Ultimate Temptation

~Chapter 5~

I jolt awake from my sleep at the incessant pounding on the door and blink at the clock on the wall.

It was 5 o' clock in the morning. Who could be knocking my door by this time?

Stretching and yawning, I shuffle over to the door and look through the peephole. On the other side of the door was Mrs Coleman looking furious but my addled brain didn't register that and I opened the door.

"Morning Mrs Cole-"

I had barely opened the door when she stormed inside, pushing the door wide open.

"I-Is something wrong?" I ask searching her face and Mrs Coleman was usually always nice to me even sometimes leaving food for me on my doorsteps so her behavior came as a shock to me.

"Yes, something is definitely wrong. You're wrong!" She shouted into my face. "I was always nice to you despite you being different and everyone saying I shouldn't and this is how you repay me?"

"I d-don't understand"

"How dare you hit my Freddie?!" She burst out.

"What? Fred? Why would I? I didn't and would never"

"Don't lie to me! I saw his busted lips and when I asked him who did it, he said it was you!"

"I saved him from getting bullied by Kai, Vincent, Zach and Drew. He's the one lying" I try to explain but all my words fall on deaf ears.

"I don't ever want you near my son or me" She said poking my shoulder before storming out of my cabin the same way she had come.

Why does no one ever believes me?!

Frustrated, I grab a shawl and break out into a run with no destination, just allowing my legs to take me anywhere. Coming to a stop, I find myself in front of Agnes house panting in exasperation.

Agnes was the headmistress of and my guardian on the island. My parents had put her in charge of me and I had lived with her in her beautiful cottage till I was 15. Althoughwe weren't together anymore because she was always busy and I couldn't stay all alone in her large house, she made sure my fridge was stuffed to the brim.

Unlocking her door with a wave of my hands, I let myself in and squint in the dim light of the moon streaming in through an open window.

Her sitting room was the same as I remembered it with slightly worn out grey sofas draped with antimacassar. On the center wooden table was a blue blanket covering the scratches I had made when I was a kid. The stone fireplace was warm with dying embers aglow within it and picture frames were placed on top it's mantle.

Picking up a frame, I smile at the photograph of a ten years old me kissing a gold medal while on the shoulders of my father with mom and Agnes on either side of him. Placing it back gently, I reach for another when the lights flick on, temporarily blinding me.

"Who are..Aris?!" Agnes screech her hands on her chest. "Are you trying to kill me?"

"Of course not. I didn't mean to scare you"

"You should be more worried about yourself. I was ready to blast you right out of my house" she muttered before snuffing me in a suffocating hug.

I chuckled relaxing myself in her hold.

"Now tell me what troubles you child" She says breaking away from me. "You only come to me when something happens."

"I feel like no matter what I do, I will always be an outcast. No one wants to see the real me, they're all clouded by the fact that I'm different. If only mom and dad hadn't given birth to me" I muttered pouring my heart out. "I am neither a full witch nor a wizard. I can't use my powers without the fear of harming someone ringing in my head. Occasionally when practicing magic, I feel it spiral out of control and it takes all my strength to control it. I know the other kids don't struggle like I do, they're perfect but I'm not"

"No dear, no one is perfect. Maybe not with their powers but they each have something they're struggling with as do you. You're different, yes and that just makes you more unique. You know love is a beautiful thing and you're the beautiful product of your parent's love. You have a place on this earth beside your parents and also beside me" She says looking deep into my eyes. "Now point out the person who upsetted you, they need to be though a lesson"

She growled, shaking her fist and I burst out laughing.

"You always know the right thing to say"

"Oh right, this got delivered to me while I was away. It's for you." She said a large parcel in her hand.

I took the parcel from her and wasted no time tearing off the tape around it. Inside, a letter rested on a wrapped clothing. I ran my fingers over my name written with a familiar artistic handwriting at the right corner of the envelope. A red wax with the kingdom's emblem, the imprint of a skull with horns sealed the envelope and I pried it open.

A small note filled with the same beautiful handwriting was inside.

My precious daughter,

Forgive us for not writing more often. I and your father have been swarmed with duties of the kingdoms. Have you been well? Hope Agnes has been treating you well? Your father says if anyone bothers you, don't hesitate to tell us in your letters.

It will soon be your 17th birthday in few weeks and you'll be coming home immediately after the upcoming tournament. With this letter is a fabric I picked out for you, wear it for the tournament with pride and show them you're the princess of the whole kingdom. We are eager to see you and cannot wait for your arrival.

With love, Mom and Dad.

I chuckled at the tiny hearts littered around the back of the paper and wipe away the little tears in my eyes.

I missed them so much.

Peeling open the plastic wrapping, I gasp struck by the design of the fabric. It was made of the lightest, smoothest fabric, it felt like water running through my fingers. I pulled it out and studied it's full length. It was more like a jumpsuit with one arm in long sleeve and the other in straps, there were knee and elbow pads to cushion impact. There was a breast plate covering the chest region also in black, there were harness and straps where light provisions could be kept and in the box was matching black boots.

"Got to go, Agnes" I say placing a soft peck on her cheeks.

Gathering the box in my hands, I speed out of her cottage and run across the warming white sand back to my cabin with the rising sun at my side.

***

After hours of blankly staring at the white board as he teachers droned on and on, I was genuinely happy when it was time for the spells and potions. As Miss Macklemore had promised it was a practical class where we practice all what we have length till now. Attacking and defending if spells.

We were all paired in twos. Unfortunately this time too, Zach was my partner. I had avoided he and his friends all day but somehow, I and Zach ended up being the only two without partners so automatically we were paired.

Grumpily facing each other, I square my shoulders and decide I'll make this match as quick as possible.

"Remember, no harmful spells, just enough to subdue your opponent!" came the order.

Before miss Macklemore could even tell us to begin, I was immediately flung onto my ass as the word 'abiciendi' came out of Zach's mouth.

"Viridi fumi' said Zach again, seizing the opportunity to throw green scalding fumes at me which I rolled away in time dodging it.

"Obstupefacio" I mutter touching the floor and Zach froze and fell face first onto the floor, paralyzed under my spell.

Flipping him over with the tip of my boot, I smirk in his face before snapping my fingers, releasing him from the spell.

After that, his attacks became more ferocious but I managed to block them all which only seem to frustrate him more. The shrill sound of a whistle rang round the room followed by Miss Macklemore's voice announcing the end of the class.

I picked up my bag and headed to the shower room to wash off, not even waiting to give Zach a hand after I flung him on the floor for the umpteenth time

Whoosh

I instinctively put a hand to my ear as the air whistled past it, shocking me. There was a clatter as a small pen knife fell on the tiled floor few feets ahead of me.

Spinning back, I stared furiously at a smirking Zach while rubbing my now smarting ear, sticky with blood.

"Are you crazy?! What if you had missed?!" I thundered angrily.

"Oops" he replied shrugging as he proceeded to saunter past me.

What happened next was a blur of events which I had no recollection of.

By the time I came to, Miss Macklemore was shaking me hard while screaming.

"W-What's wrong?" I asked trying to remember when she got so close to me.

"You're asking me what's wrong? After you almost killed a student?!" She screamed pointing to someone behind her.

"What..."

Looking behind her, I saw Zach with an almost purple face holding his throat as he gasped hard on the floor trying to catch his breath.

"How.." I trailed off as I saw the looks of horror and fear on my classmates' faces.

I take a step towards Zach to apologize but he flinched and scurried backwards as did the rest of the class.

Witholding the hot tears creeping up to my eyes, I turn on my heels and flee the hall.