Chapter 102

Chapter 102
Aidan's POV

I stormed out of the class, pissed. Sitting there to listen to the old man saying that I was possessed by some hellish curse was utterly annoying. I didn't know how to take it.

Would I become like the Lycanthrope? Never! I would never.

I rushed through the crowd of students who were wandering around the general hallway. Lucky for them, they could never worry about getting possessed by a stupid curse they knew nothing of.

I wanted to be as far away from this as possible. I stepped out into the sun and stared up at the waterfall ahead. Just one step past that and I would be gone… but to where? I'd be wanted by not just the police but every other person who hated me for being me. Nowhere would be safe.

Was I to accept this fate?

I paused by a tree some distance from the entrance. My heart pounded like it hated the very place it was stuck in. The sting came back again. I grunted, trying to fight it.

“Leave me alone, you damned thing!”
I punched the trunk of the tree, my fists digging deep into it like it was dough.

Don't let it take over, Aidan. Rockwell’s familiar voice echoed in my head.

“What?” I tilted my head, left and right, looking for him.
I couldn't spot him but I could sense he was close.

What are you doing? I asked him, without moving my lips.

“I thought I should find you and talk to you.”
He was closer now. I turned and he was two feet away.

“How did you find me?”

“You're my student, Aidan. I'll always know how to find you.”

He stepped closer and stood side by side with me, leaning his back on the tree. I caught a whiff of his fancy fragrance— a mild vanilla mixed with what I thought was citrus. Weird, just as he always has been.

He looked at me and smiled. I expected him to say something to me, knowing too well he heard what I was thinking.

“I know this is a lot for you,” he started, looking away. “But it is better you know, before it's too late.”

“Know what?”

“That you are infected by a curse that feeds off from you.”

“You just had to remind me!” I snapped, walking away.

I heard his quick footsteps behind me.

“Aidan! Wait…” he called out with a hint of desperation I'd never heard before in his voice.

I halted, then turned to face him. “Why? So you could tell me about the monster I'd become very soon?”

“No. There's one more thing I didn't reveal.” He said, then hesitated.

What was it about? Why was he hesitating? I gazed up at him, my eyes hooked on his face. Professor Rockwell was only a few inches taller than I was, but he suddenly looked like a giant.

“What you're feeling might be directly linked to Elly's dream?” He spurted, and I frowned in exasperation.

“What?”

“Listen, I'm not saying you could be the rogue, that's too early to tell, but we might have to observe you for a day or two to arrive at the best possible option to help you.”

I shifted on my feet. I knew that wasn't what it meant, but I couldn't help how I felt. “You mean like isolation?” I asked, then scoffed. “Isn’t this shit hole prison enough isolation? Why do I have to be ostracised even further?”

“No, Aidan, I would never do that to you. You should know me by now. I have genuine intentions man, I swear.”

Hearing Professor Rockwell swear - which he seldom did didn't make it any better, it made me guilty. Guilty of throwing tantrums like a three year old.

I bit down my lower lip and winced, “Okay, I'll hear you out.”

He drew a deep breath, planted his hands on my shoulders, and began. “I know this might be difficult to absorb, but we have to perform some sort of ritual to eliminate the Lycan's curse from you. That's why you need to be isolated so I could study the symptoms more.”

“What sort of ritual?” I asked, thinking of all the rituals that I'd read in books.

“The full moon ritual.” Professor Rockwell replied, but there was something in his eyes which he tried to conceal so well. Well, I understood what it was and why.

Doubt.

“But…” I stuttered, his doubt resonating within me. “But the full moon won't happen until next month.”

“That is why we need to create an artificial full moon.” he continued with resolve.

I wanted to jump on the offer, what could possibly go wrong but I knew everything could. The school authority could have him sanctioned, dismissed or killed.

“What if anything goes wrong? We could just wait until next month.”

“Can you hold it in until then?” He asked, looking down at me as if I was a little boy.

“I'll try.” I answered, feeling small.

Rockwell drew a deep, troubled breath and I knew that he wasn't comfortable with the arrangement. “Listen, you don't have to do it yourself. Don't get into trouble trying to play macho. Call me when you can't handle it, okay?”

“Yes, Sir.” I answered with a smile, but on second thought, I asked, “Is there no other way?

Rockwell thought for a moment before answering. “There is, but it'll be impossible to follow that route.”

“Why? What's the route?”

“It's the blood ritual. That'll require you to drink the Lycanthrope’s blood while we recite some spell around you. We'll need a Priestess and some lupine from your pack.”

“Yea, I see why that's impossible.”

A Priestess? And Werewolves from my pack? I didn't even know which pack I belonged to. I didn't even know we had to have a pack until yesterday when I read a textbook on lupine structure and origin.

“But if you can't wait, we could try an alternative.” Rockwell sufficed just in time. “I haven't tried it before, so I can't tell how efficient it might be.”

I looked at him, lost and he quickly continued.
“It's an alternative to the blood ritual. The Lupine’s biology has some specific herbs it succumbs to. If you drink that while Elly and I recite the spell, it could be the perfect antidote to the curse.”

“What herbs?”

“I’m not sure, but I know an Alchemist who lives downtown, in isolation.” he answered, releasing my shoulders.

“Let me come with you.”

“I would love to, but you know you can't. It's against the rules.”

“How long will you take to return to us?”

Rockwell made a silly face. “That sounds intimate,” he teased, smiling.

“Come on, man.”

“Two days.” He replied, but smiled again as he added, “I don't have super speed like you and Ryan.”

I thought for a second. “Two days, I think I can manage.”

“In the meantime, I need you to do something for me.”

“What's that?” I asked, thinking he was about to ask for a stringent favor.

“Look after the others, and while you're at it,” he said, then shifted closer and whispered, “This is between the six of us only. Keep this a secret from the school.”