Chapter 108-Nothing personal

Chapter 108: 108-Nothing personal

Maisa breathed out in relief as her body recovered. She didn’t notice Zolani as her mind was occupied with getting away from that place and the haunting memory of the pain of the blood rain.

She didn’t see the mixedblood quietly rise or see the devastation still carved across her face and she certainly didn’t see her turn toward Professor Primrose.

Zolani approached the professor with a hurriedness that made Primrose immediately concerned.

"Professor."

Primrose looked at her. "Zolani? What can i do for you?"

"I need indefinite leave from school."

Primrose’s expression changed. "Indefinite?"

Zolani nodded. "I can’t stay here."

There was something broken in her voice as she spoke which shocked Professor Primrose because the mixedblood had been fine a few moments back.

Primrose studied her for a moment, clearly wanting to ask what had happened inside the circle, but Zolani only lowered her head.

"Please..." she pleaded, clearly holding back her tears.

After a long silence, Primrose finally nodded. "I’ll handle the paperwork for you. Do let me know when you return and keep up with classes online through the blood mirror."

Zolani whispered her thanks and she walked away. She didn’t look back, not once. There was nothing left for her there.

By the time Maisa turned toward the place where she had been standing, Zolani was already gone. She didn’t want to dwell on that for the moment. She moved to get up.

"Here."

A hand appeared in front of Maisa suddenly. She looked up and locked eyes with Addessa. The blackblood stood before her with one hand extended to her.

For several seconds, Maisa simply stared at it. She looked at Addessa’s hand and then at Addessa’s face, she couldn’t understand what kind of games Addessa was playing now.

She clenched her teeth, there was still anger burning behind her eyes as she met those black eyes that held an innocence that hid the animosity Addessa felt towards her.

Addessa had pushed for her suffering, she had challenged her and had say there comfortably by the stands while the trial punished her and yet now she was offering her a hand.

’Is this a new trick she’s playing?’

Maisa hesitated before she reluctantly took hold of Addessa’s hand let the blackblood pull her to her feet.

Lumi immediately moved toward her. "I’ll take her back to the bus," she said. "You’ve done more than enough, Addessa."

"No, Lumi. I will do it," Addessa’s answer was immediate.

"Maisa can’t afford your kindness," Lumi frowned. "I can handle it."

"So can I."

"Addessa..."

"She is my responsibility now. Why don’t you ran on and find the explanation youll give your parents about your actions today," Addessa offered her a polite smile that held no sincerity. "They’ll surely hear about what happened here and when they do, they won’t take it kindly. Careful, you don’t get punished for standing up for her."

Lumi stared at her suspiciously but she couldn’t shake off the fear of her parent’s disappointment. When they hear she entered a trial for a redblood, defended her and even gave her blood from her wrist, she will be in more trouble than anything Addessa could picture.

Maisa glanced between them. She didnt want them to fight because of her. Before she said anything, Lumi backed down. "Fine. Don’t hurt her, Addessa."

"I’ll try to hold myself back."

Addessa led Maisa away from the circle. They walked in silence for several moments. The ruins slowly disappeared behind them as the students began gathering around the buses.

Then Addessa touched the bracelet around her wrist. A faint pulse of black light spread outward and the world suddenly became quieter. Her superhearing barrier had been activated and no one around them could hear their conversation.

Maisa noticed the silence and realized it was safe to talk so she initiated the conversation before Addessa did.

"Are you satisfied now?"

Addessa glanced at her. "With what?" She acted ignorant of what Maisa meant even though she understood.

"With me being punished just like you wanted."

Addessa smiled faintly. "This vendetta isn’t personal, Maisa."

Maisa’s eyebrows drew together. "What do you mean?"

Addessa crossed her arms. "I’ve spent the last year and the better half of this year putting my brother’s incident behind me," she spoke, her voice had changed.

There was no mockery in it now, only exhaustion. She was tired and just needed an outlet for the ache in her heart. Maisa just happened to be the perfect target.

"I had to live up to every expectation my mother set for me. I had to prove that I could wash away the stain Asher’s mistakes left on our family. I had to become everything she wanted me to become," she paused, her jaw tightened. "Then you showed up."

Maisa remained silent. She had learnt about Asher from Varitreya and knew the story so she could relate to what Addessa was saying.

"You triggered incidents that dragged everything back to the surface by being protected by the queen. Things I had spent months forcing myself not to think about... i was forced to remember... Every argument, every bloodline conflict, every mention of redbloods..." Addessa’s voice lowered. "It undid every effort I made to move past that tragedy."

She looked toward the mountains. "Now it feels like the worst part of my life happened yesterday... not a year ago... yesterday," her fingers tightened around her arms. "And I’m back at step one."

Maisa let out a choked breath. "I’m sorry."

She took a slow breath. "I’m back to that moment when everything went down. Grieving, remembering and managing the situation before it destroys what remains of me and my place in my family."

Maisa stared at her. "What does that have to do with me?"

"My brother," Addessa looked directly at her. "He was ruined because of a redblood."

Maisa’s expression hardened.

"And because of that, I’ve carried a weight of expectations I didn’t even realize existed until you became the hope of redbloods when the queen pardoned you and changed the rules for you," she said and stepped closer. "My mother can’t stand you because you represent everything she hates."

Addessa’s smile disappeared. "So she reminded me of my brother’s fate. She wanted me to get rid of you and she’s made it very clear that I will be dishonourable him if I don’t," her eyes narrowed. "And make no mistake, Maisa. I will get rid of you. Zing or no zing because I would never disrespect my brother or let my mother down."

Maisa’s jaw tightened. "I understand your hatred. I understand where you’re coming from," she said as she looked Addessa straight in the eyes. "So I’m not angry at you for feeling the way you do."

Addessa raised an eyebrow. "But?" She could feel there was more and quite frankly, she was more intrigued than moved.

"But I won’t sit back and let you win. I will fight you and not let you succeed."

Addessa laughed. She was amused at Maisa’s innocence. The girl had been a vampire two weeks and already she thought that she could taken on Addessa Challan and emerge victorious. It was hilarious.

"You already lost the first round, darling. So I’m looking forward to you keeping your word for the next round."

Maisa frowned. She assumed Addessa meant the way she had forced Varitreya to punish her. "If you’re talking about Varitreya punishing me, I’ll find a way to break the wall you’ve put between me and her," she said confidently. "I know that she didn’t mean to hurt me or see me in pain. And I also know that she cares for me so you won’t succeed in separating us."

Her voice strengthened as she made Addessa the promise. She shook her head. "This isn’t a win. It’s a minor setback."

Addessa’s expression became almost mischievous. She reached out and placed a hand on Maisa’s shoulder and then she turned her around.

"Look..." she pointed back at the trial circle.

Maisa followed her gaze. Several students were leaving the grounds. But there was one person missing that immediately came to Maisa’s mind, Zolani.

Addessa’s smile returned. "When the hearing started, Zolani was the first person to hold your hand."

Maisa’s stomach tightened. She had a feeling she wasn’t going to like what Addessa would say next.

"She stood beside you without hesitation and defied me and Vari for you," Addessa’s voice softened mockingly."But I couldn’t help noticing something."

Her fingers slipped from Maisa’s shoulder and down her hand. "She let go of you inside that circle while the blood rain was still going on. Why is that, Maisa?"