Blood Bound

1*

"What're you doing this weekend?"

"Staying in my place." With Shin, I wanted to add, but Jae's is already talking again.

"Come on! At least go out once in a while and socialize. Being inside all the time does no good. Imagine that if you died in there, the only way people would notice is by the smell of your dead corpse. There's been two thousand plus cases of that all over the country! You don't want to end up like that, right?" I am amazed by how he manages to breathe when his eyes widen, like the image had popped into his head.

"Yeah." He always gets worked up so easily, I thought. And relentless. "What did you mean? 'Yeah', I'm right. Or 'Yeah' you wanted to -"

"You're right, Jae." As badly as I didn't want to exist.. "But I won't die alone. There's still Shin."

"That's not the point!" I could almost see the flames in his eyes. Or more likely, they were just the amber contacts he usually wore. They complemented his bleached tips quite well. Several rules broken if he were in another school. No set uniforms, less restrictions in choice of wear and we're allowed to use our phones and laptops in class. A lot of things about this school was different....

"Are you even listening to me?!" Jae's voice pierced my thoughts. "Look! You space out often too! Tell me what I was talking about. Now! Talk!"

"Don't be so mean, Jaybird." An arm snaked around Jae's throat. "How can she talk when you can't keep your beak shut? True yes, Kite?" Her chin comes to rest on Jae's shoulder. "No need for that, Illya."

She smiled, seeing my disapproval. "You're mean too, Kite." She let go of Jae, letting him breathe the air I didn't think he needed, hooking my arm with hers. "I like that about you."

"Don't block the halls." Mr Asher says as he comes out of the class. "And do try to refrain from public displays of affection, Leah."

Instead of correcting Mr Asher to call her by 'Illya', as she'd brainwashed the rest of us, she said "Will do, sir! See you tomorrow."  Tomorrow? It'll be Saturday...

After Mr Asher walked off, Jay, voiced one of my thoughts, daring to ask "You're actually dating a teacher?" Well, technically he was just a substitute, who was filling in for his aunt, Mrs Drew, while she went on maternal leave. He recently dropped out of his uni, but with his looks and undeniable charm, most of the students over look that, making heart eyes at him. In Illya's case, it was more predatory.

Sure enough, she said "Hey, gotta catch 'em while they're not hooked." I worried. Ever heard of doe eyes? Illya had them, misleading most people. But really, she's nice. "Anyways, wanna go kill time?"

"Don't bother. Kieren doesn't want to." Jae answered for me. I nodded in agreement, slipping out of Illya's arms before they squeezed. "I have other things. Sorry."

"Yeah. Like letting her cat eat her remains - Ack!!" Illya had her arm around Jae. "It's fine. Maybe next time."

"Okay. Bye Illya, Jae." I turned, making my way toward the stairwell. "See you, Kite! Happy weekend." Illya calls after me. Jae must've twisted free, as I bounded down the steps. I hear him saying in his loud voice: "Make sure to enjoy it! Don't stay in -" The abrupt end meant Illya again.

The warm night air greeted me as I walk out of the building. I pass the booth with the newly appointed guard, showing my card. He approved, jerking his thumb to the gates, and resumed his reading. Strange how Nyx Academy- which according to the locals' hearsay, for nearly two centuries had kept their odd day and night school hours- would need to go through so many guards lately. That guy was the third or fourth this week.