Chapter 4|I know you
1208 Words
Alarick returned to his office after seeing the school healer for his wounds. In no time, he was as good as new. He was advised to take a rest, but he declined the healing tonic offered to him.
He knew he’d be asleep before he could drink the last drop.
Instead of resting, he gathered every book and scripture he could find about the talisman. If a text mentioned it, he added it to his pile. He needed to start somewhere, even if it meant searching through the entire archive. He had to find out what caused it to activate.
In his mind, he made a list of people he could talk to shed some light on his dilemma. Alarick was certain there was someone still living out there to give him ample answers. There are three pillars of their tight-knit community. He was almost sure one of the elders had something to say about the talisman since there was very little known about it other than its origin.
Immersed in his research and his mind actively planning his next step, he did not notice the door opening.
“Dad!” Missy screeched, sweeping in. “I went to the infirmary as soon as I heard, but you weren’t there! Elena told me you declined her tonic. What is wrong with you? You needed that! I saw the archive! The damage there is enough to kill hundreds of people!”
“And the visitors?” Alarick raised his eyes. “Where are they now?”
“What?” Missy retorted with disgust. “Seriously, you’re worried about a bunch of normies despite what happened to you in there?”
Ignoring Missy’s words, Alarick returned to his reading. “I assume they were alright and sent home? The archives are protected by charms and spells. I believe a blocking spell was cast during its construction. And a very effective one. No one heard the explosion, right?”
He was right, the archives were protected by several spells, and a blocking spell was one of them. His ancestors had thought about it before they placed artifacts there. The construction of the archives was carefully planned, and its design was flawless.
Missy’s shoulders dropped. She knew how dedicated her father was to keeping Harrington’s name out of any trouble or scandal. “Why am I even surprised? It’s always school before family.”
“How’s Jean and the boy?”
Specks of red from rage flushed on Missy’s face. “Dad! Are you hearing yourself? Elena told me you could’ve died, and here you are asking about Jean and a random outsider?!”
Alarick waved his hand. “Missy, as you can see, I am fine. Thank you for your concern. Now, do me a favor, check on Jean and the boy.”
Missy stomped her foot, and tears streamed down her face. “I don’t care if they die! In fact, I’d be grateful if Jean died in that explosion. The hell I care! I only care about you! I already lost a mother, I could’ve lost you!”
Missy is Alarick’s only child, and she has always felt jealous of the connection her father and Jean had. Her father spent more time with her and remembered the tiniest details about Harrington’s favorite student, aside from insisting that he personally train her in martial arts and other skills. Missy lived with the favoritism and endured constant whispers from other students who talked behind her back about the poor relationship she had with her own father.
However, she chose to turn a blind eye and carried on. Alarick had long explained how important it was for them to have Jean on their side. And she understood.
Once again, Alarick raised his face and smiled warmly at his daughter. Nodded for her to move closer and opened his arms to welcome her. “My dear child, I appreciate you. I really do. One day, you’ll understand.”
Rage subdued, Missy pushed herself deeper into her father’s embrace. “Fine. I’ll go check on them after this.”
“That’s my girl,” Alarick murmured with pleasure. He held her a little bit longer. “Go, I have a lot of reading to do.”
Spotting the books scattered on her father’s desk, Missy raised an eyebrow. “It’s true, then. The talisman…did it really come to life?”
Hearing those words, Alarick released Missy and grabbed her by the arms. “Who told you about that?”
Alarick gave strict orders not to breathe a word about it. “It’s Evan. That boy couldn’t keep his mouth zipped. Who else has heard of this?”
“Dad, you’re hurting me,” Missy felt his fingers digging into her arms, clotting the blood there. “Listen...n-nobody told me… Jason…that’s his name, right… I met him one time…h-he was talking about it in his sleep.”
“He what?” Alarick released Missy.
“He was mumbling about the talisman in his sleep. And then, he mentioned Jean’s name.” She explained hastily.
Alarick’s brows creased, confused. “Why? Do they know each other?”
That remark earned chuckles from Missy. Sarcastic and displeased, all rolled into one. “Please, Dad. Jean never leaves the school without you knowing it. You know what’s happening to her 24/7; you hover like a vulture. You know her friends and where she goes whenever she's with them or alone. I don’t think you believe she knows that Jason guy.”
That additional piece of information bothered Alarick deeply. It was evident that the talisman coming to life after centuries brought an uncharted connection between Jason and Jean. If anything, knowing this only made Alarick want to dig deeper. Coincidence is ruled out.
To avoid escalating the argument, Missy turned to leave. “I’ll go check on Jean if that calms you.”
“No, let me,” Alarick said as he rose from his chair. His research could wait. “Where is she?”
Missy rolled her eyes, “the infirmary, duh. And for the record, he's not a boy."
**
Unbeknownst to them, Jean was already awake, and she couldn’t help herself from keeping a watchful eye on the young man who was lying on the next bed.
Memories of what happened in the archives flooded her mind–the spell she casted to unbind, its effect and the warm energy bubble protecting both of them and how it ignored Evan and Alarick. It’s as if it only cared about them. But most importantly, she saw how it got Jason’s attention. It’s as if the talisman and Jason have a strong and unshakable bond.
“Who are you? Why do I feel like I know you?”
Jean thought she had her life in order. Until Jason waltzes in and distorts her carefully curated life. All of a sudden, she felt connected to her cousin’s friend. The desire to touch him, feel him, get to know him…and…kiss him became unbearably strong.
- Writer
