Chapter 2
Possessed
By the time school was let out, I was all burned out, even though it was only four in the afternoon. Trying to become accustomed to a new school would’ve been hard enough, but with opponents like Acacia and Jace, who also seemed to be the most prominent characters in class—if not the entire school—it was rapidly turning into my private hell.
Tomorrow will be better, I told myself endlessly, but still, I was convinced it wouldn’t be.
Regardless, I would have to press on. At least until I met the Albion guy in my mum’s note.
I stepped into the safety of my room and locked the door. My bedroom was the only place in the entire house where I would linger, and the door to this one safe place had to be locked at all times. Had I left it open, my father would’ve, most likely, wrecked it in one of his drunken rampages—just as he’d done to all the other rooms in the house.
There was absolutely no sign of order or organisation in my pink-and-white-and-brown bedroom, but that suited me perfectly. In fact, I kept it messy on purpose; unlike everyone else, I didn’t have anyone nagging at me to tidy up my room, so I made sure to make the best out of it. Really, not having a mother around wasn’t that bad at all.
I dropped my backpack to the ground and, sidestepping the refuse strewn across the carpet—opened books, empty tissue boxes, random school stuff, candy wrappers, dirty sneakers, worn-out cardigans, and just about anything you could name—I got into the bathroom.
Sitting down at my desk after a shower, I pulled out a school folder out of my backpack to get started on my homework. The math practice paper assigned by Mrs. Bernadette was kind of simple. Perhaps too simple, I dozed off minutes into solving the problems...
I was immobilised in the air as the same horned creature from my dream last night galloped fast in my direction. The huge, four-legged creature, which greatly resembled a goat, was exhausted, blowing air as though it had been running non-stop for a long time. It showed no sign of stopping anytime soon, picking up its pace as it closed the distance between us.
I willed my body to budge with all my might, but it was no use; it was as though every nerve in my body had been severed.
And now, the creature was so close, I could feel its breath hot against my face. Anticipating my death, I watched in horror as the huge, horned creature collided into me.
Pain exploded through me.
Screaming, I jerked out of my chair, sending it tumbling down to the ground with me. On the floor, I desperately tried to roll out the pain that was devouring my chest. It was the worst pain I’d ever felt. My heart tightened like a fist. I couldn’t breathe.
This was it—a heart attack. This was how my life was going to end. Tears blurred my vision as I clutched the shirt over my heart.
Damn.
I didn’t want to die—not now, not yet, and definitely, not like this.
I caught a quick breath, and, as quickly as it had slammed into me, the pain in my chest unexpectedly lessened to a milder throbbing. It was after another couple of deep breaths that I’d managed to sit up slowly, and that was when a bright blue light lit up my room. A soft thud sound followed closely, and I looked up, toward the noise, jumping when the looming figure of a grey-haired, blue-eyed European in a black suit snapped into view, a sombre expression on his wrinkled face.
Shock caught in my throat, strangling the scream of surprise, while my brain yelled danger. I scrambled to my feet and spun around, making a run for the nearest window. This was only the second level, maybe I could drop down safely enough to run afterward, to escape to the safety of the main road where there were people around to help me. Gathering my guts, I darted ahead. I had no other choice—the stranger was blocking the door.
There was a louder thud as I neared the window. Another European man—much younger than the first—and an Asian teen showed up in my room. And this time, I saw how they got in: simply by zapping out of thin air.
I must still be dreaming. No human could do that, surely.
Landing unsteadily on my cluttered floor, the Asian teen lost his balance and crashed loudly into my bedside table.
Scrunching his small, chiselled face up in pain and rubbing his sore elbow, he cursed in Japanese. “What was that?” he exclaimed, looking as blown over as I was. “What in the world happened?”
It seemed I wasn’t the only one unsure of everything—the Japanese boy was as eager as me for answers—and I relaxed slightly.
“How did we get here? We were at Changi Airport, you were dragging me to the gents, and now—” The boy made a vague gesture that encompassed the room then massaged his long neck and broad shoulders. “My body hurts all over.”
The younger, taller, and much more amiable, of the two Europeans smiled at the boy apologetically. “Sorry,” he said, helping the boy up with the hand not clutching a heavy-looking travelling bag. And talking about his limbs, they sure were long. “There’s an emergency here, you see.” While bafflement continued to cloud the boy’s expression, the young European turned in my direction, and, when our gazes met, his lips curled up in the sweetest possible way, making his perfect teeth and cheekbones stand out—not that his other features didn’t stand out. Every single part of his sculpted face was so remarkably fine, he looked like he’d walked right out of a magazine cover. I stared at him in awe. He had to be at least six-foot-two tall. Just looking up at him was making my neck hurt, he was that tall. “How are you feeling?” he asked me in a slick, melodious voice that was as flawless as his looks, still smiling angelically. “The pain should have subsided by now.”
With my ability of speech momentarily disabled, I merely nodded, unable to take my eyes off his startling ones; the blue of his eyes was the same as the elder European—clear crystal blue—but there was an additional serenity to his that was plain entrancing.
Today had been one of the most happening days of my life. First, the unpleasant incident in the cafeteria. Second, the bizarre dream followed by the horrific pain in my chest. And now, I was alone with three towering strangers in my bedroom—including the most charming man I’d ever met.
I really didn’t know whether to be thrilled or terrified.
“Don’t be afraid. We’re no one dangerous,” he said in a gentle tone, and I don’t know how it was possible with a complete stranger, but I found myself placing trust in him at once. He then put a hand on his chest and bowed well manneredly. “Name is Atward Savant and,” he pointed at the elder European, the shortest among the three giants, “this is my grandfather, Sir Albion Savant.”
Albion Savant? I redirected my attention to the old man. Hope was in my chest. The man from Mum’s note?
“And last of all, this is young man here is Takahashi Sa—”
I cut Atward off. “Albion Demeter Savant?” I asked the old man, forgetting about everything else.
“Yes,” he said coldly. “And it’s Sir Albion to you.”
“Albion Demeter Savant!” I cried out in blatant joy. He must have come to explain everything! I stared into his deep-set eyes eagerly, waiting for him to speak.
“How do we address you?” he merely asked.
My heart fell. Then fury built up rapidly. What was the matter with Mum? The man she’d told me to look out for didn’t even know my name.
I sagged down on my bed. “Averie,” I muttered out of perfunctory obligation.
“Averie,” said Sir Albion, his expression still uncomfortably serious. “You both should rest now—” True enough; the throbbing in my chest was awful. “—so I’ll explain everything in further details tomorrow. You need to report to Black Gold International College early tomorrow morning and get yourself enrolled—”
“I’m already enrolled there,” I snapped impatiently. I felt a little bad for being rude, but I was so frustrated right now. My head was in an utter whirl, plus the throbbing in my chest was making my mood worse. “Today was my first day, and by the way, the next time you zap into someone’
s bedroom without notice, you could at least try to be friendly. In case you don’t realise it, your actions are very disturbing.”
Atward laughed out loud, and while Sir Albion didn’t find my comment as amusing as Atward did, he didn’t seem the least affected—his expression remained unchanged and all.
Then bam!
The front door slammed loud. No warning.
He was back—damn it.
Waiting, my hands clenched into hard fists. This was going to be mortifying, but I couldn’t do anything about it now.
“Averie!” my drunken father hollered from below. “Tell me, Averie! Where’s your mum, Averie?”
My face heated up, and I squeezed my fists tighter, sinking fingernails into flesh. Just a little, but it did take my focus off the embarrassment. “Mind taking a leave for now?” I managed to say through gritted teeth while my drunkard of a father wondered aloud the whereabouts of my mum—God, couldn’t he be quiet for even a second?
“I’ll see you tomorrow then.” Sir Albion broke the awkward atmosphere in that same aloof voice without asking a single question, and I almost collapsed with gratitude. I needed them out of the house before my father further embarrassed himself…and me.
“Since we’re done here”—Sir Albion walked to Takahashi—“let’s get you settled down in the hostel. Be prepared.” Glowing in bright blue light, he closed one hand around the teen’s wrist.
“Please don’t tell me we’re doing that ag—” Takahashi zapped off with Sir Albion before he could finish his sentence, a look of fluster last on his face.
I felt my face warm further once they were gone. The pumping of my heart was so thunderous, I was sure anyone nearby could hear it as well. After all, only breathtaking Atward Savant was left.
It wasn’t like I was fawning over him or anything. It was just that he had...a unique type of presence. He just felt—I knew it was weird, but yes—otherworldly.
Shifting on my heels, I inhaled deeply then Atward switched his gaze from the empty spot, where Sir Albion and Takahashi had been an instant ago, to me, and my breath clutched in my throat. Why wasn’t he leaving?
“Get some rest, Averie. You’ll be back to normal when morning comes,” he said to me in that soothing voice of his before zapping off—in blue light as well.
Once I was finally alone, I took in a long, steadying breath and, for a long moment, remained in a daze, recovering from this crazy encounter. I had completely forgotten the mild pain in my chest until its intensity picked up, spreading rapidly through my body. I fell backwards onto my bed and shut my eyes. Trying to block out the din my father was still making in the living room downstairs, I slowly slipped into slumber.