Zoraiya

Today I got the estimate for my pups surgery to remove bladder stones that are causing her immense pain and blood in her urine. I have been approved for a $1000 loan from care credit but will still need at least $250 more to pay for the surgery in full. Please, my baby girl has a high chance of survival if she gets this surgery done otherwise I’m just watching her deteriorate. COVID messed with my job and I JUST started a new one this week. I am still in training and won’t be getting full time hours for another month. If 2000 people donate $0.10 I’ll be able to pay everything off and schedule her surgery as soon as next week. Anything helps. Please.

[Links: Wattpad, Penana]

“Are you drunk?”

Rella was jerked out of her reverie by her father’s abrupt appearance. “Excuse me?”

Phoenix jerked a thumb over his shoulder towards the club’s stage. A tech crew was busy setting it up for the night’s rave event, a couple of the laborers bickering over where a missing amp was.

“I told you to make sure all our sound equipment was on the floor and available to them,” he waved a hand in disgust at her. “You’ve been cleaning the same cup for the last 10 minutes. Do I need to call Jess to fill in for you?”

Rella put away the cup she’d been cleaning and turned back to her dad with an apologetic look. “I’m so sorry, I’ve got a lot on my mind.” She explained.

With a sigh, Phoenix rounded the bar and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Look, I get it. Classes start in three days and the anticipation is unsettling. But I really need you to either put that at the back of your mind, or call in some backup.”

“I’ll go grab the gear, send a couple of the guys to help since they’re already using the dolly.” She said, walking towards the storage close.

“Thank you!”  

The club had been abuzz since early afternoon. Pandora was known for hosting popular events and rave night was top five. The building had two floors, the second level reserved for VIP parties where the patrons could look over a railing at the dancing crowd. A small group from tech worked on new multicolored lights that dotted the ceiling, while another set up fog machines into the corners of the club.

Usually, Rella would join in on the excitement and be on top of all the prep. But for the past day and half the only thing on her mind was the last time she’d seen Arkadiy.

After he blew her off for his meeting, he stopped answering her messages altogether. Earlier this morning she’d arrived to his office for their scheduled meetup only to have Claudia turn her away without any explanation, so she drove straight to work.

A part of Rella started to feel foolish for having been so naïve and willing to trust Arkadiy.

The bigger part of her was genuinely worried for him and wanted to know if he was ok. What if the Grand Council had caught wind of her already? They could have imprisoned the headmaster for treason and they’d be coming for her next.

On the other hand, with how ruthless the GC was with their citizens, Rella was sure that if they were involved she would have been swept up by them by now. Whatever was keeping Arkadiy from answering her had to be important.

In the meantime, she was struggling to keep her thoughts in order long enough to get her job done properly. Phoenix was always antsy when it came to prepping for the events he hosted. But Rella could feel his worried gaze on the back of her neck as she walked away from him.

Eventually she was going to have to tell him the truth. The more she thought about it the more she realized that she was putting Phoenix and his business at risk. He had every right to know that he was employing a Traveler…an untrained one at that.  

Rella unlocked the door to the storage room and began pulling everything she needed. Behind her she could hear a couple crew members arrive, chattering away about their latest hookup. She ignored their banter and shoved a speaker into the arms of the man closest to her.

“That connects to stage right. I’ll be up to help in a minute.” She said.

Before he left she noticed the two exchange looks of irritation. Brushing it off as nothing, Rella grabbed two amps and dragged them out of the closet. She glared at the crew member when he made no move to help.

The name stitched to his work shirt said his name was Aaron. He had a mop of curly brown hair that hung just above his ice blue eyes. The leather vest he wore exposed a sturdy chest with corded muscles. A symbol branded above his heart implied he belonged to the local wolf pack, the Blue Moon.

Known for being heavily patriarchal, the males of the pack didn’t take well to a woman ordering them around. Especially an outsider.

He curled his lip and walked past her making sure to bump her shoulder.

“Oh, hell no,” Rella let go of her speaker and spun on him. “Touch me again and you’ll be out of a job and banned from the premises. Got it?” She snapped.

The lycan stopped in his tracks and glowered at her over his shoulder. “I don’t take orders from slimy Travelers, bitch.”

Rella felt the color drain from her face and her body instantly go cold. “What are you talking about?” She asked numbly.

Aaron’s nostrils flared and his face contorted into disgust. He dropped his amp and stalked towards her, making her take a step back in apprehension. “A Traveler and a liar,” He snarled. “I should just kill you where you stand.”

“You need to back off,” She warned, keeping her distance.

How did he know? She hadn’t used magic in days.

Aaron’s eyes darkened with each step he took. He was mere feet away from her when his nostrils flared again, his hand slapping to his face. “Gods, you Traveler’s reek like death.” He groaned behind his hand. “The GC should have rounded you all up and destroyed you when they had the chance.”

The threat of her being ratted out to them was the only thing keeping Rella from arguing any further. She had forgotten that the GC had once employed lycans from various packs to help in hunting down Travelers. “Look, I swear I didn’t mean to offend.” She assured hesitantly. “I’ll stay away. I’m just here to work.”

With a scoff, Aaron rolled his eyes and turned to leave, only pausing to pick up his discarded amp.

Once she was sure he was gone, Rella stumbled against a wall and slid to the ground. She hugged her knees to her chest and let out a strangled sob. That was the closest she’d ever been to being exposed. Her chest constricted in panic as she imagined Aaron reporting her to the GC.

Travelers may be allowed to walk the world with everyone else, but they still had little to no protection. Too many loopholes existed in current laws that excluded them from basic rights. The murder of a Traveler could easily be swept under the rug and no one would care.

If Rella wasn’t careful tonight she could piss off the wrong crowd and the club would be shut down and she could say goodbye to freedom.

Taking in deep breaths, she waited until her heart stopped racing then slowly made her way back out to the stage. Keeping her head low she helped the crew finish setting up the stage and DJ booth. Aaron and his friend glared daggers at her the entire time making sure to stay far away from her.

No one treated her any different than before, making her assume they’d kept their discovery to themselves. It helped to ease her tension but not by much.

Everything went on without a hitch. By the time the sun was setting the tech crew was leaving and the servers and bartenders were clocking in. When the last van sped out of the parking lot Rella finally eased in to her job. The fact that Aaron and his friend left without causing any more trouble had Rella partially convinced all was well.

The encounter with them had left her wary of who she could trust.

Phoenix encouraged everyone to dress for the event so she took the opportunity to run into the dressing room and slip into her rave wear. The girls she worked with welcomed her in with cheers, all of them excited for the night. Rella easily slipped into conversation with them as she changed clothes.

They talked about everything and nothing, the familiar routine wiping away the rest of her anxiety.

“My dog ate my fishnets again!”

“Girl, just put your clothes in a hamper like a normal person.”

“Who took my highlighter?!”

“Sorry babe, you lent it to me I forgot.”

“I heard the college students are coming in for one last bash before school starts.”

“Oooh, maybe we’ll finally get lucky with a mage that knows their stuff.”

The girls giggled as they all openly fantasized about their dream person.

“Rella, don’t you start next week?” Asked Savannah, a bombshell blonde with a figure that made every head turn.

The noise level in the room died down as most of the girls’ attention turned towards her. “Uh, yeah,” she said, clearing her throat. “I actually started private classes with one of their staff.”

It wasn’t a total lie. Still, guilt gnawed at her as she was once again reminded that it was time to tell her father.

“Mm, you have to tell us about the headmaster when you meet him.” Gushed Savannah. “He was on the news this morning and I about died.”

Rella had to stop herself from reacting in a way that would invite too many questions from the girls. Staring at herself in the mirror, she applied her makeup and asked nonchalantly, “What was he featured for?”

“I don’t know, something about a meeting he went to that was in a different realm. He’s supposed to return tomorrow with some important news.”

The topic switched quickly to shoes and Rella slowly let out a sigh of relief. No wonder Arkadiy hadn’t responded to her messages, he had yet to receive them. Technology didn’t transfer well between realms, making it close to impossible for proper communication.

Hopefully she heard from him by tomorrow. She was just happy to hear he was safe.

One by one the girls finished up and left the dressing room. Rella dabbed some glitter on her cheeks to finish off her look then made a beeline for the bar, the club walls already vibrating from the bass of the music.

A long line awaited her, the bartenders swamped with orders. She slipped into manager mode and barked at the patrons to separate into five lines to keep the bar organized. Within minutes she fell into routine and was mixing drinks while taking orders. Everything was going well, a grin on her face as her regulars made an appearance. Soon everyone was on the floor dancing, the line dwindling to a few patrons that were taking it easy and sipping at their drinks.

It slowed down enough that she encouraged her coworkers to go on the floor and dance for a song or two.

Left alone with no pending orders, Rella poured herself some sprite and sipped at it as she leaned into the bar. The DJ for the night was on point making everyone sway and grind.

Savannah pulled herself away from the crowd and walked up to the bar with an empty server’s tray. “I need 8 rounds of Haku vodka straight for VIP.” She shouted over the music.

Rella nodded and pulled out the glasses from underneath the bar then turned to grab the bottle from the shelf behind her. She shook the liquor with ice before pouring it and garnishing each of them with a lemon peel.

“Have you gone out there yet?” Asked Savannah as she took the drinks from her and placed them on the tray.

“Just waiting for someone to switch places with me.” Laughed Rella.

“I need a break after this order, I’ll come back and tag you out!”

They may not be best friends, but the girls she worked with were all dolls. Every one treated each other like family. The thought had Rella swaying in place with glee. She was wiping down the bar when a customer walked up to it.

“What’s your poison?” Asked Rella.

The man looked her up and down with a grin, his green eyes flashing with heat. “A double shot of El Dorado rum and a dance.” He said smoothly just as Savannah returned.

Rella poured him his drink and was about to decline when Savannah hip bumped her out the way. “She accepts!” She gushed, earning herself an incredulous look from Rella. The glare went unnoticed as the server ushered her from behind the bar. “You two have fun!”

“Thanks,” Rella said with sarMattm. She turned to face her new dance partner with feigned enthusiasm. “Let’s go then.”

The man held out a hand to lead her on to the floor. Fighting the urge to roll her eyes, Rella grabbed his wrist and led him herself, shoving her way past the gyrating bodies.

When she was as close to the stage as she wanted to be she held up her partners arm and began to sway against him. Rella had no problem dancing on her own, but she had to give Savannah props for hooking her up with someone that knew what to do.

Between the heavy bass and his moves, her body started to loosen up and her thoughts scattered. All she felt was the music, her fears disappearing with each pulse. The crowd blurred until her only focus was dancing. Her pulse picked up in pace, her nerves aflame. Nothing mattered anymore as the music thudded in her chest.

A hand gripped her hip and brought her close to a wiry frame. Slowly the hand left her hip and caressed her side, goosebumps dotting her skin. Her head lolled backwards against his chest, a sweet scent emanating from him. Instantly her body reacted, her skin turning so sensitive she could feel his breath at the crook of her neck.

Rella turned to face her dance partner with a languid grin, his body awash with flashing multicolored lights. She trailed a hand up his arm until her fingers tangled into his curls. He bit his lip as he swayed against her, his body glistening with a sheen of sweat. His head tilted forward, the light in his eyes dimming.

Parting her lips, Rella breathed him in, her head going fuzzy with intoxication. The man moved closer, his hips now against hers. Her hand pushed down on his head, bringing him close enough that his lip hovered over hers. She closed her eyes as she inhaled deeply, his scent melting her bones.

“Take me,” He begged in a whisper, his breath tickling her face. Despite the pounding music Rella could hear every word.

It was like throwing gasoline into a fire. She maintained a grip on his hair while her free hand dug its fingers into his hip. When her eyes snapped open again everything was sharper and more vivid. His presence assaulted her senses, a carnal hunger growing in a way she hadn’t felt in days. She managed to catch herself just as her head was tilting up to meet her partners lips.

All of it felt wrong.

This wasn’t what she wanted. Her ears began to ring as a primal urge unfurled in her chest. Her body wanted to take the plunge but he was the last thing she desired.

Everything about him suddenly felt off. He had stopped dancing moments ago, only moving with her direction. His dull eyes remained locked on her lips, his breath coming out in short pants. The hair in her hand no longer felt soft, making her jerk away from him. He just stood there staring at her, waiting for orders.

The man was already half gone, his face pale.

With a strangled cry, Rella left him on the floor and scurried past the bar straight to the empty kitchen. On rave nights, Phoenix always opted for a small menu of snacks and finger foods that didn’t require a full kitchen, which Rella was more than grateful for at the moment. The door swung wildly behind her, none of the lights on, which she preferred. She let out a deep breath and clutched her chest.

Never had she felt such fear over the unknown. Everything on the floor was all enhanced by her seal, she was sure of it. And the closer she’d gotten to her dance partner, the more the seal took without her realizing. The worst part about it all was that she wanted more. It was hard to think past the lust that coursed through her, her hands balling up into fists as she took in deep breaths.

Maybe she should have taken up Phoenix’s offer and gone home after all. She’d pushed it off for long enough, it was definitely time to tell him everything. This could happen again and she wasn’t sure she’d be able to stop herself. Her “issues” have been compromised twice in one day. The guilt of keeping him at risk was eating her alive.

What would Arkadiy tell her to do?

Running a hand through her hair, Rella collected herself and pulled out her phone. Her last four messages flashed on screen, all of them left on delivered. Regardless, she typed away her current predicament, hoping Arkadiy would finally see and answer her. She turned as she pressed send and bumped in to a sturdy chest.

A hand clamped painfully around her mouth before she could apologize.

“Make a sound and we’ll snap your neck. We don’t need you alive for this.” Aaron rumbled in her ear. All she could see was his silhouette as he roughly shoved her back up against a wall.

“Hurry up! Matt wants to leave now,” another voice hissed from the shadows.

Rella struggled briefly before metal cuffs clamped around her wrists. She gasped for breath as her energy was instantly sucked out of her. Her legs crumpled underneath her weight, Aaron grabbing her by the back of her neck until she adjusted to the effects of her shackles.

Ice cold fear spread through Rella, but there was nothing she could do. The cuffs she wore were designed by the Grand Council to drain just enough magic that the victim couldn’t effectively use it. They also granted its user full control of whoever wore them. Currently anyone could tell her to jump off a bridge and she’d have no choice but to do so. No matter what Rella tried to do, she couldn’t make her body move.

“Walk out back,” ordered Aaron, letting go of her.

She wanted to tell him to drop dead, but her body did as it was told, one leg moving in front of the other and taking her through the kitchen exit. A black sedan with heavily tinted windows was waiting in the alley, the lights off but the car rumbling in idle. A door swung open, Aaron ordering her to get in the back. He slid in beside her, slamming the door shut.

“Shit,” Matt, the driver, snapped. He rammed the car in to gear and peeled out of the alleyway, a woman screaming shrilly for them to stop.

“Head straight to Jarek’s,” Barked Aaron. “I already put the siphon cuffs on her. She’ll be half dead by the time we get there.”

Realization dawned on her as Aaron muttered a spell that activated her cuffs, the metal glowing with a dull blue light.

Siphon cuffs went above and beyond what the official GC shackles did and could collect the magic it drained, allowing anyone to use its reservoir. However, the process worked best by draining the life essence out of the person wearing the cuffs.

Rella’s heart palpitated as she felt herself grow weaker, her eyes rolling to the back of her head as it fell back.

“Jarek is going to pay thousands for this,” Aaron sneered. “This has got to be the strongest batch yet.”

In the front seat both the driver and passenger swore loudly as the car jerked to the right and swerved around a sharp turn. It began to speed, Rella sliding into Aaron limply. He shoved her to the other side of the car looking absolutely revolted at having to touch her any more than he needed to.

“What the hell are you doing?” He asked the driver through clenched teeth.

All Rella could do was stare at him, her anger overriding her fear and confusion. How many times had Aaron done this for it too have gone so smoothly? She hated that she hadn’t drop kicked him when she had a chance. The damn seal had been the only thing on her mind, she never should have let her guard down.

“There’s someone following us!” Barked Matt. The car tires squealed as he took another sharp turn towards the city’s underground tunnels. He sped past civilian traffic, never staying within a lane. “Nate, grab the bomber from the glove compartment.”

From her angle all Rella could see in the sedans exterior mirror was a sleek convertible copying their erratic driving through the tunnels. They continued weaving through traffic until they were encroaching on the exit to the one of the bridges leading out of Neoridia.

Nate did as he was told, pulling out a small metal sphere and twisting it in half until it clicked. Rella’s fury mounted as she recognized the device, her breath coming out in angry pants. If he threw the bomber, whoever was following was going to be assaulted by a blinding flash followed by millions of metal bb pellets that had as much force behind it as a bullet from a handgun.

A throbbing pressure built up in Rella’s throat as she struggled to get enough energy to form words. The world seemed to slow as she focused on the bomber in Nate’s hands. Sweat trickled down her brow and into her eyes, the sting forgotten as she grit her teeth so hard her jaw popped. The cuffs glowed brightly as her magic fought against the seal and seeped through the cracks, pooling in to her chest until it suffocated her. The primal urge from earlier returned, only this time, it wanted blood.

Nate rolled his window down and cocked his arm back. Just as the bomber was flying from his hand and out the window, Rella let out a bellow that she felt from the depths of her soul. A pulse of energy left her body, the bomber igniting in front of Nate’s face.

Matt lost control as the bb’s ricocheted within the car, Nate slumping over as a few embedded themselves in his head. Rella slammed in to her window and was left in a daze, the swell of magic disappearing as the cuffs continued to drain her. Aaron had his arms up protecting his face and head, his body rocking against the driver’s seat as Matt fought for control. The rear windows shattered, the flying pieces of shards slicing Rella’s exposed skin.

The sedan fishtailed then spun in a circle before shrieking to a stop. Civilians honked their horns angrily as they narrowly avoided crashing into them. Matt jerked in his seat and turned to her with a wild look just as Aaron grabbed a fistful of her hair and slam her head into the window hard enough to bust open her lip.

“Can you still drive?” He yelled at Matt.

“I—Christ, man, she killed Nate! Why didn’t the cuffs work?!”

Behind them the silver convertible screeched to a stop. Aaron slapped the back of Matt’s seat and urged him to get back into gear. The sedan peeled out of its spot, Rella catching a glimpse of who had been following them. Her eyes pricked with tears of relief as she saw Claudia aim her hands, her face pinched with determination.

The crunch of metal drowned the sound of Matt’s shouts of alarm as he stomped on the gas. As they sped out of the tunnels and on to the bridge Aaron’s door tore away along with him. The sound of his agonized screams cut off quickly as the car lurched forward and far from Claudia’s reach.

Rella cried out in frustration and lurched herself forward clawing at Matt’s arms. He pummeled her face with his elbow but she didn’t care. She made a grab for the steering wheel causing them to clip the back end of a commercial truck. Their car veered out of lane and scraped against the bridges cement rails.

“You psycho bitch, you’re gonna kill us both!” Yelled Matt.

She was so drained she didn’t care. The promise of taking him down with her was the only thing that kept her going. The cuffs had done their job and she was done for anyway.

Gathering the last of her strength, Rella pulled away from him before she wrapped the chain links around his neck. With a scream of pain, she spun herself around until her wrists and chains were crossed before she dropped her full weight to the floor of the car.

The choking sounds coming from him were music to her ears, the car jerking from side to side as he fought against her grip. She pulled at the chains, the cuffs cutting off the blood flow to her hands. There was nothing else she could do. Her heart skipped erratically and her vision darkened. Tears streamed down her face in hot rivulets, her teeth bared as she used the last of her strength to yank her chains forward, Matt’s throat collapsing and killing him instantly.

[Links: Wattpad, Penana]

[SMUT WARNING: This chapter goes a little into bondage and ends in smut. Do not read if this is not your liking.]

Pandora was busy enough that it kept Rella adequately distracted. There had been a nasty brawl near the end of her shift that required her to stay longer to write a police report. By the time she got back home her neighbors were leaving for their office jobs. When she got to her place she washed herself up and passed out the moment she laid in bed. She was so exhausted she slept through her alarm making her late to her first meeting with Arkadiy.

It was close to 10am when she finally checked in with Claudia, who glared at her disapprovingly before snapping at a seat next to the office doors. Absolutely not in the mood for any attitude Rella matched Claudia's glare before rolling her eyes and taking a seat.

The assistant scoffed out a laugh and shook her head before she sat at her desk and got back to work.

For a moment Rella felt bad for the way she reacted. She was late after all.

With a sigh she turned and apologized just as the double doors opened.

"It'll be beat out of you soon enough, girlie." Claudia muttered, typing away at her computer.

Rella ignored her and made her way up the stairs to Arkadiy's office. The lack of sleep had made her cranky, all she wanted to do was crawl back into bed. She was mid yawn when she walked in on him standing at his desk surrounded by mounds of paperwork.

"Thought you'd chickened out." He drawled, signing away at a scroll without looking up.

All he got was a grunt in response.

Rella tossed her backpack at her feet before slumping into the wingback chair beside his desk. It was a large piece of furniture that seemed at odds with the rest of the room. Nonetheless, it was one of the comfiest things she'd ever had the pleasure of sitting on.

The headmaster looked up at her with an arched brow. When he got a good look at her his expression turned dark.

"Is that dirt on your neck?" He softly asked.

Rella stared at him in confusion, a hand raising to wipe away at the area only to make herself wince. "Nah, just a bruise," She rasped. "Damn, I didn't see anything before crashing."

"What happened?"

"Dude wouldn't leave after last call," Rella yawned. She arched into a quick stretch, her joints popping. "I was sweeping around him and told him he only had a half hour left. Next thing I know I'm on the floor and he has me by the throat. My adopted dads were still there and laid him flat quick, though."

"You should have called to reschedule. Rest is more important." Said Arkadiy.

"Nah, any other night that would have been a turn on." She teased. "Too bad he smelled like cigarettes and methane gas."

Arkadiy snorted in derision. "Enough. Let's get started with some basics," He finished with his scroll and rolled it up, putting it in a pile to his right. He pulled another from the pile to his left and continued scribbling away. "Just so you are aware, my office is completely protected from Traveler magic. You won't be able to use it unless I recant the spells. I've also added more defensive wards against your seal. Not only does it protect me, it will keep you from being completely consumed."

"Understood."

"Perfect," He looked up at her. "Now, what all do you know about Travelers?"

"Their source of magic is different than the standard. One popular theory is that it comes from an unknown deity," Rella paused to readjust herself in her seat. "The second theory is that Travelers are the source of magic themselves; pieces of the Nexus of Life that have broken off since the war against the Null."

The headmaster nodded in approval. "Go on," he encouraged.

Rella recited all she knew which wasn't much more than what the academy did. 

Dimensional travelling was just a crazy sci-fi plot that had no real-world merit until Travelers let their existence known. Typical magic wielders needed spells to help direct their intention into their craft, but a Traveler could simply think their desire into existence, with limitations of course.

A singular Traveler couldn't manipulate time, or give themselves sudden fame and fortune. Everything had to be gradual. Too much at once could use up their entire reservoir of magic and kill them in an instant.

Groups of four or more were the forces to be feared. When Travelers combined their powers anything was possible.

"Pretty sure you've got personal experience with that, though, don't ya?" Rella slid in, her curiosity getting the best of her.

Arkadiy shrugged nonchalantly, his attention on a new roll of parchment. "Depending on how today goes, I'm thinking we can enlist the help of our tutor in the IntraD department. They'll be able to help with some of our lessons, speed the process up a bit."

"Cool. Am I to expect you'll be getting help for my second problem?"

"Nope," he sighed. "Sorry to say, you're stuck with lil ol' me."

"Oh, don't be so hard on yourself," Rella puckered her lips in exaggeration. "I firmly believe size doesn't matter."

She was tickled pink when he chuckled at her barb. He rose from his chair to start clearing off the pile of signed paperwork, a smile lingering on his lips.

That smile was singlehandedly responsible for her unraveling. There wasn't a valid reason for why she wanted to tease him so bad, just that her curiosity had been piqued. She smirked and tilted her head before saying in a challenging tone, "So, what happened to discussing hard limits?"

The headmaster stilled, his back towards her.

"Last night had me thinking...What if it had been your hand on my throat, me at your mercy?" She trailed off, gauging his reaction. In short, terse movements Arkadiy opened a desk drawer and put away his work. When he turned to face her, she noted he wasn't angry, but he sure was irritated.

"I made it clear what your schedule will be." He said in response.

Rella made a show of checking her wrist as if she had a watch. "Well, seeing as I've missed the better half of this morning I just assumed we'd get straight to the nitty gritty." She raised a brow at him. "Whip out the chains and toys! Let's see if you can back up your big boy speak; or were you just talking out your ass?"

The words came out of their own volition. Every nerve ending was on fire, her vision sharpening along with her tongue. She wasn't sure where it was coming from and was fully aware she should reel it back, but she couldn't stop.

"Personally, my favorite is shibari. I've no shame admitting I'm a bit of a pillow princess, but a good bruise is like a badge of honor. Being pinned and tossed around is the only way to do it right." She rambled on.

While true, it wasn't what Rella intended on saying at all. It was as if her body had been possessed and all she was capable to doing was spilling her inner most erotic thoughts.

"I say stop, you go harder, know what I mean?" She taunted.

Her hands gripped the arms of the seat she was in, biting her lip in an attempt to keep herself from continuing to sound a fool. His features became crystal clear making her ache to reach out and feel him.

Ever so slightly Arkadiy's head tilted forward. His pupils gradually dilated, nostrils flaring. She noticed how he gripped the desk behind him, the tendons of his forearms flaring from the strain. Despite it all, he made no move towards her.

Where was this rapid influx of energy coming from?

The more Rella tried to fight it, the worse it became. It was a struggle to breathe and the clothes she wore suddenly irritated her skin. She tore her gaze away from the headmaster and pulled at the collar of her shirt.

"I'm sorry—I don't feel so good..." She whispered hoarsely.

"It's the seal," Arkadiy only moved to cross his legs at the ankle. "I told you, you needed to stop using magic."

Rella glanced back at him and immediately felt a rush of heat from her belly to her core.

Touch me already, she found herself thinking over and over.

"I haven't used it since we last talked." She said through chattering teeth. He shot her a look of disbelief just as she let out an involuntary gasp. "What the hell was that?!"

"The seal had a taste and is hungry for more." He replied in amusement. "This will keep happening until it's had its fill."

Another wave of heat crashed through Rella making her cross her legs. She wanted to get up and leave, her embarrassment battling it out with her wanton need. Unfortunately, she felt paralyzed, her body melded to the seat.

"Dammit," she hissed. "Please...help me."

Arkadiy remained still, his eyes glinting as he watched her writhe. The electric shocks of unreleased pleasure made her cry out again, finally eliciting a mischievous smirk from him.

"I promised to help under one condition," he said. "Do you remember?"

How could she forget? It was all her body could focus on since he'd left her apartment. Even now, she was willing to do anything he said as long as he could help alleviate the burn.

She nodded curtly at him.

He raised his voice in response. "I need to hear you to say it."

Rella hoped she glared at him but she could feel the desperation on her face as she opened her mouth to say, "Chain me, choke me, I don't care; please, just help me."

"We can talk about those activities when you aren't under the influence of magic," he tsked at her mockingly. "I only require one thing."

You want my help so bad, then you're going to do everything I say.

Everything.

The memory alone made her wet.

Gods, all she wanted was release. The pressure was becoming so painful.

In a single fluid motion Arkadiy pushed himself away from his desk and was looming over her. She sucked in a shuddering breath trying to retain a modicum of composure, looking up at him from underneath her lashes. He nudged her legs apart with his knee, a hand firmly gripping her jaw and tilting her head back until she could clearly see him.

"What is this?" She asked him weakly.

Arkadiy studied her features, his thumb caressing her lower lip.

"The Erotikos like to add a little failsafe to make sure all involved are properly motivated." He said. His gaze turned hard as flint. "Ravenous lust that bleeds out from the source to its victims."

There were so many questions but Rella only wanted one thing. Her hands began to throb from the grip she had on her seat, never once having let up. This close his scent added to the heady effect of the seal, her mind blanking out and her body in full control.

If he didn't move soon she was going to burst.

"I trust you," She croaked. "Please..."

A moment of silence passed between them

"You need to give me a safe word," He finally said.

A thrill went through her as her imagination kicked in to overdrive. He knew how to take control, how to push the limits, and she craved it all. Even though everything she'd said was due to the seal's power, she meant it all. Not that she could think of a reason she'd want him to stop anyway.

The grip on her jaw tightened enough to regain her attention. She focused back on the man above her, her mouth going dry at the sight.

"A word, Rella." He urged.

It took a few tries, but she was finally able to croak out the first word that came to mind.

"Raven."

That godforsaken smile of his flashed once more. He leaned in close, his free hand trailing down her chest and past her belly.

"Good girl." He praised, his fingers curling at the waistband of her pants.

Their eyes were locked and she remained still. Two fingers sunk into her making her arch into his hand and gasp in delight. When he added a third he had her panting for more, her body on sensory overload.

Arkadiy brought her to the cusp in just a few strokes, pulling away just as her core began to clamp around him from impending release. She cried out in frustration and reached out for him just as he stepped out of reach.

"You're not to move unless I tell you to," He ordered in a low rumble. From behind her, he grabbed Rella's wrists and pinned them on either side of her. He leaned close, his lips brushing at her temple. "Is that understood?"

A shiver went up her spine and she nodded.

Satisfied with the response, Arkadiy guided her hands up and behind her head getting her to grip the back of her seat. She followed through in silence, her pulse going a mile a minute in anticipation. He then grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it up and over her head until her wrists were tied together. His hand trailed softly between her breasts making her nipples pucker at attention. She cried out in shock when she was suddenly lurched backwards, the seat reclining.

Once secured, he stepped around until he was in front of her again.

In her rush to get to him this morning she'd forgotten to throw on a bra. He paused to take her in, making her squirm.

Rella dug her nails in to the cushion of the seat wanting nothing more than to reach out and bring him close.

"Lift your hips," he said, his voice growing gruff. She did as she was told, her pants disappearing in one swipe. "Now your legs."

One by one Rella lifted her legs on to the chair and spread them wide, putting herself on full display.

"Perfect," He growled, staring down at her in approval.

Never had anyone looked at her the with such an intoxicating mix of hunger and desire. He pulled his blazer off and tossed it on his desk. In one move he had his undershirt pulled off, her mouth instantly salivating as she finally got a look at him shirtless.

It may have been years since his retirement from the military, but lord have mercy, his body was still ready for battle. Sleek and athletic with a tapered waistline, just staring at him made her clit throb, her body more than ready.

"Come on, then." She goaded, swaying her hips.

Just like that, his amusement disappeared, replaced by disapproval. He reached for her ankles and flipped her on her belly. As Rella tried to sit back on her thighs trying to catch her bearings, Arkadiy pulled her to his chest with a firm grip on her throat, careful not to put pressure on her bruise.

"You've lost your privilege to speak," he growled in her ear. Letting go of her, he tore his shirt in half and wrapped it around her mouth, tying it into a complicated knot behind her head.

She could easily pull it away if she really wanted to. But then he shoved her face into the chair, the fabric scratching at her face, and the only sound coming from her were whimpers of anticipation. He held the back of her head firmly to keep her in place.

The sound of a him undoing his pants was the only warning she got. Arkadiy pulled up her hips and spread her legs, thrusting into her with a force that had her gasping for breath.

Rella groaned at the way he filled her up, her ass grinding against his hips and taking him to the hilt.

A proud smirk spread across his face at her shameless begging, holding himself in place as he took in the sensation of her walls clamping around him. With his free hand he grabbed on to both her wrists and pulled them behind her, using them as leverage to start pounding into her.

Each thrust struck her deep, her moans escalating. Seconds later she was screaming around the gag, her body arching into his in ecstasy. Her orgasm had him thrusting harder, his own moans of pleasure joining hers. The skin of her knees and cheek began to sting from how hard he was shoving her into the chair.

As he was reaching climax, Arkadiy grabbed the back of Rella's gag and pulled her back to his chest. He let go of her wrists and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her in place as he fucked her. Every grunt, every moan and curse were panted in to her ear, making her stomach flutter into a second orgasm.

"Oh, fuck," he gasped slamming into her one last time, his abdomen clenching as he released into her mid wave. Arkadiy's arms clamped around her and held her in place until the last of their pleasure ebbed away.

The adrenaline disappeared and she went boneless, Arkadiy maintaining his grip on her and keeping her close. He pulled out of her while loosening the knot of her gag, then laid back in the reclined seat with her tucked beside him. Using the rags of the gag he wiped her clean then inspected the abrasions on her knees and face.

"I have a salve--"

"No," Rella said breathlessly, pulling back to look at him. She smiled drunkenly and wagged her brows. "The one on my face will fade by tomorrow. I want a little reminder of what just happened."

Arkadiy laughed, bringing her closer into a one-armed embrace.

"How much do you think we fed into the seal?" She asked.

"There's no real way to measure that," he turned to face her, his brows drawing close. "You understand this is a process, right? You shouldn't go testing your limits, especially with no training yet."

Rella lazily drew random shapes on to his chest with her fingers, delighting in the way his skin felt. "Yeah, I get it," She glanced up at him, her body going warm. "I don't want to overstep, I can take it slow."

She trailed her hand lower, Arkadiy going still.

"Remind me though," she breathed, her fingers brushing against the velvety head of his cock. "This feeling of lust...it's normal, yes?"

She wrapped her hand around him, Arkadiy hissing a breath as she pumped his length.

"It comes and goes."

"And the spells you put up protect us from being drained?"

Arkadiy looked down at her and rolled his hips into her hand. "You're telling me you aren't tired?"

In response, Rella hooked a leg around him and straddled his hips. She pulled him out of his pants once again and guided him into her. Nothing else needed to be said, the two falling in to a pattern quickly. The world dissolved around them, Arkadiy rolling her underneath him and taking control once more.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hours later Rella was driving home with a satisfied smile on her face. Despite the rough start, Arkadiy had thoroughly taken care of her. After their third round he had made the decision to stop. She didn't fight him on it only because she was ready for bed and really didn't want to fall asleep in his office.

"Keep in contact with me," he'd said as he slid a slip of paper into her backpack before handing it back to her. "Don't worry about meeting me tomorrow, just rest."

"What if I want to come in?" Rella asked cheekily. The headmaster shot her a stern look and she rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Rest is more important."

"We did more than I'd intended today," he admitted. "You need to regain your strength. All this was done when you were half asleep. Imagine what could've been accomplished with you at full charge."

It was a good thing he couldn't read her mind because the only thing she was thinking about was how beautiful he looked after all the dirty things he'd just done to her. His long hair was a mess, his bandanna long discarded. Some fell into his eyes, the gold contrasting against the black in a beguiling way.

"Thank you." She choked out, reaching for her bag.

"Message me when you get home. I want to know you made it safe." He softly ordered before turning back to his desk.

Rella stepped out of her elevator and was in the process of digging for the slip of paper from her bag. Now that she was away from him she realized how much clearer she could think. There wasn't an ounce of regret in her body, but as the memories of todays events played out in her mind, she found herself stunned at how easily she let herself be used.

The purpose of this morning's visit was to learn more about her source of magic and its basics. Within moments of being in close proximity to the headmaster she had turned into a jabbering mess begging to be dicked down. She hoped that wouldn't be the case every time she was around him.

The man was gorgeous and knew his way around the body, but she needed him for more than that. Before she'd left he'd made sure to reiterate that he was there for her if she had any questions regarding her people.

With a sigh of relief, she pulled the slip of paper from her bag. When she unfolded it she found a typed schedule for the week, Arkadiy's phone number and signature written at the bottom.

She messaged him she made it home safe then jumped in the shower. The hot water stung her knees, making her proud. Despite being thoroughly spent, Rella knew he'd held back.

Knee scrapes were child's play.

Next time she'd make it clear he had permission to take it further.

Once clean, she dried herself off and threw herself on her bed naked. Her skin was still so sensitive from their play, especially between her legs. The fleece blankets on her bed were the only thing she could handle touching her skin.

'I'm glad,' chimed in Arkadiy's response. 'Rehydrate and get some sleep.'

If it had been anyone else Rella would've been annoyed at this constant need to be in control. But from Arkadiy, it didn't feel controlling. He was naturally gruff and seemed to put on this façade of anger and disinterest for everything around him.

In reality, Rella felt he was the exact opposite.

Arkadiy knows what he wants and when he wants it. Had there been no empathy he would easily shove her out of his life and forget her existence. The way he held her and cleaned her up after their play said enough for her.

'You know I don't need a whole day to recuperate.' She sent back.

'I have a meeting during our scheduled time.'

The disappointment that speared through her took her by surprise. He followed up his message by urging her to study up on Traveler magic with the texts she'd purchased when she'd been enrolled to the university.

Rella tossed her phone to the side and glared at her ceiling.

He was right and she knew it. The disappointment stemmed from her desire to be rid of the seal, but now that she had someone she felt she could trust, it bothered her that he was putting limits on her.

He had every right to his own life and she knew she was being selfish thinking this way. Arkadiy just made it really easy to look forward to his company. She only ever felt something similar towards her fathers and Ren.

Rella frowned at the realization. Maybe she needed the day off after all. She'd only known him for all of three days. This sense of familiarity meant nothing and was just the seal trying to get her attached to its victim before being drained. She needed to learn how to separate her real emotions from the manufactured ones of the seal.

The headmaster assured her they were protected from being ultimately consumed so long as their relations were done within the confines of his office. Regardless, she couldn't help but wonder how much it would take to finally be rid of it.

Chapter Two

[Links: Wattpad, Inkitt, Penana]

[A/N: I've been sick and could barely concentrate enough to write. I finally scrapped this chapter together and tried to edit it as best I could. I apologize for any mistakes!]

Rella turned off the monitor and stared off into space in shock. Why was the headmaster at her building? Memories of last nights dream assailed her. She shook her head clear and buzzed him through, running into her room to throw some clothes on. The elevator doors opened just as she was tugging down the hem of her shirt.

Headmaster Arkadiy stepped into her apartment, his hands deep in his pockets. Once again, Rella was struck by how young he looked. He was dressed casually in a band tee and loose pants. She expected a greying old man in his position, not someone that could be mistaken for a freshman at the college. His damp hair was pulled back by a low braid, his face expressionless. As he turned in his spot his eyes landed on her.

“Morning.” She said timidly. “Um…want anything to drink?”

She walked into her kitchen, Arkadiy staring at her curiously. “I’m good, thanks.”

Rella could feel his eyes on her back as she poured herself some orange juice. “Um…so about yesterday. I wanted to apologize.” She stammered. “It was highly inappropriate of me.”

Arkadiy said nothing, his brows drawing close.

“After meeting with professor Denoise, I wasn’t in the right state of mind. I should have gone through the proper channels to see you.” She chugged back her drink, unable to maintain eye contact with him for longer than a few seconds at a time.

“I appreciate that…but I’m here to apologize to you.” Said Arkadiy.

Rella’s eyes grew wide. She was expecting to lose her spot at the university, not an apology. Shaking her head in disbelief, she started to thank him when he held up a hand.

“The least I could have done was direct you to someone else that could help.” He continued. “I figured I’d send you to someone I trust…. until I had a visit last night.”

It felt like an icicle speared through her body, paralyzing her. The way he was staring at her, she felt like a cornered mouse. Arkadiy stepped closer, his golden eyes glinting with mischief. Rella’s heart hammered in her chest as she struggled to find her voice.

“I’m dying to know,” he said, his voice lowering in tone. “What was it you were planning to major in?”

After a couple of tries, she managed to rasp out, “Interdimensional travelling.”

Arkadiy was now standing beside her, his fingers drumming along the island as he crept closer to her painstakingly slow.

“Ah. Then I’m sure you’re aware that IntraD was banned until I stepped in to my role as headmaster.” He paused, tilting his head.

Slowly, Rella nodded. Since its discovery, IntraD was a hot topic of debate in the magical community. Not everyone was capable of it, and those that could were close to impossible to regulate. IntraD Travelers were able to walk through all dimensions at once. The strongest ones were able to manipulate reality with godlike capabilities, although it did not come without consequences.

Fifty years ago, the city of Neoridia was terrorized by a group of Travelers that tried to infiltrate the Grand Council and assassinate their leader. The world all over experienced the effects of the terrorists. Oceans dried and parts of the earth began to rot. Humans and other creatures could no longer procreate. The only way to save the planet and reverse its effects was to annihilate the Travelers and send them to the Void.

The practice was then outright banned and became a killable offense. Unfortunately, this meant even a child wasn’t safe from the law and its consequences. People were understandably outraged, but the world was scarred by what the terrorists put them through.

As of ten years ago, a Traveler named Eris made it possible to continue research on IntraD by creating a registry of all known Travelers. The moment a child was born with the gift, their name was added to the list. The laws changed and a year later, the university opened up a department dedicated to researching the powers of a Traveler. Following its success, the headmaster made the controversial decision in allowing Travelers to enroll and practice their abilities within college grounds.

“I’m only going to ask you this once.” Said Arkadiy. “Where were you last night?”

“I came home right after seeing you.” She answered, her voice trembling. Her stomach twisted in knots as she realized what he was implying. “I never left.”

Rella’s mind flashed back to last night. As hard as she tried she couldn’t remember when she got out of her bath tub and tucked herself in. All she recalled was the fogginess of the dream before her brain had conjured up the image of him. From there she only had snippets to go off of; Arkadiy on his knees. The way he had clamped down on her neck. She involuntarily crossed her legs, her body reacting to memory. At the same time, she was terrified to face him.

“So, you brought me here…how?” He asked, now standing directly behind her.

“I didn’t—”

Arkadiy grabbed her arm and spun her around, firmly gripping her jaw. He tilted her head to the side and slid down the collar of her shirt. A finger caressed the tender spot where he’d bit her. Her pulse fluttered at his touch and he pulled back to study her. All tension was gone, replaced by a look of pity.

“Travelers are my responsibility. The fact that you’re unregistered and magically sealed would send the general public into an uproar.” He said. “If the Grand Council found out about this they’d take you into custody and you’d never see the light of day again.”

There was no malice in his voice. He spoke to her gently. All Rella could do was gawk at him in shock.

“Come on, you need to sit.”

The headmaster led her out of the kitchen to her den. He sat her at the edge of her sectional and went back to the kitchen to get her another cup of juice. When he returned to her, she just shook her head at his offer. He placed the juice on her glass coffee table and sat himself in the loveseat closest to her.

“What’s going to happen to me?” She finally asked.

“I can’t have you studying amongst the other students.” He began. “There’s too much we don’t know of your abilities. By now, all Travelers in your age group have gone through rigorous training and have control of dimensional shifting.”

“So, you were here last night.” Rella confirmed in a hollow voice.

“Yes.”

“I thought you crossed the line at me being a student.” She was fully aware she was focusing on the wrong thing. But her pride was taking over, the beast waiting for its answer.

Arkadiy’s cheeks pinkened ever so slightly but he never looked away. “I was asleep. When I walked in on you, I was getting up for a drink. My place was superimposed with yours. I thought it was a dream.” He muttered.

“You normally dream of eating out your students, sir?” Rella snapped.

His eyes narrowed dangerously. “No, but I also don’t expect a student to whore themselves out to me like a bitch in heat. There’s a first for everything.”

They stared each other down. Rella was the first to break, her face heating as she bit out an apology.

“My life was going exactly where I wanted it. I should’ve never agreed to see Denoise.” She whined. Her eyes suddenly widened in fear as she thought of the professor. “Oh my god. Oh my god, does he know?”

“Not anymore. I made sure of it.” He assured. “But to be fair, it’s good that you found out when you did. An amateur Traveler can cause a great deal of damage.”

“How? I’ve never had this issue before!” Rella exclaimed. “I can use magic just fine.”

Arkadiy sighed. “You think you’ve been using magic just fine. I spoke to Denoise before coming here. Your magic was blocked from you. Luck is the only reason why you haven’t been found out yet.”

The seal of Kaamuk was currently feeding off her magic. What little bit Rella could perform was stunted. All this time she assumed her lack of ability was simply because she’d never been to school, even before her incident. Her Traveler’s magic was now fighting back against the seal. The more she used her magic, the more at risk she was of being consumed by the seal.

“Where does that leave me?” She asked.

“I can arrange for you to stay in another realm—”

“Not an option.”

“Or, I can place another seal to help slow the one you have now. You will never be able to use magic again. But you’d be able to live a normal life otherwise.”

Rella stared at him incredulously. He couldn’t be serious?

“You’re telling me my only choices are to hide away for the rest of my life?” She asked, her anger mounting. “No. Absolutely not! It’s not my fault the stupid government never put me on their damned list. There’s got to be another way.”

Arkadiy began to shake his head when Rella flung a throw pillow at him in frustration. It bounced off his face and on to the floor leaving him completely taken aback by the action.

“You know how to get rid of the seal, why won’t you just help me?”

“Look, despite what happened last night, I just can’t.”

“No, you just won’t. You view me as some innocent damsel in distress when I’m far from it, Arkadiy.” She snapped. “I’m a grown ass adult and have been telling you repeatedly I will do whatever it takes to get rid of this mess. If you’re afraid of me catching feelings for you, I can assure you: you are nothing more to me than a means to an end.”

The headmaster looked away and for a moment Rella believed he actually looked…hurt. When he faced her again his lips were set into a grim line, erasing any idea that she had managed to get under his skin.

“And I thought my family was bad. You’re the most stubborn, bullheaded person I’ve ever met.” He said. “As annoying as you’ve been…I can’t help but admire it.”

He rose from his seat and stalked towards her. She wasn’t sure what to do. His eyes kept her paralyzed in place scattering her thoughts.

“Get up.” He ordered, stopping short of a foot away from her.

Rella scoffed at him, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. In response Arkadiy latched on to her wrist and yanked her to her feet. He pulled her close until they bumped chests.

“You want my help so bad, then you’re going to do everything I say. Everything.” He firmly declared. There was no malice in his voice, just finality.

A thrill went through her as she glared at him defiantly. While she believed he wouldn’t hurt her, she knew that it’d be wise not to keep pushing him.

She gritted her teeth as his scent clouded her senses. It drew her in, making her want to close what little distance was left between them. Now that she knew last nights tryst wasn’t a dream, she was eager for more. Never had she met another person that made her body come to life the way Arkadiy did.

“So, you’ll help me?” She hesitantly asked.

“On my terms, yes.”

“What would they be?”

He gave her a long, contemplating look before his face cracked into a smirk.

“You are no longer a student of the academy. Instead, from here on out, you will be Claudia’s personal apprentice.”

“I don’t understand. What difference does it make if I’m a student?”

“Enough of a difference that the Grand Council won’t interfere. One of the stipulations for me to remain headmaster is that the GC can send in an inspector at any given moment to make sure I’m not building some sort of army against them.” Arkadiy stroked her wrist with his thumb absentmindedly. “Just a front meant to protect you until I figure out how to take care of your little…predicament. That being said, until you’ve been trained I suggest never telling anyone else what you are.”

Rella had so many questions but she bit them back. The firmness of his tone left no room for interruption.

“In the mornings I will teach you what you need to know about being a Traveler. In the meantime, you will keep your job at Pandora. You will report back to me at the end of each shift. We’ll discuss your hard limits tomorrow.”

His voice was so soothing. It was all Rella could focus on. She was hypnotized by his golden eyes, the color intensifying as he spoke. In the back of her mind, she questioned how he knew where she worked. She quickly forgot about it as he leaned in close, his lips brushing against her ear and sending chills throughout her body.

“Today is your last day of freedom. You’re mine until the end.” He pulled back, leaving her flustered.

How could this one man make her feel so angry and turned on at once? Any other day Rella loathed the very idea of anyone telling her what to do. As she watched him stride towards the elevator doors she was stricken by the realization that Arkadiy had her absolutely spellbound. Despite the fact she practically bullied him into helping her, he absolutely held the upper hand.

When he stepped into the elevator he turned to face her one last time. Nothing needed to be said. The heated look he gave her made her body vibrate with excitement. He winked at her as the doors closed.

Rella let out the breath she’d been holding in, her thoughts going a hundred miles a minute. It had taken a couple of heart attacks but she’d finally gotten the answer to her problem. She knew she should feel some shame but she just felt like the luckiest person in the world. Not only was she going to regain her memories, she wouldn’t have to hurt anyone in the process. The headmaster was going to help her feed the seal without having to drain anyone dead.

It was impossible not to imagine how it’d play out. She laid back on her couch biting her lip. Such a shame he had to leave so soon. She wouldn’t have minded a head start on their new arrangement. Her skin erupted into goosebumps at the memory of his cheek against her thigh.

Her fast attraction to him took her by surprise the most. Usually she went for the tall, dark, and brooding; men and women alike. The kind that ended up latching on, depending on her and making her feel needed. These relationships always ended with her feeling drained, but up until now she hadn’t minded being an emotional crutch. It felt good to be the hero to the ones she cared about.

Arkadiy was the opposite.

He could see straight through her bravado, leaving her emotionally bare. At the same time his presence made her feel protected. Now the roles were reversed Rella was starting to understand the attraction of having someone she could solely depend on for once. She recognized it was foolish to rely so much on someone she hardly knew. It just couldn’t be helped.

Ren called to check in as promised. Rella didn’t bother bringing up the headmaster and their agreement. She was content keeping things to herself until more progress was made. Besides, she wasn’t sure how to tell Ren about the seal without bringing up the fact she was an unregistered Traveler. They spent less than five minutes speaking to each other before she had to hang up and get to work.

Everything in the apartment was cleaned twice over. All her books and games were organized by series then alphabetically. There was no errand Rella could think of that needed to be done. No matter how hard she tried to distract herself, her brain kept going back to Arkadiy. He had admitted that Travelers were his sole responsibility. But there were still some questions she needed answered.

So, she did the only sane thing she could think of and hustled into her room, swiping her laptop off her nightstand. Within moments she was lying in bed opening any link that mentioned his name. Rella carefully read through everything, her fascination mounting. She couldn’t find any socials and all records with the mention of his date of birth and family were redacted. The only clue she had was his last name, Magnavox. When she searched that, the only thing to pop up were verified sites with lengthy biographies.

The headmaster was once a student of the academy. His grades were average and he had a reputation for being a prankster and rebel, but he still graduated with a degree in space and aeronautics. Soon after, he enlisted in the military and served ten years in the army, earning the rank of Sergeant Major. It was his troops that had taken down the rogue Travelers. However, he’d been completely against the notion of sending them to the Void. Shortly after their execution he’d retired from the military and disappeared from the public eye.

When he reemerged, it was alongside the Traveler Eris with the proposition for a registry. All articles confirmed Arkadiy was indeed the one that spear-headed the campaign to allow Travelers an equal and fair existence. Had it not been for him, Rella’s people would still be living an archaic life constantly hiding in fear for their lives. Throughout his campaign, Arkadiy was hired in to the academy as headmaster. Soon afterwards, Travelers were granted their modicum of freedom and the rest was history.

Rella sat up in bed digesting the info. It was well known that proficient magic users gained extended life, however, humans still aged at the same rate. A hundred-year-old man would look as such unless magic was used to alter their appearance. Arkadiy practically lived at the university. Any spells used for masking would be negated.

Why did this only excite her? She didn’t even know what species the man was and yet she wanted him even more.

What did that say about her?

Rolling her eyes, Rella finally noticed the setting sun. She swore when she saw the time on her phone screen. She had been so absorbed in her research she had completely forgotten about getting ready for work. With a sigh she shoved herself from her bed to do so.