NAME ❃❤️ Ｚｏｅｙ Ｂｌａｃｋｍａｎ ❤️❃STORY (apologies about how long it got!
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I paused and breathed in deeply, the smell of earth and a strange sweet perfumy aroma filled my lungs. I couldn’t explain why but found myself looking around suspiciously. I imagined that someone must be there. But no… I was alone, panting hard from my morning run. The smokey clouds overhead hung low and the frigid crisp air all indicated to yet another unwanted winter storm on its way. I shivered and rolled my eyes while adjusting my iPhone's music selection until a sharp piercing sting exploded on my chest.
“OUCH!!” I yelped loudly looking around again then tugged my jacket down seeing an inky colored spot spread on my flesh. “What the….”
Frowning hard I began to rub the dark bruise while glancing around again wondering what kind of bug could have done that. Little did I know just how unordinary this pest really was!
As I made my way back to my dorm I spotted Mateo. I was certain he saw me too since he grinned in my direction but oddly enough he turned away and was suddenly very occupied speaking with Ella. They looked quite chummy actually and I wondered if he now would be as bristly with me as the jerk had become. But the minute I thought of “him” I scanned the campus as if my very life depended on my laying eyes on “him” and completely forgot about Mateo’s diversion. Yet there was a nagging feeling that something wasn’t quite right going on.
I frowned looking across the quad, desperately needing to find him when I spied Mara draped over … Jasper?? Something was definitely wrong here. Jasper? I mean he was a top notch celebrity no doubt, everyone knew it, but he made it more than abundantly clear that he was here for education not fame. And Mara… well Mara was Mara. And on more than one occasion she had blatantly informed everyone in her vicinity that she would never… ever… ever.. date an underclassman. Never. Yet there she was, giggling and fawning all over him… and he was doing the same.
What on earth!?
Yet I had very little time to contemplate the departure from reality, because before I knew it, I was being grabbed into a tight embraced. Honestly, it was the smell of him, like smoked wood and citrus, that filled my nostrils instantly making my knees go weak. He tugged me against his tall hard body and with his deep sultry voice purred in my ear “You look delicious”
My heart dropped, then raced, then nearly stopped. Seconds later I was being spun around to face those dark mincing eyes only they weren’t at all shadowed with anger as usual. Not now… today they were full of hunger. And for whatever reason I felt equally ravenous.
Then we kissed and it was like rockets exploded all through me. My mind went completely blank, my heart soared, my stomach did a triple flip. This… this is what I had been searching for.. needing all morning. Without any warning or explanation, Rafael had become heroin, meth… cocaine. And I needed a hit… bad… he became a drug I simply could not resist.
Every day after it seemed I became more insatiable for him. The air I breathed had to be drenched with his scent. The taste of him on my lips was intoxicating. The feel of him at my fingertips became my obsession. Every outfit was picked with him in mind, altering my uniform and showing up more provocatively dressed than the day before. I was a fanatic, and it seemed as if he was just as addicted. We spent every waking moment together. Drowning in the inexplicable desire that consumed us both.
The intense engrossing passion wasn’t lost on others either. More than once I noticed, and honestly, reveled in the deathly gaze of more than one of Rafael’s pursuits. The daggers in their eyes seemed to fuel my appetite. Meanwhile the longing glances I would notice from Mateo, time to time, would just as suddenly disperse and he would be right back to cozying up with Ella leading me to believe I imagined them. Not that it mattered too much. Rafael had become all consuming. Nothing and no one else really mattered. We couldn’t get enough of each other…
Until we did.
Because just as suddenly as the compulsion began it ended. March 1st left us all bewildered and more than a bit chagrined. The rose-hued goggles fell away and with it a shocking embarrassing knowledge that it had all been a horrible, cruel, villainous deception. The professors made it clear that Cupids had foisted us into chaos and for once it seemed that Rafael was not appreciative of a treacherous prank. He was livid. I felt completely mortified remembering how much I had thrown myself at him over the past month, especially seeing his reaction now. To be completely honest, I’d be lying if I said he simply didn’t affect me any longer. I certainly remembered every single moment we were together, just it wasn’t so muddled with uncontrollable, irrational shameless abandon. But he hated me, obviously… he must be disgusted over the intimacy we shared under that awful spell.
It seemed as if he was intent to prove it immediately too. Within minutes of the announcement he was already chatting it up with some redhead prima-donna, blissfully ignoring my very presence while I had Mateo rushing up to me with a wide grin on his face
“Yo, none of it was real” He exclaimed happily as if the world had just rightened itself. I nodded still digesting the spiral of feelings that had just been chalked up to a fluke. He clearly was thrilled. “I should have known… you and Rafe… such a joke, am I right”
I swallowed a lump in my throat and nodded again just before he pulled me into his arms and hugged me tight. The tingle down my spine had absolutely nothing to do with Mateo’s hands on me but the deep gruff voice behind me
“Biggest joke of them all for sure” My heart was pounding in my head and Mateo was beaming cheek to cheek as he spun me around facing Rafael who now had two girls hanging under each arm, the prima-donna and unsurprisingly what looked to be her twin. What a colossal jerk. And the smug looks on both girl’s faces was nearly as disgusting. Seriously… as if being Rafael’s random arm candy was good enough. I felt sick to my stomach suddenly remembering what it felt like to be in his arms. Unable to stop myself I looked up and caught him staring for the briefest second. His jaw clenched and he quickly looked away, speaking with Mateo about…. I had no clue.. the words were all muffled under the drumming beat of my heart. until I heard…
“So you two a thing then?”
My stomach flipped as Mateo’s hand squeezed my arm and he uttered happily “Trying to be…” Rafael mumbled something like ‘that’s cool’ and ‘good luck’ before he strolled off with his two happy giggly prizes both vying for his attention.
“So what do you think?” He asked pulling me around again to face him.
“About what?” I reply, the first words I had uttered since this whole debacle had been exposed.
“About what…” He laughed “About us silly.. you and me being together”
“Zoey.. We need to talk!” I turned abruptly away from Mateo confused, but also a little relieved to have a reprieve from having to answer Mateo.
“What’s up Mara?” I asked but she pointedly looked at Mateo as if he was some sort of moron for not taking the hint that this convo was apparently supposed to be private. I arched a brow thinking she was being unusually rude. But Mateo just laughed as if it was hardly worth his time.
“It’s cool.. listen let’s talk on Friday okay?” He murmured and I was just thankful that I wouldn’t have to face his questions today that I nodded quickly. “It’s a date then!” He added, leaned in and pecked my cheek before jotting off. I inhaled a deep exhausted breath.
“Girl…” Mara was completely bent out of shape and immediately began taking me to task “I totes planned to speak to you weeks ago but that whole cupid fiasco … oh-em-gee, I have so much work to do to clean up my feeds! I simply cannot believe any of this and you!” she exclaimed in a hoity tone “I can’t believe you didn’t join the fades!”
Seriously. I gawked at her as if she was really off the deep end.
“Mara we talked about it so many times!” I asserted frowning at her
“But you know I wanted you to join! We were going to be so good together. You know how much I care about you and really wanted you there. I thought you would be reasonable and join us in the end”
“Reasonable? I was very logical about my choice. I explained everything to you… that I needed to focus on my training so that I can work out the kinks with my shifting.” I shook my head again, we had talked so much about it I thought I might go hoarse. “The Incarnates can help me elevate my powers so that I don’t look like some whack-job hack”
“Oh my gawd girl.. .you know you are awesome, you don’t need them to show you anything. I already knew you were special.. why do you think I choose you to borrow powers from? You are one of the best and I really started to care so much about you, like a freaking sister!” She was clearly mad as a hornet. But that hardly matched the red I was suddenly seeing.
“Wait… You did what?”
She should have noticed the sudden foreboding tone as I drew my brows together looking at her. Did she just say she ‘borrowed’ my power. Like the initiation required to join her damn club? Oh but she wasn’t done…
“It was only a little here and there… never too much and you were still able to keep shifting, I’ve seen you do it even immediately after I borrowed a little, no big deal. The big deal here is that you ditched us!”
My eyes widened. She was actually serious. Completely oblivious to the gamble she had taken with my education. What if I hadn’t been able to compensate for the drain of power that I didn’t even know was there? What if I lost control? What if I harmed someone? What if… there were so many what if’s but they hardly mattered.
“Wow” was my monumental reply. “Just… wow…”
Acutely she finally noticed that I was taking afront at her admission.
“Don’t you dare try to turn this around on me Zoey! This is totally all your fault. You would have completely understood if you had just joined us!”
I was speechless for a moment. Struggling hard to understand how she could possibly in any world think that this was no big deal or better yet… My fault!
“Girl… no. Just no.” I finally blurted shaking my head. I could literally feel the outrage bursting from her as I turned and walked away. She called my name, demanded I come back but I just kept going until I made it to my dorm and locked myself in.
March was starting out just grand I thought with a heavy dose of sarcasm.
A couple days later lack of sleep had me feeling exceptionally drowsy. There had just been too much going on in the past few days and I still had Mateo to deal with later that night. Luckily, after Mara’s big reveal I now seemed to be getting in sync with my powers. Now that she wasn’t stealing them that is. I was still fuming and more than a little eager to exert some revenge.
Just how to take revenge was exactly what I was thinking of when I popped into the campus coffee house for a midday pick me up and proceeded to stumble into someone waiting for their drink.
“Oh my gosh I’m soooo soor…” Oh no.. not him. I groaned inwardly. They say bad luck comes in threes. “Sorry” I mutter gazing up to Rafael’s incurious gaze before sparing a glance at the curvaceous raven hair girl near him. For the briefest moment I got the impression he had just noticed her standing there after following my eyes but then he tugged her against his side. The girl, after her own tiny hesitation, seemed perfectly content tussled up against his side. Apparently she was his dish-of-the-day. I rolled my eyes. And that seemed to please him for some reason.
“Zoe?”
I turned with a frown then became seriously shocked seeing Roosevelt St. James standing there in a Hawthorne Blazer. It must have been written all over my face because he chuckled before yanking me into a warm friendly hug. No one else in the world shortened my already perfectly short name.
“Roe? Oh my gawd what are you doing here?” I laughed and hugged him back with equal affection.
I could feel eyes boring into my back as Roosevelt explained he was one of the newly enrolled students.
“You look great Roe, it’s so great to see you!”
“No….” he chuckled taking one of my hands and lifting it high above my head then motioning for me to spin while he whistles suggestively. “That’s all you lookin’ fine- fine- fine”
I knew Roosevelt was just teasing, but I giggled nonetheless, and even I thought it sounded way too animated and fake. I secretly knew that the scowl I noticed on Rafael’s face when I spun for Roosevelt had me feeling quite jubilant. I was perhaps a bit too spirited and zealous while we spoke for the brief moments in the coffee shop.
He glossed over how he managed to convince his parents to bring him back to the states but promised to catch me up on everything since I left the academy we attended together in Europe.
“You’re the St. James then?”
We both turned at the sudden flippant interruption. I was almost certain Roe found it amusing while I was annoyed. But didn’t most things about him annoy me?
“I am A St. James…” He emphasized returning Rafael’s brusqueness. “Name’s Roosevelt”
“Rafael” He grudgingly uttered then added “Didn’t know you had any connections here” letting his hooded eyes drift in my direction. Why did I suddenly feel like fire was about to reach up and consume me.
“Damn Zoe, you didn’t tell me I was in the presence of Hawthorne’s very own Mr. Know-it-all” then he chuckled holding out a hand, “nah it’s all good Rafael…” he slurred the name… “Me and Zoe we go way back”
I almost choked when I saw Roe wiggle his brows.
“Annnyyywayyy…” I interrupted wanting to escape “I have somewhere I need to be”
“It’s great seeing you, we will catch up soon” it wasn’t a suggestion and I looked forward to it.
As quickly as possible I got a coffee and raced out of that place. I needed to get ready to meet Mateo.
I really didn’t know what to expect going to meet Mateo. He hadn’t given much of a clue either but since he suggested this was a date, I selected a cute black and white dress and heels for the evening. I had a mix of feelings and I wasn’t exactly sure what I might say or do. At first sight he seemed pleased with my look and super excited to proceed.
With a grin he produced a blindfold and asked that I trust him. So I held it up allowing him tighten it on the back of my head then let him lead me up a flight of stairs, through a door into the brisk night air. I shivered a little as he released the binding and with a flourish of his hands lit up what had to be over 100 white candles of all sizes.
“It’s beautiful” I whispered then returned his grin.
He led me to a table in the middle of the rooftop patio for an elegant meal of eggplant parmesan. Clearly he remembered I was a vegan since I knew he was not. And we had a wonderful evening, talking and laughing about almost everything. How classes were going, about fears and excitements over our powers, about family dramas and just being free to be ourselves. He even talked about his mixed emotions over his month spent with Ella. He admitted she was a great girl under the confusion and anxiety she lived with over her family although he didn’t share any of her personal secrets, even if he knew any. I think he hoped I would mention and gripe about my month with his friend. I didn’t bring it up. Overall, it really was a pleasant, sweet, enjoyable evening.
“I really like you Zoey” he stated near the end of the evening, taking my hand in his. It was warm to the touch, Mateo was always so warm to the touch. I looked up at him, seeing the truth of it in his eyes and drew in a shaky breath as he continued…
“I think we are great together. We like the same things, we have a good time together, we’re both pretty great looking, we would make some awesome looking kids!” I couldn’t help but chuckle at the obnoxiously ridiculous flirty comment. “I think we should date, like officially… exclusively”
I really should give this a fighting chance, right? Mateo was sweet and fun and easy. So easy. But wasn’t that the problem? As much as I hated to admit it, I wanted some of the fire that lived within him to shoot out and engulf me, consume me, devour me.
I stood up, my heart racing… in hope, rounded the table and pulled him to his feet in front of me. He wasn’t that much taller than me, a few inches, and in my heels we were almost at eye level. I slipped my hand up his cheek and leaned in to kiss him. And… it was pleasant, but it didn’t scorch my soul the way ‘his’ did. Mateo’s arms came around my waist and he pulled me closer but he didn’t try to take the kiss further, waiting for my lead.
I broke it off, stepping back. I really liked Mateo, and I wanted this to work. I wanted to feel more, but I just didn’t. Maybe it was just too soon after the turbulent, chaotic, lascivious month I had just spent with the jerk.
“I don’t think I am ready for that Mateo” I admit despite how hopeful he looked. I felt bad at the disappointment that quickly flood his eyes but he was polite and courteous when we said goodbye for the evening.
It had been a few weeks since ‘the date’ and while I saw Mateo a few times he wasn’t really interested in speaking for too long. I could tell that I hurt him but he wasn’t mean to me or anything. Just… sad. During this time it seemed that Rafael was in rare form, back to his old self. Jovial and playful… not with me of course, but with everyone else. He was even more of a douche with girls. I swear I do not think I ever saw him with the same girl twice. And he was hanging out with his buddies more often again. I noticed that he was trying to lighten Mateo up to have a good time. I had no idea what sparked Rafael's change in mood though. Occasionally I would look at him and feel certain he had been watching me but then he would either give me the look of death, as I had come to call it, or he would become suspiciously obsessed with whatever bimbo-de-jure he had at his fingertips at the moment.
I pretended to ignore it all. Instead I focused on my powers. And thanks in part to lessons, tricks and tools from fellow Incarnates, studying, practicing, experimenting became my life. Ever since the whole Mara admission my powers were almost always perfectly aligned. Morphing both into animal and human forms I seemed to be unconstrained. When taking human form I was able to morph looks and voice but not able to take on any memories or special abilities they may have. It was enough to be able to pass as someone as long as no great amount of personal questions were asked. I think even ‘he’ reluctantly acknowledged I was no fluke. But As my powers grew my need to settle the score with Mara burned. I seemed unable to forgive her crippling my power, mostly because weeks later she still seemed unwilling to admit any wrongdoing. It boiled my blood.
So it happened one day, I woke and made the decision to hit her where she hurt too. Everyone knew Mara was obsessive over every bit of her life and how it relates to her social presence. Donning the most ridiculous outfit I could assemble in my closet I morphed into a perfect replica of Mara. She really was extremely pretty but today her fans were in for quite an appearance. Since I wouldn’t be able to access any of her actual social media feeds I would be sure to be seen by as many of her groupies as I could possibly find. Lucky for me I knew she was off campus today recording a podcast. So I decided to make an anonymous post on the Academy’s blog that a certain celebrity someone was seeking potential performers for an upcoming series in the quad today. That would likely draw a little attention.
I probably should have felt ashamed or petty over my actions. But really.. I didn’t. It felt good to see the looks of shock and confusion by most of the fans faces. I made a point of traveling across campus after the quad performance, not missing one opportunity to show off Mara’s ‘new look’.
No one seemed to question my legitimacy but I was certainly caught off guard by one unexpected encounter when I walked into the coffee shop.
There were very few people inside, except of course with my luck, Mateo, Rafael and A.J. all stood chatting near the front counter. The three looked over and I almost retreated immediately. But as far as I knew none of them had an issue with Mara. In fact, one rumor had it that Rafael had a thing for the popular upperclassman. Steeling my shoulders and plastering Mara’s perfect camera-ready smile I strolled over to the counter to order.
“Hey Mara, how’s it going?” Mateo, his voice cheerful and friendly, called over. He seemed to be doing better.
“Hey fellas, I’m fabulous of course, how are you guys?” I grinned impersonating Mara’s charisma as much as possible. Luckily after hanging out with her for a number of months I thought I could fool anyone plausibly.
Mateo seemed to accept me at face value without any hesitation just like everyone else. But something about the way A.J. looked gave me the idea that he wasn’t buying it. I mean… he wasn’t even a student here, and as far as I knew didn’t have any supernatural powers. But there was some creepy sense of knowledge the oozed from him. I suddenly got the chills as he greeted me. And Rafael… urgh… he gave me the most heated gaze imaginable. My stomach coiled into a huge knot. Then he smirked as if he were in the middle of one of his stupid pranks.
Ignore him… ignore him and his evil wicked loathsome sexy smile. I was suddenly feeling all the shame I should have felt earlier… not over my actions but because I was stupidly jealous that ‘Mara’ was the recipient of that idiotically glorious grin. I turned away and proceeded to ignore them. Lucky for me their drinks were served and they began to leave.
“See ya” I called in general still trying to keep up appearances.
Two said their goodbyes and head out, but he slowed significantly and paused by my side. My breath caught when he leaned in and hissed near my ear “you still look delicious”. Then he wandered off without a care in the world, leaving me wondering if he was flirting with Mara in her horrible clothes or… if he knew and was taunting me.
I struggled not to think of those cursed words but even days later they rang in my head. It was quite annoying.
At least watching Mara fuss and fret about the ‘horrid’ incident brought me a little amusement. I sat in class nursing my Frappuchino straw stifling a grin as she ranted about the pictures scouring the internet of her dressed in those ridiculous clothes. She was adamant to those closest to her that they had to be photoshopped, but too many people had seen her on campus in those very clothes. Wicked glee coursed through me until I caught the smirk on Rafael’s face across the room. That same sublimely dazzling smug look he had in the coffee shop and I choked on a sip of drink that suddenly flooded my mouth after dragging in a sharp breath. I jerked and wiped at the droplets splatted down my shirt but when I glanced up the look was gone and he was once again absorbed with whichever dreadfully beautiful girl he was paired up with today. Mara continued her barrage of fury. And I was left realizing how much my gloating over the hurtful prank reminded me of… him. What on earth was happening to me?
That was just when one of her cronies exclaimed excitedly shoving her phone to Mara’s face. The group went silent as she swiped and poked at the phone repeatedly then squealed in relief. I frowned then gritted my teeth suddenly all jubilation sucked out of me. It appeared, contrary to my attempt, Mara was a trendsetter!
April arrived and with it spring and society reckoning. As far as I knew the lot of Incarnates were given hidden messages to meet at the church ruins at midnight of all unholy hours for our Bonding Ceremony. I shook my head anxiously and wondered if this was worth it… But as I stood there in my room, before the mirror, and morphed into my imagination of what a sublime Norse Goddess would look like with ease and precision, I knew it had been. I was becoming more powerful by the day. And I liked it.
My eyes sparked with intense drive and enthusiasm as I hurried to the designated meeting space. Surrounded by majestic oaks and scattered graves a creepy fog seeped from the ground giving an eerie celestial feel to the space. Inside the ruins Incarnates gathered around an alter under a moonlit clearing. My breath caught, there was raw energy and power emanating from the group and as I joined, it shot right through me like a jolt of electricity. Or maybe it was just the way his eyes bored into me as if he would literally eat me alive. I shivered hard but didn’t have long to contemplate the emotions radiating from me. The ceremony was beginning.
Slowly the leaders began pairing off members. It was becoming obvious that new recruits were being bound to established members and in the end there were just four of us standing. Connor, Ella, me and him. My stomach jolted as I stared across at the two options left and inwardly began chanting ‘please not him’. I was pretty sure he was thinking the same thing by the indignant look in his eyes. I didn’t know much about Connor but surely he had to be easier to deal with than Rafael!
But as my life goes, I was guided in front of a scowling Rafael and heard the command that each of us was to place one golden cuff before us on the others wrist. It was said that they would bind our powers together in a spiritual union. The expected effect to make our powers feed off the other, making each of us stronger or even omnipotent. When Rafael took my hand I gasped, it was as if a thunderbolt jabbed right into me. Startled I peeked up at him and it seemed I was not the only one that felt it. Anyone could tell he was not liking this one bit and tossed my hand away as if I had burned him.
The leaders seemed pleased with their choices and left the new bonds to adjust.
“This is ridiculous!” He snarled and his attitude sparked mine
“Agreed! You think I want this any more than you do?”
He stepped closer, eyes ablaze and growled “You’re getting the better end of the deal here”
My nostrils flared and chin lifted defiantly all while my insides were going to mush having him so close “are you kidding? I don’t even know what your powers are! Having the eyes of Satan and the humor of a jackass does not make you powerful! Arrogance does not actually make you a God!”
“I am your God now” He scornfully mocked gripping my hand and lifting the gold cuff to my eyes. Instantly a jolt shot between us, a spark of force so intense I lost my breath. And a brilliant white heat started to envelop us. Was I imaging it all?
“I told you to go home” he hissed but I could tell he was experiencing the same staggering brilliance between us. His damned beautiful eyes were flaming. It was dangerous and violent and exquisite.
“I’m not going anywhere” I challenged glaring back at him, enthralled by the heat surging between us, feeding off of it. “Who would have thought the all mighty Rafael would be so frightened of a measly girl”
I was neither measly nor a girl but the taunt proved to ignite him further “It’s apathy. You're dull and boring. Uncertain of your own power. You’re better off with guys like Mateo or… that St. James character” He sneered the last… “They wont provoke you.." he stepped closer "or make demands..." suffocated me with his presence "or challenge you!”
But he would I thought staring at his mouth as he spoke before looking back up and I stopped breathing completely. Leaning down his lips hovered inches from mine and I swore he was about to kiss me. The air around us crackled and blazed. It was more than obvious that the connection between us was fiercely potent. But then…
“You’re nothing but a weak, inferior, pathetic attempt at glory”
My eyes narrowed, ready for this fight, desperate for it. But before I could unleash my fiery temper the sky above expelled a deluge of water that came pouring down over us. Even that didn’t dim the heat radiating between us. It was only after he finally released my hand did the power start to fade. We were both breathless, getting soaked, still fuming.
I hated him. I really, truly despised him. Sloshing back to my dorm I shrieked looking down at my ruined gown and seething with renewed rage. Yet, deep down, I knew... I craved more.
OUTFITS
Cᴜᴘɪᴅ Sʜᴏᴛ Mᴇ﹗
Sᴄʜᴏᴏʟ Uɴɪғᴏʀᴍ Uɴᴅᴇʀ Cᴜᴘɪᴅ·s Sᴘᴇʟʟ
Mᴀʀᴀ Mᴏʀᴘʜ ﹣ Fᴀsʜɪᴏɴ Fᴀᴜx Pᴀs
Bᴏɴᴅɪɴɢ Cᴇʀᴇᴍᴏɴʏ
INTERESTS Rafael-Romantic | Mateo-Friendship | Roosevelt-Friendship
R4 Complete
Last edited by BambiFoxx (01/12/2019 at 00:06)
