The Shadow Kingdom

Chapter 5 - Heartless

A month flies by, and it is almost time for midterms. I stopped visiting Adrian during his office hours or even speaking to him when it's not absolutely necessary. I have since focused all of my attention on the only thing I care about anymore – school.

Ironically, despite my newfound determination, I am falling behind in all of my classes. I spend hours in the library everyday, but I always go home just as stupid as I arrived. I go to Adrian's lectures, but his words never stay in my head. I immediately lose interest in differentials and integrals as soon as I enter the classroom. The only thing I can think about is him.

In desperation, I decide I do need help with some of the material. I go to Adrian's office on Tuesday and knock on his door. He answers, but there is already another student inside. "Sorry, I'll come back later," I say apathetically.

"No Scarlett, wait." He turns to the other student. "Melissa, I think we've covered all your questions well enough for today. I have another student who needs my help. We should continue this later." The girl gathers her belongings and smiles at Adrian, perhaps even swooning a little as she leaves. I look away in disgust.

"What happened to your first come, first serve policy?" I ask as Adrian welcomes me into the office.

"I can be mercurial sometimes." He answers.

I burst into laughter, covering my mouth to mask my stupid grin.

"Did I say something funny?"

"No, never mind. I wanted to ask you to re-explain some of the programming logic to me. It's a very difficult concept to understand." We settle into work mode for about fifteen minutes, but I throw a glance at him every few seconds. His eyes never stray from my notebook. By the end, I just can't take it anymore. "What the hell is wrong with you?" I speak as gently as I possibly can.

He finally looks up at me. "I'm sorry?"

"How can you be both the kindest and cruellest person I have ever met?" I accuse him. I can feel the tears building up, begging to be released. "You tell me the truth about what I am, something that I have desperately wanted my entire life. You tell me I can't tell anybody, or else the magic police are going to kill me."

He puts down the pencil. "Scarlett, I don't fully understand what is bothering you."

"You!" I scream, slamming my fists on his desk. "You are what is bothering me! You come into my life, you manipulate me into wanting you, and then you toss me aside as if I mean nothing to you!

"I stay up at night, thinking about you! I will be lucky to get a 2.3 GPA this term because of you! And I feel as though I am dying every second that I am away from you!" The tears overpower their barriers, and even with my abilities, I cannot force them back. "Why would you do this to me?"

"Scarlett, I... I don't know how to..." He stutters. For once, I have him stumped. This is a question even he cannot solve.

I pick up my notebook and stuff it in my backpack. "If you have any common decency, you will quit this fake job of yours as soon as this term is over. And if I see your face in a classroom again next term, I am dropping the class." Before I storm out the door, I close my eyes and force my tears to evaporate.

I walk home in a daze, desperately trying to make sense of my life. My father was a warlock; that much I know for sure. What kind of man is he? Does he even know I exist? And if he does, does he simply not care?

"Hey." Alex greets me as I enter our apartment, but she quickly notices my mood. "Scarlett, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. Nothing serious. I feel kind of tired right now. I think I want to go to bed."