After getting over the initial breakdown of having the home screen of my phone outed like an obsessive simp and finding no windows with appropriate enough distance to the ground so I could jump and disintegrate, disappear or escape — I convinced myself that Elvi was not a person to go around and yap about people's private lives.
He was a poster child and poster children don't do rumours— right?
Sighing, I plopped my plush arse on the Persian rug set in front of the bed. Holding my left ankle in hand, the one Nova was oh-so-suspiciously inspecting, I stared at the dark crown birthmark—lookalike that was never there before. My mind ran a mile a minute.
How?
Why?
When?
The tick of the grandfather clock indicated passing of time that my brain subconsciously registered.
Things ceased to suddenly make sense and it annoyed me. I am a science major, I like getting concrete answers. Blind spots make me that curious person in a horror movie who dies first because they can't sit still and accept the circumstances of reality and need to reach the end of everything.
Yeah, that annoying person.
The evening descended with hues of orange bleeding into the blue of the sky. The wind blew at leisure as I stripped down and changed back into my now clean dungaree set. I ripped the vigo off my wrist and contained the blood with my handkerchief.
Can't have suspicious objects attached to my hand while going home.
I turned open the door knob only to see Nova standing there with my monstrously weighed backpack in hand.
"Oh, thank you so much! You can give that to me! No need to inconvenience yourself with that! It can be quite a burden," I rambled out, trying to grab a hold of my bag from his grip but he wouldn't budge.
"It's never an inconvenience serving you, my lady," Nova curtsied and gestured for me to move ahead. I made a face of distress but followed nonetheless.
The hallway was lined with mirrors and I took a quick second to check my presentability and yelped.
Absolutely freaked out, I ran up to the stylish glass stuck on the wall and knocked on it to check if it was real or not.
WHAT IN THE NAME OF NUGGETS WAS THIS?!
I raised a hand and my mirror self did too. I poked my tongue out and she copied. I flipped her off and she flipped me in return.
"Are you okay, my Lady?" Nova's concern came through his words as he eyed my borderline insane antics in front of the mirror.
I was too busy doing a monkey dance to concentrate on his words. Wide eyes and puffed cheeks— I tried pulling off the ugliest faces I made but weirdly I wasn't me anymore.
I became this...this farfetched idealistic version of myself. A vampire without death, if you may say so. My skin was spotless, the acne blemishes disappearing into nowhere. The saggy eye bags had tightened and lightened under my eyes and as I pushed up my bangs, the scar on the side of my forehead was gone as well. I looked freakishly unrealistic to myself. Like someone used a filter on my life, quite professionally might I add.
"My lady, do you fancy the mirror? Should I have it packed for you? Or are you in need of something else?" Nova questioned again and I did not know how to reply.
'Hey stranger whom I did not know existed until a few hours ago, I think bewitching things are happening to me. My face looks like someone smudged it on ibispaint, I have a mark that certainly never existed and you somehow seem to know of it, I potentially stopped time and almost died within that suspension, annoyed Mr. Popular of our school out of his wits and worst of all— got my crush to notice me. It's been a day, can I have a chocolate?'
But instead of saying all that I should have, my brain supplied my mouth, "We should get going, I cannot afford being late now."
Nova nodded, concern never leaving his eyes as he escorted me downstairs while informing that the car was ready to go.
I went down the stairs, still stunned, and waved a choking Aedion and laughing Elvi goodbye. I'm sure they didn't notice me and I honestly wanted no more of their attention. The day had been whacky enough and I'm sure our paths would never cross again.
The clock struck 5:30 and I was already on my way with Nova in the car. My fingers couldn't help but keep fidgeting with the hem of my sleeves. The morning played itself like a loop on repeat.
I got up.
Freshened.
Ate breakfast.
Left for school on foot.
Reached lockers.
Took my books for the day.
Bumped into Hale.
Reached the auditorium.
Interacted with Elvi.
Got singled out by Aedion.
Apparently stopped time/ passed out and had a fever dream.
Woke up in Hale's home.
Got interrogated by Nova.
Laughed with Elvi and Aedion.
Got into a fight with Hale.
Ate with Elvi.
Left for home with Nova.
Where did the day go wrong? Was I bit by a spider? Injected some drugs? Got into cryogenic sleep? Disappeared and reappeared after the snap?
The curiosity almost drove me crazy.
"Um— Nova, can I ask you something?" I questioned before I could convince myself to chicken out. He drove the Rolls Royce as if it was slipping on butter, smoothly cutting through lanes and traffic.
"Yes Milady?" Nova stared at me through the rear view mirror, eyes expecting my question.
"How did you know that I had— um, the mark?" I asked with in a low baritone, afraid if I speak too loud then it'll be broadcasted throughout the land.
His expressionless face remained in tact as he replied, "Why of course, I saw it."
"But you knew about it before you saw it," I clarified, now perched on the edge of the seat, leaning in to get a better look on his face.
"I hear about things in the passing. They come and go, nothing to ponder over. I saw your mark when I was helping doc apply your vigo," He pointed at my hand that was clear of any scars now. A biologically impossible feat.
But at this point, I didn't even want to question myself.
"Why were you intrigued by it? For all you know, it could be a random scar. But you felt the need to tattletale Elvi about it," I pressed on further.
"You're observant," A ghost of smile lurked around his lips and maybe I got a tad distracted in the small dimple it made.
"You're too obvious," I replied in a clipped tone. "Now will you tell me anything? Is there something wrong with me? Do you know something about the prophet? A child?" I kept questioning until Nova hastily pressed the breaks and the car came to a screeching halt.
Involuntarily, I was flung forward by momentum but before I could smash my head into the dashboard— Nova pressed a hand to my forehead and pushed me back into the seat.
"Seat belt," He spoke in a warning tone, side-eyeing me through the rear view mirror. I felt like a guilty toddler who got caught stealing candy. My heart thundered from another rush of adrenaline.
"Why did you stop so abruptly?" I asked, clicking the seat belt lock around me.
"A rabbit jumped in," He replied, walking out of the car to check on the animal.
Frantic, I hastily undid the seat belt and jumped out of the car too see the poor animal curled into a ball and it's cute pink nose sniffling at the speed of its probable heart rate.
Nova propped himself on his toes to touch the rabbit while I hunched over the scared creature and petted it's head. It's beady black eyes stared into my soul and I smiled.
"He's alright, just a bit shocked. He's still young you see," Nova informed, getting up while I pouted and picked up the rabbit to hug it close. The ball of fluff immediately relaxed in my hands.
"Did you just assume this rabbit's gender?" I hugged the animal close and petted it's ears. "Don't listen to the mean man, you can be whosoever you wanna be!" I whispered in its ear and cooed as it nuzzled closer to my neck.
"It's a he, trust me, I know. And you should probably leave him now, his family must be waiting," Nova spoke out, rolling his eyes at me as I tickled the fluffy rabbit.
"But it's too cute! Are we gonna abandon him just like that?" I asked Nova, sporting a puppy face and batty eyes.
"It was going somewhere, milady, I'm sure it has family," Nova replied stiffly and I pouted with the puppy face, swinging the rabbit left to right in my arms.
"But I don't see any rabbits in this vicinity—" I began but Nova cut me in.
"It's 5:45," And I was already dropping baby bunny in the grassland on the road side and buckling my seat belt to leave.
I saw Nova smirk victoriously before he too got in and drove away.
"He was cute, I will miss him," I all but sobbed out, hugging my bag close.
"You should be wary of your surroundings from now on. Don't trust random animals, insects, objects or anyone in general. If it's not me and my master, I would ask you to be vigilant," Nova instructed in a heavy tone and I gulped.
"Why are you saying that?" I asked carefully.
"The world isn't all rainbows and sunshine milady."
"I was doing just fine before today," I replied, cracking my fingers on my thighs. "Is it something to do with the prophet?" I whispered the question and was surprised that I got an answer. And I wondered, quite possibly for the longest time— was it worth it?
"It's something to do with you being his potential mate."