Clara woke up with the worse hangover of her life and she hadn't had a sip of alcohol. Her body ached and burned all over and nausea washed over her body in waves. Daylight was still burning outside but she felt like she had slept for 12 hours.
She pulled out the phone that was still in the pocket of her jean jacket. "Hmm... 7:03. Well I didn't sleep long at all then, strange."
The lockscreen on her phone showed 14 new notifications, all from Emily.
"Jesus, Emily."
She noticed that the first one was from 14 hours ago, asking if Clara was still on her date.
"What... 14 hours ago? But it's only… oh shit, it's not seven PM, it's seven in the morning! I did sleep 12 hours!" She pressed buttons frantically.
"Hello?"
"Hey Em! Sorry I missed all those calls! And texts... and snaps, and dms... and basically every social messaging outlet imaginable!" she nervously chuckled, "I hope I didn't worry you."
Clara peeled off the boots that she had slept in all night while holding the phone in place with her shoulder.
"Well, yeah I was a little—", Emily answered " —but I called Mike from the dorm room next door, you know the hottie with the body that always flirts whenever I come by? He said he seen you come in. He is also taking me out this weekend. Anyway, where are you, I need details about your date! Are you on your way to school yet?"
There was no way Clara was going to tell her about her grand theft larceny that she helped commit.
"It sucked, he left me at the musuem Em." That was all she could muster up to say. "And I think I caught the flu; I woke up feeling awful."
Clara didn't like lying but telling her friend that her date stole a meteor that is now causing her extremities to buzz with an electrical current while also making her feel like she's going to vomit out her insides was definitely out of the question.
Even though she felt like death, Clara had to try to make it to her coding class to confront Cyra. If he even showed. He probably skipped town if he knows what's best for him.
"I'll try to shower and see if I can make it for my last class at least. Don't wait for me for though, ok?
"Aw poor Clair-bear, I'll miss you! Feel better. And screw that dumb boy too. Guys can be such jerks, you don't need someone like him."
After showering and puking a few times, Clara felt much better. She skipped her morning jog and opted to walk to school as an alternative exercise. The university wasn't especially close but the fresh air made her feel refreshed.
She arrived at school 15 minutes before class started and sat on top of the desk closest to the door. She drummed her fingers anxiously, her foot shaking involuntarily.
When the class was almost full and the owner of the desk she was perched on akwardly asked for it back, Clara decided to make her way to her seat. As she hopped down she took one last look at the door.
Raven black hair.
She rushed to the door and before Cyra could cross the threshold she was pushing him outside by his shoulders and swinging him around so his back was pinned against the building. Clara's sapphire eyes were sharp as glass. Crya looked both suprised and amused —he relaxed into the wall like he had been leaning there the whole time.
"I can't believe you would show your face after last night you, smug bastard! I have every right to go to the police and tell them what you did!"
Cyra looked around discretely then gently pulled Clara to the far side of the building out of sight of most onlookers.
"Love, showing my face here was entirely up to you. If you were going to go to the police, you would have done so by now. I was ready and prepared to skip town if you so chose to do that," his words were crimson. "But it looks like you didn't want to see me go just yet" he smirked.
"Trust me when I say I have no interest in ever seeing you again and I can still turn you in!" Clara shrieked, grabbing his collar and shaking it.
Cyra removed her hands effortlessly and pulled them to his lips softly. "But what if I'm the one interested in you now." It wasn't a question, and he was no longer smiling.
"I don't believe you. You're a seducer. You're just trying to butter me up so I keep your secret. You're using me like you used that museum security guard. I'm not stupid and I am not falling for the act."
Clara pulled her hands back and pushed his forehead away with her finger. She started to turn to walk away from him but stopped for a second.
"Give the moon gem back or I'm telling the police everything", she said without turning around.
Cyra hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I'm getting rid of it tonight—"
Clara stopped walking.
"— I have a buyer meeting me in a few hours. It will never get back to you and if I get caught with it I will tell the police that you had nothing to do with it."
"Why would they believe you? They'll just assume that you are covering for me."
"You're asking the wrong question, Princess. It's not whether the police would believe me or not, it's the fact that you are a perfect student, no police record and no motive. Why wouldn't they believe you?"
Clara's face went pale with realization. "You really thought this through didn't you? Was was all part of your plan? Trick me into going with you as an alibi!? " Clara said, disgusted.
She could kick herself for falling for those dazzling onyx eyes, even if it was just a small, momentary lapse in judgment.
She started to feel nauseous. The stress of the conversation was making her hands start to buzz with electricity again and she remembered.
"There's something I have to ask you. Do you feel— weird, since touching the moon gem?"
"I think you are referring to your conscience and no, I don't have one of those." Cyra shrugged lazily.
"Not that. The — buzzing. The crackling? It's like an energy or electricity, I don't know, but it's dizzying, do you feel it too?" She looked down at her hands.
"I make you feel dizzy, eh?" Crya lifted a hand to her cheek but she pulled away.
"Stop that! Ever since I touched the moon gem my hands feel tingly and don't even get me started with the nausea", she turned green just thinking about it.
"— I think I got some sort of mineral poisoning or something." She looked at the front and back of her seemingly ordinary hands.
Cyra rubbed a small cross necklace, then shoved his hands into his pockets. "Li… like I said, that's your conscience. It sounds to me like you are traumatized over this experience, poor little mouse! You should go home and rest and not think of this further!"
He quickly ushered her along the side of the building towards the parking lot.
"But I.." Clara started but was cut off. "No no, I insist. Just leave everything to me. By tomorrow you will have all but forgotten everything and you can go back to your normal college life."
That sounded too perfect for Clara to protest. She knew Cyra was just trying to get rid of her and keep her quiet but she longed for yesterday when the only worry she had was what she'd be wearing to school. Being a fugitive was starting to wear her out and she felt like she would pass out at any second.
She didn't argue back, she allowed Cyra to lead her to the open corridor as the world spun around her.
He gently kissed her forehead and shoved her off into the open parking lot. She was too sick to punch him for the kiss but she decided to save that for another time. She managed a weak smile at the thought.
"Crap." She whined, staring at the rows of cars aligning the lanes of the parking lot.
"I really wish I'd brought my car."