Undying Reminiscence

20

"I've always gotten a strange vibe from her," he said softly, his voice low so only I could hear. "She's always watching us, and she seems to have it out for me in particular. I can feel it."

"Maybe because you are both vampires," I whispered "But also because of those rumours, we just need to find out how she survived that fire and who turned her into a vampire," I kept talking quietly.

Draven nodded in agreement, his eyes flickering between me and the spot where Mrs. Benevolent had just stood. The revelation I dropped had made his expression change, realization and concern etching themselves on his features.

"You're right," he whispered back to me, keeping his voice low. "There's more to her than meets the eye. We need to be careful, and we need to figure out her past. It could give us some answers. And I have a feeling it won't be pretty..."

As we continued our conversation, we both entered the classroom, the other students already settled in their seats, chatting amongst themselves. Draven's eyes scanned the room, taking in the various people around, before guiding me to two seats towards the back of the class, away from the hustle and bustle.

He pulled out a chair for me, gesturing for me to sit down. He quietly took the seat next to me, his eyes never leaving his surroundings, still vigilant for any signs of Mrs. Benevolent or anyone else watching me closely.

During the time, the teacher began the class, Draven's gaze softened slightly, his focus shifting to the lesson. He discreetly reached out under the desk, his hand finding mine and intertwining our fingers together. He gave my hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze, his thumb tracing over my knuckles in a silent, affectionate gesture.

Throughout the class, Draven's attention seemed to float in and out of focus. His eyes would usually be on the teacher, listening to the lesson, but now and then his eyes would flick over to the door, his gaze sharp and vigilant, watching for any sign of Mrs. Benevolent appearing in the doorway. Every time he glanced at the door, his hold on my hand would tighten slightly, his fingers clenching around mine as if he were reassuring himself that I was still there beside him.

Just when I scribbled down notes in my notebook, scribbling down questions and theories about the Benevolent family and their connection to Draven, Draven peered over at me. He glanced down at my notes, his eyebrows drawing together in a thoughtful frown. He leaned slightly closer to me, whispering so that only I could hear him.

"What are you writing?" He asked, his voice barely above a murmur, his eyes flickering to my notebook.

"Maybe some important notes for our future investigation," I replied quietly.

Draven nodded slightly, his eyes still taking in the words and sentences scrawled in my notebook. A small, thoughtful frown settled on his face, his mind already turning over the possibilities and connections.

He looked back up at the teacher again, forcing himself to focus on the lesson, but his attention remained partially on me, his fingers gently tracing patterns on the back of my hand, his touch both comforting and grounding.

As the class continued, the teacher's voice droned on, the other students' chatter filling the room. However, all that seemed to fade into the background as Draven's eyes kept flitting back to me.

He watched as I jotted down notes, quietly fascinated by my determination and focus. Now and then, he would glance down at my notebook again, his gaze flicking over the words, silently considering the connections I might be making.

Time ticked by slowly, the minutes crawling by as the lesson continued. Draven's mind was filled with questions and theories, but he said nothing aloud, keeping his thoughts to himself for the moment. He simply sat there, his hand holding mine under the desk, his mind filled with thoughts of the Benevolent family and the mysterious link to his own life.

As the final minutes of the lesson ticked away, the teacher finally dismissed the class, the bell signalling the end of the period. The other students started packing up their belongings, the rustle of paper and buzz of conversation filling the air.

Draven turned to me, his hand still holding mine. His eyes shone with a mixture of concern and curiosity. He leaned over to me, speaking in hushed tones. "We need to talk," he said quietly. "Somewhere more private."

Draven led me out of the classroom, weaving through the throngs of students in the hallway. He kept a firm, almost possessive hold on my hand, pulling me slightly behind him as he navigated through the crowd.

Soon, the two of us found a secluded corner in the hallway, away from the hustle and bustle of the other students. It was quiet and private enough to hold a conversation without being overheard.

Once in the secluded corner, Draven turned to face me, his eyes still showing a hint of concern, his expression serious. He let go of my hand for a moment, crossing his arms over his chest, before speaking. "What were you writing down in that notebook of yours?" He asked, his voice low and firm.

"You can read it," I gave him it.

Draven took the notebook from me, his eyes flicking down to the pages filled with my notes and speculations. He scanned the pages quietly, his expression unreadable. As he read, his eyes darkened, his lips pulling into a tight frown. There was a clear connection to the Benevolent family, and it didn't seem to be a positive one. He finished reading after a while, his grip on the notebook tightening slightly as he looked up at me.

"You've been doing your research," he said quietly, his voice holding a hint of disapproval. He handed the notebook back to me. "But I'm not sure this is something you should be getting involved in," he continued, his eyes locked on mine, his expression stern. "It's dangerous, and it's my past."

"You agreed to this investigation, you just gonna push me away?" I looked at him.