-Victoria-
Thank God my mother knows me better than I know myself. Plus, it helps she happens to, apparently, be best friends with my teacher. She set an alarm for just the right time to wake me for breakfast. I stumbled my way out of the dungeon to be met by Ani and Anna both portraying zombies. Together, we drag ourselves into the dining hall to drown ourselves in coffee.
"Today is going to be such a long day," Ani groaned, face falling to the table, "I don't know how I'll stay awake."
"If we were better with magic, we could just illusion ourselves to look like we're paying attention." Anna pointed out.
"Yeah well none of us could manage that." I laughed.
"At least we'll be miserable together." Ani mumbles through his arms.
"Not me," I said, Ani and Anna both looked at me confused, "According to my schedule, today I get to have classes with the Aivorians."
"That means you'll be with…" Ani started.
"The prince…" Anna finished.
"Yup…" I gave them a dejected smile, "Yay for me."
"Maybe he'll realize he's hurt you and will just leave you alone." Anna said hopeful.
"Doubt it," I replied, "He had his spy deliver a note after you guys left last night. He wants to be friends and that he'll still help me in class."
"Who does he think he is?" Anna asked, offended on my behalf.
"He's a prince." Ani reminded her.
"I know that!" Anna yelled, frustrated, "Still doesn't give him the right-oh, speak of the devil."
I turned my head to see Azax entering the dining hall, his spy and wall flanking him on either side. Our eyes locked for a split second, a jolt of electricity traveled down my spine, before I adverted my eyes. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him say something to wall and spy before making his way towards our table. He didn't get far. Anna just appeared between him and me, arms crossed, immovable.
"Let's go." Ani whispered, taking my hand and pulling me away from the table.
Azax tried to move around Anna but, faster than the Flash, she was right back in front of him. We were out the door and down several halls filled with blue cloaked students. We skidded to a stop in an alcove away from curious eyes.
"That was close." Ani gasped, bent over.
"Just glad we managed to get away." I said, breathing slightly heavy.
"Not quite." A voice said out of nowhere.
Ani gave a not so manly scream while I yelped, hands flying up ready to fight. There, in the once empty space between us, was the prince's spy. Though his face was blank, I could make out the faintest hint of a smirk at our reaction.
"Were you trying to give us heart attacks?" I asked, lowering my hands.
"Where'd you even come from?" Ani asked at the same time, trying to slow his racing heart.
"My Prince ordered me to follow the two of you the second his path was blocked by the loud one," He stated, answering Ani question.
"Why would he want you to follow me?" I asked, "You know I read his letter last night. If he wants to be friends having me followed is not the way to do it."
"While I appreciate that, I can assure you this is him trying to help you." He spoke.
"How is having someone follow me helping?" I cross my arms.
"Your Varezian friend here does not know where your classes are today," He explained, "So the Prince asked me to show you to our first class."
"He's got a point." Ani begrudgingly agreed, to which I held up a hand to silence him.
"I don't need help finding my classes," I responded, confidently, "I have a map."
"Do you mean the map you left with all your books, supplies and bag on your desk?" He pointed out.
My eyes went wide as I remembered stumbling from my room without it this morning. Ani face palmed. I realized, given how long we'd been chatting, there was just no time to go back for it now.
"Fine," I reluctantly agreed, "I'll let you show me the way. But after class I'm going back for my stuff."
"No need," The spy assured, "All your things are waiting for you in the classroom."
"It is?" I was surprised.
"Yes," He said, "The Prince asked me to retrieve it after I informed him you forgot it."
"You went into my room without asking?" I asked before it clicked what he said before, "Wait, how'd you know I forgot it?"
"I know everything that happens in this school." He stated.
"That's creepy." I pointed out.
"It's kind of his job." Ani reminded me.
I turned to look at him in disbelief, but he just shrugged. Ani did have a point.
"Fine," I said, throwing my hands up in defeat, "I'll follow the stupid spy to class."
"Let's get going then," The spy said, gesturing me to follow, "Don't want to be late for classes two days in a row. Headmaster would not be pleased."
I flushed with embarrassment at the not-so-subtle comment on my continued struggles with the headmaster. I shuffled off after the spy.
"Good luck." Ani called after us, waving.
I turned and waved back before continuing down the hall behind the spy. People stared, whispered and some even pointed as we walked through.
"Bit rude." I mumbled under my breath.
"They aren't looking at you," The spy said without looking back, "They're looking at me."
"Why would they stare at you?" I asked as we passed another group of onlookers.
"I am rarely seen walking through the halls," He explained, "I pass unseen until I am needed."
"What's the point in that?" I was actually a little confused by this.
"As the timid one pointed out, it's my job." He said.
"Timid one. Loud one. My friends have names. Their names are Ani and Annamorith." I said, trying to defend my friends.
"I know their names," He replied, "But do any of you know my name?"
"No," I whispered, ashamed before asking, "What is your name?"
"My name is Itrix." He replied.
"Nice to meet you, Itrix." I mumbled.
"Good to know you, Victoria." He responded before asking, "By the way, what is Harry Potter?"
"You really are creepy." I laughed.
We finally reached the classroom just in time. Itrix was definitely right about needing help to find it. This room had to be the furthest possible room from the dining hall. When we entered the room, Azax was waiting with my bag in his hand, a smirk on his face. I snatched it from him quickly and looked around for an empty chair. Conveniently, there was one next to Azax in front or one way in the back in a dark corner. Needless to say, I marched myself to the back of the classroom and sat down.
I was pulling everything out of my bags when I noticed something moving out of the corner of my eye. I nearly jumped out of my seat when I realized I had sat next to someone. She was little. You might have mistaken her for a child.
"Hello," I said, "I'm sorry for rushing over here without introducing myself. I'm Victoria."
She just stared at me with wide eyes, not moving a muscle.
"Hello?" I asked, waving my hand in front of her face.
"You can see me?" She whispered, her voice like a bell.
"Of course," I replied, "You're not invisible."
"I'm as good as," She explained, "People don't notice me even when they bump into me. I walk through life basically invisible."
"Well, I notice you," I stuck my hand out towards her, "My name's Victoria."
"I'm Nothall." She took my hand with a small smile.
Meeting Nothall must have been a gift from God. Her ability to go unnoticed spread to me the entire time we were together. Azax saw me for the entirety of class but once Nothall and I went out into the hall, it was like I was never there. Teachers gave no notice to me but when I asked Nothall how she gets her attendance recorded she explained how she uses a spell to mark the name once attendance is done. She did the same for me so I wouldn't be marked as skipping.
At lunch and dinner, I sat with Nothall. I had to laugh as I saw Azax, Itrix, and wall all looking for me along with Ani, Anna and even Ustrea and her goons. After dinner, I took pity on everyone and said goodbye to Nothall in the central hall, promising to meet her for breakfast and to introduce her to my friends.
I had not walked five steps down the hall towards my room when I was grabbed and pulled into an alcove. There was Azax, Itrix and wall all waiting. Itrix looked incredibly stressed while Azax held me in place by both my shoulders.
"Where were you today?" Azax demanded.
"I was class with all of you," I said holding back a smirk, "Didn't you see me?"
"I saw you in our first class but after that no one could find you all day." Azax let go of my shoulders and crossed his arms, "So where did you go?"
"I swear I was in class," I reassured smiling wider, "I'm sure Itrix saw the attendance sheet. My name was on there."
"She is right, Your Highness." Itrix agreed, his eyes boring holes into my head.
"How could you be in class if no one saw you?" Azax was really digging for the answer.
"Well, I made a new friend in our first class," I explained, "Her name is Nothall."
"There is no student by that name here." Itrix said matter of factly.
"Actually, there is," I argued, "She just walks through life going completely unnoticed by people. She is just like you, Itrix, except she doesn't need to try. Maybe, if you're all nice, I'll introduce you to her tomorrow morning."
"Your Highness, I must-" Itrix started to excuse himself.
"Yeah, just let me know what you find." Azax agreed.
He bowed as he faded into nothing. With a nod, wall also left the alcove, seemingly to watch guard so we weren't interrupted. Azax leaned back against the wall sighing heavily.
"You've been avoiding me." He stated.
"What gave it away?" I sassed back.
"Look," he began, "I know I omitted somethings when we met-"
"Omitted somethings?" I was appalled at how he played it off, "You make it sound like you hid a weird birthmark or an evil twin. What you omitted was that you have a fucking fiancé."
"I'm sorry," He said, looking ashamed, "I never meant for it to go that far. I just couldn't deny the feelings that built between us. Neither could you."
"There may be something there, but it ended the second I learned you and her arefated to be together." I said, taking a seat on the bench.
"That's just it." He said, sitting next to me, "People say we're fated, but I feel nothing for Ustrea. The only one I have ever felt anything for is you. You have stirred something inside me, and I can't fight it. I won't fight it."
"So, you'll just...break off the engagement?" I pressed him.
"I...can't..." he hung his head in shame.
"Then that's it, Azax." I said, laying a hand on his shoulder, "When it's all said and done, you'll just go back to her because you have to, and I won't be a mistress."
"We can still be friends." He pleaded.
"I don't think we can," I admitted, "Even now all I want you to do is pull me into your arms and never let go. I can see you feel the same. Being friends, hanging out, it would just set us up for failure."
"Please..." He lets out a broken whisper.
"Leave me alone, Azax," I demanded, standing to leave, "For both our sakes."
I left the alcove. Wall didn't even try to stop me. I didn't cry. I needed to move forward. I'd only been here three days, and still had much to learn. I needed to find where I belonged, and no lovey Prince, bratty Princess or evil Headmaster would get in my way.