The Half-Blood Elite 1: Lapislázuli

Chapter 1

White Stone City, E.E.U.U 14/03/27

Why am I afraid?

Why was my body trembling hard and my mind just thinking of running away? Why was my mind thinking that if I didn't run away I would die?

Everything was dark and I couldn't see absolutely anything. Maybe I was blind?

'Hello?' I asked the nothingness, and my voice sounded like an echo.

I didn't feel any wind. I knew that I had a sweater and pants on me, but I didn't remember when I had put my clothes on. In fact, I don't remember how and why I got here. My mind wandered and the last thing that I remembered was being in high school and waiting for a class. Then, I remember that I was very bored, and my eyes were slowly closing, a reason why my teacher got mad at me and shouted at me a lot of words.

And then what?

I tried to remember but I couldn't.

Instantly a frightened fear paralyzed me.

And I feel it.

I felt that something was coming for me.

I woke up abruptly and in consequence my knees bounced against the table.

'Ouch' I was in school and in the middle of class I had fallen asleep. I looked at the empty room and sighted.

That dream had felt really chilling. It felt so real and vivid.

My eyes fell on the clock, which marked lunchtime, and immediately my stomach growled.

The school canteen was full of hormonal teenagers. The noise was too loud, some of them were talking animatedly, and some of them were teasing others just to make themselves more interesting. And talking about it, in the center of the hall, a group of boys who call themselves "the popular ones", were teasing a red-haired and skinny boy, full of freckles, who had entered high school this year.

Good way to welcome him.

Nobody did anything for him, 'cause nobody wanted the special attention of that group. Nobody wants to be bullied.

I was starving, but unlike them, I didn't let situations like that go by. I really don't care if this special attention falls on me. I know how to defend myself.

Let's just say that I have a good reputation with these people. In fourth grade, I punched Chad Mathews' nose (the leader of these "popular people") and, based on that, they didn't bother me too much, just in a few cases like that, when I got on their way.

And the best way is that nobody messes with me, nobody wants to mess with me.

I laugh at the memory of him crying, holding his bloody nose.

I walked over to Chad, who was checking the redhead's backpack, and with one movement, I took it from his hands.

' What are you doing assh...?' he shouted at me. My blue eyes looked at him, as if he was the most disgusting thing created by the universe. Then my eyes fell on the redhead, who was on the ground, scared.

'Catch it' I said, and then I threw the backpack at him. He smiled at me, grateful, and then he ran away from us.

'Who do you think you are, b***h?' he yelled at me, angry. I just looked at him and smiled mockingly.

'I'm the one who's going to send you back to the hospital for your next nose job.' That infuriated him even more.

'I'll let you pass this one, but the next time, I swear Gray...'

'What?' I interrupted him. 'This is the tenth time you've threatened me with it this week'. Everyone started laughing at Chad, making him very furious.

'You'll see, b***h' and then he left the place full of anger, with his little group behind.

I started laughing. The way that Chad reacted was hilarious. His face always turns red, and his eyes look like they're going to pop out of his face.

Then, holding back my tears of laughter, I went to buy my lunch, a good piece of pizza and a little bottle of coke. I started to walk towards the terrace on which the concierge had left me the keys since I had helped him many times with the cleaning. He is a good man.

The wind whipped my black hair as I stepped out onto the terrace. I walked to a corner and sat on the floor, putting in front of me my black backpack on a table. The weather was turning hot, so I took out my jacket and left it by my side. The spring was finalizing and the hot weather of summer was appearing slowly, but strong.

I hate hot weather. I can't stand it. It's very annoying to be sweating all the time. I liked dark clothes and being dressed in comfortable clothes, but the summer prevented it.

In the corner of that terrace was me. Eating and listening to music peacefully.

My loneliness was my best friend 'cause it would not betray me, it would not turn its back on me or make fun of me.

The end-of-recess bell rang, and cursing, I grabbed my stuff, dumped the trash where it belonged, and headed back to school.

...

Math's class.

The worst of all the classes. It was like torture for teenagers.

I was sitting at the back of the whole class, trying to do the exercises. The room was silent 'cause the teacher was explaining some stuff and 'cause other students like me were breaking their brains doing the exercises.

I looked at the teacher, giving up, throwing myself on the back of the chair and crossing my arms. I was so bored.

Mr. Brandon suddenly excused himself and left the room for a while. The moment he left the room, everyone started to shout and make noise.

I really hate loud noise. I really hate people.

But I didn't see the next coming. A girl with brown hair and brown eyes stood up in front of me, with her arms around her waist, and an arrogant expression on her face.

'Leave my Chad alone. You think that you caught his attention by acting bravely? You want him b***h? It's that, isn't it?' her name was Ambar Perez, and everything that came out of her mouth was like the sound of a mosquito, annoying. Meanwhile, I was staring at her with a sarcastic smile on my face, two girls dressed like Amber stood behind her. Every mosquito has the need of a mosquito squad, I think 'cause they aren't going to survive by themselves.

'No, thanks, that job fits perfectly with the two girls behind you.' I said, mockingly. Ambar frowned, and the two girls looked at me indignantly.

'They would never do anything like that, instead of you, slut.' she said with a winning smile on her face, thinking that her comment would affect me and I would cry.

But I laughed loudly and she frowned again.

'What a good joke, you have to be a comedian', I responded ironically.

She opened her mouth to answer me, but the teacher stopped her. She immediately glanced at me with rage and then turned back to her seat. Meanwhile, I greeted her with my hand and a smile on my face.

'Children, today a new student joined us, so I hope that you will be good at him.' The year is almost over and do we have a new student? Weird.

A boy entered the room. He seemed to be older than us, just a few years. He was dressed in all black clothes and his black hair was disheveled, and his black eyes looked at everyone coldly, which drew sight from some girls and from some boys.

'I present to you to Maximous Blak, a foreign student.' It was strange, who would come from outside this little and boring town? He was clearly unique. 'There you have a seat.' Mr Brandon pointed to the seat that was next to me. Clearly, I just have bad luck.

The crowd's reaction was to see me with envy, so I snorted.

But there was a reason why I sat alone, and the teacher wasn't going to like it, so I was speechless. Meanwhile, the new guy walked over to his seat, with no reply.

When he sat down next to me, he didn't look at me or talk to me, so I was okay with that.

I looked at him for a second, and his face looked a little familiar to me, but I didn't remember if I had seen him before. And rewinding memories, I couldn't find his face on my list of familiar faces. So, why do I have a feeling that I saw him before?

The class passed boring, normally boring.

The recess bell, announcing that the next class would be the last, rang. I got up from my seat, grabbed my backpack and headed for the door, not even looking at my partner once.

I walked to my locket and replaced my books for the books for the next class.

Beloved and beautiful literature, the only class that made it worth every single minute in this place.

I went to the next class and took my seat where I always did, in the back of the room. I put on my headphones and started reading the literature book, again, to kill time. Miss May has chosen "Pride and prejudice", one of my favorite ones.

Suddenly, I felt someone sitting next to me. I try not to give it much importance, as long as the person doesn't disturb my lecture.

The bell rang, and with that a lot of students started to come inside the room. That was my sign to take off my headphones.

Miss May, a beautiful woman in her thirties, entered the room with a big smile on her face, which made her look younger than she was. Her long brown hair was tied in a perfect bun, which made her look more fancy.

'Hello students' she started to say, 'and hello to you Maximous.' Her eyes looked at someone next to me. I didn't realize until that moment that the one sitting next to me was the new guy, Maximous Blak. Why did he sit next to me when there were plenty of available seats? - I will introduce myself just so you start to know me. My name is Elizabeth May, and I'm the teacher of contemporary literature classes. If you have something to ask me, let me know it, yes?' then she looked at the whole class. 'This month we started to read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin. I hoped that you did the homework for today's class.' May said with a big smile, which made many students start to complain.

The class was entertaining as always. Then the bell rang, announcing the end of classes for the day.

I was exhausted. The only thing that I wanted to end the day was a good meal and a sleep.

I stood up, grabbed my stuff and tried to disappear, but I was not able to do it 'cause the voice of Miss May saying my name stopped me.

' Miss Gray' called. I turned to look at her, trying to hide my intentions of a escape. 'Hello dear, can you do me a favor? Can you help Mister Blak with the classes? To catch up with everyone.' she said with a big smile on her face, trying to convince me. Meanwhile, she was pointing to the new guy who was next to her, looking at everything except me.

My day was starting well, until now.

'Miss May, you know me.' I started saying. 'I prefer throwing myself from a window', I said, with a big and hope-convincing smile. Miss May raised an eyebrow and smirked in response. She knew very well my ironic answers.

'Mister Blak needs someone applied...'

'We have a lot of applied students in this school, Miss', I interrupted her. She looked at me seriously, but before she responded to me, a third voice interrupted her.

' I will gladly help Mister Blak, Miss May' Ambar said, entering the room that she had minutes earlier abandoned, with a flirting smile directed at the new guy. For a second, the words coming from the mouth of that mosquito gave me calm.

'See? I think that Ambar can help him.' I said with a big smile on my face, now I have one less problem for my day. Ambar frowned, while Miss May looked at me with love and hate.

'Thank you, Miss Peréz' Miss May said after a moment, with a feigned kindness. She didn't like students that were faking good behavior in front of a superior. She likes the honest ones, even if they aren't good at her subject.

'It's not a problem for me. I know that some people just can't do basic tasks. They are too foolish to do it well.' said Ambar with a faking kindness. I really don't know why she wants to insult me. I really don't make her words of much importance. It is just the sound of a mosquito trying to get attention.

'Miss, everyone knows that this is not a task for me. So, goodbye' I said, with a big smile and making the sign of love and peace with my fingers, just to finish walking out of the room animatedly.

...

When I got home, I took off my backpack and my jacket and left them on the kitchen table. My house wasn't big, it had two bedrooms, an office, a bathroom, a living-dining room and a kitchen. No more and no less.

In the kitchen, I washed my hands, and then I started to make myself a black coffee, my favorite. I need my caffeine doses for the day.

When I finish, I grab my things and start to walk to my room. When I enter the room, I throw my things on a chair, and take my computer and I sit on my bed. That was my father's computer, but it ended up being mine 'cause "an old man doesn't know how to use these things", my father's words.

I started to look for a movie. I needed to clear my mind and a movie seemed to be nice at those moments.

When the movie ended, I walked to my kitchen looking for something to eat, but the food had not been replaced, so I took my phone and called my father for a fast food delivery.

My father was the only one I lived with. It has always been the two of us, 'cause my mother died to give me birth. He was like my best friend.

'Hello Little One, What's up?' his voice sounded in the middle of the crowd, 'because he works at an office full of people and cellphones ringing.

'Hello, Can I order some fast food for tonight, please?' He laughed.

'Of course Little, What do you want for dinner?' his voice sounded like he was smiling.

'Hamburgers' please' Meanwhile, I imagine McDonald's beautiful hamburgers.

' OK, something else, Little?'

'That's all' I answered with a smile.

Our call lasted a few minutes more, and then he hung up the call saying 'Little Ice, I have to keep working, so goodbye Little.'

But I was hungry, so I grabbed some money, my jacket and I left the house to go to the supermarket and buy myself some food. I was very hungry, the duty to feed my inner beast never stopped.

I enter the supermarket, in my shopping bag I put some chocolates and other food that is not healthy. When I went to pay for everything, I wasn't looking at my path, so I crashed into someone.

'Be careful!' I shouted angrily. When I looked up, my eyes met black and strange ones.

'But you were the one that crashed on me' he said mockingly. His English accent caused all the eyes of the people in the store to fall on him. I rolled my eyes and looked at him irritated.

'You crashed on me' I said, sounding a bit childish. But in my defense, this boy is strange and I really don't like him.

He smirked, revealing one of his dimples, while he was staring at me with amusement. 'Okey then' he said calmly. 'I'm Max but you already know that. So, what is your name then?' and then he extended his hand at me. What is wrong with this guy?

I crossed my arms in response, so he returned his arm to his place. Now that I see him better, he is taller than me, so I have to look up to see him. It's annoying and my neck is starting to hurt a bit.

'You are weird' I said, and then I turned to walk away from him.

His sarcastic and ironic tricks were very annoying, and they were my tricks. It is annoying to find another person like me.

I started to walk to my house, until I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around and frowned. Maximous Blak was behind me, with a stupid smile on his ugly face.

'What is wrong with you? Are you following me?' He laughed in response.

'I'm bored, and I want to know your name' his voice sounded stupidly childish. Why did I have to find this guy? Isn't it forbidden to meet someone from school when you're not in it?

'Go and find someone else who cares' I screamed at him angrily. Gosh, why me? I keep walking, trying to ignore the person behind me. But 3 steps later, he was behind me, following me. 'What are you doing?' I said, turning to face him. He just smiled at me innocently.

'I'm boring' he responded.

'Go to bother someone else, then' what is wrong with him? Seriously.

But he kept following me, so I sighted and faced him again.

'My name is Serena, you're a happy stalker?' I said, irritated. He looked at me and his smile faded.

'Stalker? ' he reapeted.

'Yes, you're a stalker. What's wrong with you?' He let out a loud laugh in response.

'Why would I stalk you?'

'That's my question, you just did it 3 seconds ago' Seriously, this guy was very strange.

'Mmm, you're not too pretty for me.' What? Excuse me?

'I'm beautiful, and you owe me an explanation, or better. Go away!' I've never met such an irrational person in all my whole life.

' OK, Serena' he said, and then smiled at me mockingly, again.

Without expecting anything else, I turned and kept walking to my house, hoping that this time this strange guy wouldn't follow me.

When I finally arrived at my house, I looked behind me and didn't see this strange new guy. So I entered my house and closed the door behind me.

'Finally' I said to myself.

I grabbed the things I bought and went to my room, so I could finally rest of this strange day.