"But from my grave across my brow

plays no wind of healing now,

And fire and ice within me fight

beneath the suffocating night."

- A.E. Housman

Four days had gone by and my first week at Cressida was finally over. Not much had occurred to my dismay in any of my classes. Each day was a repeat of the last; Rian would laugh when we asked him to join us for classes, Aarav continued to torture poor innocents with his cruel pranks, and Boden held true to his promise of make us run all week.

I was walking back to the house alone and incredibly sore due to the "warm ups" I had done in PE only an hour ago. Complements to the cruel, monstrous Boden for that. Aster and Janelle weren't with me, they had gone to the arts building after school to see if they could join a club. They had wanted me to come as well, but I had told them that I was too tired from our torturous class earlier. They had each given me a soft smile of their own before we had parted ways, but not before I caught the glimmering undertones of disappointment in their eyes.

I sighed thinking about their expressions. I was incredibly tired, but that wasn't the reason why I had declined their offer.

I couldn't play my violin.

My music had been my stability, my therapy, my rock. And now I couldn't play a single note without shattering from the inside out. It reminded me too much of my mother and my peaceful life back on Earth. My notes, which were once filled with passion, were now empty and lacking. I couldn't help but feel that my violin had become my shackles--pulling me down into a prison filled with water; drowning out any noise made. I could no longer see a reason to sing through those sweet strings my mother had gifted me.

The void within me was killing me. I would play again, but until the emptiness was filled, I would have to keep giving Aster and Janelle excuses.

Distracted by my thoughts, I tripped on a stair in front of the front door to the house and fell to the side into what resembled a koi pond.

Super.

Like a drenched cat, I scrambled away from the yellow and white bird-like fish in the purple water and jumped out of the pond.

Not even caring at this point from my long day--soaked in all my glory I walked into the house and towards the closest bathroom, which was in the hall next to the kitchen.

I bit my lip as I peeled my doused uniform off my skin. Even though there was no bath or shower in this bathroom, there were still towels large enough to dry and wrap my body with.

I pulled a fluffy, white one off the shelf and left my wet clothes in the bathroom.

I'll come back for them after I change. I thought to myself as I went to my room with the towel wrapped around my sore body. Maybe I'll take a bubble bath later too.

I walked into my room and almost yelped when I found Rian sprawled across my bed, one hand on his forehead, and the other under his head as his violet gaze transferred from the ceiling to me.

"What are you doing in here?" I hissed, wrapping my towel more tightly around myself. His stare wandered down to my attire--or lack of it, and he smirked.

"Hello, how nice to see you too." He purred, ignoring my death stares.

"Get. Out. Now."

"Don't want to."

"And why is that?" I huffed.

Rian paused before breaking eye contact.

"My room is too cold for me."

I was about to huff and make a remark about his comment, when something struck me. Rian lived on the coldest planet. -50 degrees to him would seem like spring, so how was he 'cold?'

I shifted from leg to leg awkwardly as I tried to sort out the meaning to his words. I gave up after a few moments and tried to change the conversation. I was unsure of the mood.

"You never answered my first question. Why are you sleeping in my room, on my bed, and while it's broad daylight outside?"

His joking manner slipped away and for a split second, I was scared of the Rian in front of me; a serious Rian with eyes frozen with ice.

"I don't sleep at night for the same reason you don't play your violin." He paused and I was relieved for a short few moments when he broke his stare to cover his eyes with his large hand. "Because there are too many ghosts haunting me in the darkness of my mind to find reason--reality."

It was my turn to freeze, except it wasn't my eyes, but my whole body. The truth in his words was heart-rendering.

We were quiet for a few minutes, both consumed by our own thoughts, until Rian got off my bed and walked towards me.

Yup, it was settled. This serious Rian was unnerving in ways I couldn't clearly explain.

He slipped by me and out my open door, only to stop and whisper "Meet me in five minutes at the front door with your violin. Let's go somewhere warm." He paused before adding "And for the sake of every male on this moon, please put clothes on."

With that he left me alone to deal with my mortification as I tried to calm my scorching face that most likely resembled a ripe tomato.

I hurried to my closet as the door closed and threw on some clothes like Rian had suggested. Grabbing my violin and schooling my face a few moments later, I made my way to the front door.

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"You wanted to show me the gardens?" I asked Rian after he had lead me under the intertwined silver trees at the entrance.

"Sort of. You'll see." He grunted.

We moved towards the middle of the garden near the fountain when Rian stopped.

"By the way," He stated with a smirk, "It wasn't a bird."

What?

He took my free hand and a jolt of energy washed over my body. Silently, I allowed him to lead me to the left of the fountain. We maneuvered around a few large hedges before we were blocked by one abnormally large one far by the edges of the garden nobody walked by.

"Wha-" I was about to ask before he jumped into the hedge, bringing me with him.

I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the unpleasant sensation of leaves and branches, but nothing happend.

I opened both eyes to see Rian looking down at me with an amused expression. I scowled at him as I realized that the hedge was merely an illusion; a hologram.

"I knew that." I muttered to myself. Rian snorted, clearly hearing what I just said under my breath, but he wise kept his mouth shut and motioned me forward with a sweep of his hands.

"This is my hideout." Rian said. "My warm place."

His warm place, as he called it was boxed in on all four sides by hedges, which I now knew weren't really there. At the center of the space was a white gazebo with braiding red roses around its pillars. The emerald grass contrasted with the beautiful flowers, making them look like little flames climbing the structure. The gazebo held inside a pianoforte, the same midnight black as Rian's hair and horns.

Rian's eyes met mine as a slow, knowing grin took over his face.

"Welcome to my place of warmth."

I exhaled a breath as I slowly made my way to the gazebo. Hidden by the tall hedges, it was easy to forget you were in Cressida's gardens and not in a wonderland.

"Do you come here often?" I asked, still taking in the beauty of his hideout.

"Everyday. I'm here while you're at classes. It . . . this place helps me . . . relax."

He looked over at me "I asked you to bring your violin here, but I don't expect you to play. But, whenever you need to let something out, you can come here." And so quietly, I wasn't sure if he really said it or not, but he whispered, "This place helps me forget the ghosts and monsters corrupting my dreams. If my heart and mind can both find harmony here, the maybe yours can as well."

His last words had been so raw and honest that I couldn't help but send him a small smile.

His words were so personal though, as if he had known me my whole life. How could he possibly know so much from just a week. He was obviously very observational and perceptive, but his words felt too intimate for that to be all.

Before I could voice my suspicions, a blare went off from the school. I jumped at the noise as Rian whipped around to face where Cressida was.

"What was--"

Rian swiftly moved to my side and put a finger to his lips, silently telling me to be quiet. I nodded and we stood there waiting. Not a minute later, we heard the voices of several people as we held our breath. As soon as they moved away from us, Rian mouthed 'security' to me.

What was going on?

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Hi!!! How have you been? Its been a while, so as payment we're updating 4 parts today! :)  Enjoy!!