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Dominic glared at the man with an unamused expression, as he proceeded to answer his sarcastic question. He nearly rolled his eyes in judgement, only stopping himself in the middle. Escalating the conflict would end horribly for Dominic and he knew it. He needed to be careful, to analyze the situation before making any haste decisions.
“It’s Nic. That’s all you need to know,” he answered, keeping a calm, neutral tone. If this man was as dangerous as he seemed, then Dominic would need to pay attention to every little move. His tone, his expressions. He’d have to avoid appearing as scared and weak, but at the same time he couldn’t be too confident, otherwise he’d give the impression that he’s looking for a fight. One he could win, at that. “If you haven’t seen me before, it’s because this is, in fact, my first time stepping foot at Wyndham College,” he proceeded to explain.
The man’s next words brought even more attention to Dominic, introducing him to the coven in a tone that could only come off as mocking. He was trying to embarrass him, likely to intimidate him so he knows his place. A few turned their heads, and seeing their eyes on him sent shivers down Dominic’s spine. He hated to admit that it worked, how his hands were shaking in fear, concealed only by the way they were clenched tightly into fists. He found himself unable to look away from the crowd, and he noticed a peculiar detail. How most seemed unbothered despite his thoughts telling him otherwise — as if this was yet another regular occurence at this strange academy. Much like the disappearance announced at the party before. Were they connected?
He felt his chest tighten, slowly trailing his eyes back towards the man. His expression seemed to shift into a smile, and Dominic took a deep breath, bracing himself for what was to come next.
He’d made a mistake challenging his authority, if he even had any. Acting on impulse, a foolish decision as always, and now he had to deal with the consequences. That mocking, yet ever so casual tone that further made Dominic feel inferior. His adrenaline rose higher, his blood began to boil. His hands trembling in fear began to clench in anger, heat rising through his body as he struggled to remain still. The man pretended to joke, Dominic just knew it, disguising his growing imaptience with playful remarks. He gave him a light nudge to the shoulder, and Dominic immediately stiffened in defense. Even something so light managed to make him sway, exposing just how weak he’d gotten over the years.
Dominic grit his teeth behind closed lips, looking directly into the man’s eyes. Approach this carefully, he’d told himself, and yet he found his mind spinning from the rising tension. He could barely string together a thought, much less choose his words. “I’ve heard it’s a brotherhood, yes,” he answered as calmly as he could, sounding more as if he’s repeating the question.
Suddenly, he felt his wrists bound together. His eyes widened briefly, his breath hitching as he began to truly realize the severity of the situation. He’d gotten carried away, far too carried away. He should’ve known from the start that his sarcastic remarks and pathetic attempts at appearing powerful would only turn out for the worst in the end. And now he was faced with the stronger man looming over him with his two minions. He felt powerless, trapped, inferior — and he could do nothing but accept what was happening to him.
Dominic could barely register the other man’s words over the sound of his pounding heartbeat. Something about magic, blood, was it a sacrifice? Of course, what else could he expect from the shadow group of this academy?
He held his breath as the man leaned uncomfortably close to him, looking directly into his cold, piercing eyes. He had the audacity to apologize for tying him up, offering a poor excuse for his actions, as if Dominic was going to fall for his act of sympathy. The way he switched his attitude so casually made Dominic’s stomach churn. If he had any strength in him, he wouldn’t have sat idly and let that bastard speak. But he knew if he threw a kick, it could very well be the last time he walked.
The man stepped away, and Dominic finally exhaled. He watched as he explained the so-called ritual, which sounded more like an unnecessary waste of blood for some mere superstition. Dominic couldn’t help but wonder what the purpose of collecting the blood was. It couldn’t just be some creepy bonding activity, there had to be something deeper to it, something he could likely expect much later.
He suddenly regretted his decision that morning, to stay at this academy regardless of what happens. But in the end, can it get worse than what he’s used to?
His final words made Dominic flinch slightly, his blood going cold at the looming threat. He swallowed back his words, staring at the man as silence lingered in the air.
Dominic’s heart was pounding hard enough to burst at that point, and he didn’t know exactly what he felt. But there was the overwhelming urge to act, as if the walls were closing in on him.
He was tired of feeling inferior, like some puppet or some nobody people could just push around for their entertainment. No matter where he went, it was all the same. People were all the same, and among them there would always be someone trying to control him. How pathetic. Sickening.
He took a deep breath, staring the man directly into his eyes. His lips curved into a smirk again, letting out a dark, low chuckle at his words.
“Did a little sarcasm hurt your fragile ego?” Dominic stepped forward, his legs shaking. “Go on, beat me up. Show to everyone how strong you are against a tied up man,” Dominic’s breath hitched, his words cutting off despite his effort to remain composed. “You’re embarrassing.”
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@raviola ⋅𖥔⋅ Vinnie ft. Bradbury and Chadford
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As Hayes spoke, Inessa couldn’t help but notice the subtle movements of his lips, the way his tongue grazed the roof of his mouth. She admired his straight, white teeth, though she couldn’t help but worry about the long-term effects of smoking on his dental health. His blue eyes, tired yet deep, held a certain allure that captivated her, drawing her into their depths with every glance.
