Confession & Warning

The lunchtime hubbub enveloped Elliot and Felicia as they stepped out into the university garden, seeking solace from the clamor of the cafeteria. Clutching steaming cups of coffee, they meandered through the verdant surroundings, the crisp breeze invigorating their spirits. Amidst the chatter and laughter of their fellow students, they found a serene oasis outside of their university in a park that was just a street away, where the gentle rustle of leaves provided a soothing soundtrack to their conversation.

Elliot's gaze swept across the tranquil scene, noting the sparse presence of others in the vicinity as they stepped into the park, it unfolded before them like a picturesque scene straight out of a postcard, adorned in a kaleidoscope of autumnal hues. The vibrant leaves danced gracefully in the gentle breeze, casting a mesmerizing spectacle that enchanted the senses.

A handful of fellow students ambled along the path, while some jogged past with determined strides, and others reveled in playful interactions with their pets. The afternoon exuded a sense of calm, yet Elliot's attention was drawn to Felicia, her figure beside him, obscured by a mask and sporting an eyepatch. Curiosity gnawed at him. Why the mask? Why the eyepatch?

Questions danced on the edge of his consciousness, begging for answers yet he wouldn’t press on his inquires since he didn’t want to pry if she wasn’t comfortable in answering him.

"Hey, Felicia," Elliot ventured, his tone gentle as he broached the delicate topic, "if it's alright with you... could you share why you're wearing the mask and eyepatch? Only if you're comfortable, of course." His gaze lingered on Felicia, who offered a faint smile in response before tucking her phone into the small mobile purse secured around her waist.

"Actually," Felicia remarked, a hint of amusement coloring her tone, "I don't think you've quite placed me..." Elliot's brow furrowed in confusion as he ventured, "Um... sorry, have we encountered each other before?"

Felicia couldn't contain her laughter at his innocence, her amusement bubbling forth. "Oh, Elliot, pfft." she chuckled, shaking her head fondly, "you haven't realized... I'm a singer."

Her words hung in the air, carrying a touch of pride. "I don't just lead a music club; I've embarked on a journey as a young vocalist since I was fifteen. It's been three years now, and I've found success in my passion." Her expression softened, a sense of vulnerability creeping in. "That's why..." She gestured towards her concealed features; her explanation tinged with a hint of sadness. "I must keep a veil between myself and the world, shielding my identity from unwanted intrusions."

Felicia lowered her mask from her mouth, allowing her features to be fully revealed, yet she retained the eyepatch, a quirky accessory that added an enigmatic charm to her demeanor. With a mischievous glint in her eye, she flashed a playful grin at Elliot, who returned the gesture with a small smile of his own, his cheeks tinted with a subtle blush.

At that moment, the thought flickered across his mind; 'Felicia looks cute when she smiles,' but he swiftly erased it to give calmness to his slightly burning cheeks.

Elliot let out a soft hum with his gaze shifting ahead of them as he raised his coffee cup to his lips. Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through, causing him to shiver involuntarily. He glanced down at his attire—a simple white t-shirt paired with blue jeans—and realized his oversight. His cardigan lay forgotten at home, left behind in the rush to make it to his morning class on time after wasting his time under the influence of overthinking.

As the chill air nipped at Elliot's slender frame, and he suddenly found himself enveloped in a comforting warmth by a pair of arms encircling him from behind. His breath caught in his throat as Felicia nestled her face against his neck with her words a gentle whisper against his skin, "Feeling cold, Elliot? Don't fret... I'll chase away the chill."

Elliot was rendered speechless by the unexpected gesture of affection.

As the heat crept up to the tips of his ears, Elliot couldn't help but worry that his burning redness might come across as awkward to Felicia. However, she only found his bashful demeanor utterly endearing as she cherished each of his adorable quirks.

Felicia couldn't help but ponder how she would have gladly offered Elliot her jacket if she hadn't clumsily spilled her bandmate's juice all over herself just two hours earlier. As a result, she found herself without a jacket, though in her case, it was merely a fashion statement rather than a necessity for warmth, as she didn't feel particularly chilly on windy days rather, she felt refreshed.

When it came to navigating relationships and friendships, Elliot sometimes felt a bit clueless. Yet, despite his occasional obliviousness, he wasn't entirely dense. He couldn't help but notice Felicia's unusually clingy behavior, almost as if she harbored some form of affection for him. However, he quickly dismissed such thoughts; after all, they had only met less than a day ago.

"Felicia," Elliot's voice cut through the gusts of harsh wind, causing the flowers to dance and the leaves to rustle around them. Despite the turbulence of the weather, an inexplicable sense of calm washed over Elliot in Felicia's presence, as if they had been friends for an eternity. "Is something troubling you?" he inquired; his concern evident in his tone.

"Why do you believe that?" Felicia whispered, her arms encircling him a little tighter, drawing comfort from his presence. She breathed in his soothing scent, a delicate blend of lilac that filled her senses with its intoxicating sweetness and loveliness.

"You seemed unusually cheerful this morning, but now, you appear a bit downcast," Elliot observed, his tone gentle and reassuring. "I understand we've just met, but if you'd like, you can confide in me. I promise to offer advice without prying or betraying your trust. Your worries will be safe with me." With a warm smile, he took hold of her wrist and guided her towards the nearest bench, eager to lend an ear and provide support.

Felicia found herself without a single worry.

It wasn't concern or anxiety that prompted her actions; rather, it was the irresistible urge to envelop him in warmth when he appeared so endearingly vulnerable in the chilly air.

However, she couldn't deny that she seized the opportunity that presented itself for her to state what had been on her mind since she met him early in the morning.

"How thoughtful of you," Felicia remarked with a smile. "Say, Elliot... would you like to go out with me?"

And in that moment, Elliot felt a rush of warmth flood his cheeks.

Elliot was taken completely by surprise, as the proposition was entirely unexpected.

Having only just met her, Elliot found himself taken aback by her sudden advance. He couldn't help but wonder if there was truth behind the playful banter of her bandmates, teasing her for being a flirt. Yet, as he gazed at her, he saw something deeper than mere playful antics. There was a genuine warmth and sincerity in her gaze, with a tenderness that left him pleasantly frozen in place. It was clear that her feelings ran deeper than mere games, speaking volumes about the seriousness of her intentions toward his heart.

"I... I-I..." Elliot stammered, struggling to find the right words to steer their conversation in a direction that wouldn't jeopardize their budding friendship, which had only just begun earlier that day.

"You don't have to give me an answer right away," Felicia proposed, her voice carrying a playful undertone.

"How about we start with a few friendly dates? And if I manage to make your heart skip a beat, well... there's no turning back for you." Despite her teasing words, her one unveiled eye sparkled with adoration and fondness for the boy she had just met.

Elliot's heart… faltered for a fleeting moment with his breath hitching as her warm smile gently punctuated the end of her sentence. The air around them danced with drifting flower petals and swirling leaves, painting their surroundings with a quiet, nostalgic beauty that felt almost unreal. A lingering curiosity gnawed at him, refusing to be silenced. Before he could even form a response to her earlier question, another slipped from his lips, unbidden yet inevitable.

"Why… me?" he murmured, his voice laced with quiet wonder. "We've only just met today."

Felicia's smile widened as the chilly breeze tousled her hair, with her response brimming with joy.

"Love at first sight."

She declared; her tone infused with a hint of nostalgia. Elliot's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink at her words while his heart fluttered once more.

Without a word, Felicia cheekily interlocked her fingers with Elliot's, drawing his hand towards her lips. With a captivating gaze, she pressed a tender kiss to his knuckles, leaving Elliot utterly speechless and breathless in her enchanting presence.

He found himself inundated with emotions, yet there was an undeniable tranquility in her gestures, despite his confusion.

Elliot couldn't escape the nagging thought that it was far too soon to feel this comfortable with someone, especially when love was an entirely new experience for both of them. The fact that Felicia had already confessed her feelings only deepened his bewilderment. How could she appear so at ease after baring her heart to him? His gaze lingered on her, drawn to the warmth of her smile—so serene, so unwavering. It was as if she held no trace of hesitation, no fear of rejection, only a quiet certainty that left him wondering just how she could embrace such vulnerability with such grace.

The tender gaze she bestowed upon him filled Elliot with a surreal sensation as if he had been transported into a dream.

Nervously biting his lower lip, Elliot felt his heart fluttering within his chest. Strangely, though, there was no sense of discomfort accompanying the fluttering. This paradox only added to his confusion, but he resolved to respond to her nonetheless.

"Umm... I-I-"

"Elliot."

Before Elliot could utter a response, he was struck motionless as a cold and intimidating voice called out his name, leaving him feeling weak and slightly trembling.

Felicia's expression shifted to one of menace as she caught sight of the person who had just called Elliot's name, resembling a predator eyeing its claimed prey.

Before them stood Luna, her presence as commanding as the shadows that clung to her figure. A black hooded jacket draped over her shoulders, concealing a matching t-shirt, while fitted black jeans and well-worn sneakers completed her effortlessly dark ensemble. Her wavy brunette hair cascaded freely down her back, framing her face in untamed strands that only heightened the quiet menace she exuded. Though her attire was casual, there was nothing ordinary about her presence—it pulsed with an unspoken power, a force so suffocating that the weak-willed would find themselves teetering on the edge of oblivion with nothing more than a single glance from her cold, piercing eyes.

Felicia gently released Elliot’s hand, her movements deliberate, as if acutely aware of the potential threat she might pose to him—if, in fact, she were an enemy. The thought lingered in her mind with a quiet caution shaping her every action.

Meanwhile, Luna observed the exchange with a calculating gaze while her thoughts were shrouded in suspicion. Was Felicia’s closeness to Elliot driven by genuine friendship, or did something more sinister lurk beneath her seemingly innocent gestures? Uncertainty gnawed at her, and she remained seething, watching Felicia’s every move with a wary intensity.

With fierce glares exchanged between Felicia and Luna, the tension in the air grew palpable. Elliot, though unsure why he couldn't quell his trembling, managed to muster a smile as he turned to face Luna before getting up.

"Oh, Luna! Umm… where have you been?" Elliot exclaimed with excitement, striding towards her. Luna was another friend Elliot had made recently, following his friendship with Sam. They had been sharing classes for a week, and earlier that day, he was committed to her. However, she failed to appear and only left him a message.

Standing before her, Elliot inquired, "I thought you mentioned there was something you wanted to show me, but... I waited for you." He gazed at the girl before him, who returned his look with fondness. She reached out, delicately plucking a leaf from his tousled hair before draping her hood over his shoulders. Then, without warning, she pulled him into an unexpected embrace, catching Elliot off guard and causing him to flinch.

She responded with a glare fixed on Felicia, who remained silent, attentively observing her with a gaze just as murderous as Luna's.

"Apologies for the delay; something unexpected arose. Now that I'm here, why don't you go meet up with Sam? I'll join you shortly," Luna declared in a commanding tone, her lips brushing against his ear, sending a shiver down Elliot's spine. His senses were clouded by a haze of bashfulness, unsure of what was happening.

Despite Luna's typically stern demeanor, her tone now carried a surprising softness, contrasting with the stiffness of her presence.

And her proximity, so close yet so maddeningly enigmatic, only added to Elliot's bewilderment.

While holding him close, she seemed to Felicia like a serpent coiling around its prey.

Felicia couldn't shake the feeling that there was something distinctly unsettling about the way Luna looked and embraced Elliot.

"Oh, Sam's here?" Elliot inquired, to which Luna nodded affirmatively. "Yes, he's searching for you at the moment," she confirmed. Elliot acknowledged her response with a nod before gently pulling away from the embrace. As he moved to remove the jacket to return it, Luna halted him by grasping his wrist. "Don't worry, I'm not cold. You can give it back tomorrow. Now, hurry up; it seems like Sam's in a bit of a rush," she urged him.

Expressing his gratitude for the jacket, Elliot cast a glance back at Felicia, his eyes betraying a hint of hurt. In response, she offered him a reassuring nod and a small smile, silently conveying that it was okay for him to leave if he needed to.

With cheeks and neck flushed with rosette color, Elliot returned Luna's warm smile with a nod of appreciation. He then turned back to Felicia, offering another warm smile before responding to her earlier question, "I'd be interested in giving it a try. So, let's plan to meet up again."

As Felicia returned his smile and offered a nod in response, she replied, "Of course, I'll eagerly wait for that moment." With a wave and a bright smile, Elliot bid her farewell before turning to seek out Sam.

As soon as Elliot departed, an icy chill settled over the surroundings, wrapping them in an atmosphere that felt overwhelmingly cold and suffocating.

Luna, her gaze piercing and posture commanding, confronted the girl before her with a pointed question, "What brings you into his vicinity?" She inquired; her tone sharp but controlled.

Felicia met Luna's stare with an unwavering gaze of her own, seemingly unaffected by the tension in the air.

"I am answerable to no one," Felicia retorted defiantly.

Luna's lips curled into a knowing smirk, a hint of darkness dancing in her eyes as she replied, "Ah, that explains the stench of decay about you. You're a rogue.”

Felicia could do nothing but clench her fist in anger, sensing the imminent peril radiating from the formidable woman standing before her. The air was charged with the promise of confrontation, and Felicia could detect the unmistakable scent of blood lingering about her opponent. Yet, she remained steadfast in her resolve, unwilling to retreat without putting up a fight of her own.

Luna's words tumbled out in a bewildered whisper, her mind struggling to comprehend the inexplicable. "It's peculiar. You're not immortal, yet... you carry a scent similar to mine," she murmured while her once-gray eyes were now alight with a radiant cerulean hue.

Across from her, Felicia's lone exposed eye underwent a startling transformation, suffusing with a vibrant pink glow. Around her, tendrils of pink and purple lightning began to dance, crackling with an otherworldly energy. It was a moment charged with mystique and uncertainty, where the air itself seemed to crackle with the anticipation of revelation.

And within Felicia, a primal instinct stirred—a warning bell tolling in the depths of her being.

She sensed immense danger around her.

As flames flickered and twirled around Luna, Felicia's realization struck like a bolt of lightning.

At that moment, she knew without a shred of doubt who stood before her—an entity of immense power and authority. She was their sovereign, their ruler—the one who wielded the infernal flames of Hell itself.

KING.

The weight of the revelation settled upon Felicia like a heavy cloak, suffocating her with the harsh truth. She was hopelessly outmatched, facing a force beyond her comprehension and capabilities. It was a bitter acknowledgment, one that resonated deep within her core. Against this formidable adversary, Felicia was but a mere mortal, destined to pale in comparison. The knowledge weighed heavily upon her, a sobering reminder of her vulnerability in the face of true power.

"I will not repeat myself… this is the last warning," Luna's voice rang out, edged with an unmistakable intensity that matched the swirling inferno dancing around her form.

Fixing her gaze upon the girl before her, Luna delivered her ultimatum with chilling clarity.

"Keep your distance from him. He is mine," she declared, her voice a potent blend of unwavering possessiveness and veiled menace. Each syllable dripped with an unspoken warning under the weighty influence of domineering intimidation.

The air crackled with tension as she continued, her warning a stark reminder of the consequences awaiting any who dared to cross her, "Should I ever catch even a whiff of your putrid scent clinging to him, I will rend you limb from limb, scattering your remains for your kin to feast upon." It was a promise delivered with a deadly seriousness, leaving no room for doubt as to the consequences of disobedience.

Felicia couldn't help but recoil as the aura of dominance surrounding Luna intensified as a force capable of subduing even the strongest-willed individuals.

But Felicia was no ordinary soul, and she refused to bow down in submission.

Instead, Felicia countered with a defiant smirk, her words dripping with sarcasm. "Give it your best shot. I have plans to become intimately involved with him, and rest assured, I'll take every precaution to shield his pure soul from such vermin like you," she retorted, her tone laced with disdain. It was a bold declaration, a testament to Felicia's resolve to defy even the most formidable adversaries in her pursuit of what she desired.

As her last words trailed off, Felicia found herself ensnared by Luna's vice-like grip around her throat, with the pressure of Luna's fingers cutting off her air supply as she was forcefully slammed against a nearby tree.

Despite the dire situation, Felicia's lips curled into a defiant smirk; she had been anticipating this confrontation and was ready to meet it head-on.

In a sudden and fluid motion, Felicia unleashed her hidden skills.

With a snap of her fingers, her body transformed into a myriad of purple lilies, vanishing from sight in an instant. All that remained were the delicate flowers cascading to the ground, where Felicia had stood just moments before, leaving Luna with her annoyance getting the best of her.

Luna's hand closed around what should have been Felicia's neck, but instead, she found herself clutching a handful of descending, delicate purple lilies. Confusion clouded Luna's features as she scanned the area, searching in vain for any sign of her elusive adversary.

The rustling along the drifting leaves, and the air were thick with the scent of uncertainty as Luna remained on guard with her senses heightened as ever.

Suddenly, the tranquil scene shattered as purple lilies began to swirl around Luna, a surreal dance amidst the chaos. Reacting instinctively, Luna deflected an object hurtling towards her head, only to find Felicia materializing from within the flurry of petals, launching a powerful aerial kick aimed at her. With lightning reflexes, Luna seized Felicia's ankle and hurled her to the ground below.

Yet, despite the force of the throw, Felicia managed to roll with the impact, landing gracefully on the ground, her composure intact.

"Avancez, les enchevêtrements de la nature empoisonnée!”

With a swift incantation, Felicia conjured a spell, causing formidable and massive roots, imbued with poison, to burst forth from the earth. They snaked towards Luna, ensnaring her limbs, wrapping around her legs, and waist, and even climbing up to encircle her neck, effectively immobilizing her.

"Ha... so, you're a witch... a renegade witch," Luna remarked, her narrowed cerulean gaze fixed upon Felicia with a glint of defiance. As her eyes shimmered, the roots ensnaring her began to ignite, consumed by flames until they were reduced to naught but ashes. Remarkably, the venom that once tainted the roots failed to leave even a scorch mark on Luna's unblemished skin.

Felicia's eyes widened in astonishment, but she swiftly composed herself, preparing to cast another spell.

However, before either she or Luna could make a move, a figure emerged from a swirling black mist between them—it was none other than Harry.

"Enough of this nonsense! Have you both lost your minds?!"

Harry's furious shout echoed through the air, his eyes flashing with frustration as he darted his gaze between Felicia and Luna. The tension crackling between them was palpable, but his patience had reached its breaking point.

Luna met his glare with an air of disinterest, unmoved by his outburst.

"All right, perhaps she's lost her mind, but what about you?" Harry directed his inquiry to Felicia, who met his gaze with nervous apprehension. She couldn't help but wonder if their acquaintance posed a potential complication for her, especially if she found herself going against the two of them.

Harry let out a weary sigh as his words seemed to fall on deaf ears, garnering no response from either of them.

Resigned to the necessity of action, he assumed the role of mediator. "Listen, I'm not privy to the details of your disagreement, but fighting here is out of the question. There are humans and others around," he reasoned, his tone urging for reason to prevail. "Let's relocate or sit down and discuss this like civilized beings."

"That won’t be necessary. I've got a class to attend, unlike wasting my time with the likes of you," Felicia retorted, her voice dripping with irritation as she directed a fierce glare at Luna.

Luna, undeterred, merely smirked in response with her narrowed gray eyes locking onto Felicia's with an intensity that matched her own. Standing resolute in her black sleeveless t-shirt, her hands resting casually in the pockets of her jeans while she exuded an effortless boldness—an air of unyielding confidence conquering the swirling darkness emitting from her presence.

As Felicia's eye reverted to its natural emerald green hue, she pivoted to depart, only to be brought to a sudden stop by Harry's authoritative voice. "Show some respect. She's our King," he commanded firmly.

"Not mine.”

Felicia shot back icily, her tone devoid of any warmth and emotions as she continued to stride away without even bothering to glance back at him, and leaving the space behind her without further acknowledgment.