you're incredibly wicked

41: third quarter in leo

Serena and Nikolai stood at the three items that they have possessed from the enemies of Dark Magic: Maestro's wand, the Jade of Envy, and the demon ashes. Books were on the floor, pinpointing certain points that would make sense. Yet, it felt like they were going nowhere.

"What are we missing? It read that you must defeat 3 forces of dark magic in order for the curse to be broken? And we took down 3." Nikolai had his hands on the desk, looking down at the book.

"We defeated 3 together. The curse possibly doesn't apply to soulmates total combined."

"So, we're going magic hunting then?" He looked up at Serena.

"I'd love to do that." She smirked and twirled her hair.

"If you said that when we first met, I'd look at you like you had 4 heads."

"It's thrilling! You're way more thrilling though." She came to him and teased him.

"Don't get me turned on just yet." By now, his hands were on her waist.

"I did the talking, you did the walking."

He let his grip go.

"We'll finish that later. In the meantime, we have to start picking the pieces together."

"You're so serious." She pouted.

"I'm turning into you. You're always saying that I get sidetracked. I can't help it with you, you know? This, is a serious matter. It's for both of us. If you get sick again or if I'll turn into a raven without any control.... that would....."

"Make you feel like you failed? I get that, I'd feel the same way too. Going through all of this, and ending up nowhere. Like all of this was for nothing." Serena picked up a book.

Nikolai went back to his book and the two read in silence. Secretly exchanging glances at each other, often when the other wasn't looking. 

"It wasn't." Nikolai said quietly.

"Hm?" Serena looked up.

He looked at her and had a smile.

"All of this wasn't just for us to end up nowhere. I didn't know that we would be like this right now. We are as different as could be. But, I feel like a new part of me has awakened. Like, there's life in me now. It's all thanks to you, actually."

Serena blushed but hid her face in her book.

"Nikolai~."

He walked closer to her and she shyed away.

"No need to be shy about it. Maybe, the curse doesn't have to be broken by gathering a key item, but possibly by us. Together."

"Together?"

"Together."

She shyed away.

"I don't think that may be all to it. I read that in order for a curse to be broken, that the dark magic surrounding us must be expelled. But I know that together, we're an unstoppable force. If we can handle each other, then we can handle anything."

"I know we can do it, that's why I...."

DING!

The bell rang.

"Lunchtime is over already?" Serena said sadly.

"Guess so. We should get to class."

Serena rolled her eyes.

"Fine."

"Hey, you've been gone for half of the semester. Miss I love to study."

They walked out of the library and went down the halls in separate ways. 

While walking down the halls, they were lost in thought. The crowds of people didn't seem to faze them at all while they brushed past them.

The day for the both of them went by as usual and their disaappearence did not seem to phase many, other than Serena's roommates.

Serena had her nose in a book when Lizzie surprised her all of a sudden.

"Hey!" She noticed Serena trying to hide the title of the cover. "What are you reading?"

Oops. 

Serena put down the book and looked flushed when Lizzie was practically leaning on her desk.

"Just a book for fun...."

"What book? My soulmate loves to read as well and knowing that you're a bookworm, I wanted to see if you had any suggestions."

"He would hate this book then. It's way too logical for his liking."

"As if! He could read a novel about anatomy and not be bored out of his mind! He read the entirety of Shakesphere twice! TWICE!"

"It's more entertaining if you both put on a show."

"Ok, I like A Midsummer's Night Dream, but still!"

"Lizzie, there are people that do odd hobbies for fun. It's like people that collect normal rocks off the ground to become The Rock."

Serena managed to close the book and kept it hidden away.

Lizzie started to laugh hystrically and fell down on her bed, tickling herself pink out of laughter. Claudia and Aubree came in and exchanged a glance with Serena that gave an eye of suspicion.

"She's being Lizzie." Serena said with a struggling smile.

"Of course." Claudia rolled her eyes and Aubree and her went to their desks.

Lizzie soon calmed herself down and jumped up.

"WOO! That got all of the giggles out of me!"

"Good. Now, go and study. Finals are coming up soon." Claudia scolded.

"There's finals?" Serena was shocked.

"Have you been under a rock?" Claudia was shocked as well.

"She was in intenstive care for a while. Since midterms." Aubree reminded Claudia.

"Didn't we just have midterms?" Serena asked.

"Yes. Finals are harder and more personal. As in, you will be facing the Head of Magic, like the entire staff for an evaluation. It's more about what they want you to have learned and not your own personal experience." Claudia explained.

"Come on....."

"Sadly, that's the case. In the meantime, I have to get Lizzie on track for studying. Lizzie is queen of procrastination since I met her." Claudia said.

"Hey! At least I look good doing it!" Lizzie flipped her hair before Claudia approached her. "Ok... fine....."

Aubree was quietly studying before Serena quietly went to the balcony and spawned a spell of telecommunication through long distances.

"Nikolai, hey."

"Serena. I was just thinking about you." He was on his balcony, which was half a mile away.

"Me too."

They exchanged chats from a long distance among the stars.

Aubree got up from her desk and noticed that Serena dropped a book under the chair of her desk. She picked it up and started to flip through the pages. A look of mystery drawn across her face and she quickly snuck to where Serena was on the balcony. She could hear her talking to somebody, but nobody was there.

Her eyes were shifting from the book to the balcony and back again. Over and over until she mouthed.

"That's what it is."