by T. Z. Leigh
Mantle Of Supremacy
The Skrytosphere Book One
T.Z. Leigh
Copyright © 2021 T.Z. Leigh
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Although, the main characters do share similarities with the four kids the author gave birth to.
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted or utilised in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.
First paperback edition February 2021
First ebook edition February 2021
Book cover and interior design by JohnEdgar.Design
Cover and interior artwork by Chantal van der Hoeven
For my own ‘Sam’, ‘Jamie’, ‘Zachery’ and ‘April’. Without whom, life would be nothing.
For two beautiful nieces who mean the world to me. You may not be my daughters, but I love you as nothing less.
Four descendants of royalty.
A million secrets to unfold.
One year to save the worlds.
Welcome to the Skrytosphere
Chapter One
Jamie
College was a drag. Jamie would often sit outside on the football field and wonder why she had been so desperate to go there in the first place. The thought of attending a boarding school was exciting, like living at university. But on visiting day, the twenty-foot high fence had somehow eluded her, and she felt like kicking the giant cage surrounding the grounds whenever she came near it. Sure, compared to her mother's house in London, attending Hergetson Boarding College near the village of Iver in Buckinghamshire was a new experience. But living in a glorified prison in the middle of nowhere was nothing like what she thought it would be. The reality was depressing as it was surprising because she longed for freedom - wanting to control what she ate, when she slept, what she did - and yet that's not what she got.
There were timings for everything; the students couldn't be out of their rooms too early or too late. There was nothing to do except attend lessons or be bored half to death in their rooms for hours. Unless they knew people who could sidestep the rules like Jamie did. She was part of a small crowd who knew about 'out of bounds' areas or basements where parties happened frequently. To avoid getting caught they just never had one in the same place consecutively. It was never wild, just a gathering where kids could chill and listen to music. Not everyone there was legally allowed to drink, but she didn't care, she had turned eighteen several months before.
That's where she was on Thursday night, with a couple of friends in the old war bunker at the rear of the college grounds. It was her favourite place to party. The music could be played a little louder, and it wasn't as stressful when some idiot decided to drink too much and get a little rowdy. Not that it often happened. The people arranging the parties only allowed select guests. Jamie knew that when her classmate, Billy, had caused a fuss and almost gotten them caught last time, he'd ended up with bruises on his face the next day. She hadn't seen him since and was glad. Billy was always causing more trouble than he was worth. Jamie wasn't someone to cower easily but equally wasn't dumb enough to ruin the only slices of fun found in this hellhole. Keeping her alcohol intake to a minimum suited her just fine, since it allowed her to continue to enjoy these small moments of pleasure.
She suddenly caught Zachery staring at her from across the room and hoped he wouldn't approach her. Being involved with someone terrified her. But she would never admit that. She had spent years hearing endless arguments between her own parents until they finally divorced.
It seemed her luck was out tonight. He was already walking toward her. She knew that guys were drawn to her because of how she differed from the other girls. However, she was sceptical of why a gorgeous guy, who she coincidentally had a huge crush on, would want to speak to her. She wasn't stunning and had a simple face, like a modern 'Mona Lisa.' Her milky white skin was overpowered by her black hair with hot pink streaks, and dark brown eyes that were lined with dark make-up. She was slim but always wore loose clothing, choosing not to show off as much of her body as she could.
"Hey, can I talk to you alone for a second?"
"Why?" Jamie responded, crossing her arms.
"Come on, I just wanna speak to you, that's all."
She stood up and followed him to an emptier part of the room where talking would be a little easier.
"What do you wanna talk about?" she asked, trying to sound as annoyed as possible.
"Well, you're always sitting with your friends. I thought we could talk, get to know each other."
"Look, Zachery, I know you're nice, but I'm not interested in knowing any guy. If I was, I would have a boyfriend already."
Anger flashed in his eyes, "I didn't say to date. I said, get to know each other."
She had entertained him enough and couldn't be bothered anymore. "Well, I'm not interested in that either, so you might as well get lost."
"No wonder you don't have a boyfriend, Jamie! Have fun being lonely."
He turned away, and instead of following him to slap his face, her feet remained glued to the floor. She couldn't pinpoint why, but she definitely wasn't in the mood for a party anymore. A dull pain began to throb on the back of her eyes. She strode back to the table where she was previously sitting, grabbed her handbag and the cigarette packet she had left there, then rushed outside. She needed to get away from people and from the noise.
Outside on her own, she tried to calm herself down. Forget about that idiot, she thought. She lit a cigarette, but instead of calming down, she was getting more and more agitated. She began walking and thinking about what he said to her.
Why can't I get it out of my head…and who the hell is he to swear at me anyway?
Muttering to herself in irritation while imagining the smile he had on his face when approaching her, she found herself walking the wrong way. Instead of sneaking in the back, she came walking up the front steps with the cigarette still in her hand.
"What do you think you're doing, Miss Robb?"
She knew that voice very well. It was the college nighttime security guard, Arron.
"Well, shit," was all she could say, knowing she was in big trouble.
◆◆◆
It was Saturday, the first day of the Easter break and an hour before midnight when Jamie finally arrived home. The peach-coloured walls and flower arrangements on the furniture matched the mahogany flooring perfectly. Usually, this sight comforted her, but today she was in a bad mood. The plans she had made for these two weeks away from her ‘prison’, plans to spend time with the people she loved from her childhood, were now ruined. Since meeting with the headteacher Friday morning to discuss her nighttime smoke, her patience had all but disappeared. She'd been wandering in bitterness for more than a day…now she had come face to face with her mother's warm smile when she entered the sitting room.
"I've been here on my own waiting for you. I thought you were going to come home early so we could have a movie night tonight?" her mother said.
Jamie couldn't be bothered with any small talk, "Well, if you didn't wanna be alone, why did you leave Dad?"
The shock on her mother's face left vibrations of guilt coursing through Jamie's body. She felt uneasy but stood her ground after staring at the opposite wall. When she was younger, it was filled with photos of her father or the three of them together. Now they only showed her and her mother.
&nb
sp; The cryptic voicemail message left by her father the day before he killed himself several years earlier still haunted her. No matter what happens, Jamie, remember that I love you, he had said. Obviously not enough to stay alive, though.
"Jemima, how could you say that?" Jamie could tell her mother wanted to cry, but that didn't stop her from rolling her eyes. Her mother only called her by her full name when she was upset or angry. "Your dad was a selfish man who always only cared about himself."
Jamie kept her mother's gaze, anger heating her from head to toe.
"Well, good! Maybe you deserve someone like that!" she shouted and turned away before tears could flow down her mother's face.
Alone in her room, she lay down on the bed, now feeling grateful that she had to go back to college on Monday. After an array of misdemeanors, it seemed like the headteacher had had enough and placed her on the school's new and pathetic Behaviour Management Scheme. She didn't know if she could face her mother for a while. For now, her mother would have to deal with it. Jamie had her own problems to handle.
Chapter Two
Sam
"Sam, I've signed you up to be a mentor at next week's Behaviour Management Scheme," his coach, Mr Solomon, beamed at him.
Next week? When I finally get to be alone with Eva? "What? I can't, I've got plans. The Easter holidays start this weekend!"
Disappointment was evident on Mr Solomon’s face. "Sam, this will look great on your student CV. If you win the wrestling championship, you'll have that scholarship in the bag, but only with more voluntary work such as this to make you stand out."
Crestfallen, Sam had to admit he was right. "Okay. Sorry Coach, it's just you caught me off guard, you know?"
"Yeah, mate, sorry for the last-minute notice. But hey, can't pass up an opportunity like this if you want to reach the top!" Mr Solomon said brightly, then called out to him as he left the room. "Remember, practice tomorrow after sixth period! You need to be completely prepared for the match on Friday!"
Sam stood there, dreading having to let his girlfriend down.
It was lunchtime when he saw her walking up to him, hips swaying, a slight simper on her face. Man, she looks too good in those skinny jeans!
She had skin that was still tanned from her family's summer holiday to Spain and the silkiest, long brown hair that seemed to shimmer with light as she walked. Her face was nearly perfect and she had the most gorgeous big, hazel eyes he'd ever seen. His heart always skipped a beat when he saw her coming.
A breathy, ”Hey, you!" escaped her lips before planting a quick kiss on his.
Teachers were always roaming the hallways looking for reasons to give detentions, and public displays of affection were not tolerated. They had to be stealthy.
"Hey," he replied tiredly, the tone of his voice reflecting his bad news.
She frowned. "What's up?"
"Eva, I need to talk to you about something."
They moved to an area with more privacy and he could tell by her expression that she was anxious. Maybe because the word around college was that he was headed for high places. He wasn't waiting for anything or anyone.
"Listen. Coach signed me up to be a mentor at college next week. We'll have to cancel our plans."
"Don't even think about it!" Eva snapped. "We've been planning this for so long, Sam! How could you cancel at the last minute?"
"I know, I know. He literally told me this morning, I couldn't say no...it could seal the deal for me getting the scholarship."
She let out a noise between a whine and a sigh.
"I'm gonna have a free house for three days, and now I can't even spend it with you!"
"I'm really sorry." He put his hands on her hips and pulled her close to him, trying to console her. "Look, the week after I do the mentoring, we'll tell our parents we're doing community service in the college for better grades. I'll book a nice hotel room, so we can have time all to ourselves. It'll be more exciting."
Sam didn't like the idea of spending money. He didn't have much, after all. But he didn't want to let Eva slip away. She was too important to him.
"Okay. Just let me know the dates to tell them."
"Sick. I've gotta go. I'll catch you later," he murmured and kissed her roughly.
He walked away but turned back to look at her, giving her a wink and a cheeky smile.
◆◆◆
Sam was expecting a lecture when he got home Friday night. He loved seeing his mother but hated being at home. The cramped two-bedroom flat was suffocating with its beige walls and worn furniture. It was all his mother could afford, being a single parent working as an English teacher in a local school. He'd learned to be grateful for what he had. However, this time, he wasn't happy to see her like he usually was, having ignored her order when she told him not to go to the wrestling match. It was the semi-final, how could he not go? He was glad he did. He made the other guy tap out in the third round.
"Samil Farras, where were you?" his mother asked as soon as he walked through the door. "I told you not to go to that match! You'll never do well for yourself unless you take your education seriously. What do you expect to gain from fighting?"
He ignored his mother, heading to the fridge to get some food and taking it to his room while she ranted to the thin air. It was his small box room that always motivated him. It made him think of his father living in a hut in Bangladesh before coming to live in the UK. Sam never experienced poverty like his father did, but this same thought made him determined to be somebody.
His hair was jet black, cut in the simplest way yet seemed to style itself when water was applied to it, a hint of shaped facial hair accentuating his good looks. He had silken skin that was a middling colour and green eyes that all the girls went crazy over. Even if he didn't become a pro fighter, he could become a model or an actor. He had the looks and the skill. Heck, he could probably get any girl he wanted.
But most importantly, he had charisma. He would stand out from the crowd, be rich and famous. He wanted to do anything but be a nobody.
Chapter Three
April
"Daddy, how can you do this to me?" Frustration punctuated every word coming from April’s mouth. “I can't leave. My whole life is here! I can't keep flying back and forth!"
"April," her father pleaded, "just come with us. I don't want to leave you here on your own. It's not like I can get in touch with your mother and tell her to come and stay with you, can I?"
"Don't bring Mom into this! I'm old enough to look after myself!"
"You are underage, and you're coming. End of story!" he said, a parent's authority ringing in his voice.
She scowled and mimicked his cold response, storming up the marble staircase to her room. It was tempting to smash the smaller items from her limited-edition designer furniture collection against the wall. Seductively sitting right next to her bedroom door and gleaming like pearls, enticing her to vent whatever anger she desperately needed to expel, but she wouldn't. Not again, anyway. The last time that happened, her father took his credit cards away from her, and she had to go a whole week without shopping. It was hell.
Instead, she jumped on her four-poster bed in a move Spiderman would be proud of and punched her cushions. It was satisfying for a second until she slipped off her silk bedding and onto the floor. She lay there for a few minutes, her fists clenched so tight her nails almost left permanent dents in her hands, silently cursing whoever gave the job opportunity to her father in the first place
◆◆◆
April was from Los Angeles. She enjoyed the busy, popular life and was making a name for herself in social media. Her father owned a chain of hotels known as ‘the place to stay' by the rich and famous. They were five-star hotels at five-star prices. Frequented by the rich, coveted by the poor. Her schedule consisted of daily outings to the finest restaurants, high-end shops, and luxury spas Beverly Hills had to offer. She had the top make-up artists and fashion designers at her beck and call. She was waiting for c
onfirmation of her new brand of perfumes to be released the following year. Life was good.
Until it wasn't.
Her father was expanding his business to the UK, and she wasn't allowed a say in moving there. April, her father, and her stepmother Kimberley moved to London. Kimberley was only five years older than her, which April found disgusting. Kimberley was about as fake as someone could get, physically and socially. Her attempts to become close to April only made her hate Kimberley even more, if that was possible. April was sure it was her stepmother's idea to dump her in a boarding college, so she and her husband could spend all their time alone making it easier for her to wrap him tighter around her finger. April could feel her father slipping further and further away as time passed.
◆◆◆
April adjusted to life at Hergetson's as much as she could. It wasn't easy. Her American accent stood out like a sore thumb and her character was too bold for average kids at a local college to deal with. She managed to find a few girls who hung on to her every word to be her friends; that was all she needed, really.
All the guys were amazed by her, which she expected with certainty. Being of mixed heritage, her skin was golden brown, her eyes were sky blue, her hair was the colour of chestnuts, and her body had all the right curves. Girls were blatantly jealous of her hourglass figure. It no longer surprised her when her posts on social media incurred spiteful comments. Still, someone spreading vicious rumours about her was unacceptable. No one embarrassed April Tate and got away with it. Luckily, thanks to her well-informed friends, she knew exactly who to look for. She found her in the canteen and grabbed her arm as she attempted to hurry away.
