Celine's POV
Where did he go?
I spun around, looking for the dark haired vampire but just as quickly as he was here, every trace of him was gone.
"I have got the soap," Kira announced as she entered the room. "My God, this place is suddenly chilly, are you okay?"
I glanced over her shoulder. "Did you see anyone leave here as you came?" I asked hesitantly.
"No, are you good? You are shaking."
My eyes dropped to my hands, and sure enough, they were moving faster than normal. "I am fine," I smiled, reaching out to take the soap from her hands. She was still staring at me, but I was already less spooked, pouring the soap into my bucket of water.
"Are you sure you are okay?"
I smiled at her over my shoulder. "I think I am just tired to be honest. This room is much bigger than it seems."
I continued scrubbing the ground and Kira sent me, making small talk even though I ignored half of what she said, listening half heartedly. When we finished, Kira followed me to the dorm.
"I'll see you tomorrow in class?" Kira asked, wiping her wet hands against her frock.
"Yeah, I wonder how tomorrow will be," I grinned, opening the door. "Goodnight Kira."
"'Goodnight Celine," she answered, waving back..I watched her close the door behind her before I went in, the sound of the door closing behind me.
The dorm was quiet so I made sure to tip toe, till I got to my room. When I pushed the door open, all my roommates were sound asleep, soft snores coming out of their mouths.
Exhaustion crashes into me immediately as I climb onto my bed, the creaks causing me to pause. The first rays of the sun had started rising, and I yawned, blinking twice so I could try to rest.
"Ugh," I groaned, my head landing on the hard mattress. Something dug into my skin beneath my ribs, and I straightened up, tiredness screaming for me to sleep.
I pressed my hands against the bed softly. There was a bump, something was definitely there, so I lifted it up, then I brought them out.
A small yellow container that smelled faintly of mint and a blue leather bound book. I opened the container and sniffed, mint and grease hitting my nose…who had put these here?
Someone had gone through the struggle of leaving me a healing salve for my blisters, and a book…I paused, opening the book slightly. "Beginners Guide To Elemental Magic," I whispered, very aware of my sleeping roommates.
Was it one of them, perhaps, that left it for me?
That was very unlikely, given their dark candor to my being in their room. "Thank you," I whispered, hoping whoever it was, could be close enough to hear me.
I flipped through the pages, the soft flutter the only thing that could be heard from the silent room. There were so much, names I had never seen before but I had heard a lot working at Velathen, and the familiarity in them made me smile.
Sleep came but I fought it, blinking multiple times the words hazy.
"Zinara," Darius smiles, running away from me. "My sweet Zinara."
"Darius," I laughed, chasing after my brother. Soon, he began running too fast. "Darius, wait. I can't keep up. Darius."
I woke up with a scream. He was so real. How had I fallen asleep? I sighed, looking around me. The room smelt faintly of something metallic, yet all I could think about was my brother's face as I ran after him.
I touched myself. I was reading something, I remembered. A book. Finally, I found the small blue book on magic. In between the pages, was a stuck out paper.
I pulled it out, curiosity causing my brows to drop. It was small, an envelope with a red seal. I tore it open quickly and stood at the first line.
To Zinara Nightshade.
Someone knows who I am here. The room was silent, and I got up, slowly scanning my roommates' bunks. It was all empty. The sun was much higher now.
"I am late," I groaned, cursing whoever sent that sleep. I calmed my beating heart and tore out the paper, and began to read.
'Zinara Nightshade,
How marvelous it was to finally watch you in action. I had forgotten how it felt to be in the midst of a Nightshade, yet you made the orientation last night the highlight of my day. You have so much potential, waiting to be unlocked, and I am giddy to experience them all. I do hope…you do not disappoint.'
I stared at the words in shock, then I grabbed the envelope again. "Obsidian," I hissed, touching the red seal. It was still warm to touch, which means whomever this was, they were in my room just this morning. Obsidian was one of the hardest glass to melt, but the message in it did not seem like a threat to me.
Gong.
The loud academy Bell rang across to my room. I had to think about this another time, not right now. I looked around my belongings, and stuffed the book and the letter at the bottom of my box.
When I came back from training, I would attend to them, but for now, I had to be fast or else, I would be punished on the first day. I changed quickly, pouring water on my face from the trough in the room and left making sure my bed was not scattered.
"Ouff," someone wheezed behind me as I ran into them trying to shut my door. "Kiera," I gasped, turning around to see my friend on the floor.
"I figured you would be sleeping late," she groaned, stretching her hand out. I took it and helped her up. "Sorry," I apologized
"You must be starving, Celine. You missed breakfast and you weren't at the hall too. I came to make sure you are okay."
I bit the inner corner of my mouth. "I am okay, but something has been bothering me."
We walked side by, and I was following her largely. "What is it?"
"I got an anonymous letter this morning, when I woke up," I said. "Did you?"
"No," Kiera replied, shaking her head. "Was it sealed?"
Should I tell her? "Yes," I said. "In obsidian. I think I am being monitored."
"That is preposterous," Kiera hissed. "Are you the first student they had a mishap with? I think you should report to the authorities, maybe Headmistress Triss could help."
"No no," I shook my head. "After last night, I am sure I am her worst student, plus if we don't have any idea who is doing it or I go to them without enough proof, I might get expelled." Worse, my true identity would be revealed, but I don't say that part aloud.
"Fine," Kiera agreed. "I'll help you. We'll find the culprit later okay?"
I nodded. I just needed to know who, and find out how they knew who I was.