Rise of the Red Queen: A Why Choose Academy Romance (Major Arcana Academy Book 2)

by Ana Calin

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in

  any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,

  including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage

  and retrieval system, without permission in writing

  from the author except in the case of brief quotations

  embodied in reviews.

  Publisher’s Note:

  This is a work of fiction,

  the work of the author’s imagination.

  Any resemblance to real persons or events is

  coincidental.

  Copyright November 2019 – Ana Calin

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  CHAPTER I

  CHAPTER II

  CHAPTER III

  CHAPTER IV

  CHAPTER V

  CHAPTER VI

  CHAPTER I

  Lucy

  It’s my first day at the Academy, and my first day out of the dungeon they threw me in right after my acceptance test. I guess it’s Sunday night now, judging by the students forming out of stardust in the hallways, backpacks slung over their shoulders, arms locked around piles of books and gadgets. Looks like they’re teleporting back from their weekend, and many of them stop in place to watch with hawkish eyes as I’m being escorted down the hallway like a prisoner.

  I’m still wearing the red dress from the test night, only that my corset is now loose and ripped, and the lower part caked with dirt from the dungeon. My hair is a mess, and I’m pretty sure hays stick out from it, too. I’m shivering from the humidity, and I can’t stop coughing.

  The ward on my right grabs my shoulder, stopping me in place.

  “Here it is,” he croaks in a throaty voice while the other pushes a bundle consisting of a pillow, a folded sheet and a blanket in my arms, and shows me through a door to my right.

  Fantastic, a dorm. My heart warms as I think of hot water and a bed. Incredible, how much that can mean after a few nights in a cold, damp medieval dungeon. I never thought I could learn to co-exist so well with rats.

  I walk from a vestibule with a long wardrobe into a room that looks so much like and yet very different from the dorms on the Upside version of the university, in the mortal realm. The arched gothic window on the far end draws my eyes like a magnet, vines coiling around its columns—moving, living vines. I can feel them in my blood, now that I am a full witch. The plants are alive, infusing the stone with life and magic energy that I can easily feel—and use, if I want to.

  The door shuts behind me. I look around, my eyes stopping on one of the two available beds, the one with a bare mattress. The other is cozy and fluffy, as if for someone used to the posh life. Great, a roommate.

  “You can thank your harem of protectors for this,” a female voice says. My head snaps around, searching for the source, but the room is empty except for the two beds, two small desks filling the space between them, right under the high gothic window, and a few sitting pillows scattered around to make the place look cozier.

  A girl emerges from behind a door in the corner, presumably the bathroom. Her sleeves are rolled up on her long thin forearms.

  “The three mighty men who introduced you to the world of magic,” she explains with a smile. She’s a long, willowy figure with grey-silver hair and smooth, attractive features that marks her as fae. Her eyes are a chocolate, shiny brown, pretty and warm. “First of all, Maverick Jones, professor of potions and Dark Arts, the most enigmatic and desired man at the Academy—yes, I know about the little fling you had with him.”

  “Fling?” The bastard took advantage that I was barely emerging from a state of trance to pleasure me with his mouth, and expose me as a slut to Silas. Lucky my lover saw beyond his dirty plot. Not that I would explain things to this pretty fae until I understand exactly how much she knows.

  “Then there’s Silas Aries,” she says. “The demigod of warfare, with whom you’re officially in a relationship with.”

  “Officially?”

  “Everybody knows. He spread the news himself—in an attempt to ensure your safety at the Academy, I suppose. It’s not exactly the safest place for a mortal witch who could be the Red Queen—a creature of Hell with the power to summon demons, sentence people to horrible deaths in the pit, and Heaven knows what other dark powers that could destroy us.”

  She goes on to arrange her desk, which is cluttered with magic items—tomes that look like they contain seven worlds of knowledge and wisdom, magic candles, charms and vials with potions, a few small bundles of dried plants. It looks fascinating, making even the nights I spent imprisoned worth it.

  “Silas isn’t a professor at the Academy, but he is the Lord Protector’s right hand, and he’s feared among all supernaturals. And if that weren’t enough, you’re the protégé of the Lord Protector himself.” She gives me a look full of secret meaning. “And that is one hell of a highlight. The Lord Protector never took individual protégés before.”

  The Lord Protector was the one who set me up with Maverick so that Silas would break up with me, and I should hate him for it. But remembering how he stood up for me at the test, taking the blame for opening the portal to Hell, my heart fills with warmth. My core reacts as I think about the hazel eyes of the Grim Reaper, and as I remember his protective shadow behind me, dangerous to everyone who would dare come near.

  No, I’m not supposed to feel that way about the Lord Protector. He should be a father figure to me, if anything. A young and sexy father figure, an elegant foxy prince with the stare of a fiery lover, but still.

  I owe all of them, whether I like it or not. I head to the bed and set my things on a sitting pillow before starting to wrap the sheet around the mattress.

  “That’s just a rumor, the Lord Protector isn’t granting me any special privileges or protection. My witch powers kinda hit me out of nowhere, so he had to step in on super short notice, and prepare me before I could take the test.”

  “That’s a good story, and you should probably tell it to everybody else at the Academy, but I know how things really happened.”

  I look at her as I arrange the bed. “It’s the truth, and whether you believe it or not is your business. In the end, I don’t owe you any explanations.”

  She stands to her full height, a willowy fae that seems taller with every step she takes towards me. She holds out a white hand with long pianist fingers.

  “I’m Giselle. My godfather, Rouen Midwinter, is one of the Lord Protector’s most trusted people, and he sent me here, to take care of you.”

  Rouen. One of the two fae who created illusions for the Board members during the test, helping me.

  Giselle tilts her head and winks. “That’s how I know for a fact that the Lord Protector is taking care of you. Because he made sure you landed in this dorm, with me to protect you.”

  “I, I—” I don’t know what to say. The Lord Protector ‘arranged’ that I share a room with this girl to ensure my safety? I give her a pathetic handshake, because being in the dungeon has drained me of strength. “I’m Lucy.”

  “I know.” She pulls me to the wardrobe. “This is your side. It’s not much space, but it will do. You won’t be allowed to wear anything but the Academy uniform anyway—short plaid skirt and knee-high socks, white shirt and navy blue tie. There’s a laundry room down in the basement, too, I’ll take you later.”

  She regards me in my filthy red dress, holding up a finger as if an idea just hit
her. She starts to sift through her things in the wardrobe. “Speaking of clothes, I have something for you. You’re much smaller than me, but I think these will fit.” She tosses a pair of worn jeans and a red blouse at me, along with a fluffy towel that I catch right before it hits my face, swiftly followed by a pair of pink pajamas that smack me on the head.

  I drop the clothes on the bed, keeping the towel.

  “I desperately need a shower,” I say.

  “Sure, what are you waiting for?”

  I head to the bathroom without waiting for a second invitation. It’s a small bath chamber with a walk-in shower, furnished to look gothic, but surprisingly full of amenities. I can’t strip of the stinking red dress fast enough, and step under the jet of hot water, letting it thaw my icy skin. I push my face under the showerhead, my eyes squeezed shut and my mouth open.

  The water doesn’t taste the same as in the mortal world, somehow the taste is clearer, like a mountain spring. It wakes me up fully to the reality that I’m on the Flipside now, inside a magic version of the University of Silverdale. The realm closest to the mortal world, inhabited by witches, vampires, demigods, nymphs and many other magical creatures the existence of which would have twisted my brain inside my skull only a month ago. But I became one of them on Halloween, when an emotional shock activated my powers, and I opened a portal to Hell.

  “It’s super important that the Headmaster and his people don’t find out the truth—that it was you who summoned those demons into the mortal world,” Giselle says as soon as I emerge from the steamy bathroom with my wet hair clinging to my shoulders, and the towel wrapped around my body. I see she used the time to produce a luxurious meal with different kinds of bread, butter, cheese, tomatoes, small boxes of jam and honey.

  “You robbed the buffet or something?” I mumble with my mouth full. “OMG, this is so good.”

  “They didn’t feed you at all in that dungeon?”

  “What they gave me didn’t look any better than the dead rat in the corner.”

  “It figures. They were trying to make you lose control over your feelings. It’s a miracle that you resisted.”

  I chew the delicious food, letting my taste buds revel in it. “Does the Academy have room service or something?” I manage after I’ve stilled my hunger a bit.

  “Let’s just say I’m part of a special family of fae. It’s the reason the Lord Protector arranged for us to share a dorm room—no one was powerful enough to force a roommate on me before, so I was the only student without one.” She says that with a friendly smile.

  “Truth is I always wanted a room-mate, but my godfather never let me have one. Said I was too much of a V.I.P, and couldn’t afford to close my eyes around just anyone.” She shrugs. “But now I understand why he was being overprotective. Our family of fae has special powers that can be preyed upon at night. Well, Rouen wasn’t exactly happy that I’d be sharing a room with a witch that might turn out to be the Red Queen, but he didn’t have a choice.”

  My fingers tear into the bread, while Giselle lights the antique-looking lamp on the windowsill. The low light casts a pleasant warmth on my face as the flame grows.

  “Thank you,” I whisper.

  “For what?”

  “For being happy to have me.”

  We watch each other for a few moments, and it’s all the time I need to understand this is a girl who was never allowed to have friends. She’s felt alone most of her life, like I have. We warm up to each other, talking and laughing until late in the night, without even noticing how time flies. I don’t think I ever grew close to someone so fast, not even Sadie, my bff back in the mortal world. Or is this a magic world thing?

  “The Headmaster must never find out the truth,” Giselle explains as we tuck ourselves in bed. God, it feels nice. “He would throw you into the pit before you could even blink. I hope you’re as good at potions as Rouen says, and it wasn’t just luck that got you through the test. They’ll be watching you closely to expose you as a fraud.”

  “Maverick taught me well. I am good at potions.”

  “Maverick. He’ll be Professor Jones for you, too, from now on. It’s not okay to call professors by their first names, it will get you into trouble with the other students, the Professors and even the Board.”

  “I don’t have a problem with calling him Your Highness if I have to. The more distance between the two of us, the better.”

  “Wow, the way you talk about him, one wouldn’t think you owe him your life.”

  “He did me as much harm as he did me good.”

  “How so?”

  “Complicated story that makes me feel bad. Better stop before I call forth something nasty. Distract me, please. Why would it get me in trouble if I called Professors by their first names?”

  “First of all because it would raise even more suspicion about you. Being on a first name basis with a teacher could mean that you corrupted him with your dark powers. People are ready and eager to misinterpret everything you do. The Headmaster couldn’t prove what he wanted during the test—that you’re a delegate of Hell, posing a great danger to this Academy as a Trojan Horse, but he did spread the rumor to make sure that the entire Academy turns against you. Which is why Silas responded with the news that you were his lover.”

  Waves of pleasure run through me—I’m officially Silas’ lover. And he didn’t think twice before putting his reputation and his position on the line in order to protect me. I look to the window into the night, missing him.

  “I wish I could see him,” I whisper.

  A soft breeze sends a rustle through the vine leaves, causing Giselle to jump from the bed as if burned, spreading her arms towards the window and chanting a spell that resounds like an echo into the night. When she’s done I stare at her bewitched.

  “That sounded beautiful.” But she doesn’t seem flattered when she looks at me.

  “You mustn’t think of him with that kind of longing. You’re calling him.”

  “Calling him?”

  Giselle exhales, her shoulders slanting, as if she has to explain the ABC to me.

  “Okay, listen, I know there’s a whole lot you need to learn about this place, about the realms and the world of magic in general, but let the first thing be this—since Silas declared himself yours, he’s also granted you power over him. You’re now connected. You can summon him, even if the Headmaster declared that you can’t receive any visits for the time being. There are no restrictions that can keep the demigod of warfare away from his mate when she calls to him, but if you’re caught together... Well, I don’t have to say it again, do I? The pit.”

  “Wait a minute.” I hold up my hand. “You mean the breeze earlier, that was Silas responding to my calling? Then I sure as hell won’t stop.” I throw off my duvet and stand, determined to go against all of the Headmaster’s rules, but Giselle stops me.

  “No, Lucy! Acting against his orders would give him the right to throw you in Hell without the right to an appeal. And the situation might have consequences for Silas, too.”

  “What could that bastard possibly do to him?”

  “Get him sentenced to jail in the pit. And that would be terrible for Silas. He’s been fighting intruding demons for millennia, imagine what those demons would do to him if they had him alone, at their disposal, even if only for a few months.”

  The idea of my beautiful Silas trapped in the pit, black, gnarled demon arms tearing at his ivory skin, his blond hair caked with blood, it tears me apart. I drop back down. My heart constricts, and I take both my hands to my chest. “I miss him so much.”

  “Of course you do.” Giselle kneels down, her long pianist hands on my knees. “The two of you have a special, unbreakable bond, but if you want to keep that, you need to win the Academy’s trust this year. You need to get through it without incident, and it won’t be easy, because the Headmaster will be waiting around every corner for you to slip up. He really wants the Lord Protector’s place, and he sees unprecedente
d opportunity in you. He’ll stop at nothing to reach his goal, Lucy. I’m not even sure you realize what you’re up against.”

  Anguish strangles me. “I don’t think I’ll be able to fight the Headmaster’s ploys. He has the entire Academy behind him, while I have been cut off from the few people who have my back. I’m afraid I lost this war before it even started.”

  “No, that’s not true. You have me, and I will help you navigate the Academy and its ways, not to mention you have Professor Jones. I’m sure he’ll be there for you.”

  Maverick.

  “I don’t want anything to do with Professor Jones.”

  “Yeah, you said that, but you need all the help you can get. I’d be nice to him in your place.”

  “All the help in the world won’t do any good if I’ll die of yearning for Silas. What’s the use of being his ‘official’ girlfriend, if I have to live without him, not see him at all.”

  “If you do well for a few months, he’ll be granted visits.”

  “Months,” I breathe. “I have to go for months without him.”

  “It may be less if you do really well, like be a fantastic student, and mind your own business, don’t do anything darkly out of the ordinary. People will forget, the hype around you will die down.”

  “But the Headmaster—”

  “He’ll be powerless if you get the Academy on your side. Use this time to get as many people as possible to see you in a different light. Beat the Headmaster at his own game.”

  Her words motivate me. Yes, get people on my side, fight the Headmaster with his own weapons. I vow that will pass every test that vampire prick throws my way, because I’ll be doing it for Silas. He is the prize at the end of the road, him and I together, his strong demigod arms around me, his beloved lips on mine, his hands threading in my hair.

  “Good to see the color returning to your cheeks,” Giselle says, slapping my jaw lightly. “Now let’s get some sleep. You want to look as strong as possible tomorrow morning. You don’t wanna be a wreck, and make the bullies think they can easily pick on you.”