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

by Taylor Spratt

  Little creature reached for the remote to the human entertainment box, and she clicked it on. The hiss of sounds filled the room, bright pictures coming after.

  My heart jumped. Was that a cartoon!? Raiden stopped his fidgeting and glued his eyes to the screen, his grin growing wide.

  I smiled so hard my cheeks ached. Oh, wow! There were talking cows, funny dancing chickens and even kids doing somersaults. That looks like fun. Fun, fun, fun! Wow, it must be amazing to be there…

  I chuckled, stretching my head toward the screen.

  Click. And just like that, the colors were gone, replaced by some old grandpa in a grey suit talking about some boring war.

  I sighed, leaning my back against the wall behind me. Why don’t I ever get to play, or have any fun? I hate this, hate! Hate! Hate it!

  With a ‘flicking’ sound, the entertainment box unexpectedly turned off. The little creature stood, her face twisted in a fit of rage, looking right at me.

  “Mommy?” I squeaked, trembling as she barreled toward me like an angry dragon.

  Oh no! I forgot! I pushed off the wall.

  “Didn’t I tell you to stand?” She screeched, turning up her nose as if she’d smelled something foul.

  “Ah… um,” I mumbled.

  “Didn’t I tell you to stand?” She repeated, raising a hand and swinging it high in the air.

  Please don’t, not again… Tears ran down my cheeks.

  “We’ve been standing in this dull corner all day, he’s tired!” Raiden cried and her wicked eyes fell on him.

  “Really? Standing all day?” She shrilled, throwing her hands in the air and rolling her eyes. “You mean in this beautiful house I provide you with? In those expensive clothes I bought for you? You little brats are damn ungrateful!” She screamed, her voice breaking as she turned to look at Big Creature. “Harold, your sons need to be punished. Get over here, now!”

  “You handle this one, Ivy,” he said, not looking up from his parchments. “I’m busy at the moment.”

  Her head snapped back toward me with madness in her eyes. Without another word her hand came charging down to my cheek for a giant swap, and I fell back, tumbling to the floor.

  She punched Raiden in the face, flinging him hard against the wall. His eyes squeezing tight, tears pooled in his eyes.

  She lunged at him, kicking him over and over in the belly.

  He’s coughing so much. She’s going to kill him!

  “Stop it!” I cried, balling my hand into a fist. “Leave him alone.”

  Her foot stretched back for another kick and I jumped in the way, landing on the floor in front of Raiden.

  She kicked me instead. With one vicious pound after the next, right in my belly, legs and face. Over and over and over again, she went for an endless pow, pow, pow, till I couldn’t hear a pin drop. It was as if the world went silent, trapped in a void of black and grey.

  Don’t break! You can’t break now! Just stay conscious for a little longer, keep shielding Raiden and the pain will soon end.

  My fist tightened till the floor was stained red. Was this what I was born for? If it was, then I was truly damned.

  ***

  We were 11 now, taller, bigger. Raiden had acquired his water magic and I, my earth. But we were still children. I was still weak. So weak! Still unsure why I was even brought into this hell we call a world. That was until today, when everything changed.

  I stood by the door, Raiden gripping my arm. The creatures clung to one another, right by the door jam. We were called outside by an ominous letter. ‘Tonight, you will be visited by those who cannot be refused. By the gate keepers of time and hell.’

  The violet dusk spread across the gardens darkening every rock, rose petal, and blade of grass it passed. A dark force was coming, it clung to the night, sweeping toward the house robbing the air of life as it came.

  It was almost here. I felt the sickly presence in the chill of my bones. What in the hell is it? What is coming?

  My eyes clung to the metal gates as they jerked open, slamming against its columns. My breathing quickened. They are here.

  Six figures in long red hooded cloaks hovered through the gates and over the grass, their cloaks creeping like the dead toward the door. Their heads down, shrouded in shadow. Were they spirits, come to punish the creatures? Or perhaps they had come for my brother and I, to take us from this hell to the next.

  I swallowed, my nails digging into Raiden’s shirt.

  “Fuck! It’s the seers. What the hell do they want?” Big Creature said, releasing his grip around Little Creature.

  The cloaked beings floated over the front steps to stop right in front of us. They pulled their hoods down to exposed saggy old faces with relaxed expressions and shiny bald heads. A few of them were rather ugly but none were scary.

  I slumped over and gave a deep exhale. We’re safe! We’re safe! Brother and I are safe!

  “How can I help you seers tonight?” Big Creature said with trembling hands clasped in front of him.

  The man in the front with down-turned lips took him in and his eyes fell to Raiden and me. I flinched.

  “Adelgrief, as you know the Grand Lord and his soul bond Nira are in their three-hundred’s. They are not long for this world.” The creatures nodded with exaggerated sighs. “It is our duty to pick his successor, and the visions came to us last night.”

  “Your boys,” he said raising a bony finger to point at Raiden and me, “are the chosen ones.” I jerked my head back. What? This cannot be real.

  “My Boys? The two of them? Kings?” The creatures laughed uncontrollably, holding their sides, and the seers scowled.

  “Are you calling us liars, Adelgrief?” a voice in the back called out and Big Creature’s smile faded.

  “No! No! Not at all,” he said, fanning his palms. “I just think there’s been a mistake, these two idiot sons of mine can’t do anything right, let alone rule the magical world.” A chuckle fell from his lips.

  My cheeks reddened. Of course he was right. How could I ever rule the magical world? Me? I was nothing; I was weak and useless. I couldn’t protect my own brother, let alone billions.

  “Ouch!” I yelled. Grabbing me by the hair, Little Creature pulled me over to the seers. “Ow, stop it!” I yelled, prying her scrawny fingers off.

  “Are you sure its two? Shouldn’t it be one?” She said, folding her arms.

  “No, it is both,” the seer said.

  “Well then, if you want both it’s going to cost you doub-”

  “The Grand Lord couldn’t be crowned without his life bond, isn’t that correct?” Raiden interrupted, approaching the seer.

  “Shut up, boy!” Big Creature yelled raising a palm in the air. He paused when the head seer rose a hand to stop him. Little Creature folded her arms.

  “You are correct, future King Raiden. You will have to wed your life bond, and, as a matter of fact...” The seer smiled pulling a piece of parchment from his cloak.

  “We have seen her and had her likeness materialized. Here is a painting of her,” he said outstretching a painted piece of parchment to us.

  My jaw dropped, taking two steps back. In an instant all the darkness and dreariness of life retreated, as if burned away by the brightest light of day. This girl was more than beautiful.

  My heart raced and my fingers trembled, taking in every inch of her glorious hair and skin. The night air was now alive and free, the wind sang, the trees rustled in a dance of freedom and love. I was no longer in hell; I was in heaven, all because of her.

  “Who- who is she? When will I get to meet her?” I said, my eyes glued to the parchment.

  “One day soon, future King Alexander. She is destined to meet you in a place called Ravenwell Academy and when you do, you will both make her your wife and become Grand Lords,” he said, and all the seers nodded.

  Wife? Wow... My Brain stopped after the word wife. Because from the moment I saw her painting, that was exactly what she became in m
y heart and soul. Being Grand Lord was a bonus I could give or take, but this girl I needed. My life would not be complete without the light she brought into my desolate world. From this day onward I knew exactly why I was born, it was to be hers and for her to be mine…

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Alexander

  “Did you see her, Raiden? Did you?!”

  I paced the office floor like a madman as Raiden sat frowning in the chair behind the desk, his arms folded. His eyes trailing my restless race from one wall to the other.

  “Yes I did,” he murmured, his eyes cut with annoyance.

  I threw my arms in the air and looked to the sky. “That hair! That flowing golden hair! The minute she came into the hall I knew it was her! Eyes so blue they could make you cry. And those hips! Ahhh! Raiden, did you see?”

  “Yes, Zander,” he said, his foot tapping heavily on the floor with impatience.

  I paused and stared at him, clenching my fist. “Did you know some vile monster hit her in the head with a rock, damaging her lovely face? When I find out who did it, I’ll kill him!”

  I continued pacing, my arm swinging in erratic gestures, thoughts of her rife in my mind. “Even damaged, her face looked like it had been carved by angels. Raiden, did you se-”

  “Yes, Zander, I saw!” Raiden barked, springing from the chair and marching over to me as I was inches from the desk. He grabbed me by the arms and gave me a shake.

  “Stop moving, brother, and talk to me!” He ordered, frown lines deep in his face. “You said you met with her, what happened?”

  My head fell, and I sighed. Why did he have to remind me? Couldn’t he have let me be happy she’s arrived for at least another minute or two?

  “Yes, she was in here.” My fists clenched tight. “I’ve loved her since childhood and she rejected me. She rejected us both yet again!” I slammed by foot on the ground and the floorboard went flying across the room.

  Raiden placed a soft hand on my shoulder. “You mean obsessed since childhood. Zander listen, have you ever stopped to wonder if it was healthy to be so in love with a person you’ve never even met? I know we are fated to her but I worry for you.”

  Worried? For me? Hypocrite! He’s looking at me like I’m crazy but he knows exactly how I feel. He is hiding his feelings again. I am sure of it. I saw the way he looked at her in the hall. He may not have felt the call from her painting like I did, but I know he felt something when he first laid eyes on her in the flesh. How could he not have felt fate’s eternal pull?

  I looked him deep in the eyes and puffed out my chest.

  “Raiden, you always do this!” I insisted. “Every time a little emotion seeps in you run for the hills! Retreating into one of those silly books of yours. One of your fantasy worlds!”

  I slammed my fist on the desk. “This is not a fantasy for me. I need this girl!” I grasped Raiden by the cheeks, my expression softening. His eyes widened, and he stilled. “You are my little brother, I know your heart more than anyone else.”

  “Little?” He muttered.

  “You felt it too, didn’t you? When she walked across the fold and into the hall, did you not hear the song?” My grip tightened on his cheeks and his lips puckered. My gaze intensified and his eyes darted from me to the floor and back.

  “Did your heart not leap from your chest when you first saw her?! Tell me the truth, brother!” I demanded.

  His lips parted and his expression went cold. “As if my very being had been ensorcelled by lust right then and there.” He continued, looking surprised at his own admission. “And my brain instantly rewired to play the same desperate message over and over again, ‘It’s her. It’s her. You idiot, it’s her.’”

  My eyes brightened and my lips curled up into a smile. “Eureka!”

  I pulled Raiden in and hugged him close, rocking back and forth.

  “I knew you felt it. I just knew it,” I teased, breaking the hug. I grinned, poking him playfully on his beardless cheeks.

  Raiden sulked, his face glowing red. He turned his head away and batted my fingers off.

  He sighed. “Now that we’ve assessed that we’ve both gone mad, how do we convince her she belongs with us?”

  “Well… I may have threatened her,” I said under my breath, scratching my face.

  “Zander!? You cannot just threaten a woman into being your mate!” Raiden glared at me, folding his arms.

  “Well-I...”

  ‘Boom!’ The office door flew open, banging against the wall. “I can’t fucking take this anymore!” The secretary screamed flying into the room as fast as her clacking heels would take her.

  She scanned the room, her eyes landing on me and she scowled.

  “You!” She yelled, tearing toward me and I stiffened.

  Me?

  Black tears slid down her cheeks soaking the chest of her red dress. Fear shined bright in her eyes and her make-up was an unholy mess. Her long auburn hair looked like a twister had sucked it in and spat it back at her. The poor thing stood there trembling, almost shaking like a storm-battered leaf.

  What in the hell?

  “Irene, what’s the problem?” I said.

  She grabbed me by the blazer and pulled me down to stare her point blank in the eyes.

  “She won’t stop calling! She just won’t stop calling!” She wailed, her lips trembling.

  “Irene please,” Raiden pleaded, palming his forehead and shaking his head in frustration.

  “No! King Raiden, we’ve kept the situation from him long enough.”

  “Situation? What situation?” I asked, prying her hands from my blazer, staring daggers at Raiden. “What have you been hiding?”

  He swallowed.

  “I’ll tell you!” Irene interrupted. “The succubus has been calling every day, ten times a day! She wants to talk to you and King Raiden and every time I tell her no...”

  “Yes, yes, she tells you obscenities, I know,” Raiden interrupted with a deep sigh.

  The succubus? Dammit! I thought we had gotten rid of her. Calling ten times a day? What in the hell could she still want after all this time?

  My teeth clenched and my fist tightened.

  My glare trailing over to Raiden. His head fell back, and he blinked rapidly. “Why did you keep this from me?” I seethed.

  “You’ve been under a lot of stress as of late, she is of no consequence to you or I. We need not speak to her.”

  “Well, I think you need to!” Irene yelled pointing a finger at my face. “Or I quit!”

  I gave a deep exhale. Today of all days? I have enough pandemonium on my plate with Aria, I couldn’t afford to be distracted for even a minute by her.

  “When she calls again we will speak with her. Raiden, we must put her obsessions to an end.”

  Raiden nodded his head, in reluctant agreement, his arms folded tight.

  A loud ringing noise filled the office, echoing off the walls and hitting my eardrums like the crash of thunder. Did the gods intend to see me suffer?

  Why now?! I wanted soon, but not this soon.

  “Oops, did I forget to mention? I rerouted the Sorcerer’s line to your office,” Irene said, shrugging and strutting out the door.

  “Damn spiteful woman!” I cursed and gave Raiden a pained look.

  “No time like the present, Zander,” Raiden bemoaned, and I scowled. With a wave of my hand, I opened the Sorcerer’s line, and the ringing stopped.

  The three-dimensional image of a shiny haired brunette appeared suspended in the air like a floating vixen from hell. Her every feminine curve a toxin, from her balloon like breasts to her scrawny, pale stiletto clad feet. Her long fluttering eyelashes a signal of doom. Her entire face a mask of false beauty all crammed into a thin green dress, two sizes too small.

  Ick! My skin crawled just looking at her. This parasite! Even my bones shuddered with repulsion! How could Raiden and I have once been captivated by this thing?

  “Oh, my goodness!” She squealed with a look of
absolute delight on her make-up ridden face, her green eyes racing from Raiden, to me, then back him. “You’re both even more handsome than I remember!”

  “What do you want, Galima?!” Raiden barked.

  “Now, that's not nice!” She cooed while puckering her lips and batting her eyelashes. “Is that anyway to treat your old friend?”

  “We were never friends!” Raiden objected. “Our relationship has long ceased to be beneficial. Now stop this senseless badgering and be off!”

  “Ceased to be beneficial? I rocked your virgin worlds! How could you say that to me?” Galima asked with mock mortification lacing her voice, tears swelling in her eyes.

  “You killed our parents. Remember that?” Raiden said, brows drawn.

  “Me? When?” She said with a hand to her chest, throwing her head back. “Oh wait! Maybe I did do that.” She nodded. “But you boys hated them, they treated you like animals!”

  Raiden shook, his eyes narrowing. “Yes, but they were mine to kill! Not yours!”

  “Hey, look, look. I’m sorry about that. If I could turn back time I would have let you kill them. I totally would have. Can’t you forgive me already? Don’t you see how much I love you two?” She cried, tears now flowing, smudging her make-up wildly.

  After a few moments of blubbering, she calmed down to a sniffle, looking like a sad clown.

  “Love?” I spat, throwing a hand in the air. “We were never anything but a hot meal to you! You took advantage of our vigor and strength to feed on us for longer than you could weaker men!” I accused “Your love is toxic, Galima.”

  “I couldn’t help if I snacked on you a little, you are both just so handsome, I couldn’t help myself,” she said between sniffles. “I would never, ever hurt you!”

  Raiden and I exchanged glances. And we both sneered at her, speechless.

  I had no time for this crying she devil. There was never any love between us. She was a lively traveling companion during our trials of youth, but did she actually think we would stay together forever?