I was standing there, with my back to Ryan, when I heard Oliwia suddenly storm out of the room. "Aiden... Aiden!" Ryan called behind me, but I didn't react right away. Something was different. Something had changed in me when I saw her.
My gaze wandered unconsciously to the chain that hung around my neck. The little stone on it shone in the light, and for a moment I was spelled. What the hell was that? I couldn't stop thinking about it. Something about the whole situation made my blood swell. Oliwia was just... different. The look she had given me at that moment was different from all the others. It was more than just this sweet, innocent way that she otherwise radiated. Today she kind of surprised me.
I couldn't explain why, but somehow it felt like she was challenging me – and that drove me crazy. It wasn't like the other girls I knew. Oliwia had something that captivated me, although I didn't want to admit it to myself. Maybe it was the unconscious lure in her eyes, maybe it was the way she looked at me as if she knew what I was thinking. And that was the problem. It made me aroused without me being able to control it.
"Aiden!" Ryan called me again, a little louder this time. I shook my head, trying to focus. When I realised that he had already called me a hundred times, I quickly pulled the chain back under my T-shirt, as if that was the key to grounding myself again.
I slowly turned to Ryan, who looked at me with a confused look. "What's going on?" He asked, when he realised that I still seemed absent, as if I was trapped in my thoughts.
"Nothing," I muttered. But deep down I knew it wasn't "nothing". It was something with Olivia, and I felt it was triggering more in me than I wanted to admit.
"I have to talk on the phone," I said to Ryan and left the room. The conversation with my mother was urgent, so I picked up my phone.
"Hey sweetheart, are you okay?" Her voice sounded worried, but I could also hear a certain tension in it.
"Mom... the chain... the grandma... it shone..." I felt a heavy feeling spread in my chest. What did that mean? Why did the chain suddenly react?
It became quiet on the other side of the line. No answer.
Then, after an incredibly long pause, I heard her voice, which now sounded much more serious and compelling: "Aiden... listen to me carefully... I know, please, but please... you have to do this. No matter who it is or was... you have to kill them!"
My heart was beat. "What?"
"You know what I mean," she said, her voice now idy and determined. "There is no other way. You're the only one who can do it."
"What?!" I couldn't believe it. "NO!!! I won't kill anyone! Have you been crazy?" My voice was loud, full of confusion and anger.
"Aiden...", her voice became colder, almost threatening. "If you don't, your father will come, and you'll know what that means."
I quickly hung up and left the conversation with my mother behind. I couldn't believe it all yet. What should I do? What did she mean by "kill"? I knew I needed answers, but now wasn't the right time to think about it.
I went back to the student dormitory, closed the door to my room and let myself fall on the bed. I was alone, no one was there. It was the perfect time to think.
I stretched out my hand, my palm up, and focussed. In the air in front of me, a small, spherical energy ball formed, which shimmered in a mystical, silvery glow. I looked at him for a while, as if he was the only grip I had at that moment.
"Why should I kill her?" I muttered, almost whispering, more to myself than to anyone else. The question burned in my head, but I knew there was no simple answer. I wasn't just Aiden. My name was Riun. A name that lived only in the secrets of my family, the name of a mystical being.
My parents, Cosma and Kreton, were gods. A truth that no one knew, except for our true relatives and the few we really trusted. But here, among the people, no one knew about it. No one knew that I wasn't like everyone else. That I wasn't just a normal student at Oxford, but part of a much bigger and more dangerous heritage. And now I stood here, before a decision that challenged me – and that in a world that knew nothing of that truth.
The door flew open with a bang, and Lukas dragged a drunken Ryan into the room. The guy could barely stand on his feet, smearing incomprehensible stuff and smelling like he had bathed in a vodka barrel.
"Dude, you're heavier than you look," Lukas muttered as he lifted Ryan half over his shoulder. "Stop letting yourself go like that, you're not a premium office chair."
With one last effort, he let Ryan plump on my bed. I was just lying there, with my eyes closed, wanting to have my peace, but Ryan still managed to disturb me somehow with his loud, drunken nature. He stretched out like a cat stretching out after a long nap and then slowly turned its head in my direction.
"Bro, how was it? Did you flank the village beauty?"
I slowly opened my eyes, staring at him with a sharp look. My mood wasn't exactly the best, but I didn't let anything be noticed.
"Shut up," I said calmly, but my voice left no room for discussion.
Lukas, who was just about to take off his jacket, stopped abruptly. "Wait... what is Ryan talking about?!" He asked and looked from him to me, his forehead tightening.
"Nothing, bro," I replied, hoping that the subject would be put aside as soon as possible.
But Ryan, who was obviously in the best mood, laughed out loud. "Hahaha! I saw Aiden with Oliwia upstairs in the room ... ALONE! Who knows what they did!"
Lukas froze, the shock was written on his face. Then he slowly turned to me, suddenly his gaze became serious.
"OLD, BRO!" He exclaimed, with a dramaturgy, as if he was just making the discovery of the century. "You know I wanted the little bitch!"
I remained calm, looking at him unmoved, as if I didn't mind.
Lukas raised a hand. "But! Bro before Hoe.'
Then he shrugged his shoulders. "Nevertheless, man! I had my plans too!"
I just raised an eyebrow and looked at him with a sarcastic look. "Which ones? Hold the door for her and hope that she gives you a marriageable look?"
Ryan slapped his chest laughing. "Aiden, you're really an ass, hahaha!"
I just let the remark bounce off me, crossed my arms behind my head and looked at the ceiling.
"It was just a kiss, nothing special," I said then, my tone became a little more serious when I added: "And don't call her that."
Lukas snorted, let himself fall on his bed and threw a pillow against the wall. "Great, now I have to find a new village beauty. Ryan, do you have any recommendations?"
Ryan, who was already half asleep on his bed, muttered with a grinning face: "Yes ... your mother ..."
Lukas immediately jumped up, grabbed Ryan's pillow and punched it in his face. "Say that again, you drunk duck!"
I rolled my eyes and turned to the side. "Good night, you idiots."
(Oliwia)
I came into our room with Lorelei. She was quite drunk, swaying slightly and leaning on me while I closed the door behind us. Lorelei grinned widely and glanced at me.
"Girl, where have you been at the party all the time? Or did you get a guy?" She winked at me and then laughed. "Hahaha!"
I shook my head, a little annoyed. "No! And besides..." I crossed my arms and sat down on my bed. "I don't fuck with anyone. I am a virgin!"
Lorelei laughed even louder. "Oh come on, you're really a mystery. But let's be honest, in the end you can either take Lukas or Aiden. Both are hot!" She grinned, and I could see her change her gaze from me to my bed, as if she was wondering if I even had one of them in my head.
I knew what she was thinking, and a slight breath of discomfort crept up into me. Lukas was charming, outrageously self-confident - and he had really unsettled me when he was so challenging towards me. Aiden, on the other hand, was ... different. Mysterious. And I couldn't deny that he had a certain mystical aura that tied me to him, even though he sometimes scared me.
"I'll take my time," I said calmly, to organise my thoughts. "It's not about just sleeping with anyone. It must be something special."
Lorelei laughed wryly. "Oh, you're really the romantic! But hey, who knows? Maybe Aiden is the one for you. Lukas has his own way, but the guy can have anything he wants."
I shook my head. "He can have anything, but not me. And Aiden is... different." I felt a little nervous when I thought of him. Why couldn't I just deal with him without doubting?
Lorelei just laughed. "You know what you're doing, Girl. But don't forget: in the end, it's up to you what you want. They're both hot, but you have to figure out if you really want to get involved with one of them."
I nodded thoughtfully. "I'll find out when the time comes. But it won't be easy to be just like that with anyone."
The next morning I woke up early, still a little dazed by the events of last night. The memory of the party and what had happened afterwards was still buzzing in my head. I shook off my thoughts and focussed on what was ahead of me: my first lecture with Professor Hermann – Literature. I wanted to make a good impression, so I decided on a simple but elegant outfit: a light, tight-fitting top, black pants and my favourite ankle boots. I quickly tied my hair into a loose ponytail, and a touch of make-up made me look fresh, but not too conspicuous.
When I entered the room, I was surprised that it was not yet full, but some students were already sitting in the front rows. The large, bright lecture hall was flooded with sunlight, and the wooden floor reflected the light. There were notebooks and coffee mugs on the tables, and some groups of students quietly whispered to each other. I went to an empty seat and sat down, without paying much attention to who was sitting next to me. I was too busy to really look around.
But then, when I settled down, I realised it – Aiden. He sat right next to me. My eyes widened for a moment when I recognised him. He was wrapped in a dark hoodie and jeans, his appearance calm and distant. Something about his presence made me involuntarily nervous. But what irritated me even more was that he didn't say anything. No "good morning", no smile - nothing. Just this cool, almost absent attitude.
I tried to focus on the room around me, on the notes I had brought with me, and the professor who was just starting with the first words. But my thoughts kept buzzing back to Aiden. Why was he so quiet? Why did he seem so uninterested in me after we talked yesterday?
I dared to take a look at him. He stared straight ahead, his gaze fixed on the blackboard, as if he hadn't even noticed me. It was almost as if he was trying to keep his distance. Maybe he had enough of me after last night or just didn't want to get into some kind of confrontation.
"Are you coming for the literature lecture?" He finally asked in a calm, indifferent voice when he noticed me. It sounded almost like a mere statement, without real curiosity.
"Yes," I replied, my heart beating a little faster, but I tried to stay calm. "I thought it would be a good start to the semester."
He just nodded, without another word. No question, no more smile, just a short, cool reaction. It was clear that he was trying to keep his distance. He seemed lost in his own thoughts as he sat a little further away from me and focussed on the professor.
I couldn't get rid of the feeling that he was deliberately keeping his distance. Why? What had happened that he suddenly seemed so cool? The space seemed to shrin out as I tried to concentrate. The professor's words missed my ears. Instead, it all revolved around Aiden and his distant nature.
During the lecture, I tried to focus on what the professor said, but my thoughts kept wandering to Aiden. The silence between us was almost tangible. I could hardly perceive the room around me, only the soft voice of the professor and the occasional rustling of notebooks.
Suddenly my pen slipped out of my hand. He rolled across the table and fell to the floor. I leaned forward to pick him up, and as I leaned towards Aiden, I felt his eyes on me. It was an almost electric feeling - as if an invisible band was stretched between us.
I raised my head, my eyes met his. He looked at me, but his face was serious, almost unchanged. Still, I felt this unconscious pulling in me, this slight twitching in my stomach, as if something in me triggered a reaction that I didn't quite understand. I couldn't tell if it was the tension between us, or if it was something else that was just in the air.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still, and I couldn't help but look into his eyes. Then his eyes quickly moved away, as if he had surprised himself. It was just a fleeting glance, but for me it felt like he wanted to say more than he did.
I quickly straightened up again, took a deep breath and tried to focus my concentration back on the professor. But the feeling that rose in me could not be easily shaken off.
When the lecture was over, I quickly made my way to the ladies' room, but suddenly I felt a hand grabbing mine and pulling me into an adjoining room. It was Aiden. He had a grip on me so tightly that I could hardly breathe.
"Let go of me!" I hissed, trying to free myself. But he pressed me even tighter, his eyes now cold and determined.
"Don't sit next to me again," he said in a voice that promised nothing good. The words were sharp, almost cold, as if he were penetrating me in my whole being. "You don't know what you're doing."
"What are you talking about? You kissed me like it was nothing, and now you don't want me to be near you? You bastard!" I shouted at him, angry, frustrated – I felt hurt and rejected.
But he remained calm, not letting me go of an inch. I tried to free myself, but his hand on my arm was like steel, his aura literally pressing me against the wall. "Stay away from me," he said, his voice much darker than before.
I looked at him, my blood boiling with anger. "So you just want to push me away after you kiss me? What the hell is with you?"
Suddenly he didn't make a mince, but the energy around him began to pulsate, more intensely than ever. My eyes widened as I felt something dark move inside me, as if it were a part of me that I had never known. "You don't know what you're unleashing," he muttered as his eyes glowed white, the energy in the air condensed and pressed me against the wall.
I felt a crack inside me as my own eyes turned black, as if I were looking into the abyss. Something inside me awoke, unbridled and wild. It was as if we were two parts of a whole, two forces that could not be stopped.
"What did you do to me?" I whispered as my hand died in his and I felt like I was losing control. The room around us began to vibrate, as if the ground under our feet began to shake.
"You're stronger than you think," Aiden said with a slight smile that looked almost creepy. "But you should hold back."
At that moment when our eyes met, it was as if everything had come to a standstill. Without another word, Aiden leaned over to me, and our lips met. The kiss was different - electric, a rush of energy that went through us, as if everything was exploding in that moment.
The pressure in the air became unbearable as our forces came together. I felt the urge to fight back, but my own strength was too strong. It was as if the room itself could no longer hold.
A huge bang shook the walls around us, and I heard the crackling of glass and the tearing of concrete as the upper floor of the university was gripped by the wave of our forces. The walls broke apart, and the building began to shake, as if it had been seized by an invisible storm.
But when the kiss ended and the room came back to rest, we both stood there - exhausted, confused and speechless. My eyes were still black, Aiden's were still a bright white.
Screams tore the air.
Not just individual – a chorus of pain, despair and panic.
My body felt numb, my breath went shallow. I couldn't believe what I saw.
Smoke gushed from the rubble above us, thick and suffocating, as if the building itself had held its breath. The upper floor ... was simply gone. A black hole gaped where walls had just stood. Debris rained down, dust was in the air like a burning fog. The stench of charred wood, melted plastic and ... blood ... crept into my nose.
People were on the ground. Some are motionless. Others whimpered, their voices hoarse with pain. A student knelt next to a body crying, shaking it in panic, while she kept shouting his name. A boy with a blood-stained face stagged aimlessly, as if his mind had already said goodbye.
My stomach tightened.
We ... had done that.
I staggered backwards, my legs feeling like rubber. My eyes wandered to Aiden. He stood motionless, his shoulders tense, his eyes focussed on the chaos. His hands were clenched into fists. His face showed no emotion - but I recognised it anyway. Shock. Fear.
Then – an outcry.
"WAS THAT A BOMB?"
"HELP THEM! PLEASE!"
"SHE'S NOT BREATHING ANYMORE!"
I became black before my eyes. I felt my knees give way. The blood rustles in my ears.
A hand grabbed my wrist, holding me tight.
"We have to get out of here." Aiden's voice was soft but sharp as a knife.
I tried to tear myself free. "What?!" My heart was racing. "We ... we can't just—"
His gaze hit me, ice-cold and relentless. "If they find out we were, you'll never be free again."
Sirens howled in the distance. Ambulance. Fire brigade. Police.
My breath became shallower, my head felt light. The voices around me turned into a muffled noise.
"Run."
I stumbled a step, but my legs didn't obey me anymore. Everything was spinning. The blood was rushing through my body, my vision blurred.
Then ... darkness.
The screams, the sirens, Aiden's voice - everything faded as my body gave way and I fell unconscious into his arms.