Chapter 7: False Information

While my dorm is done being "investigated", Ambrose thought it would be delightful to have me bunk with the new student! That means I am temporarily living with Taryn. I've been with her a week now, but she talks like we've known each other our entire lives. She has a simple cot set up for me next to her own bed, which wouldn't be so bad, but that girl is like a radio announcer; Loud and always interrupting my music.

I haven't had contact with Dakota or his brother, what's-his-face. Taryn hasn't mentioned anything, and I don't want sound like a creeper asking. She probably doesn't even know I've met her brothers- or brother, rather. But today, I made plans to watch Wolf and Austin kick butt in Pvp.

"Taryn,-" I was about to continue on, but she totally cut me off.

"What is it roomie?" She says rather than asks. A childish grin forms when I turn to face her.

"Uhm.. I'm going to watch my friends pvp."

"Who?"

"You don't know them?"

"Tell me anyway~"

I frown and teleport to Wolf. Quickly, I make sure that the moment I get there I shut down the ability to let other people port to me.

"Hullur." Wolf's slurred greeting appears right in my ear causing me to flinch to the side. He laughs at me, and turns to Austin, who's arranging the match.

"Hi guys" I say trying to show some shred of excitement in my voice. It's been awhile since I have seen both of them, and I don't want to be a party pooper.

"Hey" Austin says with an absentminded look.

I'm not sure what to say, so I awkwardly hang around behind my friends as they gear up for their match. As they arrange their card decks, conversation arises.

"So it's been a little while, how are you guys?" I speak up.

"Fine" a short answer from Wolf. I ignore him and listen as Austin describes the highlight of his day, which turned out to be a lot less boring than my day. Good for him, I guess.

The match begins and drags on for a very long time. I watch patiently and cheer every so often.

Finally over, I meet up with my friends.

"Who won? I wasn't looking..."

"We did, obviously." Wolf says, slightly offended I even had to ask.

"Oh, cool." I mutter quietly "Hey, um, have you met the new students?"

"Nope, and I don't really care." He’s quick and to the point. Rolling my eyes I turn to Austin.

"Just Nicholas, and I only know him because we're in the same class." He says.

"Oh, well Ambrose has me roomed with Taryn. She's really annoying."

"That's too bad."

"Speaking of which, I think she's about ready to hunt me down."

"You're gonna go?"

"Well I also have a little bit of homework to do."

"I did mine in class~" Wolf chimes in. I ignore him.

"See you guys later." My voice falls, but I keep a solid expression on my face. A hug is given to each of them and I head toward the girl’s dormitory.

Taryn was waiting for me at the door.

“Did anyone I know show up?” She asks eagerly. I look at her in disbelief. She goes on “Because all my friends said they were busy and I have reasons to believe they might have lied…”

“No. Just my friends were there.”

“Good, good.” She grins and jumps into her bed. I go to the desk we now share and finish up my homework.

About half an hour later, I complete my work and sink into my “bed” it’s pretty uncomfortable, but I’m not in a position to complain. Quickly, I fall asleep.

“What are you thinking?!” an angry boy’s voice echoes in my ears. I open my eyes to find I am standing in the entrance of the Commons.

“You don’t have the authority to tell me what to do.” Another boy answers. I listen carefully in order to find where they are.

“If you get close to her, you’ll ruin Bestia’s plan.” Ugh. I have heard that name too many times and I still don’t know what it is, or what it means.

“I’m not ruining anything by having a friend.”

“We have orders to stay low.”

“And look like outcasts?”

“It doesn’t matter if we look like outsiders. We don’t need friends. We have each other.” These two sure do sound like bickering children. One of them sounds jealous the other has a friend.

I walk around the commons. It’s completely empty except for the two boys, but I can’t see them. After circling the commons once, I turn and walk down the path leading to Golem Court.

“Shhh, I think someone’s here” This line makes me pause. They must have seen me! I dive between some buildings and take cover. To my dismay, I find I have stumbled between Dakota and Nicholas. They completely disregard me and continue to stare down the opening between the two buildings. I back up against the earth wall behind them. They’re the ones talking, huh?

They wait a few more seconds before deciding it’s safe to speak once again.

“Go look.” Dakota says. His voice is a whisper rather than an echo.

“Nah, we should just leave… But first I want you to promise me you’ll stop seeing that girl.” So, Nicholas is the jealous one.

“No! I don’t see how or why interaction with her is so bad.”

“I’ve seen you two interact, Dakota. We think you trust her too much.” Nicholas says with a harsh tone. It seems not only does Nicholas not like me, other people don’t like me. I thought I was being nice to Dakota…

“Not only that” Nicholas continues “We can easily pick up on each other’s energy” that makes sense- they’re twins after all. “And I know how you feel about this chick.”

“Shut up! You got it all wrong. Courtney is just someone I met.” Ouch…

“Good. Let’s go.” Nicholas grabs his brother and walks right through me.

I sit upright in bed. My heart is beating fast, but that was out of fear they’d see me. They never did- They didn’t even acknowledge the fact I was there. I was asleep, but looking in on a conversation that, for all I know could have been happening at the same time as my sleeping.

I get up and wander over to the window. Two shadowy figures are entering Ravenwood. Could it be Dakota and Nicholas? Curiosity got the better of me. I rush out of my dorm trying very hard to be swift and silent. Perhaps I can catch them. This time, I will ask Dakota what Bestia is! I must know. I step on something as I exit the girl’s lodging. Looking down, I realize it’s another piece of Onyx. I leave it and continue out. I hide behind the staircase and peer around it.

It’s really uncomfortable being out here in my pajamas, but it’s doable. I spot them entering the boy’s dormitory. Dakota goes in, but Nicholas stays behind. I guess he like taking night walks too. Damn, I would’ve rather had Dakota stay behind… I still plan on getting answers though.

I follow Nicholas past the elemental classrooms and watch as he sits down on the bench next to the fire classroom. I decide to approach him. He doesn’t hear me until I speak up.

“Uh, hi…”

“What are you doing here?” He says glaring.

“I was looking out my window and saw you. I have to ask-”

“No. Go back to bed.”

“I can’t sleep…”

“Don’t care.”

“What is Bestia?”

“Huh?”

“What is Bestia? Answer me. I know you know.”

“You’re crazy. Go away from me.”

“So, by not denying, that’s saying you know what it is?” I push for information.

“Just leave, Courtney.” I step back. He’s never said my name to me. I try to ignore the gesture.

“I can’t. I have heard that word too many times to just ignore it again.”

“Who told you about it?” Nicholas looks at me with a solemn look.

“Well, I heard Ambrose mention it when he was talking to Dakota privately, a Ravenwood guard who works for them held me hostage, and I just had a dream where it was, uh, mentioned.”

“Huh. So he never told you…” Nicholas mumbles.

“What?”

“Nothing” His voice falls “Listen, Bestia is, uh, the agency that looks after us. Yeah, like a, uh, an orphanage…” He nods at me.

“I’ve never heard of it…”

“It’s, err, a secret.”

“I guess that makes sense.” I shrug.

“Yup! So, now that your questions are answered, you should head back to your dorm. It’s not safe to be sneaking around at this hour.” Nicholas rises and tries to guide me closer to the dorms.

“Pfft. You’re out wandering around.” I retort.

“I left something there, outside the classroom…”

“Yeah, your believable lies” I sigh “Whatever. Goodnight.”

I walk away, taking big steps. He doesn’t say bye, but simply enters the boy’s building. I enter my shared dorm. Luckily, Taryn is still fast asleep. I go back to bed and enter a now dream-less slumber.