Carry You by Ruelle ft. Fleurie
She could not believe her ears. Things were going so well for her, in school and her personal life. Now, all the effort that she has been investing herself in and her education were going mostly to waste. She didn't want to even imagine what tonight was going to be like for her.
Elizabeth turned around and looked into Professor Clairmont's eyes. Filled with curiosity, amusement, and sternness, his eyes were saying something that his tone wasn't delivering.
Realizing the silence that befell in the conversation, she took this opportunity to answer Mary's question.
"I am an orphan. After my parents died, I emancipated myself back in the States and studied from school to school. I currently am a student at Oxford," Elizabeth shared while maintaining her gaze with the man next to her. Before things became too awkward, she looked back at Mary with a small smile.
"Thank you, Mary, for the glass of water. I should head back to my rooms. Hope to catch you some other time. Good day." And with that, Elizabeth pushed herself off of the bar counter and walked through the exit.
Once outside, Elizabeth gulped air, silently gasping with fear of an oncoming panic attack or maybe her body was short-circuiting. Whichever the excuse it may be, she headed for the small alley that was to the side of the bar. Ducking in, Elizabeth leaned against the wall, leaning her back on the wall and placing her hands on her knees. This wasn't happening. Elizabeth's brain was overthinking every single detail that came to her and she couldn't control it. Her body felt like it was betraying her and she had no control over it. She started seeing black spots and realized that she wasn't breathing, therefore she was losing consciousness.
Before she even realized, there was a small whisper of a voice that was pleading to her.
Take a breath now.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Her body was following what the voice told her. Slowly but surely, Elizabeth's eyes were becoming clearer and she was more aware of her surroundings. It was then, a little too late, she realized who brought her back to Earth.
It was those black eyes, that held so much emotion, that was looking straight into her plain brown ones. This man had become such a paradox towards her, she didn't know how to react towards this new calm and serenity around him. She looked down to her hands being enveloped by his, leaning down and trying to parallel Elizabeth's height. Carefully, Elizabeth straightened her back and, without letting go of the professor's hands, she stood straight and continued to take deep breaths.
Professor Clairmont raised a corner of his lips as if something were amusing him. "Elizabeth, we shouldn't have to meet like this," his tone slightly lighthearted, "I hope you understand that everyone that crosses your path is a trained physician."
Elizabeth laughed. A genuine light laugh. Paradoxical person indeed, Elizabeth thought.
"Believe it or not, Professor, these incidents have not been purposefully incited. I have more than enough hardship to go through as a teenager, much more with a medical condition."
The professor nodded and looked down at his hands. Conscious that Elizabeth was alright, he removed his hands from hers and placed them in his pockets. He looked down at the teenager in front of him and couldn't help but image what this girl's story was.
Realizing that she was taking up his time, she stood with her back straight and sidestepped towards the sidewalk. Knowing what he can ask anything and everything, her walls came up and made sure she let nothing out.
"I should be heading back to my rooms now Professor. Thank you again for all your help." With that, Elizabeth walked back towards her college, but a hand kept her from moving forward. She looked back at the hand and then to the face that belonged to the hand. She was ready to go back to her room and once again avoid for another month until she forgot him, but apparently, he had other plans. What else could he want now? she thought, Wonder if he wants to talk about last. Definitely not an option.
Elizabeth turned her body towards him, moving her weight to lean on one leg and looked at the Professor in front of her, expectantly.
"Despite what just happened, you disregard your health as it is something that is of no importance. Now, why would an intelligent lady like you have an attitude like that?"
"It is not that I have a 'disregard for my health', as you put it, but rather than I know what my body does and how I handle it"
He raised an eyebrow at me. "Earlier, it seemed like you couldn't even control your breathing. Not to mention the first time you met, you forgot to measure your glucose level and almost sent your body into shock."
That broke the dam Elizabeth was holding.
Suddenly, the wind picked up on the street, slowly but forcefully, and moved the leaves from the cobblestone road to the alley where both Elizabeth and the professor were situated in. She was tired of hearing his reproach and the tone from every adult. The tone of her father.
Her fingers were tingling, along with the rest of her extremities. As Elizabeth looked down, she saw her feet float a couple of inches above the ground, leveling her with the man in front of her. When she lifted her gaze, she looked into the astonished eyes of the man who started this all.
When Elizabeth reflects back on this moment in the future, she will realize that the look that the man had was not of astonishment but of pride and bewilderment. It was the same look that he will continue to give her in the future until either pride or bewilderment leaves Matthew Clairmont's eyes.
As the wind picks up dangerously, he realizes that he has to control the girl in front of him before someone spots the origin of these supernatural occurrences. Carefully, Professor Clairmont places both hands carefully on each side of her collarbone. He leaves them there for a couple of before he starts to gently press down while making sure to maintain eye contact on Elizabeth. At the moment, she was the most important (and the most dangerous) person in his current surroundings.
Slowly but surely, Elizabeth starts to land on her feet and the wind calms to a gentle breeze. She snaps out of her trance and looks up to Professor Clairmont, unsure how to explain what just happened and what his response would be. Once again, this professory left the young lady floored.
"You do know that it is against Congregation rules for witches to publicly display their magic?"
Elizabeth was both confused and flabbergasted! What is the Congregation? And witches?! What is the world is this man talking about? Elizabeth was left with her mouth open which was enough response for Professor Clairmont.
He looks expectantly at Elizabeth, "You have no idea what you are, do you? What you are capable of?"
With a shake of her head, he suddenly lets out a heavy sigh. He has never had to educate a witch about their background, much less teach them how to control their powers.
"Alright then. You are definitely not going to your rooms. You are coming with me. I am apparently the chosen one to introduce to a whole new world."
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In the future, if there are any timelines issues from the book/show, feel free to comment on that. I have trouble getting that part right and would appreciate the feedback.