The Elucaen Curse

Ch. 10

I stared at her in disbelief. "Maia Davis, is that you? What are you doing here?"

My former friend-and future roommate-gave me a little grin. "Hey, Erin. Long time no see."

I cannot believe the fact that Maia is an Elucaen. We used to be best friends back in elementary school, ever since she offered me her apple when I had nothing to eat for lunch. I was really devastated after her family moved away the following year, especially since we formed such a tight bond by then. ­

"I don-don't understand. How can you be an Elucaen, when you once lived in the human world too?" I asked, shocked to the core.

"Well, actually, we didn't technically live in the human world. Our new house was being built around that time, so my parents decided to visit my aunt in the mean time since she decided to give up her powers in order to live in the human world. Besides, an Elucaen can live in the human world, just not longer than two years, which was why we had to 'move away' to the America part of Elucaen instead," she explained.

Okay, this is starting to make a bit more sense. "So you knew that you were an Elucaen all this time? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I couldn't tell you because my parents didn't want me to. You probably didn't know this, but my parents and yours were the best of friends when they went to Clarines together, but after your parents gave up their powers, they gradually lost touch. And so, after finding out that our aunt's house was in the same neighborhood as your house, you could tell they were really happy," she said with a smile.

Veralyn looked between us, and scratched her head in confusion. "Wait...hold up. So you two knew each other?"

We looked at each other and laughed. "I guess you can say that. This is honestly such a strange coincidence; my elementary school best friend is now my new roommate."

Maia then stood up and walked towards me, her long copper brown hair swinging behind her back. "I missed you so much Erin," she said as she hugged me, "I'm glad we get to see each other again."

I hugged her back. "Me too, Maia. Me, too."

After finally realizing that we weren't the only people in this room, I nervously looked up and two unfamiliar pairs of eyes stared right back at me.

I think Maia also noticed the awkwardness, since she coughed and turned around. "So Erin, this is Paige and Lily," she pointed to the girls sitting on the bed parallel to hers, "and you already met Veralyn. Paige lives in the China counterpart of the Elucaen world and Lily lives in the English part, same as Ms. Knucklehead over there."

"Hey!"

The girl known as Paige sat up, and after putting down the book she was reading, gave me a little wave. "Hi there. I'm Paige Cheung, it's a pleasure to meet you!" she introduced, smiling widely.

I could tell we were going to get along well. "Hi, I'm Erin. It's nice to meet you too."

Veralyn then leaned towards my ear and whispered loudly, with the intention for all to hear. "Just as a disclaimer, don't ever fight with her; she is seriously going to destroy you in every single argument."

Paige playfully slapped her on the arm. "Oh shut up V, you're just jealous because you've never won a debate with me before."

Veralyn dramatically nodded her head. "Well, she's not wrong about that."

We all laughed mirthfully and perhaps it was just my imagination, but I could have sworn I heard a cat purring. "Hey...did you guys hear that? I think I heard a cat purr or something."