Hiraeth

Chapter 11

Samara Shaw

I was exhausted.

I had spent hours plucking out red roses with the harsh sun beating against my skin. Sweat dripped off my face and strands of my hair got plastered to my face and neck. I saw beads of liquid fall on the ground and my uniform go damp. The heat went through my black leather shoes and throughout, I was walking on hot rocks. As every second passed it felt like my life was slowly slipping away. It could have been that I was only dramatic or that I had barely left with my life but either ways, that was the most work I ever had to do in my life. My heartbeats were fast and never stopped till the sun went down and the atmosphere got cool. By then, my legs were numb and the tips of my fingers had gone red and sensitive. It was six o'clock when Lady Esther announced we could get back to our dorms if we wished and I did not waste one more second before I dragged myself back into the building.

I had no idea when Accius decided to come but my health was my first and only priority at that moment. He did not come to my mind till I had successfully made it inside. Only my basket was submitted to Lady Esther when I left and he was not anywhere in my vision so I assumed he decided to spend more time working. The hallways were dark while I walked through, it was around the same time I passed out when I first got there so that was my first time seeing it so dark. If I had not seen the clock in the reception, I would not have known the time or think it was six o'clock. It was very dark inside, anyone would have guessed it to be nine. I could only see with the dimly lit candles hanging from the ceiling.

I kept walking till I was a few doors to the bridge leading to the female's dorm before I noticed it from afar, the glowing bright light. There were more candles on the way there, all ten on the chandelier on. I walked closer and on my way to a sharp turn, I heard hushed whispers. One was soft and feminine like it came from a woman and the other deep and masculine, from a man. I knew it was forbidden for any man to visit the female's dorm and for any female to visit the male's dorm. Therefore, whatever they both were talking about was not only wrong because the man was close to the female's dorm but also because they seemed to be talking about something secretive and did not want anyone hearing it.

I made sure to hit my shoes harder on the ground on my way there to make them aware of my presence but all my attempts were unfruitful as they both continued their conversation like they did not hear me. I proceeded to hit my palm on the wall thrice, harder each time I hit wall but still, they didn't hear the loud taps. Definitely, I could not stop walking or delay myself and risk dinner for their sake. They had to see me themselves if that's what it took and without any hesitation, I went ahead and took the turn.

They were just as I assumed, male and female, both standing at each wall, with a wide space in the middle. The girl had long beautiful hair, the roots ginger red like my hair and the tips the lightest shade of white. It was an odd combination but at the same time, very beautiful. The curls formed from the roots and edges down to her hips. Her eyes were the deepest shade of brown and her skin glowed under the candlelight. She had leather pants covering her legs and a half tattered black top on, exposing about three inches of her stomach. Parts of her body were covered in dust and her shoes in thick mud. Her arms were folded over her chest as she spoke to him, it was as if she was irritated with what he was saying to her.

The male was like the one I saw on Vince's dining room. His hair was long, it almost reached the ground and stayed in a high ponytail at the top of his head. He had a grey cloak on that covered his shoulders down to his ankles and boots covering his feet.

As I stood just a few feet away, they still didn't notice me. None of them turned their heads or even flinched. It was as if I was non existent to them and like they didn't see me at all. Their whispers showed they didn't want anyone hearing what they were saying and if they did, at least they would have spared me a glance.