A MONTH AGO
Alex and Avia decluttered his bedroom after which they spoke.
"So Avia, how are things with your mum and your dad?" Alex asked sitting down on his bed. Avia followed suite
"Hey, today is about you, not me or my parents. How did you cope?" Avia said leaning on his shoulders
"It was hard. My body was shaking, my face was cold, I thought.....I thought I was going to die"
Avia looked at him sadly.
"But when I thought of my mum, my siblings...of you....." Alex said as he adjusted Avia's hair to the back of her ears. They looked into each other's eyes for a while then he kissed her. Avia pulled back seconds later.
"We are just friends Alex let's not get that misconstrued" Avia suggested biting her lips and looking away from Alex. Alex was hurt by her statement but he didn't let her notice it so he just nodded. Avia began to feel discomfort so she stood up from the bed.
"What about your research on that mythical guy?" Alex asked after he had cleared his throat.
"I'm still on it, all I know is that his wife killed their only daughter to cure him. No one knows where he lives or what he is. No one even knows his name. People are even afraid to talk about it, but my great-grandmother is flying in soon. I bet she can tell me more about him." Avia assured.
"Good luck Avia" Alex beamed
"Thanks....so I'm gonna go, Alex, maybe I'll see you around?" Avia said hesitatingly.
"Yeah," Alex said as he put his hand up in the air waving to her.
"Fuck!" He cussed as he laid down on the bed, thinking. He really loved Avia, she was his first love. It was getting dark. He couldn't sleep. So he got out of bed and went to have a shower. As he washed himself, he reminisced about his drug days. It felt so good. He could give anything to have that feeling one last time but he didn't want to relapse. After bathing, he got dressed and went to sit in his mum's car.
***********
PRESENT-DAY
Auriela and Greta sat together on Greta's bed, as Greta explained what she did,
"Jason almost burned to death because of me. I was the one that stole his Genetic sunblock and replaced it with an injection filled with ordinary water. I knew he always took them every morning, so at night time I closed all the windows and curtains and went to his bedroom. I picked his locks and switched the injections. All I wanted was revenge I had no idea it'll be that bad." Greta wailed.
"So that's how you knew that to stop him from melting the window had to be closed because he injected himself with water, not his sunblocks," Auriela said.
"Yes, and I regret doing what I did," Greta added.
"And my purse?" Auriela asked.
"I was aware you knew about what I did to Jason, cause my room was ransacked and the genetic sunblock was gone, and I knew you wouldn't waste any time blurting it out to everyone. I picked your lock, I could have just stolen the genetic sunblock but I decided to go extra, so I stole some of your makeup."
"Why would you steal makeup?"
"Because I wanted a distraction, I came out late because I was trying to apply the makeup and make Julius come looking for me. He never likes to wait. And it worked."
"So how did the genetic sunblock leave my purse? You haven't answered that part of the question."
"Julius always carries ball shaving creams around so I used that opportunity to snatch one from him, poor Julius didn't notice a thing. So I met you at the dining room and I asked you to adjust my make up which you did, your purse fell then I made the switcheroo."
"Thank you for your honesty, Greta." Greta had no idea what Auriela was doing to her. Auriela had cast a spell on Greta to speak the truth throughout the whole time they talked.
"What did you do to me?" Furious Greta asked.
"What you should have said at the beginning, the truth! Now everyone would know how pathetic you are."
"It was not my intention to kill him," Greta said.
"You're a thief, I bet that's why you're here," Auriela said with a short grin and left Greta's room
************
Greta walked back home from school, she noticed a well-dressed man amidst the crowd. She was sure that none of the things he had on was counterfeit. He was her target. The first thing she had in mind was his watch. She went for it and immediately he held her hand up high. She was shocked. He dragged her to an alley and questioned her.
"Stealing? Not good for a pretty teen like you" he commented
"I wasn't stealing, I was just passing by," Greta said in her defence.
"I call a bluff," The man said with a grin.
"Call it whatever the fuck you want but I'm being honest" Greta insisted. Then he freed her of his grasp and let her go. She left grumpily but before she left his sight completely he called out her name. She was in more shock.
"How did you know my name?" Greta asked
"I know a lot of things Greta, and I have an offer for you that I trust you can't deny"
"My mother said not to talk to strangers, so sorry 'guy' "
"May her soul rest in peace. Greta, I like your spirit. You're independent, care-free, you care for your Aunt, you wish you could do more so she could have a better life and stop worrying about you....that's why you steal"
"Who told you all this stuff?" Greta asked in annoyance.
"So I'm not lying, if not you wouldn't be fuming. I can help you, Greta. Here" he brought out an envelope.
"In it contains a blue tonic, once drank, it will change your life forever, the choice is yours," he said as Greta collected it from him.
"Freedom from your aunt, free from people chasing you, freedom to take whatever you want, trust me you're going to love your new life. Oh, and once you make the decision, you meet me here the minute you take it, my numbers in the envelope" the man said as he left the alley leaving Greta dumbfounded.
**************
Everyone was gathered at the training ground. They all stood listening to Alan,
"Okay, the last time you were all here you couldn't stop asking questions. Now it's time for action. We don't know how many people would be looking for this book but we know they won't be many. We just have to find a location." Alan said determinedly.
Julius wanted to say something but they all shunned him because they knew he was going to say something stupid again like last time. Then Apollo asked,
"Why are we looking for this book. What's so special about it."
"Less question, more action," Alan ordered. The students thought hard about a way to locate parts of the grimoire. Alan told them not to apply pressure, and that they should relax and think.
"I have an idea." Arthur blurted. "You said the book belongs to Octavius right?" He continued, "what if we get something that belongs to her and channeled it with enough magic, it could be enough for us to find the parts."
"Dude, this lady would have been dead by now, where the hell are you gonna find 'something that belongs to her'," Jason said.
"And what spell are you planning to use.?" Alan asked.
"The Revelio spell," Arthur said. Alan and Auriela were agape.
"No way! That spell is almost impossible. It could kill you." Auriela yelled.
"We are immortal, remember. Besides, it's the only way." Arthur said.
"He's right. It's the only way. The both of you, practice the spell and get back to me when you're ready." Alan said
"What about Octavius' belongings, how are we gonna procure them?" Arthur asked.
"Leave that to me, class dismissed," Alan said. Alan was about to leave the training ground when Auriela called him back,
"Mr Alan, I have something to say to you, in fact, I have something to say to everyone." This caught the attention of all in the room. Auriela chanted the words, "adpareo." Which means appear, or be evident. Immediately a Hologram of Greta appeared. Greta knew she was in big trouble. Soon her hologram began to speak,
"Jason almost burned to death because of me. I was the one that stole his Genetic sunblock and replaced it with an injection filled with ordinary water. I knew...."
Her hologram said everything she had told Auriela earlier. Everyone was shocked to hear this. Greta was ashamed. She begged Auriela to stop but she didn't,
"So that's how you knew in order to stop him from melting the window had to be closed because he injected himself with water, not his sunblocks....." The hologram continued to speak. Alan couldn't believe his ears.
"Julius always carries ball shaving creams around so I used that opportunity to snatch one from him, poor Julius didn't notice a thing. So I met you at the dining room and I asked you to adjust my make-up which you did, your purse fell then I made the switcheroo..."
"Enough of this nonsense!" Alan ordered. Auriela made the hologram disappear. "That was all of it anyways" She mumbled.
"You psycho bitch!" Jason cussed at Greta. He was coming for her until Sebastian and Hamilton held him off. "Let me go!" He yelled.
"Greta follow me to my office. Now" Alan said disgustedly. Greta was furious at Auriela and disappointed at herself. She looked at Julius and tried to apologize, but Julius shrugged her off. So she left the training ground with Alan.