Chapter 58-Her place (3)

Chapter 58: 58-Her place (3)

Finally, they arrived. The buses finally began to slow as Old Scaris emerged beyond the forest.

For several minutes, Maisa watched the ancient town through the darkened window without really seeing it.

Her mind was still trapped inside the student council bus, replaying every word that had been thrown at her.

"Stay within your limits, redblood."

"An outcast lecturing us. How bold!"

Each time the memories returned, the ache beneath her ribs tightened until she had to press her palm against her chest.

Then the bus rolled over an old stone bridge, and Old Scaris appeared. The town looked nothing like Veris Academy.

Where the academy was grand, polished, and carefully maintained, Old Scaris looked as though it had been carved directly from history and simply forgotten by time.

Ancient stone buildings crowded narrow streets, their walls covered in creeping ivy and dark moss. Tall wooden balconies leaned over cobblestone roads, while enormous iron lanterns hung from chains between buildings, their enchanted flames glowing with soft amber light.

Farther beyond the town, jagged mountains rose beneath the moon, their peaks disappearing into clouds.

Old Scaris was said to be older than the vampire monarchy itself. Some legends claimed the first vampires had walked these very streets. Others claimed the town had existed before vampires had even learned to call themselves a nation.

Tonight, none of that mattered to Maisa. The moment the bus doors opened, she was gone.

She grabbed her luggage and stepped down before most of the students had even unbuckled their belts. She didn’t look toward the student council. She didn’t look at Varitreya, Addessa, Lumi, or Zolani.

She simply walked out and continued to walk faster. Her heart desired to put as much distance between her and the fiery four for the moment.

"Maisa!" Sapphire jumped from the bus after her. "Wait... wait for me."

Maisa kept going. Her boots struck the cobblestones rapidly as she moved toward the hotel entrance. She could hear Sapphire following behind her, but she couldn’t bring herself to slow down.

She needed space and air, and she needed to stop feeling like every breath she took belonged to somebody else because at that moment, it felt like that.

Sapphire eventually caught up with her and grabbed the handle of her suitcase. "Hey, Maisa," she pulled her to a stop. "I was busy calling you."

Maisa stopped. She stared ahead, into the distance, doing her best to remain composed in public. Her biggest desire at that very second was to get to her assigned room, fall asleep, and try not to wake up until the ache stopped.

Sapphire looked at her face and immediately regretted speaking. She had pushed Maisa to speak up for the redbloods, and Maisa got hurt in return. It saddened her to see it.

Maisa’s eyes were still slightly red. She had wiped away the tears, but the evidence remained of the pain she had held in her eyes during the journey.

"I’m sorry," Sapphire said quietly. "I really am sorr"

Maisa looked at her. "For what?" She asked. Deep down, she knew the answer. She just hoped if she pretended, then it wouldn’t be as bad as it was.

"For pushing you to speak," Sapphire lowered her gaze. "I thought you needed to say something because the redbloods were counting on you. I didn’t think..." She swallowed. "I didn’t think they’d treat you like that."

Maisa stared toward the hotel. Her eyes were distant and almost emotionless. However, underneath, there was a storm brewing. "Neither did I."

She hadn’t expected kindness from Addessa or even friendship, but she had expected basic respect that should be accorded to the living, breathing vampire. She had been foolish to think her capable of that.

Sapphire squeezed her arm. "You did the right thing."

Maisa gave a small, mocking laugh. She didn’t believe those words for a second. Had she done the right thing, she wouldn’t hurt the way she hurt now.

"Did I?" She inquired, unable to wrap her head around Sapphire’s comfort.

"You spoke for people who couldn’t," Sapphire kept pointing at the sver lining.

"And look where it got me!" Maisa fired at her. It got her insulted and undid whatever small friendship existed between her and Varitreya. She went back to being redblood instead of Maisa in Varitreya’s eyes.

Sapphire held her tongue and said no more. It had gotten Maisa humiliated in front of the entire student council, the princess and Addessa hadn’t spared much words, but the little they said was enough to send Maisa down a pit of despair and hurt.

The other students were already pouring out of the buses, and whispers immediately began spreading. Several students glanced toward Maisa and Sapphire.

Some stared with envy of the fact that they got to ride with two whiteblood nobles, the other members of the student council, and the class heartthrob. It was a full bus and they got to enjoy it. Others looked confused.

There were whispers about Maisa being allowed onto the student council bus because she had agreed to be Zolani’s personal feeder, and thar is Zolani invited her.

Whispers about Lumi sitting beside her and that the two of them were having an affair, and that is why they arrived together. It was even said that Lumi must’ve bullied Zolani into helping her keep the secret. As information surfaced that both Zolani and Lumi had visited Maisa during house arrest.

Other stories that no one dared to speak of was of how the princess had personally protected her, and they figured it was because she was Varitreya’s secret lover. That scenario also explained how a redblood was able to join the academy in the middle of the semester and why the palace protected her.

To everyone else, Maisa seemed impossibly privileged. When they looked at her, they saw the girl who had somehow gotten close to the most powerful vampires in the academy.

What they didn’t see was the girl who wished desperately that she’d never stepped onto that bus. Maisa regretted having accepted Zolani’s invitation.

Professor Primrose soon gathered everyone outside the hotel and began assigning rooms.

"Listen carefully," she ordered. "You will remain in your assigned rooms unless instructed otherwise. Old Scaris is an ancient town. You are not to wander without permission. Professor Suzyanne and I will be responsible for your safety, but that does not mean you should make our jobs difficult."

Students laughed quietly.Most of whom had secret plans of wandering off. Primrose glared at them. The intention in her eyes was clear, and she would take action on anyone who dared disobey her.

The laughter died with that look from her. Primrosw proceeded to assign room, two students per room. Names were called one after another, and Maisa barely listened until she heard hers.

"Maisa Loven and Sapphire Simmers. You’ll room together, come up front, and get the key to your room!"