CALEB
I had escaped my early demise by a hare's breath.
Right after Damian went into the en suite to take his bath, I snuck out of the room. Thankfully, I met Berkeley on my way and he had my uniform.
I snatched it from him with a smile and a "thank you" and raced to God knows where.
As I ran, I kept looking over my shoulder like there was some psycho-killer coming after me. I turned my gaze forward only to bump into someone and fell on my butt.
"Ouch."
A harsh voice came and then a hand fisted the collar of my shirt. "Watch where you're going you, little - -"
"I'm sorry." I lifted my eyes to meet those of my "handler" and he froze instantly.
"Damn, she looks so cute." His companion, a girl with more pink than Barbie herself, squealed behind him.
I didn't take her compliment likely. "I'm not a girl. I'm a dude."
"Let go off him, James." She said to her friend who wouldn't stop staring at me.
As if broken from his frozen spell, he unhanded me and put his hand behind him. What was that for?
The girl comes up to me and took my hand in hers. "You're human!"
I wonder why she gasped like that. Was there something special about humans in this school?
Her eyes fell on the uniform clutched in my hand. "Oh, you're on your way to your dorm room?"
Suddenly, my nose began to itch and I sneezed. "Sorry."
"Aww. He's sick." she put herhand to my forehead and placed her free hand on hers. "Your temperature seem normal."
I pushed her hand away. I'm not sick or anything. It's probably Prince Damian swearing the life out of me when he found out I'm not in the room.
James leaned against the wall and squinted his eyes. "Do you even have a dorm room?"
I arrived here without my luggage and was taken to a hot mermaid's room. Not only that, some rich vampire prince says I'm his Firefly and takes me to his room. So no. No, I don't have a dorm room.
I shook my head and James draped his arm over my shoulder. "Don't worry. You can use our room. We're roomies."
I looked between both of them. "You both share a room?"
"Yeah. Is there a problem?" The girl pinched her face.
I held up both my hands and smiled. "No. Not at all."
"Mr. Ferrars!" A voice pierced the quiet hallway and my stomach dropped. That voice. That's Berkeley's. Shit. Did Damian send him?
"Umm… I really need to change into my uniform, guys." I said but they were busy staring at Berkeley call for me.
"Guys!" I raised my voice.
"Oh." James looked at me. "Sorry. We got a little bit carried away."
Pinky said with a nervous smile. "Yeah. It's not everyday you get to see Berkeley look for someone."
We turned the other way before Berkeley crossed the hall, my name echoing from his lips.
"But why is Berkeley calling a name something rare?" I asked as we arrived at a dark wooden door with golden handle.
"Well…" James and Pinky exchanged glances before she looked away and he focus on unlocking the door.
Okay. Something's up.
The door clicked open and we entered.
Their room wasn't as grand as Damian's but they have great taste. Different unique tastes if you ask me.
The room was divided into two - the left side was pink and the right side was deep brown. It felt as though I had walked into a cake.
Speaking of cake, where the heck is mine?
"Milo's the one with the pink side." James said, pointing at the pink side.
So Pinky's name is Milo? Sure.
"Yeah. I figured." I pointed at her. Her hair and clothes were pink. Even her eyes. It made me wonder what kind of race she was from.
"We're both mermaids so..." Milo said, interrupting my thoughts.
Her words punched me in the gut. "What?"
"Calm down," Milo's smile grew into a loud laugh. "We don't feed on humans."
"Go get changed. It's almost time for class." James pushed back the sleeve his coat to glance at his watch.
That when I noticed their uniforms. James donned a crispy white shirt over black trousers with the black coat to complete his look. I noticed Milo was wearing the same but instead of trousers, hers was a short pleated skirt and instead if black, it was pink.
I looked down at my uniform. It was the same as theirs.
"Go get ready or we'll be late." James reminded me again and I nodded quietly.
The en suite reminded me of Damian's. Damian. God, I hope he wouldn't find me. I don't think I'll survive if he ever does.
I made use of the shower and dried my body with no, not a towel, but with a fairy's help. Sick, isn't it?
The fairy is a very cute and tiny creature dressed in blue and white, a colour that matched the bathroom's aesthetics. She was blindfolded and sat on this little tree branch on the bidet. When I was done showering, she beckons me over and had me stand with my back to her and then she would fly over me and sprinkle God knows what and my body would dry instantly. Awesome, wasn't it? Nope, that didn't happen. I used a towel.
I put on my uniform and stared at my reflection in the mirror. Tears filled my ears. If only mom could see this. I missed her so much. I wonder how she's faring.
"Yo, you okay in there?" I heard Milo asked.
I cleared my throat. "Yeah."
I picked up my neatly folded clothes and walked out of the bathroom.
"There he is. Now, you look like Silvermist material." Milo said with a whoop.
"You look good." James replied, stripping me naked with his eyes.
"Let's go."
On our way to class, Milo told me we'd act as strangers and reintroduce ourselves in class. When I asked why, she replied me with, "Humans are pretty rare to find in this academy and anyone who's got one tends to be more popular than the rest."
Yeah, that didn't make sense to me at all.
I settled down in the middle row with them and they began introducing themselves to me. I had given Milo a handshake but before I would shake James', he withdrew instantly. His eyes widened in shock and his lips quivering.
"James, you okay?" I tried to stand up but a hand held me down.
I swallowed hard. God, no.
"Why don't you two run along?" His deep voice said.
James and Milo didn't even make eye contact with me. They scurried away from the room without another word. I tried to stand up but his hand held me down. Again. He moved over to stand in front of me and leaned down till we were nearly nose to nose.
"You ran away." Damian's breath fanned my face and I could smell it. It was the metallic scent of blood. My stomach churned and I felt bile rise to my throat. So that's what he was drinking earlier! It wasn't coffee!
My eyes darted to the right and I realised everywhere was still. Everyone had their attention on us. I was scared shitless.
"S - sir - -" I tried to speak but he shushed me.
"You keep breaking the rules, firefly." He grabbed the back of my hair and pushed my face forward.
"I'm sorry. Please." I nearly choked on a sob about to escape my lips.
He brought his lips to my ears and whispered. "I will deal with you."