Chapter 17
I head toward the dormitory and pass a group of boys and girls in the courtyard. They’re placing orange and black streamers and large dark shaped cutouts over the boards and on the dormitory walls and windows.
One group of boys take large white and orange pumpkins, carved with exaggerated expressions, and begin placing them around the area.
A group of girls giggle while floating large black crystal beads. They hover over another group of boys who place a large black banner on the academy’s grey brick wall.
The boys laugh while placing a lopsided black and purple banner to the academy’s wall. It spells out ‘Halloween Dance: Night of the Damned’ in shimmering black letters.
“I can’t wait.” One of the girls with brown hair giggles.
“It's finally this Friday!” A jade haired girl beside her adds enthusiastically.
“I hope Daniel asks me tonight.” Adds the third, a small strawberry blonde-haired girl, as she twirls a lock of hair in between two fingers. Her eyes flicker to one of the boys placing the large banner up, a slight blush tinting her cheeks when their eyes meet.
“You’ve already got Mike, Robbie and Cole.” Laughs the brunette.
“But Daniel is more my type…That, and I like even numbers.” Adds the strawberry blonde before they all break out laughing.
I roll my eyes. These girls knew nothing about real connections. Just because there was a higher ratio of men to women in the supernatural world, didn’t mean that you should treat them as a number or commodity. I would take that one true connection over a hoard of men.
I rub my chest as an ache begins to build with the thought.
Shaking my head, I try to pull away from those painful memories. Now was not the time.
I turn away from the bustling groups and make my way toward the dormitory entrance, but smack straight into a passing boy carrying a large pumpkin lantern. It hits the ground, smashing open.
A strange shimmering gold glow seeps from the cracks with the mess now pouring from the broken squash.
The small golden lights float up toward me and slowly begin to fade just as a memory flashes in my mind.
Music thrums around the room, a buzz of magic in the air as students wearing costumes of all shapes, sizes and colours dance and grind with one another across the large ballroom.
Golden lights from magical flares float around the room, adding to the opulent party atmosphere.
Black shimmering skeleton decorations hang from the walls around the room, their eyes glowing white and their limbs shaking as people pass them.
Large ornate crystal pumpkins sit on each table and at every door and window in the huge room.
Every table is covered in black silk with white glittering spiderwebbed fabric on top.
Each with tiny obsidian spiders hanging from each hem.
There's a sparkling starlight sky cast above the room, with each star twinkling brighter than the ones outside.
I glance around the large ballroom, dazed slightly by all the beautiful decorations and everyone dancing and talking.
Adam’s arm wraps around my waist, pulling me against him as we move toward the dance floor.
Adam was one of Seria’s classmates and an underclassman.
A few days before the dance, he asked if I would be his partner, saying he knew Seria, and that she told him that I hadn’t found a date yet.
He was different from the other boys in my year as well. Who preferred to either ignore me, or take any chance they could to insult and humiliate me. Adam didn’t seem like that. He seemed nice.
“Let's find a space just for us.” He pulls me to the back of the dancefloor as the music thrums through the room. Bodies sway together as we make our way to a small spot with dimmer lighting.
Adam pulls me flush against him, his hands sliding down my back as he sways to the music.
A hard knot forms in my throat, a sickly feeling as his hands glide lower, inching quickly toward my backside.
“Adam?” I call, trying to get his attention over the loud music playing around us.
He pulls back a fraction, his eyes meeting mine, his brows drawn together before he schools it and smiles. “Yes, Micai? Is there something wrong?” His hands fall on my hips, brushing up and down my sides as I try to swallow and think up anything to stop this uncomfortable feeling.
“Food,” I blurt out. “Why don't we get something to eat? The food looked great.” His hands freeze on my sides, the trace of a frown shadowing his lips before it turns into a slow grin.
“How about a drink instead?” His gaze slides down my front, “I would hate for you to get anything on that dress.” He pulls his lip into his mouth, a strange look forming in his eyes as they trail back up to meet my eyes.
A strange feeling forms in my chest, almost like a knot as my throat begins to dry. I shake my head. I was probably just nervous. It was my first proper dance, and the first time a boy asked me, too.
I give him a small nod and he grins.
“I’ll be just a minute, stay right here.” And then he's gone, pushing through the swaying bodies and back toward where we came from.
I brush a hand down my dress, giving the hem a slight tug and try to cover as much of my thighs with the scant black fabric as I could.
Adam had suggested matching vampire costumes, and he seemed so excited, so I had agreed. But I didn’t think mine would be so…little.
The thin black fabric fits tightly around my waist and hips, and even tighter around my chest. A thin strip of lace covers my cleavage and neck before flowing out into sleeves and covering my arms. It doesn’t leave much to the imagination, and if I’m completely honest, it's not something I would have picked.
Adam’s costume looks much sleeker; an all-black tailcoat tuxedo with his hair slicked back. He looked like a man from a gothic 1920’s movie. Pity I felt like the cheap harlot in the background.
I shake my head again. He had tried his best. We both had matching fangs, bat jewellery, and small droplets of blood trailing our neck. And most boys didn’t understand girls' fashion anyway.
I give my dress another tug, as I try to search for Adam. Maybe it was busy at the drinks table?
Should I go look for him? But he had told me to stay here.
I’m glancing around for any sign of him, when suddenly something slams into me, making me stumble sideways and fall to the dance floor.
Giggling and chuckling ring out around me as I turn to meet multiple sets of glaring eyes.
The group of boys and girls wear mocking grins and faces that sneer down at me.
I pick myself up, but another shoulder smacks into me from a passing couple, knocking me forward as they laugh.
I stumble again but manage to steady myself before falling.
I twist around quickly, pushing through the group, and dancing couples to break free of the dance floor. It would be better to go find Adam.
I spot him over by the food table, he's talking to a group of boys who all turn to me as I head over. A chuckle leaves their lips as they rake their eyes over my body before patting Adam’s back and telling him to ‘have fun’ before they quickly leave.
Adam nods before handing me a dark purple glass with a bright green liquid in it.
“It tastes better than it looks, Micai.” He holds up his purple glass, the same liquid in his as he takes a sip. “Trust me, you’ll like it.”
I lift the glass to my lips, hesitating for a moment with the expression on his face. His eyes seemed strangely fixated on the glass.
“Micai? Something wrong? You don’t like what I got you?” He nods to the drink. “You should at least take a proper drink before you judge it, don't you think?” He raises a brow, a slight frustration bleeding through his eyes, and I nod, not wanting to ruin the night. Why was I even hesitating?
I take a sip, and Adam grins, “Wasn’t so bad was it Micai?”
The taste hits the back of my throat, a hit of blackberries and something bitter leaves a strange grainy aftertaste on my tongue.
He clinks our glass in cheers, and as I’m taking another sip, he tips my glass back further. Most of the cold liquid hits the back of my throat instantly and I struggle trying to swallow it all at once.
Adam chuckles, “Let's have a lot of fun tonight…just you and me.”
He takes the glass from me, and places it down on the table beside us. He places a hand around my shoulder, his grey eyes meeting mine as a softer grin spreads on his lips.
“How about we go and get some fresh air and talk, just us? I want to know more about you, Micai.”
I give him another nod, a small smile growing on my lips. I knew Adam was a good guy. And maybe we could be more than just friends if we got to know each other?
We take two steps before Adam's name is called, a pair of boys making their way over toward him. He sighs before asking them ‘if it could wait’ glancing toward me. Both boys smirk but reply ‘it’ll only take a minute’. He turns to me, a frown pulling at his lips.
“I’ll just be two minutes with the boys, Micai.” He takes a step forward before turning back toward me. His brows draw together, a colder gaze in his eyes as a stern tone laces his voice, “Don’t go anywhere.”
I stand off to the side near the food table, catching glimpses of Adam with a bigger group of boys in the corner chuckling. He glances over, giving me a small grin and wave. He shouldn’t be too long now.
I sway slightly on my feet, a little lightheaded and feeling more out of place as people come and go from the table, glaring and scowling when they see me. It was always like this.
I watch the groups move on the dance floor and turn toward a familiar laugh, the voice almost like the sound of tinkling bells.