บท 9: encounter
The strange modus operandi absence of Lilith left a quiet void as the morning unfolded.
Undisturbed by the usual jest teasing insults of the women during lesson hours passed with serene peace. Eliena made her way to the empty corridor where Jasper wanted her to be.
She stood close to the railing watching the warm hue's soft breeze brushed against her face. The absence should have been a reason for her happiness. It should have brought her relief, a rare opportunity for her to have time alone in the library or any other place she wanted.
Nonetheless, the subtle unease lingered a questioning whisper of disquiet beyond the limits. Why didn't this absence bring the anticipated joy? Why did she feel emptiness?
Bustling jubilation and chatter floated up, eyes drawn to the students below. Their happiness levitated underline the hollowness of her heart, seeing their happy faces and real smiles.
'When was the last time you laughed?' A voice asked, stirring souvenirs of forgotten glee.
Lost in introspection. 'Before they died,' Eliena inwardly confessed.
'Jealous?' the voice went on, its gentle inquiry nudging at the fragile veneer of her emotions. Almost tormenting her raw pained memories.
'Very,' she admitted.
"Elie!?"
Jasper's panicked voice pierced through, her senses snapping to attention, eyebrows slightly furrowed, eyes discreet the boy running forward, face bored with the clout of impending doom.
Clutching a thick book in his hand, urgency was palpable as he thrust the tome into Eliena's bewildered grasp.
Before her mind could process the emergency, Jasper's firm grip evolved her wrist, beckoning her to follow.
Without hesitation, she allowed herself to pull into motion, heart pounding in the rhythmic beat of their hurried footsteps.
Past the students through the corridor, they sprinted breaths mingling in the chilly air as they escaped from the unseen threat. Her mind tied with questions
"Stop right there, you filthy biblioklept!"
A what?
Familiar Voice enraged, shattering the tense silence, Eliena glimpsed the twisted mask of fury on Waverly's face hot on their tail with fire in her eyes that seemed to help to put the puzzle together.
Shit, shit, shit!
Fear ignited fueling her sprint. Eliena pushed herself to keep in with Jasper. What wrong deed even they do to earn this ire?
" Why is she so angry, didn't you ask her nicely for the book?"
Beside her, Jasper's labored breath betrayed the weight of their predicament. " I did," he justified. "Hypothetically."
Eliena's glare burrowed within the haze of panic. She noticed his reluctance. " And?" she pressed demanding for the real reason of the mess they will soon face.
" And she refused, so I... kinda stole," he confessed; there's not a single guilt in his act. Eliena's gaze hardened, and he shrugged. " Oh, come, she is just overreacting; it wasn't even hers. I did get permission from the real owner. "
Eliena facepalmed herself mentally eyes widened in disbelief. " From whom? Whose book is this?" she asked showing the book that was clutched in her arms as a shield.
Jasper opened his mouth to answer but with the furious shouts and curses that echoed through the halls, she felt a chill run down her spine.
The principal is not in the college since she has to leave for a meeting, which means if Eliena gets caught by Waverly, she will be dragged in front of Ms. Veronica, and there won't be any mercy. That woman won't let her breath .
This is worse than Lilith's tormenting torture.
"You go to the right she won't come after you,"
Dashing down the empty passageway following Jasper's urgent advice she resolutely nodded switching sharply to the right the corridor stretched out before her devoid of hustle warm rays of sunlight cast patterns of shadows of the balustrades upon floors with each stride she stole a glance over her shoulder to ensure she had evaded the chase satisfied maybe Waverly lost her.
She refocused on her path to maintain her stride, but her fate intervened in the form of a collision - a gentle, delicate, unexpected collision that sent shockwaves through her being.
The intoxicating peach blossom fragrance was reminiscent of the air around stumbling backward in surprise.
Her heart raced as two soft hands reached out to hold, attempting to steady her their feather-light touch grace against her arm. Despite the stranger's efforts, she slipped away from their grasp and landed unceremoniously on her bum, breathless.
"Are you okay Eliena?"
Soft voices called her name pulling her back to their own with mouth her agape in surprise as she looked up.
Shin Moonyoung stared down arched brows, with a mixture of concern and curiosity reflecting in her big hazel eyes .
"Moonyoung?" Eliena mumbled barely above a whisper swallowing nervously. Time seemed to stand still; their gaze kept in silence, sharing adoration.
Moonyoung lowered herself to have a close look, a smile on her lips, hands raised to touch Eliena's cheeks.
"Warner!"
Waverly's yell drew both of their attention.
Moonyoung extended a hand for Eliena to take without even looking at her. She held it and rose to her feet brushing off the dust from the book. Looking past she detain Lilith's nearby amber eyes sharply lit with unusual intensity.
Eliena frowned trying to center on where exactly the woman was scrutinizing. She looked down at her hand which was still gripped firmly. Shin Moonyoung hasn't let her go yet.
"What is it, Wave? " Moonyoung asked. Looking straight at Waverly.
" She," Waverly pointed a finger accusingly at Eliena. " Warner stole the blood bonding only edition!"
Eliena is tense as she hears Waverly's thundering steps to clutch the book in her possession, but before she can, Moonyoung takes it.
Waverly halt.
"It's mine," Moonyoung says quietly. " I gave Jasper permission to borrow it for his friend, which means her," a defiant stare catches Waverly off guard to stumble for an excuse that didn't even form to spill. " Apologize troubling her for no reason," she commanded.
Eliena watched, astonished: Shin Moonyoung, the typical epitome of sweetness, revealed a side that she had never witnessed. For a moment, the tension thickened, unflinching the tire into Waverly's tenacity in its expectations. "It's fine, Moonyoung," she tried to diffuse the situation with gentle reassurance.
"No Eliena, even after knowing everything. What she did was wrong," Moonyoung interjected with a firm voice. "Wave?"
Waverly, unable to meet Moonyoung's gaze, gritted her teeth and begrudgingly uttered, "Sorry, Warner."
Eliena mustered a small smile. "It's fine,"
With a scoff, Waverly departed and Eliena turned to face Moonyoung to implore. " So can I have your book now?"
Moonyoung sighed. " Mmm, I don't know," tracing over the cover her mouth curles. " Convince me first." She began to walk away.
As Moonyoung wordlessly guided the way with the book in her hands, Eliena had no choice but to follow the steps.
Last time, before getting out of the campus, she looked back. Lilith was gone.
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