4
With everything that had happened, there was no way I could sleep. I stepped in front of the mirror and twirled this and that way for probably an hour, studying my gossamer, lilac-and-white wings that were huge, yet as light as feathers.
When I finally managed to tear myself away from my reflection, I studied my new home. The clay walls and the wooden floor added charm all by themselves, and I had an open window with flower pots hanging just outside. The piano carried a beautiful tune that reverberated through the room. My bookshelves were loaded with tomes about fae history that would likely take a lifetime to read. As the sun set, I considered reading at least one chapter, but ended up collapsing onto my bed, which was so soft it felt like a cloud.
My eyelids fluttered shut as my body relaxed. A knock on the door roused me seemingly seconds later, but the glass ceiling showed me the sun was already rising into the sky. I had slept all night.
“Vergeat Everston. The admissions office must see you at once,” a male fae spoke on the other side of my door.
Admissions office? What a mundane name that didn’t fit at all with this amazing place.
“One moment, please. I need to get dressed.” I swung my legs out of bed.
“Be quick. We have been processing a lot of students lately,” he said curtly.
A lot of students? Had Caleb brought the rescued fae from Nocturnal Academy here? That made sense, I supposed. They didn’t really have anywhere else to go. Also, while working at Steinberg’s, I’d overheard that the vampires had been searching for the academy’s fae for weeks and hadn’t turned up a trace.
I opened my closet, which was filled with no uniform but plenty of beautiful dresses that were modest, yet sensual. I chose a weightless lilac creation that hit the floor and complimented my exquisite wings, which I’m ashamed to admit I admired for at least a good minute in the mirror.
“Miss Everston?” came the fae’s voice again, and I hurried to the door. Did I really have the ability to warp and control minds as Caleb had claimed? I guessed I was about to find out. Was that why I had been able to convince Steinberg’s sister to leave me alone? Why none of Steinberg’s guests had ever drank from me, even though I had often found them gazing longingly at my neck?
I opened the door, my heart thudding with nerves. A fae soldier, a youngish man with dark skin, stood there. He had a quiver on his back, and his uniform consisted of brown pants, a green shirt, and leather armor. His wings were a bronze, translucent masterpiece.
“Follow me, please,” he instructed, all businesslike.
I did as he said, and we walked down the balcony of my floor, the third floor. Other doors opened and closed around us, and fae students, male and female, all in similar armor, stared at me in my dress as we progressed to where the tree grew. All but a few had either earth-colored or green-colored wings. Apparently, purple wasn’t a common color. Fae students stood on the tree steps two or three at a time, which rotated with the tree to take them to the main floor. I didn’t recognize anyone so far, which made sense since it had been the class after mine at Nocturnal Academy that had been rescued.
Jealousy burned for a moment as I swallowed hard. Had Caleb struck a year earlier, I might not have endured—
The guard and I got in line, waiting for our turn on the tree staircase. I glanced nervously from his warrior clothes to my impractical dress. “Is this okay?” I motioned at my dress.
“Of course.” He gave me a smile, dimples forming. “Admissions would not have provided you with anything that was unacceptable.”
Our trip down the tree went quickly. Other warriors in training left through various doorways on the bottom floor. Some, I assumed, were heading outside to learn to handle weapons. Others ducked into what appeared to be classrooms. We, however, walked back toward the front of the building and the doorway Nerissa had emerged from the day before.
Beyond the doorway was an office, decorated similarly to my apartment. Beautiful, almost overdone flowers hung from the border of the ceiling. Vines had grown up the walls, turning them green with only the highlights of the sandy wood showing through, and a long, open window looked out on the front grounds and the stockades that kept us in. The row of desks in the room seemed to have grown out of the floor and out of dirt beds. The plants here reminded me of those I’d seen Peony create back at Nocturnal Academy—
Because they were.
I froze a few steps into the long room. Peony herself sat at the closest desk, blond curls perfect as always, and she was writing something on a long piece of parchment paper with a quill. Caleb stood beside her. In the fae realm, she had greenish-white, translucent wings. As I stopped, my former friend made eye contact with me.
We stared at each other for what felt like an eternity as my escort left the room, shutting the door firmly. My pulse hammered in my ears as memories of my time at Nocturnal Academy flooded me.
Kayden and Kassius, the cruelest vampire twins at Nocturnal Academy, had been clear with the rules on the night of the Wild Hunt: Don’t be the last one to reach the top of the vampire tower and you shall live.
The last fae up would die in an awful and excruciating way. It was tradition.
I could survive. All I had to do was convince the vampire students to let me pass. They asked for pieces of clothing or a bit of blood. Which was fine. I could give them what they wanted. Let them tar and feather me. I would live to see the next day. All I had to do was play by the rules.
I climbed the red-carpeted stairs. I was almost at the top of the tower when a vampire student stepped out of the shadows. I stripped off my skirt and handed it to him as my ticket to pass.
Instead of taking it, he grabbed my arms. “You’re coming with me.”
“But—” I was not the last to reach the top. These were not the rules.
“Shut up.” The vamp seized my skirt and put iron cuffs around my wrists. Then he threw me into an empty dorm, taking a seat at a desk next to mine.
Heavy darkness settled into my chest. I was the sacrifice. The rules were a lie. They had chosen me. They knew I wanted autonomy and that made me dangerous.
No matter how much I pleaded or cried, my captor remained indifferent to my protests. Eternity passed. All the other fae must’ve reached the vampire tower by now. Certainly, they couldn’t kill me. My contract would fetch a high price. Headmistress Cardinal wouldn’t allow it.
Finally, the door flung open and in stepped Kassius and Kayden, grinning ear to ear and flashing their fangs. I sat up, hoping the twins were my salvation. “Kassius, Kayden. I’m so glad you’re here. This vampire captured me.”
“Jerry, leave us alone,” Kayden drawled.
I felt relief, but also rising panic as the door shut behind Jerry. Something wasn’t right.
Kassius tore my shirt open with a savage grin, sending buttons flying.
Okay, so he was in a frisky mood. I could deal with that. “Why don’t you remove my handcuffs, so that I can show you what I can do with my hands?” I purred. Kayden and Kassius were easy to trick. Yet, tonight they ignored me.
Kayden advanced with a pocketknife. My breath hitched, and fear exploded within me. The twins hadn’t come to rescue me. Kayden cut through the front of my bra, then the straps, so that the material fell down to the floor, exposing my breasts. Kassius grabbed my shoulders and heaved me off the chair.
Panic weakened my knees. They weren’t taking their time. This wasn’t about sex.
I opened my mouth, but Kassius backhanded me so hard, blood exploded in my mouth, and my ears rang. Tears shot into my eyes.
“You’ve done enough talking,” he hissed. The brothers removed my iron cuffs and pocketed them. Then, each grabbed one of my arms and dragged me out of the dorm and up the staircase.
I was to be their sacrifice. They were in on this. They might’ve even been the ones to choose me. But why?
“Please,” I croaked, and immediately another blow followed to my face. I whimpered and remained silent unt
il we reached the top of the staircase where the fae huddled, their clothes torn, their bodies covered in feathers, tar, cuts, and bruises. The vampires were spread out, standing tall, their appearance immaculate. They grinned and cheered, their red irises shining with insatiable hunger.
Kassius grabbed my long hair and jerked my head back. I couldn’t stop the guttural scream erupting from my throat, even though I knew that my fear and pain was an aphrodisiac to the vampires. I tried desperately to come up with a plan, but my mind went blank. I was frozen with terror. The chosen victim of the Wild Hunt had never been pardoned. Not once.
“This one will be a lesson for all of you.” Kassius’s grip drilled into my flesh, bruising me. He jerked me toward him, and another pathetic whimper escaped me. I searched the crowd for a face that might help me. I knew Peony was selfish, but against better judgment I hoped that being part of her popular clique might do something, even if she wasn’t a real friend. But her hazel eyes were devoid of emotion. Her rigid posture told me she wouldn’t do anything, that all of this was my fault.
Kayden paced up and down the room. “You see, we made a handsome contract for this slut.” He jabbed his finger into my sternum. “Daddy was going to gift her to us for our nineteenth birthday.” He gripped my chin hard enough I feared my jaw would break. “But this ungrateful skank had the audacity to go above our heads and talk to our dad, trying to make a deal with him.”
Yes. I had. I’d told him that I had organizing skills. That I was better off running a brothel and bringing him in some extra money. My teeth chattered as an earthquake worked through my body. So this was what all of this was about. It was personal. I had hurt their pride. They wouldn’t just kill me. They’d put me through hell first.
The twins said a few other things, but I didn’t catch them. It was only when Kayden yelled, “Virgie will be punished for her audacity and insubordination!” with his hand digging into the soft flesh of my breast that I snapped back to reality. Once again, I glanced toward Peony, then Kristen, then Mei. They remained still. None of them would help me.
Kassius ran his finger down my throat, slow and calculating. “To imprint on her once and for all what her place in our society is, we invite every male and female vamp—” he winked at Mei, “—to punish or have their way with her before we all drain her dry!”
The hollering of the other vampires was deafening.
Please, let me pass out. Please, if anyone is listening, let me go numb and not feel a thing.
“I understand you already know Peony, Vergeat?” Nerissa’s voice washed over me, dragging me out of my horrible past and back to the present.
I managed a nod as my body shook and I desperately tried to regain my composure. My gaze bore into Peony. Not only had the blonde fae refused to help me, she had also blamed me later when Gregory Vulthus, one of the most vicious vampires, had cornered me and felt me up right in Steinberg’s mansion. As if I had a choice in dressing like a courtesan.
“I see you’re doing quite well for yourself, Peony,” I pressed through gritted teeth. Her eyes weren’t her only catlike feature. She always landed on her feet. Last time I heard she’d been thrown into Nocturnal Reformatory, and now, she was in the faeland, probably occupying a role way above me. Some things never changed.
Or did they, because Peony rose and took a step toward me. “I couldn’t believe it when Caleb told me he brought you here yesterday. But he really did. You’re here.” Her eyes widened rather than narrowed.
I blinked in confusion, but then crossed my arms. Peony was probably nice because Nerissa was here. Caleb must’ve blabbed about my heritage. “Sad you’re not the only earthbound fae here?” I challenged.
“Look. I know I was a bitch to you, but I was trying to protect you in the only way I knew how.” Peony’s hands trembled by her sides. “I went about it the wrong way. Back in Nocturnal Academy, the only way to survive was to be as useful as possible. I didn’t know you’d be allowed here, and you seemed happy with Steinberg.”
I hated that Peony had been my umbrella during my stint at the academy. More anger roared in my ears, but a glance at Nerissa who was now frowning, told me that fighting wouldn’t earn me any favors. “The past is the past.” It seemed that Peony had gained Caleb’s favor and was probably running admissions with him, which meant I had to get over my feelings and play nice. I focused on Nerissa and breathed out my rage. Peony hadn’t been the one to rescue me from the Wild Hunt.
Onyx had.
“I’m assuming you wanted to see me to discuss my timetable.” I gave Nerissa the most pleasant smile I could muster.
Nerissa nodded. “Your training starts today. Peony will show you the way and bring you to Kristen, another former classmate of yours I understand.”
“Yes.” I forced the smile to remain on my lips. Kristen had taken my position at Peony’s side due to her connection to the rich Wu vampire family. Of course, she too would be here. Apparently, I could go to a different dimension, but the past would always catch up with me.
Nerissa motioned at Peony. “Please show Vergeat to the gym.”
Peony opened the door and walked in front of me. She stepped onto a broad staircase at the edge of the main hall that disappeared downstairs instead of upstairs. We didn’t speak as the staircase moved. Just because I had to play nice in public didn’t mean I had to actually be friends with Peony, no matter what her position was here. We already had a fake friendship once, which was plenty for one lifetime.
5
To my surprise, the indoor gym was empty of warriors. Only Kristen waited inside the long clay room with the white, oak floor. Unlike me, she was dressed in green and brown armor and carried a bow. Behind her back, bronze wings spread out. They were beautiful, yet identical to those of at least a dozen fae I had seen upon exiting my apartment. I wondered what the bronze wings meant. Kristen hadn’t displayed any magic on Earth. Her eagerness to serve had gotten her a servant position, which she had quickly lost due to some unfortunate circumstances.
“I’ll leave you two to it,” Peony said unceremoniously before leaving with zero explanation. The door slowly closed behind her.
Okay. Some instructions would’ve been nice. I strolled toward Kristen. “Hey.” She hadn’t helped me at the Wild Hunt, either, but she didn’t possess the same influence over the twins that Peony had. Like me, Kristen had used Peony as a shield. And you did not want Peony as an enemy.
“Hey, Virgie.” Nervously, Kristen flicked back her dark hair with the blonde highlights.
“This feels almost like a reunion,” I said drily. I never had issues with Kristen. She was a follower and pleaser, but unlike Peony, Kristen had never forced me to do anything or threatened me.
“It sure does.” Kristen cracked an uncertain smile and grabbed an arrow, which she sloppily placed into her bow, despite there being no targets in the entire empty gym.
My shoulders tensed. “What are you doing?”
“Starting our training session. You’re already ten minutes late.” She focused on the arrow, not me.
I glanced at the clock on the wall behind her that said it was ten past nine.
“My job is to shoot at you and your job is to stop me from hitting you,” Kristen continued. “Sorry. I don’t want to do it, but when they give you an order, you have to follow through.”
“What? How am I supposed to do that?”
Kristen bit her lips. “The High Commander told me that you should know how, and that your powers will awaken under pressure if they haven’t already. He said the orders were royal and that if I refuse, I’ll be brought in front of the king.”
I blinked. “Caleb said that?” My heart raced. I had no plant magic to divert arrows. And there was nothing in the room I could use as a shield.
Kristen shook her head. “No, Nathan Bitterbay is the High Commander.”
Ah, Nerissa’s brother. If her brother had orchestrated this, Nerissa must know about it. Even though I didn’t know her properly, I f
elt like I could trust her. Certainly, she wouldn’t put me here if she didn’t have faith in me. But faith wouldn’t help me much if an arrow went through my skull.
I eyed the door behind me. “It’s locked,” Kristen said. “We have until twelve. Then they’ll come to discuss our progress.”
I exhaled. “You’re seriously going to shoot at me.”
“Sorry.” Biting her lip, Kristen lifted the bow and pulled the arrow back.
I backpedaled. She was going for it. Of course. Kristen always had the need to impress those in power. I might’ve landed in a beautiful realm, but not much else had changed.
Kristen’s arrow flew, and I darted to the side. It thunked into the wall behind me, and I swallowed with relief until I heard Kristen pull a second arrow from her quiver. I jerked my head back around and ducked just in time as the arrow sailed straight for my head.
“You could’ve killed me!”
Kristen shrugged. “S...sorry, but they told me it would be all right.”
“Who are they?” I asked as I dodged a third arrow.
“The High Commander and Caleb.” She spoke quickly like she was unsure.
“Caleb?” She fired again as I dodged, the fourth arrow arced downward and hit my dress, pinning it to the ground. I yanked at my skirt, tearing the beautiful fabric. But I didn’t really care as I had much bigger fish to fry.
“The king put Caleb in charge of organizing all the new fae and giving them appropriate training.” Kristen spoke a bit slower now as if she were giving me time to get free.
“He’s not doing a very good job, then,” I said bitterly. Kristen put another arrow into her bow. “Kristen, come on. Let me at least change if you’re going to chase me across the gym.”
The Nocturnal and Fae Prison Academy Boxset [A Complete Paranormal and Fantasy Series Boxset] Page 72
