Chapter 114 CHAPTER 114
There's something about shock that makes one's brain work faster than it's used to, scrambling for a response that may or may not be ideal.
One thing was sure as Akua connected invisible dots in her head, she couldn't know what I'm about to do, no one can except Zade.
I remember Principal Draco saying I'm the King's special project or something and I might not fully admit it but that's how everyone looks at me.
Something interesting, like a nice toy.
And now, I want to leave.
Nobody's gonna like that and then I'll have to start facing rebuttals that I do not have time for.
“Where are you going Alira?”
“My secret is out in the open,” I began, replacing the guilt in my voice with a plea for pity, “so I might as well just go stay with him.”
“You're going to live with Master Zade? In the library?”
“Don't be ridiculous, he has a house.”
“Since when?”
“Um, after the leech attack, he nursed me back to health. He and his family actually. He decided to get somewhere private after that. I'll be safer there anyway.”
“Hm,” she sighed and moved fully into the room and towards her bed.
“I'm sorry I didn't tell you guys who it was.”
“It's fine, I totally get it. Asher is still an asshole regardless. I just wish you trusted us enough with your secret.”
“But he's an Instructor. You guys warned me against those.”
“He's your Soul Tie, is he not? Wait, do you even know what a Soul tie is?”
“Yes, and he is. But there's something else.”
She swerved from her bed to look at me.
“There's a secret bigger than that? You're dating the beast of aisle five Alira, what else could be happening?”
“He's the only one I'm with right now but he's not the only one I'm… tied to.”
“That doesn't make… oh.”
I showed her the lines, only one was glowing but I connected the dots last night.
She walked closer and began inspecting me like an archaeological discovery.
“Your binding scales are the colour of his late dragon and his line is red too. The others are still faint gray because they have not been activated. What's stopping you?”
“You make it sound like it's a one-way street. How will I be with three men?”
“The gods chose you for a reason I guess. Run from it as you might, you'll always find a way back to your purpose. Will you come visit us at least? Erin will crash out by the way.”
“I'll come every chance I get,” I lied, pulling her into a hug as I became overcome with emotions.
I hated lying to her and knowing this might be the last time we see each other…
She patted my back, not being much of a hugger herself and I let her go.
“Do you need help with those?”
“Naa, I've got it. Styx is waiting for me outside so..”
“See you in class tomorrow, don't let that dick stop you from taking things seriously, we have two months left!”
“Yes Ma'am,” I chuckled as I left, walking faster before everyone else got back.
I must look like a mad woman, carrying the bag on my shoulder like that but there were a lot of books and stuff Erin gave to me and I didn't want to leave anything behind.
Hopefully, the portal doesn't drop us in the Pacific Ocean or something. I can swim now but Drakkonian books are fire-resistant, but in water, they disintegrate.
Styx takes me back to Zade's and thankfully she's faster than normal cars so nobody stops me to ask me questions. I quickly open the door, drop the bag and run right out, my heart pounding with fear.
Then I headed to Eruwan's.
Before I got there, I could already feel it, the same sensations I'd ignored on the first day the last time I was poisoned.
“Hi,” I waved to one of Eruwan's new assistants. “You guys change the healing water?”
“Of course,” he chuckled, “why do you think it's always clean?”
“Sorry, I'm usually more preoccupied with not dying. Where's Eruwan?”
“What have you gotten yourself into again, child?”
“Another poison but this one wasn't by food,” I say as I climb the small steps towards her.
“How then?”
“I was attacked, Zade managed to pull me out of the portal before I could be kidnapped fully but I'd inhaled the things used to cover my face.”
“Zade huh?” She grinned, her locs unbound today and falling to her face.
She's as dark as Principal Draco in colour, only he was covered with tattoos that..
‘Stop thinking about him Alira,’ I cautioned myself.
“It's already out in the open so,” I shrugged in response to the healer.
“And here I thought you were with Florian. Always defending the halfling with your entire soul.”
“You guys are wrong for treating him that way and you know that. Also, I have beef with you,” I say as I climb into the pool.
“What did I do?” She asked, climbing in as well.
“You saw the marks on my neck and you knew what it meant but you refused to tell me and now, I've gone and made mistakes that I can't rectify.”
“It's your destiny Alira, I have no right to interrupt. Now stop talking and let me look at you.”
I nearly rolled my eyes but my life is literally in her hand so I stayed still and she checked my eyes.
“You know you're lucky you're smart.”
“How so?” I asked.
“You always listen to your instincts. If you'd waited one more hour before coming here, you would have been dead. This poison is way stronger than the last one. I'll have to knock you to pull it.”
“Knock me out?”
“The alternative will be for you to watch as I drive this into your neck,” she says, pulling out an instrument from her neck.
It had a needle point but it was as big as the Stanley cup straw I used back on Earth.
“You're putting that… in my neck?”
“Gotta suck out the bad blood,” she nodded, sharply rolling the end in her hand.
“Don't worry, you'll be ready to throw up your guts when you wake up. Hit her, Jacqui.”
Before I could turn, something hit my head so hard I heard sounds.
And then everywhere turned black.