Bound By a Curse

Chapter2

CHAPTER TWO:

MIRA'S POV:

“What the hell are you doing here Mira? Not only did you sneak in here, but now you forced yourself on me?” Landon asks in a hard tone as he grips my arms tightly in his.

“What are— Landon, stop with this bullshit.” I say in a lowered tone as I squeeze my hands tightly into a fist.

“Can you please have some dignity? If you wanted to dance with me so badly, you could have showed me your real face. Not that I would have accepted but you would have been less of a coward than you are right now.” Landon says, continuing to dig the knife of embarrassment deeper.

“I hate you!” I say through gritted teeth to a smug looking Landon as the tears roll down my cheeks.

“I don't care, little rabbit.” Landon says with a smirk as he walks away from me.

Everyone glares at me, giving me a wide berth when I start walking towards the large double doors at the entrance of the large ballroom.

I lean on the wall just outside the large room, trying to calm my erratic heart and stop the tears from escaping my eyelids.

I should have known better. Why would Landon pass up a chance to humiliate me in front of a crowd. That was basically his life's mission. He lived to make my life a living hell.

The look of disgust on the face of everyone as well as my ruined dress does nothing to calm my broken spirit.

I finally get myself together as I decide to head home and sleep the whole day off.

I walk through the empty hallways, shocked that Landon didn't send the security after me. He had once started a rumor about me being a thief. I scoff in disbelief at my ignorance. How did I fall for his tricks once more?

I stop in my tracks when I hear a little thumping sound from the dark and empty hallway beside me.

I squint my eyes, trying to identify the figure I see moving around in the dark. I contemplate leaving but my ever present curiosity makes my leg change course on their own accord.

I find myself moving down the dark hallway, listening carefully for any sign of movement. When I get to the end of the hallway, I find that it opens to some sort of pool house.

Finding nothing of importance, I decide to head back when I bump into a large figure.

“What the hell are you doing out here in the dark?” A hard voice says, intensifying my fear.

“I thought— I heard a noise.” I squeak out in explanation as I try to side step the figure and make a hasty escape.

“And you decided to check it out.” The voice says in a sceptical tone, stepping in front of me, once more foiling my escape plans.

“Look I'm sorry for peeking, I will be on my way now.” I say in a placating tone as I move to leave once more.

“Aren't you supposed to be back at the party?” The voice asks in a sharp tone.

“Yes— I mean no. My feet hurt so I have to go home.” I say, lying through my teeth.

“You must have enjoyed yourself then.” The voice says in a bitter tone.

“Huh?” I respond in a shocked tone.

“Come on. Let's check out the pool.” The owner of the voice says, holding onto my arm.

“I'm sorry, I don't think I'm allowed back there.” I say hurriedly, my blood pressure skyrocketing at the possibility of being caught once more.

“We will just dip our legs in. I doubt anyone would notice or even care.” The owner of the voice says in an appealing tone.

“Do you go around asking girls you've barely just met to take a dip in the pool with you?” I ask in a perplexed tone.

“Look, everyone I've met has been dying to attend that party, and a hurt foot wouldn't stop them. But then there's you who probably didn't enjoy it, same as me.” The owner of the voice says.

“It's understandable when you put it that way.” I say in acquiescence with a shrug.

“So are we going to let the day go to waste or are we going to make use of the opportunity in our faces?” The owner of the voice asks.

“A little dip wouldn't hurt. But I can only stay for twenty minutes.” I say to him, already regretting my decision.

“Deal.” The owner of the voice says.

When we step into the dim lights of the pool house, I find that the stranger who was now my companion was a boy about my age. I wouldn't be shocked if we actually go to school together.

It would be sad if we did. Because then he will recognise me and be just as angry as everybody in the ballroom was for pretending to be someone I'm not.

“What are you doing?!” I ask in an alarmed tone as he starts to take off his pants.

“We are getting into the pool right? I don't want my clothes to get soaked.” He says in a tone that suggests I should have known the reason all along.

“Oh yeah, sure.” I say, clearing my throat in an effort to show that I didn't care about his semi nakedness.

The boy gives me a strange look but proceeds to ignore me as he steps into the pool in his briefs.

I look around me, unsure of what to do. I know I promised this stranger that I will take a dip in the pool with him but the feeling of awkwardness was just too much to ignore.

After some inner pep talk, I bunch my dress up until it was just a few inches above my knees. I step into the cool water, sitting by the edge so I wouldn't get too soaked.

I stare at the starless sky and I begin to wonder what could have been if my parents weren't traitors. I would get to enjoy the party and move freely through the city, but alas I had to pay for their actions.

“I don't know you to be a coward.” The stranger says, sneaking up beside me.

“Huh?” I ask in confusion, wondering what he's talking about.

“You came here knowing full well that you aren't welcome. You took the chance of your identity being exposed but now you can't get into the pool because you are scared that someone might find you here. Don't you think that's self-contradictory?” The stranger says in a contemplative tone.

“Wait— you know me?” I ask in a confused tone, unable to grasp the fact that someone recognised me but was still talking to me.

“Your eyes and beauty make it hard to not recognise you. I guess that's why everybody hates you.” The boy says with a shrug.

“Fine. I guess I can step into the pool. But first I have to change into a swimsuit.” I say, feeling partly flattered at his compliment and scared of exploring this new friendship. I know is hold probably ask for his name, but I was scared of jinxing this all.

I move from the decking, with the intentions of heading into the cabana to see if I would find something I can change into but then I trip on the stranger's discarded and I fall to the ground.

A sharp pain runs up from my ankle and I find myself unable to hold the groan of pain that escapes my throat.

“Are you okay?!” The stranger asks in a tone of concern and alarm as he rushes out of the pool and towards my side.

I start to tell him that I will be okay, considering the wolf blood flowing through my veins which allowed me to heal extra fast when someone bursts through the glass doors of the pool.

“What the hell?!” Landon's growly voice resounds through the pool house as he rushes towards us.

I scramble to my feet as I prepare myself to be killed by Landon, however, what I don't expect is for him to punch the stranger square in the face.

“What are you doing Landon?! Let him go!” I say in an alarmed but angry tone as I move towards them, trying to dislodge Landon's hold on the boy.

“Get the f**k away from me, Mira.” Landon says in a hard tone as he firmly but carefully pushes me off him.

“Why won't you stop?! What's your problem?! I know I should have left earlier when you said I should but that has nothing to do with him!” I say harshly in anger.

“Why the f**k are you defending him? Are you guys suddenly in love?!” Landon asks in a mocking tone finally pushing himself off the boy.

He folds the sleeves of his button down shirt as he stalks towards me.

“It's not— it's not like that!” I stutter, mentally beating myself up for responding to his taunts.

“Then tell me how it is.” Landon says in a deathly cold tone as he comes to a halt in front of me.

“For someone who doesn't care, you seem to be oddly inquisitive. Even if there was anything between me and that boy — which there isn't — it would be none of your business!” I say in an angry tone as I try to get him to see reason and leave me alone.

“Mira. Mira. Mira. How many times do I have to tell you that every thing that goes on under my roof is my business?” Landon asks in a mocking tone as his large hands cup my cheeks, pulling me into him.

I stop breathing for a moment as my eyes clash with his, unable to look away and with my heart beating as though it is about to escape from my chest, the only thing that brings me back to earth is the low groan of pain coming from the stranger.

“Let me go, Landon. I have to go help him!” I say in an urgent tone as the desire to escape Landon's grip intensifies.

“I don't care about your slutty flings. I suggest you focus on me and only me right now.” Landon says in a hard tone through gritted teeth as he takes a step forward, causing me to take a matching step backwards.

“Let me go, Landon. I promise I will leave immediately.” I say in a quivering tone as my eyes fill up with tears.

“The time for that has passed. Now you have to pay for the consequences of your disobedience.” Landon says in a tone that shatters whatever hope I had of emerging out of this unscathed.