Chapter 31
Persephone’s POV
I entered the store and immediately my nostrils were hit with the scent of cinnamon and camphor burning and something else as well but I could not put my finger on it. The bell on the top of the store had rung when I entered and almost immediately a woman came out. She was exceptionally gorgeous with the only difference being she looked like a crossover between a stern librarian and runway model. There was this beautiful blue cloud with some glitter covered in it covering her upper body and it sparkled as she smiled.
I rubbed my eyes once to see if I was hallucinating…but it did not change a bit once I opened my eyes again.
“Ohhhh you are so pretty…I never expected someone with bubblegum pink hair to be looking so perfectly adorable,” said the woman and I raised my brows for a second and the looked behind me. Was there someone else she was talking to? But there was no one else here except me.
“Umm? I am sorry?” I mused as she sighed and nodded.
“Come on in dear, I think you should see for yourself,” said the woman as she put her hand forward and I could feel genuine warmth and kindness wafting out from her in deep waves. How on earth I could feel that I had absolutely no idea but I could. I walked along with her to the inside of the store where I could see that it was a library and a fashion store at the same time.
“Shall I get all the books that I need for my curriculum here itself?” I asked and she nodded.
“When did you arrive here?”
“Yesterday. A few hours back I guess,” I replied with a small shrug.
“And have you been told which category or class of creature you are?” she asked kindly as she placed me before a mirror. And as I looked at myself I shrieked out loud. So loud that my own ears rang out badly.
My entire hair was PINK!! BUBBLEGUM PINK!!! HOW ON EARTH DID I GET PINK HAIR????
“Oh sweetie…” the woman said kindly and said,” Is this because of your magic? It did not come out of a box?”
I could only shake my head as I looked at my reflection in horror. What the hell was happening to me? How could something change my hair without even me knowing?????
“My dear come on and have a nice cup of tea…let’s talk a bit and then we can get everything that you need to get. I did not get your name but let me start with mine. You can call me Madam Cordelia,” said the woman as she placed me on a soft plush arm chair. Before she could sit on the opposite side the bell rang again and I could hear clacking of heels and some giggling.
A bevy of girls walked in who could very easily be in a fashion magazine cover and I could see a red haze covering every single one of them. I could easily determine that they were vampires. There was this sharpness about their features and they had cheekbones which were sharper than a knife’s edge.
And suddenly I had this realisation that probably I was seeing the aura of people. My Mom had told me that very strong empaths could read the aura of others but I had never ever encountered something like this before.
“Ohh lookie here…pink hair suits her, doesn’t it, girls? I bet she tastes like candy,” said the girl who was standing at the front. It seemed like she was the leader of the group as the others giggled and nodded and one of them even bared her fangs and licked it before me.
Seriously? Was she threatening me??
“Girls I would like to remind you that you cannot be threatening anyone with our blood sucking and this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated at all,” said Madam Cordelia and I smiled. She was fierce and protective just like a Mama Bear.
“That is ok, Madam Cordelia. I would like to hear what they have to say…I am pretty certain that they are better than their baser urges and animalistic instincts for I have heard that ones who go around tasting and sampling and snacking on unwilling victims they are locked up forever,” I rose as I spoke with a smile. Something inside me was urging me to speak in this manner…I could not just take her insinuations just like a sitting duck.
“Ahh so this one has claws too,” said the one at the front and said,” I am Lydia De Villier’s. I am sure you have heard of our family..”
“Why would hear about your family, little vampire?” I asked with a raised brow.
I could not purse my lips as the words went out of my mouth. This was literally not me speaking.
“Why the hell are you calling me little vampire? Do you have no idea who I am or what family do I belong to?” asked Lydia as I grinned even more.
Something naughty inside me was asking me to rile her up even more.
“If I did then I don’t think you would need to tell me who you were. But I am sure I will come to know you sometime as the class starts,” I told her curbing the voice inside me.
“Huh! I think we are going to get along pretty well…as long as you don’t set your sights on my man.”
“Of course. I would not think of doing that to another woman ever,” I said. In fact this was something that I could whole-heartedly agree on, and no woman should have to be scared of her man being coveted by someone else and soon the bell rung again and someone else entered and I could see the pink and gold cloud on the top of that person’s head even before I could see her face.
“Ahhh….that’s the bunny shifter that Ryker was talking about…I am so hoping that she donates to the blood bank some time soon,” said Lydia as she salivated and I was grossed out.
Madam Cordelia said,” Lydia, I suppose you are here to take your pick for the inauguration party at the end of the fortnight? Go ahead and take a look so that I can take care of everyone.”
Lydia looked back at the new comer and bared her fangs once as she walked off and I could literally see dark spots in her aura growing. I did not know how to read them but I had to learn very soon and as soon as she was out of my sight I came face to face with the smallest girl I had ever seen in my life. She looked like she was ten years old and had a head full of white hair. It was shocking but the even more shocking part were her eyes.
They were golden.
“Hi there,” I said even before she could say something, “ I am Persephone.”
“Oh right! I am Alizeh,” said the girl and she had such a cute voice.
“Wow that is a unique name…are you from here?” I asked and she shook her head.
“No I am not, I am from a different subcontinent, previously in the earthen lingo it was known as Turkey but now we are living in the ethereal realm. My parents have their own magical remedy store,” she said in an excited manner. And I could not help but be infected at her enthusiasm.
“Girls, please come and take a look at all the dresses that have been created for your sakes and then we can talk about what are the books you are going to need. Also remember, there are some more things that I can help you with so if you need any kind of help then all you need to do is come to me. My door is open always for your sakes.”
“Always?” I could not stop myself from asking.
“Of course sweetie. I am always here to help you girls in need.”
“But how will you be present here at the off hours? You also have your own life, don’t you?”
“It is my curse,” she said softly.
I could not help but furrow my brows in confusion. Curse? Weren’t those things banned long back from the ethereal realm? Curses were only for those who were the worst of worst in the realm of magic and had no cure at all. And that only could mean that it was something
“But curse? Why would you be cursed? You are a magical entity are you not?”
“Sure I am,” smile Cordelia and then she waved a hand over her features and all of a sudden there was a demoness standing before us and Alizeh squeaked at the sight. It seemed like she was some sort of succubus with horns and tail…But she looked nothing like Anora.
“But why are you here? I mean, I am glad that you are here but why?” I knew that all demons weren’t bad, and the best example of that was Anora and Mara.
“It is a long story but for reasons that I cannot exactly divulge to you or anyone else at the moment I have to wear a glamour. I don’t have any life except the one that I have devoted to the Academy, that is my life and you are the ones that keep things interesting for me,” said Madam Cordelia with a smile as she went back to her old form and me and Alizeh were both kind of starstruck for a while.
And Alizeh blurted out,” You are so beautiful!”
“You will soon have a new friend, I guess. Anora is here joining as the new teacher and she is looking to corrupt students,” I said with a giggle and Madam Cordelia’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Huh! Looking at the bunny already licking ass and sucking up…way to brown nose, bitch!” said one of the vamps as they came out of the changing rooms wearing very glamorous dresses. No doubt they were all looking gorgeous, of course they were vampires, they were hardwired to look beautiful and confuse their prey but not me. I wasn’t a prey.
“It seems that you have a very first hand knowledge of brown nosing, isn’t it?” I quipped as I could not help but listen to that voice rising up again.
“What did you just say to me?” the girl came forward in a pretty black dress with sequins with her fangs flashing as all of a sudden I raised my hand before her and she stopped. I had just wanted her to stop and she had stopped. She could not move anymore and was struggling as Lydia came out and said,” What is happening to her? What are you doing to her?”
“Just giving her a taste of her own medicine and I am just defending myself. You should control your lackeys better than this..” I said as I pulled away my hand and the power with which I had stopped her in and Lydia suddenly rushed forward towards me at such speed and I was pulled back immediately by someone.
Someone with very strong arms and someone who smelled like the ocean coming alive. Someone who was cool to touch and immediately Lydia was backhanded by the same person and she flew away a few feet and crashed into one of the dress racks and Madam Cordelia sighed.
“Oh the drama! This nonsense has begun once again…the semester has just started and I am again waiting for the holidays…Alizeh, will you please help me with the dresses?” she asked as Alizeh stared at me and then nodded and walked again with her.