Chapter 21
Ophelia
The witchcraft class is buzzing with energy. The students around me are unusually nice today, greeting me with smiles and nods. I appreciate it, but it feels strange, like they know something I don’t. The teacher, Ms. Taryn, however, doesn’t seem to care. Her eyes skim over me, barely acknowledging my presence.
“Alright, everyone, let’s begin with the basics of spell casting,” Ms. Taryn announces, her voice firm. “For those of you with powers, practice the incantations. For the rest, focus on your theory.”
I sigh, feeling a pang of disappointment. Even here, I’m reminded that I’m different. I pull out my notebook and start scribbling notes, but my head is pounding. The migraine that’s been lurking for days has decided to hit me in full force now.
“Ms. Ophelia, is there a problem?” Ms. Taryn’s voice cuts through my haze.
“May I be excused, please? I have a splitting headache,” I manage to say.
She looks at me for a long moment, then nods. “Fine.”
I gather my things and step out of the classroom. The hallway is eerily quiet. As I walk, the walls begin to shimmer, transforming into towering trees. The migraine intensifies, making it hard to see. I stumble, my vision blurring, and then everything goes dark.
When I come to, I’m in the library, Gabriel’s worried face hovering above me. “Ophelia, are you okay?”
I blink, trying to piece together what happened. “What… what’s going on?”
Gabriel’s hand is on mine, comforting. “You zoned out. I have been trying to get your attention for about ten minutes now. Are you feeling alright ?”
I look around, seeing Owen and Aurora nearby, concerned expressions on their faces. “When did we get here?”
Aurora answers, her voice soft. “Like half an hour ago.”
“What?” I choke out.”
“Yeah. After dinner. We decided to come to the library to work on Renault’s project. Do you remember?” Aurora says.
I shake my head, panic rising in my chest. “No. I don’t remember anything.”
“What is going on?” Owen asks. “What is the last thing you remember?”
“The last thing I recall is being in witchcraft class. Then the hallway turned into a forest and… and then nothing.”
Gabriel squeezes my hand. “ Fuck!”
“Gabriel…” I whisper, feeling my throat begin to close up in panic.
“You mean you don’t remember anything since like what…two p.m. Baby, it is almost seven o’clock now.”
“What is wrong with me?” I gasp. “What the hell is all this?”
“Hey, it’s okay. You’re aware now. You’re here,” Aurora says.
“But it’s not okay!” I snap, fear and confusion mixing into frustration. “I have no idea what’s happening to me.”
Owen steps closer, his eyes serious. “Maybe it’s stress. You’ve been through a lot recently.”
Aurora nods in agreement. “Yeah, and those migraines. They could be messing with your head.”
I close my eyes, trying to calm down. “I don’t know. It’s just… terrifying to lose time like that.”
Gabriel’s thumb caresses my cheek, grounding me. “We’ll figure this out. You’re not alone in this, Ophelia. Look, we are all here with you.”
His words are comforting, but I can’t shake the feeling that something is seriously wrong. “What if it happens again?”
“Then we’ll deal with it,” he says firmly. “Together.”
I take a deep breath, nodding. “Okay. Together.”
We sit in the library, working on the project, but my mind keeps drifting back to the lost hours.
What did I do? Where did I go?
The questions swirl in my head, but there are no answers.
After a while, Gabriel suggests we head back to our rooms. “You need rest,” he insists. “Let me take you back to my place.”
“Actually, can she stay in my room? I will keep an eye on her, Gabe, I promise. In case anything happens, I will call you,” Aurora counters.
I nod, too tired to argue. As we walk back, I cling to his arm, the fear of blacking out again gnawing at me. When we reach my old room, he pulls me into a tight hug.
“Promise me you’ll tell me if it happens again,” he whispers.
“I promise,” I whisper back, feeling tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. “Thank you for being here, Gabriel.”
“Always,” he says softly, kissing the top of my head. “Goodnight, Ophelia.”
“Goodnight.”
I watch him leave, my heart heavy with worry. I slip into bed and try to sleep, but my mind is restless. The memory of the forest, and the blank space in my mind keeps replaying.
What is happening to me?
Aurora is quiet as she gets ready for bed. I watch her as she slides in beside me, wrapping her arms around me. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
“I…I am scared, Aurora.”
“I am right here. I won’t let anything happen to you, Ophelia.”
I cling to her until sleep finally claims me.
The next morning, I wake up feeling slightly better.
Aurora is splayed out on the bed, her wings bent in an awkward angle.
I stroke them gently, which causes her to murmur, and then I watch as she blinks awake.
“Hey, honey.”
“Hey, Rory.”
“ How are you feeling today?” she asks, stretching her arms up, her wings fluttering as she sits up.
“I’m okay. Thank you for staying with me.”
She is all smiles now. “Please, we are best friends.”
Then, there is a knock on the door. I open it to find Owen. We exchange pleasantries before he asks where Aurora is.
“I am right here, you big grump,” she replies, slipping under my arm.
I watch Owen’s face transform as he takes in Aurora.
As soon as she climbs up his body and wraps her arms around his neck, I walk back into the room to give them their privacy.
I did have a good night's sleep, and although I can feel a bit of pressure behind my eyelids, my migraine has all but disappeared.
I quickly get ready for school.
Gabriel is waiting outside Aurora's room, his smile reassuring. We head to breakfast together, but I can’t shake the feeling of unease.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Gabriel asks as we sit down with our trays.
“I’m better,” I say, forcing a smile. “But I’m still worried.”
“In case this happens again, we are telling Nurse Aria and the principal,” he says, his confidence giving me a sliver of hope.
“I like that plan,” I smile at him. Somehow, it already makes me feel a whole lot better.
We head to breakfast together, and the dining hall is already buzzing with students. I sit with Gabriel, Owen, and Aurora, chatting about our plans for the day. My head begins to hurt, but I keep it to myself—no need to worry anyone.
After breakfast, we head to our first class, Mythical Beasts Defense, with Professor Renault. The lesson is intense, focusing on identifying and defending against dangerous creatures. I try to focus, but my mind keeps drifting.
“Ophelia, are you okay?” Gabriel whispers, his hand gently squeezing mine.
“Yeah, just a bit tired,” I lie, forcing a smile.
Next is Potions with Ms. Taryn. The classroom smells of herbs and strange concoctions. I find myself enjoying the lesson, even though Ms. Taryn still barely acknowledges me. We brew a complex potion, and I manage to do it perfectly, surprising myself.
During lunch, Aurora and I chat about our Mycology class. “I love studying fungi,” she says, her eyes lighting up. “It’s like discovering a hidden world.”
“Yeah, it’s fascinating,” I agree, genuinely interested.
As we finish eating, we all head to our next class: Elemental Magic. I feel a pang of jealousy watching my classmates effortlessly manipulate the elements while I struggle with basic spells. Gabriel notices and gives me a reassuring smile.
“You’re doing great,” he says softly. “Don’t be too hard on yourself.”
Finally, we have History of Magic. It’s usually my favorite class, but today, I can barely concentrate. My head feels like it’s going to explode, and I just want the day to be over.
Dinner is a welcome break. We gather in the dining hall again, chatting and laughing. But then, the doors open, and in walks Isabella. The room goes silent, all eyes on her.
Gabriel tenses beside me. “I need to talk to her,” he says, standing up.
“What? Now?” I ask, feeling unease creep up my spine.
“Yes. It is important. I will be right back.”
I nod, feeling a knot in my stomach. “Okay.”
Owen leans over, trying to reassure me. “Gabriel’s just talking to her. Don’t worry.”
But as Gabriel leaves the hall with Isabella, I can’t help but feel all eyes on me. My heart sinks. He doesn’t come back for dinner, and the anxiety gnaws at me.
“I’m going to check on Gabriel,” I tell Aurora, standing up.
“Do you want me to come with you?” she asks, concern in her eyes.
“No, it’s okay. I’ll be fine.”
I head out of the dining hall, my mind racing. I find Gabriel in one of the empty classrooms, and my heart stops. Isabella’s arms are around his waist, and she’s looking up at him with an expression I can’t quite place. But the worst part is the blood dripping from her neck.
Gabriel looks up and sees me. “Ophelia, it’s not what it looks like,” he starts, but I can’t hear him over the roaring in my ears.
Tears blur my vision as I take a step back. “How could you?” I whisper, my voice trembling.
Isabella smirks, but Gabriel looks panicked. “Ophelia, please. Let me explain.”
But I can’t. The sight of them together, the blood, the betrayal – it’s too much. I turn and run, the tears streaming down my face.
I can’t believe I trusted him. I thought he had moved on from Isabella, that we were building something real. But now, all I can see is their embrace, her blood, his betrayal.
I find myself outside, the cool night air hitting my tear-streaked face. I sit on a bench, sobbing, my heart breaking into pieces. I loved him. I trusted him. And now, I don’t know what to do.
Aurora finds me, her eyes wide with worry. “Ophelia, what happened?”
“He was with her,” I choke out. “Isabella. And there was blood. I can’t believe he would do this.”
Aurora wraps her arms around me, her presence comforting. “I’m so sorry, Ophelia. I don’t know what to say.”
“I thought he cared about me,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “I thought we had something special.”
“Maybe he does,” Aurora says gently. “But whatever’s going on, you don’t deserve this. You deserve someone who will put you first, always.”
I nod, but the pain is overwhelming. I thought Gabriel was that person, but now, everything feels like a lie.
We sit there for what feels like hours, Aurora holding me as I cry. The night deepens, and eventually, I pull myself together enough to speak.
“I need to talk to him,” I say, my voice shaking. “I need to know why.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” Aurora asks.
I shake my head. “No, I need to do this alone.”
I stand up, wiping my tears, and head back inside. The halls are quiet now, most students having retreated to their rooms. I find Gabriel outside our classroom, looking lost and worried.
“Ophelia, please,” he starts, but I hold up a hand to stop him.
“Why?” I ask, my voice trembling. “Why were you with her? Why was there blood?”
He looks pained, guilt written all over his face. “It’s not what you think. She needed help, and I couldn’t just ignore her.”
“Help with what, Gabriel?” I demand, my voice rising in pitch. The betrayal cuts deep, and I need answers.
Gabriel sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Ophelia, it’s complicated. She was in a bad state, and I was the only one who could help.”
“By letting her feed on you?” I repeat, disbelief lacing my words. “Do you have any idea how that looks?”
“I know how it looks,” he says quietly, stepping closer. “But you have to believe me, it meant nothing. I was just marking her. It was just to help her. I was marking her and we kind of got caught in the moment.”
“Help her with what?” I ask, my voice breaking. “And why didn’t you come back? Why did you leave me sitting there, wondering what the hell was going on?”
He reaches out to touch my arm, but I pull away. “I didn’t want to leave her alone until I was sure she was okay.
Ophelia, I was going to come back and explain everything to you.”
I shake my head, tears blurring my vision again. “I trusted you, Gabriel. I thought you were different.”
“I am different,” he insists, desperation creeping into his voice. “Ophelia, please, just let me explain.”
My heart aches. Why would he do this? I need to know the truth even if it kills me.
“Tell me then…”