After about thirty minutes up a winding hillside the car pulls up to two large steel gates with the letters H & H welded into them.
“What kind of town hides behind gates? There must be some sketchy ass shit going on in here,” says Kai. And well, he’s probably right.
A man dressed in all black presses a few buttons on a keypad causing the two gates to open as the car drives inside.
“Welcome to Hillcrest Hills,” says the driver opening the window that separated us from him.
“We’re about fifteen minutes away from the academy, hang tight and we’ll be there soon,” he says as the window closes once more.
“This town is sick,” says Jax, rolling down the window.
The town looks perfect. Too perfect if you ask me. Storefronts lined with bright lights, perfectly manicured lawns, enormous mansions in every direction.
“A little cookie cutter if you ask me,” adds Jade.
Fifteen minutes later we pull up to another set of massive steel gates with the letters S & A welded in them.
“What’s this town’s obsession with giant gates? Who are they trying to keep out?” asks Jax.
“Or who are they trying to keep in?” asks Jade sarcastically.
As we enter the gates a large brick building comes in to view. It’s larger than any other building I’ve ever seen, with dark gray and white bricks surrounded by stone columns, white lined windows, and shutters. It’s what I imagine schools in London must look like. This must be how Harry Potter felt making his way into Hogwarts. The car stops suddenly as it pulls up to the front of the building.
“This is your stop,” says the driver as he rounds the circular driveway that leads up to two black metal doors easily ten feet high. As the car parks, two men in all black suits walk toward us opening the doors for us to get out. We all step out of the SUV and onto the edge of the curved driveway. As soon as the doors close, the car drives off leaving us with the two men in black suits who look like security guards.
“Your bags will be dropped off in your new rooms, meanwhile, I will be escorting you to the Executive Office to meet with Headmistress LeBlanc. Follow me,” says the taller of the two guards, as he leads us toward the two black doors of the building.
“Here goes nothing,” says Jade, as we all follow him into the building. The inside feels like the entrance to a castle with stark archways and sandstone floors. The walls are adorned with deep burgundy drapes and golden fixtures. It’s eerily cold as we walk down the endless hallway, our footsteps echoing as we walk. We stop abruptly at an antique wooden door to the right of the hallway. On the outside in bold golden letters are the words “Headmistress LeBlanc.” The guard opens the door leading us into the room.
Inside, I instantly see a tall, blonde, perfectly manicured woman in her late thirties to early forties, behind a large deep mahogany desk. Next to her in a larger, throne-like chair sits the same man who came to see us at the foster home, Headmaster Warren Servite. We stand in a row in front of the desk, none of us daring to take a seat.
“Welcome to Servite Academy. I hope your journey here was well enough.”
I hear a laugh from the corner of the room as I turn and find Agent Wesley Servite standing in the corner leaning against a bookshelf, a devious smirk across his face. He looks more refined than he did all those years ago. But that shrewd look in his eyes remains. I have a flashback and remember the words that have haunted my nightmares all these years. We will find them and if we don’t, I’ll make sure the two of you pay for their crimes. Mark my words, sweetheart. I’m startled out of my thoughts when the woman speaks.
“I’m Headmistress Kathleen LeBlanc, and I am honored to welcome you six to our academy. I must say we are fortunate for your arrival,” she says, obvious distaste marking her face. Why do I get the feeling the only ones happy we are here are the two Servite men?
“Servite Academy is a co-ed school, meaning both the finest boys and girls of our country attend the academy together. However, although classes and events are co-ed, the dormitories are strictly separated. Anyone found in the opposing dormitories will be suspended. Three strikes and no matter your standing, you will be expelled. Servite Academy is an elite academy, and we have a zero-tolerance policy. Unfortunately, for you that means being placed in a new home. As we mentioned, your foster home is now for children under the age of sixteen.” She turns to Headmaster Servite who stands, his stare attentively on us as he speaks.
“Any questions you may have, feel free to ask. Without further ado, our Head Boy and Head Girl will be escorting you to your corresponding dormitories. They will give you your class schedules and inform you of further policies that must be followed. I hope you kids enjoy your stay, as I mentioned this is a wonderful opportunity. You are dismissed.” At his dismissal, the two metal doors to the office are opened leading us out.
“Miss Steele, Miss Wolfe, if you’d please stay back a minute,” says Agent Servite. Jade turns to me frightened, the boys looking over to us confused as Drake grabs my wrist.
“It’s fine,” I mouth as they walk out, the doors closing behind them.
Jade and I reluctantly turn around and find Agent Servite now leaning against the front of Headmaster Servite’s desk. His smirk widens as we sit in the two chairs in front of the desk.
“Don’t be afraid, sweetheart, I just want to catch up,” he says.
“We haven’t heard from them,” Jade blurts out nervously as she looks down at her lap.
“Oh I know, your dear mother and father have managed to fall off the face of the earth, or they’re dead. Both of which will not do.”
At his remark Jade lifts her head. Her eyes wide and glossy. We’ve thought about it, sure. Not having heard from Chaz and Lilith for three years, must mean something happened to them. Unfortunately, we haven’t heard from Roman, Jade’s brother either. He would be over eighteen now and old enough to take custody of her, but he’s nowhere to be found.
“Then what do you want?” I sneer.
“That’s a loaded question, Miss Steele. I’m not quite sure yet. I’ll have to get back to you on that.”
“What Agent Servite means is that now with you both here in Hillcrest Hills, your parents might want to reach out. We will be keeping a close eye on you in case they do. Chandler and Lilith are fugitives of the law and anyone who knows of their whereabouts or aids in their escape will be found just as guilty. You two keep that in mind,” says Headmaster Servite.
“Like Jade said, we haven’t heard from them. And if you think they’ll reach out to us, you don’t know them as well as you make it seem. The last thing Lilith wants is to find me.”
“Yes, but Chandler might want to reach out to his daughter, or son,” adds Agent Servite moving closer to us.
Jade stands angrily stepping toward him.
“Thanks to you, I haven’t heard from my brother in years.”
“Then we have nothing to worry about. Agent Foxx will see you ladies out,” says Headmaster Servite, motioning to the man I hadn’t seen standing by the door. He opens them for us as Jade steps out and I follow, the doors closing behind us but not before Agent Servite steps out. I turn suddenly at the sound of the doors slamming and find him staring closely at me. He licks his lips leaning forward until his mouth is to my ear.
“You look so much like her,” he whispers, sending a chill down my spine. “Wonder if you taste just as sweet. My bet is you taste even better, sweetheart, we’ll see,” he mutters, turning around and heading back into the office.
I feel disgusted and violated in so many ways. I feel like barging in and telling the headmaster what he said but I’m sure it’s no use. He is his brother, not to mention an ex-police officer. Wesley Servite is untouchable. For my sake, I hope I am too.
“What did he say to you?” Jade asks, and I get a sense of Deja vu. Just like that time in the mobile home, I evade her questions, answering with yet another lie.
“Not
hing, just that he thinks we’re lying.”
We reach the end of the hallway and find Ruby, Drake, Jax, and Kai standing with two others. The boy with light blond hair is wearing black dress pants, a matching blazer, a white collared shirt, and a red and black plaid tie, while the girl with light brown curls wears a red and black plaid skirt with white knee-high socks, a similar white collared shirt and black blazer, and a red headband adorning her hair. As we approach them, I can see a matching crest embroidered in red on the right side of their jackets.
“This must be the missing two. As I was saying I’m Leighton Astor, and this is Preston Lincoln. We are the Head Girl and Boy of the Senior Class here at Servite Academy. Every year a head girl and boy in each class are chosen to act as a class president so to speak. The three of you, Damon, Malachi, and Jaxon, will be going with Preston, while Scarlett, Jade, and Ruby are coming with me,” she says as we exit through the same large metal doors we walked in through.
As the doors open, we are met with unwelcome glares from four boys who stand at the bottom of the steps, arms crossed and intense scowls on their faces. And I say boys, but these four are no average boys. They all stand well over six feet tall, broad shoulders, smoldering gazes, and captivating eyes that regard us shrewdly. Despite the authoritative stances, intimidating glares, and dominating auras, physically, they’re drop dead gorgeous. Each one better looking than the next, but none more than the ringleader who clearly stands front and center. They’re all casually dressed in dark jeans, black t-shirts, and expensive looking sneakers, tattoos clearly visible on all four. But there is nothing casual about them. These men reek of wealth, power, and authority. And the way their glares darken at my less than subtle staring, they aren’t particularly happy to see us.
“You three follow me,” says Preston as he begins to walk toward the left side.
My eyes are so fixated on the leader of the four, I don’t realize Drake’s hand squeezing my arm. I turn to him as he glares toward the guys.
“I’ll try to sneak out later to see you. I’m sure Preston will tell me where the girls’ house is,” he says, turning his attention back to me.
I simply nod, turning to look at him and find this possessive glare in his eyes.
Drake, Kai, and Jaxon follow Preston toward another large brick building on the left of the campus while I turn my attention back to the guys who stand motionless at the bottom of the steps. A deeper scowl appears on the leader’s face, his eyebrows wrinkling as he glares at me. His dark blond hair is tousled above his head with eyes a clear blue and an angular jawline that I’m fairly sure can cut through anything. Tattoos are peeking out through the top of his shirt and down both arms. He is the epitome of male beauty and rugged sex appeal. A Greek God carved out by the big man himself. The perfect creation, a flawless masterpiece. All that mixed in with the attitude and demeanor of a king. The rest of the guys, who are breathtaking as well, stand like a solid wall at his side, scowling at us until the Adonis turns and walks away. Their glares turn murderous before turning and following their leader.
Well, this is going to be fun.
THREE
SCARLETT
I turn toward the girls who follow Leighton to the right side of the campus toward another large brick building.
“Servite Academy is co-ed, meaning you will have classes with the boys, but our housing is separate. There are ways around sneaking in and out,” she says winking as she leads us to the girls’ house.
“Who were those guys?” asks Jade as we turn to where they stood to find they’ve disappeared out of sight.
“They are the Four Horsemen. Beckett Masters, Aleksander Smoak, Sebastian Silver, and their leader Wallace Servite.”
“The Four Horsemen, really?” mocks Ruby.
“They’re the kings of Servite Academy. They make the rules and enforce them, and we follow their every command, no questions asked. No ifs, ands, or buts. Their ringleader being the son of the headmaster, of course.”
Wallace Servite. That’s the name of the one whose stare was burning a hole through me. The Alpha. The leader of their wolf pack, or in this case their herd of wild horses. I wonder if his glare had anything to do with his uncle’s connection to me. Does he know that he brought me here? Does he know about my mother and Chaz?
“They seemed like jerks to me,” says Jade rolling her eyes.
“Yeah, well we all heard you were coming. The troubled teens from the foster home in the slums of Pleasant Hills. Rumor is Ace, Wallace Servite, had an argument with his dad, Headmaster Servite, about his little pity program to bring you guys here. Seems they’re not too happy with your arrival. Most of the school isn’t.”
Jade scoffs, turning to Leighton as she speaks.
“Great, it’s not like we asked to come. They literally gave us no other choice. Either come here or be transferred who knows where,” she says, crossing her arms at her chest.
“Yeah, well I’d steer clear of them anyway. I’d be grateful for their nonchalance. A problem with them is a problem with everyone. Their followers follow their every move blindly, and if you don’t, you’re punished,” says Leighton, as she continues to walk.
“Like what, they beat the shit out of you?” asks Ruby playfully.
“More of a social exile. You’ll be looked down on by everyone. Nobody will want to associate themselves with you. Your entire future and any prospect of a career will be over before it can begin. Your family will be disgraced by your public banishment, worse than any physical pain they are very capable of instilling. They’re feared more than they are loved, and they are very adored by the female population of Servite. And well, if I’m being honest, with the glares they were throwing your way, you three aren’t off to a great start. Those guys you girls came with, however, they’re fine,” she adds, and now it’s the three of us throwing death glares in her direction.
“And off limits,” I sneer.
She laughs and keeps walking, giving us the rest of the rundown on the academy as we arrive at the senior girls’ house. Apparently, there is one for every class year.
“This is the Dahlia House, for the senior girls. There is Hyacinth for freshman, Azalea is for sophomores, and Primrose is for juniors,” she says, pointing to the three other buildings to the right. We enter through the front door and she takes us up by elevator to the third floor.
“The houses are made up of quarters, that are set up as mini apartment suites, with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a living room,” she says as the elevator doors open.
“We get our own room, sweet,” says Ruby as we exit into the long hallway.
“How many apartments are up here?” asks Jade, as Leighton walks us toward one of the doors. She stops right before opening it and turns to us.
“Well, like I said, there are four houses, Hyacinth, Azalea, Primrose, and Dahlia. Each house has four floors, each floor has four quarters, and each quarter has four rooms. Except for the fourth floor which has only one large quarter with four large rooms. That brings us to a total of fifty-two rooms. That means fifty-two girls in our Senior Class. The boys’ houses are set up the same.”
“Who lives on the fourth floor?” Ruby asks curiously.
“Well, just like there are four kings, there are four queens, and they reign supreme over the senior girls’ house. Carrington Prescott, Winter Servite, Alexandrea Smoak, and Kinsley Carlyle.”
“Another Servite,” I scoff, rolling my eyes.
“Winter Servite is Ace’s twin sister and Drea Smoak is Alek’s twin. But their supreme queen is Carrington Prescott. She and Ace have been a thing since middle school. They’re not technically a couple but nobody interferes and lives to tell the tale. Ace hooks up with different girls all the time but apparently Carrington sends them a message when she finds out,” says Leighton as she opens the door.
“That’s some twisted shit,” exclaims Ruby as we step inside.
“That’s Carrington for you.
You’ll meet them all on Monday at the welcome assembly. For now, let’s get you into your apartment and I’ll give you your schedules. Your roommate can give you a tour of the quarter and show you the uniforms.”
“Roommate?” we ask in unison, but Leighton ignores us as she continues to walk through the “quarter” as she calls it.
“Welcome home,” she says as we step out of the foyer and into the living room.
She wasn’t kidding when she said it was an apartment suite. The room is massive and bright. Vivid blue walls lead to a living area complete with two couches, a coffee table, and a television media unit. To the right is a small dining room table with four chairs around it and a small kitchen that only has a sink, refrigerator, and some cabinets.
“This is insane,” says Ruby, as she and Jade head over to sit on the couches.
“Yay. You’re finally here!” squeals a petite girl with strawberry blonde hair, large gray doe eyes and a huge smile, appearing from one of the rooms. She’s dressed in a light blue summer dress and nude wedged heels.
“And who the hell are you?” sneers Ruby.
Her smile immediately turns into a frown.
“Sorry about her, Ruby doesn’t play nice with others.” I say, which receives a grunt from Ruby.
“No problem, I’m just so excited you guys are here.” Her enthusiasm makes me laugh. Who is this girl?
“You didn’t answer her question though,” says Jade.
“Oh duh. I’m Stella Silver, your roommate!”
“Well, I’m Scarlett, the blonde’s Jade, and the bitch is Ruby,” I say, and Ruby grunts once more.
“Fuck you, Steele,” she snickers.
“And that’s my cue to leave. Here are your class schedules. Stella has the rest of your things and she can take over from here.” Leighton hands me three envelopes I hadn’t noticed she was carrying. “Good luck, new girls. You’re gonna need it,” she says as she closes the door and takes off.
“Well, she’s a bitch,” says Jade, and she and Ruby start laughing loudly.
The Four Horsemen : A Servite Academy For Troubled Teens Novel Page 4
