Chapter VIII

“I’m perfectly fine, Amaris. You don't have to worry…" Mathilda gave me a reassuring smile.


The two of us were left here in the classroom. We went back here while our classmates have already left.


Just like what the Elites said earlier, we have no class for the whole day. There is a deafening silence all over the place. Mathilda left something in our room so we have to get back. While I have already told Mr. Bear that we got dismissed early so I will just wait for him.


“Stop saying you're fine, if the truth is not. There is nothing wrong with admitting what you truly feel. That’s not cowardice, Mathilda.”


I know we just met yesterday, but I want her to feel that there is always someone who is willing to listen to her. It’s hard to keep your silence and emotions to yourself, I have been there.


“Thank you, Amaris. I'm just not used to telling someone about my problems.” I nodded at her, understanding where she is coming from.


She heaved a sigh before continue talking, “I'm a proud scholar, but sometimes I can't stand with their judgment for scholars like us. We have the same right to study here, the only difference is that they have money and I don't.”


I'm not used to see her low-spirited.


“I could still remember my first day here. I was very excited but that excitement was replaced by fear. Those twin sisters locked me up at the women's comfort room and poured me the water I used for mopping the floor. Of course I was terrified, who am I just compared to them who have a very high reputation in the society. They are princesses and I'm just a poor witch. ”


I could clearly see the pain in her eyes as she recalled the past. She is trying so hard to fight back the tears.


“With each passing day, they do different things to make me suffer, not only me but the other scholars as well. One time, they purposely put the potion room on fire and they pointed the crime to a vampire scholar. He was kicked out and no matter how much he begged to come back here, they did nothing. And last year, we just found out that he drank his own blood that caused his poisoning."


I was unable to move when I heard that. I can’t imagine how much pain that vampire went through, especially the family he left behind.


"Hey, why are you crying?" Mathilda asked worriedly.


Unbeknownst to me, tears were already dripping from my eyes. I gripped my chest for I could feel my heart hurting.


“I-I'm just saddened by what just happened. I couldn't imagine the pain that he felt during that time.” I felt the familiar chest pain. I may not know him, but I felt the sympathy for him.


“That's why I'm so angry with that twins! They are so evil!” Her fist formed into a ball.


I felt an unfamiliar emotion within me. I feel like I don't want to see or encounter those creatures again. I don't know what I might do to them.


I close my eyes tightly when I feel a scorching feeling that wants to come out behind me. They are fighting their way out.


"A-are you okay, Amaris?" Mathilda interrupted me. She looks pale and worried all of a sudden.


I took a deep breath to calm myself.


“Yes, Mathilda. I'm okay and I hope you are all right too.” I smiled to assure her that everything is okay… or I just hope so.


"Little doll." I heard a voice inside my mind.


Oh, Mr. Bear is here.


"Wait a minute.” The three of us could perform telepathy so there is no need to use any modern gadgets to communicate.


“Let’s go home, Mathilda. We will send you home.” She nodded and immediately gets her belongings.


We quickly reached the entrance of the university. And from there we can see a car parked in front. Few more students were outside and looking at the black limousine.


Mathilda's grip on my arm suddenly tightens when she saw Mr. Bear approaching our way.


“Oh, hell! Is h-he a giant?” she whispered with a trembling voice as he looked at the creature in front of us.


Mr. Bear towered us, almost obscuring the light around us.


“Don’t be scared, Mathilda. That's Mr. Bear. He has the softest heart among all werewolves,” I said with a smile to my friend who is still in daze while looking at our butler.


"Hi, little doll." He gently messed up my hair that makes me giggle.


"Hello there, little woman." He faced Mathilda as well.


"H-hi, Mister…" Mathilda replied shyly. I could still feel the tightness of her grip on me.


Our butler nodded with a smile.


"Come and get in the car so you both can rest," he said as he carefully opened the car door for us.


“Thank you, Mr. Bear.” I let Mathilda get in first and I immediately followed.


“Who is that big guy? He's so ugly!” I heard some of the students’ comments before Mr. Bear finally closed the car door.


“I know right. He looks monstrous.”


The car is already moving but I could still hear them.


I sighed heavily and I know Mathilda heard that.


I am sad more than disappointed with the way of thinking that they have. I am hurt in behalf of Mr. Bear. He's a good butler, a great father figure to me. It's only my second day going to university but I've witnessed different behaviors from these creatures. Why are they like that? They are cruel.


“That’s okay, little doll. Don't mind them.” Mr. Bear spoke to me through our mind links.


That’s not okay for me. I will talk to them if I ever encounter them again.


“Wow! This is beyond my imagination, Amaris! This is my first time riding an expensive car like this!" Mathilda whispered to me as trying to suppress the excitement in her voice but she failed to do so. She happily looked around the car.


“Don’t worry, Mathilda. From now on, we will come to school together so you will no longer have a hard time coming in and going home.”


She is living at Bridgecoast, a town in the northern part of Wromouth.


“Doesn't that sound a nuisance to you? I don’t want to take advantage this friendship, and I could ride a broomstick. That's what I do most of the time.” She held my hand and smiled at me. "Don't worry too much about me, Amaris."


“You are my first friend here and you will never be a nuisance for me. Just when you need help, don't hesitate to call me.” I cared for her like how I treasured my Mamita and Mr. Bear.


“I guess you love sweets, huh? You are so sweet!”


I just laugh at the words she uses even though I still don’t understand it sometimes. I will just have my own research later so I could use those words in the future.


"Uh, that's my house." Minutes later and we arrived at her town.


We stopped at a simple house that I think only one person can live in. Mr. Bear wouldn’t even fits in.


Her house was surrounded by trees, no other houses nearby. Is she safe here?


“I will go, Amaris. Thank you for sending me home. I love you.” I wasn’t able to stop her when she got out of the car quickly.


I was about to offer her if she wants to live with us because I'm kind of worried with her safety here. I could also feel something odd with the surroundings. Maybe I'll just talk to her tomorrow, there's still plenty of time to talk about that.

-

THE NEXT DAY, I got to school just exactly the time before our classes start. I am meters away from our classroom when I noticed that there are a lot of students lurking outside. They were so loud.


What's up?


How can I get in if there’s a lot of creatures in my way? The nervousness sums up, my fingers started to tremble. I am still not used to a crowded place, especially that I am alone now. I just survived yesterday because Mathilda and my classmates were with me.


I was about to step back and just run away when someone grabbed my arm and guided me to continue walking.


I let out a sigh of relief when I saw that it’s Mathilda. Thanks, God!


“Don’t even think of turning your back, Amaris. I will help you conquer your fears and the first thing you need to do is to continue walking.”


Well, she's right. I wouldn’t get used to it if I always think of turning away from the creatures I might encounter.


"And by the way, good morning to my beautiful friend!" She winked at me, with a wide grin on her lips.


Finally, she is in her usual self.


“Good morning as well, Mathilda. Thank you, you are my savior!" I stopped to give a peck on her cheek. I heard her violent breathing in return.


"I told you, warn me first before kissing!"


I just laughed at her answer before we continued walking.


"Excuse us!" Mathilda loudly announced when we got closed to our room.


I can hardly count how many students are here in front of the door. I tightened my grip on her as they looked at us at the same time.


Oh, heaven. Why does she have to shout?


For a moment, they are just staring at us as if we just made a crime. And I don’t know how it happened, they immediately line up on either side. The sea of creatures suddenly got cleared to give way for us.


I just felt Mathilda pulling me so we could pass through. I sighed as I apologized for the inconvenience we had caused.


"Who is that?"


"New member of Elites?"


“Oh, f*ck! She is breathtakingly beautiful!”


“Don’t stop me, I will just ask her name!”


"I think I got a love at first sight."


I heard various comments coming from them but eventually disappeared when Mathilda loudly slams the door. I looked at her in disbelief.


“Uh, why did you do that Mathilda? That's disrespectful…” I calmly turned to her. What if someone gets hit?


"They are so irritating and they are making you uncomfortable!" I could feel the annoyance in her voice.


I felt guilty right away knowing that I am the reason. “I’m sorry. You have to do that because of me.”


Her face softened and she started laughing as slightly hit my arm.


“Silly! No. Not your fault at all. Vampires and wolves are sometimes a bothersome. You will get used to them soon.” She shook her head before facing our classmates but her smile suddenly wiped out.


I now understand why she got that reaction the moment I turned my gaze to the direction she is looking at.


Unfamiliar pair of eyes are now staring at us... or I must say, staring at me? The seats that were vacant the other day were almost occupied.


I sighed heavily, trying to compose myself. I tried so hard to prevent my hands from shaking. Awkwardness started to fill inside. Can I just disappear again?


"Elites." I heard Mathilda whisper which made my chest throb even more.