The Inferno's Claim

First Day 4

David hummed. “Do you wish to change your current desk to a more comfortable one?”

Genova went stiff upon hearing the professor’s harmless question. Did she wish to be apart from Jasmine? Moreover, why the sudden question though? Genova felt confused and had no straightforward answer to the professor’s question!

Deep down within, there was this notion she couldn’t shake off. It was like an alarm ringing in her head that it would be in her best interest if she stayed away from this girl. Far, far away if possible. However, she couldn’t bring herself to do that because of the invisible clutch the latter had on her soul. Thus, her desire to please the villainess outweighed the danger signs she was getting.

“I-I…” Genova bit her lip and glanced sideways at the lady deposited beside her.

“I-I…” again, she trailed off when she couldn’t form any words or come to a decision. It was as though the cat suddenly got her tongue.

“I think the new girl is perfect where she is, Mr. Johnsons.” Someone spoke up.

Jasmine chuckled when she heard that. “Indeed, Geny girl is safe right where she is, Mr. Johnsons. Why are you making it seem like I bite?” Tilting her head to look at Genova, “Am I correct, sweetheart, you are good where you are?” She asked, mischief blooming in her eyes.

Genova swallowed. Hard. Her heart fluttered like a pure, innocent girl being sweet-talked by a charming young man into doing something she wasn’t supposed to do.

She suddenly felt hot… too hot that the enormous hall became too small for her to be in.

David felt anger rising at the pit of his stomach to see this innocent girl being toyed with this way.

“Miss Alfred! Don’t you think you have had enough? We have rules; this is going overboard!” He bellowed in utmost displeasure.

Genova flinched, downright confused about the man’s sudden outburst.

Not only Genova but a handful of mindless students were also taken aback.

Professor Johnsons was never known as one to lose his temper. But it would seem he had had enough of Jasmine’s wrongdoings. It was high time someone put this demoness in her place.

Noticing the girl he was reprimanding gave off no signs of stopping whatever she was doing, “I guess his-“

“Don’t you dare threaten me with that!” Jasmine interjected through her teeth.

“Oh, I dare! And you will show me respect while we are here! Now do what you must and get the hell out of my class!!” Professor Johnsons growled in displeasure.

Jasmine’s fists clenched and her teeth gnashed in seething. “Fine!” She hissed as the mana surrounding her like a gust of wind that was inviable to the naked eyes shimmered for a few seconds before vanishing into thin air.

Genova let out a whizz of air, feeling like her soul had just been released from the devil’s clutch. Coupled with that, flashes of a scary red-eyed gigantic bird towering over her in the forest with blood dripping from its long, narrow, razor-sharp canines while she lay motionless on the rough ground flood her mind. The images were too jumbled and horrifying that she couldn’t make sense of them. Not yet at least, but it rose the worse fear in her, nonetheless.

In a peak of terror, she sprinted to her feet and scrambled away from Jasmine. “What the hell was that? I mean… how the hell was that even possible?” Genova muttered while picking up her bag to run away from this mysterious place. It was no longer a question of how she had been placed under some spell. She was sure Jasmine was a sorcerer—one she needed to distance herself from.

Jasmine also rose to her feet with an amused smirk on her gorgeous face. “Some tricks I picked up during my time wandering around the planet!” She said, grinning at how shaken up and comic her victim looked.

Genova clutched her bag tightly against her chest in raw fear. She needed to escape; this place wasn’t safe for her to be in!

Thoughts of many other scenarios were running through her mind. What if many others were like Jasmine?

What if every pupil and lecturer was as vicious as her current antagonist?

Whatever tricks they may have up their sleeves… she wanted no part of it!

“Calm yourself, Miss Bourn.” Professor Johnsons spoke calmly to ease the situation when he saw how petrified the new student was. “Take a sit anywhere else you find comfortable. We still have a class to begin.”

Genova shook her head in frantic. “No, Mr. Johnsons. I think I better go home now.”

With that, she dashed for the door like a scared kitten without bothering about her image.

While all these Rokus was going on, she failed to notice that time seemed to have stopped for some pupils inside the hall. Others on the other hand, were enjoying the early morning free show.

Mr. Collins glared disapprovingly at the instigator of all this mess and shook his head. His eyes lost focus for a brief moment before returning more furious.

“Come with me!” David ordered as he exited the classroom, heading to his office.

“You’ve gone too far this time, Miss Alfred. And before you start with how this isn’t your fault… we both know the effect was never this strong on others. You intentionally pushed your illusion on that girl and almost drove her to the edge of madness. She could have lost her damn mind… she could have gone crazy due to your viciousness.” David’s chest heaved in anger as he lashed out at Jasmine.

Taking his seat in his office, he continued, “We have rules; you can’t just go around breaking them no matter how privileged you are. No one is above these rules! Humans aren’t dolls for us to toy with whenever we feel the need to.”

Jasmine pursed her lips without uttering a single word.

Honestly, she had no idea why she took an interest in the new girl and did what she did. Maybe because the girl was so sweet and naïve, hence, she wanted to see how far she could go. Or perhaps she was curious to know why her good mother wanted no harm to befall the new girl and even ordered her to keep a close eye on the latter.

“I never imagined I'd be doing this, Miss Alfred, but you will be punished for this reckless act!” David declared as he opened his locker with a key hung around his neck to bring out a neckless with a giant emerald stone embedded in the middle.

Jasmine looked at the silvery necklace with complex emotions.

“Why do I have to wear this? I don’t think my crime warrants this extent of punishment,” she pouted in disagreement.

“Not my problem, Your Highness, but you have left me no other choice. I can’t discipline you in any other way except this,” he said, lifting the Torc in his hand.

“I am also sorry, Mr. Collins. But I am not letting that thing close to me! Besides, the rules only state that we shouldn’t use our powers on Humans…“ Jasmine trailed off.

“Precisely what you had done!” David lifted an eyebrow.

“No, I haven’t done anything wrong. That girl isn’t as simple as she seems. Why else would my m-“

“Enough! I don’t have all day, Miss Alfred. And I certainly do not have any interest in listening to your bullshit. Princess or not, I am in charge here, and you will abide by my rules!” David growled his irritation.