"Do you think it'll work out for them?" Ariana asked as she took one last look at the female dorms. "That is beyond me.... I have never been in a romantic relationship... nor do I plan to be in one." Xander said coldly as he continued walking down the cobblestone road.
"Really? Why?" Ariana asked as she picked up her pace and walked beside Xander. She took a quick peek at his side profile and saw that there was no traces of a lie. As she looked at him closely, she had to admit that the young man was handsome, not as handsome as Cayden but he had an elegant charm that could easily captive any gender.
"My path has been chosen." He said flatly. "Well that's stupid." Ariana said as she moved her gaze away from his face. "That is my life." He replied. Ariana started to giggle at his response. "No, that is someone else's life. If it was your own, you would probably have smiled when you answered."
Xander pursed his lips and shot Ariana a cold glare. "You like to meddle in things that have nothing to do with you?"
Ariana brought up a delicate finger and placed it against her chin as she thought. "Yes, yes I do. So what?" Ariana replied with a bright smile.
Xander almost tripped over himself from her response. "You won't even deny it?" He asked in surprise. Ariana brought her hand back down and crossed her arms over her chest. She decided to look at their surroundings rather than answer Xander right away. They hadn't walked far but they were already at the border of spring and summer.
The area was started to look fuller with giant lush, green trees and shrubs. The small flower bed in the middle of the road were abundant with colourful lilies. There was a gentle breeze playing with the hem of her dress as it carried the scent of summer.
She looked back and thought about Breeze, who decided to stay behind. He had wanted to wait for his master and update him on certain matters. She looked up at the sky and saw the same blue sky when she was with Cayden, her heart started to ache. She let out a long sigh and brought her gaze back to Xander. "Why deny the truth when someone points it out? You're only denying yourself and will later regret your words and actions. I don't want to live like that..."
They stayed quiet for a long time. They slowly walked side by side as they approached closer towards the main building. When they finally set foot into the quad where the school entrance was, Xander had to ask. "Do you have regrets that you can't let go of?"
Ariana stopped walking for a second, she looked Xander in the eyes and swallowed back the words she wanted to say. She then brought her chin up in a proud manner and started to walk again "Everyone has a regret or two tucked away in their shadows. We don't know each other well enough to talk about our regrets. I'm only speaking to you for my own ulterior motives."
Xander's jaw dropped as he looked at Ariana. He had never met someone so unrefined and crude but the way she spoke, the undertones of her words carried the authority of nobility. It was perplexing, infuriating and yet intriguing, he wondered how she and Edlyn became friends. He quickly brought his slacked jaw upwards and composed himself. "Cough... May I ask what these motives are?"
Ariana looked at Xander with a piercing stare as she started to smile a fox like smile. "Probably the same reason why you started talking to me... well maybe." She answered with a shrug, her eyes sparkling like clear, clean water on a sunny day.
Xander coughed as he looked away. "I have no idea what you may be referring too." He replied. Ariana giggled darkly as she took a few steps closer towards him. "Really? Not one clue what so ever?" She asked in a teasing tone but Xander refused to look at her.
"Fine... if you want to have it that way I won't force you." She said as a look of boredom spread across her face. She started pick up her pace, she quickly walked passed Xander as she hummed a catchy tune to herself.
"Wait." Xander said in a firm tone, Ariana turned to face him with big, innocent eyes while he stood his ground. "Yes?" She answered sweetly making Xander grit his teeth as his brows knitted in frustration. "She can only communicate with her hands?" He asked and stated at the same time that Ariana couldn't help but laugh at the awkwardness inside her heart.
Ariana gave his a quizzical look. "Ehhh?! I'm not sure what you're ask-ing or stat-ing, exactly who can only com-municate with their hands?" She sang with an innocent face that Xander could feel the blood in his body rush up to his cheeks.
"You know who I'm asking about." He spat in frustration but Ariana continued to play dumb. "I'm sorry I don't." She replied flatly as she narrowed her gaze and became stone faced. "Ms. Abela!" He hissed as he turned a deeper shade of red. "What about her?" She quickly replied.
Veins started to pop from Xander's neck and forehead. The girl standing in front of him with her hands behind her back, smile plastered on her face and eyes that openly mocked him was so infuriating that he was forced to let go of his perfect image. "Relax, I'm done playing with you already." Ariana said in a dull voice.
Xander's blood turned cold, his eyes grew wide as he watched Ariana change her demeanor again. "Are you mental?" He asked without thinking and quickly covered his mouth.
"So you can act and speak for yourself... interesting! I just thought you were your parents doll or something." She said as she brought up her hand, gently pulled forward a lock of hair long, wavy, black hair and started to comb it with her fingers.
Xander clicked his tongue while half his face became dark. "You don't make things easy do you? Look, I wanted to try and help you but after our little conversation I don't think I want to anymore. I have no intentions of helping a coward who won't take the first steps in admitting his is interested in 'something' other then what his parents told him to be interested in." Ariana said nonchalantly.
Xander was shocked and he pursed his lips so hard that they started to turn white. "Really?! Now you want to throw a tantrum?! For the love of that's all good in this world! Let go of that stubbornness already!" She groaned loudly as she tossed her hands up in frustration.
"Alright let's play a game. Let me know if I guessed right... You're the eldest in your family?" She started to say and watched his body language closely, when she saw no reaction she continued. "No doesn't look like it... then your older brother is a good for nothing and your parents gave up on him, putting everything on you?"
The corner of Xander's lip twitched and Ariana smiled. "So because your parents failed to raise a proper heir they put all their expectations on you? Bad mouthing and ridiculing your elder brother in front of you." Ariana stated with no emotion.
Again Xander's lips moved and his right eyebrow started to twitch. "But there's something else that's motivating you... something... no someone who quite possibly idolizes you and you can't help but keep up appearances... is it the fiancee that your parents picked for you? N-ooo... Mmh.... older brother cares for you correct.... oh.... looks like your fond of him too." She said with a giant toothy grin.
"Then my money is on a younger sibling who you don't want to go through the same hardship you did! So because of that you try to act like a piece of machine, always doing what you have to do because you're afraid of letting down your family and destroying your younger sibling's dreams." Ariana proclaimed with a accusing finger.
Xander's mask crumbled and he gave Ariana a disgusted face. "Did you investigate me? My family? Did you talk to me because of my connection to Cayden?! No wonder he openly denies your very existence! You're a disgusting piece of sh*t." Ariana paled and dropped her hand to her side. Giant tears started to well up in her eyes as devastation washed over her.
"No, I did not investigate your family..." She said with a hollow voice. "You're living a life I have only read about in books... a boy who is cold and aloof only because his parents groomed him to have no thoughts or feelings of his own. Until a girl is able to create a spark of curiosity in him... then your life turns around. You openly smile and think life is good.... what's wrong with loving your own life?" Ariana asked as lips trembled and tears started to spill over her white cheeks.
"I live how I have too, know your own place and stay out." Xander replied flatly.
"You know... I tried to live up to expectations, I tried to please my parents and only found heartache... I don't like seeing a part of my weak self in others and always wished that someone said those words to me... it's your own life... find your own happiness but... ha... ha ha... you just had to say that... right... I need to know my own place, I'm not righteous enough to help or judge others." She slowly turned around and faced the school.
"Look... I'll forgive you today for what you said... I crossed a line and we don't even know each other well enough for me to comment on your life... if you are intrigued by Edlyn then learn to communicate with her. On your own or ask for help but I will never offer you my assistance. So let's go inside. I don't want to talk to you anymore." She said before she started walking towards the school.
Xander regretted what he said, he knew he was being stubborn and lashed out his pent up frustration on Ariana. He relaxed his hands and started to dig around in his pocket. He pulled out a small, blue, square parchment and started to scribble furiously. He place the parchment in the middle of his palm and waited for it to burn up within the blue flame.
The moment it disappeared he started to chase after Ariana. He didn't have to run far, she was waiting and watching him closely from within the school. "I see... so he was guarding her...." She said in a small voice and dropped her gaze slightly.
Xander cursed under his breath and crossed his arms over his chest. "... So you're talking to me now?" He asked with a sigh while Ariana slowly brought her body to the ground and hugged her knees. "No I'm not... just leave me alone Xander." She said before she buried her face.
"You just lectured me about regret and accused me of throwing a tantrum yet you're being more childish then I was! Sigh.... Why do you want to stay here? Alone? Are you all talk then? Will you not show me how to act?" He asked coldly but Ariana didn't budge.
"That's right I'm all talk. When push comes to shove I revert back to my old self and bring shame." She said softly as her body started to tremble. Xander's eyes started to soften and he gave another sigh. He silently leaned against the giant window as he contemplated some words. "Hey... I'm sorry I said all of that to you." Xander said as he looked down but Ariana didn't budge.
"I'm really sorry." He said louder but Ariana refused to move. "Look, I have things to do and I would like to keep my word with Ms. Abela, so can I just escort you back?!" He shouted with a harsher tone then he meant to use.
Ariana brought her face up, she was still ridiculously pale but the tops of her cheeks and nose where a dark, rosy pink. "Leave then. Come back in an hour then take me to Edlyn. I don't care what you do just leave me alone."
Xander took a deep breath in and shot Ariana a sharp glare. "Fine." He answered indifferently and started to walk away. He only managed to take a few steps forward when he suddenly remembered Edlyn's smiling face when she was standing with Ariana. He placed his hands over his face and closed his eyes.
He let himself submerge into the darkness but it was hopeless, the same smiling face resurfaced, he let his thoughts linger then it changed to her horrified face, streaked with tears. Xander felt a sudden pain in his chest, he moved his hands upwards and smoothed his hair back until he felt his ponytail.
He turned and started to walk back to Ariana. "Let's go! I can't live peacefully if I have this regret." He said as he bent down and scooped Ariana up. He swung her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. He turned as Ariana started to scream and assualt Xander in protest. "Put me down you a**hole!" She shouted but Xander started to walk in long strides down the hallway.
After a while Ariana stopped fighting Xander and just quietly watched the floor as it passed by. "What regret are you trying to avoid?" She asked with a hoarse voice. Xander refused to reply.
Ariana sighed and tried to stretch her hand downwards. "What do you think you're doing?!" He hissed as he felt her hand stretching downwards. "Trying to pickpocket you." Ariana answered matter-of-factly. "I have nothing back there." He answered quickly.
"You let Edlyn manhandle you, then treat me like garbage! I know you won't compensate me so I have no choice but to try and rob you. Now you're telling me there is nothing back there! This is unfair." She pouted as she gave up and allowed her head to sag.
"Those are very different things." He said seriously, causing Ariana to laugh. "Is it really? I mean the way you reacted made it look like she stole part of your innocence."
Xander released his hold on Ariana and dropped her like a rock. She landed on her rump with a loud thud. "We're here." He said in a low tone. Ariana shot him a bitter look as she massaged her behind, she then extended her hand outwards for assistance but Xander just stared at it. "Fine, I'll get up myself." Ariana said as she rolled her eyes.
She got herself off the ground and turned to face a set of double steel doors. Her eyes widened as she took an involuntary step back. Her breathing started to become erratic as she broke out into a cold sweat. "C-can y-you g-go g-get h-her p-please?" She asked as her teeth chattered.
Xander was completely dumbfounded. "Why should I?" He asked in disbelief. Ariana ripped her gaze from the door and stared at Xander. "Because there is no need for me to go get her! Your mission! You need to bring her to me." She answered with a humpf.
"Right... my mission will be completed soon, as long as you start walking. Let's go." Xander said as he grabbed her elbow. Ariana's heart started to thump loudly in between her ears, hallucinations of a rising fire started to appear around the door.
She tried to shake the visions away but they wouldn't leave, she then started to hear the screams of the children locked away. "I need to save them...." She mumbled under her breath as she stopped moving.
Xander rolled his eyes when she stopped moving and stepped in front of her. "We need to get them out...." She kept mumbling as she started to look around. Xander heard her this time and was done with her jokes.
"You're going inside whether you like it or not!" He said in an irritated tone. He placed a firm hand on her arms, gave a slight turn and kicked in the door. The sound echoed within Ariana and her slightly dull eyes lost all light. "They're dying! We need to get them out! We need to save them!" She started to scream like a mad woman.
Edlyn heard her screams and looked up. She saw Xander forcing Ariana into the mess hall. "Let me go! I need to save them!" Ariana started crying. Edlyn shot straight up and started to run towards the two.
Xander gently put Ariana down but her legs collapsed and she fell to the ground. Edlyn placed a gentle hand onto Ariana's face. She coaxed her head up and saw her empty eyes. She looked up at Xander hoping he would explain.
Xander's eyes were cold and uncaring. He gave them a small bow. "I have completed my task. If you would please excuse me." He said as he raised his head and saw Edlyn's beautiful, light blue eyes. He was instantly reminded of a cloudless, blue sky in the middle of summer, so clear, so pure, so alluring.
He swallowed back saliva and straightened his back. "Ms. Abela, I can say with the upmost honesty that I have done nothing to your friend. I am not sure if she is pulling a prank or not but I will not be sticking around to find out." He said flatly before turning around.
Edlyn quickly grabbed the back of Xander's coat and held him in place. He sighed as he covered his eyes with his hand. "Ms. Abela I..." He started to say but Ariana took a turn for the worse and started to violently cough. "It's so hot.... cough... I can't breath..."
Edlyn let go of Xander's coat and started to pat Ariana's back as she embraced her. Xander turned around and squatted down beside Edlyn. "Ms. Abela, I honestly think we should-?!" He started to say when suddenly Ariana coughed up blood.
A wet, sticky blotch landed on Edlyn's back. Ariana finally calmed down and was breathing normally as she collapsed onto her friend's shoulder. Suddenly the blotch started to sprout small vines and was reaching outwards.
Xander's eyes were fixated on the snake like movements of the blood as it thinned itself out. He swallowed back some saliva and slowly brought up his hand. "Don't touch it." Ariana said with a stern whisper.
Edlyn quickly moved to separate herself from her friend but Ariana managed to wrap her arms around Edlyn's body, keeping her in place. Xander brought his gaze up to Ariana's and saw the murderous intent in her eyes.
He dropped his hand and Ariana brought hers up. The blood had already harden and she easily peeled off the garnet from Edlyn's clothes. "Never speak of this." She said in a dark voice that Xander had no choice but to nod his head. "Edlyn, I want to go lay down." Ariana said as her eyes turned soft and caring. Edlyn nodded her head and helped her friend up.
They both looked at Xander who hadn't recovered from his initial shock. Edlyn looked at Ariana's hand and saw the small garnet sculpture of twisted vines. She poked at Ariana and then brought up her hands. Ariana nodded and started to speak. "Never come near us again."
Xander's jaw dropped as his face paled. Edlyn grabbed Ariana's hand and pulled her out of the mess hall. "Wait!" Xander shouted as he scrambled to get himself off the ground. "Please wait!" He continued to shout but was stopped before he could even touch the door. "Where do you think you're going?"