Chapter 3

SCARLET'S POV

My uncle Liam and my aunt Emma have their arms around each other, kissing. I feel awkward and don't know what to do, so I avert my gaze to my feet.

"You know, bedrooms exist for a reason. Please make use of them," Archie grumbles, embarrassed. Liam and Emma roll their eyes.

"You honestly can't talk though. You and aunt Katherine have been caught out many times," I shrug. It's Archie's turn to roll his eyes.

Right on cue, Katherine walks into the room. Archie turns to gaze at her, then smiles and blushes. She returns his smile and blushes as well.

"See, you're drooling right now," Liam comments.

"But of course I look at her. She's my wife." We all let out a laugh.

Once all of my cousins have arrived, we enter the dining room and have dinner, my grandfather Axel included. I sit next to him and he makes a fuss over my face.

'Like father like son,' I think, referring to Axel and Archie.

"So, Uncle Liam. You excited to be going back to Scotland?" Isabel asks.

"Not really. I have to control supernatural creatures there. They're getting out of hand,"

"You still gonna try to find your missing daughter?" Mathew asks.

"Yes, son. I might as well make the most of my visit there,"

"I really hope you find something." Emma looks like she is going to burst into tears.

"I know, darling. This is why I agreed to handle everything in Scotland, and Archie handle everything here,"

"What about my mother?" I ask.

"Just focus on your studies, I'm handling it. Don't worry," Archie tries to reassure me but it doesn't work.

Everyone begins to talk but I don't join in. I feel sadness for not seeing my mother. I feel an intense, burning rage against Silas. It's all his fault my mother is missing. It's his fault that I'm so sad. At least now he's rotting in hell. Dickhead!

"Scarlet, you okay?" Axel asks.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just angry at Silas,"

"Hmm. He can't hurt you now." Of course, Axel was a little shaken up when he heard I killed Silas. After all, Silas was his oldest son. I try not to feel this as much, but it pisses me off when Axel feels sad about his death. Silas was a monster! Why would you feel saddened by his death?! I saw on numerous occasions that Silas had disrespected and degraded Axel. Why would Axel miss someone like that?

I push my plate forward then walk out of the dining hall. As always, when one thought of Silas comes to mind, everything else does, making me overwhelmed. I rush to the bathroom and slam the door shut. I lean against it and sink to the floor, tears pouring out of my eyes as I think about the pain and torture he put me through. I'm so glad I killed him. I got rid of a psychotic killer, the most powerful being in the supernatural and human world.

***

Me and Isabel are sitting in class waiting for the teacher to arrive. She talks to me about whatever and I zone out. I had difficulty sleeping. Silas was on my mind the whole night, and I felt scared he was going to come out of nowhere and hurt me.

"Isabel, was it? Can I sit here?"

"Of course." I snap back into reality and see that Adam has joined us. Looks like they've already met.

'What is it with this guy appearing out of nowhere?'

Some random guy approaches the seat next to me, shaking like mad. He looks like he's going to crap himself!

"E-excuse me? Can I-can I-can I s-sit here?" He stammers. I get annoyed.

"You can see there's plenty of empty seats, no?"

"Y...yes,"

"Then sit there. I don't want to sit with you." The guy practically runs for his life.

"What?" I question, as Adam is staring at me confused.

"Why was she so scared of you? It's not like you murdered someone." His remark is ironic. In reality, I have killed loads of people.

"You'll be scared of me too if you keep talking to me." He holds his head down and covers his mouth with his hand. He looks like he's holding back a laugh. Idiot! Why does he keep laughing when I'm curt with him?! The teacher comes in and begins the lesson.

I take my notebook out and start to take notes. I pay attention and scribble down as many notes as I can. I like the effect studying has. I become so focused on it I forget about everything and everyone.

"Psst," Isabel whispers.

"What?"

"I'm bored,"

"So? Take notes and listen to the teacher,"

"Pfft!"

As the lesson goes on, my note-taking becomes more and more frantic. I look up to reduce the neck pain coming on and see some people staring at me.

One of them whispers, "Finally came back from the land of the nerds?"

I roll my eyes and continue listening to the teacher.

"At least she will pass her exams and have a successful future, unlike you losers," Isabel quips. They fall silent. She looks at me worried, and I give her a calm look to let her know that everything is okay.

***

"Damnit! My last lecture today is boring!" I complain in the corridor.

"Too bad for you." Isabel brags, "I'm free right now,"

"Lucky bastard." She chuckles at my statement.

"See ya." She leaves and I head off to my next class.

As I wait for class to begin I get engrossed in my book, then I feel a presence next to me. It's Adam again.

"Hey."

"Yeah... Hi." I don't bother looking up from my book.

'Why do we have so many of the same classes together?'

I feel myself getting bored and start to doodle in my notebook. I then search my bag for a pencil and start to draw hair. I have a thing for sketching and shading hair, as well as eyes. Adam compliments my drawing and I bluntly whisper, not wanting the teacher to hear so he doesn't call me out.

"What else can you draw?"

"A bloody wound,"

"Hehe." I expected him to be weirded out after I said this.

Two people I'm front of us begin to talk, and I hear their conversation.

"Thank you so much for the birthday present. How did you still manage to get me something even though you were off on my birthday?"

"How do you think I could forget your birthday? We've known each other for years, it's impossible to forget,"

I unconsciously clench my fists. As these people in front of me talk, I start to feel sadness overwhelm me. How is it possible that these friends remember each other when mine didn't? Negative thoughts begin to churn in my head. What did I ever do to make them ditch me? Was I not good enough? Am I too boring? Quiet? Weird? I heave out a sigh of frustration, roll my eyes and clench my fists even tighter. Stupid friends! I then start to remember the times they ditched me. Stop it! Now's not the time to get depressed!

'Calm the fuck down! Control your emotions!'

I begin to zone out as I feel my sadness acting up more and more. It's like at every little thing, I begin to analyse and overthink. I then start to feel lonely again. Unloved. But then, I hear a voice next to me snap me out of my dark thoughts,

"You seem sad. Anything you want to talk about?"

"I'm fine,"

"You don't look fine. Do you want to talk about it after class?"

'Wow, we barely know each other and he's offering his support. Is he a nice person, or is it fake?'

"I said I'm fine, Adam." He ponders my words.

"Would you like to sit with me in the cafeteria after class?"

"No!"

"Could you at least show me where is it?"

"Can you get some kind of map of the school? It'll make your life easier,"

"I'll take that as a yes,"

"I didn't even agree,"

"Well, too bad." I sigh at his persistence. Why does he want to hang out with me so bad?

***

I nervously buy something from the cafeteria then find a place to sit down. Adam keeps trailing after me.

"Are you gonna keep following me?"

"Well, yeah. I don't know where Viktor or Isabel are. You're the only other person I've talked to,"

"Well in that case, you can change that. There's plenty of other people for you to go bother." He laughs at my statement.

"So, are you gonna tell me your name? I don't wanna have to call you something like mystery girl to get your attention,"

'How will he react when he finds out I'm Silas King's daughter? Will he be afraid of me? Will he bully me like everyone else?' I take a deep breath to compose myself.

"There's no need to be nervous, you know. I won't bite," he reassures. Anxiety overwhelms me. How will he react?! I then have an idea.

"I don't feel comfortable giving my name to strangers,"

"Don't worry. Soon, I won't be a stranger." I roll my eyes.

"If your done bothering me, imma leave now,"

"Wait, you can't leave me alone here! I still don't know my way around!"

"Then you can use this opportunity to learn your way around." I stand up and speed walk away. He practically runs after me.

I walk out on campus and Adam catches up with me.

"Wow, you're a fast walker!" He seems surprised by this.

"Can you stop following me?"

"Leave me alone. I'm trying to make friends,"

"And you think it's a good idea to follow me in order to be my friend?" He thinks for a bit.

"Yeah!" His tone of voice sounded childish. I roll my eyes again then start to smoke.

'This silence is so awkward. What should I do? Do I start a conversation?' I stand there racking my brain to think of something to say.

"Do you like pizza?"

'Why did I say that?'

"Yeah," he replies, a little confused.

"Good." I roll my eyes - at myself this time.

'Idiot! Keep your mouth shut!'

We both stand there some more, in awkward silence. Then, the sound of an ice cream van saves us from this awkwardness.

"Ice cream!" He exclaims, like a little kid. "Damn it, it's getting away!" A determined look spreads across his face.

Before I have time to react, Adam grabs my hand and starts to run after the ice cream van.

"What the-"

"If we're fast we can catch up with it!"

'Oh fuck!'

We reach the main road, and he continues to run after the van. What is wrong with him?! And why did he literally drag me along with him?! We continue to run before the van gains speed.

"Damn it, we're too late!" He then starts to look sad like a child and I hold back a chuckle. I then have an urge to walk away, but an idea forms in my head.

'If I help him catch up to the van, then maybe I can ditch him there. It's worth a shot,'

"Come on, we can make it!" I grab his wrist and start running like a maniac towards the van. I can feel he's struggling to catch up, which makes this all the more amusing. All of a sudden, the van abruptly comes to a halt. I stop, but Adam doesn't. He continues to run and bashes into the van. He falls backwards and grabs onto me, dragging me to the ground with him.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" I scream. I get up and take a look at him.

He's got a bruise on his forehead.

I burst out laughing, unable to contain myself. I just get a sudden urge to laugh whenever someone falls over.

"It's not funny," he complains.

"It is." He checks his glasses to make sure they're not broken, then gets up and clutches his forehead.

"Agh!"

"Your gonna need to put an ice pack or something on that,"

"Can you hurry up and order already!

You kids are wasting my time!" The driver startles both of us with his harsh tone of voice. I understand why he's mad. It's not every day you see two young adults running after an ice cream van.

Adam then goes to place his order. I begin to walk away, but am stopped when he asks,

"Do you want an ice cream?"

"No thanks. I'm good." I continue on my way back to the University. However, Adam catches up with me.

"Wait!"

"What now?!"

"Let's walk back to campus together,"

"No,"

"Too bad. We're going the same direction anyway." Again, I roll my eyes.

I begin to speedwalk, Adam following close behind me. He occasionally clutches his forehead, grunting in pain. For some reason, I blurt out,

"I have a first aid kit in my dorm,"

"Really? Awesome,"

'Why in the fuck am I so cold yet so empathetic?'

Adam continues to eat his ice cream as we walk. He tries to make conversation but I cut him short. I give him one-word answers or no answers at all. He then goes quiet, and we walk in silence.

***

We enter the living room to my dorm. I beckon Adam to sit down and he obeys. I head into my room to retrieve the first aid kit then come back. I hand him an ice pack and he places it on his bruise.

"How's that?" I ask.

"That feels better. Thanks,"

"Don't mention it. Anyway, you can leave now,"

"Huh?"

"I said it's time for you to leave. You have no other business being here,"

"Can I at least rest here for a little bit until my head feels better?"

"No. I'm busy. I don't have time to deal with you. Now get out." He reluctantly stands up.

"Okay... Well, thanks for the ice pack," he says, before leaving. For the millionth time today, I roll my eyes.

'Stupid humans!'

***

ADAM'S POV

It is another day, and I am walking through the corridors. I am lost yet again.

'Why is this place so big?!'

I continue my walk, then see mystery girl defending someone against bullies. I'm surprised - she's usually so mean. I head up to her but stop in my tracks when I hear her harsh tone of voice.

"What the hell is this?! You're blocking the corridor with your stupidity!"

"S-sorry,"

"We-we didn't mean t-to bother you." The bullies seem terrified. Why are they so afraid of her?