinkle of fairy dust."
Miss. Jan instructs us, she begins to demonstrate how to brew the potion.
"Now... this is only to orchestrate the healing properties of the potion."
She takes out a small blade and we all gasp as she slices her wrist.
Her blood drips down onto the table and I notice a few vampires leaning forward in their seats at the scent of her blood.
She then proceeds to take a spoonful of the potion, and almost immediately the healing potion takes effect, mending her wound and returning her flesh back to how it was before.
I stare in fascination as she gestures for us to begin.
***
I didn't know why I assumed that most of the students would succeed in brewing the potion... because as soon as we started, a couple of students failed to make the healing potion, and some of their potions resulted in explosives from too much fairy dust... some ended up attempting to injure themselves hoping to mimic Miss. Jan's demonstration only results in blood loss and aggravates the already ravenous vampires. One girl had taunted a dark-skinned vampire trying to aggravate him and mocking him with her wound and of course... as expected, he'd immediately attacked her. His fangs sank into her neck as she let out a horrified scream.
The classroom was in disarray, with cauldrons bubbling and spilling onto desks and students running away from the vampires that had finally snapped and set themselves free.
"ENOUGH!"
Miss. Jan's voice carries over the room, she uses her wand to stop a vampire from drinking from a girl with sparkling pink hair.
The class falls silent, seeming to be frozen in place as Miss. Jan pinches the bridge of her nose.
"Jeremiah don't you dare pour that entire vial of fairy dust!"
She objected, her eyes narrowing at the rosy-cheeked gargoyl with purple hair.
He rolled his eyes and grumbled, placing the bottle down. Miss Jan shook her head as her lips pulled into a thin line, her patience running low.
"I will have none of this in my class! If you want to make fools of yourselves kindly do that outside! This is a very dangerous class with all kinds of alchemy equipment and ingredients and I won't have you acting like enfants! Now, take your seats and follow instructions!"
Robynn and I shared a look of relief as the class finally calmed down.
"Now, I want to acknowledge the few of you who actually succeeded in making the healing potion. You two in the front, what are your names?"
She suddenly points at Robynn and me and we both blush glancing at each other and then back at her.
"I'm Scarlett, she's Robynn."
I say and she grins.
"Ah, yes... Scarlett! I am so pleased to have you in my class... I would expect nothing less of a fae with 4 elemental powers!"
The class directs their attention to me, making my stomach coil in knots.
A few students whisper amongst themselves and thanks to my massive ears I hear one of them say,
"She probably cheated... there's no way she has all 4 elements."
"Did you hear...I heard she's a withered too..."
"That's crazy! How the hell did she even get into AU when she can't even transform."
I bite the inside of my cheek and force a smile as I look up at Miss. Jan.
"Y-yes, thank you miss!"
She offers me a warm smile as she approaches our desk.
"You both did an amazing job. Well done."
She congratulates Robynn and I.
"Th-thankyou!"
Robynn gives her a nervous smile and Miss. Jan turns back around, to the front of the class,
"As for the rest of you... anyone who failed to complete the potion will have to do it later as homework."
The students groaned in defeat and began packing up and gathering the materials they needed for the homework as she announced the end of class. I still couldn't comprehend how the hell the students had managed to mess up a healing potion. It had to be the easiest one in the book.
"That was wild."
Robynn looked at me with wide eyes and I nodded in agreement.
"Yea... Is this how it's gonna be in every class?"
"Probably.."
She shrugged.
"But at least we got an A!"
I laughed amused by her enthusiastic attitude.
"Yea you're right..."
Robynn and I gathered our things and headed off to our next classes saying our goodbyes to each other.
***
Later that evening, I was going over the notes I'd taken in Professor Grey's class and my other classes.
I had my headphones on when I'd suddenly gotten the strangest feeling that I was being watched...
I had brushed it away, hoping it would pass eventually... But it only grew stronger the more I studied... and it only made me more and more uncomfortable.
I finally turned around after letting out a shaky breath and as I had presumed there was nothing there. I let out another deep sigh feeling like I was hallucinating as I went to sit back down.
Suddenly, I saw the lights flicker, and I looked up, wondering why the hell it was starting to dim.
I stood up from my desk and looked up at the light on the ceiling as it faded in and out... darkness gradually enveloping the room.
I heard the creak of the door and whipped my head in the direction as the door stood ajar.
I could have sworn I locked it.
My heart pounded in my chest the second I heard a quiet, sinister chuckle. I shrieked as the lights suddenly went out and rushed over to the switch on the wall, flicking it repeatedly hoping that it was just faulty.
I shut the front door, realizing I was covered in darkness... and there was this dreaded silence that loomed over the room that made me wish I hadn't closed myself in... Someone was in here with me.
I shot a quick text to Lyra asking her if her lights were messing up too. Her response came a few seconds later.
Lyra: No. Everything ok?
I had started to reply to her text, my fingers moving frantically when something suddenly whispered around my waist. I whipped my head around, my chest tightening with rising panic as I spoke.
"Whoever the hell you are... I will call the campus director!"
I tried to muster enough courage and make myself sound more threatening but it only came out as a feeble mumble.
I quickly texted Lyra, informing her of my current situation... but a hand... shot out from the shadows and swiped my phone from my fingers.
I paled... and opened my mouth to scream, but it was quickly muffled by rough hands as I kicked against the intruder. My body writhed in their firm grasp and I kicked and fought against them to no avail.
It was only moments later that I realized they had placed a sheet of fabric over my nose, and I couldn't stop myself as I breathed it in, my eyelids growing heavy with each passing second...
Surrounded in darkness I heard a familiar voice ring in my ears... a woman. But it was different... malicious and dark, like something sinister had twisted itself in her chest and she had finally set it free.
"Poor Scarlett... you really shouldn't have transferred here..."