The scent of the cursed blood, Kenzhie Addie [red scrolls of magic txt] 📗

while glaring menacingly at my bloody thumb.

 

“What is the matter, Mr. Scovell?” Mrs. Williams asked, surprised at his sudden action. The students were now gaping at us. Caleb didn't answer, but kept glaring at me, specifically at my wounded thumb while covering his nose with his hand.

 

“What's wrong?” I asked, a bit confused and terrified by his scary expression.

 

“Mr. Scovell are you feeling sick? Do you need to go to the clinic---” Mrs. Williams wasn't able to finish her sentence since Caleb already fled out of the room.

 

“Mrs. Williams, can I go to the clinic too?” I asked afterward, then I raised my thumb which was still bleeding.

 

“Oh, dear! Yes, yes, go ahead and please do check about Mr. Scovell's condition, would you?” She responded after she recovered from the weirdness of Caleb. I could see that everyone was wondering too as what happened to him.

 

====####====

 

I looked around as soon as I got out of the classroom, but there was no trace of Caleb. Maybe he ran toward the clinic since he looked really sick. I thought to myself as I headed to the clinic. When I got in there, Caleb wasn't there and I had to admit that I got dismayed not seeing him in the wide clinic even though I also felt a bit terrified just a while ago witnessing the hostility in his eyes. It made me pondered as to what I did to him to deserve the hatred in his eyes directed to me. I didn't think bumping on him two days ago could be the reason for that. I supposed he just acted as what everyone did when they meet me. It was as if I had this invisible phrase written on my forehead; HATE ME.

 

“What can I do for you, hun?” The school nurse, I assumed she was based on her white uniform, smiled at me kindly when she finally noticed my existence. I smiled back bashfully and went toward her.

 

“It's nothing big. I just cut my thumb with the slide we used in the lab.” I said and showed her my thumb.

 

“It may look like a superficial wound, but we have to cleanse that or it might get worse. Come, sit here, hun.” She patted the empty chair in front of her desk and I sat there obediently while she tended my wound. “So, I believe you are the niece of the headmistress?”

 

“Um, yeah. My name's Cassidy, by the way..” I said, feeling a bit awkward. It seemed like everybody knew about me. News do travel fast in this school I guessed.

 

“That is a pretty name for a pretty young lady as yourself. I'm the school nurse here, as you can see and you can call me Lily or nurse Lily as what everyone used to call me.” She smiled brightly.

 

“Um, thanks nurse Lily.” I said with a brittle smile on my face. I bet she was just being kind to me when she said I was pretty.

 

“It's done.” She said as she put an adhesive bandage to cover the small cut on my thumb.

 

“Thanks. Um, anyway, did another student come here before me?” I asked afterward, curious about Caleb.

 

“No, why?”

 

“Nothing. Thanks again nurse Lily. I'll take my leave now.” I said and went out immediately. I was planning to return to the classroom when I accidentally saw Caleb through the window, sitting on the same bench I sat earlier. His eyes were closed as he leaned his head on the back of the bench. He looked so peaceful and... Beautiful. I sighed as I unconsciously propped my elbows on the open window and stared at him from above like a hypnotized soul. There was something about this Caleb guy that made me curious or rather bewitched me to know more about him. This kind of feeling was foreign to me since I had never felt anything this strong before. I was disrupted from my privy sightseeing when a sudden gust of wind blew my hair into disarray. I lazily fixed my hair and turned my gaze back to him afterward only to be astonished. Caleb was now looking straight at me with enmity exuding his eyes---Wait---His eyes... They oddly looked different and scary. I couldn't perfectly see well from above, but I could tell they were not blue anymore. They seemed black. No. More like blood-red. I automatically hid behind the wall, feeling embarrassed to be caught red handed and a bit afraid of him as well. He looked so deadly dangerous, though, the insane part of me, compelled me to look again only to be disappointed to see that he was no longer there. I sighed and walked back to class, shaking my head for the insane imagination I had. “It must be the lights...” I told myself.

 

====####====

 

The hours went by quite tediously and I couldn't say, I was glad my last class ended. I was actually feeling a bit of dismay for I wasn't able to see him. I must be getting crazy for wanting to see him even though he obviously hated me. It made me wonder why I was so drawn to him when I didn't even know him that long. Maybe my curiosity made me want to know why he disliked me. That was the only most reasonable excuse I had. I heaved a long sigh of frustration and decided to just walk home so I could clear my mind and be refreshed. Aunt Mary told me to go home first which I was thankful about once again. While I was walking in the hallway, I saw Ruby and her set of friends throwing daggers at me. New school, new haters. I thought ironically as I headed out of school with my head bent down. I plugged my headphones and randomly played a song from my iPod as I started walking on the sidewalk. It was quarter to four and most students were picked up by their parents or private drivers since St. Claire Academy was a prestigious school for the rich. I couldn't see anyone walking besides me. Although, that didn't bother me a tiny bit. After about three-hundred meters of walking, I could finally see some people walking or wandering around the street. I was actually tempted to go inside a jewelry antique shop I saw nearby, but aunt Mary specifically ordered me to go straight home. I let out another sigh. I really loved to collect antique stuff, especially old necklaces. They were just simply classic. Too bad, I won't be collecting anytime soon. Aunt Mary didn't give me enough money to spend, not that I was complaining. The good thing was, my dad left me a sum of money in my trust fund, however, I could only have it on my 18th birthday and that would be until next year. After almost one kilometer of walking continuously, at the roundabout, I took the first exit onto the next road which many trees grew thicker as I passed by. I took my camera out of my backpack which I always carry around with me since the day my dad gave it to me on my last birthday and obviously my last present from him. I fought hard not to drop a single tear as I started snapping some pictures of the beautiful nature at the side of the road. As I was taking some pictures, my camera lens spotted a familiar person by the tree. I almost dropped my expensive camera when I saw he was staring directly at me. I removed the camera from my face and glanced at the same spot he was standing, but there was no one there. No trace of Caleb.

 

“Cassidy, snap out of it already. Stop thinking about him. See, you're mind is playing tricks on you because you keep on thinking about him.” I grumbled to myself and decided to put my camera back in my bag when a sudden gust of wind went past me. I looked up and saw another beautiful creature standing not very far from me in the opposite direction. He had an average height and probably the same age as me. How did he get there? I was pretty sure, I didn't see anyone walking in this area. I thought to myself as I studied him. He had this somewhat similar paleness and charisma as Caleb. Maybe the only difference was, he didn't appeal to me. I decided to continue on walking, but stopped, when I heard him speak.

 

“Why such a lovely little girl walking alone, eh?” He asked and smirked at me, flashing his white canine. I, on the other hand, was surprised to hear his voice. It had the same alluring sound as Caleb. He smiled wider, seeing my reaction, showing more of his sharp teeth. I backed away, my instinct screaming danger. He might be a psychopath for all I know, so I ignored him and turned my back on him and started walking only to be stopped by him once again. I was appalled yet again, for I didn't hear his footsteps when he moved swiftly toward me and enclosed his left arm around my waist and his other hand grabbed my right arm and creepily sniffed my wrist.

 

“Hmmm, you smelled so good, little one.” I suddenly froze when he licked the side of my neck, fearing my impending doom. He might be a drug addict or a mentally disturbed person. If not, he wouldn't do such a strange thing with his odd and creepy behavior. I felt regretful for not taking the bus instead. As I was thinking for a good plan on how to escape, my heart jumped, hearing Caleb's angry voice from behind us. I'd never thought that I would be happy to hear that. I also felt the boy stiffened, but didn't move an inch away from me.

 

“Let go of the girl.” He commanded with a calm voice, though, there was something compelling about it that I couldn't comprehend. Surprisingly, the stranger let me go and started laughing. I immediately moved away from him as far as I could, but didn't ran off. Instead, I gawked at them curiously. They seemed to know each other and I want to make sure they won't kill each other or something. Also, I had to thank Caleb for saving my ass.

 

“I was just teasing the little thing. You need not be so furious about it, Caleb. I was just curious as to why you find a liking to this average girl and now I know why...” He said meaningfully and gave me a quick glance which sent shiver down my spine---not the romantic way, but in a creepy-crawly way. Wait! Did he just say, Caleb kinda liked me? No way... He must be joking, right? If anything Caleb had feelings for me, that would be hate. I thought ironically.

 

“Stop this frivolity, Gustav, or you would suffer the consequence of my wrath.” Caleb ordered, and freaky as it may, or another fabric of my imagination, I did see Caleb's eyes glow into a different color for a split second, but I couldn't be sure since he was a bit far from me and it was too fast.

 

“Yes, I beg your pardon.” The boy called Gustav bowed slightly. I was kinda baffled listening and looking at them. One thing I was pretty sure about, they knew each other pretty well, but I got confused of their behavior toward each other and the way they speak was so old school.

 

“Go.” Caleb ordered again and Gustav obediently followed and instantly jumped over the road fence barrier.

 

“Oh, my God! He... H-e just jumped! Is he crazy?!” I panicked and looked down the steep path down below, but I couldn't see well because of the thick tress and shrubs surrounding and covering the bottom. I could only guessed about fifteen feet high. It might not be too high, but who would in his right mind would just jumped like