Chapter 57-Her place (2)

Chapter 57: 57-Her place (2)

"Does she?"

Varitreya looked at him sharply. The look in his eyes suggested that he didn’t buy her excuse and thar it was precisely why she chose hostility. Kayden seemed cold to the world, warm and playful with her, but he was sharp and good at reading vampires. Secrets were rarely kept from him.

The rest of the world was under the impression that he’s not that smart because he always ranks fifth in the class, but she knew better. Kayden didn’t fight her for first place out of respect for her, as for second, third and fourth places, he didn’t dare hold those posts merely to send the message that he wasn’t brilliant, thereby leading to vampires underestimating him.

His method was we thought out. He doesn’t shine too brilliantly, but he doesn’t fail either. Just enough to be noticed but not enough to stand out.

He was the calculating and held aces up his sleeve while pretending the world didn’t matter to him.

"Yes," she answered.

Kayden didn’t flinch. "You sounded angry," he continued quietly. "Not authoritative, Vari... angry."

Varitreya’s fingers tightened harder around the armrest. "Drop it, Kayden."

He studied her for another moment before leaning back. "As you wish, Blood Heir."

But his eyes remained thoughtful. He knew Varitreya better than most, and the feeling that something was wrong was getting harder and harder for him to shake, and he intended to figure out what.

On the other hand, Maisa eventually wiped the corner of her eye. She took a slow breath. "I shouldn’t have said anything," she finally spoke.

"No, dear. Don’t say that," Zolani’s response came immediately.

Maisa looked at her. It was hard to place her feelings. She was hurt and in pain even though there was no visible wound to the blow she suffered. And she regretted having stood up, things things fine before that.

Zolani’s expression was unusually firmness. "You should have. You were speaking up for problems you’ve noticed and experienced and simply wanted them to be addressed," she said, remembering how she had also felt the same in her battle.

"But look what happened," Maisa sniffled.

"You spoke the truth, and you shouldn’t feel bad about that. Nor should you blame yourself," she went on, encouraging and comforting based on the words she wished someone had said to her during her struggles.

Maisa gave a tiny, humourless laugh. The laugh was mocking herself for thinking that she had what it takes to speak the truth in a bus full of vampires who despise her blood and are more powerful than her.

"Apparently, the truth isn’t welcome here," he continued to hold back her tears. "I got chewed and spat out because of it," she added, aggrieved.

Zolani’s face softened. "Maybe not yet but I gave up just because they weren’t ready to hear out a mixedblood then, I wouldn’t be sitting here as the voice of my blood," she let out, hoping to encourage Maisa with her story.

Sapphire leaned forward. "They were wrong to do that to you, girl," as she spoke, there was guilt evident in her tone. "You did nothing wrong, Maisa. I am proud of you for taking a step that no redblood could ever take."

Maisa glanced at her. She didn’t feel proud of her actions. There were many emotions coursing through her, but pride wasn’t one of them.

When she stood up, she thought herself as string as steel even with shaking legs but they made her realize that she was weaker and lighter than a feather and if she’s not careful, she could be blown away at any moment.

Sapphire looked furious. "They were completely wrong. You weren’t trying to lecture anyone. You were asking questions that they don’t dare face!"

Maisa lowered her eyes. "I shouldn’t have expected them to listen."

"You have every right to expect them to listen," Zolani said. "You are a vampire, too, and you also attend Veris Academy. What is wrong with expecting fairness?"

Maisa’s fingers trembled slightly. Those words made sense, but at the moment, while she was still processing the harsh response from Varitreya and Addessa, they didn’t make her feel better.

"I’m just tired," she uttered, that admission came out barely above a whisper. "Tired of being scared... of being the lowest person in every room I enter. Tired of everyone deciding what I am before they even know me." Her voice cracked.

She met Zolani’s eyes. The softness in her eyes gave her some peace, but it didn’t end the war inside her.

"I’ve been an overlooked daughter, a student targeted on her first night in class, a redblood who is unwanted and labelled as an outcast. Apparently, I’m a political problem now, too," she laughed bitterly. "I don’t even know who I’m supposed to be anymore."

Zolani’s heart squeezed. She moved closer and wrapped her arm over Maisa’s shoulder. "You don’t have to know yet. Life is a journey, not research, with a deadline that you need to figure out before a certain time. You should take your time to live, learn, grow, and make mistakes. That’s how to get to know who you are."

Maisa looked at her, finding the advice moving. She leaned her head on Zolani’s shoulder and rested there.

"You’ve been a vampire for such a short time. You were thrown into this academy, bonded to four people, attacked, poisoned, dragged into palace politics, and somehow ended up representing an entire bloodline," the mixedblood pointed out

Zolani squeezed her hand. "Anyone would be overwhelmed."

Maisa stared at their joined hands. "What if I’m not good enough?" She asked, doubt taking route in her heart.

"You don’t need to be perfect, Maisa."

"What if I make everything worse?"

Zolani responded with confidence, "You won’t."

"What if they hate me?"

Zolani smiled sadly. "Some of them already do," she meant it as a reminder that the worst scenario she envisioned had already passed. Now, she didn’t want to let that hold her back anymore.

Maisa blinked. For some reason, she felt like smiling after hearing that. To say some students already hated her was an understatement. Most vampirescinbrge academy and the nation wanted her head on a spike.

Zolani shrugged. "So you have nothing left to lose."

Despite everything, a tiny laugh escaped Maisa. She found it hard to continue being so upset with Zolani comforting her.

Sapphire snorted. "Exactly. Don’t let that weigh you down. Just... hold your head up and move forward, roomie."

For the first time since the confrontation, some of the pressure in Maisa’s chest loosened. She closed her eyes and tried to shake off the suffocating feeling in her chest.

It was evident that none of the five vampires understood the full meaning of the bond yet but all five of them felt the same undeniable truth: the more they tried to push Maisa away, the harder the bond pulled them together.