PART TWO DECEPTION

There are a few things one must remember about Lies and that is that there are three kinds of Lies. The Lie to save someone, the Lie to save yourself, and the Lie to Lie. A Lie to save someone is generally used in the reference to what is called a White Lie. A White Lie can be an excellent tool to use when attempting to Deceive another person. Sometimes a Lie to save someone is referring to something bigger such as to keep them from harming themselves or others. Either way neither are terrible Lies when used with discretion. The other type of Lie the Lie to save yourself is usually referring to denial. To deny who we are is like contracting a disease of the mind. It whittles away at someone’s soul until the real person is no longer there but a shade of false ideals instead. It could also refer to an excuse which is equally bad for one’s inner self. When you Lie to yourself you can’t help but to others therefore the Lie to save yourself can the worst Lie of them all. The Lie to Lie is simply lying for no reason. These people tend to get overconfident and Lie far too much with little thought as to who you are lying to. They do not last long in front of those will Truth seeing eyes.

Lord Nor Velkeen Ruler of the Wise

CHAPTER SIX LURID, MIRTH, AND PUMPKIN

Katlee woke up noticeably more content than she had been yesterday. She rose from her bed and made directly for the armoire.

“What to wear, what to wear?” Kat murmured out loud looking over her small collection of dresses. She couldn’t help but look longingly at her pile of breeches as she flipped through the crappy dresses. Tsking Kat picked out a light cream dress and a matching corset. Life sucks sometimes Kat thought pulling the dress over her body.

When time came for breakfast Katlee walked downstairs and waited in the common area for Noel. Noel true to her word arrived shortly thereafter and the pair headed straight for the dinning hall to sate their rumbling tummies.

“So Kat what magic is your forte? I myself excel at Destructive, Defensive, Spirit, and Healing.”

“Oh well my high limits are Air, Destructive, and Defensive but I’m also taking a minor limit class in Mind magic. You’re good at healing? I must admit I’m terrible with Healing magic. It’s like my arch enemy. Seriously we hate each other.” Kat replied. She really was terrible at Healing magic. Katlee had six high limits of magic and could dabble in Fire and Water magic but Healing was the one magic she was not gifted to do at all. Alcur had only attempted to teach her once. Once was all he needed to throw that fish back in water after the uh accident. Really it hadn’t been her fault because Kat had tried to warn him.

“But Healing magic is so soothing to the soul. I’m sure it isn’t that bad. At least we both share the Destructive and Defensive magic limits. Perhaps we’re in the same classes?” Noel cheered. The girls talked over their schedules only to realize that they had one class together. They were both happy that they could see each not only at meals but in Defensive Basics as well. When the food arrived the two were going to cease talking but two people interrupted their sacred eating time.

Both the guy and the girl was obviously Fae. The girl had eye catching eggplant purple hair with generous lavender highlights. It laid curling just past her shoulders and her eyes were a distinctive mix of purple and black. The fit young man’s presence beside her greatly overpowered her petite frame. His hair like hers was striking like any Faes. It fell almost to his waist in a glittering waterfall of sapphire colored hair. His icy blue eyes assessed the pair of human girls his friend Lurid had brought him to.

“Hello Lurid!” Noel said turning to face them fully.

“Hello Noel! It’s nice to see you this morning. Hi, you must be Katlee. Noel spoke of you last night. My name is Lurid and this is my friend Mirth Devet. We were wondering if we could join you ladies for breakfast. My friend Mirth here has lost his best friend so I decided to drag him to meet my new roommate,” The Fae girl said. Kat concluded that unlike Mirth who looked uncomfortable, Lurid appeared honest in her intentions so Katlee spoke up.

“Yes I’m Katlee. Most people call me Kat. We don’t mind if you join us. Noel told me about you as well last night during dinner. All good things of course. So how long have you been going here if I may ask,” Kat replied smiled at the pair as they took a seat.

“Oh I’ve been attending here for about two years now. I’m currently studying Expert level in Air, Spirit, Defensive, and Healing magic.” Kat scrunched up her face at the prospect of being an expert in Healing magic. Lurid looked surprised not understanding.

Noel rolled her eyes and replied, “Kat hates Healing magic. Really it’s a ridiculous conclusion, like I’ve told her Healing magic is….”

“Very soothing for the soul. Yes I know but I don’t care. Healing magic is the bane of my existence Noel. The bane.” Mirth actually opened his mouth to let out a soft chuckle. All the girl’s eyes instantly fell on him.

“It speaks. Where, pray tell sir, do your abilities lie?” Noel asked raising her eyebrows. Mirth looked like he was debating on whether or not to respond when he once again opened his mouth to speak.

“My magic is that of Water, Air, and Spirit milady,” he replied. The way he said milady sounded like he did think she was anything close to a milady.

“Mirth! Honestly has being around Abel all the time destroyed your manners. What has gotten into you?” Lurid snipped hitting his upper arm.

Two things had gotten to Mirth. One, Abel’s weird attitude the past couple of days and the slip of a human girl named Noel. When Lurid had first ushered him from the quite haven of his room to meet her new human roommate he had been irritated. Most human girls were dumbstruck by his Fae heritage seeing as how most of them had never seen a Fae before. When Lurid insisted that her roommate was actually quite enjoyable but he did not believe her. Lurid being the harpy that she was hounded him until he ceased his complains and agreed to go downstairs with her. From far away the two seemed like any other two humans but up close that was a different matter. The human named Katlee was an attractive girl yes. Her hair was thick and her eyes lovely but it was Lurid’s roommate Noel that captured his immediate attention. From her shiny ebony hair to her fiery violet eyes to husky voice to her scent. Her scent was so intoxicating that it kept him from listening to the girls’ conversation. He almost hit himself when he was rude to Lurid’s roommate but the damage was done. Mirth fully admitted to himself that he was physically attracted to this Noel girl for some reason or another but his mind was walking in the opposite direction. She was human and although he thought her quite beautiful he was never going to take any measures to achieve more than a mere acquaintance. He did not want any more than a physical relationship right now and he doubted her innocence was up for that.

“I apologize Noel. My mind is just on other matters right. I was thinking.”

“That’s fine. I understand that everyone deserves to be snide now and again,” Noel replied with a forced smile. During Breakfast Mirth didn’t speak up again and after ten minutes he quietly excused himself claiming that his had something to see to.

“Don’t mind Mirth. Really he is never like that. It took me by great surprise. Mirth is normally known as the laid back one of our group. He’s actually quite funny at times. He probably just worried about his friend Abel. Abel upset once again at his family and when he’s upset he closes off and gets all strange. Being his best friend Mirth is just worried about him.” Lurid said.

Noel was only half listening to her roommate as she contemplated the male Fae. At first glance she thought him to be stunning but after that first meeting no matter what Lurid said Noel could not seem to get over her dislike for Mirth.

The girls went on to more light hearted subjects and eventually concluded that they should go into town to buy a few things such as books and paper for letter writing. Plans decided; the girls finished their food and walked to the common area. In the entry way the girls barely missed running into two other girls. The two girls looked quite a deal alike. The human young woman had long straight yellowish blond hair, a mild tan, and blue eyes. The Fae woman had golden blond hair equally long, gold (no not tan but actual gold) tinted skin, and powder blue eyes. Both girls wore not only pale blue dresses but sneers as well.

“Watch where you’re going!” The Fae woman snapped.

“I could say the same to you, Florence,” Lurid glared back. Maybe it was their matching or maybe the why they looked at Lurid but either way Kat didn’t not like them at all. In a huffy manner both ladies walked past them. Once out of range Lurid told Kat and Noel that the Fae’s name was Florence Devet and that she was Mirth’s half sister. The human one following at her tails was Vanity Jacoun Lurid announced. She said both were snobby and that they were to watch out for their spiteful natures. Dually noted the girls once again set off for town.

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Pumpkin quietly opened the door to her new rooms. It was really late and she did not want to wake up her roommate who had surely already arrived. After depositing her one small bag on the floor in the living area she rubbed her injured shoulder. Pumpkin was thankful that she had arrived in enough time to make the class enlisting deadline. Stupid father Pumpkin thought. The only reason he let Pumpkin out of his overbearing sight was because his wanted to get the money. Pumpkin’s grandfather on her mother’s side had died a little over a year ago. Pumpkin was his favorite granddaughter as well as vice versa. When he died it had hurt her heart more that her father’s fist ever did. Her grandfather was not a stupid man he knew what went on in the Yurain household but was helpless to stop it. So he did the only thing he could. He gave her the opportunity to have some freedom.

In his will he had left Pumpkin most of all his money which was quite a moderate fortune. The only rules to receiving the money was that Pumpkin had to go and complete the magic studies here in Tolm. Her father Lord Yurain was a foolish man close to being in debt. He saw Pumpkin’s inheritance money as an opportunity to get out of his money situation. At the same time he did not want to let his daughter have the freedom that cam with the money. Money soon won out much to Pumpkin joy. Of course this did not mean that Pumpkin didn’t feel his displeasure for her to go. It was one of the angriest she had ever seen him.

Pumpkin sat on the large purple couch wincing as she bent over. Slowly not to cause any more damage to her already aching body, Pumpkin massaged her bruised calves back to life. She was about to begin on her neck when the door to the outside of their rooms opened and spilled light across Pumpkin’s face. Pumpkin stilled like a deer in the head lights. From what she could see of the shadow it was a female. Before she could wonder anymore the fireplace came to life.

“Hello you must be my roommate. Pumpkin is it? My name’s Katlee. You can call me Kat. I just got back from the bath so excuse my appearance,” the figure said strolling forward into the light. The girl must have some ability in Fire magic Pumpkin realized staring at the fireplace. The girl called Katlee who was wearing a loose white nightgown was inch or two taller than her, Pumpkin noticed as she stood up.

“Yes I’m Pumpkin Yurain. Don’t worry about your appearance. As a matter of fact I’m probably going to take a bath before it gets too late. Was there anyone in there? I know it’s stupid but I am just too shy to take baths while others are present.”

“Not a worry no one’s there at this hour. I have the same problem you see. Well I can see that your tired from you trip so I won’t keep you but if you would like to join me and my two friends for breakfast tomorrow we’d love to have you,” Katlee said giving Pumpkin a quick smile before going into her room.

Pumpkin happy that she could bath in piece pulled her nightgown from her bag and walked to the bath grimacing at each painful step. The idea of a hot bath to soothe her muscles sounded more delightful than sleeping right now. As she entered the bath she quickly assured herself no one else was present before slipping out of her plain dress. Although Pumpkin hated to look at herself while she was like this, she forced herself to go to the mirror.

What she saw made her mood drastically darken. Great a whole new set of scars Pumpkin thought. The front of her held no marks this time but her back side was a shameful sight. From her shoulders to mid calf her skin was raw and red with whelps. She knew that there was exactly sixty two lines etched in her skin. She knew because she had to count each one out loud. If Pumpkin messed up he would add on ten. After fifty she was almost unconscious so foolishly she messed up by skipping fifty two. Sighing Pumpkin wasted no more time by slipping in the water. At first she almost let out a small scream when the hot water stung her whip marks but bit her hand instead. Pumpkin slipped deeper in the water once the pain began to fade.

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Kat was surprised when she arrived in the room to see her roommate had finally arrived. The girl seemed nice enough so Katlee had invited her to breakfast with herself, Noel, and Lurid. Then perhaps she could get to know the girl more. She would have talk to her tonight Kat’s instincts told her to wait until the girl was rested. Pumpkin was of normal appearance with a mane of long dark auburn hair and her eyes had been green like Kat’s but it was a darker green like an emerald. She was smaller in height and a bit heavier than Kat. It was not only the road dusty clothes but also the light undercurrent of pain Kat heard in Pumpkin’s voice that kept Katlee from bothering her. It’s nothing Kat. She’s probably just sore from the road Kat thought but for all her rationality she couldn’t help the nagging feelings from surfacing.

Her thoughts were on the fun day she spent with Lurid and Noel. All three girls were becoming fast friends. Katlee just wished she didn’t have to lie to them. She knew she had to though because there wasn’t any other way. Even though Kat tried to quail the thought before it rushed up it still popped up that the source could very well be one of her new friends. Katlee forced that final thought back before it could do damage and drifted of to sleep as she heard Pumpkin return to the rooms.

A/N: More drama than dialogue but the next chapter will be filled with it so be prepared. If you haven’t noticed already I should point out that although most of the story will focus on Katlee there will be some sub plots and romances on the side so hopeful you don’t get confused with the resurfacing other characters.

TO MY REVIEWERS THANKS FOR YOUR TIME!!!

Personal thanks to thecupcakepanda your review was helpful!