The Gift

Maledicta

Veronica has wavy, dark brown hair that hangs down below her shoulders. She's meant to be the "prettiest girl in the school", but I don't really see how. How do I know that? Well, it's difficult not to know that if one is as observant as I am. Well, I mean, her hair is nice. But when I look into her icy grey eyes, all I can see is a violent and cold storm, and all I feel is a shudder. When she looks into mine, I feel frozen in a pool of ice. Scorn leaks out of that glare, as well as pure amusement. Standing beside her like two bodyguards I assume are Jasmine Poole and Ivy Hollister... from what I know. They don't look very friendly either.

The corners of Veronica's lips twist into a wry grin. "Look who it is," She smirks. Jasmine and Ivy snicker. 

My mind is as blank as a white sheet of paper. Sweat trickles down my forehead. I don't know what to do! I am frozen in fright. My hands are shaking. I didn't know it would be this hard facing peers! I try to speak, but words don't come out.

"Eleanora, isn't it?" Veronica garbles.

"Y-yes," I stutter, eyes wide. Did they see me speaking to the bird? My mind races. That would be the end of it.

"Who were you speaking to before?" Jasmine squawks. 

"Yeah, who?" Ivy echoes.

My mind is screaming inwardly to say myself. Myself. Myself. Myself. Say myself. The word repeats in my head. "Uhh... nobody," I mutter.

"Oh, sure you spoke to nobody, you little liar!" Veronica mocks. "Perhaps, maybe you were speaking to a... bird?" On the word "bird", her voice starts getting loud and shrill. Jasmine and Ivy start cackling like hyenas. Veronica chuckles, her ambitious eyes like daggers. My heart almost leaps out of my throat. Mum would kill me if she found out!

I gasp. "No! Of course not!" The words come out louder than expected. They stare at me, grinning hungrily.

"Who's speaks to birds, anyway?" Veronica chatters on.

"Birdbrains, ha ha!" Ivy simpers.

"Feather-heads!" Jasmine chants.

Veronica crosses her arms. She looks at me suspiciously. All of a sudden her eyes turn dark. Hidden secrets lurk within. The smile slips off her face. Fear slowly sinks into her eyes. I can see it. I wonder what she's thinking. When her mouth opens again to speak, her voice is so quiet it could almost be a whisper.

"You're just like her... Maledicta...," As Veronica mentions the name, Jasmine and Ivy immediately stop giggling, gasp and exchange horrified looks. It feels like the whole world has gone quiet. You can almost hear a snowflake land ever so gently onto the snow. As I hear the strange name, a shiver runs down my spine. I want to know what it means, who the name belongs to. I think I've hear that name... maybe in another lifetime, maybe in a dream. Finally, Jasmine's the one who breaks the silence.

"No, Veronica. She couldn't possibly be...,"

"Who's 'Maledicta'?" I ask firmly. Veronica turns to me.

"You don't know?" She asks surprisingly.

"No. I'm new, remember? I don't know!" I reply.

"Well, you shouldn't know. Ever," Veronica says quietly.

"Why not?" I say suspiciously.

"It's too dangerous!" Veronica snaps. "What if you get some crazy idea like --"

"You've said enough, Veronica," Jasmine growls. I want to know the answers all at once. 

"She didn't really speak to the bird, did she? It was just a dumb joke!" Ivy smiles nervously, but nobody else does.

"Yeah, of course Eleanora can't speak to birds! That would be stupendous!" Jasmine adds. "We were just joking around with her this whole time!"

Veronica nods. "Very well, Eleanora," the way she pronounces my name is so full of derision she literally spits it out, "the birdbrain, have a great day." The sarcasm is so strong I just feel like stealing it and throwing it away. Jasmine and Ivy burst with laughter, and even Veronica manages a smile. Then she flips her hair and turns to go with her two bodyguards. Just before she leaves, her eyes swivel to me one last time.

"I'm watching you," she whispers, so only I can hear. Her eyes are dark and threatening. I gulp. Then she turns and sashays away, leaving me alone once again.

Maledicta.

Maledicta.

Maledicta.

The name echoes repeatedly in brain. Yes, I've definetely heard it before.