Mia

Episode 3

The next night, Mia went to the darkroom again because the plans they made the previous night were brief and so certain things were not discussed.

The only thing discussed was that of when the journey will take place and that's during the holidays.

“So are you going to go with me like this? Without me seeing you" Mia asked the male voice speaks to her.

“No. If you were able to use your eyes you would've been able to see me even in this place but since the opposite is the case I'll be visible for a human to see me" the male voice said

“Okay. What's that your name again? I tend to forget"

“Leo, your highness"

“Your companion?"

“Mary"

“Nice. I know I can't use my eyes and I don't need to be reminded, Leo"

“Sorry, your highness"

“So where will you be waiting for me?"

“No need to tell you"

“Why?"

“Where I'll be waiting for you, it won't be hard to spot me. Just come out of your gate"

Mia woke up with rays of sun on her. Unlike Mia, she smiled when seeing the ray of the sun on her but she doesn't know why.

Throughout the holidays, Oscar and Mia didn't speak or see each other. After the holidays, it was time for the next term to begin.

The first day of school was strange for Mia because she felt the same as the last time she woke up after talking to Leo. She figured out that whenever the sun ray touches her, she feels a presence. But the question is what's the presence or who is the presence?

Throughout that first day, Mia was happy and her happiness always increases when she looks at the sun or there is a direct ray of sunlight on her. Everyone in school noticed the slight change in her. Always smiling which is unusual for her. Some students thought and said she was a robot and a change has been made in her character.

Some also said maybe she's not the Mia they know, maybe the real Mia was kidnapped. When she listens to all these thoughts of the students, she laughed because she too doesn't know why she's happy but that was also strange because if anything strange happens to her she gets moody and if people were saying what they think happened to her she gets angry.

She wasn't jumpy or excited but her smile was like that of the sun. Oscar noticed and wished it'll always be like that.

Amanda noticed the change also but didn't ask to avoid a change in her mood but she did after school and indeed her mood changed.

The next day, Oscar noticed she had gone back to her ‘no smiling’, serious mood.

“Chameleon," Oscar said as he runs towards Mia who is sitting on the fountain

“Huh?" Mia asked confused

“You. You're a chameleon"

“How?"

“Yesterday you were smiling so much but today it seems the night has come"

“(Smirks) so am being compared to a chameleon for that. You know what?" she said as she gestures with her hand for him to come closer. Oscar comes closer and asked “What?"

Mia too comes closer enough for their forehead to touch each other. “You need to go read your books very well" Oscar lips formed “Wha" and then Mia retracts her face then says “That's a wrong metaphor"

“I don't understand"

“A chameleon changes with its surroundings but I don't so you're wrong and need to study more"

“I guess so but I just ... Anyway, forget that"

“Sure"

“You behave like a robot sometimes"

“Should I ask why?"

“No need cause I'll tell you. You don't beat around the bush. An example just now I said forget that and you did"

“So I guess that's a characteristic of a robot?"

“Well yeah"

“I see"

“So tell me why you're so moody today?"

“I'm not moody. This is just me and you shouldn't ask that because I behave like this every other day"

“Okay. I rephrase. Why are you always moody?"

The school bell rings indicating the beginning of classes for the day making Mia unable to answer Oscar's question as they both hurry to class. The teacher had a running stomach so the class was quick. The teacher runs to the restroom every five minutes which was funny to everyone even Oscar but not to Mia.

At the end of school that day, Oscar saw Mia going home on foot and ran to her.

“Why go home on foot?" He asked

“Wish to" Mia replied

“Can I join you?"

“Sure"

“You seem to be quiet, what's up" Oscar

“Nothing"

“Okay. Will you be free tomorrow at 6?"

“Why?"

“I'd like to take you out for dinner"

“No, thank you"

“Please, please. I promise you it'll be great"

Mia stops unexpectedly surprising Oscar. “I DON'T WANT TO GO OUT," Mia said in a slightly harsh tone, emphasizing every word and walking ahead of him

“I just... Okay," Oscar said forlornly as he turns around. Mia realizing what she did calls out “Oscar" Oscar stops on his tracks but doesn't t turn around

“I'll go," Mia said

“I thought you didn't want to go," He asked still not facing her

“Want me to change my mind?"

“No, no. I was joking" Oscar said as he faced her with a wide smile.

“But" she continues “Not by 6 but 4:30"

“Sure. Anything you want" Oscar said almost bursting with happiness

Each of them informed their mothers about their date. Oscar told his mother he was having a date with Mia and that he'll also confess his feelings to her. Mr. Davis was against this but couldn't openly say it because it might counter the spell he and Grandma Felicia did on Oscar.

Mia told her mother that she was having dinner with Oscar outside the house but Amanda knew it was a date. Amanda passed this information to Grandma Felicia and she didn't take the information well. She tried discouraging Amanda from allowing Mia to go but did not succeed.

On the day of the date, Grandma Felicia tried to make Mia not go, knowing that she's not on good terms with Mia she didn't try talking Mia out of going so instead she put a yellowish substance which is meant to make Mia prone to her command but unfortunately for her, Mia didn't have a break before leaving for school.

She also tried killing her if that'll stop her from going but all her attempts were futile instead it hurt her. She called Mr. Davis for advice.

“Hello?" She said

“Yes," Mr. Davis said

“We can't let them meet. You know this was how it started years ago. From a date to two from two to three"

“Calm down woman. Have you tried spelling her?"

“I've always wanted to spell her but it never works. How sure are we that it'll work?"

“That was before and we won't be sure if it'll work until you try"

“Okay," Grandma Felicia said before hanging up

Grandma Felicia as advised tried to spell Mia but as always it didn't work. Out of frustration, she gave up and went to drink. Luckily Mr. Davis suspected it wouldn't work and went to the bar where she drinks herself to stupor sometimes and stops her.

To ease her frustration and his which is still at the minimum, he told her to cast a spell on a clear bowl to watch their activity (Oscar and Mia). Grandma Felicia was at ease with this and she also thought that some of their activity could be manipulated to avoid anything they didn't accept.

Before going, Mr. Davis took a clear bowl from home because he formulated the plan in his house before coming to the bar. They waited in his car for a while before casting the spell because the time at that moment was 4 o'clock so they had to wait for at least twenty-five minutes knowing that Mia is always punctual.

Once the spell was cast they saw Oscar ushering Mia into the restaurant who was dressed in a well-ironed black suit with its collar having stripes of white and a well-polished black shoe. He looked handsome and at the sight of him by others in the restaurant they were astonished. Mr. Davis and Grandma Felicia almost lost their cool at the sight of him because at that moment he looked like Alex, Queen Mia's lover who committed suicide, bold, confident and beautiful like a flower.

Mr. Davis and Grandma Felicia almost collapsed on the sight of Mia. Mia was dressed in a red gown which is as long as her height with sparkling crystals which was enhanced by the light of the restaurant. She was also putting on a red-heeled shoe and holding a red bag and a small little clip hat on her hair which is in a pony-like manner making her look like Queen Mia on her first prom when she was 18.

Grandma Felicia gave Mr. Davis a look that says I told you this would happen and asked what they're to do now and in response Mr. Davis gave her a look that says calm down, it's not that bad but deep down in his heart, he felt a sting and thinks he should've stopped Oscar from coming on this date.

Mia wasn't comfortable with all of this because she feels a little sense of deja vu but she understands why. She has done something similar with her lover in her previous life and it hurt her. Amanda chose her dressing but she had agreed since Amanda was so happy doing it and she didn't want to bother herself. If Amanda had not volunteered to do it, Mia would've gone dressed in casual wear.

The restaurant which Oscar and Mia were having their date was a five-star restaurant. It was painted in yellow making it look captivating. The large room was divided into two, a white cotton with brown embroidery was separating the two spaces.

In each room, there are tables set up with two chairs on each side of the table. In the main hall, the tables and chairs are arranged in a circular manner leaving a space in the middle.

In the other room, the chairs and tables were arranged in a row but with little spaces in between.

Mia and Oscar's date went off smoothly. They had appetizers first before the main meals, chicken, and rice for Mia and Oscar a pie and for both of them champagne as ordered by Oscar. Mia gave him the liberty of choosing her meal because she wasn't interested in the date but she noticed something different in the way the staff of the restaurant behaved and dressed.

Seems there's an event going on (Looks around still sitting and then looks like Oscar) do you know about this?"

“Em... yeah. There's a vampire party going on" Oscar said still a little nervous

Their meal arrived a few minutes later but before then Oscar was entertained by Mia who kept examining the place like some people were after her life and she had to be careful but in the process of that she complements the scenery once in a while but after that, she goes back to her observation. Oscar found her doing all those things funny and cute but didn't say anything but smile and this went on even when they were eating.

Mr. Davis was finding what they were watching boring but Grandma Felicia was watching intently. Mr. Davis was a little curious about why she's so interested in this than him.

Before Mia and Oscar were done, the room was filled with people all certainly from high-class families. Mia noticed that everyone was staring at her and mostly at the scar on the right side of her neck which looks like a star and has an eye-like shape.

Mia tapped Oscar using her leg when she noticed that they are threats. They all looked like they wanted to pounce on her and she promised her mother, Amanda that she'll not fight with anyone.

They all seem to have canines when Mia zoomed into their mouth with her eyes. Though the canines weren't visible.

Once Oscar lifted his head and faced them they all acted normal, due to fear knowing he's the son of Mr. Davis. Once the scenario was over Mia asked

“Why did you bring me here?"

“Well, I (clears throat) I knew there was an event going on so I thought this would be the best place for a first date" Oscar replied

“Date?"

“Yes, I... Well, I..."

Not allowing Oscar to complete his words, Grandma Felicia cast a spell on a lightbulb in the restaurant to make it pop, distracting Oscar. Oscar tried saying the words again but Grandma Felicia cast another spell on a chandelier and it fell hitting one of the waiters on the leg. Everyone rushed to the scene but after seeing that first aid was being applied on him Oscar told Mia he'd like to go to the terrace and he'd like her to follow him. When Mia was about to follow, the injured waiter grabbed her gown stopping her. Mia looked down angry but it disappeared when she saw the waiter's eyes blue. The waiter noticing her reluctance to come closer said “They did this to me, Mia. They're after your life. You need to act fast" With that, the injured waiter's eyes went back to normal and he fell asleep.

Mia looks at everyone gathered around the waiter and noticed they also look surprised, then leaves to the terrace with Oscar.

“Know that guy?" Mia asked

“Yes" Oscar replied

“Told him my name?"

“No. I don't just give people your name"

“Then how did he know my name?" Mia said as she looks out the terrace

“Em... I didn't really..." Oscar stammered as he was getting bored of talking about the waiter and he was getting angry with the injured waiter for diverting Mia's attention from their date to something else.

The MC of the event announced that there will be a couples dance in a few minutes and with that Oscar's anger reduced.

“Did you hear that?" he said

“What?" Mia said still looking out the terrace

“There'll be a couples dance in a few minutes. We should go and join them."

“Why?"

“It'll be fun"

Oscar did not allow Mia to decide and then grabs her by the arm to the main hall. Mia did not want to object because he seems to be having fun.

It was time for the dance, the couples hosting the party danced for about two minutes before others joined in. Oscar and Mia watched all the couple's movements but did not join in until the final couple was in. They seem to be short of words as they see other couples dancing in unison.

Mia was confident that she can dance because in her previous life she and her lover danced but Oscar was thinking of changing his mind. He summoned courage and he stretched his hand to Mia, Mia accepted and Oscar's smile was breathtaking but on Mia's hand touching Oscar's hand she had a flashback of her lover and squeezed Oscar hand tightly and Oscar moaned

“Sorry," Mia said

“Sure," Oscar said leading her to the dance floor. Once they started dancing, every other couple left the dance floor. Mia and Oscar moved in unison as though they practiced.

Mia was dancing the same as with her lover in her past life and she noticed that Oscar was following her every move, she thought for a second that maybe Oscar was her lover in her past life but she waved that thought off.

Oscar felt something strange in his body and heart but he did not understand what both were saying. Mr. Davis and Grandma Felicia who were still watching noticed their unison and their dance moves which were the hardest couples dance because their feet tell a story and it was created by Queen Mia and Alex.

All the spectators marveled, it was magical. They seem not to be making a mistake in their steps, and their steps were graceful but there was a slight change; the dance took longer than usual but they didn't also make a mistake. No one knows the story the dance tells but it was always magical when danced.

When the dance ended, all clapped even Grandma Felicia almost clapped. While clapping, some wiped off the tears that formed in their eyes while the dance was going on.

At the end of the party, Mia was still concerned about what the injured waiter said and Oscar knew this. He tried many diversion protocols. He got tired of trying to get her attention and so he snapped. “Come on, Mia. Why think about that injured waiter so much? What he said was and is meaningless. Do you love taking things to the extreme or is it something different? Do you feel something for him already?" Oscar pauses but on his few words Mia was surprised, this was the first time Oscar has yelled and was angry and she thought that if he had ever been angry, this is the first time he showed her that side of him.

With Oscar's outburst, all the party guest's attention was on both of them and Oscar didn't seem to care at that moment. Oscar continues with his outburst after a few breaths. “What's wrong with you? I'm trying to please you. Ever since I met you. If I didn't feel a connection with you, If I... (Exhales) I didn't love you I won't act like this. Ahhh" Oscar concluded as he sits down finally calming down. Mia did not alter a word but instead started walking towards the exit.

Oscar lifted his head and saw Mia already at the exit. “Mia? Wait, wait" he called out as he runs towards her. The spectators had pity on him but did not do anything but shake their heads. Before he could get to her she had already boarded a taxi and gone a mile away. He tried running after the taxi but he was too tired to use his vampire speed.

It was late when Mia got home. Amanda was waiting for her on the couch looking quite tired and sleepy. Not allowing Amanda to say a word, Mia said “Time flew fast and the dinner was okay at first but... Mum, just go to bed" Mia said not looking at Amanda and goes to her room banging the door in a rage.

Amanda not thinking much about what Mia said goes to bed. Mr. Davis and Grandma Felicia could only monitor Mia to the point where she closes her room door.

Oscar gets home half-dressed. He is holding his jacket weakly, face blue and forlorn. He tried calling Mia on the phone multiple times but no response from her. Oscar's mother asked him why he was down and how the date was.

Oscar bluntly said, “The date did not have a happy ending" and immediately goes to his room banging the door also. Same as Mia, Mr. Davis, and Grandma Felicia could not see past the closed door.

Mr. Davis asked Grandma Felicia why that was so but she could not provide an answer.

“But look at the bright side, their date was a disaster even without us doing much" Grandma Felicia said smiling

“But..."

“No buts" Grandma Felicia interrupted Mr. Davis “You're supposed to be rejoicing" Grandma Felicia concluded

“Oh shut up, woman. Didn't you see the eyes of that waiter? It was a vampire party and that waiter was one. He could have escaped that attack and on top of that, his eyes were blue when he spoke to Mia and back to normal after speaking to her. Don't you know what that means?" Mr. Davis asked

“He might have been possessed by an ancient witch"

“Now you're getting it"

“The ancient witch didn't say anything important"

“Woman, why do you want to act foolishly? The ancient witch sent Mia after us. What if she decodes the message and finds us?" Mr. Davis said almost panicking

“Stop acting like the woman you call me. If she knew who we were. She'd have been here by now. You know how Queen Mia was and if she finally knows it's us, we can kill her" Grandma Felicia said calmly

“Hear yourself. Kill her? Did you say kill her? How many times have you tried doing that? And whenever you do it continuously same day, the first injury deepens and hurts. Look at your body scars everywhere. Why? Because you tried killing her. Look at the injury you incurred today as fresh as ever"

“Spell?"

“Yes, spell that would be nice," He said sarcastically then continues “Okay tell me when last you tried casting a spell on her"

“Today"

“Did it work?"

“Well, no. Maybe because I'm m a little rusty"

“Rusty you say. Excuses! If you were so rusty, how could you cast a spell on this bowl ( points to the bowl used to watch Oscar and Mia)

“..."

“Speechless isn't it? Okay, let's say she's powerless for now what happens later, she might learn how to use them, what then?"

“Amanda won't teach her. I've made sure of that"

“Doesn't mean she can't learn it from someone else" Mr. Davis said and leaves

Oscar and Mia are both looking out the window in their rooms. Oscar thinking about Mia and Mia thinking about what the injured waiter said and Oscar's words.

Oscar tried apologizing to Mia for his outburst but Mia seems not to want to hear him out. After a month of the same attitude, Mia decided to hear him out. They made up and that made Oscar happy.

The term ended successfully, all the students were happy especially Mia. Mia has been anticipating the break.

The day to visit the white sorcerer came. Mia woke up unusually early to prepare. She decided to put on black; black trousers, a black shirt, and black boots. She packed her hair in a ponytail manner and it made her look like a beautiful daredevil.

She steps out of her house. A man was standing half a mile from her house. She walks closer to him but the person does not look like any person she knows so she goes back to our starting point.

Right in front of her but still, a mile away, a figure came to light. The figure seemed ancient due to its dressing. It was hard to identify the gender of the figure as the figure stood directly under the sun.

When she got ten steps away from the figure, she then knew it was a male. She remembered seeing someone like him in her previous life but there is a difference.

The person standing in front of her was looking old but beautiful and the person she remembers was young and beautiful.

The male figure felt like a person was looking at him and turned. He smiled on seeing Mia and what Mia saw on his two incisors helped her identify him. Mia saw two birds on each of his incisors.

“The young and mighty Leo is now old," Mia said as she walks towards him. Leo smiled. In ancient times, the first time Mia came to the world Leo was young almost the same age as her.

He confessed his love for Mia but he was turned down because she loved someone else. Then everyone wanted to be with him. He was too handsome so people say he is beautiful.

He was hard-working. He was part of the warriors and after a while made the head of the warriors. He later got married to Mary a few years after Mia died in her previous life. Leo still has the same feelings he had for Mia but he had to keep it tamed.

“Your highness, good day," Leo said bowing down

“Good day to you too. How's your companion?" Mia asked

"She's well" Leo replied

“Where are we heading to now?"

“Our journey begins now to the white forest"

“Okay. Tell me more about the forest. Only been there once and it was an emergency so I couldn't ask about the place" Mia said as they walked

“The white forest is the home of the white sorcerer. People rarely go into the forest. If they do either they got lost or they have a serious problem that any of us cannot solve"

“I see"

“Your mother, Eliza trusted the white sorcerer"

“I don't"

“Why don't you trust the white sorcerer?"

“I just don't trust her"

“Typical you"

“What do you mean by that?"

“Nothing your highness and I apologize"

“You've not changed always trying to please royalty. Lighten up. I can be serious but at least you're to lighten up to change me and though I'm always with someone that... Anyway, maybe for today don't call me your highness. Call me Mia"

“I... Okay"

The white forest is a beautiful place. It mostly consists of huge mushrooms though it wasn't so at first. The forest was filled with so many trees and around the roots small mushrooms. Spells were cast on the mushrooms to make them bigger and whiter and that killed some of the trees and made some white. At first, it was called crystal forest due to the crystals on all the mountains around it making the mountains glitter.

In the white forest, the white sorcerer lives. She was married but due to some misunderstanding they parted and she was left with taking care of her only child and daughter, Michelle.

Once in a while, the white sorcerer narrates stories to Michelle and the day, Michelle asked to be told a story.

“Okay. I'll tell you a very special one" the white sorcerer said after much pleading from Michelle

“Sit while I begin," she said and Michelle immediately obeys. The white sorcerer begins, “Long ago in a magical city called Magi-Vasileia. A queen named Eliza got married to a human. Queen Eliza was a witch feared and honored by many in the kingdom. Her father was a human having a DNA of a wizard making half wizard half-human, though his human side was recessive. Queen Eliza's mother was a witch having a DNA of a vampire and the vampire traits were recessive. Queen Eliza had the DNA of a human, witch, and vampire but the one dominant in her was the witch traits.

Queen Eliza gave birth to a daughter and named her Mia. Mia was strong, fast, and powerful. She had all three traits dominant in her.

At fifteen, Mia was as beautiful as the star, her smile as bright as the sun and her sadness as dull as a night.

One day, she went on a stroll with her mother and when she was looking around she saw a boy picking up a ball and zooms off quickly. After a month, she went on another stroll on her own and got lost in the bush. Luckily, she saw someone and approached the person, when the person turned, lo and behold it was the same boy she saw a month ago.

They introduced themselves and had a few conversations. The boy's name was Alex. Mia almost forgot her predicament. Later, she told him and he carried her with no effort out of the forest to the main road before Mia could appreciate him he was already out of sight as he zoomed off. That night she kept thinking about him and so the next day she went to the forest and luckily Alex was there and felt the same. They hung out with each other almost every day and they fell in love.

Ten years later, Queen Eliza fell ill, and before she died Mia asked her why vampires and witches cannot relate and Queen Eliza told her that the first queen of the witches, Hephzibah, and the first king of the vampires, Lord Z had a business together and we're to get married but didn't. Queen Hephzibah made a pronouncement saying vampires and witches shouldn't have anything with each other.

It hurt Mia when she heard all this. Alex devised a plan to open a portal to the time when Queen Hephzibah made the pronouncement and Mia goes in and possess her.

They took off with the plan. Mia was tied to an invincible rope made by Mia to go through the portal to ensure it doesn't close. Davis is known as Lord Davis in the vampire clan and Felicia, a witch collaborated to ensure their plan doesn't work.

Davis distracted Alex making him let go of the rope and he couldn't find the rope and Mia died. Alex couldn't take it and killed himself. Mia before she died thought Alex didn't love her anymore and so tried to get rid of her using this means. She swore to kill him any chance she gets and both reincarnated"