(Amaia)

Leaving the classroom after Saiph I head over to our session with Jamina. Alnitak is waiting for me outside, holding my book, notebook and a pen.

"You okay?" He asks.

"Yes, I am good." I take my stuff from him. "Thank you!"

"What did he want? Did he scold you?" Alnitak asks, creases cover his forehead and he seems annoyed, almost desperate.

"No, he just explained why it was a bad idea to demand to be put under after one session." We enter the class and have to part ways.

"We will discuss after the session," he calls out, taking his place with his partner while I head over and sit with Cristo.

"Hey! You okay?" He questions. Cristo’s hair is dishevelled today, and his eyes appear wider than usual.

"Yes. How about you?" I ask, placing my stuff on the table.

"That mind invasion was brutal. It felt so invasive. I don’t think I have screamed this much in my life," he regretfully says.

"This training is not going to be easy. But I believe we can do it." I reassuringly smile at him. He taps his pen on the desk.

"You were amazing though. You only screamed once and were able to pull out. Not only that, you wanted to be put under again," he astoundedly says.

"Yeah! Not my brightest moment."

Our conversation is interrupted by Jamina.

"Good day, Sweeties and Cuties," she joyfully welcomes us, making the boys cry out cringe noises, which makes her chuckle. She teases them on purpose.

"Turn to page 45. We will be making nerve gas today," Jamina begins to explain the process.

I scan the class once and see Rigel is missing from here too.

Where could he be?

The whole time while we make the nerve gas my mind remains occupied by Rigel’s thoughts.

After our session, while I am gathering my stuff, Jamina calmly walks over to my desk and sweetly says, "Can you stay behind? I want to have a word."

"Yes!" I offer her a faint smile.

Alnitak lingers at the door waiting for me while everyone leaves. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Ali! She is with me. I will send her soon." Jamina turns and flashes a warm smile to Alnitak.

His face falls. "Why? Is something wrong?" His saddened eyes waver to me and I see him almost pouting.

"Nothing is wrong. I just want to have a girl talk with her."

"Fine. Just don’t keep her too long." Alnitak then addresses me. "Come to the dining hall after." His big shoulders drop in defeat.

"Sure!" I smile at him and watch him leave, closing the door behind him.

Jamina faces me, leaning against my desk. I can’t help but stare at her. She is easily one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. Not only that, she has a kind and charming personality which makes her likeable.

"How are you holding up, Amaia? I understand it might be challenging after everything," she gently asks.

"I am just taking it one day at a time." I revolve the pen in my hand.

"That’s good. I see you and Alnitak are getting along well. He is a good one."

"Yes, he has been kind to me," I answer with a smile. My heart swells with the love I hold for him.

"Alnilam told me what you did for Mintaka. I am glad you were able to pull him out. He is so lost in self-loathing that he has forgotten how to love himself anymore."

It hurts to know that he still struggles after what happened between him and Rahria.

"Sometimes I think our lives are too messed up." I let out a small sigh, dropping my head.

"I agree, but we have to keep going; we need to survive." I quietly nod at her words.

"If you need someone to speak to, remember I am always here without any judgement and promise to keep it between us." She reaches out and squeezes my hand.

"Thanks, I would appreciate it."

"Having that much masculine energy around us at all times can be overwhelming, so we should hold a girls’ night sometimes." She straightens up.

That’s not a bad idea at all.

"I would like that."

"Let Alnilam return, and on some weekend, we will hold our gathering."

"Sounds like a plan."

I stand up as well, gathering my stuff to my chest. His name from her mouth hurts me deep in my bones, but I keep a smile on my face.

She is not a mean bitch and I can’t bring myself to hate her for something she has no control over.

She also appears like a girl’s girl, so she is the only one I can trust to ask about Rigel. He has been missing and my heart is restless.

What if his captor did something to him again?

"Can I ask you something before I go?" I tentatively ask.

"Of course! Anything."

"Ezran wasn’t in class today. I had given him my notebook so he could cover his missing work. Do you know where he is?"

I just hope she doesn’t catch my lie.

"Alnilam said he took a leave for a few days. He must be in his dorm. Vampires get bloodlust sessions sometimes so they are awarded leaves by the Headmaster. Just let him get normal, don’t go looking for him in this condition."

My magic roars in my veins hearing that. I need to go see him, I can’t let him suffer alone.

"Alright. Thank you for listening to me."

"Any time." She waves at me before exiting the classroom.

Alnitak had said to meet him in the dining hall but my heart wishes to go see Rigel. I don’t heed Jamina’s warning and decide to go see him. Something about his whole missing episode is bugging me.

Is he really in his dorm or has he been tied up in the dungeon again?

Dumping my stuff in my room, I head towards the Pegasus dorm. All dorms are open to everyone, so I have no difficulty reaching them. But I don’t know which room belongs to Rigel.

I wander the empty corridor painted in hues of blue. A door opens, and to my surprise, Luthial walks out holding a red rose while smiling to himself.

His eyes find me, widen in surprise and he instantly hides the rose behind him.

"Hey! Amaia..." he awkwardly says.

"Hey! Sorry I didn’t mean to intrude. I just wanted to know which room belongs to Ezran. He had my notebook," I awkwardly answer, trying to make myself smaller than I already am.

"Ah! The last room at the end of this corridor. With the sign, Don’t Enter. I would recommend not going there, though," he says in a hushed voice, and I can see the terror reflecting in his eyes.

"I will be quick. Can you not mention it to anyone?" I plead and he just sadly nods.

"Thank you and good luck with whoever this flower is meant to be." I wink at him.

His dark skin blushes and he lowers his head, feeling shy.

"Good luck to you as well." He moves away now proudly holding the rose in his hand and smelling it.

I do wonder who the lucky girl is. Luthial is kind and intelligent, any girl’s dream.

My feet carry me away and I arrive outside the door Luthial had pointed out. A large sign hangs on it with bold red letters.

DON’T ENTER

Yup as if that’s going to stop me. Snatching in a deep breath, I softly knock on the door.

No answer.

Holding my breath, I knock again and get the same result.

My hand lands on the doorknob and I twist it and push the door.

To my surprise, it opens with a small creak, and darkness welcomes me.

Slowly I poke my head inside and call out his name.

"Rigel."

"Amaia!" His velvety dark voice instantly answers but it’s draped in pain.

What has been done to him now?

With a pained heart, I enter his room, closing the door behind me.