Page 9 of Soul Bound (Cursed Descent (MistHallow Academy) #2)

9

MATILDA

I storm back to my room, fuming with anger and frustration. As I slam the door behind me, my magick crackles in the air, making the lights flicker ominously. “Grr.”

I growl as Chaos jumps up from his snooze and leaps at me. “Ah!” I cry out as his tiny body covers my face, and I flail around, flapping my arms as he gives my head a cuddle that would be sweet if I could breathe.

Eventually, he lets up and crawls onto the top of my head, chittering excitedly.

“Sorry, little pixie-lion. I haven’t been around much, and I hate not being able to take you to class, but I think it’s dangerous. Even more so now.”

He drops down to curl around my neck like a creepy scarf, and I smile, tickling him under his chin as he buries his head into the crook of my neck. “How can the guys be so scared of you? You’re too cute.” He bares his teeth and lets out a snarl at the mention of the guys. Okay then. Note to self. He doesn’t like them. “Well, whatever. We are going to do some laundry. You can come and help me find the laundry room. How does that sound?” He answers with a loud cackle of excitement, and I get to work gathering all the dirty clothes and shoving them into my backpack after I empty it of the stationery and supplies.

With Chaos perched on my shoulder, I make my way through the winding corridors of the academy, searching for the elusive laundry room, cursing that I forgot my map back in my room. The little Araxi’s presence is oddly comforting, his warmth against my neck a reminder that I’m not entirely alone in this strange new world.

After what feels like an eternity of wandering, I finally stumble upon a door marked Laundry Facilities. I push it open, revealing a large room filled with washing machines and dryers. The air is thick with the scent of detergent and fabric softener.

“Well, at least this looks somewhat normal,” I mutter to Chaos, who chirps in response.

I start sorting my clothes into piles, trying to focus on the mundane task rather than the swirling thoughts in my head. As I load the first machine, I hear the door open behind me. Turning, I see a beautiful woman with long dark hair, pale skin and ruby-red lips. I stare at her in awe as she swishes in, dressed in a flash red dress and heels, with a skirt that swirls when she turns. She has legs for miles, and I feel a flash of envy at my short-shit self in my lost and found clothes and worn boots.

“Hey,” she says, sweeping in on a cloud of perfume as she bends down to load her delicates into one machine and her regular clothes into another. I stare at my one load and shrug. Nothing in there needs separating, so tough shit.

“Hey,” I reply with a casual smile.

“You’re new here?” She straightens up, and I blink. She is like a model, all gorgeous and glamorous.

“Yeah. Err, yes. I’m Matilda.”

“Gaida,” she says, with a nod. “Vampire.”

Ah, that explains a lot.

“Witch.”

She smiles and sits down to wait for her washing. I join her on the bench, lean my head back, and close my eyes. The silence isn’t awkward, but I’m aware of it.

She must be, too, because she suddenly says, “So, where did you transfer from?”

I open my eyes and stare at the ceiling before I tilt my head forward and fix her with a resigned stare. “Just from home. It’s complicated.”

She searches my gaze but nods slowly. “I get that. No more said.” She holds her hands up.

Giving her a grateful smile, I’m also a bit pissed off with her now. She threw me a mystery about herself, and now I want to know. “Thanks,” I say, trying not to sound stiff.

She snorts as clearly I didn’t hide it well enough. But the mood seems to lighten slightly. We sit in silence for a while as the washing machines pick up pace, making more than enough noise to fill the air, and before long, mine is ready to chuck in the dryer.

Slamming the door closed, I set the timer and glance at the clock. I have just enough time to get this load from wet to damp, head back to my room to redecorate it with clothes while they dry completely and make it to Blackthorn’s meeting at five.

Feeling Gaida’s eyes on me as I sit back down, she says, “Right. I have to ask. What the fuck is that thing around your neck?”

Giggling, I stroke Chaos. “An Araxi. He is my familiar, of sorts.”

“Araxi?” She frowns.

“Some kind of Hell creature.”

Gaida’s eyes widen at my words. “Hell creature? How did you end up with one of those as a familiar?”

I shrug, trying to appear nonchalant. “I’m not really sure. It found me.”

She leans in, her crimson lips curving into an intrigued smile. “Now that sounds interesting.”

“Weird, more like,” I say lightly, and she smiles.

My dryer dings to indicate that fifteen minutes have passed, and I stand up to get my damp clothes out. “I have a meeting at five, but it was nice to meet you,” I say, emptying the dryer and heading to the door.

She raises an eyebrow at my hasty departure. “Nice to meet you, too.”

I throw her a wave and then duck out, rushing back to my room via the scenic route when I take a wrong turn, swearing like a sailor as I throw my clothes on various pieces of furniture to air dry.

To his annoyance, I pluck Chaos off my shoulder and place him on a pillow on the bed. He snuggles into it with a happy sigh, and I smile before I dart off to this meeting that I really can’t be bothered with, but needs must and all that shit.