Chapter 13 #2
Unfortunately… he is unearthly beautiful. I have to stay focused, but my eyes drift to his golden necklace again. I’m not able to see what it says when he hides it.
I lift my gaze even higher to avoid his eyes.
His hair is almost as dark as midnight, but streaked with sunlight.
The sharp contrast flashing as he moves.
And for some odd reason, I anticipate its movements…
Every move of the sun flashing in the night.
Craving… I compose myself. What is wrong with you, Shantavia?
His deep voice pulls me out of my thoughts. “Wasn’t sure if you’d come.”
“How could I ever avoid a challenge?” I whisper.
“Why’s this a challenge?” His eyes meet mine.
My eyes are enchanted by his powerful presence. “I’m with a Patron, alone. And you are letting me stare at you, again, which is against the law.”
He takes a moment, his golden gaze drifting over my shape, before looking away with a slight smile. Suddenly, he snaps out of the smile and turns back to me, his face so serious, I can feel his eyes pierce my soul.
“I never really let you. You never asked, you just did. I could have a punishment in mind.” He draws closer.
I hold my gasp with my head bent, intensely nervous as he continues to speak.
“And moreover, Patrons are the law…” He puts his hand on the wall beside me, enclosing me, causing me to gravitate backwards against the flower garnished wall.
“Right… how could I ever forget?” I tuck my hair behind my ear, flustered in his presence.
I’m terrified that he might lose interest if I change the conversation like last time, so I decide to use this opportunity to get to know him even better.
“What’s that?” I ask, pointing to the snake tattoo on his wrist.
“A tattoo.” His gaze stays on me, steady, with a slight smirk.
“Right. I can obviously see that. How did you get it?” I respond with a slight chuckle.
“My dad burnt it into my skin.”
“What? You’re joking—”
“Yeah, I’m joking.”
I narrow my eyes and bite my lips unintentionally, trying to read him. Something about the way he said that sentence at first without hesitation made me think that he was not actually joking. But I can’t bring myself to tell him he is lying, so I just move on despite my puzzlement.
“Oh! Wow. Some joke. So, why’d you pick a snake?”
“I didn’t. My dad picked it for me.”
Okay, now I know he wasn’t joking the first time, but again I can’t tell him he is lying.
“Oh, okay, so um… why are we here?” I ask, staring at him with a puckered forehead, trying to read him again.
“Do you not want to be here, with me?” His beautiful eyes open like a butterfly’s wings, alluring me, but I want to concentrate, so I look down.
“Are you really here with me, or are you about to leave once I ask you something you don’t like?”
“I’m sorry about last time. I can’t promise that it won’t happen again, though.”
“Why’s that?”
“You ask too many questions. Some things are best left unanswered.”
“Not to me. I want all the answers!”
“Sure, you do.” He smiles, his eyes tracing me from my lips, to my neck, to my breast, to the edge of my skirt, then back into my eyes. He draws close.
I am tense.
“How about I ask you the questions this time, huh?” he whispers in my ear.
“Sure.” My eyelashes flutter in attraction to him.
“Okay, let us start light. Did you want me to kiss you in the Chemistry Hallway?”
“That’s light?”
“Very light. Compared to what I have in mind.”
“Um… I wanted you to save me from your Patron group, so I guess, in that respect.”
“So, from a professional standpoint, not personal?”
“From a potential friend standpoint.”
“Friend.”
“Right… friend,” My voice diminishes. Why did I say that? I’m stupid.
But he’s not flustered, like he doesn’t believe me. He stares at me with a light smile in his eyes and touches a strand of my hair, putting it behind my ear. Why the heck does he keep on drawing closer when I clearly just said I saw him as a friend?
“Not feeling the curls today?” he asks.
I shrug my shoulders and look down, unsure of how to answer that question without revealing to him the truth of why I did it. He peeks at me, eyes darkening, suspicious.
“Wait. Did a Patron make you… do that? Patron Suzandrick?” He draws back slightly.
“Patron Suzandrick, what does she have to do with this?” I ask, puzzled.
“I overheard something about her not liking you because some boy she wanted liked you.”
“Oh!” My eyes glide up, trying to read him. “Did that bother you—”
“Are you dating a student?”
“You didn’t answer my question, Pesh.”
“Yes, it bothered me, Shantavia. Are you seeing anyone?”
“No… why?”
“Don’t. You have no reason to. You should focus on your studies.”
I stare, entranced. I am so focused on my studies. The study in question… I look down, hiding the smile in my soul. “Is that a Patron order, or a suggestion?”
“Take it as you will. But I’m sure you’re smart enough to avert the consequences.”
“Consequences? Is that a threat, Patron Pesh? I mean… Pesh.” I fold my lips, intentionally teasing.
“You should watch your mouth. You don’t want me directing that as well.”
My mouth is wide open in my mind, but I keep them shut to avert him seeing my sentiments. Shantavia, return the conversation back into focus! “Um… I… um… was asking if your directive for me to remain unattached came with a threat?” I cough it out, eyes on my feet.
“Not to you. Never to you.” Like a vapor, his voice hits my skin, my lips, my tongue.
“To who, then?” My eyes rise.
“I don’t know, perhaps to anyone who touches you, comes near you, breathes around you.” He flicks away a leaf. “That sort of thing.”
“Oh, so just the entire Commonda, nothing to worry about then.”
“Absolutely nothing. My dear Tavia.”
I freeze. My dear Tavia? Just as I find myself lost for words, he draws away, leaving me breathless. “I—”
“I’m not gonna ask you again, who made you do this?”
“Um…” I can barely say the words.
“I took care of Suzandrick. She knows to leave you alone. So I know it’s not her. And her sidekick, let’s just say, he might have hit a brick.”
Oh, he knows about Patron Brik. “Is he alive?”
“I think so.” He smiles. That’s a suspicious smile.
Oh gosh, that’s scary. “Um, I won’t date anyone. I don’t plan to date anyone. I don’t like anyone. I don’t even, um…”
“Good.”
I gulp, my eyes darting up to his. “I could ask you the same question! Are you seeing anyon—”
“I thought we agreed, no questions.”
“You commanded. I simply obeyed—sometimes.” I flash him a smile.
He smirks, his golden gaze gliding across me. “Sure… And who commanded you to straighten your hair that you dared obey?”
“Are you annoyed that I straightened my hair, or that I took instructions from someone who is not you?”
“The latter. Plus, I’m not annoyed. You look incandescent either way. So who was it? Suzandrick?”
I exhale, somehow remembering the point of this derailment. But he said I look incandescent. Gosh, Shantavia. Focus.
“No, it wasn’t her. At least I don’t think so.”
“Then who was it? Because you do not look so happy about it?” He steps closer.
I take a deep breath in, then spit out the truth. “The Patron De Londe.” I stare at him, eager to see his response.
“The Patron De Londe talked to you? Alone? In private?” He backs away from me.
I nod, trying to read his puzzled face.
“Oh my God,” he exclaims, lost in thoughts.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“I have to go right now.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
He starts to leave, then turns back and points his finger toward me, to warn me. “And from now on, we don’t know each other in any respect but as Patron and student. We’re not friends, and you obey every single rule when you see me, do you understand?” he commands.
“What the heck, and why? You literally asked me to come here! Now you’re just gonna walk out on me without an explanation, just because I told you the truth of what happened. What is wrong with you?”
“Don’t ever talk to me like that ever again.”
Irritated, I still my anger, and with a hint of unintentional aggression, I respond. “Yes. Patron. Pesh.”
His eyes strike into mine like a dagger to his heart. He walks out, a growl lacing his departure.