Chased by Darkness: A Reverse Harem Academy Romance: (Four Kings Academy Book 1)

by Taylor Spratt

  Oh, that’s why. My lips tightened, and I cringed. The guy in the bed beside me had wicked foot fungus, turned his whole heel blue and man was it spreading.

  This room was huge. Leave it to Ravenwell to need a nursing wing the size of a stadium.

  There were dozens of beds scattered across the black glassy floor, filled with students; each sobbing louder than the last.

  Some were covered from head to toe in vampire bites, a few looked like they’d been mauled by Bigfoot. But the worst were the transmutation mishaps. Those poor souls looked like a game of fit the puzzle pieces gone terribly, terribly wrong.

  At least they had a few bombshell nurses to look after them. Just my luck that while I sat here in bed, looking like the mangled remains of whatever the dog dragged in, all the nurses looked like Barbie dolls with their long thick hair and perfect makeup. They were uniformed immaculately in their cute little white jackets, with perky breasts popping out to say peekaboo to all the sick students.

  Bleh. If just one of them smiled their syrupy sweet, red lipsticked smiles at me one more time, I was going to scream.

  After the rock had hit me, it took me an entire hour to find this place. Luckily it wasn’t a lonely journey. There were several gawking students that kept me company along the way.

  Just what I needed while trying to keep the brain matter in my head. The leers I got when I first arrived were nothing compared to the murderous stares and the slew of insults from last night.

  Apparently, you didn’t need to be a Void User to be hated at this school. You only needed to piss off their kings. And I had that talent down pat.

  Why didn’t I just choose a faction? I could have just flipped a coin and the worse of this would be over. So maybe I’d have the other faction to worry about, but not both. Did all four kings have it out for me now? Even Luca?

  A blond nurse approached me, her legs bouncing the side of my bed. Beaming, she held her clipboard up to her face.

  “Well, Miss Kolgrim, you look much, much better!” She said, her minty fresh breath cascading from her bright red lips.

  “Thanks for stitching me up, nurse. I feel a lot better,” I said, pointing to the big ugly bandage on my forehead.

  “That’s no problem, my dear. Just be more careful on the stairs next time.”

  “Stairs?” I asked, confused. “I told you I was hit by a…”

  “Gotta watch out for those stairs! Never know when they’ll get yah,” a girl said in a bubbly British accent, a head of glorious red hair popping up beside my bed.

  “Cas, what are you doing here?”

  “Thank you, nurse. I’ll take it from here,” Cas said, smiling at the nurse and the nurse, still beaming her barbie smile, turned and strolled to a bed six rows down.

  Cas looked down at me sniffing and wiping her nose, her eyes going glassy.

  “Cas?”

  “Oh love! Just look what they’ve done to you,” she cried, pulling me into her arms for a hug.

  “I’m okay, I’m okay,” I said ruffling my face out of her boobs. “How did you know I was here?”

  “Heard it around, love. The entire Academy is talking about you,” she responded, pulling up a chair to sit beside me.

  Cas glanced over at the nearest nurse and then back at me. “Didn’t anyone tell you not to talk to the staff about the kings or factions? They have a see and don’t say policy. They’d sooner throw you to the bullies than lift a wand to help you.”

  “No,” I blurted. "I wasn’t told. Nobody tells me anything around here except for you.”

  Everyone else is too busy glaring and throwing rocks. So that’s why the chancellor didn’t warn me.

  “You mean to tell me, even the teachers and workers are in on this? Their stupid faction fighting caused half the injuries in this room.”

  “More than half, love. Try all.”

  This couldn’t be happening. This was supposed to be the safe option. This hellhole, was supposed to be my get out of jail free card, but this?

  Cassandra raised a hand and touched my bandaged forehead.

  “How did this happen to you?” She asked, her shimmering emerald eyes a light in this darkness.

  I poured my guts out to her. Every sad memory laid bare at her feet. From the village, to the forest, to my capture, to the kings. Telling someone felt good, even if she were looking at me like a sniffing sad puppy after hearing my life’s story.

  Cas cupped her forehead and looked to the floor. “Goodness, love. The worst thing I’ve ever been through was a bad breakup, but this? You are so strong.”

  “You’ve been so kind to me, Cas. Are you sure you want to risk making the kings mad by being seen with me?”

  “I’m no saint. You’re new to this school, same as me. You can’t survive Ravenwell without a friend or two,” she said with a smile and a pat on the back.

  “While we’re being open,” Cas said. “I’ve got something to show you.” Her cheeks reddened and with her eyes shifting everywhere but on me, she pointed to the bright red ribbon on her arm.

  “Oh… you chose.” I sighed. Of course she chose, you idiot. She’d be a fool not to. Guess I really am alone.

  “Sorry love, I knew you’d be upset. But most of us just aren’t as brave as you are”.

  Before I could respond, a girl-shaped shadow spread over my bed.

  “Hi there!” A voice squeaked.

  I looked up and my shoulders fell. Were her cheeks always that rosy? Her eyes that hazel? I hated every strand of that luxuriously black, glossy hair of hers.

  “You’re Luca’s girlfriend, right?” I said.

  “Why yes, I am,” Rebecca said, batting her thick lashes and cocking her head to the side. Six monstrously tall girls strode up behind her. Their mangled teeth stood out like broken train tracks, and their grungy were eyes fixed on me. God, their muscles had muscles.

  “So, you’re the Void User I’ve been hearing so much about,” she said, clenching her long pink fingernails over the front of the bed so tightly I could almost hear them snapping.

  “Yeah, that’s me. Who wants to know?” I said, staring back at her with more bravery than I felt.

  She shot me a wide-eyed smile and strolled merrily to the side of the bed, opposite where Cas sat. She rested her tiny hand on my blanket covered leg and said, “You’re a first year, So I will say this nice and simple. Luca,” she dug her nails an inch deep into my thigh, “is mine!”

  “Ow! That hurts! Take your hands off me!” I yelled out, ripping her hand off my leg.

  Cas jumped on the bed as if to tackle Rebecca. But the tallest two of Rebecca’s goons grabbed Cas by the neck and pulled her away before she could even touch Rebecca.

  “Take your grimy mitts off me!” Cas yelled as the goons held her against the next bed over as the student who lay in it cowered, his eyes barely visible under his blankets.

  Every patient and nurse in here just looked away, ducking under beds and squeezing into corners.

  Kicking and screaming Cas yelled, “You fucking shit heads better let me go or else…”

  “Shut up, freshmen!” Rebecca yelled, leering at Cas. “You’re a Flamenado, don’t make me hurt you.”

  “Why are you doing this?" I cried, squirming my way out of the bed.

  My head slammed into a wall of muscles as I reached the edge. Crap, I’m surrounded by goons.

  “Why am I doing this? Why am I doing this?” Rebecca laughed. “Hold her to the bed!” She ordered, and a heavy hand squeezed my neck, holding me against the headboard. My heart raced, and my eyes darted in every direction.

  I thrashed, trying to break free, but it was useless, it was all useless.

  Rebecca crossed her arms in contemplation, taking me in and said, “Do you think I’m an idiot?”

  I froze.

  “I said do you think I’m an idiot?” She repeated, and I shook my head.

  "I was apart from my loving boyfriend all summer long and when I finally got to see him, it was am
azing, it was like my every problem just vanished. It was only me and him. So, imagine my shock when I hear the little bitch in the line behind me decide she was going to flirt with my man? And in front of the entire school?!”

  If anyone was flirting it was him, I thought but didn’t say. “He didn’t seem that thrilled to see you,” I mocked, and Rebecca’s right eye now twitched like Morse code.

  “You really shouldn’t have said that,” Rebecca said, slipping a small vial filled with a murky brown liquid from her pocket.

  What the hell is she gonna do with that?

  “You know, Void User, I think I know what your problem is. You’re so used to people being afraid of you that you think you can just waltz in here and run the place! Well, in here,” she stated, her voice almost cracking, “I’m Queen Bee!”

  She ripped the top from the vial and plunged her knee into the bed, crawling toward me.

  “Stop! Get away!” I wailed, thrashing in every direction

  “Open her mouth!” She commanded to the one that held me down.

  Dirt got on my tongue, souring my mouth as the goon’s gnarly fingers cracked my jaw open. Oh God, was she actually going to do this? Poison me?!

  My fingernails dug deep into the muscular, ape-like arm that held me. But I couldn’t move her arm an inch, and I would if I could.

  Everything stilled and a cool sensation rose in my core. Pressing, fighting for release. The void sprung from my chest, spreading to the tips of my toes and the ends of my hair, blackening every strand and nail.

  The darkness, the power. It coursed through me like electricity, searching for the cause of my pain.

  Inches from me, Rebecca’s eyes blew wide, as she trembled on the edge of the bed.

  What was that in her eyes? Terror? Beautiful...

  Eyes still fixed on me; she shook her head as if to chase her fear away. “Don’t let go of her!” Rebecca commanded, and she sprang for me, vial in hand.

  Rebecca’s palm grazed my cheek and before a single drop could touch my lips, a burst of dark energy raced from my chest like a feral beast. It sprung from the deepest emptiest part of my soul, and it was mad, mad as hell.

  Rebecca stiffened, her wide eyes hard on me.

  The dark energy had cleared, the beast had gone. But where too?

  My heart fell to my stomach at the sight of what I’d just done. Uh oh…

  Why were Rebecca’s brows falling from her face like feathers, blowing in the wind? Curse the stars! Not again.

  Plop! Her gorgeous tresses of glistening black hair detached from her head like a cheap wig and fell to the bed in one giant clump. A fleshy bowling ball of skin was all that was left.

  My jaw was on the floor, taking in the sight. Crap! This can’t be happening again.

  Rebecca fell forward on the bed, not registering the sudden lack of weight.

  Her eyes trailed to her hair, as strand by glorious strand slid from the sheets and cloaked the floor like a blanket.

  The silence was deafening.

  Her body trembled, and with bulging eyes she gasped. Her long nailed fingertips raced along her barren scalp and with every inch she covered, her trembling lips gaped more open.

  “You- you dirty bitch!” She howled out, “What have you done to my beautiful hair!?”

  “If you hadn’t tried to poison me, my hex wouldn’t have been activated!” I yelled back at her.

  “Oh, this isn’t poison.” Rebecca said through gritted teeth, tears now spilling from her lash-less eyes.

  “This potion will make you obedient. And once you’ve taken it, I’ll make you undo this hex!”

  She came at me, ramming her fingernails in my mouth, cracking my jaw painfully open. Before I could swat her away, the goon held my arms behind me, giving her master reign to take her full revenge.

  Cassandra cried out as Rebecca emptied the vial of brown liquid into my mouth. Drop by drop the bitter chalky liquid slimed its way down my throat, my thrashing only spilling less than half down the sides of my mouth.

  I coughed, trying to throw up. But it wouldn’t budge.

  I feel sick and so damn dizzy. I panted, struggling for breath. Oh God, I can’t breathe!

  A numbness spread across my body and then it was like I was on fire, my every nerve ending going haywire. My vision went foggy and focused and foggy again till finally it stabilized.

  “Turn off your Void!” Rebecca commanded, and my power drained away like water down a sink hole as the Void retreated deep inside me.

  Trembling, I willed it back to no avail. This can’t be happening. My hair, fingernails, everything lightened to its dull factory default. I was completely defenseless now.

  “Good girl,” Rebecca said smiling. “Now-”

  Crash! A massive ball of white light came rushing across the room, slamming clean into Rebecca’s jaw like a mountain boulder, hurling her into the air. She landed hard on a nurse that crouched down by a wall, seven beds away.

  Ball after ball of white-hot fury tore through the air crashing into the goons surrounding my bed, flinging them all to the ground.

  Hands in the air, shining like a royal phoenix, Cas stood as the orbs flying from her hands slowed and stopped.

  Wow. Incredible!

  “Run, love! I’ll hold them off,” Cas bellowed and, shaking my head, I leapt off the bed and sprang for the exit. I rammed the double doors open and sped down an empty hallway.

  By the next set of doors Rebecca and her goons were hot on my trail.

  Crap! This one was crawling with students. Some leaning against lockers, others chatted and laughed. But they were all in my way.

  “Excuse me. Excuse me please!” I yelled, shoving one student after the other. Papers went flying. It was like Christmas in September with white sheets fluttering through the air like snow only to be boxed out of the way by Rebecca’s rampage.

  I dashed through a third pair of doors and ended up in a big, empty room with big thick columns along the walls. Convenient. Perfect to bash my head in with. I rushed across the shining marble flooring, nearly taking a slip and falling.

  “What’s your rush, Void User? Can’t you see where you are?” I turned to face them and my eyes scanned the room.

  Where was the damn exit? Crap! This is a... “Dead end?” Rebecca laughed, cocking her head to the side, her eyes popping like a madwoman. “Guess you missed the tour.”

  They marched toward me, fury in their eyes, backing me into a corner.

  “Stay back!” I screamed, pushing myself deeper against the cold hard surface as they loomed ever closer.

  “Come here, Void User,” Rebecca commanded, and my back straightened all on its own. It was like every muscle in my body ignored me, handing complete control to my little bald master.

  I took one step in her direction. Okay legs, time to stop. My fists tightened as I took a second step. Stop now! They wouldn’t listen, the potion had them now.

  Right as I leaned in to take a third step, a thick arm wrapped around my neck from behind.

  What the? “Ahh!” My head went clear through the wall and my body with it.

  Everything was black until a chair and desk came into view, a dark figure looming tall in the corner. Where in the hundred hells was I now?

  CHAPTER NINE

  Aria

  The dim room smelled of earth. Sweet, sweet earth and watered roots. The four walls were a lively leafy green with bookshelves here and there along the walls.

  Okay, blinded windows, a huge black desk and a big old bear chair. This was an office for sure. But who in the hell is that shadowy figure in the corner?

  “Hello?” I called out, and the figure tore through the shadows. All 6’ 5 of him. I quivered and my mouth flooded like a river. These sensations, I’d felt them before. It's him. A pair of piercing silver eyes illuminated the room and caught me in a snare.

  A brawny guy emerged, exposing huge muscles that rippled in his navy-blue blazer and nearly tore his black pants clear open.
<
br />   My heart raced. Man, I’d almost forgotten how tantalizing he was. That squared jaw. Those high cut cheekbones of his practically sang and don’t get me started on that man bun and savage looking beard.

  Sexiness like this should be a crime. My lips curled up into a smile.

  Yeah, this should definitely be a crime. And who was the criminal? Alexander, King of Stone and Earth.

  He stalked toward me; the floorboards creaking and aching under his large frame until he came to a silent stop, his rippling chest an inch from my face.

  I couldn't move; I could barely breathe. It was just me and those piercing silver eyes of his.

  "Hi there," he breathed, a big smile stretching across his face, and then it hit me. My God! His breath. My nostrils flared as the divine scent of testosterone laced heaven filled my body.

  “You look incredible,” he said as his gaze roamed all over me excitedly. There was joy hidden in the storm of his eyes, and lost in the lightening and rippling clouds, was a flash of something… something that seemed to connect me to him somehow. Like the tug of a divine string, pulling me to him.

  "Ah, thanks," I replied with a nervous smile. Thanks? Seriously, Aria? The dude's literally mentally undressing you again and all you can say is thanks?

  He trailed closer, his eyes tracing my face with longing and I slowly backed away, terrified at the racing of my own heart. His brows furrowed at my retreat. He threw his shoulders back, all calm disappearing from his face. He looked feral now, like an animal ready for the hunt. He charged toward me, forcing me in the corner, leaving no room for escape.

  I gasped as my back hit the wall.

  What’s he doing?

  “You’re not afraid of me are you, little Aria?” He laughed and, as if sensing my apprehension, his smile slowly returned to his face.

  Wait. How did he know my name? Did news get around about that too?

  “N-n-no,” I stammered, averting my gaze.

  “Good,” he said, lightly brushing my cheek with the palm of his hand. So soft, it was like he was afraid I would break under the power of his large fingers.