Queen of the zodiac ( zodiac city duology #1) [ undergoing revamping]

~seis~

Denisha

I watched as Brooke and the girls downed their shots with enthusiasm, their laughter and camaraderie contagious. Despite my shyness, I couldn't help but appreciate the joyous atmosphere enveloping us. But my purpose tonight was to uncover the mystery surrounding my sister, Perse, and Ramon seemed like the best source of information.

As the girls headed to the dance floor, caught up in the rhythm of the music, I had to act fast. I reached out and gently tugged on Ramon's arm, causing him to turn and face me. His initial annoyance at being interrupted melted away when he noticed the determination in my eyes.

"Look, Ramon," I began, my voice steady but tinged with a hint of vulnerability. "I know you might not like me, and you probably have doubts about me, but I just want to find some things out. And honestly, I think you're the smartest among this lot."

Flattery, it seemed, was the key to his cooperation. A small smirk played on his lips as he responded, "Oh, you think I'm smart?"

I nodded earnestly. "Yes, of course. It's evident. I've seen it in Potion's class. Even though your spell didn't go as planned, I could still see the brilliance in your idea."

Ramon's ego was stoked, and he couldn't resist my praise. He took a step closer, his expression more amiable. "Alright, what do you want to know?"

I cleared my throat, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and apprehension. "I overheard you and Jamal talking about someone named Perse. I just wanted to know about the girl who was here before, what happened to her during her time at the school, and why she dropped out."

Ramon's demeanor shifted as I mentioned Perse's name. His eyes darted around the party, as if to ensure no one else was listening. "Perse?" he whispered, his voice barely above the music's rhythm. "Why are you asking about her?"

I took a step closer, lowering my voice to match his secrecy. "I heard her name in passing, and it piqued my curiosity. Please, Ramon, I promise I won't tell anyone. I just want to understand."

Ramon hesitated for a moment, his gaze locked with mine. Then, with a sigh, he relented. "Alright, but this stays between us. Perse was a royal at camp. She was talented, no doubt about it. But something happened to her during her time at the academy, something dark."

My curiosity deepened as he spoke, and I leaned in closer, my eyes fixed on his every word. "Dark? What happened to her?"

Ramon's voice grew somber. "She ate Mr.cubism carrot soup"

"What?" I asked confused

"Have you seen that soup?? Carrot is supposed to be orange. That shit was green" he laughed

Nothing was funny. I frowned at him "Do I look like I'm joking?"

"Do I look like I'm in the mood to talk about someone at a party of all places. " he turned walking towards Brooke who had been staring at us.

"Wait" I stopped him" Why did she leave?" I pressed, wanting to know more about what had transpired.

"I don't know Nisha" my heart flattered at the nickname he gave me "one day she was there, the other day she wasn't. She left without telling any of us"

"Do you know if she was being bullied"

"Not particularly " he shrugged leaving my presence

I nodded, my mind racing with thoughts and questions. Why does Ramon get so defensive whenever I mention Perse?. I needed to uncover the truth and understand the enigma of the Radiance that had gripped her and Ramon's contribution in all this . As the music pulsed around us, I knew this was just a beginning of a deeper investigation

I had been lost in my thoughts, pondering the mysterious path Perse had walked, when I noticed Brooke waving to me from the dance floor. At first, I couldn't believe it. "Is it me?" I asked tentatively, and Brooke nodded vigorously. With curiosity piqued, I made my way over to her, and she enveloped me in a warm, drunken hug.

"You look so pretty," Brooke slurred, her words filled with the effects of the alcohol she'd consumed. "You remind me of someone I know."

I couldn't help but smile at her words, even though there was an uncanny resemblance between Perse and me, it had always amazed me that no one at Zodiac Academy questioned our similarities or wondered why Perse had been replaced by me.

As the music pulsed around us, I joined Brooke in dancing with Renee and Maylee. Despite my initial shyness, I began to feel the rhythm and let loose. We laughed and twirled, lost in the joy of the moment.

However, as the night wore on, exhaustion crept in. My eyes felt heavy, and my body yearned for rest. I excused myself from the dance floor and found a quiet spot outside, near the shimmering Falls. The sound of cascading water provided a soothing backdrop as I settled onto a stone bench.

I wasn't alone for long. Hayden, the charming and enigmatic figure I'd encountered earlier, appeared beside me. "Denisha, you made it to the party," he remarked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

I turned to face him, still harboring a bit of frustration. "No thanks to you," I replied sarcastically

Hayden immediately offered an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry about that. It was supposed to be a secret invitation, you know? Mostly for second and third years. First years rarely get invited."

I raised an eyebrow, feeling a mix of emotions. "Well, I still got an invite, and so did the entire first year," I pointed out. "We're all here."

Hayden chuckled, his charisma shining through. "Fair point. You certainly didn't let the invitation go to waste. You look stunning"

Our conversation flowed easily as we sat there, the tension from earlier dissipating. Hayden had a natural charm that put me at ease, and his sense of humor had me laughing at every turn. He was genuinely funny, and I couldn't help but enjoy his company.

As the night wore on, and the party continued into the early hours of the morning, we chatted about various topics, from our experiences at Zodiac Academy to our aspirations and dreams. Time seemed to slip away, and before I knew it, the sky was beginning to brighten with the approaching dawn.

With school on the horizon and only a few hours left for sleep, we all reluctantly decided to call it a night. We walked back to the dorms, the camaraderie we'd built during the night filling me with a sense of connection I hadn't expected to find at Zodiac Academy.

Authors note:
Don't forget to comment and vote
How are you liking the development of the story so far???
Hayden and Denisha 😉
Thanks for reading❤️