Written by the Moon

6~ ENCOUNTER

“How long do we have to stay inside?” I complained as I took a bite of my apple.

We’re having breakfast at the porch of the mansion. It’s been three weeks since we came here. And of course, three weeks inside the mansion without going outside.

I munched on the apple and crossed my legs. The porch, I guess would be my likable place here. I can see the view of the trees. Technically, this mansion is surrounded by trees. An old fountain in front of it and it just looks like a haunted mansion.

“Just one more week, you’ll be able to go outside,” I nodded as she ended her sentence.

I am pretty behaving these days, I can say. I’m not a troublemaker so far and I think I have adjusted just finely with this wretched world.

“Can we at least go to the practice grounds? I mean, we’re surrounded by trees! No one can suspect that there are angels here.” Trying to convince Christiana. She smiled and shook her head with disapproval. I pouted my lips and slumped my back with the rattan chair.

“Even if we are in the middle of the forest, there are gangs wandering everywhere. We can’t just be complacent about it, Nav. It’s dangerous if they’ll know our identity. We should abide by the rules. Stay here and wait for your scents to be covered for a month. I can’t risk anything. For now, we’ll enjoy the porch.” Finality in her voice.

I sighed in defeat. I took another bite of my apple to recover from my own sadness. I’m getting itchy inside here.

“But I wonder how the world there looks like,” Sham said with adore in her eyes.

“You mean the city?”

“Oh! The city, yes. There’s a lot of exciting things to discover here. I can’t wait!”

I laughed mockingly at her. She talks as if everything in Athanatoss is all good and pretty. More like petty. I tsked.

“Yeah, and you’ll know how their system works here. And I can’t wait for you to witness it and run back to Paredes.” I smirked.

Her forehead formed a crease.

“Well, after my mission, I’ll be going back to Paredes. As well as you guys. But I’m not as sure with Naveah,” she eyed me with her concerned eyes.

I raised my brows for her to spit it out already. I rolled my eyes when a minute passed she hadn’t said anything.

“You seem to fit well in this world, Nav. More like, you belong here rather than in Paredes.” She smirked and a glint of playful insult.

The others suppressed a laugh. I gritted my teeth when smiled knowing I got pissed. I bit the insides of my cheeks and sarcastically smiled at her.

“Well then I guess, I might be the next Lucifer,”

Immediately, everybody stopped with their half-hearted laughs. Mark turned to me in a snap and made a look on his face.

“Nav!” he couldn’t believe what I just said.

“What?” I asked with a stubble chuckle.

“You shouldn't say that,” worry all over his face.

“Why? Is it illegal?” in my mocking tone.

Mark pursed his lips. I glanced at Sham and nodded at her.

“She has a point, you know. For once, she said something right. I acknowledge it.” I winked at her. And perhaps, I kind of saw a glint of fear in her eyes.

I smirked and took my glass of milk. I gulped it to finish and wiped it with tissue. I looked at everybody. I sighed when I saw Jedi busy with his papers. Obviously, he’s writing because he just found his pair. I glanced at Michelle. She’s busy with her papers too, reading. Markus on the other hand is resting for he already finished his job for today. Sham just started writing hers too. I rolled my eyes when Christiana eyed me with her worried expression.

“I guess the Goddess hates me,” I exclaimed.

Christiana gasped as if I just said an awful thing. When in fact, it might be actually true! The Goddess couldn’t choose me and now she’s punishing me with making my stay here longer. I can’t believe my situation can be depressing.

“Don’t say such words, Nav,” in her calmer tone now.

I put back my glass of milk and crossed my arms. She doesn’t get it. I hate it here and the longer I’m sleeping with the sheets of Athanatoss, the more I hate it here. Yes, I adjusted but I can never deny the fact that I feel miserable.

Especially that I am stuck in this hell hole of a mansion!

“By next week, I am sure you’ll have your pair,” she smiled with so much assurance but I can’t fool myself.

“That’s what you told me last week and two weeks ago,” I said as a matter of fact.

Her shoulders dropped with what I said. She came to me closer and hugged me tightly. Before in Paredes, I was never used to sweet hugs and kisses. As time passed by, I got immune to it. even though sometimes my face twitches at it, I’m still able to manage well.

I awkwardly let go of the hug she gave me. I was about to get inside already. The cold morning breeze touched my bare skin so I decided to go inside but Christiana held my arm before I could even get to the door.

I turned to her with a confusing look. My forehead creased even more when she looked like she wanted to say something but couldn’t say it. I raised a brow so she can spit something out.

She sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. The second she opened her eyes there were full of hesitation to it.

“We’re going outside,”

My eyes widened. I stood up straight and glanced at my fellow Acadians. I eyed them asking for their opinion. Mark was the first one to react. And of course, with a disapproval look. I shot him glares of daggers and just continued to look at the others.

Jedi and Michelle both had the second thoughts. Still, I can convince them, I guess? My smile only rose when Sham reflected my expression. Yes! Something we can agree on. I sheepishly smiled at Mark.

“It’s final! We are definitely going,” I can’t help myself from maintaining my cool side.

Markus shook his head in so much disapproval.

“It’s dangerous. Christiana said it herself, Nav,” he sounded confused for a moment.

I chuckled.

“She said it herself too that we can go outside,”

With my big gleaming smile radiating so much satisfaction, I know that we are definitely going. I smirked when I got myself ready and Markus is still complaining. Jedi and Michelle seemed excited but still hid it. Sham and I definitely will have a good time.

Though Christiana suggested this, she seems hesitant and uncertain about how everything is going so far. I walked to her when I noticed she repeatedly fix her scarf.

“Hey,” I positioned her scarf.

She sighed heavily.

“If you’re not confident about this then I can still wait for another week,” I lowered my hands when her scarf is perfectly fixed.

Her lips rose. She looked at me with so much pain in her eyes. I got taken aback at her for a moment. She tapped my shoulders. I relaxed my body. For a moment, there was a difference with Christiana.

“I’m sure about this,” she nodded repeatedly.

I swallowed hard. I trust her with this but what if something will happen? She held my hand making me stiff at her action. When she was able to take two of my palms together with hers, she chanted something and I felt an embracing presence near me. It gave me goosebumps.

“This is something I mastered for decades. This will mask your scent for a few days,” in her soft voice.

I pouted.

“You know there’s a way but you just told me now?”

She laughed subtly and went to the others. She did the same thing to everybody. When all was set, I excitedly went to the front door. I waited for Christiana to open it. For once, I want to be a good girl. My hand itched on opening the door but good thing Christiana opened it first before I could lose control.

The moment the door opened, a gush of cold wind welcomed us. It’s cold to the skin but the idea of finally escaping this mansion is making my adrenaline high that I can’t even feel the ice.

“Remember, don’t interact yet with anyone. I’ll do the talking. Just tell me if there’s something wrong, okay?” Christiana swallowed slowly after we nodded in unity.

I pursed my lips, hiding a smile when finally, I felt the bare grounds of Athanatoss. we got inside this big machine which is actually called a car. I pouted when Mark got the front seat. I really wanted to be there.

Christiana drove the car. I watched as the car made it outside the gate. I thought that after the gate was a road but I was wrong. I witnessed endless numbers of trees the moment we got out of the gate. Then just near us is another gate where there, the road I have been waiting for appeared.

So, we really are in a secluded place. A thirty-minute drive and I started to see the citizens of Athanatoss. Houses, mansions, and buildings everywhere! I even saw a park. There were kids playing and adults having a walk.

This isn’t the first time I’ve seen Athanatoss. I’ve seen clips from Jell’s classes before. But now seeing it in person was something I never imagined. But I can’t help the feeling of excitement. I know I hate Athanatoss but that was because of their system.

And as the minutes passed by, the more witches and werewolves, I see. They actually look like normal beings. Witches actually just resemble humans just like angels. But there are angels with wings just like the myth says. The werewolf obviously can be in a form of a human and a dog.

My eyes dropped to my fingers that are fidgeting. I seem nervous. This is the first of the first now.

I glanced at the others and just like me earlier, their eyes were also fixated outside the window car. Shampaign’s jaw literally dropped. I giggle inwardly at them. Looking all so stupid. The car only stopped at the underground of a huge building. I don’t know what’s that called but Christiana just mentioned that it’s a basement.

Well, at least I’m learning new things.

I was the last one to get off the car. I just don’t how to open the door. As soon as I got out, Christiana lined us up. Another announcement, I guess. She handed us IDs. There, I saw a picture of me and my name. And according to my ID, I’m a witch.

I smiled tightly.

“This is your official ID. Take care of it. you might need it in the future. So, let’s go?”

We nodded all together. I felt stupid following Christiana like I’m some minion of the sort. I don’t know where this place is but there is a lot of witches and wolves. Scattered everywhere with their families and friends.

“This is a mall,” Christiana introduced.

There were shops and restaurants on every corner. And yes, I’ve seen this is too in my classes before but it just hits different in person.

“You can do almost anything here. So, where do you wanna go first?” she faced us.

I cut my eyes off the whole place and looked at Christiana with a brow raised.

“We’re obviously new here. Just show us the damn place,” then I continued to look at the mall.

My eyes remained at every bit of this building. I looked at the happy faces of the people. They’re actually happy despite the wretched system of their world. If I were them, I’d go haywire. I stayed in my position and just waited for Christiana’s answer.

Their sense of fashion is also cool, I think. I looked at my pastel blue plain dress. It’s the a-line dress. Conservative and something I am used to wearing. It’s different compared to what most girls wear here. I peeked at my shoes. I pouted looking at my snickers which I actually just chose in the racket of shoes in the mansion.

I realized Christiana haven’t spoken yet. I rolled my eyes as I looked up but I ended up getting hit, b someone. I groaned as I almost fell to the ground. And in a split second, there was noise everywhere.

A gasp of different witches and wolves. I even heard some whistles which just annoyed me. I regained myself and faced the person who just bumped me.

I shot daggers as I met his eyes. A familiar-looking man stood in front of me with an apologetic smile. I rolled my eyes and smiled sarcastically. I made a face that burned down his smile.

“I’m really sorry,” even his voice yet deep and solid, my irritation rose.

I pursed my lips and breathed heavily.

“Don’t you have eyes? Or you’re just an i***t walking around?” in my frank tone.

Astonished at what I said, he was lost for words. I softly laughed sarcastically and left him with my head shook in so much disappointment. I guess, he doesn’t have some senses then.

I saw Mark and the others just not so far. They also noticed me so I hurried walking to them.

“Miss!”

I rolled my eyes. I just fastened my walk.

“Miss! Miss!” I gritted my teeth when he didn’t stop. My lips kept on a thin line when I really want to shout at the man calling me now.

Before I could get more closely at my group when he caught my arms. I flinched at his touch that triggered my inner being.

“Don’t touch me!” I hissed and I just got loud. Now, everybody is looking at us.

Again, he was shocked by my reaction. I am, too, was shocked at my reaction. I blinked a couple of times when everybody’s eyes didn’t leave us. I swallowed so hard when I realized he’s just close to me. It's closer than I have ever thought.

“I’m really sorry. This is your ID, yes?”

He showed me my ID which I just abruptly grabbed. I avoided his eyes when he’s just staring at me. I slowly licked my lower lip and pursed it afterward.

“Uh, thank… you,” and I left immediately.

To be continued…