I shook my head. Adam was about to talk more, seeing that he had grasped the attention of a Diana, who had perhaps never seen a waterfall before, except in books, when I shook my head vehemently. That suggestion wasn’t going to fly. “I can't, Adam. I am not interested in seeing your waterfall.” I voiced my thoughts—when he started talking about a secret cave in a garden.Adam was taken aback at my resistance. He had obviously thought that the new girl would be excited at the idea. Well, I was sure that all the girls, who he had taken there, had been; I had been, when he had talked about the secrecy of the cave. I felt like laughing at myself, at my goofiness and naivety then. “But Dora, why?” Diana asked, pouting her lips. “I really want to see the secret cave with the waterfall. I ..” “You can go then, Diana. But I can not. You know the way home.” I stated mordantly, before looking ahead, and walking away from them. However, I hadn't moved five steps further when Diana grabbed
ADAM.I was still steaming in anger and frustration when I ambled into the common room where I and my brothers stayed to talk, think and brainstorm; at crossroads when I saw them lounging on the chairs there, each left to their own thoughts.I had bargained on here being empty so that I could stay by myself and think. With them here, that of course is canceled out. I wondered though, if it will do me good—for them to talk about anything at all, like their recent conquests or even about our father—anything to take my mind away from Dora. Dora. The girl was driving me crazy. One moment I was my aloof self, staying away from her. The next moment, I am drawn to her in such a way that I can't help myself, that I can't stop myself, and I end up being an embarrassment to myself mostly. What was it about her? I wondered, folding my arms across my chest. What was it exactly? Yes, she was very mysterious with the mask on her face. Yes, she was wonderfully endowed—I had seen my fair share o
“Hello boys, how are you doing?” Father asked as he stepped into the room. Looking at the three of us intensely, he walked to an empty chair, and sat down, then resumed his gazing. He was really expecting an answer? “Fine, father.” I answered, for me and my brothers. He nodded then, his eyes finding the document which laid idly on the floor. “I see that you have found the document of division, and retirement…” He started.We nodded, knowing that he needed echoes of agreement either in words or in deed, to keep his speech reeling, else there would be consequences. “What do you think of it? Is it not the best birthday gift?” He asked, and my brothers and I nodded simultaneously again, even though we actually thought otherwise. We would take our concerns to our step mother. She was the best advocate for us. She might not be our real mother, but she at least tried to show up, unlike the only blood relative we had left in the world. “I am glad that you think so, my boys. You see, i
I watched Daniel stutter, probably at loss at what to say, but I could also see the relief on his face. He had gotten the best deal out of the three of us. I looked at Noah. He wasn’t happy, but I knew it was because Dora had been chosen for Daniel. I couldn’t stomach the sight, so ignoring the consequences of walking out on my father, I stood up and walked out of the room, fuming silently, not believing that this was happening, not understanding either why I was acting this way. I banged the door on its hinges when I stepped into my room, anger riding over me in waves; however, dissipating a bit when I saw my stepmother folding my clothes. She shouldn’t be doing that. There were servants for that. Where was the butler? “What is the matter, Adam?” I saw the question first on her face, before it translated to her lips. I shook my head, walking to the beanbag close to my little library and settling in. I was not sure how to tell her how I felt. Dad has always ostracized her from
MAYAI watched as Adam and his brothers kept looking around the area where they had beaten me to near death, in scrutiny, as if they were searching for something, as if they were trying to remember something. Did this place make them uncomfortable as it made me? Are their hearts bleeding in guilt for the atrocity that they had committed against me, because their ego had been bruised? I hope so. I hope it bleeds to death. Beside me was Diana. She was watching them too. They had come, with the other elders of the pack, to wish goodbye to the witches’ community this morning. I could see Naomi’s parents-I hadn’t taken the time to seek them out at the party that night; seeing my mother had done enough disorganizing problems on me. I was so happy to see them though, that I hadn’t known when a smile slithered across my lips, until I saw the strange look of confusion on Rebekah’s face. She returned the smile still, and gave me a little wave, to the surprise of Naomi who didn’t think she
Immediately we touched down to the community via teleportation, I quickly started down the road to Peter's huts, glad they had arrived at the same spot where we had taken off from. "Maya, wait!" I heard Diana call, and faltered in my steps, coming to a total halt when she barreled into me. "You couldn't wait for me? Why?" "Well, I had thought the queen would have need for the magicians of the community, seeing that you are a high class mage, just like earlier." I answered, resuming walking, stopping again when I heard Raul call my name. What again? I turned around this time, to look at the company of witches that were already dissembling, each heading to their houses. And then I saw Adam staring at me, even with Rachel in his arms, even with Rachel talking about whatever. His eyes still remain fixed on me, undeterred, when Rachel stomped her feet, after realizing she wasn't the center of his attention; when she glared at me after finding out that I was the object of his attention
“What do you mean by Adam is here?” My incredulity rang loud in my question, so much so that my thoughts on the long white hair strand were forgotten. I stood up from the bed then, and started pacing wildly in my room, not understanding why Adam was like a leech that refused to get away. Was he that desperate for my pussy? Well, wouldn’t that be the same tactic which he had employed before? Show enough desperation to bed the girl. He had expected me to fall into the trap when he had mentioned the cave, thinking I was a different girl. Too bad for him. His desperation wasn't going to thaw the ice. If anything, it was making me annoyed, and more revengeful. “He has been here for the past thirty minutes. Mother had tried sending him away, knowing from your attitude in the party, that you don’t have a good relationship with him. But he has been persistent. And not even Dad threatening thunder and brimstone, and I vowing to cut his balls had managed to fend him off. Dude is determin
I was the only reason he was here?I chuckled, then stopped short when I saw the myriad of emotions in his eyes, the story in them, the seemingly want in them for me.He generally looked like a puppy panting after his master for a tap on the head. He looked at me like I was a drop of water needed by a traveler in the dry sandy desert.But I knew Adam. I knew what he had done.As I stared at him, my mind reeled off his deeds again—not that I ever forgot his inhumane acts— and my hands clenched into tight fists, as I struggled to hold back the urge to slap him. The anger bubbling inside me threatened to overflow, but I forced myself to remain composed, to keep my emotions in check.What was Adam’s plan? How could he look so serene, so calm, while talking to me as if nothing had happened? It was infuriating. If I didn't know what he had done, if I hadn't discovered the truth about his betrayal, I might have fallen for his facade once again. I might have been drawn back into his web of
ADAMAs I walked behind my brothers and friends into our territory, my mind was miles away. I couldn’t stop thinking about Dora. The memory of her cheeks flushed from our last meeting was vivid in my mind. I remembered how I had wanted to kiss her lips, not just her cheeks. The thought made me ache with longing. I missed her so much. I couldn’t believe how quickly she had come to mean so much to me.I was so lost in my thoughts that I barely noticed Claire’s voice cutting through my reverie. “Adam,” she said, sounding curious and a little annoyed. “When did you and Dora get so close? She’s tickling your fancy too…?”I tried to ignore her, hoping she would just go away. I wasn’t in the mood for this conversation. But Claire wasn’t one to let things go easily. She reached out and grabbed my arm, her grip firm.I turned to glare at her, irritation burning in my eyes. “Don’t touch me,” I said sharply. “Just don’t.”Claire’s eyes widened in surprise, and she quickly let go of my arm. I
Walking home with my family, I could hardly focus on anything other than the memory of Adam’s kiss on my cheek. It was such a strange, surreal moment. It had happened right in front of his family, my family, and even though it was chaste at best, the whole world had seemed to stop for a second. The way he leaned in, the warmth of his lips—everything had felt so intense. I couldn’t believe it actually happened. I still couldn't believe his audacity.I sighed now as I remembered the looks that had overtaken the faces of the people around. Adam’s brothers had looked aghast. Daniel had been boiling with anger, for one. The same was Claire’s situation. But that had been expected. Only Naomi had seemed pleased, if the tiny smile on her lips had been any indication. I wondered now though, if she ever thought of Maya, if she ever thought that she was betraying Maya, by supporting the motion of Adam and I dating.The other person who had seemed pleased was Levina. But that was quite expecte
I looked at my family. I looked at the Lycan triplets, whose faces were also ridden with surprise—they hadn’t seen this part of the congratulatory visit coming. I looked at Naomi and the rest; they were all ridden with surprise, and their faces were all ridden with the same question—why was the king inviting me to a party, attended only by werewolves? What was the business of the witches with the moon goddess? Witches didn’t understand the moon goddess, since they had theirs to celebrate, so why invite one? And wouldn’t that invitation trigger the ‘anger of the moon goddess’, as the pack would always love to put it? Was that notion being broken because of me? Wow, I never thought I would see the day where a protocol as huge as that would be broken because of me. My gaze reverted to the king again. He had a tentative smile on his lips, like he was half expecting me to reject the next words that would come out of his mouth. “Part of your reward includes traveling to places you wish
“Why aren’t you all dead?” I asked Diana and Levina, as we walked behind the adults, toward my tent, after professor Zokel was done listing off my rewards, including those I hadn’t been aware of, those that hadn’t been included in the bulletin that had been distributed in the school, in the days leading to the contest. “Dead? What are you talking about?” Levina asked, looking between Diana and me. Diana shrugged her shoulders. “We told her that anyone that saw the beast was liable to die.” Levina chuckled. “I think I told her the same. But seeing as we are all living and breathing, I guess that our parents had distributed unnecessary rumors to us.” We shared a laugh after that, a laugh which caused the adults in front to turn and look at us. Satisfied that we were not up to any mischief, they returned to their discussion, a discussion that I was privy to; they were talking about the beast bowing to me. Mr. Lethon believed it was because of the royal blood in me. Peter believed th
Because the beast’s voice could be heard by all in the field, and maybe even outside of the field, I used magic to amplify my voice, so that everyone could hear me speak too. So, when the crowd erupted in mild shouts and mutterings at the previous words of the Queen, they echoed affirmations after mine; affirmations mixed with amusement at the nonchalancy in my voice and then anger at the Queen for breaking the laws that had been in place for many years. The beast obeyed. He turned his mighty head and stared at the Queen, whose hands were shaking. Out of nerves or shock or anger, I wasn’t sure. But her cool composure was gone. “Well, to be fair to the Queen, she didn’t call you out…” The beast grunted, in confusion I was sure, if the thinning of his eyes were anything to go by. “Who called me then? Only she has the power to call us out…” “Well…” I smirked, and pointed at a Rachel who was shaking with fear beside her mother. Oh well, she was scared of what she had conjured? Inte
Rachel stood still even when the crowd was shouting ‘Fight!’ ‘Fight!’ like a mantra. I knew she wanted me to attack first. “I’ve been watching you fight, and you have never attacked first, well apart from your last match….” She started, placing her hands on her waist.“Well, that’s a stupid deduction to make. I’ve only fought two contestants. Didn’t your mother teach you that, when she taught you how to fight with the subtle magic, when she taught you how to cheat in the competition?” I shot back, a smirk appearing on my lips.Her eyes widened, and her composure disintegrated by a meaningful portion, as she looked around her, to check if the others were hearing. “Tsk, your family is terribly disgusting. You want me to attack you? Then you will have it. Don’t regret it though. There’s a reason I don’t attack first. I thought my last battle would have explained that, but it seems you are slow…” I said, right before I advanced toward her. She jerked back, as I approached, causing me t
Laura’s infamous meat sauce would have been enough reason to win this last battle, even if the Queen’s rewards hadn't been attached to it. Thinking of it now as I sauntered into the battlefield brought out the hunger pangs that had managed to stay hidden for a while, under the layer of fruits and water. I was hungry. “Wait, until I am done with this.” I muttered to myself, flexing my hands. Laura should have better prepared my favorite meal to celebrate my win, because I wouldn’t settle for less. Not when my mind was already clouded with meat sauce. Rachel was already waiting for me in the field, her arms folded across her chest, disdain notable in her eyes. I didn’t bother mirroring the same, I just wanted to be done with this, so that I could go home and eat. ‘That’s a good attitude, keep it up.’ El spoke then, causing me to pout. ‘Is that sarcasm?’ She chuckled. ‘Not at all. It’s good that you’re not nervous, considering the principal’s insight, considering that it lowers you
Rachel won her own fight. But it had been by a sharp luck; the senior had been varsed in combat, very varsed, despite her not so big stature. Probably why the organizers had linked her to Rachel; they had thought it would be an easy defeat. After her match, the Queen had called for a little recess, so that the final contestants could have some rest before the last phase of the competition. It was why I was reclining on the chair in my tent, drinking an energy mix that Laura had given me. “I’m sure that the Queen is giving Rachel some tools on how to fight you, some tricks. You have to be careful out there, Dora…” Diana spoke, with a disgusted expression on her face. “That woman can be so sneaky.” She added, placing her arm around my shoulder. “If you win Rachel, I will give you my meat sauce for a week.” I laughed then, unable to hold it this time around. Diana was a darling. “Deal!” I shouted, jamming fists with her, whilst her parents and Levina watched on with wide smiles on th
My second opponent was the senior that had tried to bully me in the hallway a few days ago; that had tried to instigate me to fight her so that I would be disqualified from the competition. She was prancing around the field like an overzealous proud horse, getting cheers from the crowd. I thought she looked hilarious. I was going to win her. That was a given; not because I was proud, but because I had no choice. I had no choice than to make her eat her words, than to make her regret troubling me that fateful day. My quiet demeanor was mirrored by Rachel and her family. At intervals, I looked at the people in the crowd, at the Queen, at her. It was as if they knew that the senior was making noise. A noise that was uncalled for. Rachel, especially, had a bored look on her face. She knew I would win, never mind that it wouldn’t be pleasing to her. When I had won Courtney, I had seen the dread that had flirted past her face, right before she conditioned her countenance to stoicness. Sh