SCHOOL OF MAGIC AND ENLIGHTENMENT THE LOST NEPHILIM

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The students trial took place in the principal’s quarters. The princes arrived into the room where various teachers and other school authorities were already seated. They sat together on two chairs in the front row and began to talk. Cecil arrived next, looking really pale; and walking rather sluggishly without her usual strut. She sat beside Warren who looked at her worriedly.

‘Are you alright Cecil? You seem unwell’, Warren asked her. She shook her head in response looking down at the floor. Lucas rolled his eyes at her, not buying her antics. Cecil continued to answer Warren weakly, however, when she saw Nicarra walk in she hissed aggressively at her. Menace, unable to hold himself took control of Warren and growled intensely at Cecil for threatening his mate, making her and other dragons in the room fall to the ground in submission while everyone else cowered in fear, except for Warren who was happy at the turn of events.

Nicarra came in amidst looks and exclamations of admiration by several people sitting in the room. She heard Menace's growl which oddly made her spirits soar within her. She saw Cecil on the floor cowering while teachers stood between her and Menace, trying to calm him. Searching for a place to sit, she walked past the commotion; however Lucas pulled her gently by the hand and sat her between himself and Menace, surprising everyone. Nicarra scowled at him and tried to get up again, but Menace turned to look at her, daring her to move. Not wanting to cause a commotion, Nicarra sits back down looking down at her fingers and Menace takes his seat beside her, making her feel safe despite his anger. He takes deep breaths, taking in her scent to calm down.

‘Sit….down', Menace says looking down at Cecil. She stands with great difficulty with the help of her friends and sits on a chair behind him. Menace gives control back to Warren who closes his eyes saying nothing.

The principal comes in followed by the deans and precide over the case. After listening to all the counts against all of the defendants, principal ethereal asks if the defendants would like to say anything and Warren says yes.

He rises from his seat and says, ‘Lady ethereal, distinguished deans of the SOME. Thank you for giving us a fair hearing. I wish to say that, this whole incident is my fault and wish to shoulder the blame alone.’ Nicarra and Lucas both stand up abruptly, surprised at his words but he continues without looking back.

‘All of my life, I have been raised to be responsible, to take unto account the feelings of others before taking action, to protect my people and my mate, but on the night of the feeding hall attack, I failed.’ He turned looking at Nicarra and Lucas before continuing, ‘It took the courage of friends and family who stood together to protect what I could not to stop what could easily have escalated into a war. Therefore, I Prince Warren Dragonheart take full responsibility of the incident on my own'.

The entire room erupts into a noisy frenzy while Warren sits down and gives Nicarra a smile. The school board asks for a recess after Warrens speech, and return stating that most of the charges have been dropped against all of the defendants and majority of the students were free to go, however Warren Nicarra and Cecil were found guilty of physical assault and damaging school property, while Lucas was guilty of damaging school property and threat to life. Warren and Lucas were sentenced to work on reconstruction of the damaged feeding hall, while Cecil was sentenced to cleaning hostels and Nicarra was sentenced to work in the school kitchen for the entire semester. All four of them were ordered take therapy and restricted from mass social gatherings within the school premises and warned that any violations within the semester would lead to their expulsion from the school.

Warren walked out of the principal’s building after his sentencing, trying to collect his thoughts while waiting for Lucas. Many dragon students followed, thanking him for saving them. He simply nodded and engaged in brief conversation with them before they dispersed leaving him alone.

He sat in a bench staring at the sky thinking of Nicarra, how expressive she was with her beautiful eyes, how soft and warm she felt beneath him, and how right it felt when she sat beside him. He longed to be with her again but then what would become of Cecil, the girl whom had devoted herself to him for almost two years. Given a choice he would pick Nicarra over Cecil without missing a beat but what would people say? Especially with everyone thinking that the siren princess is his mate. Before coming here, his life was so simple, he was a dragon prince raised by lycans bound by duty to be married to a royal dragon but now everything seemed so complicated.

‘Dude, what’s with the face? You are officially a hero now’, Lucas asked.

Warren turned to find Lucas standing front of him in a black designer two piece suit and sighed deeply.

‘Am I?’ Warren responded standing.

‘What’s wrong bro?’ Lucas asked sitting down.

‘I messed up Lucas', Warren responded picking his fingers. I attacked that poor siren, almost got my mate killed and my parents have called of my wedding. I feel like I failed, Lucas.’

‘Don’t say that Warren.'

‘You weren’t there Lucas' Warren responded looking at him, ‘you didn’t see the look on my fathers face when I stood with Nicarra before him, I have never seen that look on his face before. Next thing I know, my bloody wedding is called off.’

‘Maybe he’s just trying to protect you Warren.’

‘It would be nice to hear it from him, not everyone else.’ Warren responds.

Lucas is about to respond when he picks up a nasty smell and scrunches his nose as Cecil walks past him towards Warren, ignoring him.

‘Warren, my love; why did you embarrass me in front of everyone like that? You growled at me because of that witch.’

Warrens countenance changed upon picking up her scent, but upon hearing her words but he chose to be patient.

‘Why did you growl at her, you are aware of how delicate the situation already is, yet you publicly were hostile. You should have restrained yourself.’

‘I did it for you my love', she said trying to wrap her arms around his neck, but he held her hands and placed them by her side; shocking her.

‘Why?’ Warren asked her again, trying to hide his disgust at the smell emanating from her.

‘I growled at her because she is the reason you got hurt my love'

‘You are the reason he got hurt!’ Lucas spat at her.

‘Stay out of this mutt! You and your kind are nothing more than security details for us, you are beneath me’, Cecil spat back

‘Cecil!’ Lucas said in a warning tone

‘Beneath you?’ Lucas responded chuckling.

‘I don’t think you have come to terms with your new reality. Warren and I were born with the divine right to rule. You however are nothing more than a despicable, detachable, discardable accessory in Warrens life. You no longer have royal immunity and you are no longer a chosen mate. All you have done has come to nothing because Warren has found his true mate.’

Cecil growled, ‘He rejected her, she is no longer his mate. Warren is mine.’

‘Is he? Then explain to us why Menace hates you so much? Why he still refuses to mark you!’

‘Lucas', Warren says to refrain his friend from insulting Cecil further, however Lucas was livid beyond control.

Cecil looks at down unable to speak.

‘Right now Cecil, the only reason you still breathe is because I cannot prove how much of a snake you really are. All I need is one mistake Cecil to prove that you are a threat to my family and Warrens mate. One wrong move Cecil, and I will end you.’

‘Lucas, STOP!’

‘Excuse me', says a soft female voice behind them.

‘WHAT?’, roars Lucas turning around angrily to find Nyssa step back from him. Nicarra pulls Nyssa behind her making Lucas growl hard at her action. Nyssa’s siren instinctively hisses at Lucas to protect Nicarra, clearly misunderstanding him, making inferno whimper.

‘Its obvious we’ve come at a very bad time so we’ll be taking our leave', Nicarra says looking at Lucas.

‘Why have you come here? Your friend have already been rejected and has no business with Warren. I should have expected such shamelessness as begging from a non royal like you. Why won’t you just leave us alone?’, Cecil says to them holding on to Warrens arm but he jerks her off him upon seeing Nicarra's countenance change at the sight.

Angered, Nicarra responds to Cecil, ‘the situation between my sister and her mate has nothing to do with you. And the last time I checked, you have also been rejected.’

‘How dare you?’ Cecil growled

‘How dare I? How dare you? You hold on to a man who has found his destined mate, yet you insist on holding unto him, and you call me shameless. I may not be a royal but I have scruples.’

‘You…’

‘Nicarra lets just go’, Nyssa whispers, pulling her hand.

‘Wait!’ said Warren to them and looks at Cecil, ‘Cecil, you will apologize to Princess Nyssa and Nicarra for your insult and then you will return to your quarters.’

‘But Warren…’

‘NOW!’

‘I apologize’, Cecil said reluctantly. Warren looked at her sternly before mind-linking. A minute later, three students came running like they were being chased by the devil.

‘Take lady Cecil to her quarters to rest.’ Warren orders them and they bow to him.

Cecil not wanting to test Warrens patience any further does not argue with him and bows to him as well.

Moving closer to her, one of the dragons gags but quickly composes himself, Lucas and Warren notice and look at each other, but say nothing.

‘Will I see you tonight my prince?’ she asks him with a quivering voice.

‘I will call you’, he responds

‘But Warren I haven’t served you in so long, I have missed you’ she whispered baiting her eyes at him shamelessly.

‘You told me you weren’t feeling well, so take your rest. Why are you not moving, you heard what I just said, the lady needs her rest?’ Warren says looking at the guards

‘Yes my lord, my lady please come with us.’

Cecil moves with them still looking at Warren unable to hide her shock at the inability to sway him. He holds her stare with an unreadable expression. She turns to find Lucas, who’s eyes scream for her blood, she sneers at him but when she looks at Nicarra her face turns white with fear. Nicarra’s expression was not what scared her, behind Nicarra stood Cecil’s dead mate smiling at her. She loses consciousness and collapses.