Enchantress by Kenzhie A. (books for students to read .TXT) 📖

"Oh please--call me Rafael."

"Then call me, Zylen."

"Zylen it is." He smiled and when I looked up at Ellis, he looked pissed about something.

What's his problem? I pondered. Ellis is such a complex person. A while ago, he's all sweet and now he looks grumpy like the old man he is. I wanted to giggle from that thought.

"Ellis!" A loud and distracting squeal from behind us caught our attention--A tall, foxy red-haired girl wearing a super tight black long-sleeved blouse with a very provocative neckline over a black micro-mini leather pencil-cut skirt, knee-high black socks, and black ankle boots. Her face is pale and her big, dark brown eyes looked even more dark from the black eyeliner and smudge eye-shadows--emerged from a room that looked like a study room or a library. She's begrudgingly beautiful and the foxy redhead smiled sexily at Ellis. I frowned and gaped at her while she gracefully glided passed me and towards Ellis and to my utmost surprise, She kissed Ellis on the mouth! It was just brief but I still wanted to pull her red wavy hair away from Ellis but before I can do that Ellis gently hold her away from him and stared down at her impassively. I'm not sure on how I must feel about Ellis' reaction, if I will be happy that he treated her bold actions impassively or if I will get mad at him for not scolding her because of that.

Maybe he likes it? Oh no! She's very attractive compared to me. Who is she? A girlfriend? No! I winced at the dreadful thoughts.

"Maggie, this is unexpected. Why are you here?" He asked casually disregarding her scandalous parade and looked passed the redhead to me, to scan my reaction. His handsome face turned to a scowl when he saw my face turned beet red from anger. I have never felt this angry before except when my parents died from a car accident because of a stupid drunk driver. I shivered at the memory.

"I missed you, that's why." She pouted like a child and blinked her thick lashes at him, still oblivious of my presence. Ellis ignored Maggie and pulled my twitching hand from wanting to pull the annoying redhead's hair towards him. He placed me in front of him like a protective shield from a dangerous red fox.

"Maggie this is Zylen. You've heard of her, I'm sure? Zylen, this is Margaret but we call her Maggie." Maggie the redhead fox glowered at me and I saw a brief look of jealousy registered over her pretty face and was replaced instantly of a phony smile when she looked up to me. She wasn't that tall after facing her in a close distance. I'm actually taller than her some few inches and somewhat it gave me a slight relief that I have a tiny advantage against her.

"Of course, the infamous last Enchantress from the bloodline of Aurora and the reincarnation of your dearest Evangeline. How can I not know?" She spoke of every words with hidden spite but I knew. Maggie hated me the instant she acknowledged my presence just like how Patrice hated me because she thought I'm a threat that she needs to discard which I find quite troubling. Me being a threat? That's one ridiculous accusation.

"Glad to meet you, Maggie." I said emphasizing her pet name without her approval to pester her, in a sugar-coated tone and I was so glad of my so-called awakening for the first time since this morning for making my voice to sound like a melody. I also gave Maggie my most charming smile and I saw her gasp and looked entranced for a moment like she was under a spell. I was also surprised by her odd reaction.

Did I do this? Why am I acting like this? This is not me.. I feel so.. bold.. so.. liberated.. My baffled thoughts were disrupted when male voices erupted from the same room where redhead fox came from.

"Ellis!" A tall sandy-blonde guy with a playful smile on his face called his name and stifled a gasp when his eyes met mine. Same reactions I have gotten so far like I'm putting them on a love spell.

"And who might this charming lady would be?" A husky, beautiful voice emerged from behind the sandy-blonde guy waking up Maggie and the blonde guy from being enthralled. They both blinked their eyes looking stupefied. The newcomer is tall but not as tall as Ellis and the blonde guy. He exudes a similar aura, a familiar bewitching feeling like he is wearing a Glamour like me. He is also handsome. I shook my head lightly. No, to be exact, he looks painstakingly beautiful. An elf-like beauty. He is smiling brightly at me and if I'm not so attached to Ellis I might be spellbound by him. The fact that he is only wearing a simple black long-sleeved shirt and jeans yet so dashing could be distracting. He has black ruffled hair playfully hanging on his pale face, a perfect nose, red smiling lips, and black luminous eyes. That instant I knew. He is the same, an Enchanter like me. A deceiving beauty... and it pained me knowing that maybe Ellis Kissed me last night and became sweet to me because of that same reason. I want to puke thinking about it and my heart felt a sting like it is being stabbed.

"Maxwell." Ellis acknowledged him flatly and wrapped his left arm around my shoulders possessively while scowling at him in an intimidating manner. I was a bit appalled by his sudden show of affection but I liked it and I kept my face straight not wanting to break into a grin. The boy called Maxwell raised his dark brow at him in amusement not intimidated the least by Ellis' menacing glare. "I thought you already knew about Zylen since you dashed and dragged your bloody arse into my house without prior notice?" Ellis stated grimly rather than asked.

"Hi! So, you are the beautiful Zylen?" Maxwell ignored his animosity and beamed at me. I nod a bit flushed not because I'm into him but because of my growing discomfort. He's maybe drop dead gorgeous but somebody has my eyes already. I gazed at Ellis and the faint smile that threatened to break free from my lips vanished when I saw him gazing down at me darkly. Is he mad at me? I got confused. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Honestly, I have been wanting to personally meet you and as Ellis pointed, I dragged my sexy arse here just to see your beauty beyond comparison." Maxwell continued blabbering nonsense flattery.

"Nice to meet you too, Maxwell." I offered him a polite smile.

"Oh please call me, Max." He offered and swiftly grabbed my right hand and kissed the back of my palm chastely and let it go as swiftly as he took it. My smile brittle and I chanced a brief glance at Ellis. Hell! He is steaming!

"I'm Axel." The burly sandy-blonde guy blurted out and smiled at me when he finally recovered from my Glamour. I saw Maggie rolled her eyes and mutely marched back to the room where she came from.

"Nice to meet you too. Call me, Zy." I smiled at him genuinely since he looked harmless and friendly and kinda cute too. He nodded acknowledging me still a bit amazed.

"Well, I don't mean to be rude but the introductions are over and my girlfriend and I have a date which is being stalled at the moment so if you'll excuse us. Let's have lunch together later if you're still so inclined to stay." He offered but obviously didn't mean to. My mouth dropped and stared at Ellis but he is not looking at me but at Maxwell. I'm his girlfriend? Since when? As much as I like him, I still feel a bit annoyed at him for telling his odd uninvited guests that I'm his girlfriend without my freaking permission! Seconds later, Maxwell chuckled after a brief silence looking at the both of us, examining us.

"Of course! I'm very delighted with your offer Ellis, thank you very much. I did not dragged my busy arse here just to go home this instant as you know already. I might live here." He chuckled. He obviously ignored Ellis' hidden meaning and fixed his dark eyes on me once again. "I'll see you soon at lunch, Zylen." He winked at me and dragged big Axel back to the room they all came from.

"Phew! That was intense." I started to ease the tension and uneasily look up to meet Ellis' blazing eyes. I looked away and remembered Mr.Wright. Where did he go? I didn't notice him slipping away.

"You need to filter that Glamour of yours or all the men will drool over your feet." He said blandly, staring at my flushed face. "Or do you intend to becharmed all the men's hearts?" He accused. I stared at him shocked and angry at the same time. Ellis is wearing out my patience. I childishly kicked his knee out of exasperation and irritation.

"Aw! What did you that for?" He sounded surprise more than hurt.

"I've been dying to do that." I hissed and walk-off.

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 "The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive..."

-John Green

"Oh no! I'm lost. Why is this place so big but with so little people? Dang it!" I muttered feeling frustrated at myself. I've been rounding the corridors but I haven't seen anyone and I left my handbag with my phone in Ellis' car so I can't make a call. Another bad news is, I'm a person with no sense of direction so I would just get lost even in a Mall. I wonder if Ellis is still looking for me or he gave up already and decided, flirting with redhead fox is much preferable than playing hide-and-seek with me? I dreaded the awful thought. Then out of nowhere I saw---or rather I am drawn to like I am being called to---an iron-made door with an emblem of wings, a shield armor, and two swords that intersect. The surrounding of the door has some weird inscriptions that look like Latin. “Ne intraveritis” was written big at the center of the door just above the emblem. Ha! If only I studied hard in Latin I would be able to make out the meaning of the words written on it. There are some other Latin-looking words below and at the side part of the door hinges but I ignored it since I have no idea what it means. I reached for the door knob, expecting that it's lock but it opened easily. I slowly opened It and curiously went in. It led me to something that look like the back of the house where there are some Cherry trees with white and pink colors, Hillier trees, trimmed bushes, cedar swings, and a wooden bench near a lotus pond with white, purple, and pink lilies. There are also Spring flowers everywhere such as a flowerbed of Bluebelles, Primrose, and a lot more which I don't even know the names but so far they're all beautiful. It weirdly feels like Spring when it's already Winter. This place seemed like it has some kind of a spell cast on it to sustain the beauty of Spring.

"Wow.. This place