★†★

I need you closer

Can we go somewhere

Leave our world behind

★†★

Today is officially my worse day ever even before spending the whole day. Am to serve my detention in the library with Penelope and Roman. Roman, I can tolerate. Penelope on the other hand is a total witch, I mean bitch.

I groan when I enter the library and see Penelope standing beside Dean and Roman. At least, Roman is an eye candy. I smile and wave towards the guys, mainly Roman.

My heart stops breathing when I see Roman look away from me. I thought we were moving forward, he fucking slept in my bed last night, he saw my stomach.

I sigh and shake my head. "Good morning, Dean," I acknowledge him and stand in front of them with my hands on my hip.

I roll my eyes at Penelope's pout. Bitch. Seems like they were waiting for me, am here now.

I clap my hands and clear my throat. "How am I doing this?" I ask Dean.

He clears his throat, I think he can feel the tension in the air. "You three are working together," He continues before we can interrupt him. "And yes you three are working together on this. You are to look for a raven, tortoise, and a peacock."

"Am not sure I understand what you're saying, aren't we clearing out and rearranging?" I ask curiously. I guess I didn't get the memo right.

Dean straighten his tie and places his hands in his pocket. "That will be all, see you after the simulation," He says and head out.

"The simulation? What the hell are you talking about?" I ask behind Dean.

He halts and turn his head slightly to my side. "It's a team work, Cami. Ask the other, work together," He says and walks out.

My mouth drops open as I watch him exit the library, I shake my head in disbelief and turn to my side. "Work together he says," I mutter. I still can't believe he expects me to work with Penelope of all people, I wouldn't have minded Roman, but he is also behaving like a jerk.

"Dean says we should work together, clearly he's gone mad," I raise my voice as I turn to Penelope and Roman, who doesn't seem worried about the weird detention. "Because there is no way in hell that am working with you two asshol-" A very bright light shines on me and I am quick to cover my eyes.

I open my eyes when I notice the change in me. "Well this isn't the library," I comment as I look around the new environment.

I thought the change was in me but it actually a change in location. We are in some kind of mansion, the living room actually. I notice Roman sitting on the couch comfortable like what happened wasn't weird.

"The Headmaster could have at least provide snacks since the kitchen is off limits," Penelope whines and jumps on the couch.

The kitchen is off limits. "What the hell is going on?" I am seconds away from freaking out and screaming. "Where the hell are we?"

"Finally, someone who swears," A familiar voice says behind me.

I turn around to see Nate standing like he has been there for hours. "You are here too. Wait, what are you doing here?"

He shrugs and gives me his designated smirks. "Well, I guess I should welcome you the Chambre de Chasse," He says.

To the who to the what.

"Chamb du what?"

"Chambre de Chasse," He says like I should know what it means. "You've heard about it right?" He asks in his thick Irish, wait, Scottish, no British, I don't know accent, am sure it an ish.

"Hey fella, nice of you to grace me with your presence and join the party, what is the theme?"

I look back to see Penelope groan and Roman's eyes are closed.

Oh bloody hell.

★†★

Am sitting on the floor opposite my sensei, Nate, who happens to love this position, he keeps patting my head and asking if I have any questions. Well, I have tons.

"Let's start with the Chamb, shall we?"

Everything is strange but it seem normal to these people.

Nate recline on the couch and crosses his leg on the other. "It's Chambre with letter R and E. A Chambre de Chasse is a magically constructed location that exists on the Astral Plane represented by a specific mindspace usually depicted as a room. They are created with representational magic using representational totems to draw and anchor the minds of others when the destruction of the said totem is destroyed, the person can leave the Chambre de Chasse," He explains and adds. "In our case, we would work together after finding what represents us," He tells me.

I blink as I take in the information. "What do you mean work together?" I ask first, I still have questions.

"There is a spell that links us to this place and the object that represents us, instead of destroying the object, we will anchor it and cast a spell that will break our link to this place and the object, and when that's done, we are free to go back home.... Safely," He adds.

It's a lot to take in.

"What an Astral Projection?"

He uncross his legs and leans forward. "An Astral Projection is a term used to esotericism to describe a willful out of body experience that assumes the existence of a soul or conscious called an Astral Body that is separated from the physical body and capable of traveling outside it throughout the universe, which is what we are doing here," He explains.

Wow, there is so much I do not know.

"Out of the body experience?"

He chuckles. "You are one hell of a student, Cami girl. Don't worry I will take care of you."

I laugh with my teeth only, I feel like punching his nose. "Less flirting and more explanation."

"An OBE is an experience that typically involves a sensation of floating outside one's body and in some cases, the feeling of perceiving one's physical body as it from a place outside one's body, any further questions milady," He uses his index finger to hit the tip of my nose.

"Bottom line, we are trapped here till we find what represents us?" I ask and he nods. "Useful, please tell me you know the spell?"

He licks his bottom lips letting me know that he doesn't know. "Oh come on, Nate!"

"I do, Pen and I have found our totems, if you guys are looking for yours instead of chatting, maybe we'll be figuring out a way to get away," Roman voices sound harsh behind me .

"Come on, sweetheart. You have a raven to find, I have a cat to catch," He says and offers me his hand.

I take it and he helps me up on my feet. "Where are we anyway?" I ask as we walk pass Roman and Penelope.

"Dean's mansion, the guy is filthy rich, I mean look at this place," He says as he leads me away from the audience

Or you could say filthy stupid, the guy is ancient, I mean the living room is filled with antiques and it's creepy. I like the decorations of the place especially the way I can tell he loves art by just staring at the painting hung on the wall. There are two large sofas facing the huge television on the wall. A couch is facing a fireplace. The large chandelier looks like it's going to drop on my head as I keep staring at it

"So.... You guys do this all the time, I mean whenever you have a detention?" I ask because I can't seem to make any sense of anything.

He nods. "Pretty much, it was hell the first time, we had no one to tell us what was happening, we just followed the clue," He tells me.

I sigh. "Sound like pure torture," I whisper.

He furrows his brows as we take out the book from the shelf. "Far from it, it was fun and we had access to the whole place, I don't know why he made today a living room party," He says as he opens a huge book.

I nod. "Why are you here? I know what I did, I don't know why any of you are here."

"Penelope and I were caught sneaking in pass curfew, and yes we do party outside school. I think Roman is here to guide you," He tells me.

"I doubt that, he hasn't said anything to me since......" I trail off.

"He snuck out of your room this morning," He replies nonchalantly.

My mouth drops open. "How did you-" He interrupts me.

"Know, he is my roommate, I always smell you on him, and am not stupid. You guys clearly have something going on, which brings me to my request," He shut the book suddenly, making me flinch. "Your friend, Jessica. Can I have her number?"

I raise my eyebrows in question. "Because..."

He shrugs. "She asked me to collect her number from you."

"You are lying, aren't you? And I'll ask her if I can give you," I assure him.

He smiles. "Thanks, you are a lifesaver and I just found your totem, a Raven."

I collect the raven statue from him and stare at it. Ravens, What is it with me and ravens?

I sigh and look up to see something strange and interesting. Somehow the sign I see on my hand and my necklace is hang as a painting on the wall of Dean's living room.

He knows more than he is letting on. Why does he keep doing this with me? I don't want this life, I never wanted this life, not for one second but somehow my life tangled up in it, it's like every moment I live is already decided, and everyone knows it but me.

The raven means something; Dean, Miranda, Professor Holme even Roman knows something but nobody is willing to tell me, instead they lie to me.

I can't seem to make sense of anything. Roman, my power, this stupid school, my parents who has been ghosting me. I know am not an ideal daughter or student but at least am here, and I need someone to fucking tell me what's going on before I lose my fucking mind and explode.

"Found mine, this is very easy, almost like he deliberately wanted us here," Nate wonders as he shows me his cat statue.

I realize that each totem represent us in a way that nothing else can't. I have special connection with raven, Penelope and her pride and beauty, playful Nate and cunning Roman.

This wasn't a punishment it's a revelation. Dean wants me to know everyone around me, and I do. I can't trust anyone not even Dean himself.

★†★

"Vegi su kacb uro modeerf," We chant at the same time but like the last twenty four times, nothing happened.

Penelope breaks the circle and keeps her arms wrap around her waist. "We've been at this for almost an hour and nothing is happening," She whines like stupid child.

"Maybe we just need to keep trying," I try to sound positive.

Penelope glares at me. "This is all your fault no doubt, this isn't our first time here, you aren't concentrating, I don't even know why they let foo-" Nate and Roman interrupts her simultaneously.

"Oh come on, Penelope."

"Stop blaming her," Roman turns to me, and for the first time today, he's staring at me. "Camille, listen to me. We need to work together to get out, without the four of us magic, we can't leave this place," He explains.

I keep my gaze everywhere but his face. "You three can go," I tell them.

"Good idea," Penelope says.

"And leave you here, no can't do, love," Nate replies. "I still need you to give me your friend's number," He winks.

I hear Roman sighs as he places his hands on my shoulder. "Don't you understand. This place is a temporary reality that exists for the four of us, we can't leave you here, we have to get out together," He removes his hand from my shoulder and places it under my chin, forcing me to look at him. "We need to do this together."

I am tired of hearing that word 'together' it's like whenever they say, they take some reserve sense from me.

I snap out of my thoughts when Roman pulls me into a comforting hug. "Am sorry for how I treated today, I'll explain later," He whispers and pulls away from me, looking deep into my eyes. "Focus, you can do this, please, clear your mind and focus just like we did together," He says as he pull away from the hug and take my hand in his.

Nate takes my other hand, Penelope closes the circle. I sigh and prepare for the spell.

"Vegi Su Uro Modeerf."

The lights shines around us, I don't close my eyes this time, but somehow my eyes opens at the library.

We are back.

I look beside me to see Nate smirking at me. I have some scores to settle with Dean and Roman, Dean first.

★†★

I barge into Dean's office without knocking, I don't care if he's busy. He is just sitting in his office, looking comfortable as ever while I was locked in another dimension.

He raises his eyebrows as he sees me. "Camille, am glad to see you," He says with a genuine smile.

I sit on the chair opposite him with a scowling expression. "Can't say the same," I reply harshly.

He raises his eyebrows in question. "Excuse me?"

"I saw a painting in your living room that looking exactly like my pendant and the sign I see whenever I use magic, care to explain that?"

His eyes widening in shock and quickly recover, not after I caught him. "I don't know what you are talking about," He lies.

Fucking liar.

"Dean-" He cut me off.

"That is Headmaster Wallace to you, who do you think you are, barging into my office like you own it and demanding me of something I don't know!" He yells and I don't think I have ever him this angry before. "The Chambre De Chasse was created to feel familiar to you, am sorry for trying. I should give you another detention but it won't matter, get out of my office."

I scoff. "Gladly," I mutter and get up from the sit.

I slam the door behind me as I walk out, I see Roman leaning against the wall immediately I step out.

"Camille-" I cut him.

"Just leave me alone, you all pretend that you care about me but you don't, you are all just lying to me, well am done with this awful place," I walk away before he can say anything and he doesn't try to stop me.

I march to my room, I mean run as fast I can. Am not much sprinter but I should try jogging more.

I slam the door and take out my duffle bag. I remove the stupid tag on my jacket and throw it somewhere in the room. I am shaking with anger and God help me whoever try to stop me.

I open my closet and pack the whole clothes inside without removing the hangar and dump it inside the duffle bag.

"Stupid," I push my stuff inside the bag. "Stupid school," I mutter as I move over to my side drawer.

"Stop!" Roman's voice orders from the doorway, I don't look his side. "Camille stop, you are behaving like a child," He says.

"Well, this child is fucking done with you, lots all of you. Get the fuck out of my room," I frown and zip my bag.

I carry the bag and walk towards him with determination. I'd like to see him try to stop me.

I stop infront of him and tighten my hold on the bag. "Move, Roman or I'll move you," I threaten and I mean it. I don't care if I conjure the whole ravens.

He smirks and it's annoying me. "You are angry, I get it but you leaving like this won't get you the answers you seek," He says.

"You sound like my dead Grandfather, now move!" Through my grit teeth, I warn.

"Camille-" He didn't finish his sentence as the school alarm blares loudly.

I look at Roman. "What is it now," I roll my eyes.

Fucking panic alarm.

"Something bad."

★†★

💗,Milia.