A Deal With the Devil

Chapter 29

Kassandra's POV

I couldn't help but feel anxious throughout the day, something didn't feel right.

After leading Ravanna and I to class, everything felt ... different.

It was like I was suffocating, like being in a large crowd with people pressed directly against you- it got hard to breath, hard to think, hard to move.

Ravanna seemed at ease, relieved even. I just didn't know why, was it because of this morning?

No, I shook my head, that wouldn't make sense.

My heart is beating rapidly in my chest and it won't calm down, it's not a panic attack, this feels different somehow. I feel a cold, almost violent shiver go from the base of my neck all the way to my tailbone.

My eyes flicker back and forth between the faces of everyone.

Something isn't right, this doesn't feel right and I don't know why.

I try to calm myself, try to convince myself that everything is fine but I felt like I was being watched.

My eyes are still roaming the classroom, trying to make sense of what I'm feeling but I still find nothing.

"Ms. Levette," I almost jump as the teachers voice was loud and startling, "did we not just have this discussion yesterday? I would very much appreciate it if you payed attention during my class."

His frustration with me is apparent.

"Tell me, in our class reading, The Underground Railroad by Coulson Whitehead, why does he implement the physical use of a railroad? Or a train even? Why do you think it's important to the story?"

I scold myself for not doing the readings but I'm not giving him the satisfaction of letting him know that.

"He implemented a physical railroad or train into the story because ...." I try to come up with a decent answer but all of a sudden the words that come out of my mouth can be seen as they float into the air.

They dance about the classroom until they hover over the teachers head, reshaping and reforming until they reflect what he's thinking.

What the hell?

What the actual fuck.

I'm crazy, I've finally lost it.

But the words settle down, bobbing up and down like nameless items that float on water.

I'm too confused and frustrated to understand what's happening.

They float, shift and change.

I have no idea what's going on but I'll take it at face value now and question it later.

I just read the words that lie above his head, bouncing with impatience.

"..... the author wanted the audience to connect how such an impossible thing came to be for slaves. Just escaping a slaveholder in general seemed like a death sentence, he used the train as a metaphor to explain the type of disbelief that the escaped slaves were having at successfully being able to run away."

The letters that had been floating gently fade away into nothing, making me think that I had just imagined them.

The teacher has this disturbed expression and doesn't speak right away, just looks at me with a suspicious eye.

".... Very good, Ms. Levette, please try to focus next time."

He turns away, continuing his lecture and I'm left to question what the fuck just happened.

I try to think what could have caused that hallucination, what did I just see?

I move my hands to hold my head as if to stop an oncoming headache.

I feel eyes on me again and a sudden burst of anger courses through me.

I don't look up, I don't give any indication that I sense someone watching. I try to sense exactly which direction it's coming from.

A hand is placed on my thigh, I know it's Ravanna's but it still startles me. I place my hand over her and gently grasp it. Ravanna's with me, she'd never let anything happen. I calm down and focus on her calming energy, how she makes me feel, how I make her feel, and how she will always do whatever it takes to keep me safe.

Once my mind is cleared, I can feel it. The direction that the stare is coming from. I slowing lift my head to face the front of the class, but my eyes cast a glance to my left, to the far end corner of the classroom.

I meet their gaze and suddenly my earlier feeling makes sense. How it started ever since I've gotten back to school.

I tear my gaze away from theirs, my hand still grasping Ravanna's.

I move to face her and find that she's already staring at my in concern.

What's wrong?

I stare into her worried eyes, eyes that search mine for any clue as to what I'm thinking- staring with such love and adoration that all I want to do is kiss her.

She's planning something.

Her face contorts into one of confusion.

Who, my darling?

I break my gaze and turn back to the one who made me feel such uneasiness.

Allison, she's planning something.

What? How do you know?

I turn to face Ravanna again, to express how much I mean of what I am to say next.

Because I can see what she's planning

Ravanna freezes, her grip on my hand tightens, her shoulders are stiff and her breathing stops.

And it's not good sweetheart, it's not good at all.