Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Blaise

Glancing at my schedule I hop into the elevator because it is noted next to the class to do so. P-F/5, planetarium, floor 5. As the doors ping open, I understand why we were told to take the elevator. The doors slide sideways, and I step out into a room with a domed ceiling projecting the stars, planets, and celestial objects.

There’s just enough lighting along the walkways so people can see where they are going and not have to worry about tripping over themselves without detracting from the view of the stars above. I stare in awe in the middle of the floor lost in the beauty of the ‘sky’ surrounding me. Someone pushes me from behind causing me to lose my balance and I fall to my hands and knees. “What the-,” I gasp in surprise. Turning my head to see who knocked me down.

“Unbelievable! Why don’t you watch where you’re going, slut!” Morgan snarls glaring down at me. I’m stunned silent by her outburst. Before I’m able to gather my thoughts and say anything back she moves on to take a seat in the last row at the back of the room.

“And here I thought you just liked to run into me,” taking a deep breath I can smell his intoxicating scent of spiced apple and cinnamon before I turn my head to see Nox looking down at me with amusement twinkling in his eyes making the blue in them a lighter color.

Scrunching up my face I snarl, “glad I was here to amuse you!” But as I go to climb back on my feet, I feel hands slide under my arms and pull me up. Once I’m on my feet I can do nothing more than stare up at Nox in wonder.

From behind us I hear a husky voice ask, “is everything okay?” Turning to see who asked I see Gavin or rather Professor Dearil gazing at us quizzically.

“Um, yes sir,” I mutter shifting my eyes from his intense gaze. Feeling like everyone is looking at me, I quickly walk away from Nox and take a seat (as far away from Morgan as possible). Once I am seated, I realize that two of the four guys I’m crushing on –and yes, I do have a crush on Braeden-, is in this classroom right now. To top it off, the twins just so happen to waltz through the door at that exact moment. Fuck my life!

Trying to slide low in my seat my knees bump into the chair in front of me. Only then do I realize that Nox is sitting in the chair because he whips his head around questioningly. I mutter “sorry,’’ and he turns back around. Carden spots me right away and swaggers his way over to claim the empty seat beside me. Braeden follows his lead but opts to take a seat behind me. I tilt my head back and gaze at the stars shimmering overhead as I silently question how I found myself here.

“Good evening, everyone. I’m Professor Dearil and yes, I really am a professor.” Everyone chuckles at his claim because the guy barely looks old enough to drink legally. Unconsciously most of the girls and a few of the guy sigh as he offers a grin. My blood heats up because I want to snarl out, ‘he’s mine!’ And that thought, well, I don’t know where that possessive thought came from.

“I will first advise you that this class is to be taken seriously. If you thought you’d be able to take this course for an easy A, then you may want to go to admissions and see if you can get your schedule switched.

So, before I begin if you want to leave there’s the doors. You may go now.” Gavin let’s his eyes travel across the room. He waits for a second as his focus strays to the door for a second; “alright then. Forty percent of the time we will be in the classroom here making use of the projector. However, that means that the majority of the time we will be outside. Either out on the rooftop or behind the dorm building past the greenhouse, just beyond the faculty apartments where there is an expansive stretch of fields that the school has given me permission to utilize. I suggest you dress accordingly, pay attention to the weather and keep an eye on your class schedule because it will update for the days, we’ll be outside.

There will be class projects, group projects, and individual projects to be done in this class. For the class projects it will be something that we as a whole will work on together. The group project is to be done outside of class and will be due by winter break. I will be assigning the groups, and you will know who you’ll be working with by this Friday evening.” My heart thuds loudly in my chest as I wonder who I’ll get grouped with.

“Alright, with that said, let’s head out onto the roof!” Gavin smiles widely as everyone begins to stand up uncertainly. “Come on don’t be shy. Follow me this way.” Single file we all walk out the door that leads onto the roof. There are chairs scattered all over what roof space is available around the dome. I feel Nox’s presence next to me and the same with Carden and Braeden as they take seats behind me.

It’s weird because I watch Professor Dearil look around until his gaze settles on me. Like he was specifically searching for me. He gives me a small smile and then shifts his eyes skyward. “Tonight’s little exercise is so that I can determine how much each of you know about the stars. And don’t worry it’s nothing I’m grading I just want to get a grasp on your guy’s collective knowledge before we jump in.”

Gavin speaks with a passion that very few young people possess. I want to feel that passion with him. Dwelling on my thoughts of him gets interrupted as I become cold. Like freezing. The weather didn’t drop below 75 degrees, so I’m baffled as to why I’m feeling like I’ve suddenly been submerged into an ice bath. My body begins to tremble. I’m shivering uncontrollably and if I had a mirror, I’m sure I’d see my skin turning an undesirable shade of blue! Something is draped across my shoulders, and I look to see a black leather jacket on me.

“Th-th-thank you,” I manage to say as I gaze into concerned blue eyes.

“Professor, I apologize to interrupt you, but could you please come here for a second?” Nox shouts behind him. Nox turns back to face me. “Are you okay? Your hands feel like ice cubes!” he says as he takes one of my hands in his and tries to rub some warmth back into it. Suddenly I feel more hands on me. Someone has taken my other hand trying to offer me heat as well. Another hand was gently placed against my cheek, and I see Braeden and Carden looking at me worriedly. A few seconds later Gavin appears in front of my eyes.

“What’s going on, what’s wrong?” Gavin asks as he places a hand on my forehead. He jerks his hand away just as quickly as he had placed it on me. “What the hell,” he exclaims. “Um, okay. Class dismissed. Would you gentlemen kindly help this young lady into my office please.”

My body has become so stiff that I can’t move, and I whimper. Nox must realize I’m not able to walk because I am suddenly being scooped up into his strong, warm arms. Behind him I hear Braeden hiss to Carden, “where’s Morgan.” His voice is anger personified. When Carden says he doesn’t see her, Braeden rushes past us barreling through the students that are making their way back into the classroom so they’re able to leave the building. Carden hurries to follow Nox, me, and Gavin back inside into the professor’s office situated by the far wall of room.

Gavin directs Nox over to a black pleather couch which is across the room from the door positioned under a window. I’m bewildered at the gentleness that Nox is showing me as he carefully lays me on the cushions. Unfortunately, all my muscles are still in a state of paralysis and I’m not able to thank him for his kindness. “I’ve never seen a freezing spell like this before,” Gavin states perplexed.

If my eyebrows could move, they’d shoot to my hairline in surprise at the mention of someone placing a spell on me. “I thought it disperse or fade by now,” Carden adds as he kneels down on the floor next to the couch. He brushes strands of my unruly hair off my face, and I’m pissed because I can’t even smile to show my appreciation of the gesture. “Blaise, I’m going to step back into the classroom and see if I can get a hold of Braeden on the phone. I’ll be back shortly, okay sweetheart.” Carden then rises to his feet and exits the office.

“Mr. Quade, would you run to the nurses’ station and see if we could get someone to come check on Blaise? It’s the small building adjacent to the admin building. I’m going to look and see if I can find a blanket for her,” Gavin says to Nox. He in turn gives a curt nod and a second later disappears.

“I’ll be right back Blaise. I’m almost positive I saw a blanket in one of the closets in the classroom.” He’s gone and back in the blink of an eye carrying a plush white blanket. As he tucks it around me, he whispers; “I had a feeling you were going to be trouble Miss Salvino.” What I can only call a smirk slides across his face and if I could have moved my muscles, I would have laughed at him.

Carden bursts through the door at that moment, “I can’t get a hold of Braeden, but I saw that vampire escorting a healer this way as I was coming back from outside on the roof.” Squatting down next to me, Carden pulls the blanket up closer to my neck. “I’m sorry I can’t help you sweetheart. But we’ll get you fixed up as soon as the healer gets in here.”

A minute later Nox strolls back into the room with an older guy who if I had to guess was probably near fifty. The guy was average height with streaks of white running through his light brown hair. He has kind, soft brown eyes that are currently assessing my condition. “Hi Blaise. My name is Zach Brown, but everyone calls me Healer B. I was informed that you may be cursed, that a freezing spell has been placed on you.” The healer watches my movements or lack thereof and then nods to himself. “I think I can break the curse in just a couple of minutes and then you’ll be back to yourself in no time!”

If I could breathe a sigh of relief I would have. However, I can do nothing more than stare into the healer’s caring eyes and wait. And then suddenly my skin is on fire, and I cry out. “Aaaahhhh” blood rushes through my body and the worst case of pins and needles prickle under my flesh. “Make it stop! It hurts so much!” I plead a voice of agony.

“Help her!”

“What’s going on!”

“Why is she in so much pain?” The guys all shout at once which prompts Healer B to chuckle.

“Calm down everyone. It’s sad to say but it is good that she’s feeling pain. It means that her blood is flowing, her heart is working, and she is no longer freezing.” As he says this a soothing calm washes over me and I can see the men in the room visibly relax. Healer B lays a hand on my arm and pats it a couple of times before looking at the guys. “Rest for a few more minutes and then you should be good to go back to your room. I will inform Ms. Knight of the incident and request you be excused from classes tomorrow.

“T-thank you,” I manage to say in a raspy voice and then smile weakly up at him.

“Not a problem dear. Just promise to swing by the clinic tomorrow mid-morning for a checkup, okay.” I nod that I will and then he excuses himself from the office.

I look at the three still in the office with me. “Thank you all so much for trying to help me. That was the worst, not being able to move, to speak. Just wow!” I shake my head in disbelief that I had to endure something so crazy. Nox grunts, nods and then leaves without saying a word.

Gavin offers to escort me back to my dorm, but Carden jumps in, “no professor it’s alright. I’ll walk her back since she lives in the same building as me. No reason for you to have to go out of your way like that.” Gavin opens his mouth as though he’s going to protest but then closes it and simply nods instead.

Heat flashes in his eyes a look not unlike jealousy as he watches Carden wrap an arm around my waist and walk me out of his office.