.
.
.
The hall was still noisy, filled with screaming, wicked laughter, and heated arguments. The host sat unshaken in his praying mantis position, the huge clock chiming slowly above him. The gorgon was still in my embrace among the highest seats.
Finally, he released me, and looked at my phone, "Hey, hey… your post!" He exclaimed, "Athena liked it. Athena Williams. The Djinn everyone is after." His voice was soft and careful, his eyes wide with awe.
Were my roommates that famous? How did I happen to be grouped with them?
Should I be happy I didn't come at the beginning of the session, and took Hayden's spare room?
One after the other, my roommates were commenting.
_He cute. Lol_ Athie wrote.
Heart gave heart stickers, which made me smile.
_Woah, she's alive!_ Damien commented, which made me laugh.
_Hayden's been looking for you, mortal!_ Natalie dropped.
_Hayden's son? Hey, I know nothing about this, lol_ Faux commented.
"Lots of views in little minutes," the gorgon pointed, and I realized we were at ninety-eight views.
The likes were also climbing up, almost on the same level with the views.
This is what happens when you roll with the big bosses.
A little weasel like me needs not stress.
I smiled.
"I like this too," I said to him, laughing.
"I don't think anyone will touch me now. Whether it's true or not, I'm Hayden's son, and your pookie," he said, taking off his oversized jacket, that was made heavier with the crown.
My fingers seemed to sweat as he handed the jacket to me.
I took it, and rose, slipping it over my shoulders. It was huge on me too, and really warm. The crown was in its inner pocket, barely visible.
I zipped it up, and watched as he stood, happiness and relief all over his face, while my heart began to pound. I was now with the crown. Danger could be any second from now.
"Bye!" He said, and ran off.
He could be just fifteen or sixteen. Such a cute little thing.
Just as he scurried off, I saw Hayden coming through the doors. Another wave of relief seized me. I didn't have to wait in fear of what lay in my pocket anymore.
I raised my hand high, and shouted, "Hayden!"
<<<
The night was still as rowdy as ever, with students everywhere. They were now ganging up on others, attacking and searching couples. Smiling with each other like they wouldn't all fight tooth and nail once the crown was in sight. I was heavy with the crown in my pocket. Yes, I didn't tell Hayden yet. It was going to be a surprise.
Nobody suspected a thing. Heck, they didn't even bother branching our way.
"Where were you?" I finally asked, as the cool air hit my face gently.
"Something important that you don't need to know. The only thing you need to know is that I can't guarantee I'll be here all night."
"You're going to leave me alone again?"
"I'll be pleased to."
"Do you want the crown?"
"Do I need it?"
"Well, no," my hands alighted on my pocket, feeling the large crown.
"Why? You wanna get it for me?" He suddenly laughed, mocking me.
Heyyy, I actually have the crown, duh!
"What if I do?"
"I'll get on my knees, and propose to you in front of the whole school," he said, a dare alight in his eyes. I couldn't stop smiling. He underestimated me so much that he couldn't even tell my reaction was off.
"Really? With a ring?"
"You want a diamond? I'll get it. Jade? Ruby? Onyx?" His voice held the highest degree of mockery.
I looked up at him, unable to stop smiling.
"I want an onyx."
"Sure, Queen. Get the crown first. I believe we already have a bushy eyebrowed son who happens to look like bigfoot."
"Hey, that's not fair. He doesn't look like big foot."
"Did you see his feet? His hair?"
"His hair was short."
"But you could get lost in it. Do I look anything like that?"
"Whatever. So yeah, after your onyx ring? You're wearing a suit."
He scoffed, "Still on with this?"
"Promise."
He smirked, and placed a hand on his chest. All of a sudden, his voice went deep and genuine, as our eyes locked, "I promise."
But after he did that, he rolled his eyes, "Get the crown before dreaming, Frogso."
Finally, we arrived at a tree. Hayden stepped on a branch, and began to climb effortlessly, leaving me wondering how I'd get there.
"Can't we just sit here?" I asked, patting the lowest branch.
He didn't reply, so I simply sat on the lowest branch, doing the least I could do. If I fell while climbing, Hayden was definitely not going to help me.
The stars were looking really bright for such a night of violence. The air was cool with the breeze swirling about. The trees seemed to sing.
I looked up at Hayden, and saw he was also staring at the stars.
"Do you like stars?" I asked, holding my hands together.
"Don't try to initiate a conversation."
"I'm not trying to. It's an honest question. Do you like them or you're studying them to understand them, or you're just noticing them."
"Well, maybe I'm questioning them."
"Uh?"
"Stars watch people. Shooting stars mean a soul has fallen off the earth. Are stars people? Is my star still up there? Has it really fallen? When you watch the stars, do they watch you back?" He said, his eyes still fixed on the glowing stars.
VI understood nothing, but there was no trace of mockery, or sarcasm in his voice. It was normal—genuine.
Asking what he meant would kill the moment because he would switch back.
Also telling him that shooting stars weren't really stars, but were actually space debris burning up—I mean, they're not stars, but meteors— would also finish off the mood. So instead, I continued.
"Where did you get the info on the shooting stars thingie?"
"An old book."
"Ah. I noticed you love books. What genre do you read?" I asked, and he looked at me, blue eyes gentle.
He smiled, "Crime."
Chills made me hiccup and cough, as I turned my gaze to the ground, holding my throat.
Can everybody just stop?
Why were they bent on making me think things?
"Hello?" I heard, and looked up. He was with his phone, "What?"
I watched him sigh before he suddenly jumped.
"Hey!" I rose, like I was going to catch him before realizing that oh! He's a freaking vampire.
He shook his head as he tucked his phone away.
"You were going to catch me?" He mocked, before turning away.
"Hayden, do you hate me?" I suddenly asked, and he turned back to me.
"What?"
"Do you not like that I took your room?" I asked, genuinely, and he came closer, till he was standing over me, looking every bit as good as the path to hell and riches.
He placed his hand on my coat, pulling it together gently.
"I see futures, Froggie," he bent so low I thought he was going to kiss me, but instead, he spoke against my cheek, leaving desire crawling through me, "And you're not going to be killed by a Vampire."
With this, he left, disappearing as fast as the wind.
I sat on the branch, a smile widening my lips, as I slowly held my cheeks.
He just told me he wasn't going to kill me.
You know this sense of the predator protects you from other predators, but who's going to protect you from that predator? That feeling of fear and doom. It was lifted off of me.
I wasn't Hayden's targets. Mirrors or whatever, I'd wink at them whenever I saw them.
I swung my legs back and forth, smiling and staring at the stars.
"Why don't you talk, and tell Hayden that meteors are not stars?" I asked the stars, "that stars are so massive, and so far from the earth, like millions of light-years away from earth, and they're too big and too far to actually fall. I wonder what made him say that. That statement was so weird. Or was he referring to the idea that vampires are dead, so maybe he is dead? Or what? I don't know…" I went on rambling like the stars could actually hear me, until I saw it…
Like it'd been waiting all night for me.
Like it'd been watching, persevering…those electric blue eyes I could never ever forget.
That crazy night flashed back in my head. My mom's screams… dad's echoes.
The clouds howled as a chilly wind swept across the deserted expanse of land. It had been waiting for Hayden to leave, masked in the shadows in its black cape, and hood, its eyes piercingly bright, the rest of it shielded in darkness. With a gloved hand, it drew out its sword cackling with electricity and blue flames.
Thunder sparked.
Yes, the Fiérré had found me.
Right where my parents called safe.
However… as I rose. I didn't feel fear.
I felt something deep, and ancient buckle within me, some kind of twisted lock being pried open.
I knew…
I just knew.
I was ready to fight.