Chapter 2 – Part 1
Rapture sighed in longing. Crystal glanced over her books at her friend. True to Rapture’s proclamation, the two had become best friends. Rapture leaned forward and the shirt strained, almost as though it hadn’t been made to handle breasts. This could have been true, Crystal realized, considering that the shirt was a few months old and her friend certainly hadn’t been that well endowed at the time. Rapture’s long hair, silvered fell over her shoulders, framing her eyes, face. She was staring hungrily at Arron, one of the apprentice wizards.
“Can’t focus on your work at all today, Rapture?” Crystal said, her eyebrow raised.
If not, it will be the fourth day this week, she mused, annoyed. Rapture had turned twelve just a few weeks ago and since that day, she’d seemed more distracted than usual. Rapture moved forward, her breasts falling on the table with a soft thud that Crystal thought all the more unfair, since her own still couldn’t be positively compared with bee stings. Glancing at her own shirt in disgust, she looked up as Rapture sighed again.
“Nope. Spring is in the air and I just can’t deny the call.” She smiled mischievously, still looking at Arron. She licked her lips just as he turned her way. Vaguely disturbed by her friends growing tastes in boys, Crystal crisply replied, “Rapture, it’s late autumn. You can’t be feeling spring in the air.” Rapture flipped that away with a brief wave of her hand, like she did most facts that indicated that her version of the world may not have been the most recognized one.
Arron starting walking towards their table and Rapture stood up closing her book. “Cover for me?” she whispered conspiratorially. Crystal grabbed her, looking both ways, expecting one of the head scribes to see Rapture dodging out of her work. Surprisingly, no one came around the corner and Rapture smiled pleadingly as Arron walked closer. Finally, just before he arrived, Rapture begged her, adorably in sylvan. Crystal nodded reluctantly as Arron reached the table and took hold of Rapture around the waist.
They talked for a few moments before slipping away. Crystal ignored them and returned to her studies. Her focus helped her finish much faster than she’d thought and she willingly put it away in favour of her latest book on herbs, hoping the transition would relax her. She was borrowing one of Illves personal books since they had denied her when she’d asked for it in the library. Above her level, they’d stated, and that had been that. Fortunately, Illves was more accommodating, since they had a personal connection through his Mother. She read for a while longer, stopping when the light entering from the window became too low to see properly without candlelight.
Packing up her books, she picked up Rapture’s forgotten tome, looking at the knowledge within with distain. Rapture was studying the ways of magic, and she had just started studying the intermediate books on basic spell crafting. It seemed like gibberish to her and was one of the areas where Rapture was a better student than herself. Closing the book, she located the information for replacing the book on the myriad of shelves. Then she turned, grabbing her own bag and started walking through the library. She closed the book and looked at the side.
Locating the information that told her where the book should be replaced, Crystal picked up her own bag of books and started walking through the library. Other than a few places where candles were lit, the library felt empty. At the edge of candles light, she found the correct shelf and put the book into its accustomed spot. Just as she was turning away, she heard a small giggle. She’d been sharing a room with her friend too long to not recognize that sound.
Crystal headed silently towards the sound. She caught a glimpse of colour behind the next bookcase and glanced through. It was impossible to not know that shock of silver hair and Crystal gasped harshly as she saw Rapture’s tongue flick into Arrons mouth. She wanted to turn away, but found herself feeling ill as Rapture pulled back from him. His hands on Rapture’s breasts was almost mesmerizing. Crystal shook her head and fled the bookshelf before she gave herself away.
Travelling back to her room didn’t help Crystal’s temper at all. Something about Rapture allowing Arron to touch her bothered Crystal, and it frustrated her that she couldn’t say why. Crystal held her arms to herself caught between disgust and worry.
It was Rapture’s fault, she thought as she strode down the halls, ignoring her fellow classmates. Her room wasn’t far and she really wanted to be alone. Abruptly, her mind’s eye showed her the situation again. Shivering with distaste she thought to herself, I can’t believe she would even let that moron near her… I certainly wouldn’t. Rapture was growing up too fast…
Crystal sighed and stopped the train of thought, clearing her mind. Truthfully, it wasn’t that she was growing up rather fast, but she was maturing rather fast that was the problem. Such a small difference, but a very important distinction. She felt left out of Rapture’s entry into adulthood, and the realization hurt. Perhaps it was because of her mixed heritage, Crystal mused, trying to take her mind off of the real issue at hand. One who was a child of both the blessed races and a human couldn’t be expected to grow up like a normal human, could they?
Rapture was beautiful, and becoming more womanly with each day and Crystal couldn’t deny her desire. She wanted to experience everything with Rapture and to be summarily dismissed from part of her life made Crystals ire grow. She thought back to that first day in the library, realizing that she was obsessing. She and Rapture had been inseparable since then, so she supposed that she was slightly justified. She turned the final corner to her room in a rush, still lost in her own thoughts.
Crystal ran headlong into somebody standing outside her door. With a small cry she fell back, pushed by her own force. Before she could hit the ground a large hand steadied her. She waited for the inevitable sound of her books hitting the floor. When the heavy thud didn’t come, she opened her eyes tentatively.
The first thing she realized was that the School Headmaster was smiling at her. Even so, his expression wasn’t exactly friendly. “Ah youth,” he said to the one holding her, “when you must break, tear and drop everything that can be dropped before you can fit any real knowledge into your mind.” Meeting her eyes he spoke to her as though he hadn’t just spoken about her as though she wasn’t there. “Ah, Crystal. It is good to see you again child. How are your studies progressing?”
Crystal muttered something appropriate in response before looking up at the man holding her up. Her breath caught in her throat.
The man was not tall, but somehow, he seemed to have such a presence that this deficiency didn’t seem to matter. He had silver hair, hanging long, settling on his shoulders in waves that decidedly cried out to be touched. His eyes were violet and for a brief moment she wondered if he were perhaps an elven lord. His rich clothing, loosely worn, certainly seemed to imply that. Then he smiled and she smiled back, without intending to. Some may not have understood what had just happened, but Crystal had been friends with Rapture too long to not. It was a type of charm, cast without components, or even, it seemed knowledge. People it had been used on would have their emotions tangled leaving them friendly towards the one who used it.
It was a difficult ability to tame… in anything less than a direct bloodline, the ability to access the power, let alone control it was nearly impossible. Rapture could do it, proving that her bloodline was at least half Celestial. However, even she couldn’t do it at will. In fact, even with the divine blood she could still only pull on it, erratically and clumsily as any apprentice working their first cantrip. This man could do it at will, it seemed.
Crystal leapt up and away from him, her expression changing from a friendly smile to wary neutrality. The headmasters voice broke into the moment, his words chilling her to the bone.
“Good, good. Now Child, We are looking for Rapture… do you know where she is?”
The unknown man handed her back her book bag and smiled broadly as he seemed to realize that not only was his ability not working on her, but that the headmasters question had also left her feeling incredibly defensive. Crystal took the books and took a further step back. She felt the cold stone of the wall behind her and steadied herself on it.
Like a cat, arching it’s back at an intruder she glared at both of them, focusing almost entirely on the arrogant man who had caught her after a moment. Suddenly, a pressure that she hadn’t even realized was there, left her. The man nodded in respect at her and glanced back at the headmaster before speaking to her. His voice was melodic and sweet, but at the same time, hard.
Crystal thought warily, This is a man who would cut a friend from heart to spleen if it were necessary. With a discerning eye she recognized that he might also be compassionate enough to shed a tear for the necessity afterward.
“I don’t suppose you would know where Rapture is?”
She shook her head, but with the faint feeling of pressure gone, she felt suddenly bold. “What do want with my friend?” The words rang in the close hallway, sounding like the challenge they were. The headmaster sputtered at her impudence and moved forward raising his hand to slap her. The stranger grabbed him quickly, shaking his head.
“The girl is right to be concerned. She’s quick to pick up on even little hints and intelligence should never be punished.” To Crystal he finished, “My name is Serindal and I promise that I have no wish to hurt Rapture. I do need to see her though.”
Crystal didn’t think he would lie to her, but she had no reason to trust him. She was still deciding when the choice was taken away from her. Rapture’s familiar voice filled the room as she walked in, “Crystal, you have company? I didn’t think you had it in… Oh, the headmaster.” She shivered in distaste or disappointment though, Crystal couldn’t tell. Either way, Crystal got off nothing more than panicked glance before the Headmaster stepped in front of her.
“Ah, Rapture. Good to see you. You have a guest here who was hoping to meet you. Please, come with us.” He walked over to her, gesturing towards the door, Crystal forgotten behind him. Rapture glanced a bit worriedly towards Crystal, but stepped outside. Serindal stayed just a moment, promising, “She’ll return later tonight… After the evening meal.” Then he walked out of the room, leaving Crystal behind to worry.
© B.A. Matthews – 15/August/2010
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