The Night Grand Quarter's hall is already full when Kassandra, Alyza, Chloe and Zoe arrived. Cael was already there, talking to a bunch of female students while his date is sweetly clutching around his left arm. He is wearing an all brown suit while wearing a velvet brown fedora. His fedora hat was decorated with small brown reindeer antlers. One female student from his crowd of women whisper something and pointed to where Kassandra and her companion are standing. After a few seconds, they saw Cael walking towards their direction.
"Hey Zoe! Nice suit! By the way, what are you supposed to be?" Cael slaps his shoulder, his way of greeting his closest friend.
Zoe is wearing a royal blue suit where a snowflake brooch was placed on its left side.
"I am not answering that." Zoe's cold response.
"If you were to ask me, I am a reindeer." Cael chuckled.
"Nice Cael. You look." Kassandra stops for a while. She is looking for a better word to say.
"Hideous." It was Chloe.
"Hey!" Cael protested.
"I think you got the exact term." Kassandra smirked.
"You are being rude now Kass. Chloe is obviously a bad influence on you. Come here. Let me take care of you." Cael was about to pull Kassandra to his embrace when Alyza pull her to her side instead.
"You are not allowed to hug my roomie. Ugly reindeer." Alyza glared at Cael while saying those painful words.
"Hey! Hey! Who are you to tell me that I am ugly?" Cael glared back at Alyza.
"Well, I am Kassandra's friend and roommate." Alyza move in front of Kassandra to prevent Cael on moving closer to her.
"Cael. Will you stop your childish act?" It was now Zoe who cannot help but intervene with the little commotion that they are doing. "A lot of people are looking at our direction. It's embarrassing."
"I agree. You are embarrassing." Chloe pertaining to Cael.
"You! I am not talking to you!" Cael is getting pissed because he felt that they are teaming up against him.
"Chloe let's go." Zoe guided Chloe away from him to stop what about to happen. He knows Cael's limit and anytime he might do something regrettable.
"Bye Hide-" Chloe was unable to finish her sentence because Zoe covers her mouth.
"Shhhh…Don't provoke her Chloe. Let's get some drinks to cool down your mind." Zoe quickly guide her to the buffet area.
"Kassandra, Alyza!" It was Mraz who wave towards them.
"That's Mraz! Come on Alyza, let us greet him." Kassandra immediately pull away Alyza and walk towards Mraz who is standing in front of their little booth. Luckily, Cael's date came over to ask him to get some food.
"Wow! You look amazing! You look cute on your white dress. Let me guess, 3 buttons in front of a white cocktail dress, a velvet black scarf…hmmm…you look like a snowman, but the essence of Christmas is missing." Mraz complimented Kassandra.
"Thank you, Mraz, that was my ultimate goal." Kassandra released an awkward laugh. "By the way, nice reindeer costume."
Unlike Cael who wear a brown suit, Mraz is wearing a reindeer overall jumper which he matched with a reindeer antler headband.
"What is with your booth Mraz?" This time, it is Alyza.
"Oh, you must try our fortune telling activity. Since you are my special guest, Alyza, you will be next in line, then Kassandra will be next after you." Mraz is giving them a special priority lane.
"Wow! Thanks class rep!" Alyza gives him a tight hug.
"Alyza. Let me go. I can't breathe."
While they are waiting for their turn, Kassandra overhead two female students talking about a little girl who sells matches.
"Hey Liza, I heard from my roommate that she saw the little match girl again." The girl whose dress was decorated with Christmas balls said to the other female student.
"Really? There are rumors that the little girl is an evil spirit. She wandered around the street selling matches every end of each year." The other female whispered back.
"I wonder why she repeatedly do that."
"Hey Kass! What are you thinking?" Alyza noticed that Kassandra was spacing out.
"Huh?" Kassandra look around to get some idea of what lie she should say to Alyza. "Uhmmm. I just wondering why no one inside this hall wears Santa Claus costume."
"Oh, that. I guess you are not aware of that restriction." Alyza put her arms around Kassandra's neck and pulled her closer. "Mr. N is the only person who can wear Santa Claus suit. If you could also notice, even the Lady Santa costume is forbidden to wear by any citizen of this city." Alyza whispered.
"Who is Mr. N?" Kassandra whispered back.
"You don't know who is Mr. N? Let me tell you some facts. Mr. N is the Maior of Noel City. He is the father of Mr. K, our Academy's director."
"Oh…That's interesting."
Alyza was about to say another rumor when Mraz called for her name. "Alyza, you are next, come inside."
"Later Kassandra." Then Alyza went inside the booth.
"Hi." Aelian, the fortune teller greeted the guest.
"She is Alyza, one of my classmates." Mraz introduces her the fortune teller.
"I see. Well, please put your hands-on top of the table." Then she looks at Mraz as a signal to take his leave.
Mraz immediately went out of the booth. Then, Alyza do as she was told. After a few seconds, Aelian held her hands and then she looks at Alyza before she closed her eyes.
"What do you want to see?" Aelian suddenly ask Alyza.
"Anything, nothing in particular." Alyza monotonously replies.
"Ohh. I see a man. Are you interested in your love life?" Aelian asked her, this time she is looking intently at Alyza's eye.
"If that's the only interesting thing that you could see."
"Well, there will be a danger on your way. A group of people will be entering a dangerous forest where you will expect something dangerous on your way out."
"Am I going to die in that forest?" Alyza was curious.
Aelian shook her head. "No. A man will save you. A student of this academy."
"Then, I will fall in love with him?"
"Well, I could not say that, but the two of you will care for each other."
"Can I ask for his name?" Alyza asks Aelian. But Aelian quickly reject her request.
"I can't see his face. But he is tall. His lips look sexy when he smiles. Also, I saw a reindeer's antler." Aelian smiles at her.
"Reindeer's antler?" Alyza tilted her head. A sign that she does not understand what Aelian means by that.
"That is a symbol. At least you have a clue. Anything you wanted to see? How about your past?"
Alyza immediately retrieve her hands from the touch of Aelian as if she felt something hot.
"No. I'm good. I don't want to dwell on the past." Alyza stands up and give her a bow. "Thank you for your service."
Aelian nodded. "Alright, I understand."
After Alyza went out, Kassandra walks inside.
"Oh, you are also Mraz's classmate, right?" Aelian recognized her.
Kassandra just nodded.
"Please take a seat in front of me. Then, put your hands on the top of the table." Aelian instructed Kassandra.
Kassandra do as what she was told.
"Alright, what do you want to know?" Aelian ask her.
"About my past. Particularly my childhood days."
"I see." Aelian closes her eyes. "I am seeing a little girl in black dress. She is playing with snow under a big Christmas tree. Then there is a boy, I think the same age as the girl."
"A boy?" Kassandra anxiously ask Aelian. She is getting nervous.
"Yes. He is also wearing a black coat, with a black scrap around his neck. He is sitting on the entrance of the cave, approximately 3 meters away from the girl. His eyes were close as if he is meditating"
"And then?" Kassandra cannot help not to get curious even more.
"The little girl threw a ball of snow towards him. He gets mad. Then he shouted something, maybe a name." Aelian opens her eyes and look at her. "Your name is Kassandra, right?"
"Yes, why? Is that the name that boy shouted?"
Aelian shook her head. "'No. The name is different."
"Can you tell what it is?"
"Carleia"
"Carleia? Does it mean I am not the little girl?"
"Probably, but that was your memory." Aelian explains. "Actually, I felt odd. As if there is something missing. As If someone gets some pieces of it."
"I don't understand. Can you explain it to me?" Kassandra is getting confuse.
"As if some of your memories were erased."
"Is that possible?"
"Of course, that is possible. You know, my abilities are not limited to this. I can manipulate, modify, and control the thoughts and mindsets of people. In other words, mental manipulation is dangerous. It can suppress people's memories." Aelian explain.
"Can you dig a little more. Maybe when I was younger?" Kassandra requested.
"Let us see." Aelian again close her eyes. Then after a few moments, she narrated what she saw.
"I saw a younger little girl. She was inside a black crib. The room looks dark, but the design looks beautiful. As if the room is for a little princess. The door opens. A man in black cape comes in. He walks closer to the little girl." Aelian paused. She smiles before she continues.
"What happened next?" Kassandra is getting agitated.
"He seems gentle to the little girl. Then, ah!!" Aelian immediately released Kassandra's hand.
"What happened?" Kassandra worriedly asked Aelian.
"He looked at me. As if I was there and he was ready to kill me for intruding their lives" Aelian's hands were trembling because of fear. "Tell Mraz I need to go to the washroom first." Aelian stood up and went out of the booth using the exit at the back.
Kassandra was left in awe inside the booth. After a minute of thinking of what had happened, she then went out of the booth.
___________________
"Ellie, go to the party. I am ok. Enjoy yourself even if I can't attend the party." Agatha said while caressing her injured foot. While practicing ballet early this morning, she accidentally fell that cause an injured foot today. The medical team already tend her injury, but they advise her to take a rest just for this day.
"I'm fine. You know I don't enjoy being surrounded by a lot of people." Elizabeth said while sitting on the sofa inside Agatha's room.
"I insist." Agatha is becoming pushy this time.
Elizabeth gets what Agatha is implying. It is simply saying her to go there and be her eye. "Alright. You win. I will tell you anything you wanted to know. Especially if it is about Prince Tehmo."
"Thanks Ellie. I know you can understand me the most." Agatha give beamed at her.
"Not a problem. See you later." Elizabeth went out of Agatha's room. Upon closing the door, she rolls her eyes and whispered to herself.
"What a possessive bitch."
____________________
Alyza and Kassandra were busy on the buffet table when Leo, the president of the student council goes up on the stage.
"Hello everyone! As part of the tradition, let us now begin the party with the annual first dance of this year countdown party of Noel Academy!"
The crowd give him a warm of applause after he went down the stage. Then the music finally starts. Most of the students goes to the center of the hall and start dancing with their own partner.
"What the hell." Kassandra and Alyza said in unison and then simultaneously rolled their eyes.
After a few seconds, Chloe, Zoe together with Mraz went to their location.
"Why are the two of you just standing here in front of the buffet table? Are you not going to dance?" Mraz asked Alyza and Kassandra.
"Not interested in that kind of crap." Kassandra harshly blurted out.
"Don't tell me both of you don't have dates for tonight." Mraz teasingly said to the two ladies.
"Well, don't need that crap too." This time it is Alyza.
"You know, the two of you are becoming the same as day passes by."
"Can you blame us? We are roomies remember?" Alyza answers back.
"If that's the case, let me dance one of you ladies first, then the other lady will be next after the first song." Mraz offers. He was about to grab Kassandra's hand when Zoe swiftly get Alyza's hand and offer it to Mraz.
"There you go." Then he lightly pushed the two towards the center of the hall.
"Nice move." Chloe released a soft laugh.
Zoe did not reply. But instead, he winked his left eye to Chloe that makes her blush secretly.
"The one we are waiting for so long is now here." Zoe waves his hand to the entrance.
Tehmo immediately saw Zoe's signal and went to their side.
"Ahem. Tehmo, I wanted to dance with my partner, but we cannot let Kass to be left behind. You don't have dance partner yet, right?" Zoe being a cupid between the two.
Kassandra was oblivious of what is happening around her because her mind is wandering away from the place where she is right now.
"Ahh, well, if that's the case. I think I don't have a choice." Tehmo is being shy, unlike his usual looks and attitude which is stern. Then he walks toward Kassandra to ask her to dance.
Kassandra was surprised to see Tehmo in front of her.
"I don't have a dance partner for this year traditional first dance. It would not be bad if I could dance it with my seatmate, right?"
Since Kassandra was caught off guard, she unconsciously offers her hand to him.
"Ruprecht, I don't know how to dance." Kassandra whispered to him.
"I could guide you. Do not worry too much. Just follow my lead." Tehmo guided her to the center. He holds her right hand with his left hand and put his other arm around her back. "Put your left hand on my shoulder." He whispered near her ear.
Kassandra felt something like a small amount of electric current flows all over her body. Then her heart started to beat faster.
"I think this is too close." Kassandra said without looking directly at her partner.
"No. It is how it should be. Look at the other students. This is the right dance position, right?" Tehmo move his face near Kassandra. Then he smiles sweetly at her.
"Er, Ruprecht."
"Hmmmm?"
"I have a thing to ask you." Kassandra said in a soft tone.
"What is it?" He is intently looking at her eyes.
Kassandra cannot stand it and looks down before she replies.
"I heard you could go out of the academy anytime you want?"
"Uhmm, typically that is a yes. Why? Don't tell me you want to go out at this hour?"
Kassandra did not say a word. Her silence is enough for Tehmo to know her answer.
"Where do you want to go?"
"To the downtown."
"Why?"
"I need to see the girl who sells matches." She replies. This time, she is looking at his eye with full of conviction.
"I don't know your reason. But the way you are looking right now, I could tell that the thing you want to do is important. Alright, I will help you escape tonight. But in two conditions."
"Ok. What conditions do you want?"
"You will let me go out with you."
"Go out with me? What!?" Kassandra was confused.
Tehmo chuckled before he response again. "It sounded weird. Let me rephrase it. Let me go to the downtown with you. I can't let you wander outside alone."
"That's ok. At least I could go back in one piece. Then what is the other condition?"
Tehmo look at her eyes, then he slowly moves his face closer to Kassandra's right side. "Call me Tehmo."
"Huh? Wh-why?" Kassandra stutters.
"I think it is just right to be called by my first name after asking this favor from me right Kassandra?"
"Ok."
"Now, try it. Call me Tehmo."
"Ok."
"No, call me with that name now." Again, he is looking straight to her eyes when he demands Kassandra to call him by his first name.
"You are really annoying you know?" Kassandra looks down again before she continues. "Tehmo."
"Good girl. After this song, we will escape this hall before other people notice us. You go first and then I will follow you after a few seconds. Got it?"
"Yes Ru-. I mean. Yes Tehmo."
Tehmo just smiled sweetly while looking intently again at her eyes.
___________________
"What is with that man? I could still feel the fear that he gave me." Aelian said to herself after washing her face. "I think, I should get back in the main hall to change this bad and dangerous feeling."
Aelian was checking her phone to read the messages that she received from her sister. "Annoying." She utters before she bumps into someone. Because of that, she accidentally drops her phone.
"I'm sorry." Aelian automatically utters.
The guy did not say a word. He just picked up the phone and gave it to Aelian.
When Aelian gets the phone, she accidentally touched his hand. "Tha- haakk!" She gasp upon seeing the man she saw from Kassandra's memories. But this time, the man is like sleeping with black roses around him.
"Are you ok?" The guy asked Aelian.
"That man. The man surrounded with black roses. The man from Kassandra's. Is he dead?" She said to herself but loud enough to be heard by the guy in front of her.
"What did you say? What about Kassandra?" The guy grabs her arm.
"Stop that. You're hurting me." This time, she can see the face of the guy she bumped into. He is the Vampire Prince. Her heart started to race because of so much uneasiness.
"Tell me. What are you talking about Kassandra?"
___________________
"Kassandra this way." Tehmo is holding her hand while they were literally running in the hallway.
"Where are we going? This is not the way going to the gate."
"Yes, you are right. Because we are not going on that direction. I know another way."
"Why? Is it much better If we will just go out through the front gate?"
"Then, we could not escape if we do that." Tehmo said while still running and guiding Kassandra to the back of the Night Grand Quarter's Building.
"Why? I thought you and Kieran can go out anytime you want."
"Well, not for this month. You know I have an A.O., right? So technically, I can't go out without the director's approval." He chuckled.
"But you said you will help me escape."
"Yes. That is right. I will help you escape using my own way. So, ready to jump?" Tehmo looks at her and grins.
"Are you kidding me?" Kassandra raise her eyebrow. The wall is too high for her. In the woods back then, she used to climb on a tree, jumps on its branches but never jump this high. The height that Tehmo wanted her to jump down is like a three-story building.
"Don't worry. I am here. I will not let anything happens to you. I will jump first, ok? Then after that, I will catch you from below." Tehmo released her hand and then jumps without giving her the time to digest his instruction.
Kassandra looks down. She saw Tehmo landed successfully. When she realized that she would need to do what Tehmo did, her knees started to shake.
"Tehmo, I can't." She softly said.
She did not say it loudly but unexpectedly, Tehmo was able to read her lips.
"You can do it. Do not be afraid Kassandra. I am here." Then he lay both his arms as if saying that he will catch her no matter what.
Kassandra took a deep breath. Then she closes her eyes before she jumps down. After a few seconds, she felt someone is carrying her.
A soft chuckle was heard from Tehmo before he speaks out. "Open your eyes milady. You are safe now."
Kassandra slowly opens her eyes and met Tehmo's gaze.
"Please put me down."
"As you wish. I told you I will catch you. So as long as I am here, you don't need to worry of getting harm."
"Do not worry of getting harm!? But you are the one who almost put me on harm? Do you know how high is that wall!?" Kassandra raised her voice because of so much fear for her life.
"Well, you are still in one piece, right? What are you getting mad at? I think we should go now instead of ranting on me. Some guards are still patrolling on this area you know?" Tehmo walks ahead of her.
Kassandra just follow him. They did not talk until they have reached the downtown where almost all shops are getting close.
"Where should we go?" Tehmo looks back to ask her.
"Actually, I don't really know where to start." Kassandra is shivering because she is wearing light clothing that time. The temperature is getting cold since the snow is started to fall.
Tehmo noticed it and without a second thought, he removes his coat and put it around Kassandra. "Wear it. I don't need it since my body is typically hot." Technically that is true. Besides the fact that he has a great body and beautiful face, he could warm up his temperature. Thanks to his ability.
"Thank you." Kassandra secretly blushes. She looks down so Tehmo cannot see her blushing face. That is the time when she saw the trail of some burnt matches.
"I think I know where she is. Follow me."
_________________
"Nobody wants my matchboxes. Father will surely be angry and beat me when I can't give him a single penny." The girl is talking to herself.
Tehmo and Kassandra heard her. When she is about to move toward where the girl is, Tehmo grab her risk and shook his head. Kassandra gets his message. So, she just stays where they were hiding and continue to observe the girl.
The little girl sat down on the ground, on a corner between two houses. While sitting there, she lit a match to warm herself. To her surprise, she saw a great iron stove with bright brass knob in the bright flame of the match. The stove vanished when the flame went out. The little girl lit another three more matches. One after another and saw the visions of a roasted goose on the table, a beautiful Christmas tree and her grandmother who loved her the most. "Granny!"
By then the girl realized that she would lose the vision of her grandmother when the match would go out. But she wanted her to stay there so much that she hurriedly lit more matches to make sure the light stayed on.
Kassandra and Tehmo continue to observe the girl. What Tehmo could see is a girl who is losing her mind to light a couple of matches. But to Kassandra, she could see the pain and struggles that she is going through just to keep the vision of her grandmother.
"Granny! Do not Go! Do not leave me again! Wait for me!" The little girl continues to light the matches.
Upon hearing what the little girl said, Kassandra remembers her past. She suddenly fell and sit on the ground.
"Hey, what happened?" Tehmo immediately move to face her. He touched her chin with his right hand to lift her face. He noticed that she is not her usual self. He remembers the time during the practical exam when she was almost get hurt by the burning dummy. This is her exact state during that time.
Tehmo shake her shoulder to pull her back to reality. "Kassandra! Wakes up! Kassandra!" He did not stop on shaking her shoulder until a tear escape from her left eye.
"Granny!" She gasped upon saying that word.
"What happened to you?"
"The little girl. I need to give this matchbox to her." Kassandra hurriedly stood up and went to the girl's location.
Tehmo stand where she left him and just follow her direction with his gaze.
The little girl tried to light the last match that she has. She scratches it against the side of the box. She was crying because she knows that would be the last light that could keep her grandmother.
"Use this. I know you need this." Kassandra offer the matchbox that she bought from the little girl the other day.
"You are-" She was unable to continue because the matchbox suddenly burst into flame. As the flame becomes bigger, the vision of the girl's grandmother becomes clearer.
"Go. Run to your grandmother before the lights go out." Kassandra smiles at the little girl.
The little girl grins at her. "Thank you, princess of Yule."
In the bright light of the matches, her granny looked more beautiful than ever before. She took her in her arms and flew high up the sky.
"What did she just say? Princess of?" Kassandra whispered at herself.
___________________
They were back on the fence arguing how she could climb up on that very high wall.
"What? Do you expect me to climb on that wall? What do you think of me!?" Kassandra raised her voice.
"Low down your voice. Someone might hear you." Tehmo sits in front of her. His back facing Kassandra. "I will carry you if you want."
"Ok. I think I don't have a choice then." Kassandra put her arms around his neck while Tehmo hold both her legs before he stood up.
"Hold tight ok. Rea-" Tehmo was unable to continue speaking because he saw the silhouette of someone sitting on top of the fence. "I think we got busted."
After a few seconds, the guy on top of the fence jumps down. "Where did the two of you go? Did you have permission from the director?" Kieran coldly asked the two.
"Kieran. About that, I am the one at fault." Kassandra replies while Tehmo is still holding her at his back.
"No. I think the one at fault at this is Tehmo. He is your senior, and as your senior, he should know that what he did is not right. He puts you in a dangerous situation and even encouraged you to break the rule."
"Kieran. Please do not punish Tehmo. He just helped me because I asked him to." Kassandra went down. She walks to Kieran's side to pacify the tension. Tehmo is not answering but she could sense that he will not going easy with Kieran.
"Kassandra, we need to talk." Kieran held her hand and then look at Tehmo.
Tehmo still did not say a word. But he did not remove his gaze at the two of them.
"I will let Kassandra go in first." With that, Kieran and Kassandra teleported and vanishes from his sight.
Tehmo on the other hand left standing outside the wall. He smirks at the memory of how Kieran grab Kassandra's hand. "Why?" Then he held his chest as if he is having a heart attack.
_________________
"Where is this place?" Kassandra asked Kieran. They were at an open space where a big tree is situated at its center.
Kieran did not say a word. But instead, he walks towards the opening of the cave, about 3 meters away from where Kassandra is standing.
"Why are we here?" Kassandra asked him again.
Kieran stops. He sits at the opening of the cave and sits as if he is meditating. Kassandra remembers this scene. It was like the scene that Aelian had seen from her memories.
"Did that lady tell you about this? How the little girl threw a snowball to the boy in the cave?" Kieran finally speaks.
"How did you know that?"
"Because I am that boy. And I suppose you are the-" Kieran was cut by Kassandra's disapproval.
"No, you are wrong. That is not me. It is true that Aelian describes this scene to me, but she said that the boy shouted some other name."
"Carleia. That is what the boy shouted right?"
Kassandra nodded. "Yes, and you see, that is not my name."
"But why is that lady able to see this from your memories?" Kieran stood up. After a few moments, he was standing in front of her.
"I don't know. Maybe I was observing the two of you that time?"
"That is a possibility. But how about the little girl on the crib?" Kieran smiles at her. Then he hold both of her hands.
"Aelian said that the man in black cape looks at her direction. He looks like he is going to kill her for intruding his life, maybe I am the intruder." Kassandra explains.
Kieran did not say a word. He is assessing what Kassandra said. "Let us go back. I know you are already tired."
In a few seconds, Kassandra was now facing the door of their room.
"Please go inside and never tries to break the rules again." Kieran said while walking away.
Kassandra looks at his direction but to her dismay, Kieran already teleported and left.