Forbidden (The Secret World Of Atlantis 2)

Chapter 4 - All Eyes On Me

I am surprised to get a visit from the Headmistress the next day. She comes somewhere around noon, her expression utterly serious. I didn’t expect her to come to see me today.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” I ask, already able to be sitting up in bed. The nurse gave me some concoction this morning and it really helped ease the pain in my neck. Mrs. Adrastea’s gaze stops right at the bandage, that’s covering it. Her eyes then shoot up to meet mine.

“I’ve come to inform you, that Pandora has been dealt with … And she hasn’t been expelled. But she’s going to serve detention until the end of the school year,” she tells me and I nod in satisfaction. Good. I need the girl here, where I can pull some information out of her. I have a feeling this isn’t over yet.

“Thank you. I am truly grateful, that you’ve decided to consider my suggestion,” I respond politely. The Headmistress gives me a short nod, pausing for a moment. When she opens her mouth again, my mood darkens.

“There’s also another concern, that we need to address. I need to know what happened last Thursday. Without your input, it’s going to be hard to assure a proper punishment for Mr. Callisto,” she begins, making me grind my teeth together. But I know I won’t get anywhere with lashing out at her. This is no child’s play, the matter is delicate and I need to be careful with the words I say.

“There’s nothing to discuss. Not unless you can bring Eros in front of me, so we can answer your questions together,” I reply as calmly as I can. The expression on Mrs. Adrastea’s face shifts immediately. I can tell how pissed she is.

“I don’t think you realize how much trouble he’s in. Are you really letting yourself get pulled down with him willingly? You come across as many things Miss Io, but stupid isn’t one of them,” she remarks hastily. She tries to hide her anger, but her twitching eye is giving everything away.

“I don’t think you’re in the place to be telling me about how deep in trouble he happens to be. I believe you’ve lost your hold over him. So unless you can gain it back, there’s nothing to discuss here. You know the story. You’ve already made up your mind about it and nothing I say can change that,” I continue in the same peaceful tone. The Headmistress widens her eyes at my words for a moment, then puts on a blank expression.

“Very well then. But don’t come knocking on my door again, begging me to save you from your father. For once you truly happen to be the victim and you choose not to play the part. Why are you risking your whole future for a monster like that?” she asks, her face suddenly looking worried. But her words make me clench my jaw angrily.

“He’s no monster,” I grit through my teeth, all of my self-control gone. So much for keeping this conversation civilized. The Headmistress pulls her lips up into a slight smirk.

“Of course not. Pardon my harsh words,” she apologizes, but her tone sounds like she’s mocking me, rather than anything else. “I wish you a quick recovery,” she concludes, before walking down the hallway. If she stayed a moment too long, I would probably throw something at her head.

I throw myself back down, wincing as my neck hurts once again. The conversation with Mrs. Adrastea has pissed me off, but at least she’s confirmed my suspicions. She has no power over whoever is holding Eros captive. And I don’t need to think twice about who that someone might be.

I am kept in the Clinic until Sunday morning, but my friends don’t abandon me for a single day. I am still only allowed one visitor per day, which is why I get a different one every day. It feels good, when I don’t have to tell everyone the same story all over again, as Elena’s already filled them in on everything. But I still can’t wait to get out of bed. It feels so torturing to be lying in bed all the time.

So when Mrs. Praxidike checks my wound on Saturday evening and tells me, that I’ll be able to leave the next morning, I am overjoyed. It’s about time, really. I can’t wait to get my freedom back. And to find out, where Eros is. I haven’t forgotten about what the Gods have asked of me. I just hope it isn’t too late yet.

I am super nervous, as I’m walking out of the Clinic by myself. None of my friends know, that I’m coming out. Adrian was the last one to visit me and he left way before the nurse checked on my wound. I subconsciously cover the wound with my hair. I don’t have the bandage on anymore and I’m not ready for anyone to see how my neck looks like. In the next moment I realize that I’m overreacting. It’s alright, it’s not like anyone’s going to eat me alive, right?

But as soon as I step into the Dining Hall for breakfast, I realize that being eaten alive wouldn’t be the worst thing. I’ve gotten my fair share if stares before, but they were never this intense. Students are staring at me without any shame and it makes me so uncomfortable, that I feel the urge to run away. But my growling stomach protests loudly. And when I check the table, where I’m usually sitting, my joyful friends are already waving at me. Wonderful. No turning back now, I guess.

I gulp nervously and walk over to the buffet, trying to ignore the murmurs rising around me. But the words that I make out, still affect me deeply. I refuse to listen to them anymore, so I head over to where my friends are sitting, without properly checking out the food.

They all greet me warmly as I sit down, none of them boring into me with questions. I’m really grateful for that. Even Lykos, who is usually the first one to speak, doesn’t pressure me into talking. I lower my gaze into the empty plate in front of me. I don’t really feel hungry anymore. Not after hearing how other students spoke about me.

But I know I must eat in order to get my strength back. I got exhausted only from walking to the Dining Hall, so I am in need of some proper food. I imagine something appear on my plate and force myself to dig in.

“So? How are you feeling?” Lykos asks, apparently unable to keep his mouth shut anymore. I sigh, turning to him with a small smile.

“I’m okay,” I say, referring to the wound on my neck. I’m not willing to address how I’m feeling mentally. It’s too messed up. My friends are watching me silently, none of them believing me.

“Arya, I don’t know why you feel the need to say that, but you don’t need to pretend in front of us … You know that, right?” Korinna jumps in, her worried gaze burning into my eyes. I lower my head, nodding slightly, before I return to my breakfast.

None of my friends ask me anything else, but the atmosphere is still not the same as usually. It feels grim, like someone died. Which is ironic, considering that Eros might be on the verge of death right this moment. I try not to think about that, but it’s not like I have anything to distract myself with.

But this soon changes, as I catch a conversation of the students, that are sitting nearby. My whole body tenses, as I realize they’re talking about me. And they’re not saying anything nice.

“…let him drink her blood. It’s disgusting!” a girl comments, making me freeze in spot. I want to turn my attention away from their conversation, but I can’t. It’s pulling me into it like a magnet. No matter how hard I try to stop, I’m unable to.

“She’s a wh*re, why else would she let him do that? No girl with a sense of dignity would let a vampire drink her blood without a fight. I heard she practically threw herself at him,” another girl responds, making me drop my fork in shock. Why would anyone say that about me? I’ve never done anything bad to those, who didn’t deserve it. And what do I get in return? Insults from people, that I never even spoke to.

“Oh come on, didn’t you hear? She even touched his wings! If the professors didn’t come to her rescue, they would probably f*ck each other right on spot,” one of the boys snorts. I lower my head in shame, hearing them snickering behind my back. They’re even enjoying themselves because of my obvious embarrassment.

I can feel Elena pushing herself away from the table, but I stop her with a pleading gaze. “Please don’t,” I beg her, barely seeing her face through the fog in my eyes. She doesn’t proceed, but she still looks like she’s ready to pounce at them any time.

“Hey, Princess! Care to join us? We’re just having an interesting conversation and we’d love to hear your input!” one of the boys from that table yells at me. That’s when I have enough. I grab my bag and stand up.

“Bite me!” I bark at them, making them howl with laughter. But I’m already rushing past them, up the staircase, that’s standing in the middle of the Hall. The only thing I want right now is to get away from everyone. I don’t want to hear any more of this. It seems like everyone knows my life better, than I do. It makes me sick.

The glass tunnel, that’s connecting the west and east wing of the mansion is empty, as I walk through it. It’s a good thing really. I don’t want to see any more mocking faces. And I’ve heard the word sl*t way too many times this morning.

I turn the corner, rushing down the hallway, without really knowing, where I’m going. As I pass the girls’ bathroom, I stop in my tracks suddenly. It would be a good idea to pull myself together, before I go to class. I turn back around, only to freeze in spot, as I see the person, who’s decided to come after me. Not him. Anyone but him.

I bolt from the spot, turning left to run down the hallway, that leads to the bathroom, but I’m too late. Before I even reach out to grab the doorknob, I am yanked back by my elbow and pinned against the wall. The feeling awakens the sense of déjà vu, but the person in front of me is the wrong one.

“Let me go, Daniel,” I grit through my teeth, glaring at the boy with all my might. I don’t have the nerves to deal with him right now. I’ve had enough of everyone else.

“You’re not going anywhere, until I see what that abomination did to you,” he responds in a menacing tone. His eyes look crazier, than I’ve ever seen them before. But his words anger me nonetheless.

“Hate to burst your bubble, but you’re the only abomination here. Now let me go, before I break your nose again,” I warn him, half expecting him to laugh at me, like usually, but he doesn’t. He looks even more pissed.

“Are you seriously calling me that? How can you defend such a monster?!” he rages, making me flinch. I am afraid, but I don’t intend on showing him that. He’ll have to do worse, to make me tremble. “Show me your neck,” he demands in a voice so cold, it makes chills run down my spine. I turn my head to the side, where Eros bit me. I tighten my muscles as soon as I feel Daniel reaching out to grab my chin.

We have a silent fight, as he struggles to turn my head to the other side, while I try to prevent him from doing so. But at one moment, the pain becomes unbearable and I am forced to give in. My head flies to the other side and I close my eyes, gritting my teeth together.

I’m frozen from the hurt, so I start pushing Daniel away a moment too late. His fingers already brush away the locks of hair, that are covering the wound. He gasps in horror and I stiffen. It’s no wonder, really. I’m familiar with how it looks. My neck isn’t only blue, purple and black, it also started to change colours to an unhealthy green and yellow. It’s a terrifying sight to behold. But that doesn’t mean I’m okay with what Daniel just did.

“You’ve seen it, now leave me alone,” I hiss at him, pushing his hand away and placing my hair back over the wound. I’m so angry that he dared to invade my personal space like that once again. Were my signals not clear enough? I don’t want anything to do with him!

He looks furious once again and I do nothing, but stand there in shock, as he leans down and presses his lips to mine. As soon as I feel his lips trying to move against mine angrily, I finally gather all my strength and push him away in disgust. My hand jerks out by itself and meets his cheek with a loud bang.

I rush past him without waiting for a reaction, feeling relief as I step into the girls’ bathroom. He can’t get in here. I look at my pale face in the mirror before my eyes tear up. I let the water run, as panicky sobs overtake my body. I flush my face, trying to erase the disgusting feeling of Daniel’s lips on mine. In the next moment, I’m falling to my knees, tugging at my hair in horror. I can’t believe it. This was my first kiss. And I received it from the completely wrong guy.