Chapter 1
Final year
The time in a student’s life where they try even harder to keep their head above academic water as they swim to safety. Only, halfway through they yell “fuck this!” and then go off and get drunk in a frat party and sleep with a hottie and then wake up with a hangover, sore thighs and an “oh shit” moment.
That final year?
Oh yeah. Oriana’s already been through that final year– last year.
It was the worst semester of her life but somehow, she’d survived. Submitted all her papers last minute, saved a bunch of stray cats, and accidentally slept with Mavros Winchester.
Not bad at all.
For years, she’d maintained a spot at what she called, the middle landing. Good grades, good friends, good social standing, good looks. Being just good meant she didn’t have to shoulder the responsibility that came with being excellent.
Not that her family was depending on her to pass but her dreams of being a horticulturist demanded it. As the only child from a generation of witches, her parents were more concerned with her settling down than making money.
“This is your final semester and your final year, Ana. Remember the rules?” Her father pulled the humble Mercedes over to a slow stop at the hostel parking lot while going over a mental list.
Oriana offered a big, innocent smile as her memories of the previous semester winked at her. “Relax dad. I’ve already been here five years. Trust me, all I want to do is graduate peacefully and live a happy, humble life.”
Wrong!
Her plans for being a horticulturist also included raking in enough cash to afford all her wildest dreams. Which included– but weren’t limited to– having a variety of hot men who tended to her every desire. She’d long since made peace with the fact that she wouldn’t be able to date again. The sting of betrayal that had come with her previous relationship left her heart closed off.
She wouldn’t touch love with a 10 foot pole.
But a girl had needs. And since she knew that Daddy dearest would faint from shock if he heard them, she reassured him with the words he did want to hear judging from the smile he was giving her.
“Where is your bracelet?” She flashed her wrist at him where the thin gold chain sat prettily.
“It's permanently on my hand, Dad. It's not like I can just take it off. Trust me, I've tried.” Her chuckle died at the worry in her father's voice.
“You what?”
“That was years ago!” She threw both hands up in surrender. “And it's still here, isn't it? I got burned, realized it was permanent and didn't do it again. Relax.”
Gray eyes looked into hers, filled with anxiety. “Promise me you won't try again.”
“I promise.” She nodded. The bracelet had sat on her wrist for years already, growing alongside her. It was thin enough that it wasn't a problem and pretty as well so Oriana didn't have much reservations about it.
After a few more minutes of nagging and worrying, she waved at his car and headed up to her room. Her best friend was already waiting for her. They’d made a special request to room together this year and by sheer luck, they’d gotten it. Only Tina wasn’t going to be around for most of the year.
“You’re late. You were supposed to be here 30 minutes ago so we could both go for cheer meet.”
“Sorry.” She pushed her boxes under the bed and jumped on Tina’s with a loud huff to squeeze her friend in a tight hug. “Traffic, I guess.”
“Right. Anyway, we’re already late and Chelsea will have our heads but let’s go.”
A frustrated groan left her as she slid to the floor. The last thing she wanted to do was go for the meet. Chelsea was her least favorite person but if she knew that Oriana had slept with her twin brother at a party last semester, then her chances of graduating in one piece would drop drastically low. She had spent the whole holiday praying Mavros had kept his mouth shut.
As Oriana and Tina made their way to the gym, she noticed a few new additions to the campus buildings. Besides the new structures and foliage, there was also an increase in cameras. Every building had a questionable amount on the outside, fortified with magic. Oriana could sense it immediately while Tina rambled about how her upcoming archeology trip. Unlike her, Tina was a human and relied on Oriana to satisfy her magical curiosities.
Kallistar University was one of the best mixed Universities in the country. It was also the biggest University with hundreds of buildings and hostels. A plethora of species, especially the lesser magically inclined, fought to get in because of the safety and natural learning environment.
But for the past month, there had been a couple of accidents on the school grounds.
Students getting attacked, missing, winding up almost dead and with no recollection of anything that’d happened to them.
It was all the more reason why Oriana had to keep her head down this semester. And with Tina leaving, she’d be all alone, and vulnerable.
“Looks like there’s going to be a play soon.” Tina nodded towards the jester performing in front of the main building.
“Seems so.” Most people ignored him, side stepping away as he waved the flyers about and danced. He stopped dancing to mimic a student walking dejectedly into the building. A couple chuckled at his impression, taking a flyer.
His eyes sparkled and he looked around for another unsuspecting party to mimic. The bells on his outfit chimed as he turned, eyes finally settling on Oriana. For a second, he stared at her wide-eyed before abruptly turning away.
Interesting, she thought. Did he not want to play her? But as she walked closer to the steps where he was, she noticed that he was actively avoiding looking towards her. Feeling mischievous, she leaned into him and whispered in his ears.
“Can I get one of those?”
He nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound of her voice. Turning sharply, his leg missed a step. Shock widening his features at her face so close to his and his body now steadily tilting backwards. The flyers went scattering in the air as he struggled to find his footing. Surprised, Oriana reached for his frailing hand instinctively, pulling him into her embrace.
Bells jingled loudly around them. Other students passing by as though they couldn't see them wrapped up in each other's arms. They both blinked at each other, too surprised to speak. She flexed her fingers around his waist and noted how small they were. Standing toe to toe, she could look into his eyes. Said eyes that were a remarkably bright blue, the kind even the skies would envy.
Strange, she could swear she had seen him around before but yet again, it was a huge campus. She saw different people everyday.
In a flash, she felt something soar through her. Something dangerously coiling together in the pit of her stomach. The feeling left her dizzy with something even more primal. An aching that bloomed in her chest like a wildflower.
An aching so desperate she wanted nothing more but to keep him all to herself.
An aching pressing against her own thoughts.
The sudden realization had her pushing away from him. Magical barriers went over her heart immediately, eyes narrowing at him. Were the emotions tumbling inside of her, his? She'd heard of spells that transfered wounds but nothing like this.
Pain flashed across his features for a split second before he looked away, avoiding her gaze. Before she could make sense of the feeling, he ran away, trying to grab his flyers that were now going with the wind.
“Kaelith vorun sé” Colourful flyers lifted up into the air and zapped over to her hands, fluttering down to one full stack. The wind from her spell tousled his bells, spinning him back towards her. She watched him curiously as he walked over rather timid.
Their fingers brushed against each other as she handed over the stack. Her eyes fell on the paper and noticed the rather graphic design. So that was why they were ignoring him. With the recent happenings, no sane person would want to come watch a horror play in an over packed theater with dim lights and strangers. That was a recipe for disaster but– Oriana looked back at him, hints of the obsession she'd felt still inside her– and swiped a flyer off the stack.
She wouldn't be able to miss it.
By her side, Tina groaned deeply, rolling her eyes. The jester did a little jump, the bells on his feet knocking together. His excitement seemed to trigger hers because she immediately forgot about her friend and her appointment until Tina coughed rather loudly.
She muttered a goodbye to the jester and began jogging up the stairs. It wasn't until she'd reached the top of the stairs that she felt a presence right behind her and saw the jester standing there with a pleased smile on his face.
Before she could react, he fashioned a bright red bell and gave it a little jingle right in front of her. There was an empty spot on his hat where one bell was now gone. Silently, he requested for her hand. She placed it on his and the bell dropped into her open palm with another soft jingle. It sat in her hand, a cold spreading from the bell through to her finger tips.
Magic?
It didn't feel like it but still, it was just as odd. In fact, Oriana realized, she couldn't feel his presence at all even though he was standing right in front of her. Not a scent wafting from him. She lifted her head up to find his eyes fixed at her, staring almost emptily into hers.
Without a word, he offered her a broad smile, turned back to the stairs and rather gracefully leapt all the way down. Something glinted in the air around his feet. Thin lines that seemed to converge at the very tip of his toes and set him down at the end of the stairs softly, slowly.
“That was weird.” Tina stated, breaking her prolonged stare at the jester's back.
Oriana looked down at the bell in her hand and shoved it into her jean pocket. “Really? I thought he was cute.”
Her friend rolled her eyes at her. “You think every guy with a small waist is cute. Is that why you were looking at him like you wanted to gobble him up?”
She paused slightly before handing a flyer to a passing student. So it wasn't just in her head. “Was I? Maybe I did want to gobble him up.”
”A jester?” Tina frowned at her, shaking her head. “Your tastes are questionable but I don't have the time to get into them right now.”
Right, they still had cheer meet and Chelsea. And unknown to Tina, Oriana had Mavros to deal with as well. They passed by a lot more cameras as they made their way to the gym. Tina too busy quizzing Oriana about her holidays too notice.
Oriana eyed the flyer in her hand, the bell chiming in her pocket as she walked. She had to figure out what the hell had happened back there and just who the little jester was.
What a good way to start the semester.
