When the Sky Comes Down

Chapter 11

[Harlen’s P.O.V.]

After class, I decide to look for Alexia. I know where she had her classes, but to my surprise, the classroom is empty.

‘Looking for someone, Harlen?’ Mr. Fray asks, as he sees me peeking in.

‘Just a friend. She had class here.’ He doesn’t even look up.

‘Try the canteen. Most left after the test.’ Typical Mr. Fray.

‘Thank you sir.’ I quickly leave, wanting to get to her quickly. Who knows what others might have already told her, done to her. I get down the stairs and suddenly smell her. I follow it down to the second floor, around the corner. There she is. She has a map in her hands, but she is looking at a guy. Gregory. From his stance I can see he is making a move on her. He is close to her, slightly hanging over her. He has his sharp teeth slightly exposed. A trick Vampires use to make their prey more comfortable, so they can eventually drink from them. I quickly get to them. I push Gregory away a little with my shoulder and wrap my arm around her waist.

‘Alexia.’ My voice is low, if even I can hear it. I stare at Gregory. I want to rip him apart for even attempting to make her his. He doesn’t seem too bothered by me.

‘Hello Harlen,’ he says calmly. His eyes are reddish, meaning I must have been just in time. ‘I see you have met Alexia too.’ I pull Alexia a little closer. He just smiles. He is clearly not going to back off. He is not going to leave her alone. He looks at Alexia and winks. ‘I will see you later.’ He then walks away.

I watch until I am sure he has left and then turn to Alexia. She is looking at me with her large eyes and I can’t quite seem to place the emotions in it. ‘What were you doing out here by yourself?’ I ask. I clear my throat. I don’t want her to feel intimidated, but I am fairly sure that would scare her off. ‘It is dangerous for you to walk around alone. Even if you simply walk with your fellow first years.’ I just want to make her mine already, at least that will lessen the risk.

‘Sorry?’ Her voice is a little high. What is that. Am I still too intimidating? Suddenly, she initiates a hug. She pushes her face against my chest and wraps her arms around my waist. I close my eyes and put my other arm around her too. I just want to hide her body against mine. I sniff up her scent and feel my body relax. I missed her.

‘What were you doing out here?’ I mumble, leaning my cheek against the top of her head.

‘I was looking for the library.’ She sounds calm too. ‘And then I bumped into Gregory.’ I do not like her saying his name. ‘I tried to get away, because Jakey told me he is dangerous.’

‘He did? When?’ I feel a little confused about this new information.

‘This morning, when we were talking. Before you came in. He pointed at me and said that he was very kind, but that he has his eyes on me and that I should watch out.’ She slowly lets go of me. I don’t want to yet, but I know it is for the best to give her what she wants. ‘He was very clear and I figured he wouldn’t just say it.’

I gently lift up her head with my index finger. ‘Good. Next time, do not even stand with him, just walk away.’ She looks at me and I at her. ‘Let me help you get to the library.’ I let down my hand and take hers. She wasn’t even that far from it. It is just another two turns and she would have gotten there.

Alexia’s eyes almost pop out when she sees the library. ‘They have almost all books. Not just from here, also from the Middle and even a few rare ones from the Upper.’ I hope she will not ask how those books had gotten here. ‘Are you looking for anything in specific?’ She gets out a small piece of paper from her front pocket.

‘It is called The Incredible Mystery of Tralatio Geneticea.’ I have never heard of such a book, but her curiosity is infectious.

‘The library lady should know. She knows where everything is.’ I take her to a large desk with piles and piles of books, behind which a small lady is hidden. ‘Mirjam,’ I greet her. She gets a pile of books out of her way.

‘Harlen, I don’t see you here too often.’ She looks at Alexia. ‘You must be Alexia Wildheart?’

I feel Alexia stiffen up. ‘Mirjam is a seeer,’ I explain. ‘She must have seen you in Keith’s mind.’

‘Oh,’ she says. I see her relax a little.

‘She is, indeed, Alexia Wildheart, Mirjam.’ Mirjam chuckles. ‘Would you help us find a book?’ I take the piece of paper from Alexia and hand it over to Mirjam.

‘Row 53, section 4, second shelf from the bottom.’ She hands me back the piece of paper.

‘Thank you Mirjam.’ I guide Alexia along. ‘The rows are numbered away from the door, horizontally. Then the sections vertically, the first starting behind the desk of Mirjam, moving towards the other side of the room. The rows are numbered, the sections are not.’ I feel she pinches my hand ever so slightly. It only puts more attention towards the fact that she is holding it. She is willingly holding my hand. ‘Eh- So what is this book for?’

‘Mr. Fray advised it to me.’

‘Mr. Fray?’ I frown. That means he likes her. Mr. Fray tends to be very hard on his students. He treats everyone equally, but sharing book choices, that he only does with people he actually likes, or with people he has great expectations off.

‘Yes, do you know him?’ I nod. We keep quiet for a while, simply walking hand in hand. ‘I drew on my test,’ she suddenly says.

‘You-‘ I laugh. ‘What was his response to that?’ I never heard of anyone drawing on their test.

‘He thought it was good.’ She blushes. ‘I like drawing, but I know I am not supposed to do it on a test.’ I cannot keep back a chuckle. ‘Yeah, it’s pretty silly, isn’t it.’

‘A little, but also adorable.’ I stop when we get to the fifty-third row and pull her in. She just allows me to do so and looks around. ‘Do you like reading?’

‘I do. I didn’t have a lot to do back home. So I mostly just, read, drew, clean. I did a lot in the garden.’

‘You must have been very lonely.’ It is out before I realise. She stops walking, forcing me to do the same. ‘I am sorry, I should not have said that.’

‘It’s okay,’ she whispers. I can hear the pain in her voice and see the tears in her eyes. I quickly pull her towards me, gripping her tightly.

‘I am so sorry,’ I whisper against the crown of her head. I feel her body shock a little. She is crying. For a brief moment, I panic, then this calmness comes over me. I hold her tightly and softly swing her from side to side. I place a gentle kiss on her crown and continue cradling her. I continue this until she simply hangs against me, until I see no signs of destress anymore. I place another kiss on her crown. This might be the last one I can give her in a while. I gently push her back a little, so I can look at her face. Her eyes are a little red, but she seems calm.

‘Thank you,’ she says. ‘Sorry I got upset.’

‘Do not apologise about that. You have the right to be. Your mother should be punished for doing what she did.’ I doubt she could get punished for it.

‘Let’s just get that book. Otherwise we won’t have any time to get some lunch.’ She rubs away some last tears and then composes herself.

‘Okay.’ I take her hand again and she allows it. At least this means she is not mad at me.

[Nicole’s P.O.V.]

The day passed terribly slowly. Each and every class, Coden took his seat by Keith’s place, forcing me to sit elsewhere. I know he is probably right in doing so. I can barely even concentrate with him in the same room, let alone with him by my side. I keep on imagining his hands on my. Now that I have gotten a taste, I want more.

During every break, we get the chance to get together and let some of that longing out of the way, but it keeps on returning and it only seems to be getting worse.

‘Where have you been!’ Harlen almost drops his tray at our table. I am sitting close to Keith, hell, I would be sitting on his lap had he allowed me.

‘Class?’ I answer.

‘Not you,’ het growls. He looks at Keith.

‘Me?’ It is nothing for Harlen to talk to Keith that way. Harlen just growls in response. It is clearly throwing Keith off, because he is pulling his arm away from me. ‘What is going on?’

‘Alexia.’ Alarm bells are going off. Not just with Keith, with me too. ‘We have a problem.’

‘We do?’ Keith asks. He is clearly searching for her.

‘She is not here. Her and Bellian are bringing their bags back to their room before dinner. I made her promise to stay together,’ Harlen says. He seems a little stressed. ‘Keith, Gregory is after her.’

‘What?’ I spoke out before Keith could. ‘You are kidding, right?’

‘I fear not,’ Harlen is almost growling. ‘Late this morning I caught him cornering her.’ Keith is growling. I look at him. Had it not been this serious, I would be turned on. ‘I made it clear he should back off,’ Harlen growls. His voice deepens. ‘But he is not.’

‘He cannot touch her,’ Keith growls.

‘Agreed,’ Harlen growls back.

‘I need to make sure he can’t approach her anymore.’ Keith’s jaw is tense, making it even more sharp. It makes him look fierce, sexy, fearless.

‘Agreed,’ Harlen repeats. ‘I can help, let me help.’

‘Thank you. We can take turns guiding her. Making sure she is never alone.’ A little obsessive, though that might be a typical older brother characteristic.

‘I can do that. But we can’t do it in between classes. I tried it already.’ Why am I not surprised Harlen tried. He probably tried to be with her each and every moment.

‘I can make sure of that,’ I say, suddenly realising something. They both look at me, as if they are interrupted. ‘Graham’s little brother, he is in her class. I am sure he will stay with her in between classes. We can probably get Bellian to do the same, but I am not sure if we would want her to know.’ They frown. ‘If Bellian knows, Lexi might find out. I doubt they won’t talk about it.’ They slowly nod.

‘So we get Ilion to watch out for her in between classes,’ Harlem says slowly. ‘We guide her to and from the canteen. Maybe even in some free hours she has.’ He seems to be thinking deeply. We all know Gregory forms a problem. He has quite a reputation for ruining girls.

‘We can make this work,’ Keith says, a lot calmer.

‘Agreed.’

Lexi and Bellian come join us shortly after our conversation has ended. Lexi sits down next to Harlen and he quickly pulls her towards him. I glance over at Keith, but he seems to see it as a harmless gesture of protection. He clearly still doesn’t recognise the traits of mates. I scootch over a little, to get closer to him. He seems to at least get that sign. He puts his arm around my shoulder. I cuddle up nicely against him and take a bite of my dinner.

‘Nicole?’ Lexi says. I look at her. She is looking from me, to her brother and back. I just give her a little smile. She smiles back. I am glad she seems happy for me. I couldn’t be more happy.