The Domus Paranormal Academy

Literature class

I wrote down the title in the two columns. Then I tapped the sheet with the tip of my pen, thoughtfully.

“Why do you like it? “I couldn't help asking.

Viktor took his time. I even thought he was going to ignore me like the rest of the students, but a moment later he raised his shoulders.

It teaches you that you can be almost perfect on the outside, and be bloody rotten on the inside," he replied matter-of-factly. I noticed that he had a soft, sly voice. Compared to the powerful, energetic voice of his obnoxious brother, his was intriguing and, unfortunately, pleasurable to listen to.

As for the book, another surprise to me. I agreed.

The words came out of my mouth on their own:

“And that power corrupts the soul.

“That power is a weakness," he nodded.

Then he turned his head and looked at me. His eyes were dark, cloudy, and leaden. Faint dark circles under his eyes made him look tired. The comparison with his brother was inevitable: while Lucian's gaze was defiant and brimming with haughtiness, Viktor's was penetrating, somewhat mysterious, difficult to hold, but interesting...

He was a Lycan.

He was not to forget that he was a Lycan. And with Lycans, you have to be careful. Always.

“Good. “I cleared my throat and looked back at the list. Another one?

“I've been reading Dialogue Between a Priest and a Dying Man. It's a short story, but it would be interesting to see what you think.

“Do you read the Marquis de Sade? “I asked him, frowning.

He lifted his shoulders indifferently and leaned against the back of the chair, very relaxed. In a distracted and bored way, he began to scratch the table with the nail of his index finger.

“So what if I do?

“It's repulsive," I opined.

“Exactly.

“I should have known... “I muttered, shaking my head as I wrote down the title.

Viktor let out an apathetic laugh that sounded more like a snort. I rolled my eyes. He, his brother, and everything they stood for were starting to turn my stomach unpleasantly, but I had to calm down. I couldn't be defensive with such obviousness. I had just arrived, I wasn't supposed to have any reason to detest them so much, was I? So, I had to behave.

“Just tell me another book," I asked, dryly.

“Ian McEwan's Atonement.

“One you've read," I corrected myself.

“Why do you think I haven't read that book? “he asked in reply.

“Because I haven't," I answered simply.

There was a slight lift at his right corner that gave the impression of a tiny smile, though I couldn't identify what kind it was. Amusement? Teasing? Nothing?

“You don't think it possible that I could read such a book just because I said I'd read something by the Marquis de Sade, do you? “he replied, calm, but at the same time somewhat sharp.

“No, it's not... “I tried to defend myself, but Viktor continued:

“Or is it that now you think I always read things in the style of the Marquis de Sade?

“No, it's just that...

Viktor leaned forward and leaned his elbow on the table to talk to me with a more confidential air. He fixed his gray eyes on me. It was intimidating, and I was not easily intimidated.

“I hate the Marquis de Sade," he whispered to me, seriously. It's so repulsive. It's just perversions and frustrated fantasies written for relief, but...the real reader is interested in reading any kind of book. It doesn't mean that he's going to like them all, it means that he's open” minded, that he's curious, that he gives opportunities, and above all, that he doesn't waste his time criticizing without basis or supporting the absurd criticisms of others, because he forms his own opinion and that's enough for him. That is enough for me. “And he concluded with: "Couldn't you imagine that those were my reasons or is it easier for you to judge people just because they like the things you don't like?

With that, he gave me two strong and triumphant mental slaps, damned animal.

But I refused to stay silent because first dead and burned, then defeated by someone. I exhaled and shook my head, overwhelmed by the speed of his words.

“No, wait," I hastened to say, rearranging myself, ready to engage in debate. I just thought you wouldn't read something like that because you're...

“A Lycan? “she completed instantly.

I blinked, incredulous.

“Well... yes.

“Wow," he laughed an almost imperceptible, but surprised laugh.

I didn't even have time to say anything else. He raised his hand toward Lauris and said aloud:

“Teacher, can I work alone this semester? “All the attention in the classroom fell on him. Lauris stopped writing on the board and looked at him curiously. It's just that my classmates think that, because of my last name, I'm a stupid Neanderthal and, because of my tastes, I'm a sick creep. And, to tell you the truth, I find that very prejudiced.

Another slap.

The whole class looked at me. Some covered their mouths to stifle laughter, but there were still a few. My face burned with indignation and embarrassment, and again I felt at the center of an issue that could only get worse for me.

I clenched my pen tightly.

“It's not true! “I quickly defended myself, refusing to look stupid. It's not true. I only said that... I meant to say that...

But I did look stupid. I couldn't save myself. I was cut off because I couldn't say my reasons for considering Viktor an i***t, not the most logical ones, and everyone noticed.

Yes, I was a total joke.

“I'm afraid, Viktor," said the teacher after shushing the students, "that this is all the more reason for you to work together and debate your views, which is the whole point of the class.

And we were not separated, but for the rest of the hour, we never spoke again.

As soon as the end” of” the morning bell rang, Viktor didn't wait two seconds before grabbing his backpack and disappearing. I was relieved not to have him around, but deep down I was left with an irritating feeling of having been defeated by him. Normally, I knew how to defend myself in any debate, but I had to admit that he had made a fool of me in less than five minutes in a surprising, almost... admirable way.

No, not admirable.

I had to be very careful with him. He could be the most dangerous Lycan, because he was cold and calculating, unlike Lucian, who was a bit more instinctive, although I supposed it was difficult for him to beat Lucian. Or was cruelty less harmful than intelligence?

I went to the dining room for lunch, where Valery had promised to wait for me. Up to that point, I had associated dining rooms with noisy, crowded, food-smelling places with stained floors. At Domus, of course, that was not the case. The dining room was sophisticated and clean, and “ not many of them “ spoke in a subdued tone. The food was not a favorite of all the discerning palates of students accustomed to campus restaurants, but some only had time to go there.

It would even seem like a joke that magical beings are more polite than humans themselves. I wouldn't believe it, but their social etiquette is impeccable, which makes it all the more suspicious.

I reluctantly left my tray of chicken and mashed potatoes on the table. Valery looked up from his notebook. He was eating and studying at the same time with his laptop in front of him. She wore big horn” rimmed glasses that I didn't know she wore and a thin headband in her short hair. Again, I detected in her that gesture of biting her lower lip as if she were a girl from Twilight.

Analyzing her, I associated it with insecurity. Restlessness. Valery is human like me, from one of the most privileged families for being relatives of the trinity, or that's what they call the organization formed by the most powerful magical beings of the city. The wolves were undoubtedly the peak of the pyramid, the vampires and the ancestral witches formed the two bases of that hierarchy. Valery is restless, but not the hyperactive type, but the nervous type. The question was: why?

“What's wrong? “she asked me, noticing that I was not very happy.