<Stay away from the new girl! She will cause nothing but trouble.>
This is what William had said to the other three people in the dormitory hallway with him. Athena had heard his vulgar words.
And because of what he said, Athena knew not to trust him. She would trust Odette, Shion and, of course, Heli…but never William. She felt such a vulnerability from him.
And so, when they were not looking, Athena simply passed by the four students by a graceful leap in the air. She landed behind William and then walked away, with her heels clicking on the floor.
This startled William. But not Odette, Shion or Heli.
And then, she was gone.
"Don't tell me that was her!" chided William, facepalming his forehead.
"Oh it was," said Odette, "I know this approach anywhere."
"Come on," said William “We must assemble everyone for our club meeting at noon."
Athena was curious about Heli and his group of friends. But Odette was curious about Athena. Sooner or later, their secrets would be revealed. But first, they had no choice but to hide their true colors.
And so, the boring morning and afternoon turned to the evening.
Heli was in his bedroom, laying down in his bed. There were no lessons that day, as it became even more tedious. He then found his violin laying right next to him.
<It's been a while since I've played>, he thought.
He scoffed positively, "Oh, why not."
He stood up from the bed, and went to the living room of his dormitory.
He tucked the shoulder rest of the violin under his chin…and then, he made an A note at first, and then, he intertwined the note with the E string.
Next, he sashayed the bow to the D and G strings. While he made these familiar sounds, he fiddled with the pegs and the mini pegs in the front to make sure the strings were tuned.
Heli suddenly stopped at the E string as he heard unfamiliar footsteps coming closer to the front door.
He quickly lowered his violin and bow. His heart was beating against his chest; he felt both anxious and horrified.
But soon enough, the footsteps went away.
Heli sighed silently in relief. When he found the atmosphere quiet again, he tucked his violin under the chin again…at first, the melody sounded unbearable as he began to draw the bow across the strings.
The D and the G strings didn't have that annoying screeching or squawking sound.
But there was a reason for that…Heli had forgotten his vibrato! The sound that all violin players make for the iconic music conduction.
The boy was saddened as he put his violin at its resting position. He looked down…but he then suddenly regained his confidence.
Once again, he tucked the violin under his chin…and slowly drew the bow in the strings. The notes were rough and strangled…but then, just when he reached the highest note, he played a beautiful and ethereal melody.
He swayed; he stood still at the trills; he closed his eyes, making his music express his gentle vigil in his heart; his fingers danced and leaped on each string.
In the final measure of the music, Heli made sure to pull the bow slowly, and carefully, to hold the final note.
He pulled the bow away from the strings as he reopened his eyes. That is how he heard the violin inside his guts.
But then, there was a thud coming from the room Athena was in!
*~*~*~*~*~*
Heli then raced up the stairs and ran to Athena's dorm room. He frantically knocked on the door. But at first there was no answer. Meanwhile, Athena heard the knock.
But she was afraid to answer it.
<I'm afraid that he will find out>, she thought horrifically.
And so, she attempted to tidy everything up in her room. Heli knocked on the door again. And this time, Athena answered. But she was huffing and puffing, as if she was running out of breath.
This made Heli concerned for her health.
"What were you doing this whole time?" he asked.
Athena stammered. "I-I was doing a bit of exercise, and things went the wrong way as it shouldn't have been."
Heli was confused. "How did you manage to tidy up everything?"
"I have my ways."
Athena blushed at the seams; Heli nearly found out about her secret! But it would be worse if he ever did.
Athena then gave a little wave goodbye and closed the door. She sighed in relief.
<That was a close one>, she thought, <He nearly found out about my ability! But…this had never happened to me in my life! Obviously I've never even heard of the violin in my entire life.>
Athena sighed again.
At two in the morning, the nightball team gathered around for their practice session.
The team contained 14 boys of the Decelis Nightball team. Some of those fourteen teammates were Heli, Shion, William and Vincent, the Decelis scholar.
As a nineteen year old, it was only his responsibility to take care of all of the students that he taught.
But at the same time, he also had to focus on his studies. But the ones that he praises the most were his two best friends Thomas Wang (18) and Oliver Rou (19).
As the practice game progressed, Athena floated down to the top of the gym department. She appeared to be quite upset.
<I guess I didn't make the team>, she thought sarcastically, <If only they would let girls in the team!>
It is true!
They do let girls in the team. But they practice during the day. And the girl didn't like that fact they would practice during the hours of rest.
And so, she sulked.
<Hmph!>
As it came to the end of practice, Athena landed in the middle of the game field.
But she didn't notice the ball that was coming right at her. Heli noticed this.
So, he swooped in and attempted to hit the ball to the opposite direction. But, instead, he ended up protecting Athena while William was confident enough to hit the ball to the other side of the field.
It resulted with an embrace between Athena and Heli. Athena now noticed the way she held his waist.
*~*~*~*~*~*
"Are you alright, darling?" Heli asked, holding Athena's head close to his chest.
Athena turned her head to the side.
"I'm fine." she said softly. But Heli didn't hear her.
"What was that?"
Immediately, Athena broke free from Heli's arms.
"Yeah! Thanks to you!"
Her heart was pounding.
<What is this I'm feeling? Am I feeling…love?>
Athena stepped further back.
"Well then…thank you for letting me watch the game and everything…it-it seemed…pretty…interesting."
And with that, Athena dashed off back to her room, without looking back.
<Huff, puff, huff, puff>, went Athena's breath.
She then nearly fainted from the lack of breathness.
"Oh, my god!" she groaned, "I nearly died of awkwardness out there! Oh, god, and it was my very first time being around boys since three hundred years ago!"
Athena looked up at the door…and realized that it wasn't her room...it was William's!
<Wait a minute>, she thought, <This is William Drexler IX's room! I guess I went the wrong way!>
Indeed Athena did.
And so, she regained her strength and continued to run all the way upstairs. Eventually, she found her room at the very back of the hallway. She huffed and puffed and blew her final breath.
And just as she was about to open the door, a voice came from behind, in the distance.
"Hey, you!" he said.
Athena, startled, looked from behind: it was William!
*~*~*~*~*~*
William walked closer and closer to Athena, who kept stepping backwards until her back was against the wall of the door.
William's face met Athena's. He breathed heavily.
"Do you even know my name?" he asked.
Athena was bewildered.
"Wh-what?" "Have you recalled my name?"
Athena stuttered. "U-uhm…well…It's William…isn't it? I know that's what everyone calls you."
William huffed and walked away, saying, "Very well, then."
Athena began to follow.
"W-wait," she said nervously, "Thanks for what you did, earlier."
William rolled his eyes.
"For what?" he snarled.
"For hitting the ball out of the way. When it almost killed me in the field."
William bulged his eyes.
"I didn't do that to save you, that was Heli. And speaking of Heli, he only did that to help you get the dust off of your blazer!”
That is still a nice thing to do , Athena thought, while smiling.
"Well, thanks anyway," said Athena, "I hope we can be friends and–"
"Don't even think about being with us." chided William.
Athena immediately frowned.
"What?"
William cleared his throat.
"We never befriend those outside that are outside our kind."
Athena dropped her jaw.
"Like me…?"
William nodded his head.
<There is something odd about you, Athena. And also, I sense a terrible sense of attraction.>
William huffed again, and stormed out of the hallway.
"Anyway, don't talk to us…ever again!"
Athena eventually had a lump in the throat.
"Well, at least I have Heli." she said as her voice broke.
"And Heli is off limits," William screamed from a distance, "Out of any circumstances!"
This was the final straw for Athena. She could not contain her feelings that were hurt by the Crimson Boys' leader.
She felt water drops that were streaming down her face. She felt her cheek.
<I'm crying>, she thought sadly, <I had never cried since I was a baby! In fact, no one had a cold heart and chided me before!>
Athena turned to her door, laid her forehead on it…and sobbed quietly. But William turned back to Athena; he was in for a surprise. He gasped.
<Ugh! What is with that face?! Did I…make her cry?>
For the first time in his life, William felt guilty.
The boy walked up to her, knowing he was going to get in trouble. But Athena continued to sob.
"A-all right…" she cried, "I won't say hi to you ever again. I'll never walk past you ever again. I'll never talk to you again, either. And, just how you like, I'll never, ever, EVER…say hello to Heli ever again as well."
And with that, Athena cries grew louder and louder. William was frantic and didn't know what to do. He pulled her in his arms…but that didn't work. He caressed her head…but that didn't work either.
"What can I do to make you stop crying like a baby?!" he asked.
"Say that you're sorry for hurting my feelings?!" Athena screamed through her sobs and gasps.
Soon enough, her cries softened. And then, there was only sniffling. William caressed her back.
"I'm sorry…for hurting your feelings," said William, softly, "I should have never judged you before getting to know you. I understand you barely have anyone to stand by with."
He then sighed.
"Don't get the wrong idea," William said, "When I said that you shouldn't be with us…it's not because I hate you, or anything…it's because we…"
William struggled to finish the sentence. Athena interlocked her hand with William's.
"You can trust me," she said, slightly tearfully, "I have faith in you."
William took a deep breath…and said, "It is said…that we are the last of the Serpentine."
Athena dropped her jaw.
<But how>, she thought vigorously, <I thought I was the last of the Serpentine!>
"Well," Athena said, "I'm sure you all will make the best of it. And if it makes you feel better…I will leave you alone…"
And then, Athena floated to her feet…and leaped to her room.