Venecia
After what happened at the fountain, I knew it was only a matter of time before word spread. My parents would hear about this sudden "closeness" to Romeo, and the fallout would be unbearable. Somehow, Liana got dragged into this, even though I wanted to keep her out.
The dreams and the mark on my shoulder remained a mystery, though I thought I'd stumbled onto something useful in the book Librarian Isolde gave me. Still, nothing made sense. I wasn't even sure if I could trust what I'd read. The more I thought about it, the less clear it became.
My priority now was simple: stay away from Romeo. He was trying too—I'd catch glimpses of him retreating whenever I entered the same room. But every time, I could still sense him, like his presence pressed into my consciousness. It was maddening.
At Regent, this time of year meant one thing: competition season. Every student was abuzz with excitement, preparing for debates, talent shows, and sports. Liana and I had joined every year without fail, but this time, I wasn't interested.
As I approached my locker, I could feel the energy radiating through the corridors. Groups of students huddled together, rehearsing speeches and choreographing dance moves. Decorations were being hung, and the whispers followed me everywhere. This week was going to be chaotic.
"Necia!" Liana called out from behind me. I didn't turn around. I knew she wouldn't stop until I acknowledged her, so I sighed and waited for her to catch up.
"What now?" I asked, swapping books out of my locker.
"What activity are you joining for the competition?" Liana said, grinning. "I'm thinking about entering the dance competition this time."
"I'm not joining anything."
Her smile faltered. "Not in the mood? Let me guess, it's the dreams and that—uh, thing on your shoulder?"
"Obviously," I muttered, slamming the locker shut.
"Look, I know it's bothering you, but don't let it ruin your mood. Get involved in something—distract yourself!"
"You don't get it, Liana," I said, spinning to face her. "You're not the one feeling it—this burning, this... this connection to him. I can't even think straight."
Her expression softened. "I'm sorry. I just hate seeing you like this."
I nodded silently and headed to class. There was nothing more to say.
Romeo
If it were up to me, I'd skip this week entirely. The annual competition preparations always turned the campus into a madhouse. For once, I wanted nothing to do with it.
After the incident at the fountain and the awkward library encounter with Venecia, I'd been trying to avoid her. People were already talking—Damien was prying incessantly—and I needed to lay low. Yet avoiding her was torture.
The mark on my shoulder burned at the slightest thought of her. I'd catch sight of her from across the room, and it felt like fire coursing through my veins. No matter how far I ran, this connection would never let me forget her.
Today, the activity pairings were being announced. Every year, students partnered up for debates, performances, and sports. I just wanted to slip away unnoticed and tell Mr. Abrams I wasn't participating. Surely, they didn't need me this year.
I grabbed my bag and headed to the auditorium, already dreading the noise and drama awaiting me.
Venecia
The auditorium buzzed with excitement as the list of pairs was announced. I stood in the back, arms crossed, regretting my decision to show up. Liana was beside me, bouncing on her toes, eager to hear her name. When the announcer finally called out her partner—a cheerful boy from the dance team—she squealed and rushed off, leaving me alone. I was about to slip out when I heard my name.
"Venecia Eryndor, paired with..."
The room seemed to still.
"Romeo Draekhaven."
What?!
A wave of heat rose from the mark on my shoulder, and my heart raced as whispers erupted around the room.
"Looks like you're stuck with the campus heartthrob," someone teased as I pushed my way toward Mr. Abrams. This couldn't be happening.
Romeo
"Romeo Draekhaven and Venecia Eryndor."
The words echoed in my mind as the burning sensation flared to life. I clenched my fists, trying to calm the fire on my shoulder. Of all people, why did it have to be her?
I made my way through the murmuring crowd, fully aware of everyone watching. Venecia was already arguing with Mr. Abrams when I arrived.
"This must be a mistake," she insisted.
"It's no mistake," Mr. Abrams replied calmly. "You're two of the best debaters in your grade. This pairing could win us the competition."
Debate. Great.
"I'll drop out," I said bluntly.
Mr. Abrams frowned. "Neither of you is dropping out. The list is final, and the competition is in three days. You'll meet me after school tomorrow for your first practice session."
Neither of us spoke as we left the auditorium. Venecia walked a few steps ahead, stiff with anger.
I wanted to say something, but what could I say? The burn on my shoulder persisted, intensifying whenever I looked at her.
"Listen," I finally said, "we'll get through the debate and move on. No one says we have to like it."
She stopped and turned to me, her eyes flashing. "Like it? I'd rather be anywhere else than in the same room as you."
Her words stung more than I expected. I opened my mouth to reply, but she was already storming off.
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Venecia
By the time I got home, I was still fuming. I couldn't believe this was happening. My one goal had been to avoid Romeo, to focus on figuring out the strange connection between us without his interference. Now, I was stuck with him for days.
Liana was sprawled across my bed when I walked in.
"So?" she asked, sitting up eagerly. "What happened?"
"You mean besides being forced into a debate partnership with Romeo Draekhaven?" I said bitterly, dropping my bag onto the desk.
Her eyes widened, then a slow grin spread across her face. "Seriously? This is perfect."
"Perfect? How is this perfect?"
She crossed her arms and tilted her head like it was obvious. "You can't run from him anymore. Maybe this is fate, Necia."
"Fate is a cruel joke," I muttered, flopping into my chair.
Liana came over and leaned against the desk. "Or maybe it's a chance to figure out whatever's going on between you two."
I shook my head, refusing to meet her eyes. She wouldn't understand—not the dreams, not the mark, not how every time I was near him, it felt like a storm brewing just beneath my skin.
"Drop it, Liana," I said quietly.
For once, she listened.
Romeo
By the time the debate practice came around, I was resigned to my fate. Mr. Abrams wouldn't budge, and there was no escaping Venecia—not with how closely everyone was watching us now.
I arrived at the debate room early, hoping to get my bearings before she showed up. Of course, my plans were dashed the moment the door creaked open, and she walked in. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun, and she was carrying a stack of books. The moment she saw me, her lips tightened into a frown.
"Don't expect me to make this easy," she said, dropping her books onto the table with a loud thud.
"I wasn't planning on it," I replied.
She rolled her eyes and took the seat farthest from me.
Mr. Abrams walked in a moment later, oblivious to the thick tension filling the room.
"All right, you two. Let's get started."
He laid out the topic—whether Regent Academy should integrate more digital learning into the curriculum. I glanced at Venecia, whose expression had shifted into focus. This, at least, was familiar ground for us. She might hate me, but she was competitive, and that meant she'd do whatever it took to win.
"Venecia, you'll argue for the integration. Romeo, you'll argue against," Mr. Abrams instructed before leaving us to brainstorm.
For the next hour, we avoided speaking directly to each other, but the back-and-forth was intense. She challenged every point I made, her eyes sharp and unyielding.
Halfway through, the burning sensation returned. It crept up my shoulder, and from her quick intake of breath, I knew she felt it too.
"Let's take a break," I said abruptly, pushing back my chair and standing.
"No, let's finish this," she snapped.
But her defiance only seemed to make the fire worse. I could feel it pulsing between us, and when our eyes met, there was something unspoken lingering there—something neither of us wanted to acknowledge.
"Fine," I said, sitting down heavily. "But don't act like this is all on me. Whatever's happening, it's not like I chose this."
Her gaze hardened, but she didn't reply.
Romeo - Later That Night
The argument lingered in my mind as I lay in bed. Every time I closed my eyes, the debate replayed itself like a stubborn tune I couldn't silence. Venecia's sharp words and fiery glares were etched into my thoughts, but it was more than that—the heat from the mark still lingered, a persistent reminder of whatever bound us together.
Why her? Why me?
It wasn't fair. This wasn't the life I'd imagined. My biggest problems had been grades and winning tournaments—things that didn't include mysterious marks or an uncontrollable pull toward someone who clearly despised me.
I sighed and rolled over, staring out the window at the moonlit sky. A part of me couldn't help but admire her determination. She never backed down, even when I pushed her, even when she probably wanted to walk away. That fire, as infuriating as it was, had been oddly captivating.
I groaned aloud. No, absolutely not. I wasn't about to start entertaining... feelings. Whatever this was, it wasn't normal.
But that didn't stop the dreams.
***************************
That Night—Venecia
I knew what was coming as soon as I drifted off—another dream. They were always vivid, always leaving me more confused than before.
This time, I stood in a vast, glowing field under a sky speckled with stars. The mark on my shoulder was glowing faintly, pulsing in time with my heartbeat. I wasn't alone.
Romeo stood a few feet away, his expression unreadable.
"This is another one of those dreams, isn't it?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.
"I think so," he replied. He looked as uneasy as I felt, which was saying something.
Before I could respond, a voice echoed through the field—soft and melodic, almost like a song. It pulled at me, filling my chest with warmth and sorrow all at once. I noticed Romeo felt it too. He winced, clutching his shoulder as though the pain from the mark was too much to bear.
"What is that?" I asked, the melody making my heart ache.
He shook his head. "I don't know, but it feels like... like we're supposed to follow it."We didn't move at first, our gazes locked as though daring the other to make the first move. Finally, the song grew louder, and I couldn't resist anymore. I started walking, the grass soft beneath my feet. To my surprise, he followed without argument.
The song led us to a lone figure cloaked in gold, sitting atop a stone pedestal. Their voice seemed to be the source of the melody, but as we approached, they stopped singing and looked directly at us.
"You two can't ignore it forever," they said softly, their words resonating in the air like an echo. "Your bond is not just a curse but a gift. Accept it, and you might just save yourselves—and others."
"Accept it?" Romeo asked, frustration edging his voice. "We don't even know what it is!"
The figure smiled enigmatically. "You'll find out soon enough. For now, trust the mark."
Before we could question further, the dream began to dissolve, leaving me clutching at nothing as I fell back into the void of sleep.
The next morning, I woke up with my heart racing. Romeo's face lingered in my mind—both from the dream and the debate. The figure's words replayed over and over like a mantra I couldn't escape: Your bond is not just a curse but a gift.
I had no idea what it meant, but one thing was certain: this was far from over.
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