Chapter Text
Oberon led Percival through Avalon's winding corridors, his steps deliberate, each turn executed with the ease of someone intimately familiar with the school's labyrinthine layout. Percival’s stride was buoyant, his easy confidence blending with an air of mild curiosity. He had always seen Oberon as a riddle, his intentions wrapped in layers of mystery. Today, though, he followed without question, intrigued by the prospect of finding Melusine.
The hallways of Avalon were a blend of modern design and historical grandeur. Sunlight streamed through tall windows, casting long, dappled shadows that danced across the polished floors. Students moved in groups, their conversations a low hum of teenage exuberance.
Descending the grand staircase, the noise from the school grounds below grew louder. Percival’s sharp eyes caught glimpses of students engaged in various activities. Their laughter and shouts, mingled with the rhythmic thud of feet on the ground, painted a lively picture of the school’s heartbeat.
Oberon’s demeanor shifted subtly as they approached the large double doors leading outside. He paused momentarily, his head tilted slightly as if listening to a distant echo. Percival, noticing the pause, gave a questioning glance, but Oberon simply offered a faint smile and pushed the doors open.
The school grounds sprawled out before them, a vast expanse of green fields and athletic courts. On one side, under the stern eye of their teacher Mab, a group of students were engaged in a rigorous PE class. Mab's authoritative voice cut through the air, her commands precise and unyielding.
"Faster! You're not here to slack off! Push yourselves!" Mab's voice was sharp, each word a whip crack of determination.
The students, red-faced and sweating, complied with varying degrees of enthusiasm. Mab's reputation for intense, no-nonsense training was well-known, and those under her watch knew better than to protest.
Oberon and Percival skirted the edge of the field, Oberon’s gaze sweeping over the scene with detached interest. Percival, more familiar with the dynamics of sports and physical exertion, watched with a critical eye, occasionally nodding in silent approval of a well-executed drill.
Their destination lay beyond the immediate chaos of the PE class, in a quieter corner of the grounds where an old, ivy-clad building stood. It was a place rarely frequented by students during breaks, offering a sanctuary of sorts for those seeking solitude.
As they neared the building, Oberon’s pace slowed. He turned to Percival, his expression inscrutable. “She should be around here somewhere,” he said, his voice carrying a note of finality.
Percival scanned the area, his brow furrowed in concentration.
Oberon moved to the door and tried the handle with an exaggerated flourish, but it didn’t budge. He grinned and shrugged. "Seems I'm too weak to open this door. Only Melusine can manage it."
Percival frowned. "Let me try."
Oberon waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, don't bother. It's really—"
Percival stepped forward, cutting him off, and grabbed the handle. With a firm pull, the door opened easily. He glanced back at Oberon, bewildered. "Am I really that strong?"
Oberon's smile didn't waver. "Must be."
Inside, the building was pitch dark. Shadows loomed, and a musty scent filled the air. Percival hesitated at the threshold. "Are you sure Melusine is here?"
Oberon nodded. "She is. Go ahead, announce yourself."
"Melusine?" Percival called out, stepping inside. The door swung shut behind him with a resounding thud, the lock clicking into place.
Percival turned, rattling the door handle. "Oberon, what happened?"
Outside, Oberon put on a show of panic. "A gust of wind! Sorry, I wasn't strong enough to keep it open!"
Realization dawned on Percival. Melusine was not here, and he had been trapped for reasons he couldn’t yet fathom.
...
Melusine remained in the bathroom long after Aurora had left, the silence heavy with her lingering thoughts. She sat cross-legged on the cold tile floor, eyes closed, seeking solace in meditation. The bell rang, jolting her from her introspection. With a deep breath, she gathered the strength to face the day.
Walking back to her classroom, she felt a mix of trepidation and resolve. Entering, she immediately noticed Aurora, effortlessly commanding the attention of her peers. Aurora’s laughter rang out, bright and carefree, her demeanor unchanged, as if their intimate moment had never happened. She didn’t glance in Melusine’s direction, her radiant smile seemingly oblivious to the turmoil brewing just a few feet away.
Melusine took her seat, her gaze fixed on Aurora. A pang of longing and confusion twisted in her chest. She wondered how Aurora could so easily slip back into her role, maintaining her magnetic charm without a hint of the vulnerability she had shown earlier. It was a skill Melusine both envied and resented.
Her attention shifted as their history teacher, Beryl, shuffled into the room. His disheveled appearance and perpetual smirk were as familiar as the cynical anecdotes he favored over actual lessons. Today was no different.
"Morning, kids," Beryl drawled, dropping his worn leather satchel onto the desk with a thud. "Hope you're all ready for another thrilling installment of 'Why Everything Sucks.’"
Beryl leaned against the desk, arms crossed, and began one of his infamous rants.
The class erupted in laughter, but Melusine barely registered it. Her mind drifted back to the bathroom, replaying Aurora’s words, the touch of her hand. She couldn’t shake the feeling of Aurora’s lips against hers, the mix of tenderness and manipulation she was not unaware of.
Beryl’s voice faded into the background, his tales of ancient failures mingling with her memories. She watched Aurora, her movements, her expressions, searching for any sign that their encounter had affected her. But Aurora remained inscrutable, her mask firmly in place.
The day passed in a blur of half-heard lectures and fleeting glances. Melusine’s thoughts were a whirlwind of doubt and desire, questions and regrets. The bell marking the end of the school day was a distant echo, a reminder that time had marched on even as she remained trapped in her reverie.
As the students filed out, Melusine lingered, gathering her books with deliberate slowness. She cast one last look at Aurora, who was surrounded by her usual entourage, laughing as if nothing in the world could ever touch her. Melusine sighed, the weight of unspoken emotions pressing heavily on her heart. She turned and left the classroom, stepping into the corridor, where the echoes of laughter followed her like a ghost.
As Melusine stepped into the corridor, the sound of a familiar voice rose behind her.
"Melusine?" It was Altria, the socially awkward girl from her class. Altria was part of a group of outcasts, including the three ruffians Melusine had subdued that morning.
Melusine turned, offering a small smile. "Hi, Altria."
"Have you seen Percival?" Altria asked, her voice tinged with worry. "He was looking for you earlier."
Melusine's heart skipped a beat. She had completely forgotten her plan to meet Percival. "I haven’t. Did he say where he was going?"
Altria shook her head, her eyes darting around nervously. "He came during lunchtime asking for you, but that’s all I know."
Melusine frowned, a sense of guilt gnawing at her. She hadn't meant to worry Percival. "I’ll find him tomorrow," she said, trying to reassure herself. "Nothing could have happened to him inside the school."
She turned to leave, her mind already shifting to her plans for the next day. But then Altria spoke again, her words careful and quiet. "Oberon was with him too and he’s nowhere to be seen."
Melusine stopped in her tracks. Oberon. Of all the students in Avalon, he was the most enigmatic. His intentions were always cloaked in mystery, and his actions never seemed to align with any clear motive.
"Oberon?" Melusine repeated, turning back to Altria. "What do you mean?"
Altria shifted uncomfortably, her eyes avoiding direct contact. "I saw them look for you together. Oberon led Percival somewhere."
A cold knot formed in Melusine's stomach. Oberon’s presence always brought an undercurrent of unease, and now Percival was involved. "Thank you, Altria," she said, her voice firmer than before. "I’ll look into it."
Altria nodded, her relief palpable. "I hope he’s okay."
Melusine offered a reassuring smile, though her mind was already racing. She couldn’t leave it to chance. The image of Oberon leading Percival away replayed in her mind, stirring a sense of urgency. She had to find out what happened. Without another word, she turned and headed down the hallway, her pace quickening with each step.
However, the figure of Aurora stopped Melusine in her tracks. The crowded corridor seemed to dissolve, leaving just the two of them, alone in the world.
Aurora stood there, her presence commanding as ever, and waited for Melusine to approach. "Where are you headed?" she asked, her voice smooth and curious.
Melusine hesitated. "I forgot something," she replied, her voice steady but her mind whirling.
Aurora tilted her head slightly. "Where? I can help you look for it."
"You shouldn't lower yourself to look for something with me," Melusine said quickly, trying to deflect.
Aurora stepped closer, her gaze intense. "You don't understand," she began, her voice firm. "You are my property. Anything you lose is something I lose. Anything you look for is something I look for. I own everything you are and everything you have. So your issues are my issues."
Melusine's heart pounded. She knew this wasn't true. Aurora treated her like a toy, something to be played with and discarded when convenient. Whenever Melusine's problems became too mundane, Aurora would order her to handle them alone. But now, under Aurora's scrutinizing gaze, Melusine felt trapped.
"I... I don't need it anymore," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's not important."
Aurora smirked, her expression both triumphant and patronizing. She took Melusine's hand, her grip firm and possessive. "I knew it. Let’s go home."
Melusine's mind raced. She couldn't let Aurora involve herself in the search for Percival. It would only complicate things. Yet, standing there, hand in hand with Aurora, she felt the weight of her submission. Aurora's dominance was suffocating, yet Melusine couldn't bring herself to break free.
As they stood together, the noise of the corridor gradually returned, the students oblivious to the silent struggle between them. Aurora's grip tightened slightly, a reminder of her control, while Melusine forced a smile, masking the turmoil inside her. For now, she would have to wait, bide her time, and hope that Percival was safe.