CALEB
"You look good." He'd said, his face brimming with a bright smile.
I barely managed a "Thank you" before he shoved me to the floor.
"James, what are you doing?" I gasped, startled, as he began sauntering towards me.
He didn't answer. He didn't have to.
Instead, he grabbed my left leg — and with one effortless swing, hurled me across the hallway.
Only… we weren't in the hallway anymore.
We were in an alley — dark, grimy, and eerily familiar. I recognized it instantly.
Fifth street.
It was close to home.
The scent of home lingered only for a second before it was buried beneath the scent of something metallic — Blood. My blood.
James drive his fist into my stomach and I screamed. "James, stop!"
But he didn't.
He never did.
Instead, he laughed and then came the kicks.
His boot met my stomach, my ribs then my thigh. Over and over and over until I felt nothing at all.
"CALEB!" A voice called out. Oddly familiar.
"CALEB!" Louder this time.
I fought to open my eyes, but they felt like iron weights. A painful moan escaped my lips as I rolled to my side. Everything hurt.
"Dammit!" The voice hissed, coming closer. I felt his warmth near me.
"Does it hurt that much, love?" He whispered, his fingers threading my hair with familiar tenderness.
Love.
That voice. That warmth.
It was HIM.
Dominic.
"It … does," I whispered, breathless. I felt him freeze.
"Dominic?" I called, confused by this sudden silence.
Was he… gone?"
Why?
Tears slipped down my cheeks — eyes still shut. I didn't know why I was crying. Why did I miss someone who was never mine?
"Don't cry, love. I'm here." He pulled me into his arms, and I melted into his warmth — my safest place. For now.
He gently lifted my head, sliding his arm beneath it. The other settled around my lower back
"You're going to be okay," he murmured brushing a soft kiss to my forehead. His citrus scent lingered on my skin as if he'd marked me as his.
Summoning all the energy I had left, I forced my eyes open. But before I could see him, he covered them with his palm.
"Don't." He said softly.
"Why?"
"I don't want you to look at me."
"Dominic, don't —"
He growled lowly when I said his name. My heart stuttered. Did he hate it now?
"I'm sorry." I muttered quickly.
He stiffened again, then leaned down and kissed the crown of my head.
"It's okay. Go to sleep, Firefly."
"What—?"
But I never finished the sentence.
Sleep stole me away.
******
When I woke up, I was alone on the clinic bed.
The space beside me was cold. Untouched. Like no one had ever been there.
I swung my legs over the edge but they gave out the second they hit the floor.
The door burst open.
A brunette in a white knee-length gown and a cap with a red cross rushed in. Definently a nurse or whatever title their medical officers here went by.
We stared at each other for a moment before she gasped.
"Oh my! What are you doing in the floor?"
"I — I'm sorry," I stammered, struggling to stand.
Why am I apologizing?
"Cubby!" Lauren's voice rang out like bell. She popped in behind Cameron, brushing past the nurse to reach me.
"Aww, poor wee baby. We missed you so much." She pouted, throwing her arms around my shoulder.
"Babe, I feel betrayed." Cameron pouted too. Now, it's a pouring parade.
"Cameron, tell your girl to get her paws off Caleb," Vincent said as he walked in, followed by Valentine, Dominic, and Brynn. Damian was the only one missing.
"Hey, Caleb." Dominic gave me a warm smile and opened his arms.
I stepped into the hug, but something felt… off.
The scent.
It wasn't citrus and sandalwood like before.
It was different.
Maybe he wore a new perfume?
I pulled away, flustered.
The others were watching us. I cleared my throat. "W — why are you all here?"
"Um… to see you?" Valentine said in a duh tone.
"Yeah. We've been doing that for the past week." Lauren added.
My eyes widened. "Wait. A week?"
"Yup. You've been asleep for a week," Dominic said. "We were worried."
"More like he was worried. He never left your side." Vincent snorted.
"He didn't?" I asked.
"Yup," Valentine confirmed. "If he could glue himself to you, he would've."
I turned to Dominic. His cheeks flushed.
He really never left. That means…
"You were the one who came to see me last night." I whispered.
He leaned closer, hand gently cupping the nape of my neck. "Anything for you."
I smiled but it faltered.
His touch… was different.
Why?
I searched his eyes for an answer and got one when a larger-than-life presence filled the room.
Red eyes. Tousled dark hair. That citrus and sandalwood scent.
Damian.
My stomach churned.
It couldn't be.
****
I spent the afternoon trying to catch up on the classes I'd missed — much to Dom's dismay — but it helped distract me.
Why was Damian wearing a the same scent as my saviour?
"Ugh!" I groaned, the frustration bubbling over.
A Fairy with round glasses glared at me from her corner. "Shh!"
I mouthed a quick sorry. I'd forgotten I was in the library.
With a sigh, I packed up my books and made my way out.
The air thickened with tension. Not the bad way and not in the good way either. Just… uncomfortable.
Lauren had filled me in earlier.
Word of James' attack (which I still don't know why it happened) had reached the Headmaster and he'd been expelled. But things didn't end there.
Now, interaction between Fangs (Vampires and Dragons) and Wings (Fairies and Mermaids) was forbidden.
The entire school had been divided.
Flamebloods (Fangs) on one side. Tidebloods (Wings) on the other.
Classes. Dorms. Everything split down the middle.
And I… felt like it was my fault.
If I'd just fight back, maybe none of this would've happened. Maybe everyone will still be happy. Maybe they wouldn't be looking at me like I'd ruined their lives.
I sighed and turned towards my dorm.
Yeah, I have one now.
No one knew if I was Flameblood or Tideblood. But since I was weak, they'd labeled me a Tideblood and assigedm me the dorm of one.
Tidebloods lived in Dorm Gloria.
Flamebloods lived in Dorm Regina.
The Studmet Council and their Elite's had their own place : FortHaven.
I was going to miss FortHaven.
Dorm Gloria stood like a tower carved out of a storybook — the kind that looks like a castle with vines crawling up the stonewalls and forming a living mosaic of green and flowers.
At the entrance, I showed my ID to the Dorm Mistress — Sharon, a.k.a. Ms. White. She nodded.
Her husband, Ernest (Mr. Black?, ran Dorm Regina. Apparently, FortHaven didn't have dorm masters.
Students soared through the air, ice swirling from some of their fingertips, others teleporting in flashes of water or fire.
And me?
I took the stairs.
Slow.
So verrrry human.
It felt like a death sentence and I was ready to serve. At least it was better than floating around with a power that only showed up when it wanted to.
I pushed open the door to Room B1 — and froze.
My jaw dropped.
Two boys stood I side.
One had tousled blind curls and dimples. The other leaned against the bunk, arms crossed.
"Hey," the blonde one said with a grin. "I'm Elijah. This is Cesar. We're your new roommates."
PS : Humans born with powers are descendants of either Flamebloods or Tidebloods. When those powers awaken, they're sent to Silvermist Academy — a magical school in Aethoria where they learn how to master these powers.