MAEVE

Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

It was still for one long second, still like the surface of waters after a particularly calming breeze. Still one moment and chaotic the next. They sniffed the air in unison before all eyes came to rest on me, and then they all waited.

There was something sinister about that pause, it was as if something was keeping them on a tight leash and now that leash has been stretched taut. I looked at Elijah and saw him staring at no specific thing in particular, his gaze unfocused, and beautiful lips moving.

Even Noah beside him was affected, staring at me with pure darkness in his once golden gaze. Ashton was not better off, the only thing keeping him on his seat was whatever Eli was muttering, and even then he looked seconds from ripping my arteries apart.

It dawned on me just how foolish and reckless I had been. Screwing my eyes tightly shut, I prayed to whoever was up there and listening to strike me with a thousand lightening bolts should I do something so terribly stupid again.

I felt the pressure of eyes on me, and ripped mine open to find Elijah staring at me with absolute hatred and anger in his gaze. The kind of anger that seems to say "first make it out of this alive, and then I'll rip you open myself". I gulped, seriously considering not leaving here alive at all.

I was so into staring at him and making sure he would not pop up from behind to finish me off, that I failed to realize I never put the pin away. With that realization I jolted, and the pin pierced me again, this time much deeper. I cried out and immediately tossed the offending object away, and thrust my bleeding finger into my mouth. A snarl and hiss shook me from my reverie.

In an instant, a boy who had nodded at me when I entered, had pinned me to the wall, his fangs just above my neck. He was just about to chomp down when Elijah ripped him off me, and sent him crashing across the room. Another came at me, this one a bit younger, probably a junior. With a growl, Elijah grabbed his head with both hands and twisted. The cracking sound made me sick, and I watched with terrified eyes as they came at him again and again.

The turtle neck sweater that hugged his body so attractively this morning was ripped and in shreds. Bloody claw marks decorated his torso as they literally ripped through him to get to me. And I have never known a greater fear.

Elijah turned  and saw me glued to the wall as if trying to melt into it and melt out of there. His obsidian eyes hardened, and for that small moment I knew he would never forgive me. Perhaps he could read the horror on my face as I took in his battered form, cause he finally shook his head.

"Do not worry about them. With me here they cannot get to you," He said calmly, my heart was just about to calm down slightly when he said. "Worry about him instead," I turned to the direction he was pointing at, and saw Ashton crouched on the ground, watching me calmly, a kingdom of frozen tundra reflecting in his cold blue eyes, then his pale lips curled up in a smirk, as if he found my terror pleasing. He looked like a predator about to pounce, and for a moment I doubted Elijah's ability to protect me. As if he could hear me, he turned.

"It will be hard to fight him with you behind me," He told me, and I was not reassured as I stared at the bloody students who despite being injured, stood and watched me with fanatic hunger.

"Well I cannot make it out of here on my own," I cried. "Do something." He flinched, as if he could not bear the sound of my voice.

"Stop  your whining. You brought this on yourself," He was cold, a human iceberg. "And I am really tempted to throw you to them."
At that I gulped, and immediately shut my mouth, I just needed to survive today, then I escape tomorrow.

"Listen, Ashton is about to snap. In a second Luca will get you out of here, and no screaming or I will seriously leave you to fend for yourself," He told me quietly.

I was about to cry now. I mean who on earth would protect me from Luca then? But before I could scream, Luca appeared, bowed respectfully to Elijah, before turning to me with an indecipherable expression.

Before I could protest once more, I was hoisted on his shoulders and the rest became a blur. In a flash we were outside and he was zigzagging through the woods.

He was so fast that I was tempted to hurl, and I almost begged him to stop. But I knew the fate that awaited me should anyone catch up would not be any better, and probably a lot bloodier.

Even the woods was not kind to me at that moment, the branches swung at my head as if giving me a knock for my bad behavior, and the infernal things swiped at my bottom so repeatedly it really felt like punishment from the heavens. Oh well, it was a punishment I truly deserved.

Luca finally came to a halt on a small hill, and set me down non too gently on my feet. I immediately rushed to the side and emptied the lunch I never even got to eat down the other side. He grimaced.

"You idiot. I zigzagged all the way just to cover your scent and you_," He stopped, stared at me and simply sighed as if it cost him too much to carry on the conversation.

I watched him shrug off his jacket and settle on the ground. I was still very cautious of him. But after sometime when he rested his head on his knees and seemed to fall asleep, I finally move closer to settle beside him.

I sat quietly, wondering if I should voice out the question burning in my head. After awhile, he surprisingly broke the silence.

"Oh out with it already," He snapped at me, face frowning and eyes annoyed. I swallowed.

"Out with what exactly?" I asked with a timid tone. He glared at me irritated.

"Whatever is on your mind. I can feel you squirming and being all restless, it disturbs me," He told me matter of factly. I sighed in resignation.

"How come you were not as affected as everyone else was?" I asked him, afraid of his answer. He was silent for so long that I thought he was'nt going to answer. I was startled when I heard his soft siren like voice wisping in my ears.

"I am not like them," He whispered. I turned sharply to face him, eager for any information at all.

"You are not?" I asked him, and he shook his head, shiny dreads waving softly around his face. I studied him, like all the others he was beautiful, his eyes veiled by long lashes that always seem to droop out of tiredness, aristocratic nose, and pretty lips which twitched into a soft smile as if he could sense me watching him though his eyes were close. I shifted and cleared my throat.

"What are you like then?" I asked again, this time he chuckled slowly, and his grey eyes fluttered open. When he directed them towards me I was stunned. It was captivating,  like the beautiful disaster of storms crashing into seas. Slowly he closed them again.

"I am lazy, that's what I am," He said seriously, and my lips twitched into a smile.

"Lazy? Surely that's not all you are," I teased him. He looked at me seriously.

"But It is. All I want  to do is sleep all day. But they never let me," He complained, whining softly, and I laughed. We settled into comfortable silence before he broke it.

"Why did you do that?" He asked, I knew he was was asking about earlier. I swallowed.

"I was proud, stupid, and arrogant," I answered. "I am sorry," He simply shrugged.

"Thank you," I tried again.
This time he perked up with interest. "You can thank me by allowing me to rest on you," He proposed with an excited smile. I grinned back and nodded, with my permission he wrapped his arms around me and laid his head atop mine. Together we rested in peaceful silence.