Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it

Nessa had a preference for being off the ground, and as a result she was curled up on a branch high in a tree. In her hands she held a worn copy of Hamlet, full of dog-eared pages, highlighted passages, and handwriting where she was translating the old English into modern English. Though she appeared engrossed in the play, she was paying attention to everything around her, to be sure that no one would catch her off guard.

Preslea hung from the branch and grinned. "Hi there!" Luckily, she had some vine harnesses. "Oh, Hamlet!" She lowered herself onto the girls branch and smiled.

Nessa had heard the girl's approach -- her sensitive hearing made it difficult to sneak up on her -- and she didn't look up from the play in her hands upon hearing the girl's voice. "What would you like?" she asked. Though her expression showed no reaction or any emotion whatsoever and her voice was, for the most part, monotone, her clenched teeth showed her annoyance.

"Nothing. I just wanted to say hello. I was in the tree too." She nodded and smiled softly. "I'm Preslea, by the way."

"Of course you did." Still she did not raise her attention from her book, nor did she have any intentions to tell the girl her name. It was who Nessa was -- secretive, and also a little paranoid. A name was such a big part of her identity, and she refused to hand it out to just anyone who asked. "You should be careful in the forest, Preslea. I've been told that there are some strange creatures out here."

"Oh, I know. I'm new here...but I've heard some stories." Preslea said softly and brought out her journal.

"I bet you have." Nessa pursed her lips, irritated that the girl had not gotten the hint that she wanted her to go away. Finally she closed her book and laid it on her legs. "You really must be careful, I've heard that they can sneak up on you when you least expect it." For the first time, she turned her attention to Preslea, and blinked. When she opened her eyes, they had taken on a deep, blood red colour, the whites, irises, and pupils all hidden behind the colour.

"Really? Because I think I ca- HOLY sh*t!" She screamed and almost fell out of the tree. "What the hell?!" She backed up and jumped up on another branch.

She smirked and, with a blink of her eyes, she was once again back to normal. "As I said, when you least expect it." That was all she said, she didn't elaborate, only turned away as though nothing had happened.

Preslea and slipped to loose her balance. She grabbed onto a vine and yelled, "NO EXPLANATION WHAT SO EVER? THAT'S LOW!"

Nessa widened her grey eyes in a way that gave her a look of childish innocence. "Explanation for what?" she asked, her tone overly sweet, as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened. She was hoping that, if she said nothing, Preslea would leave.

"THE R-RED EYES!" She yelled as we swung around. "I'm not leaving without one." She climbed back onto the branch and nodded.

"Of course you're not." She rolled her eyes and sighed. Of course it wouldn't be that easy, it never was. "It's not that difficult to understand. I can turn my eyes red."