Chapter 15 #2
The far wall is covered in maps and paintings, with a longue area in the left corner and a bar cart against the wall. There’s also a fireplace large enough that I’d be able to stand in without hitting my head and lay down in while still having room to stretch out.
Overall, it’s nice. Moody but could be cozy with enough space that he could hold a small class in here if he wanted. Everything neat and organized and clean.
Returning my gaze to Professor Asier, he takes a few books off the shelves before turning back to me. So much commanding power in those eyes. I try to forget that by never looking him in the eye unless he explicitly speaks to me. Which hasn’t been since our first class.
“You can come in.”
Of course it sounds more like a demand instead of a suggestion. But since he seems like he’s willing to answer me I follow him over to his large desk where he sets the books down. This desk isn’t like the one in his classroom, the top is completely level.
There’s a lamp turned on in the corner and a few papers fanned out. A couple of them have grades on them.
“If you were busy,” I say, “I can just ask tomorrow after class.”
I feel weird now. Of course I could have waited till tomorrow, this was just my excuse to get out of the dorm. And thinking of that makes my stomach grumble. Which of course the professor hears.
He quirks a brow at me, eyes dipping to my stomach as I cross my arms over my chest.
“Castiel told me about the blue belladon trapped within scar tissue.” I freeze. Oh fuck my life. “That’s why you need to eat regular food and sleep whereas other vampires don’t need either.”
It might make him mad, but I slide my gaze away from him and shrug a shoulder. Of course they would have told him. I don’t know what their relationship is with one another, but they’re all buddy-buddy. It’s annoying.
“And. . . ?”
He huffs under his breath. “Why do you want to know about runes?”
Looking over at the books they just look like regular leather bound hardcovers. There’s no title on them and they’re not as thick as I was thinking they would be.
Straightening my back, I meet his eye again. For some reason his heart beats a fraction harder when I do. “Do you know about runic curses?” And now his heart trips.
His eyes darken as he repeats, “Runic. . . curses?” I nod once and a look of hesitancy with suspicion shadows his face.
“Runic magic is neither good nor evil, only the user can condone morals, however using runes to influence curses goes against its nature. All magic should follow the balances of the universes.”
I nod at all that and wave a hand as I turn away to think.
“I know all that,” I grumble. Staring at a point I let my mind wonder into the past. “But runic curses are the hardest to break because of that. I’m not asking because I want to cast one, I’m asking because. . . “
I had been young when he did it. I don’t remember the symbols he carved into me or the process of how it all went down. He had done it in the middle of the night when I had been half asleep and after that all I felt was burning.
That’s all I felt the next four years.
Shutting my eyes, I rub them and then exhale before looking back up at the devil. He’s watching me with a curiosity and I shift in place at it.
“Do you know anything else about runic curses?” I ask. “Or do you know someone else I can ask?”
Crossing his arms – I involuntarily glance down at them – he leans against his desk and gives me a pointed look.
“Why do you want to know about runic curses, Mavyn?”
Something, somewhere south, flutters when he says my name like that. I don’t think he’s called me by my first name at all and hearing it in his deep tenor voice makes me clench.
What. The. Fuck.
The gold ring in his eyes flare a bit and I immediately look away as I shift again.
“Curiosity.”
He hums but he doesn’t sound convinced. I don’t blame him.
Turning back around, he opens one of the books and murmurs deeply, “Come.”
My blood rushes before I can calm it and I involuntarily clench around nothing again. If I’m not careful I’m about to be smelling much sweeter with that berry and floral scent and it won’t be because I’m bleeding.
Which also reminds me, I’ll have to go to the bathroom soon.
Worst fucking timing. Worst of all is it’s not just my ovulation phase when I’m. . . hormonal. Always towards the end of my menstruation entering my follicular phase for a couple days I swear I’m ovulating more than my actual ovulation phase.
And he has the fucking nerve to say that fucking word with his fucking voice.
Taking a deep, quiet breath, I regulate my blood flow and heartbeat and walk over. He’s already leaning over a book with the chapter header labeled ‘Mortem’.
“How comforting,” I murmur under my breath but Professor Asier huffs a laugh at that.
“Runic curses are forbidden,” he explains. “The only thing that will be mentioned in any book about them is that they taint the soul and lead you to your death.”
Pointing at something, I lean closer in to read it. Only I can’t because the rest of the text is in Latin, but I do see a few words I do understand.
Cursed. Death. Blood. Runes.
Nothing that could help me understand the context, but he helps with that.
“Runic curses are a type of magic one learns themselves. They draw regular runes but twist them by imbuing them with dark contexts and negative aura. It’s not necessarily something that can be taught by another.”
He turns the page and I take another step so I’m now right beside him and I’m able to better look at the page. He stiffens next to me but I focus everything onto the page and the runes drawn out on it. Words I can’t understand scribbled with diagrams and arrows.
“Because of that there isn’t an exact way to break them. Depending on what the curse is someone who is an expert and has explicitly studied runes could possibly counter the effects, but it’s unlikely that the curse would be fully broken.”
Turning the page, I study the runes drawn here and read the words associated with them in my head despite not knowing what they really mean. I shift my weight and place a hand on his desk as I turn the page again.
“Would it be possible to counter a runic curse with another? Two negatives making it neutral?”
Something shifts and without looking at him I focus on his aura. His feels a lot like Nana’s with all its power and death. But his is stone still. Same with his body, though a heady scent trails around him and his blood is rushing. I can almost hear the beat of his heart pounding against his chest.
Following his blood from his heart it trails down until. . .
I tense my own body. He had stiffened while speaking but I had only asked if runic curses could be countered with another curse.
So why is his blood rushing? Why is his blood rushing like that?
Is he. . . is he turned on by runes? Is that why they don’t teach this kind of magic anymore? People get off because of it?
Oh my fucking god.
I didn’t think they were sexual in any way, but then again what the fuck do I know?
Snapping up, I scoot a few steps away from him. Clearing my throat I gesture towards the book.
“So – uh. . . “ Fuck. Way to make it awkward, Mavyn. I shake my head. I always told myself I would not kink shame and I do not judge sexual preferences, but just. . .okay. I shake my head again. “Sorry. Uhm. . . countering. Is that possible, or would someone who’s an expert just need to know the curse and see the runes and then possibly counter that way?”
I shift in place and refuse to look at him. That had been Ms. Elaycia’s only request when she took me in. Everyone has preferences and different things that get them off and unless it’s nonconsensual and harmful without any sexual gratification for any party we shouldn’t judge.
And I’m not judging him! If he gets off from talking about runes or practicing runic magic or anything of the sort I will not judge. It’s just. . . surprising. He’s a professor, and while he’s hot, it’s one of those things you shouldn’t know about your teacher.
Cordellia liked those kinds of romances books. I’m sure Jullia would too, but I would prefer no part of that.
He’s watching me. I can feel his eyes on me despite me looking anywhere but at him.
“That I’m not sure about.”