This week has been uneventful. I surmised as I watched the professor summarize her teaching for the day.
Even my magic classes that had been slotted on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays had been uneventful. Seeing as I had a better control of my magic, I just did as they asked me, without any extra flourish. There was not a note of extra in me, of having fun whilst doing magic-not with the threat of Adam and his brothers hanging over me.
Since the week started, till now, I had been waiting for the drop of the other shoe, but so far nothing has happened. It was like last weekend didn’t happen, like my scar hadn’t shown itself. And for my neck, all efforts to cover the mark had been futile. So, I had taken to wearing scarfs around my neck, and since it was a cold season, no one had raised an eyebrow at the piece of accessory which had never been equated to me.
I had also gotten more friends, than I would have liked, or rather acquitances-people who liked me because I wasn’t an ordinary mage, but one from a royal lineage. They had heard the Queen’s speech, and didn’t mind that the sparsely whiteness of my hair had stayed the same. It wasn’t colonizing the black strands anymore. But I didn’t care for that. I just wanted to be free from the burden of the triplets.
Whilst at work, whilst working an assignment, or learning control over my magic, my mind was never far from the triplets. Laura’s assurances everyday had helped to push down the feeling of fear to an extent, but there was more work to be done still. It’s crazy how I could be afraid, even with the load of power within me; power which could do more harm than good to the triplets should they decide to get physical.
However, I think the larger part of my fear wasn’t on the impending physical assault or combat, but on the fact that they could turn the community against me. I wasn’t up for that emotional battle. I wanted to enjoy peace and quiet for once.
“You’ve been out of sorts since this week started, Dora. Are you sure you are okay? Did the Queen say anything of note or consequence to you? Even Diana has been edgy too. What are you lot hiding?”
Another interesting fact about the week was Diana’s sudden closeness to Levina, and the fact that they both spend so much time together. Probably why my friend was now relaxed around me again. Even Laura was chill around my friend who visited our house more than three times in a day, since this week started. Never mind that the distance between our two houses was far apart. She had the bike to cover up for it.
Levina might as well move into our house. I thought as I stared at her absentmindedly.
She snapped her fingers in front of me. “Down to earth Dora…what’s going on?”
I shrugged my shoulders in response, and picked the latest book I had gotten from the library. I didn’t steal this one.
It was a book on covering spells-I was still intent on covering the scar on my neck.
“I thought I am your friend…”
I sighed, and dropped the book back on the table. She’s playing this card now?
“I’m fine, Levina. I’m just tired. I wasn’t aware that magic sapped a lot of energy. And you know the triplets, they have been quite disturbing. Last weekend, I had almost razed them to death.”
Levina’s mouth fell open, whilst her eyes twinkled with curiosity. I had just ignited her hunger pangs for gossip. But that was the only way to get her off my back. I would just have to tell her the washed part of the story I’ve been telling my family: the boys are just so hard on my ass because they want to sleep with me. It was the story every high schooler loved. Never mind that it was a magic school.
Levina deftly sat on her chair, and pulled it closer to me. “Tell me all about it. I suspected with the way their eyes kept following you around. The three want you at the same time?”
This statement was whispered so as not to gather the attention of the others in the classroom, especially Raul and Rachel.
For since the week started, I’ve avoided the both of them, despite their attempts to get close to me.
Rachel’s was driven out of gratitude, although if I was her I wouldn’t rejoice yet. It had been obvious last weekend that Adam didn’t care a hoot about the alliance or her, and could throw it down if someone else comes up, someone better. Probably why I wasn’t so keen on getting to know her. If Adam had actually connected the dots together, then my rest was far from being found.
Raul was still on his quest of asking me out, but I haven’t given him a chance to do so. I avoided him at every turn, not wanting to indulge his lips to make me forget. I didn’t want to forget. I wanted to be of sound mind, especially as the triplets and their crew would be here this evening-the new generation of leaders that would be soon be spread out to govern the other colonies of the Lycan king.
“Dora…you have spaced out again. Come on, stay here with me.”
I sighed, and bent my head lower so that I could whisper the lie that I knew would do the trick. “Yes, the three want me at the same time. As a matter of fact, they had put out a competition that the first that kisses me, takes me. I had to leech on Raul to escape. I’m not sure if the trick works out.”
Levina chuckled, and shook her legs in ardor.
I could feel the excitement rolling all over her. Only if she knew the truth.
“So, why aren’t you talking with Raul then? Or had you both decided to stay away from each other, unless the triplets are around?”
She was literally jumpy and vibrating. Why do women love stories like this? Next she wouid be foreseeing that I would fall in love with Raul while playing house with him to put the triplets away. I could already see the storyline playing out in her eyes and head.
“Maybe. Till they come. They should be here by the same time as last week.” I answered, before picking the book again. I think I have answered all her questions.
“Wow, you are really lucky, having all the boys saunter to you…”
I narrowed my eyes, but didn’t look at her to acknowledge her words.
“Have you always been this way?”
I shrugged my shoulders, not even sure of the way she was taking about.
“Well, you have to teach me too. I want a boyfriend.”
Oh that way. I wanted to tell her that I had no clue on how to get a man, but considering the story I had just fed her, that would be ironical of me. But really, I didn’t do anything. I didn’t set out to be disturbed by Raul or the Lycan triplets. It just…happened. My friend wouldn’t understand that.
“Sure, I can. Is there someone you like?” I turned to find her expression comical. She had blushed beet red, even straight to her ears. Interesting. Who could it be?
It took a few seconds before Levina could speak past the sudden cloak of shyness that had fallen upon her by the reason of the topic.
“Yes, I think so. But I don’t want to talk about it now.”
Oh really? That was fine by me.
“Just tell me how I can get his attention, and make him pursue me.”
I piqued an eyebrow at the audacity of the question. If someone had told that I, Maya, would be a relationship expert, would be teaching another female on how to be known by the boys they loved, I would have never believed.
“Well, first of all, act like he doesn’t exist.”
Levina furrowed her eyebrows, not understanding the concept behind the advice. “Pretend like he doesn’t exist? Wouldn’t that have an adverse effect?”
Maybe.
“Not when paired with the other hacks. It would work like magic, trust me.”
“Tell me then, Dora!” A shout rendered to a whisper.
Just when I was about to list the hacks I knew nothing of, the hacks I had only read in some fictional books, Sinclair stepped into the class, with a book in his hand, and a frown on his face.
What’s the problem now? Over the week, our communication had been sparse, seeing that Levina took me to all the places I never knew existed in the school, including an underground chamber for storing artifacts. We had actually sneaked into that one.
I only saw him in the library. He was an avid reader like me, unfortunately the code for the library was silence.
“So, I’m here for the beauty contest. The date for its commencement has been slotted on Monday, next week. It will run all through the week. So, those involved can start preparing and campaigning. The results will be out by the following week after that.”