Chapter 68: The Enemy Within
Andria’s POV
"Ask your question, you look like you have a ton," I urged her.
"Well, it’s not a question really, it’s an observation," she said, lowering her tone, putting her palm over her mouth.
"Oh, it feels like a secret or something you don’t want to say here. If that’s the case, let’s head to my place or your place," I suggested after gauging her countenance and reading her mind.
"My place will be much better, your place isn’t that safe, especially after recent happenings. Besides, come and enjoy royalty a little," she said playfully.
"Ok, if you say so," I smirked at her, and we hurried our food and walked to her dormitory apartment.
She had the space all to herself; the apartment had two rooms, unlike other apartments with three rooms. It was pretty spacious and beautiful. It screamed luxury from the moment you entered.
"Your space is really huge and like you promised, it feels like royalty," I complimented, heading towards one of her rooms.
"That’s not the room I sleep in currently. I stay here," she said, pointing me towards the other room on the left.
"Oh, I see," I nodded and then followed her to her room. Her room made the luxury in the Alpha successor’s place look like a joke, not to mention mine.
I was thrilled upon reaching Ashwood and seeing the luxury of my room, in comparison to my own at home. I didn’t know I’d see far more luxury than I have ever witnessed.
"I would love you to come share this apartment with me, it’s lonely most of the time, you can stay in the other room," she pleaded, putting up puppy-like eyes, which she has come to know was my weakness.
"On one condition," I said, pouting my lips before twisting.
"What condition? I’d do anything that doesn’t involve killing anyone," she said, nodding her head excitedly.
"Ok, we have to take our studies seriously, especially after the elections, and...I would not be staying here over two weeks," I said, making a face at her, hoping she wouldn’t object to my conditions.
"It’s ok, although two weeks is a little time, but we make do with it," she paused as if she remembered something, "What would you tell the Alpha successors about your departure? Knowing how obsessive they are over you."
"Well, hmm, that’s tough," I scrunched my face, knowing I don’t owe them any explanation, and my life isn’t in their hands just because they saved me. "Well, I’m heading to a friend’s house, which is enough explanation for them."
Besides, I wondered why they were so protective of me, those arrogant set of creatures. And yes, I remembered - of course, I was their mate, a bond none of us had accepted at first, but it seemed to pull us in closely as the days went by.
"Ok, if you say so," she said, smiling from ear to ear. Anyone who steps in would think she won a lottery.
"So, let’s get to the main part," I said, slumping on her bed. "What did you want to tell me back then at the cafeteria?"
"Yeah, about that, I want to break down some events that happened while you were healing, and the potential obstacle we might be facing in this upcoming election," she said, her hands scratching the back of her hair nervously.
Her body gesture made me really worried, and even more anxious than the words that came out of her mouth.
"Yes, go on. What went on?, What are the problems?" I asked, anxiety and impatience dripping from my tone.
"When you were away, the students started to take her side all of a sudden," she started, her voice cracking in between.
"How?, why?’ I asked, confused, because I’ve not seen any of her campaign posters.
Was she doing something I don’t know about, and then I thought, maybe it was because I was not around, perhaps it was because they didn’t know if I was ever going to be able to survive the vampire’s attack.
But then there was truth in what Liara was saying, as I recalled what had happened earlier that day in the locker room.
"Well, that’s something I haven’t been able to wrap my head around, and that seems strange, knowing that she had an entanglement with the vampires recently, just to make sure that you are gone for good." She paused, exhaling, and then got up to start pacing around the room.
"She suddenly gathered their interest weirdly, and I almost started getting bullied by the school for carrying on with your campaign," she continued.
"Oh, really?" I asked, really concerned, "Why didn’t you tell me sooner that you were under such immense pressure?"
"How could I disturb your healing process?, Anyway, don’t interrupt me again," she said, shunning me, and then continued.
"The day after the news spread that you went missing, rumors started circulating that it might be Tracy who was responsible for the abduction. We don’t know who started the rumor, but it spread so fast."
"Well, she was responsible for the abduction, one way or the other," I cut her off.
She turned to look at me with a warning eye, reminding me of what she said before. "I told you not to interrupt, but you are interrupting me."
"Ok, I’m sorry," I said, giving her the cutest smile.
"The thing is that other students don’t believe that she was responsible; they feel like you are trying to taint her image to win the election. They see it as a scandal. So as our group grows, the Anti-Aria’s group doubles, and that is a major problem."
I was suddenly lost in thoughts, how come all of a sudden the whole school is in support of a bully?, From Prof. Garrich to the she-wolves who accosted me in the locker room, even to the smear campaign.
Silence fell in the room as we were both lost in our thoughts. I tried to find a clue, but nothing came to mind that could be the reason for the sudden change of mind, until it clicked.
She sounded so sure the afternoon before my abduction that she would win the election even without having to contest. That means, the kidnapping was just plan A used to actually seek the pity of other students and smear my name in the process.
’What a smart move,’ I muttered under my breath.
"I suggest we find out what is actually going on. I heard she is currently in the detention room, and the accomplices she used are also currently on trial," she said with a hopeful voice.
"This is a good time to infiltrate their small group and find out the secret behind the sudden shift in heart," Liara finished, placing both her hands on her waist.
"I suspect black magic involvement in all this," I spoke up, "Because it is only natural that suddenly, after her business with the vampires, the school is in her favor.
She turned to look at me, nodding her head in affirmation. "Well, that’s a valid explanation behind this, but what do we do about it? If the black magic is from the underworld, who can counter its effect?"
Liara looked more confused and worried than ever. "I don’t want all our efforts to be in vain. The bullying in this academy will continue if you don’t win, and who knows who their next target will be."
"We plan to infiltrate her trio squad, putting our ears to the ground and gather as much information as we can get that can help us tackle the situation," I said reassuringly, hoping it helps her relax a bit.
She seems so upset because she is new to the school setting, and all these new strenuous activities were beginning to take their toll on her.
"There’s something else I noticed," she said with a tone of urgency.
"What is that?" I asked her with the hope that what she was about to say would drop a clue to the issue at hand.
"I noticed, Larissa, your flatmate was summoned, and of course, recently, she has been cozying up to Tracy and her clique. There’s something so fishy about her," she whispered as though if she said it loud, the room would carry out the echo of her word.
I knew Larissa was never on my side, especially after the night I was brought into the apartment by Zade and the Alpha successors.
But I wasn’t going to make Zade love her; I wasn’t the moon goddess, nor was I Zade; besides, I don’t want Zade, knowing what he had done to me in the past.
"I’m not surprised. She hasn’t been by my side for a while now," I replied nonchalantly.
And I could see the surprise on Larissa’s face. "So you mean to tell me that you have been living with an enemy and you felt comfortable, anything could happen to you, why didn’t you ask for a hostel relocation, to be safe?"