Chapter 11: First Full Moon

The first full moon of the year had shined brightly above the sky, illuminating the vast forest below. Its rays had lit the woodland all the way down to the ground, where the thick mist crawled towards Saint Ann Dormitory.
Rakiza was dead asleep on the couch in her room. Her laptop remained open at the last entry of her novel. A mist seeped into the dormitory foyer outside Rakiza's room while Muriel slept behind her. She was still asleep when the mist entered the room via the door and the window suddenly opened, waking her up. "What happened?"
Her eyes widened when she noticed the window was open. She raced to the window to close it as the chilly wind brushed her face, making her shudder. She was going to shut the door when she noticed an image down below the window. Nikolas's visage was standing.
Rakiza's attention was drawn to Nikolas', and she could hear him speaking.
"Please come down? I want to show you something, "Nikolas whispered in Rakiza's brain, and Rakiza carefully walked down to the outside of the dormitory and welcomed Nikolas.
"How are you, Nikolas?" Rakiza asked, smiling.
"I'm worried about you, Rakiza," Nikolas said soothingly.
"Why are you here, Nikolas?" Rakiza felt a rush of adrenaline.
"I'd want to show you something," he said, adding, "Would you like to accompany me?"
"Yes, I will accompany you." Rakiza smiled.
Nikolas's limo stopped in front of the large house. The house resembled a stone castle perched on the edge of a cliff, and the wind was howling outside. They walked into the wide, closed entrance, which opened automatically as they approached it. Rakiza froze in amazement when she saw the spacious living room, which was made up of 10 sets of various sorts of couches and sofas for a large number of people.
And on the other side of the room was a grandiose staircase from a palace, and above the stairs hung a large painting of a female warrior in complete armor. She was holding a spear, and her steel helmet was half-opened, revealing her firm face.
"Her name was Maruja," Nikolas said.
"Maruja?" Rakiza murmured. She ascended the majestic stairs slowly, her gaze fixed on the painting. Her artistic ability began to activate within her brain. And she was eager to scan all of the details of the significant painting on the wall.
Maruja's painting was prominently displayed on the wall above the beautiful staircase. The woman was a grotesque representation of a strong-willed woman born centuries ago. She wasn't smiling at Rakiza. Her face was one of a conqueror's as she held a spear in her right hand, the point of which was scarlet, symbolizing blood. Her armor was made of silver steel, with a beautifully crafted steel helmet, and her breastplate had the design of a creature with fangs. Her eyes resembled Rakiza's.
"She was dubbed the "Great Queen Warrior of the East." Nikolas explained, "And she conquered all the countries she desired to rule," Nikolas stated quietly, then added, "And the only reminder of her courage is that painting by an unknown artist. She killed many people with that spear she was holding. "
Raki turned to Nikolas, "So, this is why you brought me here: to show me that painting?"
He smiled, "Not everything. I have more things to show you up there," Nikolas said, looking up and leading Rakiza to the upper portions of the wide stairs where the moon was painted vividly on the sky and lovely from the ancient tenement terrace of flowers.
Rakiza went around the huge patio, looking up at the wonderfully shaped full moon, as if she were in a garden of paradise.
"What magnificent scenery," she said quietly.
"And you blend your surroundings nicely, Rakiza," Nikolas said, taking her right hand in his, looking her in the eyes, and kissing her hand. He held her in his arms and danced with her around every corner of the garden, making a dance melody in their imagination.
Rakira felt as if she was being lifted off the ground by an excitability and eagerness she couldn't explain.
"Forever," he said, against her ear.
"Please excuse me. Will you repeat it? "
"Forever," Nikolas muttered again as he picked white roses from the man-made pond and handed them to Rakiza, but the word "forever" had a magical impact on her. Rakiza felt as if she were drowning in the wonderful small universe they were exploring as Nikolas peered at her, cradling her chin with his right hand.
"Forever, Rakiza, we'll be together soon. We have to wait for the right time for us."
"When exactly is it, Nikolas?" Rakiza stated emphatically, "Tell me."
"You have to discover it for yourself," Nikolas drew Rakiza closer to his chest.
And Rakiza was thrilled to count Nikolas's heartbeat, but she couldn't hear it. "How come I couldn't hear your heartbeat?"
Nikolas didn’t answer. Instead, he gazed up at the sky and noticed that the moon was traveling quickly to the east. And then the sky began to darken.
"I'll take you home, Rakiza." He suggested, "You can't stay here longer."
Nikolas and Rakiza left the castle and hopped into a limo. Inside, Nikolas kept staring at Rakiza.

The next morning, Rakiza and Muriel were startled by the alarm clock's screaming.
"Throw that alarm clock out the window, Rakiza!" Muriel yelled, covering her head with her extra pillow.
"Alright, I'm sorry," Raki said, stretching out to switch off the alarm clock. She then sat back on her bed and stared at the ceiling, motionless and thinking of nothing.
When the door opened, Susan and Chin dashed in and jumped on top of Rakiza.
"Wake up Rakiza, you have to purchase us toiletries," Chin muttered, adding, "Here's my list."
"Stand up, Raki, or you'll be late for school," Susan said as she yanked Rakiza from her bed.
"All right, all right. Put your list there." She motioned to the side bed drawer and was startled to see a bouquet of white roses in the jar.
Susan noticed the white roses as well, saying, "Wow, where did you get these white roses?"
"Don't touch that, Susan!" shouted Chin.
"Ouch!" Susan exclaimed. "Its thorns were quite sharp!"
Chin grabbed Susan's hand and wiped it with her white hankie before applying alcohol to the wound. "You need to disinfect this."
Rakiza lifted the vase of white rose flowers and stared at it for a few seconds.
Chin washed Susan's pricked finger over and over until Susan jerked her hand back to halt the cleaning. "I don't like those white roses, Susan," she added. "Throw that away, Rakiza; it will doom you."
Rakiza said, "I can't just throw this away. Nikolas gave me these roses last night."
Muriel had completely awoken and inquired, "Was Nikolas here?"
"Yes, he..."
All three of her companions waited for her to complete her story.
"What, Raki?" Chin asked.
"Yes, he, what?" Susan inquired confidently.
"He came to see me last night, and we went to---" Rakiza was perplexed as to what had occurred the previous night. "We were dancing under the full moon, and he plucked these flowers and presented them to me," she murmured quietly.
"What time did Nikolas come here last night?" Muriel asked.
"He was here—
"What time did he arrive, Rakiza?" Chin asked.
Rakiza closed her eyes and said, "I couldn't recall, but I was very sure he took me somewhere last night." She added, "Oh yes, we went to a castle."
All of the females' eyes widened. "A castle?"
"Did you say a castle? Like a castle for a prince and princess? " Susan asked.
"Yes, and it was so beautiful under the full moon," Rakiza beamed, "and we danced and he plucked those white roses for me."
"I believe you're a sleep walker, Raki," Chin remarked, and added, "Sometimes sleepwalkers remember pieces of their events."
Muriel objected. "What is true is that Rakiza was dreaming once more."
Rakiza insisted, "No, I wasn't dreaming. That bouquet of white flowers was proof that I was out with Nikolas the night before. And that we were in a castle with a flower terrace, small ponds with white lotuses. "
"However, where could that castle be?" Susan inquired.
Chin concurred, "I don't hear or see even a playground with a castle nearby."
"I still believe she was dreaming," Muriel stated firmly.
"No, Muriel, I'm not dreaming!" yelled Rakiza. "I was in a castle with Nikolas, and there was a gigantic painting of Queen Maruja on the wall!"
"Who is Queen Maruja?" Susan asked, and gave a friendly smile.
Rakiza narrated, "She was the Queen of the East." She had a clear memory of everything. And she wanted her dorm and roommates to believe her. "I'm not making this up. I can prove it to all of you, but first you have to tell me, Chin, what made you demand I throw these white roses?"
Chin stammered, "Because."
"Well, you kindly stop hesitating in the middle of your sentence," Muriel said. "It was so vexing, you know?"
"Tell us, Chin." Susan demanded.
"Because that is a vampire rose," Chin replied emphatically to her pals.
"What?" everyone exclaimed, stunned.
Muriel laughed and added, "Perhaps we should stop this nonsense and get ready for school."
Rakiza remarked aloud, "I'll go to the supermarket first. Meet me at the school, girls, and don't forget to leave all your lists on the table. " Rakiza turned to Chin and said, "And please don't toss my vampire flowers in the garbage, Chin."