The Hidden Lycan Prince

CHAPTER 3

About a month later, Tristan’s name popped in our conversation again.

“You and Tristan are alike in many ways,” Sierra said, sipping from her cup of coffee.

Startled by the sudden mention of his name; I almost spilled my coffee. His smiling face flashed before my eyes, tugging the strings of my heart. My gaze swept around the canteen; involuntarily seeking him.

Sierra waved her hand in front of me, “You are spacing out again.”

“Umm… Yeah…” I stuttered, turning my attention back to her. “Why are you talking about Tristan? Didn’t you say he was a nobody?”

Her face flushed in embarrassment. “I did but I think I have changed my mind. He is like the coolest person in the world for me now.”

My heart twisted with a sudden pang of jealousy. “What made you change your mind?”

“He f****g beat my brother in the test. For the first time in life, Cedric came second in his class.” She grabbed my hand over the table. “You have no idea how annoying it is to have a brother who is perfect when you are not.” She rolled her eyes. “My mom keeps saying ‘Cedric this… Cedric that… Be perfect like your brother….” She made a face. “Yuck! As if I want to be like that prick.”

A peal of mirthful laughter left my lips. Listening to Sierra’s squabbles with her brother always warmed my heart. They fought like a hundred times a day but they loved each other to bits.

A piercing scream put an end to our conversation. It seemed to be coming from the corridor. Everyone in the canteen started rushing in that direction.

After a slight hesitation, I followed them as well. Sierra remained seated at the table; following her policy of staying out of all controversies. She had warned me time and again to keep to myself but I just couldn’t.

There was this restless energy within me that wouldn’t let me stay still. By the time I reached the corridor, a small crowd had gathered.

Weaving my way through the gathering, I made it to the front. Even so my view was obstructed by the burly boys who refused to give way to me. I could only catch glimpses of the scene through the gaps.

Two boys were busy hurling abuses and kicking someone. Though they wore the same uniforms, their shoes, jackets and haircuts set them apart from the others. One glance and you could say that they were spoilt rich.

I had heard that bullying was rampant in elite schools. But hearing about bullying and watching someone getting hit right before your eyes is totally different. My stomach clenched with a queasy sensation and my entire body got covered in goosebumps.

“You rascal! How dare you get more marks than Edmund?” A boy with a Razor fade haircut shouted and kicked the boy lying on the ground. “Don’t you get it? A Grub like you trying to score more than Elites is sickening.”

Damn! Did he say Edmund? Then the boy with the razor cut must be Eric. My blood boiled with anger, but I merely clenched my fists.

‘Keep your head down and mind your business,’ Sierra’s words played in my head as I struggled to keep my cool.

They continued to hurl insults and raining blows but nobody stepped forward to help the victim. My restless gaze swept around. Hopefully, someone in charge would pass by and stop this craziness.

My gaze landed on a man with golden rimmed spectacle. My heart skipped half a beat as I recognised him. Mr. Benjamin was standing behind the pillar, fully aware of the situation, but didn’t bother to intervene.

His gaze flickered to mine. The moment he realised he was being watched, he averted his gaze and walked away. Dang! Even the Vice Principal wasn’t willing to intervene. What could a poor girl like me do?

Click! A sharp metallic sound drew my attention back to the bullies. Eric was holding an open penknife in his hand now. His eyes twinkled with an evil glint and he smirked, “Why don’t we just slit his wrist and crush his median nerve, Edmund? See if he can still score more than you.”

It was followed by a peal of mocking laughter. Eric grabbed the victim’s hand and stepped to the side revealing the boy’s face. Though his face was bloodied, I recognised him in a heartbeat: Tristan.

My blood ran cold and my breath got stuck in my throat. Tears stung my eyes as the ache in my chest intensified. Why in the world did they have to target him again? More importantly, why was he not fighting back?

He must have sensed my gaze because he raised his head to look at me. His eyes lit with a fiery spark the moment our eyes met. Shaking his head in warning, he mouthed, “Leave.”

He had spoken just a single word but it conveyed so much more; stirring the deepest parts of my heart. I knew I was going to regret this for the rest of my life but I just couldn’t leave.

Taking out my phone quickly, I pushed my way to the other side of the crowd. Making sure that the camera was angled right, I clicked pictures of Eric and Edmund beating Tristan.

Eric raised the penknife and was about to stab Tristan when I called out, “Stop!”

All the gazes shifted towards me. Their stares were so intense it felt like they were boring holes into me. Ignoring the sensation of spiders crawling down my spine, I stepped closer and raised my phone, “You better stop now, Eric.” My voice sounded way calmer than I felt. “I don’t think Mr. Grayson will be pleased if he finds pictures of his son abusing someone making rounds on the web.”

Eric froze and he turned to face me. His eyes narrowed, his gaze boring through me. My mouth went dry and my heart started pounding like crazy.

“What did you say?” His voice held a warning and a subtle chance to refute what I had just said.

I was tempted to take back whatever I had said and just run but then my gaze landed on the penknife. A sense of dread gripped me. What if he really hacked into Tristan’s wrist and caused permanent damage?

Swallowing the lump that had formed in my throat, I spoke up, “If you don’t stop now, I will upload the pictures on social media.” My voice grew confident as my resolve strengthened. “I don’t think I need to explain whatever will happen next.”

His eyes blazed with fury. Before I could even realise what was going on, he had grabbed the phone from my hand and smashed it on the floor.

Edmund released Tristan from his hold and grabbed my shoulder instead; his lips curving in a sinister smile, “What will you do now, little kitten? I just destroyed your insurance policy.”

Drawing in a deep breath, I spoke in a shaking voice, “I have already sent the pictures to my friend. She will upload them on the internet if I don’t call her in ten minutes.”

Eric’s face turned pale and for the first time, I saw real fear in his eyes. He pulled Edmund away and whispered, “Let us settle this later.”

Edmund’s grip on my arms weakened but he didn’t release me. I forced a sneer and spoke, enunciating each word slowly, “Royals: Biggest bullies of the Century.” I raised my eyebrows and taunted. “Don’t you think it will make a great tagline?”

With a frustrated sigh, he released me and stomped away with Eric. The crowd scattered too; leaving me and Tristan behind. I rushed over to him and helped him to his feet, “Are you okay?”

His eyes clenched together as if in agony but he nodded. “I am fine…. You go and call your friend. If she really uploads them online, she will be in a huge trouble.”

“Umm… actually…. There is no need for that. I just said that on the spur of the moment.”

His eyes snapped open, “You mean to say that you didn’t send the pictures to your friend.”

“No, I lied.” I looked away and busied myself in picking the parts of my phone. “I did whatever came to mind at the spur of the moment.”

“You are really crazy.” He muttered, grabbing the parts of my phone and fixing it hastily. “Why did you have to intervene like this? Couldn’t you have just turned a blind eye like the others?”

My eyebrows furrowed as a wave of annoyance coursed through me. Why was he getting angry with me? Shouldn’t he be thanking me for saving him?

I grabbed his arm and tugged, forcing him to look at me, “You think I am crazy? You are the crazy one! That bastard had a pen knife pointed at you yet you stayed there like an i***t. If you couldn’t fight back you should have at least run.”

“I didn’t want to run.” The arrogance in his words ticked me further.

“Of course! Men and their stupid ego.” I snapped, snorting and shaking my head. “You would rather die than flee… If you care so much about your face you should have fought back.

“Unfortunately, I can’t afford to do that…”

“You…. I…” I felt so angry that I couldn’t speak the rest of the words.

I was so furious that I felt like I would burst but then he smiled; a sad but beautiful smile. His gesture was infectious and I found myself smiling despite everything.

I took my phone back from him and pressed the power button. We waited in anticipation but it didn’t turn on. I bit my lower lip, “Seems like the CPU is damaged….”

“Please tell me that you had set the saving location to SD card.”

“Umm… my phone doesn’t have an SD card.”

He tore his hair, concern flashing through his features. “You should never have stepped forward to help me. If Eric and Edmund ever find out that you don’t have those pictures….”

“Its okay, Tristan.” I shrugged off his concern. “As far as they don’t find out the truth, I will be fine.” A long sigh left my lips. “Even if they find out what can they do at the most? Kill me?” I looked into Tristan’s eyes. “I am not afraid of death, Tristan. Death is far more merciful than life.”

His lips parted but before he could ask anything I changed the topic. “I think we should go to the infirmary and get you treated.”

He groaned and shook his head. “Is infirmary your favourite place or something? Why do you always offer to take me there?”

“Because you don’t talk to me unless you are injured.” I couldn’t keep the sting out of my voice. His cold behaviour had left a deep mark on me.

“It is just that….” He started saying something but stopped midway. “Just take me to your favourite spot.”

I placed his arm around my shoulder for support and walked him along the corridor. Hyperaware of the proximity, my brain went on overdrive, noticing and analysing little details.

He smelled like fresh mint mixed with lemon; probably from some exquisite after shave. His body was really well built and could be seen in his posture which brought me back to the question. Why didn’t he fight back? Why did he let those two snobs have their way?

I stole a glance at his face. His expression was completely devoid of any emotions. Maybe one day, we would be close enough for him to tell me his secret.

When we reached the infirmary, we found it empty. There was nobody there; even the peon who always sat outside the infirmary was absent.

“Let us go back…” Tristan said with a careless shrug. “I will get it treated after returning home.”

Like seriously? Was he crazy or something? Waiting for so long would make his wounds worse.

Ignoring his protests, I led him inside and forced him to sit, “Since nobody is here, I will dress your wounds.”

“You?” his eyes widened in horror as if I had said something unimaginable.

“Don’t worry, Tristan. I work as a clinical assistant in my free time and do this on a daily basis.” I reassured as I opened the first aid box and laid the gauze, antiseptic and ointments in the tray.

“Why did those morons have to hit your face so bad?” I grumbled, cleaning the top of his lips gently. A large bruise had formed on the right side of his lip and dried blood had formed a layer over his soft lips. Tears rolled down my cheeks before I could stop them.

Tristan grabbed my hand and asked in a panicked voice, “Why are you crying? Did you also get hurt too?”

I blinked away my tears and shook my head, “I don’t know why but it hurts to see you like this.”

“You are terrible at this,” he stuttered in a flustered voice and got up. “I will do it myself.”

He walked over to the sink and washed away all the blood; not even flinching ones. I watched as he adeptly cleaned all his wounds and applied ointment.

“Does it really not hurt or are you pretending to be strong?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking.

He looked at me with a complicated expression as he replied, “I don’t know.”

“How can you….”

“What are you both doing here?” A familiar voice sounded breaking the flow of our conversation.

“Miss Elma,” I greeted with a slight bow. “Tristan was badly hurt and you were not here. So….”

“So, you thought it is okay to do whatever you like?” She snapped, surprising me. I had helped her attend patients many times in the past.

“I am sorry, Miss Elma. I didn’t intend to offend you,” I apologised quickly. Miss Elma was in charge of practicals. Making her mad wasn’t a good idea.

Her pointed gaze bore through me for a long moment before she dismissed me, “You can leave.”

“Tristan?”

“I will stay back for a while and get some tests done.” He said with a decisive wave. Now that the nurse was back, I had no reason to linger. So, I returned to my class with a rueful sigh.