Always having to do socials was the worst, every night we had one would just be like a sleep deprived drive, dangerous and boring. That's why I asked Althgar.
"Why do we have socials 2 days a week?"
He smiled and said back.
"You are too impatient Coltus, but even you should know the answer to this. It's no trick, think of the obvious,"
Like the old man he is he didn't even give me a straight answer before going to work on my ethereal. I still don't know what the answer was, if it's obvious then I'm probably thinking too far.
Right now we were dancing away the first stage of the ball with our masks in place. My light blonde hair suited the white mask with red tips quite well, this time our parents attended and apparently now they will attend every one after this.
My indifferent face was probably impenetrable at this point, I spotted Fox nearby with an equal look at indifference while she was twirling and stepping with a drooling boy from some snobby middle class family. I then twirled the person I was dancing with forcefully out of my hands and stepped over to Eleanor to twirl her out of that guys hands and it was just in the build up to the main theme of the waltz of the flowers. She smiled at me as I took her into my hands and the violins placed the glowing melody line with the flutters of the high woodwinds all done in an orderly manner of a strict three four. Stepping to the beat as someone else was looking at us with regret. It was probably the guys parents. At least their not so thick as to believe that their kid interested a Cherubim Angel only because she had danced with him. I lead up one trip around the hall in a swaying manner then we went up to the gallery where Dominic gave me a look. I silently apologised to him and handed Eleanor over like an object while in the watch of Jackal's parents. I also saw Lioness winking at Eleanor, who the hell would know what that meant so I dismissed it so I could sit down and do a quick relaxation/meditation session before the third stage of the night. Again with the speeches.
At the end of the night we walked back without that much complaint but lots of friendly banter. Our energy levels improved with this ball happening every 2 days after a tiring class how could it not. Weekends were approaching, thank god, we could finally relax and rewind while also doing homework...
I find myself getting closer to the group and I don't know how to reverse it. Having friends aka possible hostages is a big danger, I don't want them to hate me and I kind of made the mistake when I initiated the first introductions. That was before this month happened.
Everyone took turns to shower and I went last, intentionality. I needed to go last in order to check something, that something turns up every social night. I came out from my long shower and everyone was asleep, I do this every time so that I can go under my bed and fetch the piece of paper. I already knew who it was from and what was on it.
The paper had one this written on it.
256
That was it.
"So whats on the paper?"
A male voice spoke up from the dark room, it took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to the dark but I already knew who it was.
"Good evening Dominic, what brings you in front of my bed this fine night"
While doing an formal speech I tried to shove the paper under the blanket.
"Just cut the cr*p and tell us, you've been suspicious every time we've returned from the social,"
This time it was Anastasia and after she said that I could see everyone in the group surrounding me. Some with glowing eyes and others with a glowing body. So that's how.
Potentials are dangerous, using them to set a trap on me was smart.
"Scary,"
I said to them.
"256,"
"What's that suppose to mean,"
The tigers spoke up from behind me scaring the living soul out of me. I jumped and almost let out a sound but kept it in.
"I don't know what it means,"
I said in the most convincing voice possible.
"Liar,"
Dominic almost shouted it out.
This was what I didn't want to do, if I fill them in then I can't do anything to protect them. This is why ignorance is bliss. If I don't want them to get hurt or get them involved I can't involve them. I was too careless on my part.
I felt a flutter of wind at my back then warmth flowing through my whole body. Eleanor was now behind me, why does everyone get behind me?
With pristine unstained wings and hands out. I didn't dare look at her with normal eyes so I turned them red as I stared at her dumbfounded, her glowing was still a little blinding even with red eyes. Her eyes were like the ocean under sunlight.
Soon I wasn't even thinking, just relaxing in the sun created by her hands.
"Now, tell us what the sheet meant and who sent it. One more thing, we were already deep in this the moment you arrived, so don't you dare try and be the hero"
Main interrogator Dominic, nice!
I guess so, what's the worst that could happen? They're the one who put it on themselves.
"The number is the number of days left before I have to make my decision, if I'm late I die, if I rebel I die, if I make the other choice I die. The person who sent it to me is my supposed dead brother. You happy now?"
There we go, I got it all out. I felt really tired after saying that, don't know why.
My eyelids were then continually wanting to close and my body was slouching heavily asking my to lay down and sleep. No complaints here. I mummered a goodnight to the people and dropped down asleep before my head hit the soft pillow.