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My shoulders fell, the straps of my backpack digging in as I leaned my burden against the driver’s side door and extracted brass skeleton key for my apartment from my pocket, looping its leather cord over my pinky. I wasn’t about to make the mistake of slogging his damn returns across campus only to be unable to unlock my lodgings.

I blew out an exasperated breath and glanced longing at Jeepie, admiring her plum paint and already wishing I was still in there with the AC as I trudged across the grass. Ignoring the perspiration gathering on my spine, I noted the stillness permeating the quad, the surrounding academic and administrative buildings. My gaze caught on the spires adorning a set of three adjacent dorms, flying buttresses arching the short distance between the stone buildings and weaving their architecture together seamlessly.

I smiled, fingers itching to sketch my surroundings until they ached. Some might find the absence of humanity jarring, but what better way was there to marvel at such Gothic ingenuity free from disruption?

I knew the majority of college students don't enroll in summer courses, especially with the ability to earn credits online. At least they didn’t when I earned my Bachelor of Architecture degree and subsequent first of three years required for my master’s degree at my prior university. I had no doubt Eldritch University was the same.

“Gah!” I hissed as a drop of sweat fell into my eye, calling attention to how the sun beat down my shoulders and my biceps strained under their burden.

Just a few more minutes, body. It’s far too early and muggy out for this shit.

The skeleton key hung heavily from my pinky, its jostling a constant reminder to its presence as I finally spotted the library and quickened my steps and blocking the sensation of my shorts and tank-top sticking to my skin. I rounded the stone building and hurried for the set of three stairs built below ground level and leading to a wooden door, exhaling in relief as the small arched roof stretching over the apartment entrance shielded me from the early rays.

I pinned the stack between myself and the building, books thudding against the masonry, then freed my hand containing the key. I jolted and my heart palpitated as the brass of the skeleton key connected with my palm, causing me to instinctively clench my fingers around it.

My vision swam and sounds muffled around me as if my ears were stuffed with cotton. I threw out a hand toward the wooden door, attempting to reorient myself, nails scratching against the filigree border engraved near the handle. I opened my eyes and stared at the stone steps until my vision returned normal, then inserted the key into the lock, and opened the door. Inhaling deeply, I used my thigh to hoist the books back into my arms and staggered over the threshold.

I chuckled mirthlessly as my glasses immediately fogged up, but grateful for the extreme difference in temperature all the same. I stretched my arms over my head, lacing my fingers together and thoroughly enjoying the stretch of my abused muscles.

CHAPTER 2

Life Lessons Through Dreams

MIKO

Taking in the room around me, the barest of smiles curled my lips. It's as if the space was decorated to my exact taste: cozy comfort meets Gothic finery. I kicked off my shoes and wandered over to the thermostat, listening to the soft click of the button as I lowered the air conditioning to sixty-seven degrees Fahrenheit.

I admired the wingback chair tucked under an antique roll-top desk, crouching as I spotted the modern modification of wheels fixed to the underside. Clever. My interest thoroughly peaked, I turned to the opposite side of the room and the oversized black leather couch. Pops of bright color amid a field of black rectangles snagged my attention, luring my eyes to the dark emerald accent wall behind the couch decorated with intricate frames displaying cute, Gothic cross stitch art. Like a moth entranced by a mysterious glow, I found myself picking up an unfinished piece from the arm rest secured within a bamboo embroidery hoop, a threaded needle dangling from a string of neon pink floss.

Is there a Goddess of Dark Cottage Core I haven’t heard of?

A laugh bubbled up my throat. “Is that a damn Furby?” I wondered, staring at an unfinished pattern, complete with a wrinkled printout of the pattern stamped with Witchy Stitchery. My eyes darted from the tiny stitches forming miniature horns to the unmistakable, unblinking eyes from my youth within a classic tarot card border.

What I wouldn’t give to sit down for just a few minutes.

The furniture practically begged me to curl up under a soft blanket and read until my eyes burned in my skull. Nevertheless, I resisted the urge, knowing that once I sat down, I wasn’t getting back up anytime soon. I also wanted to explore my accommodations further before I headed over to the library.

I meandered through the living room and into the hallway leading to the left, glancing at the small but sufficient kitchen on my way past, noting the miniature island with two stools facing the stove. My footsteps made no noise as I relished the softness of the lush dove gray carpet beneath my bare feet and trailed my fingers across the wallpaper. Slowing my steps, curiosity overtook me as the normal smooth paper-like feel transitioned, a new texture greeting my fingertips. My eyes narrowed on the pattern, tracing the creative use of velvet to depict leaves and curling designs.

Damn, this place is much finer than any college student could ever afford. It's like, somehow, they squeezed an 1800s Victorian home into a one-bedroom apartment. I scoffed. I wasn’t complaining. My lips twitched into a smile with my next thought. The reality was that I got to live here for free.

There's never been a time in my recent memory that I didn't dread checking the mail and finding my next rent bill.

I shook my head and continued moving down the short corridor, entering the only room at the end of the hall. My fingers curled around the knob, and I nudged the door open with my foot, a new scent tickling my nose. Mmm, cardamom and vanilla cake. I closed my eyes and inhaled, my lips parting as light arousal swirled in my core. Opening my eyes, I shook off the strange reaction, absently rubbing my collarbone and poking my head into a smaller room connected to this one.

I patted my hand along the wall until I found the switch and light exposed the bathroom.

“Holy shit. This place is incredible,” I laughed. Moving further into the room, I peeked in the cabinets and took in the plants of all sizes perched on every available space. My eyes latched onto the tub and a rare grin curved up the corners of my lips. No, this was not just any bathtub, but a huge cast-iron one with shower curtains hanging from the ceiling surrounding it.

Plans for the bath supplies I'll need to purchase peppered my thoughts. Tugging my backpack down from my shoulder, I extracted my journal and added a new section for the day.

Things to Buy for Apartment

bubble bath

bath salts

more candles