Figment of Dreams
Chapter 23: You’re poison

The first month and a half at Rivelling College had come and gone by like a whirlwind. I was getting along with most Rainers, making connections here and there in my classes. All the warnings they had issued turned out to be fairly exaggerated. I had only been mistreated by Melixes’ gang and one other girl who seemed to have it out for me. She would try to trip me in the hallways, like a little girl, and I hadn’t even known her name yet. Rude much.

Skylark and I were inseparable though. Our bond had formed instantly that very first night I met her. It was unexplainable but we had connected on a deeper level.

Kai and I were also doing fine and besides my new friendships with a lot of people Jax was close with, I did not see much of my former best friend at all.

They had given me more classes, because seemingly I was integrating great so that meant more work on my plate. I had this thing called Poison Study for the very first time today. No idea what I was going to learn today, because on earth this type of class would not exist.

Guess I was not in Kansas anymore.

I entered the classroom. It was a large room, with many even larger working benches which had all types of instruments on them. It looked like I had stepped straight into the Harry Potter set and it had drenched itself in futuristic, metal and white coloring. The Professor looked up, he was in his mid-forties. Greyish brown hair. Glasses on his tiny little nose. I had no idea how that could be a thing but it looked funny.

‘Miss Elmrose!’ he greeted me with much enthusiasm, his voice sounded like he had a clothespin stuck on his nose. I shyly smiled up at him trying not to giggle. That would be really rude.

‘Class, we have a new student joining us this year. You all know of her probably.’ He confidently smiled at me. I turned even redder in the face.

Yeah, the poor earthling, that’s me.

He glanced at his seating chart and nodded. ‘Yes, I see. We only have one spot left, at mister Rios’ desk.’ The entire class seemed to hold their breath at the same time. Whoever Rios was, he sure as hell didn’t share a desk. That much was clear.

Mr. Holbrook pointed towards the last bench on the right. I reluctantly made my way over there, getting angry looks from a bunch of way too dressed up barbie looking girls. When the biggest Rainer I had ever seen made room for me to pass, so I could stare at the Rainer on the last bench, my breath caught.

Rios, or whatever his name was, stared at me with eyes so dark, they could possibly be black. Dark hair cropped really short on his head, a real buzzcut. He had a big tattoo on his neck, I could see more underneath his black shirt, his arms and gold clad fingers. My feet guided me forward though.

’Carina.’ He said, voice deep and accented before he pointed towards the seat next to him. A crooked smile appeared on his way too handsome face. Slightly lined by a five o’clock shadow.

I swallowed visibly and sat down. Everything about him screamed danger. Like my entire being knew, this was not a man to mess with. Whoever he was, the entire room knew how dangerous he was too.

It was in his eyes. It’s always in the eyes. I could see the shadows twirling, but there was a certain golden light to them as well. As if he was dangerous and exciting at the same time. It made no sense at all.

He gave me a smoldering look though, as if he had more than just fun in mind. I had to ask Skylark about him later.

‘My name’s Lux…’ I said because he had just called me an entirely different name and this man’s entire aura almost made me forget to reply to that insult.

He just arrogantly smiled at me as if I was not in on the joke.

’I didn’t say your name, Carina.’ I stared at my desk, lining up my pencils, essentially ignoring him. Because what was I going to say to that? I didn’t even understand what he meant.

He tapped my shoulder and I turned around on instinct. He grabbed my neck softly but firmly at the same time, and turned me further towards him. Palms warm on my skin. Tingling erupted everywhere on my body at the contact.

I was rooted to the spot, this strange man I had just met had grabbed my neck. It should be considered an aggressive move, especially since his large hands wrapped all around my small neck, but he made it seem like it was barely a handshake and of no importance. It turned me on for some weird reason I was too afraid to think about more. So I swallowed visibly.

‘Look at me when I’m speaking.’ He sighed sardonically. There was some sort of anger in his voice though and I figured out rather quickly he was sizing me up with that move and not trying to intimidate me, not exactly.

I grabbed his wrist, he felt way too hot to my touch and electricity went through me at the contact point our bodies had made. He glanced at my hand on his wrist and I could visibly see the electricity hitting home with him too.

I roughly yanked him off me, not caring that the entire class was laser focused on the two of us right now.

I stared straight into his dark eyes, who were turning a tint of reddish brown by getting a little bit angry. He did not like me overpowering his dominance play. But the golden sheen was back as well. So maybe he did. Who did he think he is anyway?

‘Don’t touch me like that ever again.’ I growled. I maintained eye contact for dear life. He was to know right here, right now, not to mess with me. I was done being this plaything of any man who thought he could tell me what to do. That old Lux had died with earth.

It stayed tense for about three seconds. The two of us having a staring match and trying not to blink first. He chuckled suddenly, breaking off the eye contact as if I was amusing to him.

His crooked smile popping up and eyes smoldering even more, the gold sheen now dominating his entire pallet. I guess I have passed the test.

’I’m going to have a good time with you, Carina.’

Later that day I had almost forgotten about that strange encounter but Sky and I were doing our make-up for a night out on the town. I had just told her what had happened in Poison Study.

Skylark dropped her eyeliner and turned around. ‘What?’ she screamed. ’Dominic -Dosch-Rios?’

I rolled my eyes at the disgusting look she now had plastered on her face. Her eyeliner had slipped and made a mess next to her left eye.

So I said. ’What’s his deal, why you say his name like that? And what kind of name is Dosch anyway?’

’He’s like the son of the most dangerous mafiosi of Rivellin. His real name is Dominic but they have nicknamed it into Dosch. It’s Mons for boss. He runs the biggest gang of the entire state. He was put in this college as punishment. He won’t get to run the business without a college degree, according to daddy Dom. Don’t mess with him, Lux. I mean it!’ she was dead serious and pointed her eyeliner at me to make her point. I was sure she was about to throw it my way if I said something stupid.

Why was I not surprised.

As soon as someone spells trouble I’m game.