CHAPTER 75: A PSYCHOPATH

Friday evening came fast, and Aaliyah was in her room. It was only six pm, but she was already putting on her sleepwear and was engrossed in the book she had borrowed from the library. After her first day of school, the rest of the week has been bearable.

Being that she had survived the first week of school, Yuan’s tutoring every evening was helping her improve more. Plus, the reliving fact that her homeroom teacher hadn’t shown up in class for the rest of the week.

It was really refreshing, but a growing ache was there too.

Occasionally, her eyes would drift to the window. After that scary incident and the words engraved on the window, she hadn’t gotten a good night’s sleep, fearing it would happen again. What was even worse? The words written there that night had disappeared overnight.

At first, Aaliyah had thought she might have been hallucinating, but she doubted that. This school was filled with mystery, anyway.

Aaliyah’s ears picked up Yuan’s familiar steps approaching her room, and then the locks of her door clicked and her best friend stormed into the room, clutching the spare key Aaliyah had given her.

"Two students were found dead outside the ninth floor just a few minutes ago," She declared, as she propped herself on the bed next to Aaliyah.

"What?" Aaliyah dropped her book face down, "Isn’t that one of the forbidden floors?"

"Yes. They were male third years, a vampire and a witch," Yuan shook her slightly, "You know I’m kind of surprised. It’s the first time since I’ve known Olympia that there’s only been two deaths since the beginning of the semester,"

Aaliyah was confused, "But it’s just the first week,"

"Exactly. Last year, about ten students and one professor died before the first Wednesday of the week!" She claimed strongly.

"What? Even professors can be victims?" Aaliyah almost yelled.

"Yeah. Three died last semester, one was my favourite, Professor Quilt. He took the course ’Ability Control for Vampires and enhancement magic to witches."

"Ouch," Aaliyah sighed.

"You coming out to watch the debate tonight?"

"Debate?"

"The week’s main event. *Vampires Vs witches, who has the better ability*," Yuan rolled her eyes in disdain.

Aaliyah laughed, "You guys do such here? Comparing abilities?"

"It’s annoying, honestly. But in the end, you’ll find out that each side is just envying what the other has. So, you coming?"

Aaliyah glanced at her book, "I plan to finish this before 12:00am, so unfortunately I cannot...,"

"Tomorrow is Saturday. You know that, right? You can read all you want,"

"Yeah, but I wanna stay indoors tonight."

"Don’t make me do it!" Yuan warned, a certain devilish look flashing across her cat eyes.

"Don’t make you do what? What are you planning to do?"

"You either drop the book, get dressed and come out or I’ll do it for you myself," She smirked.

"I already told you. I..."

Everything happened in a blur, like her head was spinning really fast. In a few seconds, she found herself standing in the large field somewhere in the school. There were people everywhere, and it was noisy as hell.

Aaliyah looked down and saw herself wearing black baggy pants and a cute white top. Her hair was still up in a bun, and beside her was Yuan with a devilish, yet apologetic look on her face.

"I can’t believe you’ll use your powers like this," Aaliyah complained, folding her hands over her chest as she faced Yuan, "What the hell am I doing here? I told you, I’m not interested in watching the goddamned debate!"

"Oh come on, you’d rather stay in your room all night?"

"Yes, I told you that already. And remember what you told me a few days ago about keeping a low profile? Or have you forgotten I was the face of Daily Hits and everyone knows that I exist in this school and that I’m human, and I’m, without a doubt, prey!!" She half yelled the last part, but her voice was swallowed up by the noise.

"No one’s gonna touch you. Students aren’t allowed to fight!"

"Tell that to Blake and Sebastian the other day. Or tell that to the terrifying game I had to play just to get accepted into this school," Aaliyah frowned.

Yuan scanned through the crowd, "I’m very much aware of that, and that is why I will not be leaving your side. Look," She pointed at the middle of the field where two Olympians were now in the middle of a heated debate, "Everyone is engrossed in that. They’re too busy to mind you, and I promise we will be out of here before it’s over."

"I shouldn’t have given you my spare key," Aaliyah murmured under her breath, knowing very well it was still the same as talking normally when there was a Vampire involved.

.

.

In a few minutes, Aaliyah had slipped away from the noise and cheers. Standing in the middle of people who could rip her head out at any time wasn’t really a great idea, and Lance had joined them after some time which got Yuan’s attention from her, giving Aaliyah the chance to slip away.

Alone, she walked back to her dormitory.

Aaliyah was walking past the Joint, when she saw a familiar face leaning on the large building. Reflexively, she looked away and continued her way, hoping she hadn’t caught his attention.

Two steps into her quick escape, and his closed eyes stirred to life. Light brown eyes fell open, and of course, they fell on her.

She’s always been the odd one here.

"Hey you," Sebastian called.

Aaliyah pretended not to hear him, keeping her pace. Everyone was at the field, so they were the only ones around. Maybe it was a bad idea to walk back to the dorm alone.

Her heart leapt when she heard his quick footsteps closing the distance between them, and he came barrelling and stepping in front of her.

He was as tall as Blake, had dirty, messy blonde hair, but had a small scar on his chin that really stood out and made him look a little rogue.

"Quick legs, you didn’t hear me call you?" He frowned, taking an intimidating step toward her.

"Oh, you called?" Aaliyah asked, "I didn’t hear you. So, what is it you want from me?"

He arched a brow, his eyes narrowing, "Did you get a big head because you’re the first Legend?"

"I surely didn’t get a big head because I was named the one who came here to get herself killed," Aaliyah had gotten a hold of the newspaper two days ago, and now she was curious to know who was behind it.

He chuckled, and Aaliyah caught sight of his weirdly sharp canines. They weren’t like that of Yuan’s or other Vampires, but they did stand out, "You’re insane to even join the games, and you’re a psychopath to accept the scholarship,"

Aaliyah worked her jaw, clenching her hands, "I don’t think you know me well enough to educate me on what I should or should not accept. It’s not your cross to bear now, is it?"

His gaze sharpened, "Did you just talk back at me?"

She questioned back, "Did a mere human just make you flare?"

"If you do not control that tongue, there will be a total of three deaths before the end of the day,"

Aaliyah chuckled this time, a lackadaisical expression on her face, "Hey, do I seem that weak to you? Or would you like to be sent flying again?" Her gaze held his, unyielding with strength right before she brushed past his shoulders and continued on her way.

As she walked, she saw Blake standing in a corner by one of the buildings. His eyes were on her, and there was a swelling dark look growing behind his green eyes. His hair was tousled, and Aaliyah felt something weird in her chest like a slight burn.

She tore her eyes from him, proceeding back to her dormitory before she felt like prey in front of someone else.

Aaliyah slammed her door shut, turning the keys quickly. She released a huge breath and leaned her forehead on the door as her spiking nerves slowly calmed down.

She couldn’t believe what had happened. Sebastian was not someone she should get involved with, but what else was she supposed to do? Stand there and let him say whatever he wanted about her?

"I’m not a psychopath," Aaliyah murmured to herself, but then it made sense. No human in their right mind would come to a school swarming with death stares, "Am I?" She asked herself.

"You do have most of the Qualities," A Familiar, crusty, deep voice said behind her, and Aaliyah’s knees almost buckled right there.

The voice was enchantingly sonorous, and made her ears sing with joy...and fear.

A chill ran up her spine, and her heart hammered against her ribcage as a wave of disbelief, but unknowing longing coursed through her.

She was scared, and yet...it felt alright.

Slowly, cautiously, she straightened her legs and turned around. Standing a few feet away and leaning on her desk casually was Alastair Hawthorne, holding the novel she had been reading between his fingers.

"Hello, Mate," He added.