Chapter 12: Lessons and Scheming

The next day, Selene woke up in a great mood. Yesterday's lesson with Elisabeth, Rita, and Aunt Meredith had been surprisingly easy for her. Admittedly, she'd had to struggle to focus enough on her task, but according to Rita, she was doing much better than the previous "chosen one." Therefore, she was very proud of herself.

Selene got out of bed, stretching a few times, then went to the bathroom and took a shower. After had dried her hair well, she returned to the room wearing a bathrobe. Then Selene went to the closet and took out her long-worn jeans and a white long-sleeved blouse, so thin she had to put a top under it, and chose blue one with thin straps, which she liked very much. Then Selene walked slowly down the stairs to the kitchen for breakfast, clearly hearing Aunt Meredith bustling and smelling the wonderful smells that had spread throughout the house.

~~~~~~

Damon couldn't sleep that night. He shifted restlessly in bed, then got up and paced around the hotel room, very restless. Damon did not want to return to the Underworld for the night, because he was afraid that one of his kinsmen would find some disturbing changes in him. It was only when he did not see that girl in front of his eyes that from time to time his old coldness of heart came back to him and he panicked again, thinking about what was happening. Still, Damon was unable to find a reasonable solution to this problem.

However, he was constantly thinking about his beloved, and when her image appeared before his eyes, everything else lost its importance again. Damon knew that, in the eyes of any sorceress, he was a monster to be driven away. Even the fact that he had saved her life could not give him hope for mutual feelings. On top of that, Damon had robbed her of mother, Namida, by killing her. If that girl found out about it, she would hate him even more. At the thought of it he felt a cold shiver running down his spine, and for the first time Damon felt remorse for what he had done.

One thing was for sure: they could never be together. Neither side, both sorcerers and demons, would accept such a relationship, even if they both felt the same. Each of them came from completely different worlds, which were in a state of constant, eternal war with each other. Also, both the law of sorcerers and demons made it clear that you must not fraternize with the enemy, and relationships are absolutely forbidden. It was probably the only law that connected these two opposing worlds. Damon, however, did not want to give up on her because of it. He had no idea what was going to do, but had no intention of giving up without a fight, especially if it turned out that she felt the same way for him as he felt for her. Nevertheless, the thought that they would probably have to fight with their own kin for this love caused him great pain. Damon saw his beloved's beautiful face, twisted with pain, before his eyes. The mere thought of it stabbed his heart like a dagger.

Damon knew very well that he was putting himself in great danger by surrendering to these new, alien feelings, but knew he had to tell her what was in his heart anyway, or else would go mad with uncertainty. Damon wanted to be sure, though he doubted that she felt the same about him. Could he really hope such an angel would love him?

~~~~~~

When Selene ran into the kitchen, she fell straight into a chair and hit her knee. She hissed in pain and felt someone's eyes on her. Selene looked up to see Isabelle sitting on a nearby chair.

"Are you... are you... ok?" she stammered, standing up and getting ready for possible help.

"It's okay, I'm fine." Selene replied, surprised that the taciturn girl had spoken to her.

Isabelle just smiled at those words and sat back down in her seat. Selene wanted to ask something to make her speak again, but before could open her mouth, Johnathan entered the kitchen. Isabelle got up, walked over to him, and put her arms around his neck gently. He then hugged her waist and placed a subtle kiss on the forehead.

"Hello my dearest." Johnathan whispered in Isabelle's ear, leaning over her ear for a moment. She smiled radiantly in response, and then Johnathan turned his head to Selene.

"Hello, chosen one. We haven't had a chance to talk yet, right?" he smiled broadly.

"Indeed." Selene admitted, a bit surprised.

"Don't worry, we'll make up for it." Johnathan continued. "Isabelle and I came to help you with your studies. Elisabeth was unable to come because of a certain conflict between the two sorceresses that must be resolved. Your aunt also, as the first of the Big Three, had to go with her in the morning to help. Hope you are okay with Rita, me and Isabelle teaching you today?" he asked.

"No, not at all. I understand that Aunt Meredith has important responsibilities. Besides, I have nothing against you two," Selene replied. "Also, I think it will be fun to learn something from you." she added, smiling kindly.

"That's good," Johnathan said and Isabelle whispered something to him so softly that Selene didn't even notice her making a noise, and even the movements of her lips were barely noticeable. After listening to his wife, Johnathan nodded in agreement. Then his wife left the kitchen, staring at Selene on her way out.

"I would like to explain something else. Isabelle sees the "chosen one" for the first time, so be understanding if she starts looking at you too insistently. You're kind of an attraction to her." Johnathan said.

"I know, and I understand. I'm slowly getting used to it." Selene replied with a smile.

"Thanks." he smiled back and left the kitchen.

~~~~~~

Salvatore paced back and forth in his cave, while Johann was leaning back in his armchair and staring at his brother with mild amusement.

"Do. not. be. so. upset." he said, lengthening each word.

"How can I not get upset when some stray takes my chance to become ruler?" Salvatore yelled, stopping suddenly.

"Note that this stray is much stronger than you, and Alistair loves him. Damon has the power already, because our master is jumping however he plays him. No point in getting upset," Johann replied stoically.

"And you, as always, underestimate everything." said Chris, entering their cave. "Alistair is the most hopeless ruler in the history of the Underworld." he added contemptuously.

"Don't overdo it. Alistair has at least one useful gift," Marco said, following right behind him. "His father was waaay worse," he added with a smile.

"Probably." Chris pointed out. "Don't comment on him, because when he was in power, neither you nor I existed yet." he chided him.

"Okay, okay, got it." Marco sat on the armrest of the armchair Johann was sitting on.

"We need to find something on Damon, anything that might spoil his opinion in Alistair's eyes." Salvatore said, pausing his walk around the cave again.

"Yeah, right, I wonder what..." Chris muttered dissatisfied. "He's clean as a tear. Too clean for a demon." he snorted sarcastically.

"Johann will go up, to the surface, and follow his every step. Surely he will find something." Salvatore replied, looking meaningfully at his brother.

"But why me?" asked Johann, surprised. He didn't like the idea very much, because never enjoyed walking among humans and always avoided missions on the surface like fire.

"Because I am asking you to. Besides, you're my brother, aren't you?" Salvatore replied, looking him straight in the eye.

"Well, if you ask so nicely..." Johann replied with a hint of sarcasm in his voice, got up and left the cave slowly, looking at his brother.

~~~~~~

In the afternoon, Selene began a lesson with Rita, Isabelle, and Johnathan, while Alice and Teresa watched, adding their insights. The lesson started with an exercise Selene had been doing recently. She was supposed to "pick up" the water from the glass and put it back there. The aunt admonished her that first she had to learn to control the elements around, and only then could create them herself.

"You did great." Rita praised her, when managed to make a task. "We can move on to the element of Earth now." she added with a smile while placing a pot with a tiny plant in front of Selene.

"Try to make it grow." Johnathan explained, pointing to the plant.

"Remember, focus." Alice whispered from behind her back.

Selene looked at the plant, her clasped hands raised over it. Then she closed her eyes and focused on the task. Selene felt a shiver flow from her shoulders to the outstretched hands and flow out. She opened her eyes and saw the green light flowing to the plant, which under its influence began to grow in the eyes.

"Enough for now." Rita whispered after a few minutes.

Selene lowered her hands, the green light disappeared, and at the same moment the plant stopped growing.

"You're really doing great and improve a lot each day." commented Johnathan.

Isabelle smiled as if in confirmation of his words, Rita complimented her as well. As for Alice and Teresa, as it was their habit, congratulated her with a broad smile on their lips and a firm embrace.

After that everyone moved on to the rest of the lesson.