Forbidden Enchantment

Chapter 7

After the dramatic events, Blake became increasingly distant. Yet, he always seemed to be around, a silent shadow watching Alara. Every time she tried to talk to him, he evaded her. Instead, she often saw him with Selene, the demon girl. It seemed as though Blake was trying to drown his feelings by plunging into a self-destructive spiral.

One evening, as Alara walked through the corridor, she saw Blake and Selene entwined in a dark corner. Their lips were locked together, and when Selene noticed Alara watching, she shot her a mocking smile. It felt like a dagger to the heart, and Alara quickly turned away. Her footsteps echoed lonely in the hallway as she tried to swallow the lump in her throat. She felt the tears burning behind her eyes, but she held them back. She wouldn't let Selene win.

The bullying attacks from Selene's friends subsided, but the feeling of insecurity remained. Michael and some of his witch friends had rekindled their friendship with her, and Alara felt a new normalcy slowly settling in. Michael spoke with her more often, and they gradually returned to their old friendship.

However, Selene continued to make things difficult for Alara. At every opportunity, she tried to belittle Alara and amplify her insecurities. Once, as Alara walked down the corridor, Selene tripped her, nearly causing her to fall. "Watch where you're going, fairy. Wouldn't want you to get hurt," Selene said smugly, laughing as Alara struggled to regain her balance. Alara clenched her teeth and kept walking, her cheeks burning with anger and humiliation. Inside, she simmered, but she knew she couldn't stoop to Selene's level.

One afternoon, as Alara sat in the courtyard reading a book, Michael joined her. "Hey, Alara," he said hesitantly. "I'm glad we're talking again."

Alara smiled. "Me too, Michael. It's good to be friends again."

Michael nodded, looking at her sympathetically. "I heard about what Selene did to you. I'm sorry you have to go through that."

Alara shrugged. "I'm trying to ignore it. But it's hard."

Michael placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're strong, Alara. Don't let her get you down."

Despite these small glimmers of hope, the feeling of being watched persisted. Even in her room, which she shared with Carmy, she often felt like she was being observed. Carmy reassured her each time that it was just her imagination. "Don't worry, Al. You've been through a lot. It's normal to feel uncertain. But believe me, you're safe here."

Meanwhile, Zach was entirely focused on Blake and barely had time for his other friends. Blake was becoming increasingly rebellious, partying almost every night and living up to his reputation as an unpredictable demon. Zach repeatedly tried to talk to him, but Blake wanted none of it.

"I don't know what's wrong with him," Zach said one evening, frustrated, as he and Alara sat in the library. "He's being an idiot. I don't understand why he's being so self-destructive."

Alara felt a pang in her heart. "I've tried talking to him too, but he completely ignores me. Maybe we should just give him some space."

Zach sighed. "Maybe you're right. But it's hard to watch him destroy himself."

The stories of Blake's parties spread quickly around the school. One of the wildest nights took place in a secluded house on the edge of the school grounds. Alara heard from several students that Blake had partied there until he passed out. He had fallen in with a group of older demons who encouraged him to keep drinking and perform dangerous magical experiments.

"I heard he conjured a fireball as big as a house," Ash recounted one evening by the campfire. "It's a miracle no one got seriously hurt."

Alara listened, feeling a mix of concern and frustration. "Why does he do it?" she asked quietly.