Entwined

Entwined Ch. 3

~3~

My mind was distorted during Spanish class. I was constantly arguing with myself on whether or not I would go to the Ritual. If I went, Aphrodite would probably humiliate me, but if I didn’t, it would prove her statement of me being a weakling. I didn’t want her to win this battle. Not this time. 

After an hour of saying “me gusta” and “no me gusta”, I rushed out of the classroom and ran smack into Tom, dropping my books in the process. He picked them up for me and as I tried to thank him, he stared walking in the opposite direction.

“Tom! Where are you going?! I need my books!”

“We have fencing together.”

“Yeah, but-”

“I’ll give them back when you tell me where the room is.” He smirked.

I sighed heavily, “Fine. Keep going straight and take a right at the next hallway.”

We walked in silence, which allowed me to think. If I went to the Ritual, I would have friends to hang out with. It would be nothing like my first day. I cringed at the thought; I really needed to forget that. Maybe I could stand next to Georg since he was a Dark Son. Only he and Samantha understood my situation perfectly.

“Which door?” Tom asked.

“This one,” I stopped in front of a thick wooden door that said “Dragon Lankford” on a small silver plaque.

“His name is Dragon?”

“Yeah, I had the same reaction. He’s the undefeated World Fencing Champion.” I reached to open the door, but then I turned to him, “Give me my books please.”

His smirked returned as he handed them over and opened the door for me. 

A sword suddenly flew out and stopped an inch away from Tom’s eye. He froze, and I saw he wasn’t breathing.

Dragon appeared with an excited smile, “The element of surprise is key to winning a battle.”

Tom didn’t speak; he just slumped to the floor, all color drained from his face.

Dragon looked concerned, “Is he okay?”

“It’s his first day,” I replied.

“I see. Well then, you shall be his tutor for now. Jackson had to leave for a tournament and he won’t be back until next week.”

Me? Oh, hell yes.

Tom was on his back again glaring up at me, my sabre against his neck.

I smiled triumphantly, “5-0.”

Dragon applauded as I helped Tom get up, “Excellent! Tom, even though you lost the duels, you seem to be getting used to your stance and posture very well. You’re a natural!”

“Thanks, Dragon,” Tom smirked and glanced at me mischievously.

I took a defensive step back, but he was already behind me, his sabre against me neck. I spun around and aimed my weapon at him, but he knocked it out of my hand before I swung it. It clattered to the floor while I stood in shock, the feeling of cold metal still at my neck. When did his sabre move? 

Dragon clapped again, laughing as he did so, “Astonishing Tom! Your footwork was very precise, and suchspeed!”

“The element of surprise is key to winning a battle,” Tom quoted.

Dragon patted his back, “It looks like I have a new apprentice. Do you have a mentor, young man?”

“No, but Bill does.”

“Very well then, I will take that position!”

I was surprised, but also very glad for Tom. For some odd reason, something deep inside me said that this would happen and that it was a good omen. I smiled softly as Tom and I said our goodbyes and left.

“You’re very lucky,” I told him.

When he looked at me, I saw something in his expression, like he just had a realization. His words were soft and thoughtful, “I’ll be able to protect Bill and my friends like I never had before.”

Time slowed as something unlocked in my mind. My fingers itched for a pencil.

I lay on my bed and drew in the sketchbook Neferet gave me, listening to Samantha as she ranted on and on about how she was going to try to look her best, but not to a point to where she looked as slutty as Aphrodite. She was vigorously brushing her long, mahogany hair and trying different styles to see which looked better. 

“I hope Tom thinks I look good. Of course, he might be too busy starin’ at the Hag, but I hope he at least notices me. Maybe I should go easy on the makeup; I don’t wanna look like a blowup doll or somethin’ racy. But then again, the wine-colored eye shadow I have makes my eyes flare. I wonder if you’re supposed to wear colors like that when you have hazel eyes. Nah, too much would make look like a hoe. What do you think?”

“Just don’t look like the Hag.” I responded. I was already dressed in a black, long-sleeved shirt that had thumb holes and black skinny jeans with my favorite black combat boots that went halfway up my shin. I had spiked my hair in the back and left my bangs straight, while my eyes were lined with black eyeliner and topped with black eye shadow along with black mascara. I had painted my nails black yesterday, so it saved a hassle. I took another look in the full view mirror on my wall and laughed a little. I looked like my usual self. This is exactly how I wanted to look for the Ritual.

“Hey, have you drawn in the book yet?” Samantha sat down on her mattress and Rolo, her caramel-colored cat, curled up beside her. 

“I am right now,” I said in deep concentration. My pencil flew wildly across the paper.

“Can I see?”

“Sure.”

Samantha strode across the room and sat to my let so my right arm had room to move. She gasped, “Wow, that’s amazing! Wait, is that Tom?!”

“Yeah,” I said softly. I had drawn Tom’s expression in the hallway, making sure I didn’t miss any details. I hadn’t used the eraser, which I found slightly unnerving. His eyes had the most detail, the most depth. It set a perfect mood for the portrait.

I absentmindedly and immediately flipped to the next page and started drawing something else. Samantha watched me silently, and oddly enough, her cat was watching too.

I felt my arm, wrist, hand, and fingers move as if it were a separate part of me. In blacks and grays, an image floated and came to life. Smooth lines created the body and base of a tree, and the jagged, crooked edges formed its branches. Under the tree appeared a thin, yet slumped over figure. The figure became a boy, his hair slightly tousled, his arm rested on his knee. He looked deep in thought, sorrowful, and depressed at the same time. He was holding a piece of folded paper in between his fingers. The shadows and darkness enveloped around him and shrouded him, but he seemed to be untouched by them. 

My pencil lifted from the paper; I was done.

Samantha and I stared at the picture in wonder and silence. Rolo meowed and jumped onto her back.

“Is that…Bill?”

I looked at the sketch carefully and gasped. It was Bill.

“I don’t get it. I wasn’t thinking about him at all…”

“That’s creepy. It’s like you’re some sorta psychic stalker.”

“Not funny, Samantha,” I glared at her.

“I’m only joking. Now c’mon, we gotta get to the Ritual. I wanna get a good place in the Circle.”

I only hoped that the decision I made was a wise one.