Soul Bound

Chapter 4

RPOV

I was back in my room after I showered. Luckily I was one of the few female novices and pretty much had this wing and the bathroom to myself. It avoided a lot of awkward questions I was not ready to answer yet. I wondered how long it would take.

I wasn't just worried for Lissa being back here. I was worried about myself too. The last two years had left marks on both of us, for me quite literally. They would be hard to explain and explaining them would lead to more questions which would put Lissa in danger. But I needed to be here and graduate. I needed to stay with Lissa now and after graduation. So we would just have to risk it. I was most afraid of Guardian Belikov figuring it out. He seemed to have a knack for seeing right through me.

I did my homework. Yeah I know I actually did my homework, I might actually pass my academic classes too if I kept this up. I was lying in my bed being slightly bored, but too tired to actually do something, so I decided to slip into Lissa's head. She had a rough day.

We had some classes together but most of the ones she took were either too advanced for me or were specifically tailored for Moroi. I had been getting anxiety through the bond all day. People staring at her and whispering about us leaving.

I was used to people gossiping about me. Because of my looks and exuberant nature, I was often the center of attention, which led to a lot of gossip. I had learned a long time ago to not let it bother me. But Lissa was always under the radar and because she was royal people tend to be more careful about what they said about her.

Not today though. The news of our return was just too big. Lissa kept to herself all day and barely avoided an attack with Mia. I really had to look out for this girl, she was trouble. Classes were now over and I thought Lissa would waste no time in getting back to her room.

Instead she was walking up the stairs towards the church attic. I knew this was a place that meant a lot to her and she often came here to find some peace and quiet. She entered the attic, the light from the campus shining through the stained glass, giving the place a surreal look.

Lissa quickly discovered she was not alone.

"Oh sorry, I did not know somebody else but me, came up here too. I didn't mean to disturb you. I'll leave."

The boy sitting in the window seat I recognized as Christian Ozera. He was a social outcast at our school, despite being royal. This was partly due to Christian's abrasive personality, but mostly because of the scandal of Christian's parents willingly turning Strigoi when he was little. People avoided him like the plague, thinking he would turn at any moment. Personally, I thought it was short-sighted to judge him for his parent's crimes. Not that I liked him. I shared everyone's opinion in their general dislike of him. I was just not judging him on something he had no control over. I just did not like him for him.

"You don't have to leave on my account. The place is big enough for two. I suppose you need the peace and quiet today more than me anyway, after the day you had."

Okay that wasn't so bad. He was being nice.

"Thanks"

Lissa's cheeks started to flush. Wait what? I could feel Lissa's excitement through the bond. Did she think he was cute?

There was a silence between them for a while. Neither of them seemed to know what to say. Christian broke the silence first.

"So what was it like on the outside? How did two teenagers survive all this time? What did you do for blood?"

Both Lissa and myself tensed up. What was she to answer? We used illegal compulsion to get around. My friend was my blood whore for two years?

"It was nice." Lissa finally said, a little apprehensive.