Taint, Time and Tangents✔️

≑ Chapter One

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CALLIE

"This will be your room, Carrie. It's a bit smaller compared with others but as I've remembered, you don't want any roommate, right?"

I pulled my bag closer to my body and smiled at the plump lady who appeared to be on her thirties. A flowery dress covered her stout stature as she peered at me behind big rounded eyeglasses. We were standing in front of an oak door at the end of a narrow, dingy hallway, which seemed to be deserted for a long time.

Clearing my throat, I said, "It's actually 'Callie', not 'Carrie'. And, uhh... yeah, I prefer to be solo, Mrs. Wilson."

"Oh, you pretty little thing! Just call me 'Mum' like everyone does," she said, beaming, and squeezed my shoulders gently.

"O-okay, Mum," I muttered awkwardly, wondering if she heard my name correctly. I glanced briefly on the pile of boxes beside the doorway. "So... I should be going, I guess."

She nodded, obviously disappointed with something, and handed me my keys. "Then, I'll be seeing you tonight at dinner?"

I would have easily declined the offer but her expectant look made me think twice. I nodded reluctantly and smiled nevertheless.

She left me alone after saying a couple more reminders and, once she was out of my sight, my body relaxed immediately. I have been a human for almost a week now and yet, I still found myself uncomfortable in their presence.

Letting out a deep breath, I opened the door to my room and switched on the lights. An empty bedframe and a couple of cabinets met my eyes. On the right side, a study table was against the pink-colored wall with a small lamp atop its polished surface.

I paced around the room, roaming my eyes to every corner. To my relief, it was kept tidy. The only thing I was not prepared from was what lies behind the elegant crimson curtains draping to the floor. Instead of a large window, it was a sliding door leading to a wide balcony outside. A circular table stood on its center with two stools on each side.

As I stepped over the threshold, warm September air fanned my face. My room was on the third floor and, as the moon peeked slowly behind the clouds, I watched how it gently casted shadows on the hedges dotting the lawn below.

Looking at the right side of the balcony, chills travelled down my spine as my eyes swept the expanse of a large forest. Being the farthest room on the east side of our dormitory, the forest turned out to be my sole neighbor. Its tall trees and huge bushes made it impossible for light to pass through and shadows seemed to lurk beneath those swaying branches.

Maybe this was the reason why Mrs. Wilson persuaded me many times to have a roommate. The location of my room was creepy.

I stared at the woods for another minute and, afterwards, decided to just brush off scary thoughts about it. I was all alone now and being too paranoid wouldn't do any good to me.

I let out a sigh before going back to my room. Maybe Mrs. Wilson was looking forward to have dinner with me so, unfortunately, I needed to start moving as soon as possible.

By the time I finished stacking my books on the table, it was already dark outside. Somehow I managed to arrange my stuff and, surprisingly, decorated the room. It was really an easy job for I don't have much things. I was in such a hurry to find this place that I'd only bought few blouses and pants and three pairs of shoes.

After checking that everything was already in order, I tiptoed my way to the dining area. In my utter surprise, it was deserted just like the study area I passed by earlier.

Where on earth are they?

I went outside but, still, no sign of anyone. Even from the windows of the rooms, there were no lights on.

Feeling scared again, I was about to go back to my room when I heard music drifting on the air from the far side of the forest. It was only minimal and, yet, my instinct told me to find out its origin.

Without thinking, I walked to its direction. As I entered the dark forest, my eyes struggled to see the path ahead. After a minute, I found out that only the first few meters were difficult to walk on because the trees and bushes seemed to sprout from nowhere. But, as I went on, the course grew wider and a couple of trails was visible under the moonlight.

Courage had taken over me and, I'd admit, a little stupidity. I followed the trail with my steps getting larger and brisker every second. After roughly ten minutes, I was already panting and I felt my energy seeping out from my body.

I slowed down to catch my breath.

How could humans survive with this kind of body?

As I was resting against a tree, I heard a streaming sound nearby. Curious as always, I searched for its source. My breath hitched as my eyes took in one of the most magnificent places I've seen in human world.

A small lake was behind the trees, its clear water rippling as a gentle wind passed over it. Small fish jumped over its surface, disturbing the reflection of the moon overhead.

Enthralled, I walked on its side and dipped my hand. The water was cold but it slowly eased my tiredness. After making sure no one was around, I stripped off all my clothes and descend on its depth until I was waist-deep.

Holding my breath, I plunged my whole body for a few seconds, feeling all the dirt vanish from my body. When I resurfaced, I was almost shaking with coldness.

Brushing my long red hair backwards, I looked up on the star-filled sky. I watched as the clouds slowly uncovered the beauty of the moon behind them.

And then I saw, for the first time, with my own eyes... a lunar eclipse.

Tremendous power instantly flooded my body, causing my limbs to tremble. The motion of the water started to become erratic, responding to the vibrations sent by my small body.

I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, controlling the sudden urge to let out my wings. Eclipse is one of the sources of our strength and, being a human, my insides were screaming to be freed.

But no one should see me in my true form. They would recognize instantly who I am once they saw my wings and red hair.

In this world, only nine creatures possessed those attributes.

The Amaranths. The chosen ones.

They are the angels selected by the Highest to oversee the human beings within close proximity. Red wings and bluish blonde hair are their trademark appearances.

And, yeah, I'm one of them... But I am different. I was born with white wings and red hair instead.

It was one of the reasons I hadn't seen this world for almost seventeen years of existence. I was the only one never permitted to go out of our fortress.

That was why, in my whole life, I had only interacted with one human.

My best friend. The guy who---

My thoughts were suddenly cut by a snap of a twig nearby. I rapidly turned my head, my eyes searching. My heart pounded as I strained my neck to see the cause of the noise. However, I was only faced by a pitch-black forest.

Maybe I'm getting paranoid again.

Deciding that I was risking my identity if I stayed any longer, I turned back to leave. I'd only managed to take a few steps when I heard another noise from nearby.

I shrieked and covered my exposed breast immediately, ducking slightly to the cold water.

A moment passed before a large silhouette gradually emerged from the shadows of the trees.

My mouth went dry.

Someone had seen me.

◉ E N D o f C H A P T E R ◉