The Curse ✔️

Chapter 16: Conversations in the dark

"What are you doing here?" Thar's blank expression was hard to witness and I couldn't form another word. Making out with Leon wasn't a crime, but it felt a thousand times worse than actually admitting the truth.

A heavy feeling sat on my heart, guild, confusion, all mixed up in an unbelievable desire to cry.

"What does it look like we're doing?" Fortunately, Leon was cocky enough for both of us.

"Why aren't you at the party?" Thar never looked at him, his eyes were glued to me and I tried to apologize with my eyes. What for? I wasn't quite sure.

"The lust charm at the party is too strong." Leon jumped in again. "Everyone wanted to join in. And Jade, here, doesn't like to share." I slapped his shoulder, giving him the angriest look I could muster.

"I'll escort you back." Thar told me and I left the storage room, feeling like a scowled kid. There was absolutely no reason for me to feel this way. Thar wasn't my boyfriend. Hell, we didn't even know each other well enough to call him a friend.

He was my teacher, nothing else. Therefore, I had nothing to feel bad about. I threw a party and I wanted to have some fun. Surely, there were better places than a storage room to have the aforementioned fun, but it was no crime.

"You shouldn't have been in this hallway." Thar muttered under his breath. He strode through the building so fast I basically ran behind him.

"I'm sorry, okay? It was dumb. I shouldn't have done it." I murmured everything that came to my mind, still unsure why in the world did my action need justification.

"No need to apologize to me." Thar said once we stepped outside. The chilly wind blew in my face. "Apologize to your dignity."

"Excuse me?" I stopped in my tracks and put my hands on my hips. Leon caught up with us and stood next to me. "Go away, Leon!" I practically screamed at him, making him raise his hands in surrender. He was off to the party, possibly to find another girl.

"I know that kid." Thar grimaced. His hair shone in the silver light of the moon as he ran his fingers through it. "He's doing it with another girl every weekend." Pure disgust crossed over his face.

"And what's it to you?" I asked, anger reaching the tip of my tongue, making me spit the words at him.

"Forget it. You can do with your reputation whatever you want." He said, attempting to leave.

"Oh, no, no!" I grabbed him by his arm and pulled him back. "You tell me right now what the hell is going on here. Are you mad at me because I was in your precious meeting hallway? If so, say it. If it's something else, explain yourself. But I will not be backlashed for having fun at my party."

"He's using you, alright? I've seen him do it a countless number of times. After he's done with you, he'll just crawl back to that Bella girl like you never even existed." Anger flashed in his eyes, but his frown told me he wasn't completely honest.

"Did you stop to think for a second that maybe I'm the one using him? That maybe, just maybe, all of this is too hard to handle? You're keeping me in the dark, Thar. Nobody's telling me anything and I'm cracking from the inside out!" My magic flew to my fingers, sending sparks around me.

"I wish I could tell you! I want to tell you." He lowered his voice abruptly. "But I can't. Not without your father's permission and I-" He bit his lip like he was physically trying to stop himself from talking.

"What?"

"I'm afraid, okay?" Pain flashed in his eyes. "I'm afraid because he's not listening to me, nobody's listening to me. You're not the only one in the dark, Jade. We all are."