Chapter 15-All eyes on her

Chapter 15: 15-All eyes on her

"She’s so pretty."

Maisa couldn’t help smiling slightly. Lumi was strange, beautifully strange. A nerd that didn’t quite fit in as a nerd, even with a book in hand, her beauty was undeniable.

"Will she always have her nose buried in a book when she starts dating?" She wondered. Her thoughts scared her and she snapped out of them.

Finally, the fourth member stepped into view, Zolani Mortensen. Tonight, her crimson hair had been braided into a beautiful half-high ponytail, allowing loose strands to frame her warm face softly.

The crimson mixedblood uniform fit her athletic figure perfectly, the rich colour complementing her gentle hazel eyes. Unlike the elegance of Varitreya, or the intimidating perfection of Addessa and Lumi’s graceful mystery, Zolani felt approachable and warm.

Her smile carried genuine kindness. She occasionally greeted passing students with small nods that immediately sent younger mixedbloods into flustered excitement.

Several redblood students quietly smiled as she passed. Mixedbloods admired her openly, she represented hope, their hope. Proof that someone from mixed heritage could earn a respected place within the academy.

Students from the higher bloodlines admired her too but they did so quietl, never publicly. Few nobles wished to admit attraction toward someone with human ancestry. Especially with how outstanding Zolani was with her hardworking nature.

However, the world was as it was and lesser vampires were looked down on. And standing out was never an option, it was better to blend in and follow age old traditions and prejudice.

Maisa found herself staring and not just at once. Zolani had been kind enough to visit her and bring her fists. It was impossible to ignore her in a crowd when she was so fascinating and beautifully kind.

"Like the sun in the night," she whispered.

Then her eyes took in all four of them together. They truly looked untouchable like stars walking among ordinary people and far beyond the reach of someone like her.

Her heartbeat quickened and not because of admiration alone. Because the flower beneath her collarbone had begun glowing warmly again.

She instinctively pressed a hand against her chest. Her breathing slowed. Her pulse hastened a beat. The bond that tied her to the four stars was reacting.

She wasn’t the only one who felt it though, down below, Varitreya’s footsteps suddenly halted and Addessa stopped beside her Lumi also came to a haste stop and lowered her book while Zolani’s smile disappeared.

As though connected by a single invisible thread, all four raised their heads simultaneously. Their eyes met Maisa’s and the world stopped.

An eerie silence swept across the courtyard even the whispers disappeared. Hundreds of students watched in confusion.

The fiery four have never once stopped in the courtyard on their way to class. Overlooking Zolani’s kind personality and interactive nature, the rest never spared a glance to any vampire on their way to class.

The students were stunned and confused. A sea of questions raced through their minds. Why? Why were all four members of the Student Council staring toward the second floor?

Students instinctively followed their gazes. One by one, dozens and then hundreds looked over. Every eye landed on a single figure standing beside Sapphire, Maisa.

Confusion spread first. Then it melted into curiosity before becoming envy and turning into suspicion.

"Who is she?"

"Isn’t that the late transfer?"

"The redblood?"

"Why are they looking at her?"

"What did she do?"

The whispers multiplied rapidly. Maisa’s pulse raced. She could feel them all four hearts, beating for her and calling to her; Varitreya’s calm rhythm, Addessa’s restrained fury, Lumi’s restless curiosity and Zolani’s quiet warmth.

The flower beneath her skin pulsed once more. Below, Varitreya’s expression remained perfectly composed. Only the tightening of her jaw betrayed the turmoil inside. She was furious.

Why? Why does merely looking at her strengthen this bond? She had thought when she went to bed that the bond, Maisa and all four of them being linked by heart would turn out to be a bad dream behind her, it wasn’t.

Beside her, Addessa’s nails dug into her palms hard enough to draw blood. ’Control yourself. She means nothing. Nothing!’ She told herself inside. Yet her heart ignored every command and continued picking up a beat.

She could almost hear Maisa’s name in every beat. Her face grew colder and her eyes sharper.

Lumi slowly opened and closed her book. She could almost feel Maisa’s emotions through the bond. Fear, embarrassment and loneliness. It fascinated her and she hated herself for wanting to understand it.

’Why is this happening?’

Only Zolani allowed herself to soften. Their eyes met just for a heartbeat. She offered the faintest smile. A silent reassurance to Maisa. ’You’re not alone,’her smile communicated the message.

Maisa saw it and panic exploded inside her. Everyone was staring at her. Hundreds of eyes were solely drawn to her. She couldn’t afford attention because it came with curiosity and she couldn’t afford for anyone to grow curious about her and start digging into her past.

Not when one secret could have every vampire in the academy tearing her apar, not while her real surname could condemn her to death.

Her breathing became uneven. "No..." She whispered, fear clenching against her nerves.

Lowering her head immediately, she turned and hurried away from the balcony. She sped up, faster almost running but she didn’t dare run. Running would show that she had something to hide and get vampires looking at her even more closely.

She disappeared into the crowded hallway before anyone could stop her. The whispers only grew louder behind her.

"The Student Council looked at her."

"For so long..."

"I counted. They stared for nearly four minutes."

"Who is she?"

"What is she hiding?"

The questions spread through the academy like wildfire. Down below, Varitreya quietly resumed walking and the other three followed behind. Not one of them spoke about the bond, Maisa or the feelings brewing in their hearts.

To everyone watching, nothing unusual had happened. But inside the four awakened hearts, frustration burned fiercely.

Varitreya hated that a single frightened redblood could disrupt centuries of discipline with nothing more than a glance.

Addessa despised that the bond had once again asserted itself publicly, forcing her to acknowledge someone she believed should never have existed.

Lumi resented that every unanswered question surrounding Maisa only deepened her curiosity, making it increasingly impossible to dismiss the girl as insignificant.

Only Zolani’s heart remained light. She wasn’t angry or ashamed. Watching Maisa flee had only strengthened her resolve to help her more than ever.

She wanted to protect the lonely redblood who had unknowingly become the centre of a storm powerful enough to shake the entire vampire world.