Looking for Clues
Theo
Fucking wanker, I knew she was going to break up with him. Her mind was made up before we left for the Gods’ Realm. He had already lost her that night, only he was a dumbass not to notice.
I ignore the whispers from around us. My reputation around here isn’t the best, just the way I like it.
Everyone knows to stay out of my way; even the girls who seem to have a thing for me don’t dare to push my boundaries.
I like my personal space because I’m not one of those who will tolerate you getting close unless I allow it.
“Looks like you want to say something,” I state as I take a bite of pizza. She’s staring at me, her heart racing, and I’m expecting her to lose her shit at me.
Waiting.
But instead, she pouts haughtily and tosses her hair over her shoulders before looking down at her plate. She opens her bag after a moment, taking out a notebook and a pen. She writes something on it and slides it over to me.
Thank you. You didn’t need to do that. I can handle myself if you don’t know, but thank you anyway.
I smirk, and leaning over, I take the pen from her, scrawling a message back in the journal.
Anytime. He’s a wanker, I kinda just wanted to do that. But the fact that you wrote that thanks on paper says a lot, Blondie. :D
I then slide the journal back to her. She reads it, the smallest of smiles crossing her lips before she puts her journal away.
“Are they together?” someone whispers. I look over my shoulder, casting the girl who had whispered it a cold, withering glare, letting my wolf surface. Everyone gets freaked out by my milky white wolf eyes.
The conversation is shut down instantly, and I finally get to return to my food, even if we have an audience. I look over at her. Why do people keep fucking thinking something is going on?
Yeah, she’s pretty, and the three-year age gap isn’t illegal, and sure, she’s more mature than her age, but still, we’ve never acted like a couple. And it’s fucking annoying considering everyone has lunch with the opposite gender.
I sit back as I eat my pizza, looking at her, like really looking at her without automatically seeing her as Tatum’s sister. She’s definitely gorgeous, she one hundred percent got the best from both her parents.
But she ain’t my type. Wait? Do I have a type?
Not really. I mean, I know I like curves, long hair, big eyes… I shake my head, pushing the train of thought away.
I don’t have time for women, let alone a relationship. Just the thought of it makes me scoff internally. Yeah, I can see that for my brothers, but not for me. Fuck that.
I just got to get shit done, and my current Mission Number One is to stalk Renji. I know it sounds fucking stupid, but something is up. I know I should have followed him last night, but what if he had just gone on a booty call? Man, I’d probably feel like a fucking idiot if it were that.
I spin the pen I haven’t returned thoughtfully. Does Renji like anyone? Hmm, he seemed extra worried about that witch in his division, but he wouldn’t have left his dorm if this was about her…
The puzzle continues…
What’s on your mind? Heaven writes.
I look across at her. She’s a witch… She can go where even I can’t… Certain parts of the school are protected by magical barriers, and although I can cross some, they can still sense any attempt or passing. She might just be able to get by undetected…
What? she writes, narrowing her eyes.
Reaching over, I take hold of her wrist, turning her hand palm upwards and write: Meet me behind the greenhouses an hour before curfew.
I place the pen in her hand as she looks up at me. There’s a hint of curiosity in her eyes before she nods. With that, I get up and leave.
I’m not used to asking for help but… I don’t know, she might be useful. I did consider talking to Jayce about Renji, but I can imagine his reaction the moment I say I don’t trust Renji. I mean, it’s Renji. I don’t know.
Hades is a fucking nut, too. He knows what’s going on around me, just tell me, init. He’s fucking cryptic all the damn time.
It takes me ten minutes to find that witch. I finally locate her as she tinkers away with some potions in one of the witchy labs, as I call them.
“Hey, witchy.” A few of the girls look up, but she doesn’t, focusing entirely on her task at hand. “You,” I say, approaching her.
She finally lifts her head in surprise, and I observe her. Dark eyes, thick lashes, hijab. She’s pretty, probably the first girl Renji’s ever really taken an interest in.
“Hi… can I help you?” she asks politely. She’s strong. I can sense her magic.
“When’s the last time you spoke to Renji?” I ask.
Her cheeks heat up, and she looks away shyly, tugging at her sleeve. “Umm… Last night… Why?” she answers hesitantly.
“Why so scared?” I ask, raising my eyebrows questioningly. She shakes her head vigorously.
“N-not scared, just er- why?”
“Don’t tell me it was after curfew outside of your dorm?” I tease with a smirk.
Guilt washes over her face as she glances at the other girls in the room. I got my answer regarding Renji, but it doesn’t mean something wasn’t going on last night.
“I just, we just… I just, it was nothing, I-”
“Hey, I ain’t saying nothing,” I smirk. She only blushes deeper, shaking her head, but I wave and head out.
Damn, first Jayce, now Renji. Who’s next, Ares? I snicker. I doubt it. Maybe Carter, although I’m struggling to picture that, too.
The rest of the day passed by stuck in briefings, going over some of the key stuff we’ve missed in the last few weeks.
A lot of it is upcoming missions that divisions from Midnight Academy will go on.
Some discussions regarding the best course of action and battle strategies.
An hour in, Matherson retired, and John, the Physical Combat Trainer, replaced him.
I participated for the first hour, and then I began making paper airplanes and tossing them around, smirking when one caught in someone’s hair or poked them. I’m still listening, but can’t bother joining in.
“Stop it!” Ares growls as he catches the third one I’ve thrown at him, irritation clear in his voice.
“Don’t wanna,” I answer, throwing another one at him. This one hits his ear, and he glares at me with blazing eyes. I smirk in response, tilting my chair back.
“Fuck off, Theo.”
I smirk. “Belly breathing, bro. Come on, deep breaths in… deep breaths-”
“Theo, cut it out.” Jayce frowns.
Allie is quieter than normal, too, and she keeps her head down, focusing on her tasks. Heaven’s sitting beside her, and even she seems to be affected by Allie’s silence. Bet it’s cus her dad’s going to be posted in Russia.
“No idea how you’re Noctaris,” Carter mutters, annoyed.
“And can you behave? You’re not a child, Theo,” Johnny boy says, shaking his head tiredly.
I like the old dude; he’s a decent enough bloke, even if he’s decaying. I smirk.
“I’ll try,” I reply unconvincingly.
“You know your division is going on a mission soon?” Johnny boy questions.
“I read that,” I reply, bored. “It’ll be a piece of cake, init.”
“I would reread it. You are, after all, taking the next three days off plus the weekend,” he says.
“Yeah, I heard.”
“So, make the most of today to learn.”
I yawn. “Sure.” I close my eyes, crossing my arms as that heaviness washes over me. I need to fucking sleep…
“Theo!” My eyes snap open at Allie’s snarl.
“What do you want?” I narrow my eyes.
“You can’t sleep right now. This is serious. Can you stop being so lazy, you asshole?” she hisses.
“Time of the month, Zombilesandra?” I taunt.
Heaven places a hand on her shoulder before she shows her something on her hand. Allie shakes her head and runs her fingers through her hair.
I close my eyes again when Johnny boy snaps a rolled-up file on the table in front of me, making me crack open an eye again. I definitely won’t manage to get any sleep here.
Fucking hell.
It’s later on, an hour before curfew to be precise, and I’ve grabbed Blondie a latte before I head to the spot behind the greenhouses.
Now, this drink is to sweeten her up and get her to agree. And I want to know what she’s been hiding since we returned last night.
When I round the final corner, she’s there already, sitting cross-legged on the bench outside one of the greenhouses.
I pass her cup to her, and she accepts it, mouthing a ‘thank you’. I drop down beside her on the small bench, stretching out my legs.
I take a swig of my own drink; it’s scalding hot, but I like it like that.
What did you want to talk about? she writes as I massage my neck. She casts a spell with a flick of her finger.
In the Gods’ Realm, I didn’t feel the need to sleep, unlike here. It fucking sucks.
“No one can hear us, right?” I ask quietly.
She shakes her head, turning slightly to face me.
I nod before looking across at the wall that surrounds the Academy grounds.
This place is a cluster of greenhouses, and unless you walk right around them, you wouldn’t be able to see us sitting here.
“How good are you at bypassing spells undetected?”
She raises an eyebrow. Why would you ask that? she writes.
“I need to check the security cameras,” I reply honestly.
Ask Uncle Leo, he wouldn’t say no, she writes.
“I’m not sure, and I don’t want to accuse anyone of shit,” I reply.
She tilts her head, nodding understandingly.
I guess I could… she writes.
“And what do you want in return?” I ask.
She rolls her eyes. Who says I’m going to ask for anything in return? she writes.
“Never knew you were so nice,” I tease, reaching over and tugging on her cheek. She responds with a zapping electric current to my finger and a glare.
Careful, she warns me dangerously. I snicker lightly in response. Damn, I’d better behave. I’m asking for her help here.
“So, you really don’t want anything in return?”
She frowns, taking a sip of her latte. Consider it thanks for what you did earlier.
“Damn, Blondie, I never knew I impressed you so good.” I wink at her, and she rolls her eyes.
YOU DIDN’T, she clarifies in capitals with a pointed look.
“Sure,” I answer mockingly. “So, tonight?”
She pauses. I guess that might be best, since tomorrow we’re going to Black Storm.
“So, it’s a date.”
It’s a date, she writes with a slow nod. There’s going to be security watching those cameras.
“Leave that part to me. They’ll all take a beautiful little nap.” I smirk.
She sighs silently, resting her head back. Ironic, isn’t it, you cannot sleep well, but you can give others dreams and put them to sleep with ease?
“Yeah, Hades’ sense of humour is lame, init.”
She looks at me sceptically before she looks at the wall ahead.
Well, clearly, you both are a perfect match then. Your humour’s lame, too, she writes.
“Yeah, yeah, we both know that’s a lie,” I reply, finishing my drink. “So, when we returned to Earth, what was the aura I felt from you?”
She stiffens ever so slightly, and her heart betrays her for a fleeting second. What do you mean? she writes gracefully.
I sit forward, turning my head to look at her. “Are we really going to do this, Blondie? I felt it. So don’t lie, alright?” I whisper, looking her dead in the eye, now serious.
She stands up, turning her back to me as she walks a few steps away and takes a sip of her drink. I stand up and walk over to her, stepping in front and raising an eyebrow.
“What did you do in return for that whip?” I reword my question, my eyes fixed on her.
Nothing, she writes, with a flick of her hair.
I scoff. “I ain’t buying that shit. You gave up your voice for our safety. I know how the gods play; there’s always an exchange. You gave something for that whip. What was it?”
Nothing! she writes again before turning away from me, but I take hold of her arm, turning her back towards me. She gasps, the sudden move causing her cup to slip from her fingers and fall to the ground.
That gasp – I realise it’s the only sound she really makes anymore… I’ll just have to shock her more often for a reaction.
She tries to pull away, but I refuse to let her go. “Come on, Blondie, tell me what you did?” I ask, my eyes burning into hers.
She looks away for a second before looking back into my eyes, frowning deeply as if debating what to do.
Either she’ll tell me, or she’ll get pissed and not even help me later.
Not a smart choice of timing, Theo. Everyone shares better after dark.
I should have asked her after I got that video from her.
My hand begins burning up, and I let go of her, realising she’s doing it. I shake it, man, it’s on fire. She creates a dome around us before she turns to me, her aura surging, and once again, it’s different. The same kind I felt when we returned.
I gained power, she writes.
I frown just as she splits the ground beneath my feet, and I manage to jump back just in time, my feet digging into the dirt as I skid to a stop against the force of the attack.
She looks at me challengingly, the faintest of smiles on her lips, and without even lifting a finger, the words appear before me. Want a taste?
I can’t help but smirk. “I’d love a taste, Sweetcheeks. Show me what you’ve got.”
How she got it, I’ll ask that later. Right now, I actually want to see how she’ll fare against me.
Give me your all, Blondie. Let’s create some fireworks.