7. The strange fragrance

Episode 7

           Saphira's POV

Another day had dawned, bringing with it new hopes and aspirations. The light of dawn seeped into my room. I rubbed my bleary eyes and walked to the window.

There was a pearly glow in the sky.

I think today will be a great day.

Smile clouded my face as I remembered yesterday's event. For the first time in my life, I experienced freedom. I was able to do whatever I wanted without anyone restricting me. Freedom really tastes cool!

Humming to my favorite song, I took my bath and dressed up for school.

I looked into the mirror and I was satisfied with what I saw.

I hopped downstairs and met my family already seated for breakfast.

"Good morning mum and dad" I greeted and sat down too.

"Good morning baby" dad replied still focused on his magazine accompanied with his special coffee. 

"You look happy today" Mum said.

"Huh?" I raised my eyebrows. "I have always been a happy person" I added, smiling.

We all went back to our fruity breakfast and the house was as silent as a graveyard again.

After eating almost half of my food, I stood up to announce my departure.

"I'll be leaving for school now" I said.

"Have a nice day dear" Dad wished.

"Thanks" 

" I'll see you off" Mum said and stood up too.

"Huh?" I exclaimed.

" Why? Is there anything wrong with seeing you off?"

"No. Not at all" 

We both walked out, together.

" Is there something you're not telling me?" Mum asked, immediately we got to the garage. My heart missed a beat as fear gripped me.

Could it be that mum has found out that I sneaked out of my room yesterday's night.

"No mum" I stuttered.

"Are you sure?

" Yes mum. I would never hide anything from you" I insisted. 

She gave me a suspicious stare.

"Why mum? What's wrong?" 

"Nothing.." she blinked her eyes. "Just be careful" she added and turned to leave.

But all of a sudden, she stopped and walked back to me.

"Did you meet up with someone yesterday?" She asked again, staring at me intently.

My heart raced as my ears shrink in fear. 

I'm sorry mum but if I tell you the truth you will never let me meet Jeffrey again. 

"No mum"

"But..

I quickly cut her off.

" Come on mum! What's wrong? You're behaving strange"

" I don't know but I think I'm perceiving a strange fragrance from you. Did you meet any strange or unusual creature recently?" She asked. I could see worries clearly written on her face.

Strange fragrance? Unusual creature?

I don't understand.

"I'm confused mum. What do you mean by unusual creature?" 

" Like a beast? A monster? A dragon. Did you meet any of these" She asked, curiously.

I huffed a laugh.

"What's funny?" Mum asked, confused.

"The questions are!. How would I see a beast and still be alive?" 

"I thought as much. Thank goodness, I was scared" She muttered and heaved a sigh of relief.

" What's going on mum? You're acting weird" 

"It's nothing.. You can leave for college now" She said and scurried into the house.

I shook my head still wondering what could be going on.

My annoying bodyguard suddenly appeared. And gestured for me to get into the car.

"Please get into the car miss. You're running late" She said and opened the back door of the car.

" I was about doing that" I rolled my eyes and slip into the car. She followed suit and the driver took off.

"Are you alright miss?" Jane, my bodyguard suddenly asked.

"Yeah.. I'm fine, why do you ask?" 

"I heard a noise coming from your window last night, I rushed to check if you were okay but the door was locked. I wanted to draw the attention of your parents but I wouldn't want to wake them up. I thought something happened to you"

Thank goodness she didn't inform my parents.

"That was nothing. I mistakenly kicked down a vase" 

" Are you sure it's nothing" She furrowed her brow.

This is one thing I don't like about Jane. She's a very serious person. She is suspicious of everything around her and hardly smiles.

She looks more like an assassin than a bodyguard.

"Why? Are you suspecting me?" I raised my brow.

"I wouldn't dare" She replied.

I rolled my eyes and gave her a hard stare. She always piss me off!

"I can't wait for the day mum is gonna fire you" I muttered. I fished out my phone and unlocked it. Just then, I received a message from Jeffrey;

"I have a surprise for you"

Smile clouded my face again.

A surprise? 

"What could the surprise be?" I typed into the phone and pressed the send button.

Within some seconds, I received another message from him;

"If I tell you what it is, then it will no longer be a surprise"

I grinned wondering what the surprise could it be? Maybe he wants to propose? 

Aish! I'm going crazy.

Still lost in my thoughts, the car suddenly came to a stop as we all jerk forward.

"What the heck? What was that?" I inquired as soon as we regained our posture.

"I don't know ma. I'll go take a look" Mark, my driver said as he opened the driver's door and stepped out.

Shit! I'm running late.

Ten minutes, and there was no sign of the driver neither was their any sound that shows that he was working on the car.

What the hell is going on?

"Can you go check out the driver?" I said to my bodyguard.

" Sure" She replied. 

She opened the door and stepped out too. 

Suddenly I heard a strange noise, it was a cry of someone struggling for breathe.

What could be going on?

I was about to open the door to check what was happening, when the driver door cracked open to reveal Jeffrey.

"You!" I exclaimed with my eye balls almost bugging from their socket.