Chapter 6: Eyes flicker

The woman beside me shifted closer, a small piece of paper crinkled in her hand. I recognized it instantly—it was for me.

A secret admirer? After just over a week of being here? Seriously?

I sat in Botany class, half-listening to the lecture about herbal medicine while my curiosity overpowered me. The note was battered and wrinkled, as if it had been passed through too many hands. I unfolded it cautiously.

“Let’s meet now in the forest. In the former place where we last met. -V”

“What?” I murmured under my breath, my eyebrows nearly merging in confusion.

Van?

The image of his smug, gray-green eyes flashed in my mind. That arrogant, maddeningly handsome jerk?

Van Tyler Laurent?

This had to be a joke.

“Impossible,” I muttered.

Not that I was afraid. I’d seen his eyes shift color before, though it didn’t terrify me. I’d seen stranger things since arriving here, like another Laurent—Vince—on my first day. Whatever kind of creature they were, they seemed harmless. At least, until proven otherwise.

Still, the forest? An invitation? From **Van**? My brain scrambled for two possible scenarios:

1. He’d drag me there to unleash his usual arrogance and shove me off a cliff.

2. He’d—what? Ask me out?

The second idea was laughable. No way.

I glanced outside the window, and my heart stumbled.

It was him.

Standing under the sprawling tree in the quadrangle, not far from the greenhouse. His casual stance screamed confidence, and yet there was something else—a flicker of intensity that unsettled me.

I looked back at the note. Should I go?

As if sensing my stare, Van’s head turned sharply in my direction. I jerked my gaze away. **Putik!** My heart raced like a cornered animal. This was getting ridiculous.

“Ms. Cassandra?” The teacher’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. “Since you seem so engrossed, care to share your insights before class ends?”

Crap.

I scrambled to stand, my mind a blank slate. “Well...” I began, stalling.

The class stared. The silence stretched, mocking me.

“I was just thinking about the lack of a complete cure for cancer,” I said, grasping for straws. “With all the technology we have, how is it still unsolved? Could it be...they’re hiding the cure? Since cancer treatment is a billion-dollar industry?”

The teacher’s lips quirked into a smile. “Intriguing perspective, Cassandra. That’ll be your assignment—research whether there’s truly no cure for cancer. One full-page essay. Dismissed.”

I groaned internally. Great.

Still, my decision was made. I was going to the forest.

The school grounds were quieter now. I spotted Van again—this time with Laura. They stood under the same tree, deep in conversation.

As I approached, I caught snatches of their words.

“Well, I personally don’t like her attitude. Do you?” Laura said, her voice dripping disdain.

“I don’t like the whole her,” Van replied flatly.

Ouch.

I glared at him. “The feeling’s mutual, dupe,” I snapped, striding past without a second glance.

My feet carried me to the forest, almost as if by instinct. Despite my earlier hesitation, here I was, trekking into the dense woods.

A misplaced root snagged my foot, sending me sprawling to the ground.

“Aww, putik!” I cursed, brushing leaves off my face. Laughter echoed around me—four men emerged from the shadows, their faces smug.

“You’re dead today,” one of them sneered.

Vander Tyler Laurent

“Been there. Even kissed death hello and goodbye.”

“Crazy bitch,” I muttered under my breath as I strode toward her.

For some reason this newbie found his way to the dept of the forest.

In my territory.

Hee gaze locked on mine. “You’re one step closer to death, you know,” Isaid, my voice dangerously soft trying to intimidate her

She straightened, meeting my eyes without flinching.

I am amused.

“I’m not afraid,” she said. “Not of you. Not of death. Try harder, Van.”

Something shifted in my expression, a flicker of surprise quickly masked me. A very quick and fast color changeeyesmy eyes.

She saw it.

And smirked

I keep remembering that encounter.

---

Van watched as Laura settled beside him, her tone laced with annoyance. “So, it’s Cassandra again. How often do you think of her?”

He shrugged. “Not much. She’s just...peculiar. I’m watching her for the safety of my people.”

Laura raised an eyebrow. “She’s been through something. People like her—they’ve seen death and come out the other side. That’s what makes her different.”

Van’s jaw tightened as he recalled Cassandra’s words again.

“Been there. Even kissed death hello and goodbye.”

Peculiar didn’t even begin to cover it.

And for reasons he couldn’t explain, his heart hadn’t stopped racing since.