The dimly candlelit chamber was one such as a canvas rather than a finished work of art. The air was still but felt as if the air moved like cool water while the aroma of the scented candles infused far more deeply than it did in the light of day. The flame of the candles barely flickered. It was steady and bright enough to relieve the darkness of the room, but it was not enough to read by. The items around the candles casted shadows that radiated out as hands on an old analogue clock would. The wick was blackening steadily, and the wax was slowly turning to liquid, running down the side and onto the glass plate.

The silhouettes around the room were already very discernible as the shadows stole even their forms.

Under the twilight of the muted hues, three crisp figures glowed with the mild light of the candles.

"You...what have you in mind?" The fierce frame of Eric glowed beneath the flickering light.

"My my! Look how violent you have become. I can see that there needs to be someone to hold your reins now Warnard." The blond youth sighed as if he were a concernable old grown-up.

"Enough of your facade Leon! Both of us knows that you being here is not due to anything other than your own gains." Eric puffed in ire. "...did He sent you to keep an eye on me?" Eric's scrutinizing gaze was penetrating the air of the entire room.

"Oh excellent! How I love that prompting look on your face." Leon laughed like a giddy child, a quiet glee dancing in his ocean eyes. "We are not your babysitters Warnard. Please do not worry yourself to death."

"Whatever maybe the case, what we have in our minds is none of your business Ian Benjamin Warnard! But I do strongly suggest you keep to your own business." The snappish blunt reply of Juliet was enough to stir a chill in the yellow hued room. She looked like she was not to be trifled with.

"Do not call me that Juliet!" Eric couldn't help but roar. Even he was not someone to be trifled with after all. "And I would very much like that too. But it doesn't look like your business has nothing to do with mine." Eric let out a sinister smile which didn't quite look like a smile, "Since you two were heedless enough to step into this side of the realm. Don't you know, this is my turf?"

"Alright alright, will you two break it up already?" Leon waved his hand in a good-natured way. "We shall not prod into your business Warnard, so we do hope you too shall abide to our terms and not poke your nose into ours."

"It better be that way Leon Aslan The Crome. Trust me, you wouldn't want any discord between us. And when you are done with whatever you are after, I expect you to perish from my sight forever." Eric's profound irises were a monochrome tinges, as the glare deepened. It was the kind of glare that harbored intent. There was a tale behind it, something they all couldn't help but be connected to.

"Understood." The smile in Leon Aslan's lips never left its place. Like bonded to his soft lips for an eternity. The youth had an unreadable expression on which didn't give away anything that he had in his mind.

Having said his piece, Eric hmphed in discontent and left the rather bleak chamber in a huff.

"What do you think we should do now?" Juliet Genevieve Montefiore looked at the jolly Leon.

"What is there to mull over so much my dear Juliet, as I have told Warnard already, we shall proceed as was planned." Leon had a lovely childlike expression on his beautiful face, all the while his thought unclear.

••••••...

Saraphina.

The chilly air in the room was stroked with high-pitched angry notes of music as I played in an unorthodox violent fashion. My thoughts were twisting and turning, suffocating me with their whispers.

I was angry. I was really angry. How dare he! How dare that Eric Warnard ditch me at the principal's office to take care of his mess!

He, who was the root of all this chaos was out and about and left me there alone to explain about his violent spree to the principal. I was so so angry that anyone could feel my anger seeping out of my body as I sat there, in the music room and let the music take over me to calm myself down.

Oliver Brown was admitted to the hospital with three broken ribs and a broken nose. I imagine his folks would flip when they see him that beaten up, but I doubt they would be able to take any actions against the Warnards. Most probably he will transfer schools, to which I apparently consent with. Its better to leave Eric Warnard's domain alone rather than get beaten up to death. As the saying goes, 'one mountain cannot nurture two tigers', granted Oliver Brown was a wimpy cub.

Whatever maybe the case, I was no advocate of Eric Warnard to give any explanations on his behalf. But ostensibly so, everyone took me to be his crony that took care after his mess. So yeah, I was throttled to death with questions about why the fight broke out, to which I had no answer. Because, even I was not clear about the entire situation that had brought upon this big pandemonium over Verona High. So I was smothered some more before they decided to let me off the hook.

And now, my anger couldn't be squeezed in anymore. I was sure I would gag Eric Warnard and throw him into the Red sea with tied limbs if I was presented the opportunity to.

Furious notes drifted and filled the air of the empty music room as I played with an innate murderous passion. Anger boiled in my system, as hot as lava. And that anger was now spilling out through my music. For once, how I wished Eric could hear me play this piece; so that he would know how much I wanted to strangle him to death.

"Oh my! I don't know who made you so angry Saraphina, but I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of that anger.' My mad musical gala was interrupted by a lucid indulgent voice.

The sudden disruption unsettled me, and, in a startle, I fumbled up the notes making the raging melody a piercy squawking noise.

"Oh! Did I startle you?" The angel boy Aslan walked into the otherwise quiet room in a poised manner, a touch of breeziness blended in with his aura.

"Ah! No no, I'm fine." I quickly got off my seat and stood up clumsily. I didn't know why, but this cousin of Eric really got me nervous. Like a stern teacher who was unpredictable to the end.

"You know, you're an amazing pianist. But 'Vengeance' is a piano piece which literally describes its name. Yours, if you don't mind me pointing out, was a bit off the wagon. Your music was filled with peevishness. Intense but childish anger if I might say so myself." His smile was as if he was praising me rather than criticizing me. Not that I minded, even I was aware I wasn't the best one out, but I still wasn't okay with him sneaking up on me. Not to mention the fright he caused me; it almost sucked half of my life out of me.

"Thank you for the feedback. I hope you will excuse me sir, I must be on my way now." I didn't want to stay back arguing with Eric's cousin, and the fact that he was Eric's cousin also had to do with a lot of my irritation. In simple words, I disliked him immediately because he was Eric's cousin. I presumed all of Eric's kin were only born troublemakers. So, call me prejudiced, I don't care. I was determined to steer clear of this guy.

"Saraphina, why so formal?" Aslan lamented as if he was genuinely hurt, "Do you find me detestable?"

"What! No!" I didn't get the wiring inside this guy's head. Why the hell did he suddenly think I found him detestable? Sure, I wasn't fond of him but there wasn't any reason for me to actually detest him. How did he arrive to that conclusion?

"So, you mean you don't hate me?" Suddenly, he took a 180 turn and was his gleeful self again. I couldn't help scowling my brows to that.

"...No. I don't hate you Mr. Warnard." I mumbled under my breath.

"Then why are you being so formal? You do remember that I told you to call me Aslan, right? You're obviously trying to distance yourself from me, which only goes to show how much you really hate me." This weird guy again did a 180 flip to his sorrowful demeanor. Just what the heck was this guy playing at?

"...Ermm... not to be rude Mr. Warnard, but I don't think its appropriate for a student to call her professor by his first name." I tried to smile but could only let out an awkward stretch of the lips instead.

"Ah, seriously Saraphina, you make me seem so old. I am just an assistant professor here. I'm still a college student who is a trainee teacher for six months. Why be so formal and uptight? Besides, I'm Eric's cousin, so that obviously makes us friends, no?" Where did he drive that conclusion from really?

"Eh! Well, I don't wanna come off as snobbish Mr. Warnard, but its still kind of uncomfortable for me to call you by your first name. I hope you don't mind, and Eric and I are not in that kind of relationship so as to speak."

"Oh? But you two totally looked like you were dating. I even heard rumors you know. Not that I am someone who believes in rumors. But you know Eric, he is not the kind of person to get close to just anyone. So, if you guys are not dating then why is he stuck to you like glue, I wonder." Aslan raised a skeptic eyebrow. I didn't get why this older cousin of Eric was being so snoopy. He reminded me of the middle-aged ladies of my neighborhood who liked to poke their noses wherever they seemed fit.

"I and Eric are just normal friends. Please do not misunderstand." I took a step back to leave, but he was like a boulder standing in my way.

"Oh never mind. It doesn't matter either way. But I would definitely like to be your friend. What do you say Saraphina?" He wore a friendly smile on his face, that looked like one without any malicious intensions.

"Erm...haha...of course. I would ..." I didn't get to say my words out loud when suddenly they choked in my throat. Now my eyes were glued on the ever changing smoky numbers atop his head. What the hell! Everything was a mess, the number merged and remerged. Clashing with one another like a gale, not finding any solid footing to be steady. I saw many 16th century BCs and many rows of 12th to 17th and 18th century dates emerging and submerging when finally, everything became a blur of numbers. I could no more see his death date over his head. And so, I stared openmouthed like a dumbfounded carp, unable to make heads or tails out of this phenomenon. Was I loosing touch of my powers? If so, I think I was pretty okay with that. No one wanted to know another person's day of demise.

"...phina, ..saphina...Saraphina!" I came to my senses when Aslan started to frantically wave his hand in front of me. "Are you okay Saraphina?"

"Huh..ah! I..I'm sorry. I am feeling a bit under the weather these days." I let out an awkward laughter while still looking a bit overwhelmed.

"It's alright. I understand. Please, do take more care of yourself." He smiled amicably and I nodded quietly before making my escape out of the door.

"I will see you later Saraphina." I heard behind me but I didn't not turn around to wave my goodbye. Hurriedly, I took to the stairs, but I bumped into a somebody who had long been out of my mind because of the recent turn of events. Dilylah Adwell. She had the eyes of a panic-stricken individual, as if she was on a run from the police.

"Sara! Thank goodness I found you." She huffed a sigh of relief. "I have so much to tell you, but I don't have time now." She babbled in nervousness. From what I knew of Dilylah Adwell from my short interactions with her was that nobody liked Dilylah much, yet no one really disliked her. She was a bit forward, a little intrusive, but it was clear to be seen that those mannerisms were due to ignorance and not to any intent to be objectionable. She might have been a meddler but had never really overstepped her privileges, though it was observable that her ways were not friendly ways. So why did she looked like there was a murderer out to get her?

"What's going on Dilylah?" I couldn't help but ask.

"There's no time to explain now. Here take this and meet me tonight at the edge of the west wing on the third floor." She handed me a thick red envelope.

"What! Dilylah, you can't venture into the west wing of the third floor. Don't you know that its forbidden to be there?" Granted I had been there multiple times but it was still under Eric's supervision, never really alone. And Eric was gonna be a pissy kid when he would find out about it.

"You have to come Sara, you have to. I have something important to tell you. You can't bail out on me; I will be waiting. You have to come." She put such emphasis in her words that I didn't have the way to refute. I mutely nodded and she let out a sigh again. "Alright then. I'll be going now. Please have a look at the envelope I gave you. That ought to make somethings easier to understand. And if you want the answers to your questions after having look at the things inside the envelope then you have to come find me tonight." And she was off like a whirlwind of apprehension.

Well, so much for that.

TO BE CONTINUED...