The South Wing was magnificent. Warlocks lived in much more comfort and luxury than humans did. This was so unfair! They had a huge steaming indoor pool. Millions of tiny lights around the pool gave it an unearthly glow. The roof was transparent like the hall where we had the orientation. There was no one in the pool yet, so I sneaked in quickly.

As I walked around it to the back, it led to the building that housed the dorms. The man at the reception was reading a book. I got down and crawled through the area. Just as I was about to reach the door, I heard a thump. 

'Did he put down the book?' I really hoped not. When nothing happened for a moment, I quickly entered the door and leaned against the wall. I let out a sigh when I noticed that the halls were empty too.

"Thank you, Lord Dragomitus," I said a quick prayer of thanks and rushed up the stairs. I knew that the fifth-year students lived in the topmost floor. I took two steps at a time. 

Once I reached there, I realized that my plan was only up to here. I didn't know which room he lived in. I couldn't exactly enter every room and check. 'Now what?'

I touched my bracelet but pulled my hand away quickly. I couldn't risk it. I had no other choice but to walk the corridor and hope to spot him. 

As I moved further into the dimly lit corridor, I felt a faint throbbing in my chest. Yes! I didn't need my energy for I could identify his. After all, as much as I hated it, he was the most powerful being on this floor.

I closed my eyes and focused on that pulsating sensation. I knew that I was nearing him as the air grew warmer and my heart began drumming against my chest. I ran my fingers on the wall on my left. I felt a different material, door, then metal. 'The knob?' 

I kept my eyes closed as I curled my fingers around it and pulled it down. The door opened, first a crack and then entirely. Since I was focusing on his energy, I was hit by the full force of it and was almost knocked out cold. I took deep breaths and steadied myself before opening my eyes.

"Meredith? What are you doing here?" Ryne stood there, in the process of removing his cufflinks. Some of the buttons on his shirt were undone and his olive skin glistened underneath.

'Oh, Lord of all good things!' I gulped, 'Pull yourself together, Meredith. You hate this guy!'

I realized he was expecting an answer and moved my mouth. But it was so, very dry. I licked my lips, swallowed and looked away from him. I needed to gather my senses first. Damn, it was a repetition of how I felt when I met the siren, maybe even more intense.

"I... uh,"

'Genius! Didn't think this far ahead, did you?' a voice inside my head yelled at me. In my defence, I actually didn't think I would get this far.

He took slow steps towards me, "How did you get in here?"

"I walked," I said and looked up at him.

He raised his brow, smirked and pulled me inside. I was so focused on the fact that he had touched me that I didn't realize that he had proceeded to shut the door. I whirled around and saw him leaning against it, his arms folded across his chest.

"I came here to... apologize," I said. That word reminded me of what had happened in the morning and how much of a jackass he had been to me. It reminded me that his idea of punishment was either successfully sucking up to the heads or being the rosa of the Moon festival. 

It reminded me that he had been trying his best to humiliate me. Most of all, it reminded me that I was alone in an enclosed space with my mortal enemy and that thought sobered me up, very quickly.

"Sure, then. Go ahead," he said, gesturing lazily with his hand like he had all the time in the world. Of course, he did.

"Ryne, it was... wrong of me to interfere in what happened this morning and, and I shouldn't have spoken against a higher echelon," I hoped I came across as sincere, because I sure didn't feel so.

He looked down and smiled, "Okay, then. Now that you delivered your apology to me, what do you want me to do? Before you ask anything, let me tell you that I cannot take back what I said this morning."

If I expected that he would revoke the punishment, I would have done this earlier.

"I didn't come here to ask that of you..." I said as I took a step forward. What was I planning on doing? Seduce him with my beauty? Who was I kidding? 

I wore the same uniform that all the girls did, white shirt, black plaid skirt and converse shoes. I didn't have anything that made me stand apart from anyone else who pursued him. 'But... why is his energy spiking?' I wondered. Did he find this amusing?

I licked my lips again and took another step forward, "I just wanted you to... I want to," I looked down trying to get over my own mortification. I cursed him inside my head for making me do all kinds of weird things. 

If only I hadn't interfered today! I had come to Adelmiro Circle for a reason and that was much more important than any of this. Fine, I would take the punishment if I had to, but I couldn't do this!

"Did the sirens send you here?" he asked softly and I looked up at him surprised.

"I... how did you know?" I asked, my eyes wide.

"Kiera has been chasing me around for two years and her methods haven't changed yet. She keeps sending humans to fetch me," he said with a chuckle. He walked to the large mirror attached to the wall and redid his buttons. He then grabbed his coat and held the door wide open. I stood there frozen. 'Is he actually coming with me?'

Flustered, I stumbled forward quickly and exited his room. I followed him as I heard the door shut behind us and the lock click. This guy was really something!

By the time we got to the ground floor, many boys were swimming around in the pool. I struggled to keep pace with him and be hidden from their view at the same time. 

One boy still in his uniform, hooted at the sight of us exiting the building together. Ryne flicked his hand, and he was thrown into the pool. The rest of them began laughing and hopefully minding their own businesses.

We walked the rest of the path in silence. I promised myself that once this mark business was done, I was going to put all my time and effort into finding Lord Dragomitus. Once I did, I was getting the hell out of this place.

Just as the lake came into view, Ryne asked, "What was your plan?"

"Hmm?"

"Were you trying to seduce me?" I could hear the laughter in his words.

My face was hot and I was thankful for the darkness, or he would be able to see how much I resembled a ripe tomato.

"Of course, not!" I cried out, "I was going to threaten you."

He laughed out loud, "That's even more ridiculous!"

"Whatever," I mumbled.

My eyes were fixed onto the ground, so I didn't know what it was, but I felt something brush against my hair. I looked up at him. 'Did he just ruffle my hair?' Ryne stared straight ahead and I followed his gaze. 

There standing against the backdrop of the glistening lake, glistening just as much, was Kiera. Now that was someone who stood out. I glanced back at him as I pushed a strand of my hair behind my ear. 'No, he couldn't have.'