Word Spell

:: previous – Honey Grim

Misa

As I look around at our world, I’m in awe.

I slide my sleeves up to feel more of the sun. It licks my arm with gold warmth. Cold mountain whispers come next, lunging sweet wildflower scents as goosebumps come alive in its wake. I run my hand down my thigh to ease the chill and close my eyes, inhaling the air… It’s a stinging scent outside, tart like and sweet at the end. Like a gentle surprise.

Maybe this is why Emilian protects that table. He wants the view to himself, to feel nature’s beauty… alone.

“Hurry up.” Emilian growls at me.

I’m walking behind him, trying to keep up. This isn’t a tour at all. Emilian is walking fast and rattling off the names of things with no context. There’s no time to soak anything I’ve seen in.

After the placement test, I can explore the campus myself. I hope…

If I score a 300 on it, the university will waive my school fees, and I’d be in honors class for the first time. My studies would be harder if I do, but I’m sure I can manage. Plus, Inga teaches the honors class. She’s the nicest person I’ve met in Black Mountain so far.

“Seen enough yet?” Emilian asks while walking away.

“Yes.”

I just want this over with.

“Misa?”

I turn around, recognizing the dirty-blonde hair and dimples.

“Timothy?!”

“How are you?” He plucks an orange flower from a patch of grass nearby and gives it to me. “I’ve been texting and calling.”

“Um.”

Over my shoulder, Emilian lingers in the distance, waiting.

I want to scream at Timothy.

When his card got declined on our first date, I had to pay for our dinner. Since he didn’t pay me back, I didn’t have enough to pay my school fees.

If I don’t score a 300 on my placement test the school fees are due immediately… I start my new job in two weeks, but it would take two more to get my paycheck to even pay the fees. The university would kick me out before then, and I’d miss my trip to Synestia this summer because I’d be in class to make up for missing this semester!

This stress is too much. It can’t end like this when I’m so close to finishing… I could resolve it now if I confront Timothy.

Say it Misa! Where’s my money? Use a profanity at the end, too.

“I’ve just been busy.” I tell him. More lies.

“When can I see you again?”

He takes my hand in his, kissing it with his gentle lips.

Good-looking guys like Timothy, with his charm, sexy cologne and hypnotic words make me nervous. Once those words take the shape of soft whispers and kisses, I’m done. Melted. Both heart and mind.

That’s the start of my relationships, conjured by men’s seductive word spells.

I imagine a secret society of them in a private forest wearing hooded robes and nothing on beneath, summoning all kinds of trouble beside a raging fire to manifest the woman or man they want.

Until the men get bored, and start to…

“Misa?” Timothy asks, halting my fantasy. “Did I do something wrong?”

“I–I don’t know…”

His hand slides up my arm, stroking it. I’m melting.

“You don’t know?” He looks past me. “Who’s this guy?”

I turn. Emilian is back, inching closer to us.

“No one. Gotta go.”

“Hey…” Timothy pulls my arm. It’s gentle but stops me from leaving. “You didn’t answer me.”

“Maybe I don’t want to.”

“What’s wrong? Are you mad at me?”

“Let me go.”

Emilian moves behind me. He’s so close I can feel the front of his slacks against the back of my bare legs.

Timothy drops my arm. “I’ll text you, Misa.” He stares at Emilian for a long moment and leaves.

Ugh! Where does he get off grabbing me like that? Of all the people on this campus, I run into Timothy. And why didn’t I mention the money?!

I throw the flower away and see Emilian walking behind staring—probably just looking at my legs.

Whatever.

“Hey there, welcome back.” Instructor Inga says with her sing song voice. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes, ma’am.” I fake a smile.

Emilian says nothing as he bolts to his seat. That guy is weird. What did I do to make him hate me?

“Go on.” Inga says. “Sit beside Emilian.”

Ugh…

I grab my things and head over.

At Emilian’s beloved table, I pull the second chair out by the legs with my foot since he crushed my fingers last time. He scoots aside like I’m contagious when I sit.

“This doesn’t happen tomorrow,” he hisses.

I watch the volcano sitting beside me.

His eyes are bright brown behind his square glasses. His short black hair is wavy and parted to the right. He’s in a light blue dress shirt that’s rolled at the sleeves showing off his toned light brown arms scattered with thin, dark hair…

“You’re drooling,” he says.

I turn away embarrassed and look down at my hands, pretending I wasn’t staring at him like a weirdo.

Sigh.

One more hour of this torture and I’ll start fresh tomorrow. I’m gonna wear a hat and shades so Timothy can’t find me, getting a seat away from Emilian the evil, then straight to the library to study so I can ace the placement test.

I got this.

Featured Image: Canva

Conversation

  1. Mike U.

    I love the shift in perspective from Emilian to Misa. It’s so interesting to get inside the heads of different characters this way. Also, I find it cool how so many of your stories interconnect as though they’re all part of a sprawling universe. Stephen King does this with his work and it’s always a delight to recognize a location or a character from another story. I’m really digging this tale. The characters are so real. Can’t wait to see how this unfolds. 🙂

    1. Kirsten

      Thank you Mike! Haha you caught the connections! And isn’t Stephen King the best?

      I love having the characters connect and it helps to expand their own stories too. I’m gonna have to make a map and carve out some bios soon before things get out of hand. 🙂

  2. 北方榆 (Northern Elm)

    a great weekend read! thank you very much for spicing up my day!

    1. Kirsten

      You’re welcome! I’m happy you enjoyed it. Reading on the weekends is a treasure. Also, it seems you have placed me under a music spell. I now have Spice Girls playing in my head when I read the word ‘spicing’. Haha 😵.

  3. Ghost Human Bones | Placement Test

    […] Word Spell […]

  4. DEVANG UPADHYAYA

    Loving these characters a lot already!!
    Grim is like Fire
    Honey is like Water
    and return of Timonthy. He was acting as if he and the girl are a thing. I hope they don’t go together in future.
    .
    You are an amazing writer. You know how to write and how to add curiosity. Best wishes Kirsten.

    1. Kirsten

      You nailed it! They’re definitely fire and water.
      Timothy is very persuasive though so we’ll see. Sometimes people just ‘act as if’ and assume the best. 😆

      Thank you so much for your kind words too Devang, it means a lot to me.

      1. DEVANG UPADHYAYA

        I was thinking about you (not in a wrong sense I swear).
        I was thinking, that I’m reading your blogs daily and giving you a lot of notifications. I hope I’m not intruding much and not bothering you anyhow.
        I’m just amazed with your and I really enjoying reading it.
        Also, I have certain suggestions, which I would love to give you as a reader and fellow blogger.

      2. Kirsten

        Haha no you’re good. I don’t mind the notifications, my phone is on silent anyway 24/7 (unless I’m expecting a call 😆) so it doesnt bother me or anything. I usually check WP and social media throughout my day in between doing other things. And I’m always open to suggestions/feedback 🙂

      3. DEVANG UPADHYAYA

        I would love to drop an email or something for suggestion. Let me know if thats apposite
        I have your site opened on my laptop. I read daily blogs. Today I had little time, so I was able to read only 1 blog of yours. But I’m curious to know what happens next. I read few blog at a time because I don’t want to speed read and drop like just in the name of engagement. I want to enjoy and show my genuine appreciation towards one’s work.

      4. Kirsten

        For sure! You can email me at ghosthumanbones@gmail.com 👻

      5. DEVANG UPADHYAYA

        Will definitely do that!!
        Thank you so much.
        I wish you a beautiful day ahead. Keep shining

      6. Kirsten

        You’re welcome. I hope you have a great day too!

      7. DEVANG UPADHYAYA

        I take that for tomorrow 🙂
        My day is almost over. 😀

      8. Kirsten

        😆yes! Haha I forget the time difference

      9. DEVANG UPADHYAYA

        Well I have to remember that. I generally post blogs according to timing of my fellow international blogger. Mostly readers are from usa.

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