The Nocturnal and Fae Prison Academy Boxset [A Complete Paranormal and Fantasy Series Boxset]

by Margo Ryerkerk

  I opened the door to her office and when greeted by Nerissa’s glow, curtsied lowly, which she didn’t discourage. Unlike Nathan, she seemed to like formalities.

  “Virgie, how can I help you?” Nerissa rose from her tree root desk with incredible grace.

  Okay, so Nathan had told her that I preferred Virgie to Vergeat, which was nice, but also kind of weird as it meant they had spoken about me in the last hour. Did the two share everything? I had to be careful.

  I placed my timetable on Nerissa’s desk. “I’m afraid there must’ve been a mistake, and I received somebody else’s schedule.”

  “The Summer Court doesn’t make mistakes,” Nerissa said, but despite this, she scanned my sheet of paper, tracing her finger down the calligraphy letters. “I know it might sound like a lot of courses, but we have faith that you will manage.”

  There was the faith angle again. I shook my head. “I’m not worried about the workload. I’m a good worker.” At her raised, pale eyebrow, I quickly added, “But the photo shoots and interviews…Certainly they’re meant for a famous Summer Court fae, not for an earthbound fae like me.”

  Nerissa smiled. “Ah, I see. Has Caleb not informed you about your heritage?”

  “He mentioned that I was from a mentalist family on both sides, and that my father’s family in particular was very gifted.” I left it at that, not wanting to repeat in front of a fae as angelic as Nerissa that my father was a drunk who had killed himself in a drunken stupor before I was born.

  She smiled. “Right. Well, as an Everston you have public duties, especially since the public hasn’t seen an Everston in nineteen years.”

  I gulped. “But I don’t know how to—”

  “Don’t worry,” Nerissa cut me off. “Your first interview and photo shoot are toward the end of the week. You’ll be prepped before that as is outlined on your timetable.”

  A knock sounded from the door. “Come in,” Nerissa said as calm as ever.

  A female fae entered and curtsied. She was in leather armor and had pale green wings that indicated she had some plant magic in her family. “I’m here to deliver a message.”

  Nerissa gave me an encouraging smile. “It will be fine.” Though kind, she spoke with the air that we were done here and that I’d get all the information I needed later.

  Dismissed, I rose and rolled up my parchment. “Thank you.” I would have to remain in the dark until tomorrow.

  Prep began the next day. The last Prep I had attended was Summer Prep in Nocturnal Academy where we fae were taught to please the vampires. This Prep turned out to have its own horrors.

  A loud, rhythmical knocking reverberated through my apartment at the break of dawn. I opened my door to find a male fae with a bald head and dark skin standing outside. His pink-and-red suit with tapered legs complimented his magenta wings.

  “Virgie, darling! I’m so excited to finally meet you.” He hugged me and kissed me on both cheeks.

  I froze, but then quickly composed myself. “Please, come inside.” Noticing that he had brought two huge suitcases, which he’d dropped on the floor to hug me, I took one from him when he offered it. “You’re here for the Prep?”

  He slapped his palm against his forehead. “Yes. Apologies, in my excitement, I totally forgot to introduce myself.” He giggled. “I’m Pierre, your stylist. I’m here to get you ready for the photo shoots.”

  “Oh.” I deflated. I knew how to make myself look good. It was something that Mother had instilled into me from an early age. What I was really worried about was my conduct and how to phrase my answers for an interview. It was clear Pierre wasn’t here to help me with that.

  I had just set down the suitcase when a second knock sounded, and Pierre opened the door. “Amanda! Just in time.”

  Amanda was also a fae with magenta wings, but unlike Pierre’s fashionista look, her hair was cut into a short brown bob, and she wore a no-nonsense pantsuit. She could’ve totally worked in corporate America. She hadn’t arrived with suitcases, but carried two heavy totes that she put down in my living room. “I’m Amanda. I do royal PR and will prep you for your interviews.” She extended her hand, and I shook it. Her grip was strong and loaded with impatience.

  Royal PR? Before I could ask anything, a third knock rang out at my door. Pierre opened it again and beamed at a servant fae who pushed a large cart in front of her. “Wonderful, I am starving!”

  The servant fae set up in the living room—coffee, baked goods, fresh strawberries, waffles, and a plate of cheeses and grapes. My mouth watered at the sight. I hadn’t eaten much yesterday and my body was shaking from the lack of calories. However, under the watchful eye of Amanda, I didn’t want to screw up by stuffing myself. Relief flooded me when Pierre immediately popped a grape and a cube of cheese into his mouth while simultaneously pouring himself a coffee. Amanda too poured herself a coffee, unsurprisingly black, and declined any food. I wolfed down a waffle while Pierre took out all the dresses, shoes, and accessories he had brought, and Amanda studied a document she’d retrieved from her folder.

  What had I gotten into? And what were the rules?

  “Are you guys mentalists too?” I eyed their wings. Magenta was the closest color of wings I’d seen to my own lilac ones.

  Pierre pressed a hand dramatically against his forehead. “I wish.”

  Amanda snorted. “No, magenta means we either work in fashion, design, or communications.”

  I nodded. “I see.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Has no one explained to you what the wing colors mean?” At the shake of my head, she tsked, “Unacceptable. Okay, basically the royals and the nobility have gold in their wings, often with hints of green or white. Green-gold wings indicate royalty and plant magic. Only the royal family has wings of that color.”

  “And the Bitterbays?”

  “Their golden wings mean they are nobility,” Amanda replied. Before I could ask if they had unique talents, she continued, “Bronze or brown wings mean someone is a warrior, but the army also has fae with green wings, who fight with their plant magic. Peach-colored wings indicate someone is a scholar. Your teacher Blythe has peach wings.”

  “What about blue or silver wings?” I asked.

  Pierre shuddered. “Ugh, that’s a bad sign. Blue or silver wings belong to the Winter Court. Blue-winged fae are their warriors. Unlike the Summer Court where only a few have plant magic, all of the Winter fae have ice magic.”

  “But they’re much less versed in telepathy,” Amanda added quickly. “But enough of that. We need to get started with our prep.” Amanda gave me a tight smile. “The press here is ruthless. They’ll squeeze you for information. You can’t be rude or they’ll write you off as a diva, and nobody would like that, especially because of your earthbound history and what happened to your father.”

  I nodded, glad that she was a straight shooter and wouldn’t waste my time. “What kind of questions will they ask me?” I didn’t like that knowledge of how my father had died was widespread. If the fae press was anything like the human press, they’d focus on the disaster angle.

  Pierre stepped in front of me and held two dresses up, a pale salmon and a fuchsia number. “Keep going, you two. I’m just trying to figure out what will go best with your skin tone.”

  “Maybe something red,” I volunteered, not liking either dress. Mother always said that it brought out my Asian and Caucasian features.

  Pierre shook his head vehemently. “For a first interview? No. Anyhow, red is not a popular color here. Nor is black, for that matter.”

  I nodded. Of course. Those had been the colors of the vampires. The vampire students back at Nocturnal Academy even wore red and black uniforms. “What about silver or blue?”

  Amanda shook her head. “No, absolutely not. They are Winter Court colors.”

  I nodded. That made sense, too. It would be best not to piss off the people I was trying to impress. “So what can I wear?”

  “White is universal, but too muc
h of it will make you look like a Winter fae,” Amanda explained. “The war may be over between us, but the effects of the plague will take generations to recover from. The tension will not vanish any time soon, or ever.”

  I swallowed, thinking of Onyx again.

  Amanda turned to Pierre, who tapped a finger against his lip as he glanced at the contents of his suitcase. “I don’t think we can get away with gold.”

  “Just do a light pink. They love pink, especially for the whole romance angle.”

  “Great idea.” Pierre opened the second suitcase, grabbed a few rose-colored gowns, and smiled.

  I flinched, even though these shades looked better than the salmon and fuchsia. “What romance angle?” It sounded better than breeding, but I wasn’t aware of any romance involved in this.

  Amanda rolled her eyes. “You’re a high status fae, and the press is always interested in your personal life, including who you’re dating.”

  My mouth dried. High status? Dating? “But I’m not seeing anyone. I just got here two days ago.”

  Amanda nodded and sat on the piano bench, tapping a quill on a piece of parchment. “Yes, and that’s why I think it’s unlikely they’ll ask you about that. Now, let’s get to the important Q & A. How will you explain your position on the earthbound fae coming to the Summer Court?”

  I thought hard, trying not to get distracted by Pierre holding dresses up against my shoulder. “It’s a great opportunity for the earthbound fae to reclaim their magic, get a chance at a better life, and make the Summer Court stronger.”

  Amanda shook her head. “No. Leave out what’s in it for the earthbound fae. The press and the Summer Court won’t care about that. Say that the earthbound fae have great potential and are a wonderful asset. Promise they’ll work hard and assimilate.”

  I gritted my teeth. “But we don’t know that.” Also, I saw the situation as an opportunity for a mutually beneficial relationship, not a sales pitch for the Summer Court to get earthbound fae.

  Amanda gave me a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “That doesn’t matter. What matters is what the public wants to hear, especially with a lot of them nervous about allowing earthbound fae in.”

  I nodded, knowing I had to play along until I got a chance to influence Nathan or someone in a high position and get rights for the earthbound fae. For the next several hours, Amanda prepped me on political answers, answers meant to calm the public on the presence of earthbound fae, who might be angry at the deserters. I might’ve escaped the vampire regime, but the Summer Court had just as many rules. While Amanda made me memorize answers she had manufactured for me, Pierre chose several rosy outfits, complete with accessories and shoes. Almost everything was in shades of rose and white.

  As the sun set on the horizon and both said their goodbyes, I collapsed onto my bed, my head pounding and whirling with information. I was to sway the public’s position on the earthbound fae. I was to be their face to the faeland and justify King Peter’s decision to train them.

  What other roles would I be asked to play?

  The routine and the grilling continued for two more days, but with each passing day, I felt slightly better about the upcoming interviews and photo shoots. Amanda’s questions felt like quizzes I had studied for and the correct answers came flawlessly from my lips. Pierre stopped crowding me as much when he turned his focus to jewelry rather than entire outfits and colors. Once I had mastered the questions, Amanda moved on to my pose and mannerisms which were no less complex and rehearsed. She and Pierre ganged up on me when it came to how I walked, how I moved my head, and how I held my shoulders. Oh, and the smile took a lot of work, too. My muscles were sore by the end of the week, but Amanda’s satisfied tone and Pierre’s clapping told me I had made progress.

  However, when I woke up on the first press day, I wanted to vomit. I put on an elegant rose-colored dress that hit below my knees and let Pierre work his magic with my hair and make-up. When the vampires had gotten me ready for events, they slathered it on, anything to sexualize, like red lipstick and smokey eye shadow. Pierre, however, put golden dust in a half moon from my eyes to my cheekbones, applied a pale tincture to my lips and curled my eyelashes. The make-up was very minimal and ethereal. As for my hair, he put in a thin headband that looked like a less fancy version of Nerissa’s diadem.

  Amanda watched him work silently from her position at the piano, then nodded her approval when he was done. “Thank you, Pierre. Let us go now.” She motioned to me as she rose.

  “You’re not coming?” I asked Pierre.

  He shook his head. “You’ll do great, Cherie!”

  “Thanks.” I shot him another glance, wishing he could come instead of Amanda, then followed her out of my apartment. For the first time in nearly a week, I exited the Vasara Training Center, the gate sliding open for Amanda and me.

  Outside the stockade gate of Vasara Center, resting in the tall grass and flowers, a white, crystal carriage with two white Pegasi stood. I had never seen winged horses before. Heck, I never even realized they existed. As we approached, one of the creatures turned to face me with dark, soulful eyes.

  “They’re gorgeous!” I stepped toward the creature and let him smell my hand before petting his mane. The Pegasus inclined his head, granting his permission.

  Something flashed in my periphery, in the direction of the field, and Amanda seized my arm and pulled me into the carriage as if we were in danger. Once I shuffled across the seat, she slammed the door.

  “What happened?” I glanced out of the window, confused.

  Amanda sighed. “What they call a paparazzi on the Earth side. You made a good move with the whole Pegasus thing, but we can’t give too many free photos. Otherwise, The Fae Press and The Summer Court Newspaper will be pissed.”

  It was the first time I’d heard her use strong language. Amanda took her job seriously, and no one was going to ruin it for her. I didn’t reply, too shocked by how calculated Amanda was and not knowing how I would face a press that seemed to want to tear me down without me having done anything wrong.

  “Doesn’t the press belong to the king? Certainly, they wouldn’t publish anything he doesn’t like?” I tried.

  Amanda snorted. “They wouldn’t dare talk badly about the royal family. Everyone else is fair game. If the king doesn’t like the stories they put out, he’ll blame you. The press has been around for centuries. They know how to shift blame and convince. You, on the other hand, arrived here a week ago. It will take some time to earn the public’s trust.”

  I swallowed hard, eyeing the white interior of the carriage, which had no driver. So much for my high status. Apparently, it was only given to me when it served the court.

  “We are ready to depart,” Amanda shouted through the open front window to the winged horses. One whinnied, and both walked forward, pulling us through the tall grass. I eyed the window for whoever had been stealing a free photo, but saw no one. The carriage rolled along the field, faster and faster, and then flew into motion, pushing me back into my seat. I glanced down at clay houses and fields growing smaller and smaller. So much greenery and so many flowers. The landscape of the Summer Court was truly paradise. We flew for what I guessed to be five minutes before the Pegasi slowed down as we approached a white castle built into a mountain. Featuring several turrets, it glowed in the sunlight and rested on a huge, flat outcrop, surrounded with massive greenery and waterfalls, one of which ran through the center of the castle before plunging to a valley and a jade green lake far below.

  My nails dug into my palms. I’d be meeting not only the press, but also the royal family.

  “Welcome to the Summer Court Castle,” Amanda said as shivers raced up my spine.

  8

  Our Pegasi gently flapped their wings and circled the castle, which allowed us to have an amazing view of the countless towers and courtyards below. The Summer Castle was filled with brilliant gardens, fountains, and redwoods that almost rivaled the towers in their height. More d
etails emerged as we circled lower and lower. A giant archway ran through the center of the white castle, allowing one of the rivers to flow between the twin walkways of an open, center courtyard. As we got closer to the center where it seemed we’d be landing, I spied on either side of the river small, dark figures standing, waiting for us. The only thing missing was a red carpet. My mouth went dry, and I shifted in my seat.

  Amanda peered out the window before facing me. “Wait in the carriage for a moment after we land to build up suspense.” Her hungry smile made me gulp. “Don’t be too eager or everyone will see you as having no humility. When you exit, pose and smile in the way we coached you. Bring your head back to the right and allow your hair to swing over your shoulder, like this.” Despite her hair being short, Amanda gave me a celebrity-worthy head swing.

  “Got it.” Would every move I did and every word I said be under the scrutiny of others? The crystal walls of the carriage seemed to close in, and I wanted to jump out and test my fairy wings even if it meant falling to the ground.

  No. I needed to find the rungs of this ladder and figure out how to climb them. Taking a deep breath, I willed my racing pulse to slow.

  The carriage landed with the faint clop of the Pegasi’s hooves and the rattling of the wheels in the center courtyard, next to the gurgling river. Though the sky here was open, the castle surrounded us seemingly on all sides, and fae in gowns and suits looked down at us from white balconies that somehow didn’t collapse under the weight of countless hanging vines and pots of flowers. Many of the upper class fae sported whitish-green wings, like Peony. A few were marked with the golden variety that signified that royal blood may have entered their family line at some point. They were probably nobility, like Nerissa and Nathan. Fae warriors, some with bronze wings and others with hunter green ones, stood at the ready with bows and spears, both on the ground level and above. No one else had whitish purple wings like me, meaning I was the only mentalist.