Deep Down Part 2

Elliot stood alongside Luna in the quiet hallway of the fourth floor that felt oddly spacious and empty, just outside the room with a white door. Unlike the lower levels, where classrooms buzzed with life, this floor seemed almost abandoned. From what he had heard, the rooms up here were reserved for various clubs or perhaps extracurricular activities—maybe even counseling sessions—but he wasn't entirely sure.

The lack of students and the hushed atmosphere only added to the mystery, leaving him to wonder what exactly took place behind these closed doors of the silent rooms.

The moment Luna pushed open the door and stepped inside with him, Elliot followed, only for the door to close softly behind them. As the quiet enclosed them, a strange mix of emotions stirred within him—surprise, certainly, but also something deeper, and something unexpected.

A faint sense of nostalgia settled over him, creeping in like a long-lost memory just out of reach, and stirring feelings he hadn't anticipated.

At the heart of the room sat a sleek, modern white piano, its polished surface gleaming under the soft overhead light. The space itself wasn't particularly large, yet it never felt cramped either—just the right size to settle into with ease. There was a quiet sense of balance here, an atmosphere that invited comfort without feeling too open or too confined.

"Wow… how did you know…" Elliot began, a broad smile spreading across his face as he strode toward the piano with his excitement evident. Yet, the moment his fingers brushed against its smooth surface; his words faltered with a sudden wave of emotion catching him off guard. Turning his gaze toward Luna, he found her standing there casually with hands tucked into the pockets of her jeans, and her expression unreadable.

"You seemed like the type… to enjoy music," she replied impassively, her tone calm and matter-of-fact. "So, I thought this room might be a place where you could not only enjoy yourself but also have the time to… clear your thoughts."

Elliot nodded, his fingers lingering on the piano's smooth surface before glancing back at Luna. Curiosity flickered in his eyes as he asked, "Then… can I really play it? Are students even allowed to? I mean, other than those officially enrolled in the club?" His voice carried both eagerness and hesitation, unsure if this moment of unexpected opportunity was truly his to take.

Luna gave a slight shrug while nodding as she replied casually, "Go ahead. No one's going to stop you. The classical music club became unofficial a long time ago, so there aren't any students left who actually enjoy playing the piano. That's why this room has been left abandoned." Her tone was indifferent, but there was an underlying truth in her words—this space, once filled with music, had long been forgotten because of the change in tastes and trends.

Elliot let out a quiet, "Oh," in response before lowering himself onto the cushioned piano stool. Its sleek, white rectangular design indicated it was meant for two, though he was the only one seated now. Despite the thin layer of dust coating the piano, he paid it no mind, his fingers instinctively pressing a few keys to test its condition. The rich, resonant notes filled the air, and to his satisfaction, the instrument sounded as pristine as if it were brand new.

With an endearing smile, Elliot let his fingers glide over the keys, easing into the melody as if reacquainting himself with an old friend.

The notes flowed effortlessly, each one drawing him deeper into the music until he lost himself completely in its rhythm. It had been so long since he last played, yet with every touch, he felt more in sync with the instrument, as if no time had passed at all.

He only stopped when a sudden warmth enveloped his shoulders, causing his heart to skip a beat.

It was then he realized—Luna had settled beside him, her presence quiet yet a little too acknowledgeable. She was no longer wearing her coat, having it draped over his shoulders so he wouldn't feel any colder than he already did.

The gesture was subtle, but it carried a warmth beyond just fabric, one that lingered in the silence between them and etched itself on his heart.

"Oh, you don't have to…" Elliot fumbled over his words, his voice trailing off as warmth crept up his cheeks.

The moment he met Luna's gaze—calm and expressionless—he felt even more flustered for some reason. But then, just as unexpectedly, a small smile tugged at her lips and without a word, she reached out with her fingers being gentle as they ruffled through his hair in a soothing motion, making his chest bloom with unseen warmth.

"Don't worry," she murmured, her touch lingering for a moment as she added, "I'm not cold."

'BADUM...'

'BADUM...!'

'BADUM!'

Elliot felt the wild rhythm of his heartbeat pounding in his chest with each thud echoing louder than the last.

For a moment, he wondered if his heart had finally lost its sense of reason—perhaps after enduring so much from such a young age, it had simply decided to go crazy out of nowhere.

Pushing aside his foolishly erratic heart for a moment, Elliot found himself wondering—had she noticed him shivering earlier? Dressed in nothing but a beige full-sleeve shirt, skinny blue jeans, and sneakers, he had done little to shield himself from the cold. Not that he could help it—he had forgotten his jacket at home before leaving, something that had become a habit whenever his mind was too preoccupied to focus on the little necessities. It wasn't the first time, and he doubted it would be the last.

With a bashful smile, he gave a small nod and murmured, "Thank you. Please let me know… when you're cold, so you can—"

Before he could finish, Luna interrupted him by calling his name with her voice effortlessly silencing his words.

"Elliot."

Her voice was calm yet firm as she spoke his name before lowering her arm and resting her cheek against her fist atop the piano. The simple movement held an air of quiet confidence, one that made Elliot instinctively fall silent with his attention drawn entirely to her.

Then, as her cold yet subtly gentle eyes locked onto his slightly wavering ones, he found himself unable to look away.

"Don't worry," she said, her tone steady and tinged with a touch of command. "I told you already."

For a fleeting moment, Elliot felt as though the room had grown colder with an almost eerie chill settling around him.

But he quickly brushed it off as nothing more than his imagination. With a warm smile, he gave a small nod to Luna even though an inexplicable shiver ran down his spine which left him unsettled for a moment.

Still, he turned back to the piano, letting his fingers find their place on the keys once more. As the melody resumed, his heart stubbornly refused to settle and pounded faster than its usual rhythm, as if responding to something unseen.

"You're pretty good at this. Do you perhaps, still practice?" Luna asked, her voice softer than usual—an exhausting effort, maybe, since gentleness and consideration weren't exactly second nature to her.

Yet, despite that, she wasn't all that bad at it—at least, not when it came to Elliot.

Elliot shook his head gently before replying in a soft voice, "Not really. The last time I played was back in high school. I always loved it as a hobby—it used to calm me down—but then… life got super busy. Things changed, and before I knew it, I had graduated. I guess I just never found the time to play again… well, not until today."

Luna hummed thoughtfully, her gaze lingering on him as the soft melody filled the room. As she listened, she finally remarked, "It seems you have a talent for playing emotional pieces… but your music carries a certain sadness. And it's tinged with a touch of quiet melancholy if I'm not wrong."

Elliot frowned slightly, though a small smile still played on his lips as he turned to Luna with his fingers never faltering on the piano keys. "I didn't realize someone could actually tell that the piece I'm playing is both sad and emotional," he admitted. "Back in the day, my friend Sam used to say, it sounded a little emotional, but he never mentioned anything about it being sad."

A thoughtful small chuckle escaped him before he added, "Maybe no one ever pointed it out because Sam's a bit of a fool when it comes to music—easygoing and not the most perceptive type. Besides, I always played after school… usually when it rained. So, in the end, no one had ever truly listened to me play the piano."

Elliot's smile grew just a little wider, though his eyes remained soft with a tad bit of overwhelming emotions as he added, "But then again, this is the only piece I've ever been able to play… even now."

Luna tilted her head slightly with a hint of bafflement sparkling in her eyes before she asked, "Why is that?"

Elliot's fingers stilled on the keys as he turned his full attention to her, and for a brief moment, Luna found herself caught off guard.

The sunlight streaming through the windows bathed him in a golden glow, making his light brown hair appear almost like warm blond silk. The soft rays danced in his honey-brown eyes, causing them to shimmer with flecks of iridescent color as if holding a quiet universe within them.

And then he smiled—a smile too sorrowful for someone with such delicate and almost ethereal features.

"That's because," he murmured, his voice gentle yet tinged with something unspoken, "this is the only piece I ever created."

For the first time in her life, Luna found herself utterly at a loss for words.

It was a rare and almost unsettling sensation—one she had never experienced before. She had always held the reins and always had a sharp retort or a calculated response at the ready. Yet now, the silence stretched before her as unfamiliar and weighty.

Even as she tried to regain her footing, a realization struck her—despite keeping everything within her line of sight, despite believing she had accounted for every variable, she had still overlooked something. And not just any oversight, but one of grave significance. Yet, what unsettled her most wasn't merely the fact that she had missed something—it was that, until this very moment, she had never considered such details to hold any real significance at all.

Luna let out a soft hum before tilting her head slightly, her gaze lingering on him with quiet curiosity. Then, with a gentle yet insistent tone, she asked once more, "Then… a penny for your thoughts?"

Elliot hesitated, his lips parting as if to respond, yet no words came.

It wasn't that he failed to grasp the meaning behind her words—he understood perfectly well. The problem was something else entirely. He simply didn't know where to begin. His thoughts were a tangled web, too many threads pulling in different directions, and leaving him momentarily lost in the silence between them.

"It's just…" Elliot began, his voice trailing off as his gaze wandered downward, settling on his restless fingers fidgeting over his thighs. His thoughts churned and tangled in hesitation, but before he could gather them, something unexpected jolted him. A sharp intake of breath escaped him as droplets of blood splattered onto his fingers and a few on his shirt, staining the fabric of his sleeves in vivid crimson. He froze, startled, his mind momentarily abandoning his words as reality crashed in with the weight of something he hadn't even noticed until now.

He had grown so comfortable in her presence that, for a moment, he completely forgot the fragile state of his own health.

It slipped his mind entirely that just this morning, before coming to the university, he had already coughed up blood—a stark reminder of his condition. Yet, with her, all of that had faded into the background, as if the weight of his illness had momentarily lifted, only to come crashing back down now in an unsettling realization.

"Ah, I'm sorry…" Elliot stammered, his words faltering as he hastily reached into the front pocket of his jeans. His fingers closed around a crumpled tissue, and he pulled it out with urgency—only for his stomach to drop the moment he realized how little he had left. A single tissue wouldn't be nearly enough to stop the torrent of blood now spilling from his nose, painting his hands in stark, crimson streaks.

Panic flickered in his eyes, not from the sight of his own blood, but from the dawning realization that he was utterly unprepared for the mess unfolding before him.

At that moment, Luna rose to her feet and turned toward the door. Elliot's chest tightened with a wave of embarrassment washing over him as disappointment settled deep in his gut. His thoughts spiraled, his mind racing with self-reproach.

'Oh no, is she leaving? Did I really get ahead of myself? This is exactly why I shouldn't let myself get carried away… why I shouldn't befriend any-'

But before his anxious thoughts could consume him entirely, they came to an abrupt halt.

Fingers—gentle and warm—slipped through his soft hair with a touch so unexpected yet grounding that he nearly forgot to breathe. Then, her voice, steady and certain, cut through the chaos taking over his mind.

"I'm not leaving."

Elliot's eyes widened as he gazed up at her with the crumpled tissue still pressed against his nose. His heart pounded as uncertainty gripped him as he searched for any hint of her expression, but her hair fell like a curtain, concealing it from view.

For a fleeting moment, he held his breath, bracing himself for the worst—until she spoke again, her voice steady and reassuring.

"Stay here. I'll be back with some more tissues and maybe something to eat."

The tension in his chest eased, and at last, he exhaled with the weight of his worries lifting just enough for him to hold on to her words in relief.

Elliot didn't even get the chance to respond before she turned away, slipping out the door and closing it behind her with quiet finality. He remained still with the tissue still pressed to his nose and with his thoughts in the form of a tangled mess. A deep flush crept up his face as warmth bloomed at the mere realization that—despite witnessing him at his most pathetic—maybe, just maybe, she didn't hate him as much as he had assumed.

And to his surprise, Luna hadn't asked him any questions, nor had she sounded the least bit disappointed. She had simply acted—without judgment and without hesitation. That thought alone sent another wave of heat rushing to Elliot's face. The more he considered it, the more his blush deepened.

Maybe—just maybe—she was different. And if that were true, then perhaps, for the first time in a long while, he had a real chance at making a new friend.

~><~*~><~

Meanwhile, Luna strode through the cold and empty hallway with her hands casually tucked into the pockets of her jeans. Her voice rang out, steady and unwavering.

"Harry."

Almost instantly, the air behind her shimmered, and in the next breath, Harry materialized, falling into step beside her. Without missing a beat, he responded, his tone laced with profound deference.

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

Luna's darkened eyes remained coldly impassive as she spoke, her voice void of emotion.

"What about it?"

Harry inhaled sharply before responding, his tone steady as he matched her pace.

"You were right, Your Majesty. Beth Zane, a noble vampire and a third-year student at this university, has been gathering a considerable number of fellow vampires—all poised to pounce on Elliot and drain just enough blood to leave him unconscious. But that's not the worst of it as you predicted." He paused with a frustrated sigh before continuing, "Beth has another noble vampire lined up, one waiting on her family's list of human suppliers. She plans to sell Elliot for a million dollars."

A flicker of distaste crossed his face while he added, "Though considering how her family operates in the underworld, I'd wager the price set on him is far higher than what I managed to uncover."

Luna hummed in acknowledgment; before she finally asked.

"Where are they now? And what have they been up to until this moment?"

Without missing a beat, Harry replied while his fingers adjusting the collar of his long black coat over a gray sweatshirt, paired with black skinny jeans and matching shoes.

"They're in the cafeteria right now and haven't made a move yet," he reported smoothly. "Beth's been a little preoccupied—busy making out with her boyfriend, who just got back after a month-long break. But according to Nick, it's already been decided. The moment they set eyes on their prey; they'll strike today."

Luna came to an abrupt halt, her entire posture stiffening in rage as an icy chill settled around them due to her domineering and peremptory presence which continued to grow. When she spoke, her voice was a low and controlled whisper, laced with barely restrained fury.

"Which cafeteria?"

Harry halted as well before answering without hesitation, "The one on the second floor, Your Majesty."

Luna hummed in thought, her mind already calculating her next move before she spoke again.

"Is there, by any chance, an infirmary or a nurse's office on the second floor?"

Harry paused for a moment, briefly considering before he responded, "Yes, Your Majesty. There appears to be a nurse's office on the second floor."

Luna's frown deepened as she eyed him over her shoulder sharply, "Why aren't you certain?"

Harry cleared his throat, a hint of nervousness creeping into his demeanor before he answered honestly, "I haven't actually seen the nurse's office myself… but the nurse keeps running into me whenever I'm on that floor, always trying to… get my number."

Luna exhaled a slow, measured sigh and tried her level best to rein in the irritation threatening to get the best of her.

Luna gave a firm command before resuming her stride.

"Then, we'll head to the cafeteria first."

Harry gave a curt nod in acknowledgment, "Yes, Your Majesty."

In the next instant, both of them vanished into thin air and reappeared seamlessly before the closed doors of the cafeteria.

Luna posed a question that made Harry's brows knit together in a slight frown. Even so, he remained silent, listening attentively as she spoke.

"Remind me, Harry… how many humans are currently inside this cafeteria?"

Harry answered without hesitation, "I've been informed that the cafeteria on the second floor is strictly reserved for supernatural beings, while the one on the first floor, in the building to the right, is designated solely for humans. When I double-checked with the Director, I discovered that a third-year wizard professor had placed a spell over this cafeteria—one strong enough to ensure that no human could accidentally wander in, even by mistake."

Luna nodded with a small smirk tugging at her lips, before stepping forward. As if sensing her presence, the heavy wooden doors creaked open on their own and granted her passage.

Harry, watching the effortless display, immediately understood—whatever was about to unfold in the cafeteria was bound to be anything but ordinary.

The moment Luna stepped into the vast cafeteria; a heavy silence fell over the room. The air turned unnervingly frigid with a suffocating chill creeping into every corner as her menacing presence seeped through the space. A palpable wave of fear washed over the crowd, sending shivers down their spines, and locking them in place with an unspoken dread.

A wave of confusion rippled through the cafeteria as everyone struggled to grasp the reason behind her sudden presence. Why was she here? What could their King possibly want from them? And more importantly, why had she even bothered enrolling in the university when she was already burdened with far greater responsibilities?

Among the stunned onlookers sat Beth Zane with her long wavy hair a striking shade of parrot green, cascading over the shoulders of her tight, short blue dress. Perched on the lap of her blonde boyfriend, she froze the instant her gaze locked onto Luna.

A cold dread settled in her chest.

For years, she and her family had done everything in their power to stay off the King's path, knowing full well that their underground dealings—trafficking humans and supplying human blood to both supernatural and mortal buyers—placed them directly in Luna's crosshairs. They had managed to keep their distance, evading her wrath despite being well within her radar.

But now, as Luna walked before them, there was no more room to hide.

As Luna's cold grey eyes shimmered with a flicker, shifting into a luminous cerulean laced with imbues of crimson, an unbearable force seized the room.

In an instant, agony ripped through every vampire, witch, werewolf, and wizard present. Their bodies contorted unnaturally, spines arching, limbs twisting at impossible angles, and their bones snapping like brittle twigs beneath an unseen weight.

Then, one by one, they erupted.