Chapter 7

(Monday, September 8, 2015)

I walk up to the sound of the alarm. Dark bags covered my eyes as I was unable to fall asleep. I kept waiting for Dr Doom to burst through the wall like the Kool Aid Man before killing me in some horrendous way. Thankfully this did not come to pass.

I gingerly walked to the bathroom as today was the day I would be going back to school. A part of me wanted to skip today but after the events of last night, I was actually willing to even hang out with Annabeth just to get a shred of normalcy.

I walked into the bathroom and brushed my teeth. And just as I washed my mouth, I noticed my partially damaged hair. I sighed before opening a cabinet and taking a pair of scissors from it. It saddened me to have to cut my hair which I had cared for so much over the years.

I left the bathroom after showering, my hair which used to flow down to my waist now only was a few inches below my nape. I took my bag and had a brisk breakfast before leaving for school.

To my surprise, i found Peter pacing back and forth outside my house. I called out to him and he turned around and faced me before his eyes fell on my hair. I instinctively clutched my shoulders when I felt his gaze. How was I going to explain this? He had known me for years and new just how protective I was of my hair.

To my surprise I saw Peters face momentarily morph into a guilty expression before reverting back to his chipper self in a split second. Alarm bells began ringing on the back of my head as if there was something I was supposed to see but kept overlooking.

"New hair cut?" he asked nervously.

"No. Just had a small accident yesterday" I answered equally nervously.

Thankfully the rest of the walk to school was better as we made small talk. Except for when we encountered the Thompson siblings partway to the school when they were waiting on a traffic light. Annabeth made a taunting gesture which I responded with an eye roll before ignoring her all together.

"Hey Peter. I hear someone call out from behind." Peter and I simultaneously turned around and I saw a cute blonde bespectacled girl waving at us. Or rather Peter actually.

"Oh... hi Gwen" Peter stammered sheepishly. I was momentarily taken aback by his response. I haven't seen him acting like that since when he used to have crush on MJ. I alternated between staring at Peter than at the new girl until it all clicked. I then felt my lips contort into a smile so big that it would make the grinch proud. I glanced teasingly at Peter who was apparently expecting me to do so as he looked at me pleadingly.

"All set for Dr Connor's experiment?" the girl, Gwen asked.

"Yeah." Peter answered seemingly forgetting about his nervousness from just 5 seconds ago. It was a pretty common occurrence for him. While he struggled to strike up a conversation with strangers when in comes to small talk, he excels at it if he were about anything remotely related to science.

"Peter? Aren't you going to introduce us?" I asked him teasingly. Peter then looked at me then back at Gwen before speaking.

"Oh right. Gwen this is my friend Victoria. Vicky this is Gwen Stacy, she and I have been interning under Doctor Connors." he said as me and Gwen looked at one another before moving in for a handshake.

"Nice to meet you Gwen. Are you new? I don't think I have seen around before." I asked as I shook her hand.

"Gwen skipped a few grades. Shes a senior this year. I share Biology with her hence why we know each other." Peter spoke, a little faster than he normally did. Causing the rest of us to chuckle. I then realised something.

"Wait you re working as an intern? I thought you got a the daily bugle." I asked. Peter winced before speaking.

"Yeah but it doesn't hurt to have some extra money for a rainy day. Plus, Connor is a legend in his field. A reference from him is going to do wonders for my job prospects." Peter replied.

I sensed that he wasn't telling me everything but I didn't quite want to call him out on it. Especially in public.

The three of us entered the school, with me lagging behind Peter and Gwen. It was kind of amusing to see Peter talk to someone on the same intellectual level.

Sadly I never got to embarrass him as I had to leave for my Chemistry class. It was one of my advanced placement classes and the teacher, Ms Hernandez had made it clear that tardiness would not be tolerated.

I was greeted by the portly woman when I entered the class.

"Nice to see you finally join us Ms Johnson. I was getting tired of rotating your new lab partner amongst the other students." She said with an irritable expression before pointing at my seat. Only half the students had arrived at the moment and my lab partner didn't seem to be among them.

I set down my bag on my seat before taking out my books as I waited for class to begin. Not soon after that, the remaining students began slowly piling inside. I kept my eye out for my new a little frustrated that I had to tolerate one once more. Being in an advanced placement class meant that I was younger than most of the students here and when it comes to hormonal teens, that is enough to create tension between one another. I was no stranger to trying to belittle me infront of the class. Thus I preferred to work by myself without a partner.

As I casually observed the coming students, trying deduce who my new partner is, I suddenly saw something that made my breath hitch and my heart skip a beat.

Entered a Gorgeous platinum blonde haired Caucasian girl wearing a stylish short sleeved shirt that extenuated her curves, a pair of tight jeans and high heels. I felt my face flush as our eyes met and I felt myself shrink into my seat as I looked away. A part of me hoped that she wasn't my partner as a girl aas pretty as her would most likely attract too much attention making it difficult for our studies. But... still.....

I discreetly spared a glance at her and immediately began panicking as I saw the girl approach my workspace. I tried to appear as non chalant as I could until I heard the chair next to me get pulled back. I pretended to focus on one of the test tubes which turns out to be completely empty much to my embarrassment.

I then felt my body tense as a finger poked my shoulder. I turned around to see a pair of emerald green eyes staring at me.

"Nice to finally meet you partner. Names Felicia Hardy. What's yours?" She asked with a smile yet I detected an undertone of mischief in her voice.

"Victoria." I replied somewhat meekly.

"That's a pretty name." She muttered as she took out her notebook.

Thankfully class started not long after and I found myself relaxing in her presence as we both became embroiled in our work. At least until the end of the class when she wanted to exchange phone numbers which I managed to do so without breaking into squeals of delight. Damn hormones.

The rest of the day was uneventful until lunchtime. This was the first time I'd be having lunch in the cafeteria after summer and according to Peter, the cafeteria has had some impromptu renovations courtesy of the 5 villain attacks that occured over the summer. Thankfully most of the placements of the cliques hadn't changed and I was able to find Peter who sat at somewhat isolated corner of the cafeteria. To my surprise though, he wasn't alone. He was currently chatting with Gwen and based on the notes sprawled around the table, they were talking about their internship.

"The DNA strands would still be incompatible with a human physiology without something to stabilise it." Gwen spoke

"Which is why Dr.Connors wants to test it with a partial strand first before moving on to live test subjects." Peter answered.

"Yes. But the board is unwilling to allocate further funding and we only have enough for a single subject. If it fails, furthers tests wouldn't be possible for at least months unless we find an investor." Gwen sighed.

"Still, Osborn? Is asking him for funding wise?"

"Wait I thought you knew his son. Aren't you friends?" Gwen inquired.

At this point I sat on one of the empty chairs. "We are but Harry has been in England for years and we haven't been able to speak properly for months. And personally, I think Norman's kind of creepy." I interrupted them.

"He seems decent enough. At least as decent as a money hungry CEO could be." Gwen turned to me.

"Yeah you haven't met him. He has this very creepy vibe especially when he talks to Peter."

Peter sputtered his drink. "What?"

I turned to him with a deadpan expression. "You never noticed? Remember how much physical he'd get with you especially when you talk science with him or talk about your recent achievements."

"Oh come on you have got to be exaggerating."

"Maybe. He might just see you as golden goose I mean he has an eye for talent and you are a gifted student who probably has a bright future in science and he wants to be on your good side to try and get you to work for him. So yeah maybe I'm misreading the guy. But still, you have to agree that he's creepy."

Peter opened his mouth to respond while Gwen chuckled only for both of their expressions shift in confusion. I then felt a pair of hands cover my eyes. I then heard a familiar sultry voice whisper.

"Guess who."

I broke down into a stammering mess before managing to speak out her name. "Felicia."

The girl in question took her hands off my eyes before sitting down on the next to me.

"We meet again." she purred before her eyes fell on Peter. "Oh hey Peter." she spoke normally. Which was enough to make the later blush as well.

"You know her" Gwen asked Peter, with an unexpected edge in her voice.

"Yeah. We share some classes. Gwen, this is Felicia. Felicia, this is Gwen." Peter managed to compose himself before introducing the two girls to one another. "And I assume you know Vicky is?" Peter then turned to me with a small smirk.

I had long had a history of teasing the boy anytime he showed an interest in a girl. He had a pretty good list too. Liz Allen, Kamala Khan and Jessica Campbell.

And now he had seen me squirm in the presence of Felicia and I knew that it wouldn't be long before my reckoning arrives.

Sadly, I would have preferred that over what or rather, who actually arrived at the table not long after. When we heard the familiar voice, the entire table with the exception of Gwen scowled slightly before facing the new arrival, Annabeth.

The girl in question, immediately got into Felicia's personal space before going on a tirade which I only partly heard. From what I gather, Annabeth was appalled that Felicia was sitting with us 'losers' and wanted to invite her to sit the her clique. Felicia declined her offer as politely as a person humanely could before turning back to us, ignoring the scandalised look on the blonde girl who eventually huffed and stomped away from the table. But not before sending me an angry glare.

It was clear that she was going to try something again though she probably wouldn't do it today, just after I had come back. From how vindictive she was, she could go on for weeks while holding a grudge.

_________________________________________________

(later that day)

I stood once more, outside the entrance to the Dragons Chamber. I events of last night showed me the difference between a novice mage and a master. My current skills were not up to par with him but I had an equiliser he didn't have. Potions. They had a wide variety of esoteric effects, some even capable of increasing mana capacity, control and even increase my intelligence.

The only problem however was that I neither had the funds nor the materials needed to make even the simplest potion hence why I found myself infront of the Dragons Chamber in the first place. The woman inside was knowledgeable in the arcane arts and its society and had contacts within them. How else would she had been able to get her hands of the ingredients she had needed.

Her voice greeted me as I entered, as if she was awaiting my arrival. She then began staring intently at me before it switched to a look of pity. I felt angry as I saw it, as I wasn't a stranger to people pitying me and I hated it. It was as if they assume that I wouldnt amount to anything simply because I didn't have the same privileges as they did. Perhaps that was why me and Peter got along so well. We were both orphans yet we were given familial love by someone else. Peter has his aunts and uncle and I had the mother superior. Or rather I had mother superior.

I made dismissive gesture to the woman. "Please stop. I do not like being pitied. What I would like is your help." I then dug my hand into my bag. I pondered about whether I was doing the right thing one more time until I remembered Dr Doom's face, and I steeled my resolve before taking 'it' out.

It has been years since anyone other than me had laid eyes on that book and that someone happend to be a person I didnt even know the name of. I saw the womans eyes widen in recognition before being replaced with a forlorn look. With shaking hands, she took the book from my hand before gently caressing the cover. Her actions somewhat confirmed my suspicions. She had some sort of connection to this book.

"Do you know what this is?" I asked.

The woman clutched the book close to her chest, as if worried that someone was going to snatch it at any moment.

"Yes. I knew the author. In fact, I helped him create this grimoire." she replied, her eyes never once, leaving the book.

"I am pretty sure he called it an grimoire." I asked confused. And the woman chuckled in response.

"Yes. He originally wanted to record his progression in the in the arcane arts but later simply wanted to turn it to a grimore. Knowing him, he probably never bothered to change the title."

"What was he like?" I asked.

"He was a peculiar man, unlike anyone I had seen before or ever since. He wasn't overly handsome yet they was always something that drove people to him. Alas he never had any passion for anything other than knowledge and as a result, left many broken hearts in his travels. Still he was a good friend. And a caring man." she went on before stopping, letting silence envelop the shop once more.

I let out a deep sigh before beginning talk. "Look. Last night made me realise just how far I have yet to go. Who knows how many people like Doom actually exists in the world. If he or someone else comes after me, I cannot guarantee that some one would actually be there to rescue me everytime. And frankly, I don't ever want to experience the helplessness I felt last night. You said it yourself. You knew Dr Hampton. Is there anyway that you can help me master this book?" I pleaded.

The woman looked at me then at the book. I was filled with elation when she looked back at me before nodding. She then stood up before walking to the store entrance then locking the door and twirling the sign.

" Follow me. " she said as she walked into the back of the store. I followed her just a few paces behind as she led me through a store room, a kitchen then finally into what looks like a study. She placed the book on a table then motioned for me to sit just as a chair materialised out of thin air. Then she took an adjacent seat before passing the book to me.

"You are bound to the book by blood. It will only reveal its secrets only in your hands." was all she said before I opened the book.

"Have you solved the rune on the spine of the book yet." she asked. I shook my head before answering.

"I still cannot seem to grasp dispelling yet."

"Show me." she said and i immediately took an empty page from a nearby notebook before placing the levitation rune on it. I then attempted to dispel it.

"Wait do you know what the 'gift' is?" I ask the woman. Who nodded with a smirk.

"Well, what is it?" I asked.

"Now that's a surprise" the woman smiled smugly.

Around the 5 minute mark, I failed. I turned to the woman to see her watching my actions closely.

"I see what you are doing wrong." she muttered and I paid attention to her, awaiting her answer.

"Dispelling is similar to solving a maze only, insread of finding the shortest route you must cover most of the rune with your mana before absorbing it it. Try it again." she said.

I had mostly been trying to directing the mana to the core of the rune so her words were unfamiliar to me. The grimoire itself said to direct my mana the core. It didn't mention that I would need to do anything else. Still I took her word for it and began dispelling once more. Hopefully with her help, I wouldn't never feel helpless ever again.

So I finally chose a weapon for MC.