Chapter 12 - Marco
I woke up earlier than usual, showered quickly, ran a comb through my curls until they looked somewhat presentable, and slipped into my clothes. A part of me was genuinely excited. I missed going to the Academy.
I grabbed my backpack, double-checked that my notebooks were inside, and headed downstairs. The smell of fresh toast greeted me. Mom was already at the kitchen table, sipping from her mug, while Dad flipped through the newspaper with a relaxed smile.
“Morning,” I said softly, sliding into my seat and reaching for a slice of toast.
Mom’s eyes lit up. “Morning, sweetheart.”
Dad lowered the paper, his expression teasing as he looked between Mom and me. “So, your mom has been telling me you have a boyfriend now? Some nice young man who came over for dinner the other night?”
I nearly choked on my bite of toast, heat rushing straight to my cheeks. “Dad…” I mumbled, glancing down at my plate.
Mom laughed softly, reaching over to pat my hand. “He was very polite, honey. Charming, even. He made a good impression.”
Dad chuckled, folding the newspaper neatly. “Hey, I’m not complaining. As long as he treats you right and doesn’t keep you out too late. We remember what it was like at your age.” He winked at Mom, who blushed a little herself, and they shared one of those fond looks that always made me feel lucky.
“It’s not… like that,” I protested gently.
Mom squeezed my hand again. “We’re proud of you, Marco.”
Dad nodded in agreement, ruffling my hair lightly as I finished my breakfast. “Listen to your mother. And if this ‘boyfriend’ gives you any trouble, you let me know. I may be getting older, but I can still give a good talk.”
I smiled. “Thanks, both of you. I’ll be fine. Really.” The conversation stayed light as we chatted about Mom’s garden plans. We hadn’t let her work in it lately. She loved gardening, but now that she had weekly treatments, she had to take it easier.
Eventually, I stood, slinging my backpack over one shoulder. “I should get going.”
Mom stood too, pulling me into a tight hug. “Have a good day, sweetheart. We love you.”
“Love you too,” I murmured, hugging her back before waving to Dad.
I stepped toward the front door and stepped out into the morning sunlight, pulling it shut behind me.
My eyes scanned the street automatically, and then widened in shock.
There, parked right at the curb in front of our house, was Alexei’s sleek black car.
He leaned against it casually, arms crossed, those intense eyes already locked on me.
My breath caught. I quickly pulled the door closed the rest of the way, hoping my parents hadn’t glanced out the window, and rushed down the short path toward him, backpack bouncing against my shoulder.
“What are you doing here?” I asked as I stopped a few feet away, cheeks already warming again.
“You told me if I accepted your offer, you wouldn’t come to my house anymore!” I whispered urgently, glancing back at the front door to make sure it stayed closed.
Alexei leaned against his car, one eyebrow arching as his eyes traced over me. “Did I? I don’t remember saying that, little star. And even if I did, I’m not in your house. I’m in front of it. Technicalities matter, don’t they?”
I let out a frustrated breath, hugging my backpack strap tighter. “Why are you here? This isn’t what we agreed on.”
He pushed off the car, closing the distance between us. “I came to drive you to school. Simple as that.”
“That’s… that isn’t necessary. Really. I appreciate the thought, but I’ve managed just fine on my own. The bus stop is right around the corner, and—”
“I’m not asking for your opinion,” he cut in, stepping even closer so I had to tilt my head up to meet his gaze.
I swallowed hard, my gentle nature warring with the stubborn spark of independence I was desperately trying to hold onto. “I can take the bus, Alexei. You don’t have to drive all the way here just for me. It’s out of your way, and my parents could come out any second.”
“Should I pay you, then? Hmm?” His eyes gleamed with seriousness. “Name your price. I’ll make it worth your while so you’ll let me drive you without all this adorable resistance.”
“Pay me?” I echoed, eyes widening as the blush deepened to a burning crimson. I took a small step back, but he matched it effortlessly. “Pay me for what? No — you can’t just throw money at me every time you want me to do something. That isn’t how this works. I’m not… I’m not something you buy.”
“Then what do you want?” he pressed, crowding me gently against the side of the car now. “Should I give you a kiss?”
“I don’t want anything!” I insisted softly, though my voice trembled just a little.
“Get in the car, Marco. Or I’ll make you.”
I opened my mouth to argue. “I really don’t think it’s a good idea right now. My parents are just inside, and if they see—”
His hand slid to the back of my neck, tugging me forward into his space. His body pressed close, chest brushing mine, his breath ghosting over my flushed cheek as he guided me. He maneuvered me into the passenger seat, buckling the seatbelt across me.
The door shut, sealing me inside the luxurious interior as he rounded the car to the driver’s side.
“You… you can’t just do that.”
“I just did.”
The car pulled away from the curb, my house shrinking in the rearview mirror.
The car ride to Bloodburn passed in a blur.
I kept my hands folded tightly in my lap, staring out the window at the passing streets.
When the familiar gates of the academy came into view, my cheeks heated again.
We were here so early. The grounds were mostly empty except for a few scattered staff cars.
It would have taken me ages on the bus, transfers and all.
I glanced around nervously through the tinted glass, biting the inside of my cheek. God, if someone saw me with him like this it would spread through the halls like wildfire.
A large hand suddenly gripped my chin, yanking my head away from the window. My eyes widened as he forced me to look at him, his fingers pressing into my cheeks just enough to squish them together. I probably looked ridiculous, like a startled dumpling.
“Who are you looking for?” Alexei asked.
“N-no one,” I managed, my voice coming out muffled and soft around the way his fingers held my face. I blinked up at him, lashes fluttering. “I was just… checking. It’s early. I didn’t want anyone to… to misunderstand.”
His thumb brushed over my squished cheek, thoughtful. “Since we’re here early, why don’t you start your job today.”
I blinked again as he released my chin, the sudden absence of pressure leaving my skin tingling.
Before I could respond, he was out of the car, circling around to open my door.
I stepped out on shaky legs. My fingers went instinctively to one of the green ribbons tied into my dark curls.
Green today. I never wore green before. It was always black or blue.
My eyes scanned the surrounding area again.
Alexei’s hand was on my face again in an instant, his larger palm cupping my jaw and cheek, tilting my head up firmly so I had no choice but to meet his gaze. “When I am in front of you,” he murmured, “you keep your eyes on me. Only me. The rest of the world doesn’t exist until I say it does.”
My breath caught. “I—”
He didn’t let me finish. He leaned down and kissed me right there in the open air of the academy grounds.
It wasn’t gentle. It was hungry. I made a startled sound, hands coming up to push weakly at his chest, but he kept my face perfectly still with that iron grip, angling my head exactly how he wanted.
His tongue plunged past my lips, stroking against mine in filthy strokes that made my knees feel weak.
My fingers curled into his shirt instead of pushing as he devoured me.
When he finally pulled back, I was breathless. I couldn’t help it. My eyes flicked sideways once more, wanting to make sure no one saw.
Alexei’s expression darkened. His hand tightened on my jaw and he kissed me again, harder this time, backing me up until my back met the metal of the car. This kiss was punishing.
I squirmed, a muffled protest vibrating against his lips, but he held me there.
“We can be here all day if you keep looking away,” he said after he pulled back. I stopped scanning the grounds, forcing my gaze back to his face.
My cheeks burned hotter than ever, and I could still taste him on my tongue. “C-ca… can we go?” I whispered.
He released my face but slid his hand down to the back of my neck instead, steering me away from the car and toward the side entrance of the main building.
When we were inside, he pushed open the door to an empty classroom on the ground floor, one of the smaller ones used for study groups, and pulled me inside after him.
I quickly moved toward the desk in the far corner, putting as much distance between us as possible. I pulled out a chair and sat down, keeping the entire width of the desk between us. I clutched my backpack in my lap, fingers digging into the straps.
Alexei took the seat across from me, stretching his long legs out under the desk. Even with the furniture separating us, he still felt too close.
I cleared my throat, trying to sound somewhat professional even though my voice came out shaky. “So… with what would you like to start?”
Alexei leaned back in his chair, one arm draped casually over the backrest. His green eyes never left my face. “Aren’t you the one teaching me?” he asked. “What do you think I should be taught first, Malyshka?”
I nibbled on my lower lip, suddenly feeling completely out of my depth. I wasn’t a teacher. I had never taught anyone anything in my life.
“I guess… the basics?” I offered weakly. “Like greetings and simple phrases. That’s usually where people start.”
I shifted in my seat, trying to ignore how warm my face felt.
“Um… okay. Hello in Italian is ‘Ciao’ or more formally ‘Buongiorno’ if it’s morning,” I started, keeping my eyes on the desk instead of him. “How are you is ‘Come stai?’ for informal, or ‘Come sta?’ if you’re speaking to someone older or more important.”
I waited for him to repeat it or ask a question, but he stayed silent. When I finally glanced up, he was still just… staring. Those piercing eyes were locked on my face like he was memorizing every detail. My heart skipped.
“Are you even listening to me?” I asked softly, a little frustrated but mostly nervous.
“Sure I am,” he replied. “How do you say ‘you are beautiful’?”
The question caught me completely off guard. I opened my mouth, then closed it again. On instinct, the translation slipped out before I could stop myself. “Sei bellissimo.”
The moment the words left my lips, I realized what I had said. I widened my eyes.
“You think so?” He leaned forward a little. “Grazie. You’re beautiful too.”
My brain short-circuited. “Th-that… I was just translating!” I stuttered, my face burning even hotter. I hugged my backpack tighter to my chest like it could hide me. “I didn’t mean…. I wasn’t saying…It’s just what the words mean!”
Alexei tilted his head, studying me with mock innocence. “So you think I’m ugly?”
“That isn’t what I said!” I protested, my voice pitching higher in embarrassment. I shook my head quickly, curls bouncing. “I wasn’t calling you anything. I was just… explaining the phrase. That’s all.”
“So you do think I’m beautiful.”
“I….That isn’t…. You’re twisting my words again!” I exclaimed softly, throwing my hands up in defeat. “You’re not learning anything.”
“I’m learning plenty. For example, I now know how to tell my little star he is beautiful. That seems very useful.”
I dropped my forehead onto the desk for a second, hiding my burning face.
“Teach me more. How do I say ‘I can’t stop thinking about you’?”
“That isn’t basic Italian.”
“Still useful.”
I sighed, knowing I wasn’t going to win this battle. “Non riesco a smettere di pensare a te.”
Alexei repeated it perfectly, his accent surprisingly good for someone who had just started. “Non riesco a smettere di pensare a te.” His eyes darkened. “Good. Now say it back to me.”
“I’m not saying that,” I muttered, looking anywhere but at him.
“Why not?” He leaned forward again, resting his chin on his hand. “Are you afraid it might be true?”
My heart stuttered. “No. It isn’t true. I don’t think about you at all.”
“Your face gives you away every time, Malyshka. Now… how do I say ‘I want to kiss you right now’?”
I squeaked and sat up straighter, gripping the edge of the desk. “Alexei!”
I covered my face with my hands again. “This was a terrible idea. I should never have agreed to this.”
“But you did,” he reminded me, “and I’m a very dedicated student. So teach me, Marco. How do I tell you I want to kiss you?”
My voice came out tiny. “Voglio baciarti… adesso.”
Alexei’s eyes flashed with something dark and pleased. He repeated the words slowly, making them sound far too intimate. “Voglio baciarti adesso.”
I didn’t know whether to run, hide under the desk, or melt into the floor. All I knew was that my face was on fire, my heart was racing, and that this “lesson” was going to be the death of me.