"Five, six, seven, eight. Glide..dance, side to side. Let me see some chemistry." Miss Petranova conducted the dance class with her wand. Her accent thick.
"Ow. Why did you step on me?" Someone said.
Miss Petranova turns to where the disruption came from, " What's going on?"
"She stepped on me." The male said.
"He's moving too fast." The female said as her eyes flashed red.
Ember wolves and their bad tempers.
"Enough." Miss Petranova snapped. " What is wrong with you all? The visiting day is a few days away and you're still not getting it. I need the chemistry. We're presenting this dance in front of the parents, principal and council. It's the tree lighting dance. Without the chemistry, the tree will not light up."
She paused to take a breath.
"This is not just dance. It's a ritual." She placed her hand on her forehead.
"The two of you, go sit down."
The two students obeyed.
"From the top, everyone. One two three go."
The students started dancing again. After what felt like five from the top forevers, they stopped.
"Gods! I'm so tired. I need water." Yvaine was panting.
"But you're doing great so far," Elyan playfully nudges her.
"I try."
Miss Petranova clears her throat. " Now it's time to pick our center couples."
The students began to murmur amongst themselves.
"Mister Vireleith, come forward please."
What? Caelan was in this dance class? Why hadn't she seen him?
Caelan stepped forward. Their eyes meet. He smiled at her. She quickly looked away.
" Miss Theolux, come forward please."
Yvaine's heart dropped to her stomach.
"See, I told you, you danced well." Elyan whispered.
Yvaine went to the center.
"We meet again, stranger." Caelan winked at her.
"Hi, Caelan."
Her skin was beginning to tingle again. The buzz has returned.
"I hope we get paired together." He says.
Yeah... So I can rest my head on that sexy chest of yours and you have your hand around me... Yvaine didn't say this.
"Yeah..me too." She says instead.
Then...
"Mister Lioréan and Miss Modric? Step forward."
Oh no...not him.
Valtira scoffed. " I'm the best partner for Lucien, Miss Petranova."
"No you're not, Valtira. Although you dance gracefully but your energies are too alike."
Valtira rolled her eyes, obviously pained.
Miss Petranova turned to them. She smiled. " Miss Modric and Mister Vireleith together, Miss Theolux and Mister Lioréan together."
W-wait... What now? She had to dance...with him? She'd just die already. She glanced at Lucien. He didn't have his usual smug smile or frown...he was just blank.
Yvaine felt her throat dry up.
She tried to argue. " Miss Petranova... Can you pair me with Caelan, instead?"
"If anyone questions my pairing again, I'll send you to principal Myrrin." Miss Petranova sounded pissed. " Places, everyone."
She waved her wand and classical music began to play. Caelan and Elaria began to dance immediately. Yvaine just stood transfixed.
The music stopped. " What's this huh?" Miss Petranova's eyes flashed with anger.
"I...uh...I..." Yvaine stuttered.
"One last chance, Theolux."
The music started again. Lucien offered his hand. She looked at it for a while and then took it. His hand wrapped around her waist as they began to dance. His scent was filling her nostrils.
Yvaine didn't look up at him. Head down.
"Look up at your partners, people. Chemistry!" Miss Petranova called out.
Yvaine slowly raised her face to him. His eyes were cold, hard and beautiful all at the same time.
"What are you looking for, Theolux? For the scars you tried to give me the other day?"
"No. Just following instructions." Yvaine responded flatly.
"Too bad they cleared up. Only those who have their wolves would understand super fast healing."
Ouch. That stung.
"Can we just dance?" She asked.
"Sure."
His hand gripped her waist tighter.
"What are you doing?"
"Just showing you how to scratch someone to leave a deep scar."
She felt his fingers shift to claws and dig into her back.
She winced from he pain.
"Stop. You're hurting me."
Then... She felt her head ring. That aura suppression again.
"Lucien..."
"Keep dancing and don't you dare try to get Miss Petranova's attention. Smile."
And she did smile. Tears began to run down her cheek.
"Now that's more like it..more chemistry." The teacher mused.
Yvaine felt like fainting. She felt liquid on her back. She knew it was blood. The music was fading.
Suddenly, she screamed and pushed him backwards. Everything was coming back to her now.
"What is the meaning of this, Miss Theolux?"
Yvaine staggered backwards away from Lucien. He still had that blank stare on his face like he'd not just almost killed her and rip out her spinal cord.
"He... he's suppressing me with his aura and dug his claws into my back."
The students gasped.
" What nonsense is this? Is this your way of trying to get out of the pairing?" Miss Petranova asked.
"But he..."
"No buts!"
Yvaine began to laugh.
Everyone stared at her. Elyan mouthed, "are you okay?"
She turns to Lucien " I know why you've been suppressing me. It's all clear now."
Lucien's eyes flickered with something... Was that...fear?
Yvaine continues. " You wanted to humiliate me right? I'll do it for you."
She begins to take off her waistcoat. There's blood at the back of her shirt. This gets more gasps.
"Miss Theolux, stop this madness."
Oh now she's mad? But Lucien is sane? She'll display her lunacy here and now. She began to unbutton her shirt.
Caelan and Elyan run to her but she stops them.
"You wanted me naked in that bathroom that's why you stole my uniform and tore it right? Well, here I am." She took off her skirt.
She was standing, crying in just her underwear, two deep holes on her back.
"This is what you wanted, right? So can you stop tormenting me?"
Miss Petranova wasn't having it. " That's it. Two of you... You're coming with me. Now."
Miss Petranova dragged Yvaine out of the dance class.
Before Lucien could move, Caelan attacked him with a punch. " Are you happy now, Silver Jerk?"
Lucien didn't attack back. Surprising.
Caelan and Elyan go after Yvaine and Miss Petranova.
Why wasn't Nyx and the others in this class?
The other students murmured as they watched Lucien.
"What are you staring at?" He snaps at them. They Avery their eyes.
He picks up the uniform and leaves the class.
___________
Lucien paced back and forth in his dorm room. Why hadn't she outed him to principal Myrrin?
He had thought she was going to tell the principal about what she'd seen that first night and how he'd blocked her from remembering it, but she didn't say a word.
Worse... Why did he feel bad for what he pulled at dance class?
"Lucien!" His thoughts were interrupted by Erykxen.
"What is it?"
"It's time to go to the woods."
Lucien sits on his bed. " I'm not in the mood, Eryk."
Erykxen blinked. " What? You planned it and we have everything prepared. Let's go."
"No..I'm too tired. Tell the guys to cancel."
"Cancel? Don't tell me you're turning soft because that wolfless girl cried."
Lucien snapped. " I said I'm not in the mood!"
There was an energy burst that sent Erykxen flying across the room, hitting his back on the wall.
"Easy, man." Erykxen groaned as he tries to get up.
"Get out."
Erykxen glared at him. " Fine. I'm going."
He slammed the door shut behind him.
Erykxen was right. Was he getting soft? No. He wasn't.
"Stop tormenting me." He heard her voice pleading over and over again.
Ugh.
Pathetic.
He needed a run. The moon's out tonight. He takes off his shirt and goes out through the window. The moment he's out, he shifts and runs towards the stream at the back of the school.