The Domus Paranormal Academy

Big Mistake

“It's not adulterated if that's what you're worried about," he assured me, and to prove it to me he took a long swig from his glass. The apple on his neck bobbed until it was all gone, and he confirmed it with a burp and a broad grin. See, just as healthy as everyone else here.

I wondered if a sip would be catastrophic. She could pretend she was drinking, couldn't she?

“Let her be, Marise is different," Valery came to the rescue, already with her glass full. "Can you believe she didn't even know who the Lycans are?

Otsana and Dash gave me a frowning "impossible" look. I had to confirm it. Then he snorted as if it was too absurd.

“He must be lying," he opined, very sure. Not knowing who the Lycans are is like not knowing who the Kardashians of the human world are or something. You've had to hear their names sometimes.

Otsana sighed with annoyance.

“If we're going to start talking about the demonic trio, let me know so I can drink faster.

Dash put a hand next to his mouth to say something as if it were a secret.

“Otsana doesn't like the subject," he whispered to me.

“I don't like it when it comes to speaking well of them," she corrected, rolling her eyes.

Interesting: Otsana disliked them.

“Valery said that everyone loves the brothers," I mentioned, trying to gather information.

Otsana raised her shoulders.

“Yes, some of them follow them faithfully.

“What was that article about them last year? “Dash said with some mockery.

Otsana enunciated it dramatically, painting a headline in the air with both hands:

“That Lucian is the political future, Ankor the social future, and Viktor the humanitarian future.

Dash let out a laugh. For some reason, Valery didn't. She just drank from her glass and looked away. Noticing again, that uneasy gesture made her ignore the one Dash made when he commented:

“I just think they are the future of lies.

Otsana gave him a quick nudge that prevented me from asking what he meant.

“That's enough about those spawns, okay? “Otsana said demandingly. Then she turned her attention to me: "Marise, it's time for you to take a good swig of your beer, and you can't refuse because it's the student law we all have to comply with to pass the initiation I just made up. Let's go.

After the pressure of their stares and the insistent silence, I agreed. And that was the first mistake.

No.

Maybe it was a BIG mistake.

“For the initiation," I repeated, just as the four of us decided to clink our glasses together.

It was the initiation one, yes, but of yet another round.

As soon as I tasted the beer, my taste buds screamed like Minions, "It's yummy!" and demanded more, and well, I had to give them what they wanted, so an hour later I had already drunk three glasses. It seemed like only a few, but they were enough to make me feel the delicious dizziness produced by the alcohol. If I didn't get too drunk, it was because I drank them and because I went to empty my bladder more than three times... cof cof cof cof behind a tree cof cof cof.

By the time I stopped to think that I should stop, I had to admit that I was having a good time. I hadn't blurted out anything revealing, and Otsana, Dash, and Valery were nicer than I had expected. They understood sarcasm and didn't brag about anything they had. And they weren't talking about the Lycans. They were just as half” drunk as I was, so we were laughing our heads off, and we didn't even know what about!

I wondered if I could get along with them just like a normal girl would.

Although I don't know why I wanted to believe I was normal.

Supportive whistles suddenly interrupted our meaningless laughter. An hour had passed. As soon as we glanced around curiously, a few tables over, we saw that Lucian and Viktor had arrived. Along with a couple of other guys, they were about to take their seats. This time I didn't notice them, but one of the other two did. One who was standing next to the chair where Lucian was going to sit and who didn't seem to have any intention of joining what would be the game.

It was the third brother, Ankor. Don't ask me how I knew, I just knew. He looked like the little guy: a little thinner, with the same imposing, flashy air of his brothers, but with his hair perfectly slicked back and a sparkling, playful look. His clothes marked a difference in style from the others: a turquoise T” shirt with what I called pants, that is, khaki pants (because have you ever seen a royal or a prince in Disney movies without khaki pants?). Oh, and the most impeccable shoes I've ever seen in my life.

No earthquake, no calm. That guy seemed to be the ultimate standard: salvation.

So, having seen all three, I could tell them apart like this:

Lucian: effusiveness.

Viktor: indifference.

Ankor: amusement.

“What's going on? “I asked, curious.

“I'm sure they're going to play poker," Dash replied, looking down at the table. Lucian is damn good. When he plays, there's no chance for anyone.

“But he'd stopped," Valery added, a little confused, "because no one wanted to play at a table with him at it.

“Don't you know that? “Otsana snorted at him. Lucian can't go more than a week without beating someone at something because he gets hives.

In all, seven boys sat at the table, including Viktor and Lucian. One pulled out a deck of cards and they started dealing them like true professionals. Meanwhile, I noticed that Ankor leaned over for Lucian to say something in his ear. After that, Ankor nodded and unexpectedly walked away from there in some direction.

Hum... Weird.

“Let's go over and watch the game," I suddenly proposed, and as everyone stared at me, I added: "Is it possible?

“Well, sometimes someone loses all their money and you can hear when they make the call to daddy. “Dash raised his shoulders. It's funny.

The girls shared a look and agreed. For a moment, Valery hesitated but ended up agreeing. We weren't the only ones who had that idea, though. Many more people ended up milling around the table, and in the end, the game became a public spectacle.

The light in that section of the huge ground was not very good, but I took advantage of being so close to them to satisfy my curiosity about the Lycans. I quickly found other differences:

Viktor's nose was straight. Lucian's nose had a very slight curve.

Viktor's gaze was wary, cold, and hard to decipher. Lucian's gaze was sparkling, sly, mocking.

Viktor seemed to study the movements of the others. Lucian seemed overconfident of his victory.

Viktor = enigma.

Lucian = challenge.

Well, my alcoholic brain didn't allow for more clever descriptions, so I ended up concentrating on the game. I watched silently, taking gulps from my glass. The participants and spectators were looking at the cards and then looking at Lucian. They weren't paying attention to anyone else, because that was entertainment: watching Lucian make the others lose, which at the same time made the game a meaningless joke. There were no risky bets because everyone could lose whatever they wanted. There was no tension either because it was known that Lucian would win.

He was sure of it too. His whole face said so. His narrowed eyes were smiling mockingly, and in them shone an unbearable smugness, the annoying certainty of success.

He and Viktor made a moderate bet that the rest could match, and then there was some action. Hands. Bigger bets. Bills.

Mild, but significant gestures. Silence. The occasional whisper.

Until it was time for the showdown.

Last hand. Last round. Last bet.

And it seemed that everything would end normally...

Until one of the players threw up.