The Beautiful Monster

Hy guys thank y\'all for waiting for me. Sorry for not posting in February was going through stuffs. Also I want to thank you all for your support. Our book won a nomination price at WSA! It\'s all because of you. Lots of kisses cuz y\'all are the best!

Silence filled Spell Lab 201 as all of the supernatural students stared at Melina, watching intently as she prepared to pull off an electricity spell that had already sent three students to the infirmary.

At the Axven School of the Supernatural Arts, the education was taken seriously, which could lead to serious injuries.

"She\'s going to electrocute herself like Alex," one of the popular witches, Octavia, scoffed to her friends.

Melina felt another wave of nervousness crash through her as she overheard her classmate\'s comment.

If she was honest with herself, Octavia was probably right. This spell was touchy, but she had practiced her dorm room every night for the past week. She could do this.

"Just concentrate and control the flow," Professor Samson told Melina as he stood behind her at the front of the room.

He was around thirty with a tall, lean body under a black button down and black slacks. His glasses were thin-framed and black as they rested on his sharp nose.

A table was set out in front of Melina. There was a single lightbulb set up in front of her, but there was no electricity present in the power source. It was dead until Melina generated the electricity for it.

Melina took in a deep breath, tilting her head back to let her dark hair fall behind her shoulders. She closed her eyes, placing her hand on top of the lightbulb.

She recited the spell under her breath, feeling energy form in her fingertips. She opened her eyes just as the light bulb lit up.

"Do you see that people? We have light!" Professor Samson announced excitedly, coaxing some of the students to clap.

Melina kept her hand on the light, feeling its warm glow as she maintained the current of electricity.

She looked up as her classmates applauded her efforts, feeling a surge of pride fill her.

So often, she was ignored or picked last. The classroom was where she succeeded. It was where she was strong.

"Melina!" Professor Samson shouted.

Before Melina could realize that the light bulb was glowing too strongly, it shattered, glass flying everywhere and cutting into Melina\'s hand.

She stumbled back, grabbing her bleeding hand as her classmates ducked and hid behind their spell books to escape the flying glass.

"I\'m sorry," Melina breathed out as she looked around with wide eyes, an embarrassed flush burning her cheeks.

She hadn\'t been paying attention. She just felt so happy that she pulled off the spell so well in front of everyone.

"I told you that she would mess up," Octavia sneered as she brushed her fingers through her red hair, making sure no glass had rained down on her.

"You wouldn\'t have been able to even get it to light up," another girl, a glowing blonde, smirked at Octavia.

Her laugh sounded like a melody as it rose and then fell, prompting Octavia to roll her eyes.

"Shut up, Blair. You don\'t have to take pity on her all the time," Octavia muttered.

Melina stepped away from the table, lowering her eyes out of shame. Blair was technically her friend, even if the popular witches were also her friends too.

She had no idea why Blair had been so nice to her for the past two years, but Melina was grateful to have a friend.

Her closest friend, Lily, graduated a few years ago, leaving Melina alone to deal with her remaining years of boarding school. This year was Melina\'s last.

"You should go to the infirmary," Professor Samson told Melina before turning to the rest of the class. "Class is dismissed."

Melina nodded, waiting for most of the class to leave before grabbing her things from her desk. She wanted to get out of here as soon as possible.

She slipped the strap of her black, leather messenger bag on her shoulder, hearing her books and jars of ingredients shift around inside.

"Hey, want some company in the infirmary?"

Melina looked over at Blair, feeling surprised that Blair didn\'t run off with her popular friends.

"Oh, you don\'t have to if you\'re busy," she replied before wincing as her hand stung. She looked down at her palm, seeing small pieces of glass embedded in her skin.

She couldn\'t believe that she had embarrassed herself so much. All she wanted to do was prove herself as a talented witch, but she felt like a loser.

When she was younger, she thought that she would be a badass at eighteen. Instead, she was awkward and quiet, struggling to connect with those around her.

This school was full of vampires and witches, who were talented and unique in their own ways. She wanted to stand out amongst all of them.

Blair waved her hand dismissively before looping her arm with Melina\'s, leading her out of the classroom and down the hallway of the multi-story, Victorian style building.

Hues of tan and gray washed over the walls and floors as large windows let sunlight spill into the school\'s interior.

Students filled the hallways in their black and green uniforms, varying between skirts or pants, button down shirts, ties, and blazers with the school\'s insignia on a patch on the left breast area.

A low drone of chatter echoed off the stone walls. The magical energy floating through the air was undeniable.

"Went a little overboard, huh?" Blair commented as we strode down the hallway together, our black boots thumping against the floor.

A sheepish look filled Melina\'s face as she nodded.

"I was just glad that I pulled off the spell," she replied. She hated how pathetic she sounded.

"You\'re stronger than people take you for," Blair said, lifting her eyebrows at Melina.

Melina shrugged as a shy smile crossed her lips. She tried to be as strong as possible by studying and practicing a lot. She didn\'t spend her free time outside of class doing much else.

"I need to practice that spell more," she replied. Her lack of control wouldn\'t do when it came time for the end of the year examinations. Senior exams were even harder than the other level\'s exams.

"Well, do it another time.. Tonight, you\'re going to a party in the courtyard," Blair quipped with an excited smile as she squeezed Melina\'s arm.