William's workshop
"It's unusual for you to be here at this time, you're usually with Bianca in the afternoons."
William held a ruler in his hands, drew some lines and wrote down some numbers. He was working on some plans. At first, he planned to listen to music while he worked, but he gave up on the idea when he saw Xavier come in with a new canvas.
"I don't feel like talking about it. We just had an argument about something." (Xavier)
"About what happened with Elizabeth Shaw?" William continued drawing.
"It was excessive. He didn't have to expose her like that. What Shaw was doing wasn't right, but there were other ways to handle it." (Xavier)
"Exposing her privacy? It was quite a surprise to learn that the popular lady was in a relationship with two Normies at the same time."
William found out all this from Enid. Bianca made a big fuss about the matter. She found and forced both Normies to declare their privacy on social media. She had used her siren voice on them.
"Miss Shaw may have won you over. Didn't Bianca tell you why they fought?" William remained focused on his own business; this was trivial to him.
"Problems in their social circle of Sirens, apparently both were competing to be the next leader or something like that." Xavier began with his new painting.
"Apparently Shaw is leaving Nevermore next week, she's starting to be shunned by the rest." (Xavier)
"It was a pretty cruel way to win." (William)
"Let's stop talking about this. What are you doing?" (Xavier)
"A plan. I need a case for 'Titan'. It's annoying to carry on my back." (William)
"Titan?" Xavier put down his brush and came over to take a look.
"My spear, the one on the wall. Now I just need someone to make it for me." (William)
"Oh, it looks pretty simple. I know someone who can help you with that." (Xavier)
"Let me guess, a Da Vinci?" (William)
"Exactly, her name is Mako. I'll send her a message and she'll do it for you for a commission plus the cost of the materials." Xavier took out his mobile phone and sent Mako a message.
"Tell her I'll give her the materials." William selected high-quality white leather.
"She says she just needs the plans. It'll be ready in two days." (Xavier)
William and Xavier parted ways at the academy. Apparently, Bianca wanted to talk to Xavier about something. William met with Mako in the library, they agreed on a price, and he gave her the plans.
She was a short girl with Asian features and black hair, wearing a purple knitted hat.
William's dorm room, Caliban Hall
(The sign that their nest is nearby is the Blood Butterflies, a special type of butterfly that is only born in places where much blood has been spilled).
William was resting on Enid's bed. She would be back later from her dance practice, and with nothing else to do, he decided to leaf through the book he had borrowed from the Nightshade Society. A certain excerpt from the book caught his attention. William had already seen those butterflies in the forest.
(I wonder if Eugene can give me an idea of where they might be born).
(But it's strange, this creature is native to Scotland. What would one of them be doing in Vermont?)
A strange type of goblin lived in swamps, building its nest in its own little patch of blood and mud. Its skin secreted a liquid that caused the trees around it to turn red.
"Click."
(I should give her a surprise.) William changed shape into a cat and hid under the sheets, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce on Enid.
"I'm all sticky. I should take a shower and get out of these wet clothes."
Enid entered the room, beads of sweat covering her forehead and a strand of pink hair stuck to her skin.
Enid's words made William's ears prick up, and the scent of Enid filling the room was very pleasant to William in his animal form.
The sound of clothes falling to the floor made William's mouth go dry, and with all his willpower, William avoided taking a peek.
Soon, the sound of the shower calmed William down a little. He took human form and decided to wait for Enid to come out.
A few minutes later, she came out and sat on William's lap. She was smaller than him, so there was enough room.
William took the towel from Enid's hands and proceeded to dry her blonde hair, as he had done before.
"You're a bit quiet... Did you do something wrong?" William asked Enid as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
"It was a little joke, Will, your tail was sticking out from under the sheets," Enid finally confessed with a laugh.
"It was adorable to see your bum swaying from side to side," Enid pushed William onto the bed before covering his lips with hers. Her heart was still racing; a little cold water wasn't enough to calm her excitement over her little joke on William.
"Yoko... won't be back until this afternoon," Enid told William as she caught her breath, William's hands caressing Enid's thighs exposed by her short skirt.
William's mouth moved to Enid's neck, leaving a mark on her white skin, Enid would do the same to his.
They didn't go too far, both stopping in a tacit agreement. There was no need to rush things; they had plenty of time for that. They just hugged each other in silence.
"Is this bracelet new?" Enid held William's hand, paying attention to his new bracelet. She had seen it several days ago but hadn't looked at it closely.
"I made it a few days ago. I'll make one for you for your birthday" (William)
"It's a pinky promise. We'll match" Enid joined her little finger with William's.
Caliban Hall William's dormitory
"So what are you planning to do?" (Xavier)
"What are you talking about?" (William)
"You only wear black when you're going to do something against the rules" (Xavier)
"That's a lie, I don't have that habit" (William)
"So you're not going to do anything against the rules?" (Xavier)
"I will, but that doesn't prove anything" (William)
"I'm coming with you" (Xavier)
Botanical Sciences Hall
"Thornhill leaves his office at 8 pm and returns at 8:30 pm to feed his carnivorous plants."
"We have thirty minutes to find the Curare compound, a substance extracted from plants that causes muscle paralysis."
William and Xavier were near the botany room, a single-storey building made of glass walls, filled with plants inside, as well as several desks for students, wooden furniture, and a blackboard in the centre of the room.
After eight o'clock, Thornhill left the living room, and William and Xavier hurriedly entered the small room Thornhill used to store dangerous items.
"How do you know she has this compound? We could be searching and find nothing" (Xavier).
"That woman is crazier than she seems, I'm sure..." William's next words were interrupted by Xavier's exclamation.
"Wow!!!"
"Forget it, look at all this!" Xavier's mouth opened in surprise. In the farthest and highest cabinet, rows of bottles of colourful liquids covered the shelves, most of which looked like poisons and dangerous compounds.
"Click." The sound of the door startled them both. Thornhill rushed in and approached his desk.
"I always forget to lock this place." Thornhill was about to lock the cabinet with the poisons.
Xavier hid under the desk, sweating coldly. Thornhill only had to look down and he would discover him.
"Glass breaking."
The sudden noise caught his attention, and Thornhill went to investigate. William had broken a vase, transformed himself into a cat, and hidden in the darkness, giving Xavier enough time to take a couple of bottles from the cabinet, including the curare compound.
(How strange) (Thornhill)
Thornhill couldn't find the source of the noise. He locked the cabinet and, while he was at it, the living room as well.
"How do we get out now? Break a window?" (Xavier)
"The metal frame won't let us out, and it will attract the attention of the teacher on patrol tonight." (William)
"I have an idea." Xavier took a notebook out of his jacket, quickly drew a key, inserted it into the lock, and it opened.
"This one is special. I made it expand inside to cover the entire space." (Xavier)
"How useful. Remind me to take you with me when I go to break into another place." William rushed out. He didn't know if Thornhill would arrive early today.
William and Xavier travelled through Nevermore in the darkness until they reached Caliban Hall.
"And what do you want this compound for?" (Xavier)
"I've already decided on my new prey, a type of Scottish Trasgo, They are fast, I need something to contain it." (William)
William had already told Xavier about his abilities. Xavier was the second closest person to him after Enid, as a battle against a dangerous beast could help him exceed the limits of his ability.
"And what is it called?" (Xavier)
"A Red Hat Trasgo." (William)