CALEB
Spiderman's uncle wasn't lying when he said, "With great power comes great responsibility."
As soon as we crossed the portal, Mr. Black and White were nowhere to be found. They had left me in the middle of nowhere with a map in a language I couldn't understand, 1 duffle bag, 2 boxes and 1 backpack. I packed light but that wasn't what the weight said when I tried lifting them.
In annoyance, I dragged my hand through my already tousled hair. "Ugh! What did mom put in them!"
Sighing with deep frustration, I carried each of them one after the other, moving on the path the sun touched. Dorothy was told to follow the yellow brick road and that's what I was doing - obeying my childhood hero.
By the time I arrived at the street, a baby born yesterday would've grown up to be an adult. My pacing was slow.
It would've been better if I had four arms. Having flying abilities wasn't going to cut it.
"This is driving me insane." I palmed my forehead.
Catching my breath, I lifted both boxes and walked up ahead when suddenly, I tripped over nothing and came crashing to the ground.
"Bloody Ferrars!" I cursed as I struggled to my feet.
Another curse escaped my lips when I found my second box open. My things were on the ground. Thankfully, the ground wasn't wet.
I rushed to pick them up — one underwear at a time till I finally got to my camera. An expensive HD camera mom got me for my birthday last year. Most bullies in my former highschool said I had no talent except being cute and stupid but little did they know that I had a knack for photography. Like my flying ability, I was blessed with it.
I picked it up and took a picture to see if it was still working and it was.
"Phew," I wiped invisible sweat off my brows. "That was close."
I peered at the picture, dumbstruck by the aesthetic. The trees flanking the street that stretched all the way to heaven knows where, the signposts in different languages, the sun itself; everything came out perfect in the camera as though it was photoshopped by God himself.
I noticed the air was different here, thick with an electric charge, and it felt like the world around me glowed. The trees were taller, their leaves greener than the Grinch himself and the silence full of whispers.
"This is so cool," I gasped in awe. My wrist watch beeped and I looked at it. The time was just the same as Earth's and it was 10 am in the morning. "I should be in school but a simple selfie would hurt no one."
I took more pictures. The empty road, the tiny fairies perched up on the trees, the sky, even the little lake I found while I was exploring.
After the last shot, I decided to scrutinize the pictures I took when something moved in the water. I ignored it, still editing the pictures when I heard it again.
"I won't fall for that. Watching horror movies have taught me enough." I took a step back with my camera.
The movement ceased and the next thing that followed was a voice.
"Hello?" It said.
My jaws dropped when a blue fin flipped out of the lake.
"Holy shit. Is that a mermaid?" I screamed in excitement as I took out my camera to capture it.
While looking for the perfect angle, the camera slipped from my grip and toppled into the water.
"My baby!" I wailed.
There was no way I would let a $300 camera go to waste. I kicked off my shoes and threw my jacket to the ground. When I jumped into the water, I remembered I couldn't swim.
"Help! Somebody help!" I flapped my arms around like a bird on water.
"Help!" I thrashed the water with my feet but they were getting heavy.
My hair was in my eye and I could feel goosebumps kiss my skin. The cold was spine-chilling.
"Help!" I screamed again but no one was coming.
I was about to drown.
Where is my flying ability when I needed it?
Hot tears filled my eyes when I recalled mom's parting words.
"Mom!" I screamed out loud. "Mom, help!"
The darkness took me before I could say another word.
------------
I was brought back to life with a kiss.
Warm hands pressed down on my chest and I jolted, turning to spit out water.
The same hand rubs circles on my back and the most amazing voice filled my ears. "Are you alright?"
I turned to my saviour and was almost blinded by his beauty.
An impeccable beauty with radiant blue eyes, jawline sharp enough to cut diamond, hair as golden as the sun in the bright sky and full pink lips I wished were on mine.
"Are you alright?" he asked again.
He caught me staring at his lips and I turned away, embarrassed.
I feigned a cough that turned into a real one and his hand went to my back again, giving it a heavy pat.
I wheezed for a moment and collapsed to the ground on my back.
His face loomed over mine. "You're human."
"And you're a mermaid?" I said it like a question but it wasn't.
He leaned back and extended his hand towards me. "Here. I'm Dominic. Dominic Valtor."
I took his hand and he hurled me to my feet. "Caleb. Caleb Ferrars."
As he helped me up, his hand lingered for a moment and I felt an odd warmth radiating from him. It felt different from anyone I had ever met but somehow familiar.
My cheeks pinked when my eyes fell on his naked upper body - he was ribbed. I nearly asked him for a photograph.
"You're headed to the Academy, right?" He asked me, pulling on a shirt he picked up from God knows where.
His look was complete - a plain dark T-shirt over dark jeans and a few kicks that could cost over a thousand dollars or whatever currency they used here.
"Y - Yeah." I looked down at my clothes, feeling inferior. I paled in comparison to this guy.
"I'm headed the same way. Mind if I show you the way?" He offered me a smile I would kill for.
"Yes, please. I'm so lost." I nod like an agama.
"Let's go then." He said, walking ahead.
"No, Dominic. My things are the other way. I sorta left them when I was exploring." I cupped the back of my neck, looking everywhere except his eyes.
"It's okay. I'll have my servants pick them up." He said, beckoning me to come over.
"Your servants? Are you by any chance Aquaman?" My eyes went round.
"Who is that?" He raised an eyebrow. How can someone look so hot while being confused?
"Nevermind. It's an American thing." I shake my head, realizing how wet I was.
Dominic drew his finger in midair and blue light was expelled from his fingertips. A portal had appeared.
Wait, how did he do that?
"Come on." He extended his hand to me.
I took it. "Are you always kind to strangers?"
"Only handsome ones," He winked at me and I died. "Where are you from?"
"New York." I say as we crossed the portal.
"Whoever gave it that name must have been eating eggs at the same time," he laughed.
I barked a laugh. "Jeez."
My "new friend" and I appear in a massive exuberant bedroom.
"Come on." He tugged at my shirt and I followed him sheepishly.
"Where are we?" I asked.
"My dorm room for some change of clothes," he said with squinted eyes. "You didn't exactly plan on walking around school in wet clothes, did you?"
"N-No." I shook my head.
"Cool," he pointed at the giant walk-in-closet. "There's clothes in there but I doubt anyone would fit you. You have short arms."
I puff my chest and reach for a black sweater. The sleeves were long but I'd rather wear them to show him my arms aren't short.
I tried to understand where my arms would go in the shirt because the design was confusing. There were buttons everywhere.
"Let me help." Mark offered to help.
I tried to pass him the shirt but he reached for my collar, slowly unbuttoning my shirt. Holy shit.
"You're not only a lost human but a clumsy one." His face was so close to mine I feared I'd kiss him if I moved.
He was done with the buttons. "There you go."
I sucked in a breath, his dreamy blue eyes piercing mine when I heard a gaggle.
Leaning on the jamb of the room door was a guy sculptured by beauty himself.
He flashed me a grin and I caught sight of his fangs.
Vampire!