Chapter 24: Communism
The first golden rays of dawn filter through the stained glass windows of my private dorm. I adjust the collar of my uniform as I prepare to face another day at Starcrest Academy.
As I reach for the ornate doorknob the door swings open of its own accord. There, framed in the doorway like a vision from a dream, stands my sister Rowena. But something seems off, her usual serene demeanor is marred by an undercurrent of nervous energy.
"Hey, sis," I greet her casually, trying to dispel the tension that seems to crackle in the air between us. "Did you get what I asked for yesterday?"
Rowena's grey eyes, usually so calm and collected, now dart around the room, refusing to meet my gaze.
"Yes," she finally replies. With trembling hands, she reaches into the folds of her cloak and produces a small, velvet-wrapped package.
As she unwraps it, the Mythril handcuffs catch the morning light, their silvery surface shimmering with an otherworldly glow. The intricate runes etched into the metal seem to pulse with a life of their own.
Rowena's eyes finally lock onto mine, filled with a mixture of concern and trepidation. "Do you really want to soul bond with these?" she asks, her voice quavering slightly. "Mom would kill me if she found out I got these for you."
The weight of her words hangs heavy in the air between us, charged with the potential consequences of our actions. I can see the conflict raging behind Rowena's eyes.
I reach out, my fingers brushing against the cool metal of the handcuffs. The Mythril seems to hum with anticipation as if sensing the momentous decision about to be made. Without hesitation, I snatch them from Rowena's trembling hands.
Before she can react, I bring my thumb to my mouth and bite down hard. A sharp pain lances through me as my teeth break the skin. A drop of crimson wells up, glistening in the morning light.
Rowena's eyes widen in horror as she realizes what I'm about to do. "Elwin, wait…" she begins, but it's too late.
I press my bleeding thumb against the intricate runes etched into the Mythril surface. For a heartbeat, nothing happens.
Then the cuffs seem to come alive. The Mythril surface begins to glow, a soft blue light emanating from the intricate runes. As if drawn by an unseen force, the left cuff suddenly snaps shut around my wrist with a resounding click.
I smile at Rowena, flexing my fingers as I admire the cuff now adorning my wrist. "It's fine. If Mom finds out," I say, my voice carrying a new note of confidence. "I'll just tell her I bought them myself."
Rowena stares at my wrist in horror. "What are you going to do with the other cuff?"
I reach out, gently squeezing her shoulder in what I hope is a reassuring gesture. "Relax, Rowena. I have a plan."
"I don't like this, Elwin."
*****
After leaving my dorm I step into the bustling classroom, my eyes immediately drawn to a figure sitting alone in the far corner. Octavia, the legendary hero, hunches over her desk, her white hair cascading around her like a curtain of moonlight. The usual buzz of pre-class chatter seems to fade into the background as I focus on her.
With the confidence of an ox, I begin to saunter across the room. The Mythril handcuff dangles from my wrist, its open end swinging freely as I twirl it around.
I whistle a little tune, the sound cutting through the classroom noise and drawing curious glances from my classmates. But I pay them no mind. My eyes are locked on Octavia, watching as she tenses slightly at my approach.
As I near her desk, I can see the way her golden eyes widen, flicking between my face and the handcuff spinning around my wrist.
With a flourish, I slide into the empty seat next to Octavia. I lean back in my chair, adopting a pose of exaggerated nonchalance that contradicts the rapid beating of my heart.
Octavia's gaze is intense, her golden eyes seeming to burn with an inner fire as they lock onto mine. I can see the muscles in her jaw working as if she's struggling to find words. A faint blush colors her cheeks, visible even against her pale skin.
With deliberate slowness, I reach into my pocket. Octavia's eyes follow the movement, her breath catching audibly as I pull out the silver button, her button. It glints in the light, the hero's crest unmistakable.
I place the silver button on Octavia's desk with a soft clink. Her golden eyes widen, fixating on the small object as if mesmerized.
"Have you ever seen this before?" I ask, my voice low and teasing.
Octavia's hand trembles as she reaches for the button. In that moment of distraction, I strike. With lightning speed, I snap the open end of the Mythril handcuff around her slender wrist.
The resounding click echoes through the classroom.
Her eyes go wide, panic flooding her features as she realizes what's happened. She tugs at the handcuff frantically, but the Mythril holds firm, binding us together. Her chest heaves with rapid, shallow breaths.
I lean in close. My lips nearly brush her ear as I whisper, "I know you're the stranger that came into my room, Octavia."
She freezes, her body going rigid at my words. I can practically feel the heat radiating off her skin and see the pulse fluttering wildly at the base of her throat.
"It might have taken a while," I continue, my voice filled with triumph and desire, "but I'm not letting you go."
Octavia's blush deepens impossibly, spreading down to her collarbone and disappearing beneath the collar of her uniform. Her golden eyes, wide with a mixture of panic and what looks like desire.
I point to the handcuffs, a smirk playing at the corners of my lips.
"Listen, Octavia, I soul bonded myself to these. So even if you somehow break through the Mythril, you'll kill me."
Octavia's golden eyes widen impossibly, her face paling beneath her blush. The air between us feels charged, crackling with tension and unspoken emotions.
"And the only way these enchanted handcuffs will open," I continue, savoring each word, "is if I want them too."
In this moment, there is only Octavia and me, bound together by Mythril and destiny.
Octavia's lips part, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. Her free hand clenches and unclenches at her side as if she's fighting the urge to reach out and touch me to verify that this is real and not some fevered dream.
"Y.. Yo.. You idiot," she finally manages to stutter out. The words tremble in the air between us, laden with fear and something deeper, more primal. "Wh.. What… What if someone else breaks them and kills you?"
Her concern, so raw and genuine, sends a thrill through me. I lean in closer.
"I trust you'll protect me."
The words hang in the air, a declaration and a challenge all at once. Octavia's eyes search mine, probing for any hint of doubt or deception. Finding none, she seems to deflate, her shoulders sagging under the weight of the responsibility I've just placed on her.
"I... I..." she stutters. "I d-don't... I can't..."
Octavia swallows hard, her throat bobbing with the motion. She tries again, her words stumbling over each other in their haste to escape.
"Y-you don't understand..."
She takes a deep breath, seemingly steeling herself for another attempt. Her golden eyes lock onto mine, filled with fear.
"I... I have to..." she begins, then stops, biting her lower lip.
After what feels like an eternity, she manages to force out four words.
"I have to pee."
The admission hangs in the air between us, unexpected and almost comical in its mundanity.
Then, a smirk tugs at the corners of my lips. I lean in close, my breath ghosting over her ear as I whisper:
"No, Octavia. We have to pee."
*****
[Octavia's POV]
The bathroom door creaks open, the sound echoing off the tiled walls like a gunshot. I stumble out, my legs unsteady beneath me, Elwin close behind.
"Damn, you pissed really hard," Elwin says to me. Shoving a metaphorical sword right into my heart.
My face burns with humiliation, the heat of my blush spreading down my neck and across my chest. I can still hear the tinkle of my urine hitting the water, can still feel Elwin's eyes on me as I...
'No. I can't even think about it. I might actually kill myself.'
The Mythril handcuffs clink softly as we move, a constant reminder of my newfound captivity. Elwin's presence beside me is as welcoming as it is overwhelming, his warmth seeping into my skin where our bound wrists touch.
As my vision adjusts, I become acutely aware of the stares. Students line the hallway, their eyes wide with shock and curiosity. Whispers ripple through the crowd like wind through tall grass.
"Did they just...?"
"Together?"
"But that's the women's bathroom!"
The whispers continue to swirl around us as we make our way down the hallway. Each step feels like an eternity, the weight of everyone's stares pressing down on me like a physical force. My heart races, pounding so hard I'm sure Elwin must be able to feel it through our connected wrists.
"Did you see how close they were standing?"
"I can't believe Prince Elwin would do something so scandalous!"
"Damn, does Elwin shit with that ass?"
"Are those... handcuffs?"
Honestly, the people saying that actually make me feel better. I'm so thrilled to be connected with Elwin, but I can't fucking talk to him. I don't know what's wrong with me. My tongue feels like lead in my mouth, refusing to form the words I so desperately want to say.
With each step, our hands brush against each other, sending jolts of electricity up my arm. It's intoxicating and terrifying all at once.
Elwin's eyes lock onto mine, a hunger burning in their depths that makes my breath catch in my throat.
"Hey. Let's skip class and go back to my place."
The proposition hangs in the air between us, electric with possibility. My heart races, pounding so hard I'm sure he must be able to hear it. I open my mouth to respond, to say yes, to say anything, but no sound comes out.
'Jesus if you exist in this world, please just fucking help me.'
A soft smile plays at the corners of Elwin's lips, understanding and mischief dancing in his eyes. He leans in close, so close I can feel the warmth of his breath tickling my ear.
'I want to lick him.'
'Allah, please. Let me lick him.'
"Blink twice if you want to go," he whispers, his lips brushing against the shell of my ear.
My breath hitches as I almost cum on the spot. Without hesitation, I blink hard, once, twice, my eyelashes fluttering against my cheeks like the wings of a trapped butterfly. It's the only response I can manage, but it's enough.
"Let's go then."