The tension in the air at the pool became a physical weight the moment Jason walked away. Elisabeth stood frozen, her chest heaving as a terrifying realization washed over her.
I don't know what came over me, she thought frantically. I screamed, and I couldn't stop. I looked at Ray, June, then at Rouna. I felt a pain I've never known before as if my heart was splitting in two.
"It hurts," she gasped aloud, the words barely escaping her throat. "It actually hurts." Hot tears began steaming down her cheeks, blurring her vision.
"Elisa, please don't..." Rouna whispered, stepping forward with her hand outstretched.
Ray quickly reached out and caught Rouna's hand, pulling her back. He knew the volatile energy vibrating off Elisabeth. If Rouna got too close, it would trigger a heated moment, and Ray wasn't ready to watch the people he cared about burn.
Come on Jude think, Jude urged himself, his eyes darting between Elisabeth crying and the gathering crowd.
"Quit it, Elisabeth!" Queen's voice cut through the air like a serrated blade. She leaned back, crossing her arms. "Must you always be a pity party? 'Oh, look at me, I'm Elisabeth, I'm such a drama queen.'"
Elisabeth snapped her head toward her. "What is your problem with me? What did I ever do to you?"
Queen let out a sharp, jagged laugh. "Hahaha! How much dumber can you get? My problem is that you exist. How did you even get into Forest Academy? You don't belong here, you impeccable fool."
Hearing those words, Elisabeth felt her world tilt. Every insult she had ever endured rushed back at once. Her mind flashed back at what Jason had said in the locker room, My problem is that you exist. You're just a self absorbed nobody, Every word felt like a physical hit to her soul.
Jude knew he had to get her out of there before the drama escalated further. He shot Queen an irritating look, then reached out and grabbed Elisabeth. As he pulled her toward the exit, heading for the nurse's office, he felt his hands begin to sear with heat. My hands were on fire, but I didn't let go. I held onto her.
"No! No!" Rouna cried, trying to break free from Ray. "I need to go after her! I want to be there for her!"
"Rouna, look at me," Ray said firmly, keeping his grip steady. He wanted to be there for Elisabeth too, but the tension was too high. He trusted that even if Jude was a jerk, he would get her to the nurse. What mattered was keeping her safe and ensuring she didn't lose control. "Elisabeth is going to be okay. She is beautiful and strong."
Queen let out a mock sigh. "Don't make me laugh. Elisabeth already did that; I don't need any more, or my makeup could get ruined."
"Just because you're a mermaid doesn't make you better than anyone here," Ray snapped, turning to her. "Get a reality check and grow up."
"Wow, coming from a unicorn? Oh, please," Queen replied, rolling her eyes.
"Come on, Rouna. Let's get out of here," Ray muttered, guiding her away. "So much for beauty with brains."
Queen's voice followed them, dripping with venom. "I don't know what's more annoying you thinking Elisabeth will ever choose you, or the fact that Jude is fighting for something he can't reach. You all give me a headache. Whatever... I'd better go find my honeybun."
The school hallways felt claustrophobic, the tension so thick a knife could cut it. Rouna looked up at Ray, her eyes searching his. "Ray, are you okay?"
"Oh, you mean about Queen?" Ray sighed. "She's just a pain in the ass. She's never going to grow up, and if she does, the world will probably end."
Rouna managed a small, weak laugh. "Don't say things like that!"
"The air in the locker room felt too thin, too hot. I could still smell the chlorine from the pool still clinging to my skin, reminding me of her of how small she looked. My claws wanted to tear through my skin, a physical itch that only her presence could soothe.
" Jason stood alone in the locker room, the silence echoing his inner turmoil. He couldn't take it anymore, his chest heaving.
CRACK.
He slammed his fist into the mirror, He didn't stop hitting the mirror. He didn't even feel the glass slicing into his skin. He just watched the blood drip, hot and red, onto the floor.
"Ahhhhhh! Dammit!" he roared, the sound echoing off the empty lockers. "I hurt her. I hurt her again."
He slumped against the wall, sliding down until he was sitting on the cold tile. He looked at his shaking, bleeding hands. "Why can't I stop being a coward? I want her... I need her right now."
His mind was a battlefield. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw his father's cold, threatening face. And then there was Penny that demonic display in the classroom. She was a Night walker, a predator looking for any weakness, and Elisabeth was the ultimate target.
"I have to deal with Penny first," Jason whispered, his voice cracking. "Then I'll find a way to see Elisa without Dad knowing."
He stood up, wiping the blood on his jeans. He had thought he only had to worry about Ray, but now there was a new threat, Jude. Why was he even surprised? Who wouldn't want her? To Jason, she wasn't just a girl; she was the rarest form of beauty. She was art in his eyes, and he had just painted her in shades of pain.
The thought of Jude touching what was his made the wolf inside him howl for blood. He didn't walk toward the nurse's office ,he hunted for it.
In the nurse's office, Elisabeth sat on the edge of the bed,
"Why?" Elisabeth asked, her laugh sounding hollow and pained.
Jude looked at her, his expression unreadable. "Why what?"
"Stop the act, Jude. I don't know what you want, but stop it. You think I'm a pity case? Oh, I get it you need a second Maya to play with."
Jude almost wanted to laugh. If only she knew how cute she looked while venting. He had heard every word, and he knew her anger was valid, but his eyes couldn't stop wandering down to her lips.
"What are you looking at?" Elisabeth demanded. "Want to play the hero? 'Oh, Prince Jude, my savior! How can I ever repay you?' Hahaha!"
Jude didn't answer with words. He walked over to her, leaning down until he was only inches from her face. He braced his hands on the edge of the bed, trapping her in his shadow.
"Relax, Princess," he murmured, his eyes locking onto hers. "What Queen says doesn't define you. I know I've been a jerk. I know for years I was no different from her. But whatever I did, or anyone says, it doesn't change who you are. You are strong, talented, and you have amazing friends. Anyone would be lucky to have you... even me."
He paused, his voice dropping an octave. "Honestly, for what it's worth, I'm sorry I bullied you. Now, can you stop looking at me like that, Elisabeth?"
Elisabeth was speechless. Did he just say my name without an insult? This was the guy who had made her life hell, and now he was apologizing? She wanted to scream, to run, but her body wouldn't move.
Jude wished he knew what she was thinking. He knew she must be freaking out, and he wasn't even sure what he was doing himself. But in that moment, he knew what he wanted. Without waiting for a reaction, he leaned in and kissed her. It was a massive risk, but the kiss felt so right like a missing piece of a puzzle clicking into place.
Elisabeth's world tilted. She tried to process it, tried to push him away, but the shock was too deep. her mind trying to process the sensation. Did he just kiss me? . She wanted to move, but she was in total shock. All she could feel were the tears still dripping down her cheeks as she sat there, overwhelmed.
Suddenly, Before Jude could pull away a powerful hand gripped Jude's collar and ripped him back.
"I am going to teach you a lesson you'll never forget!" Jason roared, his face a mask of pure rage. He slammed Jude against the wall. "Why is Elisabeth crying?!"
"Stop it, Jason!" Elisabeth screamed, jumping up. "Don't you dare hurt him!"
Jason looked at her, his eyes wild. "Oh, don't make me laugh! He's not your boyfriend! Why would he kiss you? Why would you let him?"
"Oh my god, Jason!" Elisabeth snapped. "Last time I checked, you said you hated me! I am not a toy you can break, and you are not my overprotective boyfriend! You never will be!"
Jason's jaw tightened. Something inside him simply snapped. "You are mine," he growled, his voice dropping to a predatory level. "And no one else's."
"Jason, get over yourself, you psycho," Jude spat, trying to shove him off. "She's never going to love someone who only knows how to hurt her."
"If you say one more word, Jude..." Jason's eyes began to shift, the color bleeding into a terrifying, unnatural hue.
Before Elisabeth could scream, Jason lunged. He didn't hit Jude he grabbed Elisabeth. His teeth sank into the side of her neck.
Elisabeth's entire body froze. A cold, electric shock raced through her veins as she felt the sharp sting of the bite. Everything went blurry. She looked at Jason, her eyes wide with terror, and a final, jagged scream tore from her throat.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!"
Then, the world went black.