"I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then."

Alice (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass)

CHAPTER FOUR

                The academy for supernaturals. It wasn't that different with boarding schools back to where I came from but this building is way too old. It was still hard for me to accept that this place even existed, that I am from a world different from here. I can't consider this as one of my dreams because my wounds hurt like hell and also, I can freely move.

                I looked back at the school building. Veins were snaking on the outside walls and I can't help myself but look around. Students were everywhere, it's like I got here the time they were free. There's too many of them that not believing is impossible. Some had set their eyes on me, some of them didn't mind my presence. I felt anxious that the only thing I wanted to happen right now was return home.

                "Trinity, are you okay?" Delica asked, she was beside me all the time since we got here. The other female was on my other side as Mrs. Osborne leads the way. If this academy was intended for creatures I have never imagined existing, why am I here?

                "You're paler than me," she sounded cold, my other companion that is. I looked at her as she removed her hood. Her eyes were red as blood, her hair was black but there were streaks of crimson red at the tips of it. And like she said, she was pale. As if blood never crosses her face. I gasped, loud enough for her to face me, "I'm Thalia Lewis."

                "You scared her, Thalia," Delica mumbled while looking over my shoulders to meet Thalia's gaze. I realized we stopped our tracks and Mrs. Osborne was just patiently waiting for us, "Mrs. Osborne, I would like to take responsibility of touring her. Well, it's our job anyway. We're going to get her later."

                "I'd gladly accept your help, Ms. Woods," Mrs. Osborne replied, "I'll have word with both of you when I finish filling Ms. Williams here with explanations," I was just looking at them, I didn't have any idea what were they talking about, "It's regarding your room.."

                "Ahhh!" Delica suddenly shrieked, "We're just being creative of our room, it's not like we trashed it, it's very clean," she informed while fiddling her thumb. She's clearly lying. She grabbed Thalia's hand and they ran away from us. I followed them with my gaze until they were out of my sight. Reminds me of the last time I saw Nics and Nico, their backs showing while running for escape. It was relieving to see them got through, although a part me says — I might not be able to see them again.

                "Well then, shall we continue with our business, Trinity?" I snapped out of my thoughts and just nodded meekly. Hilda Osborne, a stranger who called me, the person who made it possible for me to come here, the one who's going to change my life as a once, normal, teenage girl. She wasn't like a type of person to lie to me, right? I mean, although I have only met her now, I kind of found a soft spot for her within me. And it's like… I met her before. But this doesn't mean I'd stay here just because of her kindness towards me. This isn't the place I should be in, not the place I belong. If we consider that possibility that I might be one of them, why did it take this long to fetch me?

                We arrived at the building's entrance. Crossing my hand over my chest, I stepped inside, following Mrs. Osborne's lead.

                Once you step inside, there's no turning back.

                I stopped my feet to further enter the building and glanced back. There's no one behind me, but I feel something odd. I hear students chattering, whining, laughing — everywhere that it hurts my ears.

                My temple was aching and I can't help myself but feel dizzy. What's happening?

                "Trinity?" Mrs. Osborne called. I looked up on her to see her reaction. She was concerned. I shrugged my shoulders and stood straight. This doesn't make any sense.. for the meantime. I can't understand why I'm here.

                "If I get pass across the entrance doors, are you going to answer all my questions?" Her brow twitched. More like ceased to rise, "I have been wondering.." Her lips were tight as her hair in a bun, "..who are you exactly to me?" That was the first time I became suspicious of a person, usually, I just do what they say, making me as gullible as an idiot. But this is different.. way too different for me to accept.

                In an instant, the place was already covered in darkness and the only illuminating light was too bright and was red in color that it nearly hurt my eyes if Mrs. Osborne hadn't covered them.

                "You've got the wrong person, Hilda," a voice. A deep one that sends ominous aura. His voice echoed around like there was no one besides us is near. It sent me goosebumps; his voice alone was intimidating.

                "It is quite rude for you to appear like this uninvitedly, West of Wise Men. Worry not, she is the one," answered Mrs. Osborne, still covering my eyes. I tried to remove the older woman's hand away from my face but she didn't budge, even slightly, "You mustn't," she whispered. I remained calmed even though I was curious who are we talking to and what situation I am in. I felt myself taking a step forward and overwhelming feeling of power seeped from beneath me. I felt so weak and lightheaded, groggy all of a sudden that by any moment, I'll snooze off.

                "She can't even handle this amount of power inside the academy," still a man's voice but different person but it gave the same impression on me. The problem is my knees won't last much longer. I'm cowering.

                "East," Mrs. Osborne sounded calm and composed. She had this motherly aura that I can't help but feel ease. I didn't have my own mother to begin with so I really don't know what it feels like to have one. I live with my aunt and they provided me my needs for 17 years of my existence. They might not say it but I've been a bother to them, especially to my cousins.

                It's weird how I recall my life even with this situation. They seemed wary of my presence here and I should be concerned more about myself.

                "Can I have an explanation what took you, oh wise men to stop us here?" Mrs. Osborne was holding me tightly, as if I'd see worse if she hasn't, "I believe this is out of your duties as guardians. By any case, are you questioning my very own decisions?"

                "I beg your pardon, Hilda, but the barrier weakened the same time she came landing from nowhere, it is still our duty to know who.. or what has entered," this is clearly the first man's voice. And 'what'?. I felt pairs of eyes staring at me. It was surprising how I felt that, I just feel like there’s a tension between us. I don't understand anything, no, it's not that I don't, I just can't.

                "I was the one who summoned this child from the outside," I heard the men gasp. Outside.. I am an outsider, that's the only thing that registered inside my mind.

                "The two of us are just checking," East informed us. Two of them... huh? That's strange.

                "It can’t be," was the phrase I managed to say. It just clicked that the next thing I knew, my hands are pressed against my mouth. I didn't know the reason behind it, even though one them said that they were just the two of them, aside me and Mrs. Osborne, I can feel a heavier presence and a lot stronger, “There are three of you.”

                Silence fell. The presence I felt earlier became more prominent that my legs started to stiffen.

                "I almost dropped my interest in you," I trembled like a feather in a strong breeze at the voice. Manly in every aspect, full of authority and respect. He whispered those words on my ears and it got stuck in my mind. He was more of intimidating than the two, I am sure of it.

                "Checking done," West said. I felt like I'm in a final exam and the feeling of getting to know the results is the same as of what I'm feeling right now. Nervous, anxious, churning stomach. All of it. Mrs. Osborne was rather silent and asking her wouldn't change a thing here, "It seemed like South approves."

                South? If base on their names, I can conclude that it came from the four directions. Where is North?

                "We are sorry for our actions, Hilda. We'll reflect with our actions and stick to our duties," it was South this time. The sole of his shoes hitting the tiled floor made clacking sounds of terror, "We'll see through this."

                Mrs. Osborne slid off her hand covering my eyes, my vision was still white and blurry but I caught a glimpse of the three men, they were covered in black smoke, I can't have a clear view of their faces, it was pitch black and then I saw it — the person in the middle left a Cheshire grin before they vanished before my eyes.

                I fell on my knees as Mrs. Osborne came to my aid. My vision was getting blurrier and hazier. My sight is twirling, it felt like being inside a huge blender and you witness how things turn around you. It was painful to my head, my chest, to every part of me. Before I fell unconscious, I heard a call that isn't familiar to me...

                "Alice!"

                ...but for some reasons, it felt good to hear.

                I was in a room when the howls outside woke me up. That wasn't just the reason, there was a faint sound of bells ringing against my ear and I don't find it comfortable. The room isn't dark, it was lively than I thought it would be. It was lit with two lamps near the head board and a chandelier across the said room. I looked over my right to see a fancy couch sit nestled on a carpet.

                I just slept in, didn't I?

                The bed quaver as I removed the sheets covering me and sat down on the edge of the structure. Still feeling a little dizzy, I walked right at the window as the curtain swayed. I peered outside before I closed the window. The view isn't usual. I am still here.

                The moonlight shines so brightly, casting shadows of creatures in the night. The building across where I am had large windows on them and lights flicked on and off. I can guess those were rooms too.

                "Trinity," I yanked the curtains close, turned on my heel to face Mrs. Osborne closing the door behind her, "I'm glad you have regained your consciousness."

                "Mrs. Osborne," she paced the floor, her poise and gesture, truly majestic as I stared how gracefully she walked and smile at me. Setting that aside, I stood straight, brushing my left arm. The night’s making my skin shiver to the cold, "What happened?”

                "You were tired. It might be an after effect of the travel. I sincerely apologize," she motioned me to sit on the cushion and I did. I noticed that my wounds were gone and I can't even see a scar. My jaw isn’t hurting anymore either, "Would you like some tea?" I nodded. Aunt always makes me tea when I'm stressed out, even if it's reason is obligation, I really appreciated it, "Your wounds were tended by a local healer while you were asleep. He's a warlock working under the council," she moves across the counters and I just stared at the floor. I find it easiest to get through my anxiety when I avoid people's gazes. But the case is different when it comes to Nics and Nico.

                A table appeared in front of me and Mrs. Osborne placed my cup of tea above it. The smell was nice and calming. I took it with much care, blew and had a sip.

                "It tasted just like my aunt's," I placed the cup down and looked at the tea. It was dark red, so dark I couldn't see the bottom of the cup, "How?"

                "I am a witch, Trinity. What you have projected inside your mind will surely be what you'll have," at some point, I don't like where this is going. I seized to take more of the tea and placed my hands on top of my lap, "It's a comforting spell," she continued. Does that mean, the tea is what I wanted right now?

                "Why am I here?" my voice was shaky as she refrained from what she was doing and placed the cup down. She entwined her hands and slid it over the table. She leaned and fixed her gaze on me. I gulped.

                "Trinity, you are here because you have to be here in the first place," I patiently listened, I didn't even know what to say either, "As I told you, you belong here."

                "But.. I am not one of you," I replied still being nervous of what she'll tell me after, "I'm sorry Mrs. Osborne, but I'm not something like a witch or a werewolf. I'm just .. me. A human."

                She sighed and the table disappeared, she held my hands and looked straight to my eye.

                "You might have not known yet what you are capable of doing but if you stay here, you'll know," if I stay here.. but I can't, "You belong here. It isn't easy to accept all this but this is the truth. You are one of us. You are a prodigium."

                I held back my hands. I wanted to believe her so bad but I can't leave my life in the other world.

                "How would you know I'm one of you? I lived for 17 years without anything supernatural happening around me," my voice cracked and sounded that I was in rage.

                "Trinity, do you remember the place you went before you came here?" she sat down beside me as I tried to recall the place, "The old library, inside a glass case, the book was the only portal we could have without being noticed. It only works for us, prodigiums, I am absolutely sure you are—"

                "Noticed by whom?" she stayed silent before answering. She wasn't meeting my eye and I can feel her being tensed.

                "The Prodigium Hunters."