Collide: Harry Potter 3rd(ish) Generation

Chapter 21 Jaiden

Chap. 21 Jaiden

Jaiden ran toward the sound of the screaming. He ran around the corner and saw calla lying there. Carina ran up behind him and let out a scream.

“Calla!” She cried running up to her, “I told you something would go wrong! Why didn’t you listen to me? Why?” she screamed at Jaiden, accusingly.

Eric stood up covered in blood, making dark runes that emanated power. Jaiden and Carina and a couple other students pulled out their wands but Eric sent everyone but Jaiden and Carina backwards. Jaiden was shaking with anger. He sent a blast of pure magic at Eric. Eric was sent flying.

“You come into OUR house.” Jaiden yelled, “You learn OUR secrets.” Another blast. “And you DARE attack and murder OUR friend.” Another blast. “I trusted you and you betrayed me!” A final blast of pure magic that hit Eric with the power of a freight train. Eric was bathed in energy and slowly he dissolved like frost. Before he disappeared Eric whispered.

“I have tasted death and lived, and I will do it again.”

“Not if I have anything to do with it” Jaiden said. “And if I see you again I will destroy you like a rogue dragon.”

Carina was still at Calla’s side. She stared at Jaiden.

    “Now do you believe me?” she asked, quietly.

The next day, Jaiden, Audrey, and Carina sat together in the library. For the first time, Jaiden and Audrey didn’t say a word to each other. They just sat there, all of them in shock. Jaiden couldn’t comprehend what happened.

    “I could have saved her.” he whispered, “If I just listened to you. I...” his voice trailed off.

    “It’s not your fault.” said Carina.

    “Yes it is.” Jaiden insisted, “You said yourself that if anything went wrong it would be my fault.”

    “Sometimes, anger can take you over so much that you need to find someone to blame. Don’t blame yourself.” Carina said.

    “I have to blame myself because it’s the truth! He tricked me into believing him and I fell for it! How could I have been so stupid!” Jaiden said, his voice rising. Carina looked as if he just slapped her across the face.

    “Jaiden, stop.” Audrey said quietly, “Please.”

    “Why should I Audrey? Isn’t this what you wanted? For everything to be my fault! For once, you got your wish! I was wrong, you were right! Calla would be here if...” Jaiden’s voice trailed off as a tear fell onto the table.

Without another word, he got up. As he walked out the door, he looked back. Audrey had tears flowing down her face and Carina was expressionless, arms crossed staring straight ahead. He worried about his friends. Audrey was so vulnerable, more so than she had been possibly ever in her whole life. Carina was the opposite. Her normally sunny disposition was replaced by a cold and somber attitude. She hadn’t smiled since she last saw Calla alive. Not knowing where else to go, Jaiden went to Professor Potter’s classroom.

    “Hello Jaiden. I was expecting you. Have a seat.” Said the professor, motioning to a desk, “Just tell me everything.”

    Jaiden did just that. He poured out everything to Professor Potter who just sat there and nodded every so often. Jaiden told about how he trusted Eric, how he didn’t listen to anyone else not even his best friends, and how he was so sorry for yelling at Audrey and Carina in the library.

    “Well, seems like you’ve been through a lot. I have some butter beers on my desk. Just help yourself. And about that yelling. You can apologize to the girls. I have a feeling that they’ll be here to see me in just a moment.