Far Away From Home {discontinued for now}

5 | The Rumors

I woke up in the middle of the night. I sat up and reached over to grab my phone off the nightstand. '2:31' great. I released the latch on my window and it opened with a creak. The sky was a deep blue-ish black and there were small stars dotted around. I stepped down off my bed and tip-toed out of the dorm. I slipped on my shoes, grabbed my favourite book and headed out for the astronomy tower. At this time, everyone was meant to be sleeping in their dorms so if there were any professors walking about at this time, I'd probably get a detention.

Once I got to the bottom of the tower, I saw the ladder was still against the wall and began to climb up. In the sky a few miles south, there was a green flash. I shrugged it off and just carried on reading. Once I had finished I headed back to my room, but on my way I saw one of my professors. I quickly ran and ducked behind a bush along the path but it was no use.

"What are you doing out of your dormitories at this time Miss Ruth?" She yelled at me.

"I was just at the astronomy tower readi- uh studying for my exams.."

"Exams? You don't have exams for another few months why are you studying already, and at this time of the night? Either way you will be set a weeks detention with the Principle in the morning." She said.

She walked off and I scurried quickly back to my room.

-

I woke up a few hours later with the sun once again shining through my window. Once I was dressed in uniform and ready to go, I grabbed Ella's hand and we walked to the Hall.

A few of the students from the other tables looked over at us when we walked in but I just ignored them. Probably something behind us. When we found Holly and Demi, we sat down and I took one of my books from my bag.

"You love reading don't you?" Demi said.

"Um I-I guess?" I replied.

Some of the conversations from the other tables became louder and I heard my name pop up a few times.

"Have you heard the rumors?" "I knew she wasn't that nice" "Look at her acting innocent"

I heard those phrases being repeated from different people. For a minute I saw them looking at me. Were they talking about me? I started feeling my hands go slick with sweat and they started to tremble. It felt like the floor was swaying underneath my feet, my breath catching in my throat and my lungs feeling like they were shrinking. I tried to stand up but my legs felt too unstable to support me. I tried again and staggered towards the main doors that were open. I ran until I couldn't move anymore and collapsed on a bench in the courtyard.

What were those people saying about me? I saw Holly and Ella running over to me from the Hall.

"Are you okay? We heard those people talking. They think that your family is related to the Aufer Vitae.." Holly said.

We walked off to the dungeons for potions class and I still couldn't stop thinking about what Holly had said.

-

I re-read the page a second time and still couldn't get the recipe. I tried getting Ella's attention but she didn't notice. The person next to me happened to be one of the people who were spreading the rumors about me, so there's no chance they'd help. I whispered at Ella again and this time she noticed me. When the professor wasn't looking she walked over to my desk and helped me out.

Within a few seconds the solution turned green, then to purple, then to gold.

"The potion you are making today is called Fortuna Luck, which means liquid luck. One drink of this and everything you do for a specific time will result in success."

I see a few people from Neptune grin at eachother. Of course they'd be the ones so excited. They're probably thinking about all the shit they could get away with if they used it. I sighed and continued reading the recipe for the potion, until there were sparkles visible in the potion.

"Sir I think I'm finished." I said to the professor.

He walked over to my desk and glanced over at the cauldron which was holding the glistening mixture.

"Hmm... Add some more of the fluxweed and it should be ready."

I checked the jar which has the fluxweed in it and found a note aswell. I stuffed it in my pocket and continued working.

-

Once the lesson was over I ran over to Ella and told her about the note I found in my pocket.

"What does it say on it?" Ella asked.

"I'm not sure. I just ignored it and put it in my pocket because we were still meant to be working."

"Then read it now! We still have time between lessons."

"Oh yeah" I laughed and then reached into my pocket for the note.

I know who you are. I know about the note. Don't lie to us all anymore Liliana, you're one of them.

I checked the paper again to see if it had a name, but it didn't. Who wrote this?

"Ella... where were we keeping the note we were trying to piece together?" I quickly asked.

"Oh in the dorms. Why?"

"Grab Demi and Holly and meet me in our room." I said before running off.

Once I was in our dorm I looked through drawers, In cupboards and everywhere I could think of. When Holly, Demi and Ella arrived I saw they all looked confused.

"This," I passed them the note "Where exactly is the note being kept" I asked whilst flicking through books in my shelves.

"It was in this drawer-" Ella said whilst opening the drawer. We all stood there in shock.

The note was gone.

-

A/N ty for reading this chapter, hope you enjoyed it :)

-maia <3