Chapter 14

Elizabeth…Elizabeth.

That all I hear as I walk down the hallway on my way to class where Damon was already waiting for me. I turn back to check if there’s anyone calling me but there’s not a single soul even looking at me.

I hold my bag tighter and keep going, I really was going to lose my mind at this point. I’m about to turn the corner when I hear the voice louder this time.

“Elizabeth! Help!” and this time the voice is louder like it was right close to my ear and it sounds desperate and in need of saving.

I stop again and search for where the voice was coming from but like other time before there’s no one there.

I turn to keep walking only for the voice to scream so loud in my ear making me stumble and fall to the floor almost screaming in agony. I hold my ears trying to keep the voice out and regain a bit of my sanity.

“Leave me the fuck alone!” I yell when the voice screams again, at this rate I was going to go bonkers but at least there’s no one in the hallway to watch my meltdown.

I scramble on my feet and hold the wall for support before I resumed walking, much slowly this time to avoid falling again. I’m passing the library when the voice whispers again to me.

“Here” it said, this time in a low chilling tone, much like Damon’s voice when he was talking to Annabel in the cafeteria. I ignored the voice and was about to walk past when I suddenly couldn’t move.

It was like my feet was stuck to the ground with a very strong glue. I tried again and almost fell, my hand on the wall keeping me upright. Someone had to be playing a trick on me but then I was sure there was no glue on the floor.

I opened the door to the library about to call for help when I suddenly stumbled into the large space, like someone had pushed me from behind.

I checked where I had been standing and truly like I suspected, there was no sign of glue or anyone playing a prank on me.

Sighing in exhaustion I walked further into the library, everyone turning to me briefly before resuming what they were doing.

I was headed for the seat at the back but found myself going straight to the literature aisle. My eyes widened in instant fear, but I just couldn’t come to a halt or stop myself when I sat down and leaned on the books that were passage ways. It was like someone else was in control of my body and I was just there like a mere passenger.

Soon enough I was tumbling into the dark space before being thrown into the private library, this was fast becoming a routine and I did not like it one bit.

“What now?” I groaned, talking to no one in particular as I stood up and dusted my bottom. I wasn’t sure exactly brought me back here, but I was ready to leave before real damage will be done to me this time.

“Come” the voice answered and I turned sharply looking for where it was coming from. I walked further to the shelf that held the burnt book, that was where the voice seemed to be coming from.

I flipped through the pages until a page got stuck under my thumb but that was not made me freeze, the words that were once unreadable by me where now clear as day.

Somehow I found myself understanding every word and the strange language feeling like I’d known it my entire life.

“The cold ones” I read, the words written with very bold letters, I scanned the rest of the book my eyes widening as I read most of it.

“They are the one that have defied death and come back to life but not with a beating heart” I read out loud. Somehow the words translated itself in my head before coming out as English words from my heart, I don’t even understand how that was possible.

It wasn’t until I saw the picture below, showing a very ancient castle that looked just like the academy. My heart beat quickened as I looked at the familiar gates, one that I almost died at before someone took me into the Academy.

There was no way! I knew the Academy was very old but there was no way it was the exact building I was looking at in a book that was dated as far back as the 1400s.

I recalled then what I had seen nights ago at the same time my eyes fell on the words ‘Blood suckers.’ The cloaked figures had chanted in a circle before biting into the neck of the girls that had been standing in the middle.

Maybe this was the answer to all the questions that I’ve had since I stepped into the Academy.

I was about to flip the page when I felt heat at my back again and I knew the fire figure was around. I quickly closed the book and put it under my shirt before running for the shelf, pressing my back to it and plunging into the now familiar darkness.

When I was back to the main library I straightened up and made sure the book was safely tucked under my shirt. I walked out, making straight for the door and didn’t even stop when the old librarian called my name.

I went straight to my room, sighing in relief when I heard no voices or wasn’t stuck to the ground. I’ve never been more grateful that I had a room all to myself even if I was isolated from everyone else.

Once I got comfortable on my bed and opened the book and started reading it.

The cold ones were people who died and came to life. The first case was recorded after the first world war when a soldier who had lost his two sons made a deal with the devil for them to be brought back to life.

The entire village had called it bluff until the two sons where spotted in public looking anything but dead. At first they had accused the man of witchcraft but when they tried to capture him he ran faster than any animal they could think of.

My reading was interrupted when the door opened, I quickly hid the book under my bed before turning to smile brightly at Damon as he came in.

He didn’t return the smile “You were not in class” he said, sitting close to me on the bed but didn’t make any move to hold me like he always did.

“I had to…” I stuttered unable to come up with an excuse.

“You should have let me know you were ditching school, so I’ll do the same” he said, then his voice turned softer “School is not the same without you.”

I felt bad, I really should have gone to class to see him after leaving the library, “I’m sorry” I said, “I didn’t think about your feelings before acting out.” Throwing caution to the wind I threw myself at him, wrapping my arms around him in a hug.

It was a few seconds before he put his arms around me “I hate when I’m not around you” he murmured as he buried his face in my hair.

“Me too” I whispered. We were like that for a time before he pulled away to bring out a food pack I didn’t even realize he was holding.

“I’m sure you skipped breakfast” he said as he pushed it into my hand. I laughed nervously because he was right before biting into the pancakes which were surprisingly nice.

“Thank you” I said, blushing when I realized there was still food in my mouth.

He shrugged his shoulders “It’s nice feeding someone for a change.”

“Hey, why don’t we go to the river” I suggested, needing to get him out of the room and away from the stolen book.

“Only if you let me teach you how to swim” he countered, placing a kiss on the tip of my nose.

“Deal” I said immediately, that would definitely be a plus for me.

“Let’s go now before the water gets too cold” he said, making my mind go to the cold ones that were talked about in the book.

“Even if it’s frozen you’ll still swim in it” I tease, getting up from my bed.

“Oh, it’s you I’m worried about” he kissed my cheek before holding my hand and guiding me through the door. While we walked down to the river he told me everything I had missed in class which turned out to be nothing.

I stripped down to my underwear when we got to the river, and he did the same. Slowly he led me into the water, which was already cold, but I tried not to shiver so Damon wouldn’t worry about me.

“Just do as I say and you’ll be swimming in no time” he said, deepening his voice and taking the role of an instructor rather seriously.

“Yes sir!” I yelled as laughter poured through me “I will do exactly as you say”

He patted my head “Good girl, now keep your head above water and spread your limps.”

When I tried to spread my hands I fell into the water, but Damon was there to hold me up as I tried to get steady.

“You don’t have to rush it, just slowly move your legs with your hands and keep your head out of the water” he explained again, holding my torso so my head was still above water.

“I’m not sure I can do this” I tell him, I was too unsteady to move from the position that I was in. I tried again only to fall into the water again, this time when Damon held me up I sputtered water out of my mouth and glared at him.

“I’m not sure I want to do this anymore” I complained.

He was quiet for a while before he burst out laughing “You should see your face right now, so cute” he pinched my cheeks, but I swatted his hand away. We decided to just standing in the water and holding each other.

“Why didn’t you say something the first day we met” I asked him, holding his hand tightly so I wouldn’t fall back in.

“When?” he asked, looking confused, I almost rolled my eyes.

“Mrs. Adams office, I was with Annabel” I explained to him. He went still before turning me to face him.

“You could see me?” he asked, and I nodded.

“Yes” I answered when he kept looking at me “You were just standing there at the corner, and you were staring right back at me.”

“You weren’t supposed to see me” he rasped.