Chapter 14: Dirty days ahead.

Lilac

"Wake up! It's Lupin o'clock!" Waking up to a throbbing headache should have been the highlight of my day, but add a screaming overly excited Issy to the said highlight? I should probably just sink down and pray that sleep comes to take me away again.

I don't know when I fell asleep yesterday, all I remember is dragging my crying mess of a self off the floor and slumping down on the bed, my pillows soaking in my tears.

"Goddess, you look awful Sunshine, did you cry yourself to sleep?" Issy is talking again and I can't help the groan that leaves my lips as I sit up. Only if she knows how true that is. And her new nickname for me? Let's not go there.

"Good morning to you too Issy," I say groggily, "what are you doing here?"

She gasps, placing her hand over her chest in an obvious mock surprise... "Is that how to greet your best friend a good morning?"

Best Friend? "Have we gotten to that level?" I narrow my eyes at her, blinking afterwards, trying to clear off my still sleepy vision.

"Are you even listening to yourself? Girl, we were bound to be best friends since you snagged my brother." She beams, winking at me.

I wince at the mention of her brother, biting down on my lip, and then I remember Perez and I let out another groan. "How is Perez?"

"Fortunately, none of his body parts is broken if that's what you mean." She grins at me and starts to drag me off the bed, "Forget about Peepy for now.." She says. Do I think it's weird that Issy is acting so carefree about what happened yesterday night? Like she did not see her brother drag me out of the club and did nothing about it? Yes, I think it is super weird. But will I say anything about it? Well, definitely not. Looks like their rules here are totally different.

"You have to get up and get ready, Sunshine, your first class is in Forty-five minutes and don't ask me how I know that."

That has me springing up instantly. "Forty-five minutes?! Good gracious!"

"Good gracious indeed... Now run along and take your bath, I will be waiting for you downstairs." She winks at me and then practically skips outside, closing the door behind her.

I groan as I make my way to the bathroom, slamming open the door to let out some steam before I start splashing water onto my face. My reflection stares back at me, making eye contact with me through the mirror. My hair is a mess.

The water from the shower runs over my skin, washing off the dried tear tracks and making me feel slightly better. The warm spray does wonders for my headache, the pain easing slightly.

I step out of the shower, wrapping a towel around my body and quickly drying my hair before going into my room where my clothes were sitting neatly folded.

Showered and dressed I head back downstairs and find Issy waiting for me already by the front door, wearing her typical bright orange jumpsuit and holding the car keys.

"Come on Sunshine, hurry up before your darling caveman husband decides to ambush us!" She yells, throwing one arm over my shoulders. I roll my eyes at her, pushing her off of me. Would he anyway? Does he even know I'm awake?

"Where are you going?" I freeze. That voice. Slowly, I turn around to see my husband, standing feet away from me and glaring daggers at Issy. Why though? I can't tell.

"Call the devil, and he appears," Issy mutters before speaking in reply to Kael's question. "We are going to school, of course."

"And who let you in my house, Isabelle?!" He snaps.

"Sam did, you didn't give any instruction not to let me in, did you?"

"Doesn't mean you can come to my house at fucking eight in the morning to drag my wife out."

His wife. Those words send a ripple of something I can't quite place through me. I try not to stare at him. My fingers are digging into my skin as I fold both my palms together.

"I have classes early this morning, we should probably get going," I say in barely a whisper but I'm sure he hears me. His eyes leave Issy and then they are trained on me. I think I see his glare soften lightly and almost imperceptibly, I give him a weak smile. He doesn't return my smile, instead, his glare is back and then he turns on his heels sharply and walks away.

Issy laughs as he disappears up the stairs and drags me out to her car. I mumble a good morning to Sam who is standing at the door and he lowers his head in courtesy to both me and Issy.

Once inside the car, Issy hands me a wrap of sandwich and a cup of coffee, and for the first time this morning, I give her a genuine smile as I bite into the sandwich.

"You are a lifesaver, Issy," I say, my mouth full of food.

"Of course I am." She winks at me as she kick-starts the car and then she is speeding off, heading to school.

Issy pulls over at the parking lot and we both get down from the car. The walls of Lupin academy are still unfamiliar to me, but I guess I can manage. "So, according to your schedule which I have a copy of, your first class is Professor Gordon's Pack Studies 102 in Leto lecture hall and you have five minutes before you are pronounced late."

I grimace, already panicking because I have no idea what that means. What will the professors do to me if I am late?

"Don't worry Lilac, I'll come with you!" She gives me a reassuring smile.

I force myself to calm down and nod once. "Okay then."

She leads the way across the field, walking fast and confidently like it's her own home. I follow close behind, keeping up with her pace. We enter into the lecture hall and thankfully, the professor isn't in yet.

She drags me to the back where two seats are empty, a third being occupied by another girl, who is looking up from her phone. I recognize the girl, "Kira?" I say as she looks up, giving me a slight smile.

"Oh, hey, Lilac!" She smiles at me, her brown hair falling in soft curls and her eyes are dancing with amusement but as soon as she sees Issy, her eyes widen. "Princess Isabelle?"

Her eyes dart between the two of us, confusion etched into her expression and I sigh inwardly.

Issy gives Kira a small wave, "hi there!"

"Hi," she replies as if she is out of breath.

Kira's face has gone pale and she looks like she is going to faint. "It never gets old," Issy whispers to me.

"Why is she like that?" I whisper back.

Issy brings out her phone and taps on some things, then she hands it to me and my eyes widen when I see it. It's Issy sprawled in front of a fashion magazine.

"You are a model?"

"I am a Princess." I finally get it and so I nod. "I have to go now Sunshine, see you after school," Issy says with a smile and then sprints out of the class just as Professor Gordon enters.

"Morning class!"

I have had four classes today and the other two are in two hours, so far I have learnt new stuffs about the Lycans and they are all very contrary to what we were taught in Lyria. My stomach growls in hunger.

I didn't use the cafeteria yesterday so it was hard finding it, but when I finally find it... I almost want to sink into the ground when I enter.

Dread washes over me as I take in the full and loud cafeteria, no one is staring at me at the moment. I don't think they even care I exist, that should be good, but the only thing I can think of now is the fact that I am the only human amidst this whole lot of Lycans, and according to some of the lectures I have had today, I am even weaker than the lowest ranked Lycan, in this place.

Quite interesting if you asked me. Sarcasm intended.

I wish Issy is here, but I haven't seen her since morning. I heave in a long sigh and gingerly start walking toward the counter. Then I fill my tray with pastries, sandwiches, and juice. Just when I am leaving the counter someone grabs my wrist, yanking me backwards and pulling me roughly to the side.

I squeal in surprise and fall backwards on my butt, my tray clanging loudly against the tiled floor and spilling its contents everywhere.

"And there she is. The bloody human!" The voice. Beryl was her name, isn't it?

I gulp. Great. Just great. The hall goes silent and now every eyes are trained on me. What a great way to make an entrance. Hehe.

"I see you've started making yourself comfortable eh?" Beryl's voice drips with venom and anger, I almost choke on the bitterness her presence exudes.

I don't reply her, instead, I start to drag myself up from the floor. It would be better to stay silent than annoy her furthermore. The hall is still silent and even the movement of my sneakers against the floor echoes.

When I am upright, I dust down on my clothes and then I start to walk away only to be pulled back again by Beryl. I almost fall over again, but I maintain my balance and then I look at her.

"What do you want?" I say flatly, trying not to let my fear surface up. It will do me no good to make her see I'm afraid of her.

She scoffs, "What do I want?" She then looks back at her twin minions, throwing her head back in laughter as she speaks again. "You really think you can get me what I want?''

"Well, you ambushed me for no obvious reason, so I should assume that?" I retort.

She is laughing again, throwing her head back in the manner that has come to annoy me just more than it scares me. "You have guts don't you, Human?"

"The name is Lilac. Thank you. Now if you will excuse me, I have somewhere to be.." Which is a total lie, but well... I have not even made a step away when she drags me back again either her hands fisted in my hair. I let out a yelp and without thinking, I grab her own hair just as my fists clench and collide with her chin... Intentionally.

There are gasps around, and it looks like I have snagged some very intrigued audience. Bad choice, I can tell. I just punched a Lycan in the face. Beryl stumbles backward, but manages to stay on her feet.

"You're really brave for such a pathetic creature, aren't you?"

"Shut up." Is all I manage to spit out.

"Are you really brave, or is that all false?" This time I turn to run, but then suddenly she is there again, grabbing me by the neck and throwing me into a nearby table. I land on top of it hard and I feel a sharp pain shoot through my chest, the pain spreading throughout my body. Before I know what is happening, her hand grips my throat and she lifts me from the table. She shakes me vigorously; like a rag doll, like she is trying to break every bone in my body. I claw at her hands that are crushing my windpipe, but it does nothing but increase the pressure.

"You had better watch what you do here, Human!" She thunders, her voice reverberating off the walls. I can see furs starting to petter over her arms.

"You are the one who should watch what you do, Beryl Caulder... Now take your hands off her!" It's Issy.

A small smile touches my lips as she walks majestically into the cafeteria, making Beryl release her hold on me. I can't tell what happens, but as soon as she releases me, it's like I'm falling. My throat feels so sour. And the youlast thing I see before blacking out is the plain white ceiling of the cafeteria and then a flash of fiery red.

I want to go home.

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