Member
Achronum
Morose
Stryder BC
Nameless Hero
IAmTheIsland
feferipeixes
Guardian Angel Haruki
Whoami
MaeB
Cassie felt a slight scratch in her throat before she coughed a bit, dislodging whatever it was. She tried to speak, but no words were uttered. Instead, she felt movement. As she opened her mouth to speak to Connie, a few butterflies flew out. Cassie watched in mild horror mixed with sheer delight as they flew around her. On their wings were symbols Cassie could not quite understand. There was also a trail of magic behind them that she recognized as her own. The butterflies flittered about before landing on her. And as she watched she felt a voice echo in her ear.
Who’s next?
”Who’s next? I don’t know what you mean magical, beautiful butterfly.”
For a moment Connie thought that Cassie was talking to her, or Willow, but it was clear that Cassie was talking to something else, something on her from what Connie could tell. She didn’t understand what Cassie meant, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t try to help her.
”Thank you, Milthza. I’ve got Cassie here. After I get her back to her room I can swing by and see if there are any stragglers.” Connie figured that there would be at least a few of Nick and Barty’s favorites staying so she wouldn’t have to worry about them. Those were also the ones who were more experienced at this sort of ...experience. The ones who needed help were the newbie students. She grabbed water for Cassie offering her the drink.
”Have some water Cassie. Then I’ll get you back to your room.” Connie wasn’t sure that the water was 100% mundane, but it was okay if it wasn’t. If it wasn’t she figured it probably had some herbal remedies in it to help bring people down in a controlled way.
The butterflies turned to stare at Cassie, pausing in their dance for just a moment. Next, next, next. Who is next? Whose bell rings and flowers wilt and next, next, next?
Cassie’s eyes glazed over as the butterfly spoke to her, mixed in accordance with another tone. She looked to see Connie staring at her, a mixture of concern and wonder. A cup in front of her that Cassie stared in, her reflection highlighting itself. Cassie took the cup and giggled, letting it move and dance. ”Is this magic water? This school is magic everywhere so it has to be, right? Is this going to make my skin change color? Or make it so I can fly? Oh, like the butterfly! Connie do you see the butterflies? They are asking who’s next and I don’t know quite how to tell them I don’t know. Maybe Jake will be next? Or Barty or Nick? Or Willow? Or Cal….ohmygod maybe Cal! He’s so cute! But I don’t have a chance with him if he’s already kissing the boys as well as the girls…” she trailed off as she managed to sip some of the water in the cup, tasting it ever so. ”Oh it’s regular water. Still beautiful though…”
”I don’t see any butterflies.” Connie told Cassie, at least it was butterflies now and not corpses. This was a better hallucination. ”Come on, walk with me.” She offered her arm and started to lead Cassie toward the dorms.
”As for Cal, you probably have as good a chance with him as almost any one else. Several of your new peers are very sexually liberated and would be interested in at least one evening with you. They are also very good at taking no for an answer, which is very nice of them.” Connie had never had to be overt about her dislike of sex, it had been generally obvious enough. Any sort of approach had been rebuffed and left alone. She did appreciate that of the twins and the others. Just like they never pressured her to drink alcohol or consume drugs.
Connie was trying to steer the conversation into the more ‘real’ and avoided talking about the butterflies. It helped that Cassie had an interest in more than just whatever that was about. She was nervous about what Cassie had seen with the corpses and now the butterflies talking to her. Sometimes magic hallucination gave true visions.
Little dragon, scared and sad, will he see the sun again?
The butterfly spoke in riddle, which was just dandy. But it was Connie’s words that took most of her attention. Despite the bubbly, giggly nature she felt in her gut, Cassie blushed when the topic of sex came up. If everyone here was sexually experienced, then what was she? An outlier. A freak. ”Connie, psst Connie, I have a secret to share with you,” she whisper-yelled as she walked along. ”I never had sex. Ever. I was homeschooled by my parents ever since I was a child. Never spoke to another kid unless it was some weird inbred rando who came with their parents when mine threw a party. I never even kissed anyone!”
Cassie’s mind spun. She was looking forward to this school year, to learn magic and how to manage her own abilities, but if she was going to have to navigate the social spheres of young adults in college too she was going to be chewed up and spit out. ”Everyone here seems so cool and so sure of themselves and insanely attractive and I am the weird girl who never kissed a boy who blew a hole in her own bedroom to escape her parents. Oh right, I blew a hole in the wall to leave bee-tee-dubbs. That’s how I got here. Connie, I am doing all of the talking and I am so sorry and you are so nice and pretty, I bet you get all the boys. Or girls. Or the other ones….whichever you want, I am an ally!”
Connie smiled, she couldn’t help it not that she would have wanted to anyway. Cassie was being sweet. ”I have never kissed anyone either. That is very much so by choice. I am not interested in kissing, or anything else. So you are definitely not a freak for that. As for escaping your parents,” Connie paused. ”Sometimes drastic measures are required. You did good to get yourself out. I am proud of you.”
Connie spoke softly but with conviction. There was an echo there of her own past. She had failed at freeing herself, but she had been rescued. She filed away that Cassie probably had a lot of trauma to work through and to make sure she spent some time with her while she was sober. She didn’t like talking about her past, but if it helped Cassie to open up and work through her own stuff Connie was willing to, at least a little bit. Tonight, was not the time to start doing that though.
They came to Cassie’s room as she felt her eyelids get heavier. She still heard what Connie was saying. And perhaps she would fully process it in the morning, but until then Cassie’s mind was foggy. She had a small vision of a time in her past, on the beach, with her parents, and then it was dark. Red. Viscous. She couldn’t remember much past that.
As she opened her door (or rather, tried to by butting her head against it until she remembered doors had handles) she looked around, remembering. ”Oh, I share a room with Cal. And what’s his face. Roomy? Rogaine? I don’t know, he seemed nice though. So far some of the people seem nice. You are nice Connie.” She attempted to pat Connie’s arm but managed to swipe at her shirt instead.
Her bed, with its fluffy pink nature, was inviting. ”That was fun and scary and fun though, could have done without the body parts, but the butterflies were cool. Goodnight butterflies, perhaps you’ll share your secrets with me another day.”
The butterflies fluttered off of Connie and onto Cassie as she bid them goodnight. They began to smoke and sizzle and shimmer away, seeping back underneath her skin, bring her dreams of dragons and stars and long strands of magic woven into something safe and sound.
”Thank you. Rest well and goodnight.” Connie told Cassie. She got a glass of water and set it next to Cassie’s bed. ”If you wake up and feel unwell, drink some water. That means, any sort of headache or dry mouth.” She should have realized that Rohan roomed with Cassie. This would have been easier for him, she supposed. All well. She would have to tell Rohan what Cassie had called him. That was objectively funny.
Once Cassie was settled into bed and falling asleep Connie left the room and considered if she should go back and check on the others or just head to her own room. She decided on going to her room. Haven was likely closed by now or would be soon.
Cassie drifted sweetly to sleep, dreams of butterflies floating in her mind. A moment of peace despite the chaos looming.
