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Michelet could only imagine how Rowan must have felt, learning that he had lost his sight during the attack. But he wouldn’t hide it any longer, not now that they were safe. At the time, Rowan was already so afraid… Hell, they were all afraid. Anyone who said they weren’t was either a fool or a liar. He had channeled his fear into a dogged determination to survive and see his friends to safety, with or without his damned eyes, but it had still been boiling just under the surface. There was no way he was going to add to the panic by admitting his handicap if he could still function.

Cold air nipped at his nose, cheeks, and lips as they stepped out but Rowan’s hand was warm in his, tucked in his pocket and that was enough for Michelet. That and the relaxed conversation about breakfast foods had him in a fairly good mood which was welcome after his early morning stress. ”Maman de best dem chef dey is.” Michelet responded without hesitation, a small smile lingering on his lips. If nothing else, there ought to be no doubt that he thought so, at least. For a moment Michelet imagined dragging all of his friends home and inviting them to dinner. It was a funny image in his mind, all these fancy witches down in the bayou, but it might be nice. Maman would love to cook for a group and she was always asking about his friends when they talked.

He wasn’t so sure about the no meat thing, though. It was funny how little he even realized how much meat he actually ate until he was reminded that Rowan did not eat any. He rubbed his chin in thought. ”Mebbe sumtin’ oder den pork or beef… Mebbe I ask her; might even be she done it before.” Probably not, but there was no harm in asking.

Would somebody like the duke join in, even if he was invited? A week ago the notion would have been laughable, but today he wasn’t sure. Still, there weren’t likely to be any chausson aux pommes on his maman’s table; maybe it was better not to let his imagination get ahead of him. Kurt might not be looking down on him anymore, but he was still a duke. ”Dat sound pretty good too, c’est vrai. Dunno I could skip breakfast when it dat good.” Michelet was just about to compliment Kurt’s mother in turn when he realized a small but potentially important detail; the duke had never mentioned his mother. Did a fancy lady like a duchess ever even get her hands dirty cooking? Michelet glanced over at Kurtis thoughtfully, trying to think of any way to ask without picking a fight.

They reached the main building and Michelet paused in utter confusion when the duke opened the door. He half turned to see if there was a girl behind them or something, but Rowan stepped forward and he did not resist the movement. Soon he lost Rowan’s hand in his, but he supposed he would have had to let go eventually.

When Kurt asked about Rowan growing his own food only to second guess himself immediately, Michelet couldn’t help a small chuckle. He wasn’t even laughing at the duke, really; he was in the same boat just a few moments ago. Finding the right thing to say and the right way to say it had never been his strong suit in the first place; he was fortunate enough to have found a few people who did not mind that he was rough around the edges. But the duke had never been one of those people. It was awkward, but there was something a bit gratifying about knowing that it wasn’t perfectly easy for Kurt, either. Maybe they were both just human after all.

Michelet laughed a little more and nodded when Rowan mentioned growing snacks in the dorm room. ”C’est vrai. Grow veggies in dere you no even tink to snack on til he got you munchin’ a pea pod or sumting.” Hopefully knowing Rowan wasn’t at all offended would let Kurt relax and rejoin the conversation. Michelet could practically feel him retreating, but maybe that was because he would have done the same. He avoided people all of the time, even now. But Rowan with the face like a painting wasn’t just people. If Kurt didn’t know it already then he would, given time.

They joined the line and Michelet felt his smile fade slightly when Rowan asked whether either of them had any siblings. ”Non. It jes me an’ maman. She tell anybuddy who ask de loa is mah papa.” But that wasn’t really true, was it? At least not according to the whispers. Seemed like everybody knew a little something about the mamba’s surly b*****d except the b*****d himself. Michelet’s hands twitched, almost forming fists, but he pushed the dark thoughts out of mind. Rowan only wanted to know about his family; there was no need to ruin the good mood. No one here was giving him pitying looks or derisive knowing smirks. So he forced a wider smile and continued. ”Das all I evah need anyhow. Nevah live wit’ nobody else til’ I come t’ campus. How ‘bout you, duke? Mebbe ever’buddy else here already know ‘bout you family, but iz all new t’ me. What it like, growin’ up a duke an’ all?”

The entire idea of leaving her dorm was turning quickly into the worst one she’d ever had in her life. Between the looks and whispers she was given as she trudged through the snow on crutches, and the icy wet that was starting to creep into her singular shoe, she was quickly realizing that she was a fool. Why did she need to leave at all? She was a witch, wasn’t she? She had powers that could have easily conjured whatever she needed. Granted, it probably would have tasted awful, but that was a point she didn’t bother to give a second of her time. She should just return to her dorm and crawl back under her blankets. She could eat later.

Before she could even turn around in the godawful frozen vapor, her name echoed over the grounds and had her violet gaze narrowing. Oh no, was all she could think as she spotted the male who had spoken. Lucas Levy-Hawke. The youngest, and most mischievous, of the vampires that trolled the halls of Rathmore. And the one male that absolutely refused to listen to her when it came to her “no touching” rule. Trin prayed to whatever gods were listening that he be struck down, or intercepted, as he made his way over to where she stood. Of course, her luck didn’t run that far and within moments he was up close and personal with her. Much to her dismay.

”Good morning, Luke. It’s good to see that you are alright.” While she wished he would simply move along and be on his way, she knew better. So, perhaps she could be civil and he’d get bored. It was a much more plausible thought and one that would allow her to return to her dorm without another run in. Of course, the Fates loved to screw with her and make mountains out of molehills. His next few words being proof of that, confusion racing over her ivory features at his little pet name and declaration.

”What are you talking about? I’m not doing…LUKE!?” His name flew from her lips on a soft yelp, her arms releasing the crutches to wrap around his neck. The damn things fell to the snow as he adjusted her, leaving her at his mercy and forced to cling to him to keep from being dropped. So lost in her own shock and fear, Trin forgot to tell him off. She simply held on tightly and forced her eyes closed. Instinct had her burying her face in his neck, hiding from the new vantage point he had forced her into as his words drifted through her head.

”High…It’s high…Please, Luke, I don’t like heights…” She murmured the words softly through the lump of emotions in her throat. Had he been anyone else, she’d have blasted him with her powers and been done with it. But Trinity knew, in the VERY back of her mind, that his heart was in the right place. So, she took a shaky breath and tightened her hold on him a bit more to ensure she’d remain where she was and not dropped back onto the snow. ”Cafeteria…I need food…Please…”


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Anya frustratedly rubbed her eyes at the befuddlement of her own textbook while Silias recited from his. The conclusion that someone intentionally created this portal was occurring to her as well, the magic involved was just too complex and volatile to be performed successfully by pure coincidence. This wasn't a naïve student messing up a spell, such as she heard with the giant aggressive plant that was accidentality grown by a senior on the school field. This was an intentional outcome.

The mention of triggers was interesting however. She was unsure if this was in reference to the 'access of channels' in her own brief research. Then again, it could be completely unrelated. There were so many variations of magic, different cultures of witches could cast completely different spells in completely different ways and achieve the same outcome. It's what made researching magic as an outsider so frustratingly difficult. As a witch you have your own sense of magic as a lens to filter the theory through, without this everything lacks context.

Adjusting her glasses, she picked up the pencil again and began jotting down the bits of information regarding triggers and access of channels to try and find further information on. She didn't look up when Sophie confirmed their theory on this being an intentional act, but she did wonder how the culprit managed this past Rathmore's magical defences. Unfortunately this wouldn't be something easy to find out. The fact that these defences existed was common knowledge, but the actual details were left absent, most likely to prevent that knowledge being used to circumvent those same defences.

Putting a brief side note about the magical defences, she finally lifted her head and cocked it confusedly at Sophie. Did they succeed? Again she wasn't too interested in finding the individual responsible, and wouldn't complain if they had already left, but she couldn't help but be curious on what goal they were actually trying to achieve. It didn't seem as though they would have been after an individual target, releasing a mass of uncontrollable beasts wasn't exactly effective or guaranteed to take out that one person in a panicked crowd. So simply mass killing? Even then there would surely be more efficient and devastating ways? She heard someone had spiked the punch, so it wouldn't have been hard to have poison it either. Not that she wasn't deeply fascinated by the portal and it's possibilities, but... “Surely there was an easier way that didn't involve surpassing Rathmore's defences, just to make such a spectacle of this process.” She mumbled out her final thoughts, mostly trying to make sense of things herself.

Anya itched the back of her head with the end of her pencil through the curly tied up hair. Maybe a witch would have a better perspective on the whole thing, but it seemed as though Silias didn't have any connections with any of the race and unfortunately neither did Anya. Witches as a whole seemed to rarely socialize outside of their race, at least among the Rathmore population. They could try one of the teachers, but chance is on discovering their subject of research she could imagine a similar reaction to what Sophie was currently expressing on being in over his head. Approaching a random student would also be a very bad idea, not only is this exceptionally advanced magic that even most witches wouldn't understand, but there was also every chance that if the culprit is still among them.

Suddenly though, Sophie piped up with a surprising answer. She knew a witch? Anya's eyes lit up with confused shock before slowly drifting into a mildly hurt and still slightly confused pout. Why hadn't Sophie told her this sooner? Anya had been researching into magical aspects the whole time they've known each other. Sophie knew Anya was hoping to find a witch for their expertise in her research. Anya had even approached some teachers on other subjects of magic, but as many students, they didn't take a non-magic race trying to understand aspects of magic important or possible enough to consider it worth their limited free time. Sophie knew all this, so why would she hold this resources back from her? Then her brows furrowed a little more, “Wait, is this that Saint-Germain girl you mentioned at the dance?” Was that it? Sophie didn't have a large sphere of friends, so Anya was surprised that this knew witch contact wasn't mentioned before, unless she had under the different context and the reason that her new girlfriend was unwilling to share the contact was due to it being an old romantic partner.

¦¦ 𝙻𝚘𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗: Library ¦¦
¦¦ 𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚗𝚢: Sophie & Silias ¦¦
¦¦ 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜/𝚖𝚘𝚘𝚍: 'We need a witch's input, but I didn't expect it to be her.' ¦¦
¦¦ 𝙾𝙾𝙲: xxxx

﹡ tab 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝, 𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚟𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚝. tab ﹡
✱ tab ℂ𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕚𝕖𝕔𝕖𝕤 𝕨𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕜 𝕦𝕡 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕞𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕧𝕖𝕤 tab ✱

As Michelet listened to the others, he found himself wondering if this was what Kurt was always like when he wasn’t around. They had it out for each other so bad that he’d convinced himself that the snotty, uppity p***k was the only version of the duke there was. It wasn’t until he’d decided to introduce Penny to the man at the dance that the bokor had been willing to consider that he might have a good side, if only toward those he considered worthy. Now it was difficult to reconcile the person he thought the duke was with this pleasant, considerate, and soft spoken man who worried about giving offense and didn’t immediately turn his nose up at the idea of eating the same food as someone below him in status. He had been sweet to Penny, too. Much more so that Michelet had even hoped for, really. Maybe the real Duke Kurtis Rathmore stood somewhere between the two extremes, but that would be alright, too. Michelet was open to meeting that duke, sometime.

Kurt seemed nervous when asked about his family and, for a moment, Michelet wondered if he had accidentally stepped close to what was troubling the man in the first place. He had said he wouldn’t ask and he didn’t intend to. Before Michelet could tell the blond that he didn’t really have to answer if he did not want to, he had already begun and Michelet started to understand a little. His maman was pretty busy too, but it was different for him. He wasn’t just her son, he was her student and rather than her mamba duties taking her away from him they had pulled the two closer together. He didn’t like to imagine if it was different, if the loa had not blessed him, and he had spent the hours upon hours his mother was working alone.

”Arranged.” Michelet repeated, somewhat under his breath. Arranged marriages were not common in his culture, though the concept was not exactly alien to him. Certainly wealthy families made a big to-do about introducing their sons and daughters to society and machinating behind the scenes to see them married off suitably, which was near enough to the same thing in his mind. But even back home that was not the circle he belonged to; he only ever heard about such things when some desperate suitor came knocking in hopes of some love charm or potion.

Michelet shrugged slightly when Kurt seemed to immediately downplay his relationship with his own mother. ”You smile when you tink o’ her. Das sumting o’ note, non?” He didn’t know anything about Kurt’s home life, he couldn’t imagine how lonely a young duke was without siblings and with parents that were often too busy, but he did know one thing. ”Sometime all you kin do is hol’ tight to what mek you smile when e’eryting else mek you wan’ scream. For a long time, dat was jes maman for me, but it don’ gotta stay dat way. Not for eider of us.”

The cafeteria did have eggy toast and true to his stated intention Michelet made sure to get some with powdered sugar and berries. He also added two strips of bacon and a black coffee with no sugar. ”Tanks. Mebbe nex’ time, we treat you.” Michelet mentioned to Kurt as the trio made their way to a table. Would there be a next time? He didn’t know. But this man he could break bread with without wanting to break heads. Why not float the idea? If nothing else, he owed the duke a breakfast as thanks for today’s.

A smile spread on Michelet’s lips as Rowan suggested they all get together to make things and he nodded. Making and sharing food? He was a big fan of that idea, obviously. And of course Miss Penny should join them; they could make a proper tea party of it. All the better if they could all come together without glaring daggers at each other. Maybe it wasn’t so crazy to think that Penny could still be his friend even as her circle expanded.

For a moment, Michelet could not begin to imagine why Rowan might be jealous of either of them. He had so many people who loved him and accepted him as their family. But he supposed… maybe he could understand a little. Rowan probably had so many questions for the people who were just rumors to him but had a hand in his birth. He just wanted to know them. ”Won’ tell you how y’oughtta feel, mon rayon, but you got nutting be jealous of. Ain’t nineteen people in de whole world even like me, let alone love me, see me as family. S’awrite, though. Y’ learn not t’ need much, an’ wut you git means de world. But I gotta say, it be nice if Ah could meet you family one day. Hard to really even imagine it, but you mek me wan’ see fo’ mahself.”

A familiar shade of hair caught in his peripheral vision caused Michelet to turn his head as a student he didn’t know waltzed in carrying Trinity Blake of all people. His brow drew in confusion and his lips tugged into a puzzled frown. ”De hell?” he muttered before glancing toward Kurt then back to Trinity and her stranger. She had her face buried against his neck like they were lovers, but Michelet’s mind rebelled against that thought. There was no way that the Trinity who had watched Kurt for half of the time she was dancing with him had changed her mind about him. Was there? Michelet was half out of his seat when he realized he was acting like a fool. What would he even say to her? He didn’t have a single solitary idea of what the hell was happening. He lowered himself into his seat once more and looked back to Kurt.

”Y’awrite? If we need get air somewhere else, jes say de word.”

♛◇◈◊ ꙰ ◊◈◇♛♛◇◈◊ ꙰ ◊◈◇♛

🎼

〖 '𝓑𝓪𝓫𝔂 𝓽𝓮𝓵𝓵 𝓶𝓮 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓵𝓲𝓮𝓼,
𝓢𝓪𝔂 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓶𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓪 𝓵𝓲𝓯𝓮𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮...' 〗

〖 '𝓘 𝓫𝓮𝓵𝓲𝓮𝓿𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓘 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓲𝓽'𝓼 𝓪 𝓵𝓲𝓮,
𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮'𝓼 𝓼𝓸 𝓫𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓭...
𝓢𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓽 𝓣𝓻𝓾𝓮 𝓛𝓲𝓮𝓼~' 〗

Every word that Luke spoke sounded as if he were speaking through water. It was fuzzy and broken, crackling in her ears as her emotions filled her head like angry bees. The buzzing made it hard to focus, hard to breathe, hard to exist without feeling like she was drowning in it. Yes, she knew it wasn’t far from where she was to the ground. Yes, she knew she walked around on four inch heels most days and towered over the majority of her gender. Did that matter to her at this moment? Hell no! Her mind dwelled on the cold and pain that would surely take over if she ended up on the ground. It forced her to tighten her hold around Luke’s neck and keep her face hidden from the world around her as he carried her across the campus.

While Luke rambled on about his plans, Trin did her best to nod in response. She had absolutely no idea what she was agreeing to, but so long as she didn’t have to talk or move or open her eyes she was happy with whatever. As they drew closer to the cafeteria, new voices and emotions began to weave their way through her head. It was at this moment that she realized she hadn’t bothered to put her barriers up. Feelings of all kinds crashed into her like a wave, adding to her own and pushing the darkness within her closer to the surface. No, not now! She couldn’t do this now! Luke was being kind, helping her out, and if she didn’t get away the madness she had inherited would surely do to him what it had to Kurtis.

’I discussed breaking off the engagement with my parents, and they agreed….’ The thought of her former fiance brought back his voice, along with the words that had crushed her mind, body, and soul. A soft whimper escaped her lips as the statement taunted her, causing the creature within her mind to cackle with glee. If she fell to her emotions, then the monster could come out and play. It silently hoped for the worst while Trinity battled internally with the emotions that were threatening to consume her.

”Luke, maybe we should go somewhere else. I don’t think I can…” Was as far as she got before the scrape of a chair echoing in the cafeteria silenced the bees as well as the sounds of those around them. Before she could even think about stopping herself, her eyes opened and she shifted a bit in Luke’s arms to find the source. The sight of Kurtis staring at them, his features alight with a multitude of emotions, twisted her stomach into knots and had her darker half squealing in glee. It wanted to hurt the blonde. Wanted to see him drowning in grief and anguish and pain. Make him feel the same way she did. If he was overcome with emotions, he’d be all the more tasty. It had been given a taste at the ball and wanted more. An emotion that scared the ever loving hell out of Trinity and had her wishing she could ignore it. Wishing she could get free and tell Kurtis the truth. That she loved him and wanted nothing more than to be with him again. Alas, our star-crossed royals weren’t fated to be that way any longer. Something that the beast within her soul used to its advantage as the ebony haired witch felt her heart bleeding in her chest. It took over control and grinned seductively at Kurtis.

”I don’t think I’m interested in any of this food, to be honest. My cravings seem to have changed.” As she spoke, her hold on him loosened and her fingers moved to trail absently along the nape of his neck. Her lips brushed ever so slightly against his skin with every word they formed, though her violet gaze never left the blonde that had returned to his seat. Trin wanted him to feel her gaze, to know she was watching him as she twisted the knife in his heart a bit further. Just as he had to her.

”I find myself wanting to take a bite out of a six foot two hunk of meat. Would you happen to know where I could find something like that?” To emphasize her point a bit more, her body shifted slightly in his hold to allow her to trail kisses softly along his throat. While Trinity wasn’t trying to affect him in the same way she had Kurt at the ball, she was still making contact. Unless Luke had one hell of a resistance to her, he was sure to feel something. Perhaps a bit lightheaded or like his mind was floating a bit. Just enough for him to give her attention so she could get her meal and screw with the Rathmore at the same time. Win-win, after all.


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