A Misfit

Truths and Lies

Point of View:

Anastasia Chevoff

“I didn’t do anything jerk; now back off before I drain your jugular,” I yelled at Clayton as he got up in my face.  

“I dare you because I can’t wait for school security to ride your ass,” He said smugly. 

“Prick I am the school security,” I said flashing my badge, “so back off and grab your friend so I can get mine.” I said moving passed him and down the path Tyler took  

“He is fine, my deal is with you!” Clayton said putting his hand on my chest stopping me in place.  

“Look little boy I am not in the mood for you and you high school mind games. Tyler is my friend, I am here for him. And so help me god, if you touch me again I will ripped your fingers off one by one, slowly.” 

“I’m his roommate and I have some questions that need answers now!” 

“What?” 

“Are or have you recently drank from Tyler?”  

“What? No, I haven’t touched him!” I roared.  

“Just checking because every time he is scared or hurt you seem to know. He also has been bleeding in his sleep. Most witches can feel when they bleed from magic use but he doesn’t so I thought...” 

“You thought I drank his blood and as for me knowing his emotions we are connected through previous feedings,” I said quietly.  

“I think he has a combo of blackouts and bleeding, I thought since you are his friend you should know.”  

“I’m more than just his friend; I’m his bodyguard and best friend. Now if you don’t mind I’m going to let him cool off and go see Dr. Andrews,” I said leaving Clayton and the school’s courtyard. I rolled my eyes are I replayed his words. The nerve of him to think I would sneak in and drink from Tyler. Not that there is anything wrong with Tyler’s A positive blood but I personally like AB positive. Though his words hit a nerve, Tyler is bleeding and not only did he not tell me but I couldn’t sense it. Maybe our connection is weakening. I shook my head trying to erase the thoughts of doubts in my head as I made my way up the flight of stair toward Dr. Andrews. Once outside his door I simply knocked before entering.  

“Come on in Anastasia,” He said as I half opened the door to see if he was in.  

“How did you know I was there?”  

“Circuit camera pointed to the door. What do you want to discuss?” He said as he turned around in his computer chair.  

“Well to be honest doctor, I don’t feel that Tyler should have to see you. I know him and he doesn’t like talking about his feelings and stuff. To be quiet frank you are going to waste your time with him. Don’t get me wrong I love him like my little brother but don’t force him to open up. It only turns out badly.” I said taking a seat on the plush couch.  

“Completely understandable from a woman in your position,” Dr. Andrews said calmly.  

“My position?” I asked. 

“Yes, you see for a time period of nine months, you watched over and protected this boy just as a mother does when she is carrying. There in turn you feel responsible for him, you only want to make sure that he is taken care of.” He said leaning back in his chair.  

“Precisely but dearest doctor,” I said getting up and walking over to him. I leaned in closely and whispered, “you try to A: use reverse psychology on me B: use the knowledge against Tyler in anyway C: take advantage of us both I will personally,” I took a pause to clear my throat and look quickly to his desk, “set your wife Elsa, your two boys Eric and Ezra and your newborn daughter Elaine on fire before feasting on the warm and cooked flesh as you watch.”  

“Okay message understood,” He said as sweat formed on his forehead. I left the doctor’s with a smile on my face knowing my message had been received.  

Beep. Beep. My watched beeped informing it was time for my rounds. I jogged across the grass to the watchmen buildings, and hospital wing. I decided to take a detour through the hospital wing just to check on Brock. I walked down the isle of beds and saw him on the furthest bed. He was lying on the bed talking to few students that I have seen around the campus.  

“Hey Brock how are you feeling after what happened during lunch?” I asked coming up to the group. 

“What are you talking about guard?” Brock asked looking confused.  

“Just how you and Tyler got into a fight, after all you are in the hospital wing,” I said to him confused. 

“Tyler? My alchemy partner? No you got it all wrong I had some rotting canine teeth I need to have removed,” He said straight faced. 

“No Tyler removed your teeth after you verbally assaulted him. He did it with a spork!” I reminded him.  

“Look Miss I don’t know what rumor you have heard but Brock just had some dental work done,” said a girl I believe to be Caroline. 

“Okay,” I said slowly. 

“Who told you the rumor?” asked a boy named Jameson.  

“No one in particular, I am sorry to have bothered you guys,” I said turning away from the small group. That was strange I mean hello they were there when Tyler removed that kid’s teeth. Something must be making them forget or they could be scared of Tyler. That last option seemed somewhat more plausible than there being a spell.  

“Something troubling you Captain Chevoff?” one of my lower guards asked me as I walked into our quarters.  

“Yeah but it is probably nothing I just think I am mistaken about an incident.” I said to him as I walked over to my locker. 

“Oh you mean how the boy you are guarding ripped Brock’s teeth out?” He asked. I spun around so fast to face him happy to hear some was right.  

“Yeah I just visited Brock to see how he was and he told me he had dental work done,” I said to him. 

“That’s because of the moonstone,” He said under his breath. 

“Moonstone?” I asked curiously. 

“Yeah one of the two thingies. Suppose to be a huge secret but I guess not that big if I know it.” He said as he shrugged his shoulders.  

“I’m sorry I am having a brain fart can you help refresh my memory?” 

“Sure as you know the Moonstone is for the werewolves and helps them shift easily but causes them memory loss. Then Pimelea is the plant for witches and fairies, I wouldn’t mess with that one. It is beautiful but this one is poisonous to them. Only the headmistress and the council know where they are. Any of this jogging your memory?” He asked me. 

“Yeah, I just kind of forgot that stuff.” I said as I made the connections in my head.  

“Don’t even think about trying to take them down. I have thought about it but headmistress was not happy with me afterwards. That is why she moved them into new locations and that is why some of the forest and creeks are off limits to even us. Can’t have anyone trying to be brave or something like that,” He said looking down at a burn on his forearm. 

“Who were they?” I asked. 

“What do you mean?” He asked covering up his scar. 

“The person you tried to save?” I said sitting down. 

“She was my little sister; the Pimelea can work to well on certain witches. The memory alterations resulted in her loss of sanity. The result of me trying to help was to be whipped and burned, while Mary was put into an asylum.”  

 “I’m sorry for your loss.” I got up from the table and went on my rounds and thought of this news. Could he be lying? Could he warning me? Could he be asking for help? Should we act? Should we not act? Why the talismans? Who created them? Why are there? Where are they? These questions wandered through my brain as the day turned to night. In the late evening I returned the dorms tired from the questions and the walking.  

“You are just over thinking things Anastasia,” I said out loud to myself. “Maybe it is a good thing people don’t remember the accident. This is probably for the best,” I whispered to my reflection hoping that statement would lay the questions down for a while. I sighed and crawled into bed and waited for my dreams to carry me away to a peaceful time.  

“Anastasia,” said a voice from my long past. My eyes fluttered open to see a man whom I recognized but didn’t register. I looked around and my heart shuttered as I was back in a hospital bed in Moscow Russia, 1639. The time when I was still human. 

“Yes I am she,” my voice was weak from the illness my human body struggled to fight off. The man in a doctor’s uniform leaned over my bed to feel my temperature and smiled softly at me. 

“I am your doctor Alexander Rubin. Doth thou still feel ill or queer?” He spoke in Russian. I nodded and he smiled sadly again.  

“Have thou found an ailment?” I asked in my native tongue and his head shook slowly. My heart sank knowing that he lied to me. They have had to of have one anything to cure me of this life threatening illness.  

“Rest now dear Anastasia and I will check on you in the morning.” I followed his orders and closed my eyes. The next time I opened them it was four days later and I was closer to death. Dr. Rubin was sitting on a wooden stool to my right and I smiled weakly at him.  

“You came back.” I heard myself say. 

“I was afraid I was too late,” He whispered as he held my hand. 

“No Death hath not stolen my breath yet,” I smiled at him as I faced him the best I could. 

“My dear I found not an ailment but a solution if thou whilst to take it,” he said to me. 

“I’ll take it as long as you give me thy word that thou will love and marry me,” I said as my heart took over my words. 

“But be warned my love, this whilst give you a life thou may never have wanted.” 

“It doesn’t matter, I know the stakes. Pardon that twas a terrible pun to use. I know what you are and I accept the gift you have offered,” I told him as he stood and leaned close to me. 

 He lowered his lips to my neck and whispered, “They are coming. You won’t be able to stop them. Break the talismans before you lose that which you value most.” Before I could ask what he was talking about he bit hard into my neck and I screamed.  

I woke up screaming in bed drenched in sweat. “Anastasia are you alright?” Evelyn asked flittering over to me.  

“Just a horrible nightmare,” I whispered as I wrapped my arms around myself.  

“Your aura is pulsing with magic! It’s the blood connection you share with Tyler!” She said. 

“How did you…never mind.” 

“He’s having a premonition,” Evelyn said as she watched my aura. I got up and tossed back the covers and with vampire speed went to Tyler’s room. I picked the lock and kicked open the door, I was at Tyler’s bedside watching him intensely as he tossed and turned in his bed. I placed my hand on his forehead and tried to access his dreams.  

“Come on Ty let me in,” I whispered then as if that was the key, I was shocked and saw what Tyler was.  

I couldn’t breathe, I’m being choked. I can feel small dainty hands choking me as I helplessly kicked at my attacker. “Enough!” I heard Evelyn scream as she grabbed the attacker and threw her to the ground.  

“Ty you okay?” I heard Clayton yell from off in the distance.  

“Yes she’s possessed! Clayton you have to destroy the Pimelea it is the only way to save her before she…” Tyler’s words were cut off by a sword popping out of the center of his chest.  

“ANASTASIA!” Everyone cried out. 

Tyler and I both jumped and screamed as we came through the vision. “Wow that was some nightmare!” Clayton mumbled as he woke up. We all looked to him as he rubbed his eyes to see Tyler, Evelyn and me in the room. “What is going on?”  

“Premonitions.” Evelyn stated smoothly.  

“Holy s**t!” Clayton said tossing back his covers revealing his star trek boxers. He got up and left the room leaving us alone.  

“Tyler what was the vision about?” Evelyn asked curiously. 

“His murder,” I told her. 

“You saw it?” Tyler asked as he looked up at me with wide eyes. 

“Only part of it I came into the endings.” 

“Oh, it is nothing just a weird dream because I mean seriously I can’t have visions.” He said nonchalantly. 

“I can tell you’re lying,” Evelyn hummed. 

“It just seems unlikely there is no way she killed me. Anastasia would never try to kill me and never has so why now?” Tyler said looking at Evelyn. 

“What that was who stabbed you in the chest!” I screamed. 

“Yeah it was creepy you, Evelyn, Clayton and I were walking through one of the forbidden zones looking for some plant called Pimelea. We found it and I don’t know why but we have to destroy it but Clayton had to first break the steam and despell it in order to destroy the thing. He went to break the stem but this creature came out and attacked all of us. Anastasia was fending it off as Clayton started chanting the spell but it consumed her and spat her out and the creature faded into Anastasia. She turned on us all and Clayton was just about to finish the spell but you killed me.” Tyler said just before Clayton walked into with Professor Thyro trailing him.  

“Why is he here?” Tyler asked through gritted teeth.  

“You didn’t tell me he was the student who had the vision,” the professor said to Clayton.  

“It’s not like I’m pleased to see you either,” Tyler said under his breath. Professor Thyro glared at him and gave a throaty rumble. To which Tyler bared his teeth and growled back at him.  

“Okay enough animal instincts this is a serious issue!” I interrupted. They stopped and remembered that they weren’t the only ones in the room.  

“Correct,” He said returning to his respectable manor, “What was it about.” Just as Tyler’s mouth opened I interrupted him. 

“A massive fire that consumed part of the forest and the surrounding buildings.”  

“Yes,” Tyler said looking down at floor.  

“Did you see a time or anything unusual?”  

“No I just saw it and felt the flames on my flesh…” His voice trailed off.  

“That isn’t helpful but we will keep our eyes open and see if anything is going to happen soon. Thanks,” He said sharply before leaving in a huff.  

“Why did you have him lie?” Evelyn asked me as I watched him go.  

“Because, this vision needs to remain a secret until the right moment. If he had found out all of us could have been in great danger.” I said meeting each of their faces.  

“What are you talking about?” Clayton asked sitting on his bed. I sighed heavily and retold them what the guard had told me. When I was done the silence was so thick that even God couldn’t get through it.  

“You mean to tell me we four are to find, despell and destroy for magical brain power objects?” Clayton asked us all. I nodded as the rest stared off into oblivion. “That is sheer insanity why would the school need to alter our brain patterns and thoughts?”  

“Have you heard of an organization by the initials of UC?” I ask them. 

“No why would that make a difference,” Evelyn spoke up.  

“An you don’t think that is why the talismans are in place do you?” Tyler asked me as he bit on his lower lip.  

“I do, UC is a rebellion that started about when you guys were eleven years of age, by that time some of you had been enrolled here or completely oblivious to the organization. But the Council feared that the UC would start recruiting students from various schools such as this one. They then passed the Elite 408 Act forcing school to higher armed protections and start self-defensive classes. I wonder if the talismans are another form of protection.” I said as I paced around the room.  

“That is completely ridiculous!” Clayton yelled jumping up from his bed.  

“Keep it down!” a muffled voice from the next room called out.  

“We will resume this in the morning.” Evelyn suggested as Tyler ushered us out of the room.  

**** 

“Hey Tyler after your last class I want you to meet me in the courtyard by the fountain and we will discuss last night alright?” Mr. Thyro told Tyler and me as we left for the school day. We rolled our eyes and shuffled on by.  

“Okay so go on about your day like normal while I do some recon work out in the forest. I’ll meet up with you after you talk with him,” I said scowling after Justin Thyro.  

“Alrighty then happy hunting.” Tyler said as he left my side. I smiled at him as we parted ways.  I headed straight for the library hoping to get some geography maps on the area and see where the best possible locations for the flower to grow and the others.  I walked into the library and almost gagged at the stench of mustiness of the place.  

“Hello deary,” said an elderly woman who was more wrinkled than a raisin in July.   

“Hello,” I said respectfully.  

“Can I help you find anything in particular?” She asked me.  

“Yes a student of mine is having problems in his science classes. Can you tell me where I might find a book on gemstones, exotic flowers and geographical maps?” I asked her leaning on the counter.  

“I have just the isle,” She said hopping down from her stool, “follow me deary.” She was shorter than I expected and reminded me of a cute stuffed animal. I followed her down the aisles of mountains of books until she brought me to row fourteen. “This should be what you are looking for.” She said pulling out two large books and one small flimsy one.  

“Thank you Miss,” I said carrying the books to the front desk. 

“You are quite welcome. Now you put the knowledge to go use,” She said as she stamped the books. I took the books and smiled at her warmly. I carried the books outside to Laney Hall where I could read on the balcony. I sighed as I looked up to the third floor before jumping up to my balcony.  

“Now for some quiet time.” I settled down in my lawn chair and opened the smallest of the books. I started reading through the pages, looking for Pimelea flower. As I got to the halfway point I noticed footnotes on the page marked Hemlock Poison. They said something about possibly being a new way to control hybrids, but the research was inconclusive. I pulled out my iPhone and took a photo of the page for future reference. I turned the page and saw a half torn page with the caption Pimelea arenaria. “This must be it, great.” I sighed and read what I could.  

“Pimelea arenaria is an evergreen Shrub growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in). It is in leaf 12-Jan it is in flower from May to June. The flowers are dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one s*x is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required)The plant is not self-fertile. It normally grows in loose soil such as sand but is known to grow in mountainous areas. There are fifty species of this breed but this particular one is known to have special magics tied to it. Such as charms and memory spells…” 

It was there that the page ended. “This is it, it has to be.” I said taking a photo of the page. With the one down I spent the remainder of my time getting lost in the geography books.