CHAPTER 40: SHE LOOKS DIFFERENT

Whatever happened was too blurry for Theodora to catch, and when she opened her eyes again, she was in an even darker place... like an alley or something, and a large body had her pressed against the wall.

Soft, steady breaths came out of their lips, and she inhaled the body’s scent.

Another smile formed on her lips, "I knew it," she murmured, "Professor, you...,"

His palm suddenly pressed over her mouth to keep her quiet, and then, she heard the screeching noise again.

She looked up at his blue eyes staring down at her face, and his expression made her giggle again.

Why does he look so shocked?!

She blinked at him through the rain, her pupils dilated and glassy from the wine. That scent of wine, smoke, and mint was unmistakable, along with the cold energy he carried.

She wanted to speak again, but his palm was over her lips, firm and commanding. Lightning illuminated the alleyway for a moment, and she saw that he was wearing a mask.

Black and Golden.

There were faint rune marks along the edges of this mask, and they pulsed once before dimming again.

In that same flash of lightning, he also saw her naked skin. Her hair was a bit longer, now touching her shoulders, and clinging to her neck. Every curve was undeniable, and she looked different.

Very different from what he was used to seeing every day.

And her scent... Wild Jasmine with a hint of pine underneath. A thick scent that the wind couldn’t easily erase. One that he had to keep breathing in, being this close to her.

For a moment, he just held her there. They both breathed in the same rhythm, his large frame against hers.

Then, the screeching noise came again, somewhere in the distance.

He snapped his head in the direction, his body stiffening and alarm flashing in his eyes as he intently watched the darkness around them. He felt her lips moving in his palm and pressed against it harder to keep her quiet.

The noise came again, this time, it was even farther away, toward the direction of the woods.

The Forbidden Woods.

Once it faded, and when he was sure it was completely gone, his body relaxed a bit, and he gently took his gloved hand away from her lips and moved back a bit, leaving the ghost feeling of his body only.

"What were you doing out there...," His eyes scanned her face, "Like this?" He murmured.

"Why are you wearing that mask?" She smiled lazily, "It’s creepy, professor. Have you been the one stalking me?"

The muscle of his jaw ticked, "Stalking you?" He sounded a bit confused, then added, "You’re drunk, aren’t you?"

"And you’re overdressed," She replied with a giggle and gently tapped on the mask. It was quite thick and felt like something that required great strength to break

His breath hitched, and he caught her wrist the moment her fingers slipped down to his throat, "Don’t do that!" He warned.

She felt this fuzzy feeling in her stomach, "I’m not doing anything, I promise!" She purred, then slurred out, "It’s so cold. My nipples are freezing!"

His eyes flared for a moment, something dark and unguarded surfacing quickly, and the next instant, he had taken off the coat he was wearing and flung it at her.

"Wear this," He said, his voice restrained, "And change back before you get yourself caught,"

She held the coat in one hand and looked down at herself again, then at him, "You already caught me," She shrugged, "You caught me from the moment I arrived in this school,"

He swallowed tightly, trying to keep his eyes off her. Then, he snatched the coat and tugged it into both hands till she was covered - but not entirely. It had no zipper, and the wind was blowing which kept exposing...

Goddamnit. He quickly took a step back before he did something he shouldn’t...both hands twitching and flexing.

He should have given her his shirt instead of the goddamn coat.

"Hold the coat together!" He finally said.

She took a step forward, and her head swayed again. Then, her lips trembled and a tear rolled down her face. He watched the tears roll and mix with the falling rain, tempted to reach in and swipe them off.

She sighed, looking broken and lost.

"Professor," She called softly, "Why haven’t you told on me, yet?"

"You need to change back and go to bed," He replied, his voice cold again but still strained.

"I can’t change back till tomorrow at dawn," She murmured, leaning back on the wall sluggishly, "I can’t...,"

"Why can’t you?!" He asked.

"I played a stupid truth and dare and I was asked to take off my shirt," She bit her lips, then looked at him, "Are you gonna keep wearing that creepy mask?"

He didn’t move, "What are you gonna do if you can’t change? You can’t go out there looking like this. They’ll all recognise you immediately,"

"What does it matter?" Her lips trembled and tears pooled in her eyes, "I don’t care about that anymore. I don’t care about anything anymore,"

He was quiet for a long time, the rain now heavy and beating them both. Then, he reached in and pulled off the mask, revealing his striking features.

He wasn’t putting on glasses, and she squinted her eyes from the sheer intensity she felt from his bare, blue eyes.

"What happened?" He asked, breaking the cold silence.

She sniffed, "It’s hard, Professor. It’s so hard," Her lips trembled again, and she let out a sad smile, "I loved him so much, and he never looked at me once. And now it feels like he never even cared about me, either. Every day that I wake up, I wish I didn’t have to be this person - pretending to be a gender that I’m not, pretending that I fit in here, when I keep lying to everyone. Even with all the disguises, I’m afraid I’m still gonna get caught. I’m afraid whatever reason has been holding you back from reporting me won’t be enough and one day you’re gonna...,"

"You shouldn’t be there, Theodora," Sylas cut in sharply, his voice taking a deeper edge, "And yes, you’re right. Every day, a huge part of me wants to walk down to the Commandant’s office and tell him who you really are,"

"You can’t!"

"I thought you said it didn’t matter,"

She looked away, "I said so, but...," she hit her lips, "I can’t go back out there and get married to that man. I don’t wanna get caught,"

Sylas didn’t know when he stepped closer to her, till his shadow covered her. When he spoke, it sounded controlled, but she caught the crack of an underlying tension in it, "Tell me, Venom, who is the guy you’re in love with?"