Chapter 10
1694 Words
The dining hall buzzes with energy, the air thick with the pleasant aroma of baked goods. Warm light filters through large, stained-glass windows, casting colorful patterns on the long wooden tables laden with platters of pastries and bowls of fruit. The high ceiling, adorned with rustic chandeliers, grants a medieval yet cozy atmosphere to the vast space.
Ariah grabs my wrist and drags me across the room, navigating us through the laughter and chatter of the crowds of students.
Slowly, heads start to turn, and eyes lock onto me. Whispers and pointing fingers follow. I realize it’s because my neck is exposed, my hair tied in a high ponytail, showcasing my mark for everyone to see. As expected, no one else has a mark like mine. Theirs are all smaller versions of Elijah’s, minus the paw-like print. And minus the hideous veins—which Elijah assured me will fade with time.
“I’m introducing you to our friends. You’re going to love them!” Ariah steers me toward the far corner where two students are sitting across from each other. My eyes narrow at the space between them.
Confetti coats the table, with two large bowls—one filled with candy and the other with potato chips. There’s a plate stacked with soft-baked cookies sandwiched in buttercream and topped with a single pink candle.
A young man with curly light copper hair and a sturdy build rises, offering a crimson balloon. “Happy belated birthday!” he chirps, his round face lighting up with a smile as his deep, warm brown eyes fix on my mark. “It’s not much, but we hope you like it. Welcome to the Academia of the Moon. You’re going to love it here.”
Well, this defies all my expectations.
I struggle to muster a faint smile. “Uh, thank you?” I glance at Ariah with a hesitant expression. “What’s happening here?”
She grins. “We figured you deserved a proper birthday celebration. Come, sit.”
The second student at the table, a girl with lush raven curls and perfect mahogany skin, holds out a tiny wrapped package. Her dark eyes twinkle as she says, “Hey there, I’m Celeste. This isn’t much, but trust me, they’re divine.” She gestures to the boy. “That doofus is Nate.”
“Well, excuse me!” Nate plants his fists on his hips. “I have much more class than you, madame. I, unlike you, get up to welcome our new bestie.”
“Sure you do.” Celeste rolls her eyes, waving him off. “As for our new bestie, she wouldn’t know your name if you didn’t tell her. And if you want to fault me, I at least bothered with a gift. Unlike you.”
Nate ignores Celeste, reaching for a cookie, but Ariah slaps his hand away. “The birthday girl needs to make a wish first.”
He sticks out his tongue and sinks back into his seat. “Rude.”
“Wait, you’re not psychic, are you?” Celeste directs the question at me.
I sit down between her and Ariah, placing the wrapped gift on the table. “Nope.”
“Just checking.” She points a thumb at Nate. “This one is. He told us last week we were going to make a new friend. We couldn’t imagine making friends with any of the students already here until you came along.”
“You owe me fifty bucks,” Nate quips.
Celeste swats the air with annoyance. “Anyway, he’s gay. Feel free to discuss personal female issues with confidence and openness. He gets it.”
“Sure do.” Nate’s lips part, eyes on my cookie cake. “Are you making a wish?”
“Let the girl settle in first. Jeez!” Ariah huffs. “This has to be overwhelming for her. She’s completely new to this world. She comes from a human family.”
“Oh,” Nate blows out a long breath. “I’m sorry. My stomach thinks ahead of my brain sometimes. This must be a lot for you.”
“Yeah, this is going to take some time to get used to.” I pinch the edge of the table with my fingers. “Before today, I believed that werewolves ate humans.”
All three of them burst out laughing.
Nate slaps the table. “We’ve heard that one before, but it never gets old. Most of us are as mushy and sweet as marshmallows.”
“Some really do eat people,” Celeste pulls a face. “Though cannibalism is frowned upon. Even here.”
“Yep,” Ariah agrees. “But humans are more inclined to that than our kind.”
“Sounds about right.” Nate’s eyes are back on my mark.
“Knock it off,” Celeste nudges him with her elbow. “She’ll tell us when she’s ready.”
I pass Ariah a questioning look. She shrugs. “Everyone’s curious why your mark is so different.”
I fall into an explanation of what Mrs. Humphrey told me, omitting the part about Luca. I doubt getting marked by an exiled werewolf—a murderer—will sit well with anyone here. Especially since Ariah knows who he is—no doubt they’ll know too.
“That is awesome!” Nate exclaims. “I’ve never met anyone with that mark, but since some of the most powerful figures in our society have it. You have to be special.”
“It’s pretty too,” Celeste muses, and I can’t disagree more. But before I can voice my opinion, she rattles on. “Much better than this stamp of shame.”
“How is this a stamp of shame? Are you embarrassed by your own kind?” Ariah presses.
“That’s not what I mean,” Celeste snorts. “I love being a wolf. I just think this thing is ugly. Look how pretty hers is.”
Nate leans forward. “Yours looks like a crescent moon with a cute pattern and—” he makes a face. “I’m not sure what those are called.”
“They look like those symbols in the Book of the Divine,” Ariah says thoughtfully.
“Is it in the library here?” I ask. When she nods, I add, “I’d love to see it. I want to know what these mean. Maybe it’ll point me to some answers. Or something, at least.” I can use some reassurance that I won’t become some psycho because of who marked me.
“A quick heads-up. The staff there will be watching you closely if you decide to check out the Book of the Divine. That book is special,” Celeste explains. “You’re not allowed to take it out of the library.”
“Right.” I shift in my seat. “Can I ask you guys some questions about our history?”
“Sure. Shoot,” Nate says, biting into a muffin. “That’s what friends are for.”
A deep sadness churns within me. I’ve never had any friends, so I don’t know what it feels like to have them. Is this what it’s like? And is it normal for it to happen so fast and without any challenges?
“So,” I push out a breath, trying to find the right words. “Let’s say you get exiled for something incredibly bad, like murder…”
“Yeah?” Celeste’s brows shoot up.
“Well, let’s say they end up marking someone. Is that a bad thing?”
Ariah frowns. “No, because that’s unheard of. Once you’re exiled, you lose your power. Without power, you can’t access the spiritual realm. You can’t mark anyone, period.”
“But let’s say it could happen,” I raise my chin as I speak, hoping to mask my uneasiness. “Our magic comes from energy, right?” I recall reading something like that on Mrs. Humphrey’s wall while I was in her office. “So whether the one marking you is good or evil, does their energy pass over to you?”
The three of them exchange looks. It’s Celeste who answers. “We were born with the mark, but I’ve heard those who get marked do absorb some of their recruiters’ energy.”
My insides recoil. And mine happens to be a freaking murderer. “I see, so you’ll have some of their traits?”
Nate nods. “From what I know, yes.”
“Why?” Ariah asks. “Did your recruiter do something wrong?”
I shake my head a little too quickly for it to be convincing. “Nah, I’m just curious.”
“Uh-huh.” I can tell by Celeste’s tone that she doesn’t believe me. But, with luck for once, they don’t push it.
“Hey, have you decided what wish you are going to make?” Nate bounces in his seat.
“Nate, for crap’s sake!” Celeste laughs. “You’re incorrigible.”
I smile. “You can eat it. I don’t believe in wishes.”
“Oh, honey, you don’t want to do that.” Celeste grabs my hand. “You’re in our world now. Wishes can come true. If I were you, I’d grab the opportunity.”
“But would it still count, since it isn’t my birthday anymore?” I ask.
“I say it’s worth a try,” Ariah urges. “We take wishes seriously around here. Now make one, and make it good.”
“And most importantly, don’t tell anyone,” Nate adds.
I sigh, leaning forward, and close my eyes. There’s a lot I can wish for. Yet the only thing I want more than anything right now is for my new friends to be the real deal. I won’t be able to handle any more heartbreak. Or more stagnant relationships that do more harm than anything.
I open my eyes to find all three of them peering at me with anticipation and encouraging smiles.
Please, be real.
I lean forward and blow out the candle.
- Writer
