by Kendal Davis
As I spoke, I looked even more closely at her. She was surely the same woman that I’d met in the forest. She had the same long, silver hair, the same perfect features. If they were two different women, they were so identical as to be twins.
The woman clasped her hands together, somehow managing to look both patient and irritated. “Yes. That is what I said. There are many of us that make up the Sisterhood.” Seeing my confusion, she relented slightly, sounding more like a teacher. “Did nobody prepare you for Fae Academy at all? It is strange, for the entire school knows who you are, and what to expect from you.”
“How can that be, when I don’t know either of those things myself?”
“Ah, you may not, but we all do.” She cast her sharp eyes over me, apparently noting every flaw I possessed. “This school is run by the Sisterhood. We are a family of venerable lineage. Our sole purpose is to educate the fae.”
I let out my breath. “Oh, that makes sense! That you are actually related, I mean. I’ve never seen two sisters look so much alike, but at least I can understand it now.” I remembered what Lustre had said. “I thought that the term ‘Sisters’ meant you were nuns.”
“You understand nothing, young one. That should be the first thing you learn.” The woman ushered me from the front hall into what looked like her office. It had the same eternal smoothness as the entrance hall, the same crystal glow. There were only a few pieces of furniture, and they only slightly approximated typical office pieces, but I could figure it out. This was where she took new students, to get them set up at the school.
Fine.
I’d seen this a thousand times, back in my own small town school. The parents brought their darling into the office on the first day, filled out a lot of papers, then left. They walked away and left us, the school, with the tantrums and foibles of their offspring.
I took the seat that Auris gestured to. It was unlike anything resembling a chair in my world, but it was somehow the most comfortable place I’d ever sat. I fought the sense of inertia that crept over me as I sank into fae furniture.
“I don’t have any identification or paperwork,” I apologized bluntly. “I think that Amaris said something about the Golden Council...”
“Of course she did. The Sisterhood does the work of the Council with every fae we educate.”
Some insane urge to crack a joke made me speak again. “So you work for the Sisterhood, and Amaris leads the Council? Sounds like your sister is your boss. What’s that like?” I meant it to be nothing but a silly pleasantry, but the words had an incendiary effect on Auris.
She glared at me, anger shining from her eyes. “I am not the servant of Amaris! You could not be more wrong. We in the Sisterhood are born in the same image, and we live according to such equality as well. There is not one of us that is above the other, no matter what Amaris may believe.”
I rose from my seat. If I hadn’t, I would have slipped into hazy sleep, no matter how many people here wanted to argue with me. I hesitated, torn between apologizing and doubling down. What did it matter to me whether this woman got along with her sister? At least she had one, which was more than I did. No, wait. She hadn’t sounded like she was talking about only one sister.
Slowly, I asked. “How many are in the Sisterhood?”
She had never taken a seat. Now that I was standing again, she walked closer to me. Glided, more like. Her dainty features were dignified and closed. “There are many. We educate the fae.” With that, she turned, expecting me to follow her.
“Yeah, thanks. Got it.” I murmured under my breath. She was not a woman for questions, clearly. And she obviously wasn’t interested in what I thought.
In the next hour of showing me through the castle, Auris never once mentioned any paperwork or identification. Nor did she refer to any fees or payment plans. Whatever I was doing here, it didn’t look like it was going to cost me anything.
If only I’d known.
At the end of our tour, I was no longer a charity case orphan of little means and fewer friends. Well, I was still all of those things, but now I was doing it here, in a luxurious setting. In a sparkling palace in the land of the fairies. I now had a swanky single bedroom with a massive bed and a plush carpet so thick that it was like walking on air. I had a wardrobe of gorgeous fae dresses, each more delicate and beautiful than the last.
When I asked about books, Auris shook her head. “We do not learn that way here, All our lessons are practical ones.” she answered. “We are not even sure we can help you with your Voice. Not when you have neglected it for so long. You will have to prove to us that you truly want to learn.” I almost thought I detected a real dislike behind her stern smile, but that couldn’t be right. They didn’t even know me here. I’d have to give her time to get to know me.
Then she’d probably hate me. It was that kind of school.
Ok. I had to find my backbone. What had always worked for me back at Montview? I had to keep my head down and mind my own business.
“I can’t wait to start classes.” I couldn’t hide the pleasure in my voice. “I’ve wanted for so long to learn more about my music. This is all so new to me, but I’m really glad I’m here.”
She narrowed her eyes at me, summing me up. Then with a fluid motion of her slender hand, she dismissed me. She was ready for me to leave her office.
It wasn’t the most congenial meeting I’d ever had, but I’d take it. I was here at fairy school. No, that sounded stupid, even in my head.
Whatever these fae were, they were not dainty fairy tales. They were real. The physical attraction I felt for the three princes was undoubtedly real.
I stepped out into the hallway, doing my best to remember everything Auris had just told me. In the alcove before the castle doors, a man waited for me. I almost tripped over his shin as I moved forward, deep in thought.
“Not looking where you are going?” The sardonic baritone belonged to Prince Frost. I’d have known it anywhere. When I saw him, my heart skipped a beat. It was only a brief time since he’d left me at the gates of the school, but I felt as if I had been pining for him. He was the only one who here had known me in my other life.
Prince Frost was leaning against the wall, his foot extended as if for the express purpose of stopping me. Tripping me. As I drew my eyes up his muscular thighs, I felt a heat tingle through me. Why would I even want to think about how it would feel to touch him? To kiss him as I’d just done with Prince Lustre? He might be good-looking, but he had been awful to me.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to bump into you,” I didn’t manage a smile, but at least I made eye contact with him. His beautiful blue eyes were as clear as a mountain lake. The bright color set off the shade of his perfect, full lips. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe at all. Then I tore my gaze from his and shook my head to clear it. “Nope. I don’t have time to stand here and flirt with you. Not after how rude you were earlier.”
I would have pushed past him, but all at once, he stood directly in front of me. While he’d been languid in his pose against the wall a moment ago, now he was full of pent-up energy. His muscular body was hard against me. I could feel the power latent in his bicep as he slipped his hand around my waist, drawing me against his hips.
“Wait a second here.” I struggled against him. “Did you hear what I just said? There’s no way that I’m letting myself fall for this. You princes are trying to get my attention for all the wrong reasons.”
He dropped his hands from me the moment I asked. His tone was mild. “Reasons? What do you mean? In the land of the fae, we allow ourselves these pleasures.”
“I’m sure you do. You seem very confident about it.” I missed his touch already. My hands slid out of their own accord to rest on his forearms. Obligingly, he put his arms around me again.
“Well, I am Prince Frost.” He moved his body against mine, making me gasp. “We all knew that you would feel this attraction. You are destined to be with the three Princes of the Realm. It is the natural
order of things.”
“Very charming,” I answered acidly. “You think a lot of yourself. But I want to let you know that I’m not going to let that happen. I have to watch my step here. You have to understand, coming to this school is the best thing that ever happened to me. I can’t afford to mess it up.”
He smiled, showing perfect teeth. I knew I shouldn’t let myself feel it, but a warmth spread through every inch of me as I watched him. I couldn’t take my eyes from him, although I knew I should. Instead, I ran my hand up his arm, caressing him in a crazy impulse. Watching his mouth consumed every ounce of my attention.
His smile grew even wider, though it conveyed no kindness. “You will find out soon enough that you can’t resist us. We will enjoy welcoming you to the land of the fae.” With that, he slowly leaned down to kiss me. I thought he would press his lips against mine with passion. I could hardly breathe, thinking of how much I wanted that. But instead, he bent his head slowly, lingering with his hot warmth on my ear. As he did so, his hands on my hips held me tight against him, allowing me to feel plainly the stiffness of his cock.
When he dropped a light kiss on my neck, I knew he had given me the message he’d intended. He let his hands slide away, then walked away with one sardonic glance back at me.
His meaning was clear. He was in charge. Not just of the social order here at Fae Academy. He’d given me that message already. No, this was different.
Prince Frost wanted to let me know that, for whatever reason, he could make me pant with wanting him. I wanted to feel his arms around me, his hands exploring everywhere on me. And strange though it was, I welcomed the feelings.
I was no longer in the land of my birth, but I felt more alive than I’d ever been.
Chapter 10: Varic
In the first few days after Arabella came to Fae Academy, we quickly became accustomed to her failures in class. She was a genuine disaster, as the Council’s critics had predicted she would be. Most of the students hated Arabella outright because she cost everybody so much learning time.
After a week’s time, she was universally despised, a pariah. No fae would willingly go near her. It wasn’t just that she was so awkward, and a mortal. It was that her magic felt tainted and ugly to all of us.
We princes, of course, loathed Arabella for our own reasons. She would never be anything but an unnatural creature. Her existence was a constant reminder to us of what had happened to our king. When the Darkness had engulfed King Regis, the Golden Council had chosen her. They sought to keep the forces of nature at bay, so that the land of the fae might survive.
Now it seemed more hopeless than ever. The cause of the elemental imbalances was right here, under our noses. Arabella was a freak. She was a human whom the Council had gifted fae powers.
Naturally, her musical abilities were appalling.
Inside our classrooms, any song took on the qualities of the crystalline structure of the school. We used our music to tune our fae magic. It needed to be clean and pure for our abilities to thrive. But Arabella was the exception. Her efforts made us all cringe. They were dark and curdling. Every student groaned at the terrible sounds she made.
At this moment, she had eleven of us trapped in a classroom with the sound of her voice. She could not channel any magic through such noises. If she could not even learn the elementary sounds that we were reviewing, how could she ever reach her potential? The prophecy told us that her Voice would be what we needed. But right now, every fae listening to her was on the verge of teleporting from the room in disgust.
The silver-haired woman of the Sisterhood shook her head sorrowfully at the new girl’s musical efforts. “Arabella,” she intoned. “It is because you have killed. That is why you have the Voice of a corpse.”
The classroom erupted in titters.
I watched Arabella closely.
Would she finally cave to the mortification she must be feeling? Would she cry?
I sometimes wondered what it might be like for this human woman to have come to a school where we all jeered openly at her. It had crossed my mind to think that perhaps we should feel sorry for her.
If any fae student had a block in her talents like that, we would be supportive and kind. It was unusual, but even fae sometimes had difficulty coming into their powers. Anybody as delayed as Arabella would be considered outrageously feeble.
I’d been happy to work as hard as the others to make her despise it here. We worked constantly to make her desperately unhappy, yet not so much that she would leave. That was my mission. But right now, looking at her made me think that maybe we were being too harsh.
She didn’t give in to defeat by putting her head down or avoiding our eyes. Instead, she faced down every student who scoffed at her, then turned back to the teacher.
“I’m sorry,” she said politely to the Sisterhood woman. When the teacher raised an eyebrow at her lapse in etiquette, she did not flinch.
The woman with the silver hair shook her head. “You may address me by name if you choose to speak.” She raised one eyebrow. “I am Alaris, you impudent girl.”
“I beg your pardon, Alaris. I’m afraid that I still have trouble telling the fae of the Sisterhood apart.” She still held her ground. Arabella had grit, I’d give her that.
The tall, slender fae woman stood in front of the class, addressing us rather than Arabella. “It is difficult to believe that any student could be unable to distinguish her own teachers, but we must accept the limitations of mortals. I see it as my duty to instruct you. This shows my generosity of spirit.”
I raised my hand to speak, then stood. “Alaris, may I offer another perspective on that?” As an earth fae, I was known for balancing.
“Of course, Prince Varic,” she simpered.
“I was just wondering if we are underestimating how much change Arabella has gone through.” As I defended her, I saw the light of a question in her eyes. Would she allow herself to trust me? I still wasn’t sure which way I was going on this myself.
I went on, speaking to the class now. “Maybe she needs more time to get used to the way we do things here. Like the way we all know our teachers so well, but she can’t even tell them apart. Maybe she doesn’t realize that they are biologically identical, but that they each have their own fae magic?” I was taunting her now.
Then I stopped, considering what to say. Resolve to continue hating her grew within me. “No, that’s not it. It’s not a question of how long she’s been here. It’s that she simply has no talent. No ability at all. If this creature had fae magic, then she could feel it in others. She wouldn’t make so many stupid mistakes.” As I heard myself, I understood that I would not be buckling under my urge to help her.
I had to keep despising her.
Even if she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. Even if being in the same room with her made me want to take her into my arms and kiss every inch of her.
The only fae woman of our clique, Lara, stood up to answer. She tossed her head as she looked at Arabella. Her long, blonde hair was pretty, but I realized that I’d never wanted to look twice at her. I’d never seen anyone who riveted my gaze like Arabella.
“You’re right, Varic. Really, how could anybody be so ignorant of the ways of the fae?” She was parroting me.
“Seriously? Nobody in my world has ever heard of this place,” Arabella shot back.
I cleared my throat. “Of course that’s not true. All worlds know of the fae. Everyone knows that mortals are constantly trying to enter our land. That is why our Council has the Judge, to discern whether they should be allowed in.”
Arabella shook her head. “You really think that people want to come here? Nobody in my world would want this.” She gestured with her chin. Her temper was wearing thin.
“You are wrong,” I said. “Look around you. You are in a beautiful place, with the opportunity to attend the best possible school. Even if you are a charity case.” I wrinkled my nose as if I could smell her lack of social sta
nding.
“But who would willingly subject themselves to how rude you all are? Sure, you’re beautiful,” she added absently, running her eyes over me. Then she straightened her shoulders. “But you’re all so unpleasant. Nobody will help me with anything. Even the teachers.” She glared at Alaris. “Especially the teachers. I didn’t think I’d have to work so hard just to show you that I want to learn.”
The Sister looked nonplussed.
Lara spoke up again, eager to cause trouble. She was not privy to all the Council information that we princes were, but she knew we hated Arabella, and that she should as well. She was a follower.
“Arabella, you should just go home. Go back to your own world.” Lara checked in sideways with me to see if I appreciated her support.
But I didn’t. That was the last thing I wanted to hear. Somehow, I had to stop what I’d started. Arabella wasn’t supposed to go home. She was supposed to stay here until she had fulfilled her part.
I snarled at Lara. “Shut up. You don’t know anything.”
She started backwards at my abrupt correction. For a moment, it looked like she might argue with me, but she subsided.
Arabella, though, did not. “Prince Varic, you don’t have to yell at her.” She tilted her head thoughtfully. “Actually, Lara is brilliant. She put her finger on the thing that is preventing me from doing well here. It’s like she said, nothing more than a matter of ignorance.”
The class quieted now, uncertain what to make of this mortal who was willing to side with a fae.
“I make so many mistakes here because I don’t know your traditions,” Arabella said. “Ignorance. That’s all. Lara’s absolutely right.” She held out her hands in a pacifying gesture.
Her amiability confused me. Our mission was to make her angry. It looked like we were still far off the mark.
Lara was torn between standing with the rest of us against Arabella, or giving in to the temptation to accept praise. Her own self-interest won.
