Kore wasn't a dreamer by any means. Her nights were calm with no nonsense such as dreams to fill them. The closest things she had to dreams were moments where she accidentally Astral Project, though she got that under control now.
She just floated on the ocean water. Land was nowhere to be seen and the water was calm, clear, and kind. She didn't need to move, didn't need to think, to touch, to feel. It was pure Magic as she floated. Her body, mind, and spirit completely numb to the touch. She could have just stayed there forever.
The water enveloped her, pushing her within its depths without a care. She started treading water as soon as it hit her nose. The waters mocked her as she tried to keep her head above the water, kicking her legs as fast and as steadily as she could. It was to no avail as the water consumed her.
The icy temperatures stung her nose and eyes. Once again, her head reached the surface and she took in a deep breath, settling the air into her stomach before she was dunked back under the water. Something held her down as she struggled to reach the surface, barely getting another breath before plunging back in.
Why was there ice?
It wasn't there before.
Why...
Why was the water so red?
Why was the water so thick and red?
Why was the water so staining, thick and red?
Why was the water now blood?
Blood was life.
Blood was Magic.
She was Magic.
She was Magic.
The redness appeared around her as she hit the surface of the blood, a thin layer of frozen blood, almost invisible with the dark sky above, covered the surface but she couldn't break it. She banged her fists against the layer, wanting to get out and see the sky.
See the stars.
It did nothing as she curled up against it, trying to use her knees, and elbows, and hands, and head, and nails, to get out.
She tried to scream, finding her voice muffled by the blood around her. She tried to grasp the thousands of tiny air bubbles that reached the stained ice and phased through.
With the scream, her breath was gone. Tainted blood filled her mouth but she was quick to spit it out.
She paused, her energy depleted for the moment. She was dragged down, her limbs too heavy to move anymore.
As she went further and further away from the surface, the bloodied waters darkened dangerously. Her will to fight just made her be dragged down further but she couldn't move. She didn't want to. Why was she becoming tired? Her eyelids wanted to drop and there was a strong desire to just stop moving and let go.
Her breath was now gone.
Kore...
The tainted blood waters had their icy grip on her limbs and she just sank.
Kore...
There was no need to think as her mind became numb with the cold.
Kore...
She just wanted to stay in the red water forever, not leaving its stiff conditions on her limbs as her eyelids closed for the final time.
"Kore, wake up!"
She sprung up in the bed, her shoulder hitting Ruel's as she gasped for air. Her lungs burned with it, finally getting the needed oxygen.
"Careful," he muttered as she clutched her heaving chest. "You were having a nightmare I think."
She touched her cheeks, finding her fingers wet.
Her tears were bloodied.
It was getting worse.
Why was she crying? She didn't feel like she was crying, but the tears were enough evidence. She was numb, detached even. Her emotions were bundled tightly into her chest.
She took a calming breath, trying to get oxygen back into her system as it seemed that Ruel's blood tried to take over.
She bolted from the bed and straight to the bathroom, collapsing over the toilet bowl and hurling whatever was in her system up and into it. Blood splattered the basin, dripping down as she coughed the rest of it out. It was not the simple red as it should have been, no, it was dark and tainted.
The colour was foul as she coughed every last drop of whatever Ruel's blood touched, leaving her even more tired than before.
How did a single drop of his blood cause so many problems?
After she was finished coughing and flushed the blood down the toilet, she washed her mouth out to make sure she got the rest of it.
Ruel looked concerned but she waved it off.
"It's only noon," she said, slowly walking back to her room after grabbing the robe from the bathroom. "Go back to bed, Ruel. I'll be fine."
"You just had a nightmare and you stopped breathing! How is that fine?"
She leaned a hand onto the wall as a sudden dizziness overcame her and she couldn't stand straight. Ruel saw this, stabilising her by the shoulders before guiding her back to the bed
"I'm getting Cera. she should know what to do."
"Don't!" she snapped. "She doesn't know. She can't help, nor can Bereket or Usher. They don't know about my Blood Magic."
"What are we supposed to do then?" Ruel asked. "You had a nightmare and stopped breathing, and just now you vomited up blood. Blood of all things means internal damage!"
"It was from your blood, Ruel," she settled on the edge of her bed. "I don't know what's wrong with you yet but something is attached to you. I don't think it's Davina anymore, It's something dark."
"So you'll be fine now since you've coughed it up?"
She nodded. "Yes. I just need to regain whatever blood got tainted and needed to be discarded, which was actually a lot."
"How much?"
Silence.
"Kore, how much blood did you lose?"
"Litre and a half, maybe a little more in total."
"That's like thirty percent of your blood! You're saying my blood tainted that much and you had to expel it all out?"
Her stomach turned a little but settled quickly. "Yep. I'm going to be purging blood and Magic for a few hours to make sure I get all of it out of my system. I'd suggest keeping away from me."
"Why would I keep away when you're sick?" Ruel asked. "You're ill and need help."
"I'm not ill," she said. "My Magic rejected yours and caused damage."
"Can the damages be fixed?"
"Yeah,"
"Please, if you need me, have Tsar come get me," Ruel suggested. "Will you be going to class?"
"No." She stopped at that.
)()()(
By the time everyone had left for class, Markus was the only one to stay behind a moment longer. He ventured down the stairs, scenting the sweet spice of electrical blood that Kore had in the open area. He stopped at the bottom and saw Kore curled up on one of the couches, TV on as she watched it.
"Kore, are you not attending class today?" he asked calmly, unsure of why she wasn't dressed yet.
"Can't attend," She said, her eyes not straying from the TV.
He strode over until he stood next to the couch where she sat. He looked over her form, trying to see if she was injured or just being lazy today. "Why can't you?"
"Sick."
Markus stiffened, a slight air of concern coming over him without his permission but he acknowledged this and shoving it right down, "Have you come down with something?"
"Nope, just purging my body and Magic," she curled up onto one cushion as he sat down next to her. "Ruel's blood did damage to me and I need to heal it all."
"Are you staying here alone?"
"It's best I stay away from anyone with Magic until I'm healed,"
"Your body is trying to heal but it will try to take Magic from anyone near you while you heal, is that correct?"
"Yeah," she nodded stiffly. "I'll be fine by tomorrow night but it's best if I stay alone for a bit. I don't want to drain anyone of their Magic. If you focus on your Magic now, you'd feel it being pulled, Markus."
He paused, focusing on what she said and it was true, something inside him wanted out but it wasn't his Magic. His Magic didn't want to part from him, instead wanting to wrap around her and just stay there instead of going with him.
He didn't comment on it, instead, he changed the topic.
"There will be an event hosted by the Torren family," he said. "The whole Key House is invited, of course, and I was wondering if you and the Sallow triplets would attend too. I can assure you that your safety and the safety of your cousins will be taken care of."
She laughed, suddenly turning to the right to cough as her throat was dry. When she stopped, she looked at her hand, squishing a tissue into it before she thought he could see the blood on her palm.
He went to get a glass of water, taking only seconds to hand it to her before she nodded her thanks and sipped at it.
"Thank you," she muttered. "I guess hurling up blood caused some damage to my throat. When's the week off?"
"This Saturday," he said, leaning back into the couch. "Silas and Annaliese's father has arranged transport for everyone but I wanted to confirm if you would also attend."
She thought for a second before nodding. "We'll attend. The triplets hate society events but I doubt they'll let me go alone. What's the dress code?"
"Semi-formal will do, I believe,"
"Good. I have a couple of dresses in mind then. Aren't you going to class?" she asked, gesturing to the door. "I think the rest have left."
"Yes." He just realised he was going to be late. He didn't realise how much time had passed since he sat down to speak to her. "Will you be fine alone?"
"Yes," she said, gesturing to her chest where a small bundle of fox was under her shirt. He just poked his little head with a yip. "Tsar will get Ruel if anything is amiss but I'll be fine."
"Good."
She had a few hours of peace before someone knocked at the doors of the dorm. She was curious. Not a lot of people came to school, let alone to the House if they weren't expected.
She got up, dressed lazily in dark lounging trousers and a tank top, and answered the door. A man stood there. She knew he was a Guardian before he even spoke, wearing the leather uniform and badge of a Guardian.
"Are you Kore Greylight?" The newcomer asked.
"I am,"
"You are under arrest for the murder of Vampire Davina Knott," he said, "Her family wants retribution for her death, and by our Arcane law, you are sentenced to death."
She tried to stay serious but she couldn't. A laugh escaped. "Am I? Am I really?"
"You have killed a daughter of the Knott family," he glared at her. "You killed a Vampire, which in itself, is a crime against nature."
"It is crime to attempt to kill a Witch, let alone a princess and Heir of a whole Clan,"
The moment he stepped forward, he was frozen. Her Magic reacted faster than he could move, his muscles twitching as he tried to arrest her.
"Do you know who you're talking to?" She just stared at him, feeling the way the immediate area was being filled with the presence of several low-level Guardians. "By Global Arcane Laws, I am exempt from all sentences that another organisation sets forwards."
She grabbed his arm, absorbing his Magic as his skin started to fade and flake in areas. He became more like ash, crumbling in her hands and into dust. His Magic was gone and so he was. Guardians weren't very useful against Witches, but against Arcanes and Mundanes, they were. Only Wardens could even remotely threaten a Witch, and there were only a few in the whole world.
A few Guardians broke the treeline and ran towards her. She knew they were going to try to kill her.
Electricity gathered on her skin and the air, trying to get as much Magic as needed to generate lightning without a storm. She got electric shocks from her clothes but she knew it was working.
The lightning struck where she stood, covering her like a warm and tight hug as sje was transported by electricity to just outside the main building.
She dropped to her knees where she landed, breathing hard and heavily as her Magic was now drained. Teleporting by lightning was something she was good at but she could do it if needed, something her grandparents had shown her in case she needed it. It was another smaller family gift but it left her Magically drained.
Her lightning scar burned bright white with pain as she had to lean forward to click her shoulder. She felt the top of her shoulder burn worse than it should have, and when she pressed her hand to the area, it came away wet and bleeding.
It was getting worse.
The opposing Guardians were quick to find her but the most she could do was keep them at a distance. A thick circle of dark fire surrounded her. Each time one of them tried to get through, they were burned to death, their Magic absorbed into her. With how drained she was, she didn't know how long the barrier would last but she sent Tsar to get Ruel.
Luckily, she wasn't far from one of the windows of the Key House lesson rooms.
It didn't take long for them to come.
Ruel walked into the fire barrier with ease, getting to her side. That was when she let the whole thing extinguish. Richard came over, checking the bleeding area while Wylan and Silas held Annaliese back from attacking the Guardians. Annaliese's skin was shimmering until scales appeared all over her, her teeth elongating until they looked like fangs and her nails were claws. Even her hair was withering like they were eels.
"How bad is it?" Markus asked as he walked to Kore. He looked at Richard as he pulled the strap of Kore's tank top down. "How did it happen?"
"Magical exhaustion, I'd think," Richard said.
Kore nodded, "It is. I teleported to get away from them. I'm already exhausted enough."
Markus put a hand on her good arm for only a split second before he turned serious. He faced the Guardians, all of who had stopped trying to attack as soon as everyone came out.
"What happened?"
Everyone, including Kore, stilled at this tone. It wasn't just dark, it held an amount of rage she had never seen before. Annaliese huffed and calmed down, restraining herself until she was let go.
"This is a peaceful place," he said. "Why have you attacked a student? Speak now or I will get Dante Iscariot to deal with you."
"We were given a task by the Knott family," one of the Guardians said. "We cannot fulfil our duties if you stand in our way."
"Your duty to kill one of my classmates?" he asked. "One of my friends? I doubt Princess Kore Greylight has done anything worthy of death. We do not condone a death in the Chamber and in the Arcane world."
"The Knott family has great reason to believe it was her to kill their daughter," It said. "As you know, Prince Valdric, that Vampires know who has killed one of their kin."
His laugh was cruel, "I don't care."
Ruel helped her stay standing, exhaustion hitting her like a ton of bricks.
They all watched as the Guardian's body was battered by an invisible force, tearing it to bits but keeping it alive.
Kore felt chills go down her neck. The power he portrayed was dangerous and plentiful. He could have killed the Guardian if he wanted.
"Tell the Knott family that their order has been overridden by Global Arcane Law, and by me," Markus said coldly. "Everyone else, back to class." He turned to the group of Guardians, "You cannot order the death of an Arcane without a ruling from both the Chamber and Orion. Your orders are going against Global Arcane Law. Now Princess Kore Greylight has the right to have you killed for this transgression against her. Leave before I report this to Orion and let them deal with you."
He turned his back on them, walking over to her as everyone besides for her and Ruel left. The Guardians disappeared rather quickly, taking his order as a command that couldn't be disobeyed.
"Are you alright?" His eyes went soft. "I felt the spike of Magic."
"I'm good, just drained," she said. "Need food and plenty of sleep is all."
"What did you do to drain your Magic?"
"Used it to make lightning to teleport." She tried to shrug but couldn't, her shoulder hurting and still bleeding a little. "One of them tried to attack me and so I drained him of Magic and killed him before the rest could get to me."
Markus didn't look happy. "Let's get you settled back into your dorm. I rather you be at your full strength before the party. There will be other Guardians and some Wardens there but I don't trust them to keep you safe... Or your cousins, safe." He added.
She nodded as they began their slow walk back to the dorms. She was able to walk by herself now but she was slow. Ruel and Markus stood on either side of her as she walked at a leisurely pace.