Valkyrie - the Vampire Princess (6 page)

CHAPTER 11

The next day, Eros came to school and his left hand was swathed with a bandage. That soon attracted my attention to him, due to the contrast of his dark clothes and that white bandage on his hand. It was inevitable that I would notice him. I was troubled about him and ran into the gangway, trying to talk to him before we entered into our classroom.

“What happened?” It was the first thing I said instead of saying ‘Hi’.

“A little accident,” he said in a weak voice.

“Are you wounded?” I insisted.

“This is a burn.”

“How did this happen?” I remembered the owl last night, when Douglas threw a lit torch at it.

My thoughts became confused with the luau scenes and I was not able to pay attention to what was happening around me anymore.

“I was frying a steak,” he answered and I could come back to my normal state as I listened to his voice again, that is, to reality.

“Do you cook?”

“I have to,” he answered almost smiling at me.

“Do you live alone?” I was surprised again as I imagined he lived with his parents.

“Yes, I do.”

“You need to take more care,” I continued troubled about him.

“This was nothing.  I’ll be better soon.”

“I was waiting for you yesterday.”  I changed the subject.

“Sorry, but I couldn’t be there.”

"I think it was good that you didn’t go. Douglas threw a flaming torch against an owl that appeared there."

"Why did he do that?"

"I do not know. Maybe he had a bad feeling."

"If I were there I would have stopped him." His voice showed anger because of the event.

"I tried doing this, but nothing worked. I confess that I was sorry for the bird."

“Are you starting to like owls?" His surprise was inevitable.

"I am trying to get used to them." I smiled and kept talking. “This is thanks to you who told me those things about them."

He smiled back.

"There are many things you need to know.” He faced me. “Just the right time has not come yet ..."

"What do I need to know?”

I stared at his face with anger. Our conversations always had an incomprehensible air about them.

"Everything has its time ..." he said and walked quickly, leaving me behind. However, I remained puzzled due to his unfinished sentences.

CHAPTER 12

Before I prepared my bed for sleep, I put on a long nightgown and stopped walking in front of my mirror to tie my hair, since I wasn’t able to repose with it remaining free.  At the moment I gazed at my image in the mirror, I was stunned because I could barely see myself in it. It was a far and weak apparition. It was as if I didn’t exist in fact.

Then I imagined it could be a hallucination on my part.

Again the owl came to my window.

My body trembled due to the impact of my fright, at the same time I saw it there, stagnant and observing me all the time. Seconds later, I walked in its direction and this time I didn’t want to frighten it away from there but to protect it.

Eros made me see the owls from a different aspect. 

Before, I saw the owl like an awful and foreboding animal.  Now I see it like a friend and also a protector that comes to my window to watch my sleep nearly every night.

“I don’t want to frighten you,” I said and tried to touch
it. However, the owl flew to the window corner, preventing me from doing that. “I don’t want hurt you.”

I think I frightened it even though I didn’t have any intention of doing so.

Minutes later, I extended my light body on my soft mattress and made my head comfortable on my pillow. But my eyes were still on the owl, which stayed in the same place for hours, just observing me.

I didn’t feel any fear of it, as I remembered Eros all the time and also reminded myself of everything he said to me regarding the owls. His words comforted me in the face of that frightening bird that a large majority of people fear.

Every time I looked at the owl, I felt it was as if Eros was present in my bedroom. Then I sighed deeply while I thought it would be good if he was present there, he could protect me in fact.

After sometime I ended up closing my eyes and fell into a deep sleep in the owl’s presence, while this same owl remained inert with its enormous pair of
eyes over me.

***

The first sun rays reached my window soon in the morning and then I awakened with brilliant light over my face and automatically I felt an irritation in my dark eyes.

Then I put my pillow against my face, blocking out the light
and I ended up remaining in bed longer than I had intended.

CHAPTER 13

Every Wednesday after class, there was a basketball game in the school gym. I sat down next to Mirta to watch the match.

The game had not started yet
. Christian needed one more player to complete his opposing team. He was annoyed because they couldn’t start the game with a missing player.

For the first time
Eros appeared unexpectedly to watch the basketball game. He arrived after everyone had taken a seat, then he walked in slow motion and isolated himself from the other supporters.

Since
he arrived there, my glance was focused on him. It was amazing the power of enchantment he always exercised over me. Mirta nudged my ribs.

“
Look who is coming,” she said, leaning her head towards him.

“
Err… I’ve noticed,” I said, staring at him too.

Eros looked distracted and at that moment he had not seen me yet.

“Why don’t you go there and talk to him?” she asked, glancing at me and smiling joyfully.

“
What would I talk to him about?” I asked with a serious tone in my voice. I was avoiding showing I was really interested in him.

“Think of something
interesting.”

“
I’m not so creative,” I jeered.

“Ask him
if he likes basketball.” She shrugged her shoulders.

“
Great idea!” my voice sounded wry.

Christian saw Eros by himself.

“Hey! You there!” Christian asked standing in his place
. “Do you want to complete our team?”

Everyone around
heard his invitation. Eros realized that everybody was staring at him, as if he was a celebrity.

I straightened
my neck, alert, trying to listen to his expected answer.

“Are you talking to me?
” Eros asked, in a serious tone.

“Yes, I am,” Christian answered,
holding the basketball.

“
Am I designated to play in your team?” Eros asked and his eyes were cold.

“
No, my team is already complete.”

“I agree,” Eros said rapidly,
dropping his backpack on his seat and then he walked onto the sports court.

The
game started. Christian was outstanding on the shots, scoring lots of points. The other players supposed Eros was like a fish out of water. It seemed like he had never seen a basketball before. All of his moves were affecting his team. He was doing everything wrong. He held the ball so clumsily. That was pathetic.

I remained quiet and disturbed
watching that game, as well as how his teammates were mad at him.

“
He is very bad on court!”Mirta commented and I remained quiet. I was pissed off.

In a matter of time
, after his perception about the game, Eros found out the perfect strategy to play. He grabbed the basketball several times. It was amazing how quick he could move his body on the court.

We could only see
his shadow running on. No one could stop him from going on, not even the best player… ‘Christian.’

The
supporters changed their idol. They began shouting aloud the name ‘Eros’, as opposed to Christian.

Christian was
furious with all of them. No one had ever detracted from him on the basketball court.

Mirta
sat back next to me. She was upset due to Christian’s defeat. Unlike me, I was bursting with joy, watching Eros crushing Christian on the court.

The game finished with the
effusive victory of Eros’ team.

“That’s
beginner’s luck!” Christian told Eros, when he left the court, leaving the ball going down. Eros noticed he was glowing with indignation.

“I have
never seen anyone play like that!” one of Christian’s teammates vehemently said.

“
Shut up!” Christian shouted at him.

I tried to talk
to Eros while all the players were leaving the court. He had turned back to get his stuff. He was bent when I approached him.

“How did you do that?”
I asked at his back and opened up my eyes in surprise.

He turned to face
me as he was arranging his books.

“
I don’t even know,” he said and his voice was aloof.

“You
moved so fast on the court! You dominated the game!” I exclaimed, staring at the court.

“Christian
didn’t like it,” he commented.

“
He’s not used to being defeated,” I affirmed.

“He’s
a jerk.” He finally smiled.

Mirta
came to me in silence. She was upset.

“
I’m leaving…will you stay here?” she asked and acted as if Eros didn’t exist.

“
I am going home, too…” I told her.

Eros
frowned and stared at Mirta, at the way she acted towards him. Being very anxious, she left us behind.

“
See you tomorrow,” I said as I was walking on.

“
Okay,” he agreed and stood still, gazing at our backs.