Chapter 21
I make my way to Music class, wondering if Morgan would be there or not after the attack on Friday.
Thankfully she hadn’t been badly hurt like in my previous life, but the attack had still happened, and something she drank or ate had made her unable to fight back.
Someone in this life and my last, had planned this. They wanted to hurt Morgan or even worse, kill her. But why?
And who?
Who was capable of bringing a beast into academy grounds? Who had that kind of ability or connections?
I head into the room with more questions building in my mind. My gaze then falls toward the seats she and her two partners always occupy.
They were empty.
Maybe she needed more time to rest? Or more time to get whatever was in her system out.
I don’t even know much about her, but we both lost our lives unjustly once. Maybe that's why I find my thoughts wandering to her, feeling some slight connection. Either way, I hope we both get to live the lives we should have always had.
I’m making my way across the room and toward my seat when a hand slides out and grabs me from the side. The petite manicured hand stops me in my tracks as I turn and stare at the bright blue eyes it belongs to. Seria.
“Why weren’t you at the dance on Friday, Micai?”
The room around us falls quiet, all eyes drawn to Seria as she continues.
“Did Adam and you have a fight or something?” She pauses, her eyes scanning mine for some kind of answer or reaction. A look carrying more than the fake sympathy she's showing outside. She was pushing for answers, but for what? And why?
What game or ploy was she playing now? Especially if, she herself, was stepping up to the stage to perform.
But I can also ask questions and play along too.
I take a small breath, my brows furrowing as she watches me.
“How did you know Adam had asked me?” He had mentioned her before, and I realised quickly that she was the connecting factor for why he chose me that night. Everyone else had given me a wide berth, so why not Adam?
And why did he also choose me that night?
Because of Seria.
She had sent the bastard to me, knowing he would attempt something vile. It was how she worked. In the shadows, pulling strings and whispering sweet words.
And with her social network there was no way she didn’t know about his tendencies . I’m sure he had a past long before he came to the academy, and finding that out, for her, would be as easy as breathing.
She smiles, her whole face lighting up.
“I’m sure you told me at some point, Micai.” Her blue eyes curve upwards, her smile turning soft and playful as she gazes at me.
My look turns questioning, my brows pinching together as I gaze back at her.
“But I didn’t tell anyone?”
A gentle sigh leaves her lips. “I’m sure you’ve just forgotten–”
“Why would I forget when I never planned on going with him?” I take a step away from her, her blue eyes darkening a fraction as her soft smile stiffens.
She gives her head a slight shake, “No, you must–”
“Ah! Or did you hear that from Adam?” I cut her off, a small grin pulling at my lips realising she didn’t want any connection to the sleazeball.
That's why she mentioned me telling her instead of him.
She was trying to keep a distance from the sleazy dickhead, knowing what would come out in the future.
Useless strings had to be clipped and there couldn’t be any connection when things went awry.
“I guess that makes sense, he did mention you.” I nod, continuing, “But he didn’t exactly wait for an answer when he asked me to go.
I guess he just assumed I would.” I give a small shrug, before my eyes meet hers again.
“But I didn’t know you two were friends.
I would have been more clear about not going if I had known. ”
The smile she was wearing has grown smaller and straighter, as if it's struggling to keep its place. Something I wouldn’t have noticed or simply brushed away before.
Her eyes grow dark and narrow just a fraction before they widen. A contemplative look taking over her expression before she shakes her head.
“We are classmates, but…” Her brows furrow, a slight frown stretching her lips, “We don’t really talk much. I’m more surprised he even mentioned me.” Her gaze turns back to me, her smile widening gently again.“And maybe you're right. Maybe I overheard him talking during class about it instead?”
A chuckle rings out in my head with her words. There's always a way to twist and manipulate one's words with Seria. It almost seemed like a game. Some fun and natural ability to mould and shape others words and thoughts to suit her own agenda.
A small smile appears on her lips, her expression soft and tender. A look of complete warmth and affection as she gazes at me. One I wouldn’t have doubted before as genuine, but now can see the slightly dark glint burning deeper within them.
“But why didn’t you go to the dance Micai?” Her expression turns slightly worried as she reaches for my hand and takes it in her own. A cold shiver works its way through my body with her touch, and I have to talk myself out of ripping my hand back from her clutches.
“If you didn’t like Adam, you could have just come with us.”
My mind is pulled from the cold feeling creeping up my skin and back with her last words. ‘You could have just come with us’.
My eyes flicker toward her, and narrow toward the four figures I now notice standing behind her. Was she serious? Is this how she was going to play it?
I glance back toward her, her eyes searching again for my reaction. Did she think I would be upset or angry? Feel uncomfortable or show misery like I used to?
But she could think what she liked, they all could. Whatever I said would be twisted to her liking anyway. She would blacken my character so easily with just a few simple words and all the while pretending to worry about me.
I try to hold back the heavy sigh that wants to fall from my lips, and instead take a deep breath and pull my hand from between hers. Her gaze darkens before she quickly schools it.
“She’s only saying all this because she cares.” Xander steps up beside her, wrapping his arm around her, his voice matching the hardness of his gaze toward me.
Seria looks at him, a sweet smile stretching her lips before she gazes back toward Knox and Anders. Kane suddenly moves forward, placing himself in front of her like the knight in shining dickhead he is. His eyes glaring toward me like I’m some sort of threat to his partner.
I roll my eyes, and the reaction is caught by Xander, who thinks it's an affront to Seria.
“What's your problem, Micai?” Xander grits out, “Can’t you at least be civil when Seria shows you so much care? Or are you just that sad and bitter?”
“Xander.” Calls Knox, a warning tone in his voice. “I’m sure Micai didn’t mean it that way.” He glances toward me, a strange look in his eyes before Kane scoffs.
“Sure she didn’t. Not like it's been proven time and again how she treats Seria. She’s just manipulative and spiteful.” The angry bite in his tone and cold gaze he gives me has my brows raising and a scoff leaving my lips.
“Kane–” Calls Anders before I cut him off.
“Manipulative?” I chuckle, the sound dark and humourless. They could call me many things and I wouldn’t pay it any heed, but manipulative? They have a master of the craft beside them and they call me that?
“When have I ever manipulated you, Kane?”
His dark brows pinch together as Seria calls his name from behind him, but he ignores it, his hard gaze set on me.
“Give me an example, one incident?” I push, gazing into his darkening eyes.
His brows furrow deeper, his eyes flickering to remember, and pulling down further.
“When have I ever had any influence over your actions? When we were kids? ‘Cause I don’t remember you ever being the type to do something you didn’t want to.
” His eyes flicker back to me, a strange look forming in them the longer I stare.
“Or are you talking about when you and your other friends like to mess with me?”He flinches slightly, his hard look falling.
“Tripping me up, calling me names, destroying my stuff, knocking me into lockers...do you feel manipulated by me then, Kane?”Kane’s eyes widen, his mouth opening, but before he can speak Xander chuckles, a cold humourless laugh peeling from his lips.
“And you’ve just proven it. Manipulation at its finest.” He waves a hand toward me.“A perfect act. I’d almost believe it myself…” His chuckle cuts off, his lip curling up as he sneers at me, “If I didn’t know you better.”
And just like that, Kane’s face hardens again. Any doubt wiped away with Xanders cold words.
“Xander, Micai’s not–” Knox starts before he’s cut off.
“Not what Knox? You don’t know the real Micai–”
“And you do?” I couldn’t stand to listen to another one of Xanders insults. Acting like he knew me, when he knows nothing at all.
“I know enough.”
“You know nothing–”
He takes a step closer, his eyes dark and tone threatening, “You're the worst kind of–”
A large hand slides between us, before a body stands in front of me, blocking me from Xanders harsh gaze.
“Why don’t you all calm down? There's no need for all of this. Whatever happened, just put it behind you.” Ezra’s turquoise eyes flicker back to me and then toward Xander, a small grin on his lips that don't quite meet his eyes as he looks at him.
“What's it got to do with you?” Scowls Xander.
Ezra smiles playfully, but he clenches his fist beside me tightly, before quickly releasing it again.
“Well, I’m also a part of this class,” he shrugs, “And you're disrupting the atmosphere. It's so sombre and dark now.” He glances around the class, the room silent, and mood bleak.“That and…” He flickers his gaze to me, our eyes briefly meeting in a soft glance, before he turns away again. “Five against one isn’t exactly fair. Especially when four of them are guys…and against one girl.”
Kane scoffs. “As if we were going to do anything–”
“If that's how you normally act, then maybe I should give you a few lessons on how you should properly treat a girl,” Chides Ezra playfully, “Cause getting into her face, or threatening her, isn’t it.” He smiles, meeting each of their gazes one by one.
“We weren’t–” Anders starts before Seria gently pushes her way beside Xander. Her eyes quickly flicker down Ezra’s front before focusing fully on his face. A slight blush coats her cheeks the longer she stares, a glint forming in her eyes as her smile gently widens.
“There seems to have been a misunderstanding. Micai is my sister, and the boys are my partners. They’re just very protective.” She brushes a strand of hair behind her ear as Ezra’s smile grows tight, his knuckles going white the longer she stares at him.
“A misunderstanding?” He gives me a slight glance before turning his gaze to Xander, the large dickhead still scowling. “It didn’t look that way.”
Xander scoffs. “You don’t know her or any of us. So why even get involved?”
He glances back at me before his scowl twists into a sneer.
“Or are you trying to be some white knight?” He turns back toward Ezra, his gaze bold and mocking as he continues, flickering between us.
“Well let me warn you. Micai’s no damsel. She's the demon lurking in the shadows, and my suggestion would be to run before she tries to get her claws in you. She likes to pretend to be good, but there's nothing good about some weak, bitter–”
Knox yanks Xanders shoulder, making him stumble back slightly and cutting him off.
The look they share is hard and cutting, the room falling pin-drop silent with their darkening expressions and stand-off.
Knox opens his mouth but before he can speak, Seria slides in between him and Xander, placing her hands on each of their chests and sweetly calling their names. They both turn to her, Xanders gaze softening instantly and Knox’s dark expression lightly seeping from him.
They both give her a small nod as I turn away.
Stopping before I head back to my seat, I turn back and whisper my thanks to Ezra.
He may have done it for the class or the atmosphere. But for whatever the reason, he had tried to help me. And that doesn’t happen often to me.
He turns toward me, ignoring the annoying hallmark scene playing out behind us, and gives me a small nod and smile.
Just as I’m making my way over to my seat, I hear my name. Her voice is affectionate and soft as she calls me. “ Micai? ”
I ignore it and take my seat.
Just as I hear my name again, Mrs. Fleur bursts into the room. She’s holding a large unsteady stack of sheets in her hand as she rushes over to her desk to put them down. A large grin plays on her lips as she makes it there without them tumbling over.
Ezra takes his usual seat in front of me. He sits down glancing at the rest of the class briefly, all whispering and glaring at me as Seria and the rest take their seats together.
He turns back toward me, his eyes bearing a hint of sympathy.
“You okay?” He whispers.
I meet his turquoise eyes that are flecked with lilac swirls, the colours always dazzling and bright. The gaze he gives me seems sincere enough, so I nod.
“Always.” I mutter.
An unreadable look flickers across his features as a small smile spreads across his lips.
He leans slightly closer to me, his scent surrounding me as he whispers.
“Let them look and talk, but take no shit. Ever .” A darker grin cuts across his face, a coldness appearing in his eyes as he glances at the rest of the room.
No-one else notices his change in expression.
“Don’t ever let them see you stumble. There's strength in a smile.
Even if it's forced.” His gaze meets mine, and whatever he sees has his expression softening.
“You seem like a fighter anyway, little sea star.”
“Sea star?” My brows scrunch together. Wasn’t that a starfish?
What kind of nickname was that? And why would he even give me one when we didn’t even know each other?“Why–” I begin to ask but he just gives me a small smirk and wink, before turning back in his chair to face the front.
It was right in time, as Mrs. Fleur called for everyone's attention and started the class.
A silent sigh falls from my lips, my shoulders drooping as I lean further back in my seat. Couldn’t I go at least one class or day without any drama or stress? Or was that just too much to ask for?
I glance around the class, most of the second and third years staring daggers at me, while the fourth years around me seem uninterested.
Bright lilac and brown tones mix together in front of me as the sun catches them, pulling my attention back toward my front. And toward Ezra.
Maybe everyone wasn’t bad here.