4. Raven

4

RAVEN

Leila rapped her knuckles on the door and hightailed it out of here before a voice sounded from the other side for me to enter. Now I’m faced with sharp eyes that meet mine as I swing the door open.

A woman sits behind a mirrored desk, half-moon glasses perched on the bridge of her nose as she assesses me. Her white hair is slicked back into a bun at her neck, and she’s wearing a pristine white skirt and blazer with a golden silk shirt underneath that matches her heels.

She practically blends in with the marble back in the foyer and her glare is anything but welcoming.

Avoiding her stare for a moment, I glance around the room that glows with the sunlight filtering in through the golden-stained window panes. It’s light, airy, and prestigious here, a stark contrast to the surroundings I’m familiar with.

All that sits in this large room are the lady, her desk, and the chair beneath her. A pen scratches along parchment before her, but instead of watching it, she remains focused on me.

“What are you doing here?” Her tone is as sharp as her gaze, threatening to plunge me right back to where I came from.

“Uhh…” I pause, pointing at the door as I glance back at it, wondering if I should have avoided it altogether, but I’m here now. Yet the answer to her question isn’t so simple. “Honestly, I don’t know.”

Her eyes narrow and her nose wrinkles. “Then don’t waste my time.”

Rude much? Despite the instant irritation thrumming through my veins, I take a deep breath and try again.

“No, I mean, uh, I was dropped off here this morning and I don’t know—”

“You don’t know what?” Anyone else would bristle at her tone, at her interruption, but I simply glare openly at her. Dropping my bag from my shoulder, I tilt my head as I observe her.

“Are you okay?”

“Excuse me?” She bristles like I didn’t just ask a normal question.

“I said. Are. You. Okay?” Her eyebrows furrow, but I push on, annoyed enough with her to get my point across. “I was led here by someone because the first guide that met me at the front doors disappeared.” I intentionally redact the fact that it was my brother. “I have no idea where I am or what I’m supposed to be doing. I’m already on edge with all the changes I’ve been through in the past… shit, none of that matters, but your attitude is grating on an already irritated nerve.”

The pen pauses on the parchment and she rears her head back, mouth wide as she gapes in horror at me.

“How dare you,” she hisses, placing her palms flat down on the desk and spreading her fingers out.

“Right, of course, how dare I. But could we skip this bullshit and get to the part where you tell me where I’m supposed to go because Abel gave me no further instruction.” My niceties are gone, any inclination to attempt remaining civil down the drain. I need a damn nap and she’s getting in my way of one.

To my surprise, she shrinks in her seat, jaw moving a few times before words actually pass her lips. “Abel as in Abel… Hendrix?” Her voice is barely more than a whisper and I spy a slight tremble to her fingers.

“Yes.”

“H-he sent you?”

I nod. “Yes.”

“He sent you here?” What more confirmation does she need for the same question?

“Yes.”

She sits tall in her seat, nervously rubbing her lips together as she continues to eye me. “And your name is…”

“Raven Hendrix.”

Her skin practically turns to ash as her eyes widen and her hands fly to her chest. She’s dipped in fear, laced with poison, and on her way out. I’m sure of it.

“I’m so sorry, miss, I…” her words trail off as she rises to her feet, glancing around all flustered, and understanding slowly dawns on me. My eyebrows pinch together in a mixture of irritation and disappointment and I take a step toward her.

“Don’t do that.”

“Don’t do what?” she asks, peering at me with worry etched into every feature on her face.

“Fear a name,” I state, and her head rears back, eyebrows pinching as she frowns at me.

“I’m sorry?”

“If you’re going to be a raging bitch, then be a raging bitch. Don’t hide your true colors out of fear. That’s more distasteful than my dirty boots on your untouched floor.”

She visibly gulps, shaking her head at me slightly. “You say that like your father isn’t—”

“He isn’t my father,” I interrupt, my bite snappier than I expected or intended, but I don’t take it back.

Her eyebrows knit together even tighter as she gapes at me. “But—”

I wave my hand, interrupting her as I make myself clear. “I don’t care what the paperwork may say, it doesn’t mean anything. How about, I won’t mention your attitude if you only refer to him as Abel. Agreed?” My heart pounds in my chest, but she slowly nods her head and relief floods my veins.

“Agreed.”

For the first time since stepping through the door, I smile. “Perfect. Now, I really don’t want to be here, but when my alternative was surviving another night in Shadowmoor, I decided to take my chances. Can we skip to the part where you help me out because I’ve been traveling for what feels like forever and I need a nap and a shower. I’m not fussy about the order.”

“S-shadowmoor?” she stutters, hand clutching the collar of her silk shirt as horror darkens her eyes. “Why on earth—”

“It doesn’t matter,” I interrupt, again, but she’s trying to delve into things that really don’t hold any significance right now. “The past is the past unless you decide to make it the present, and I’m really not loving that idea.” Brother and Papa included. Just because they’re both suddenly present in my world, doesn’t mean I have to act like they exist in it. Far from it.

I watch as the woman’s shoulders slowly relax back, the tension drifting from her as her eyes continue to pierce mine. “Do you always have such words of wisdom?”

A laugh passes my lips before I can stop it. “If you were raised in the depths of Hell, you’d have some mantras to live by as well.”

I’m almost certain a sad smile touches the corner of her mouth but it’s gone before I can confirm or deny it. She snaps her fingers and a manilla folder appears on the desk. “You’re going to need this,” she says, pointing down at it, and I move closer to take a look.

It’s no surprise that it’s a golden folder with my name cursively written in white ink. It matches the rest of this place. Everything is white or gold, and spotless. Whereas everything back home was black, gray, and tarnished. The contrast is unreal.

I run my finger over my name on the folder, the intricate calligraphy making me warm inside, as she continues to speak. “Everything you need will be found in that folder.” I want to ask what everything entails, but it’s as if she senses my thoughts and expands. “The details on where you will need to go to have your uniform fitted are in there as well as a list of the items you need. While you’re there, you may want to take the list of books you’ll need for this semester as the stores are nearby in the on-site facility.” She barely comes up for air as she rattles everything off, leaving me to nod at her. “There is also your schedule and all extracurricular activities that may be suitable for your powers.” I freeze, almost interrupting her again, but I decide mentioning I’m a Void really isn’t going to get this over with any quicker. “You’ll also find your assigned housing on the map, along with your key. Your housemates will be in classes at the moment, but that will work out well for you as you’ll only be given today as grace to gather what you need before everything starts tomorrow.”

When I’m certain she’s finished, I quirk my brow, collecting the folder as I wave it slightly. “Is there anything not in the folder?” I ask, smirking, since it seems the entirety of my new life is all contained in here, but she doesn’t grin back. If anything, her face drops further and her eyes look grim.

“How to survive this place.”

I wasn’t expecting an honest answer, or one so dark, but I force the smile to remain on my lips as I nod. “Perfect. Thank you…” My words trail off as I realize I don’t know her name.

“Lyra.”

“Thank you, Lyra.”

Grabbing my bag, I make sure I have everything before turning for the door, but I don’t get far before she’s calling my name. I look back over my shoulder to see her nervously wringing her fingers as she rubs her lips together.

Whatever is playing on her mind seems to settle as she points at me. “Since you’ve offered me so many words of wisdom, would you like some in return?”

“I’ll take what I can get,” I reply, intrigued as hell.

“Keep your head down and avoid any trouble. Especially when it comes to your brother.”

* * *

My hair is damp with sweat, clinging to my face and neck as I take another turn, hoping like hell I’ve finally figured this fucking map out. There are multiple pages to the damn thing, a fact it took me two wrong turns and a hot minute to realize, but the tag on my room key reads King Phillian House, and the sign up ahead says the same.

My pace picks up, hope blossoming in my chest as I, once again, retrieve the key. Third time’s the charm. Taking the pathway to the right, a single story building comes into view.

It’s not grand or excessive, but the view it offers as I get closer is breathtaking. It’s by the far end of the cliff, water lapping in the distance while the coastlines of surrounding towns fade off on the horizon.

Please let this be where I’m supposed to be.

Twirling the key in my hand, I squeeze it tight as I come to a stop before placing it into the lock. The latch that sounds makes me squeal, excitement buzzing in my veins and relief flooding my senses at finally finding the building housing my latest accommodations.

Without wasting a moment, I step inside to find a completely open living area, dining table, and kitchen, with doors leading off on either side, but my attention is focused straight ahead. Floor to ceiling doors offer a panoramic view of exactly what I’d been admiring outside. It makes my heart lurch in my chest. It’s so open, so majestic in a light and airy way, that I don’t know where to look first.

Little critters scurry over the wooden furniture in the yard as birds fly high overhead, dipping and diving in pairs over the cliff edge as the light breeze outside flutters the flowers.

I feel like my eyes are wide open, my retinas burning from all of the brightness.

Shuffling further into the room, I place my bag down on the pale gray chair closest to me. The seating area is situated prominently in the middle with a huge dining table running the length of the right-hand side and a kitchen bigger than my entire house back home filling the left.

I’m sure there was another key in the folder for my specific room and a quick glance inside reveals the smaller key labeled five. Squinting at the doors framing the room, I count each one until I find the fifth, matching my key.

Grabbing my things, I tiptoe through the room toward the right, like I’m not supposed to be here, and quietly unlock it. I think I need to punch myself in the face or, at minimum, pinch my arm because this surely can’t be happening right now.

A queen-sized bed sits against the left wall, nightstands on either side, and a pale white drape hangs over it; a desk is tucked in the corner, a leather chair pushed against it and a walk-in wardrobe beside it; a private bathroom leads directly to the right and the window offers a pretty view of the flowers in the garden.

Nowhere, not even the richest parts of Shadowmoor, would have anything like this. Knowing this is how Sebastian has likely lived all his life makes me instantly want to hate it, but it’s impossible.

Placing my bag on the bed, I take a seat beside it and exhale, giving myself a second to catch up, but it’s not going to happen yet. Or at all, for that matter. Opening the folder, I pull out all of the documents inside and organize them by what’s important now, and what can be read later.

I prioritize my uniform and book information, saving my schedule and extracurricular details for after. Despite my need to pass out and gorge on any food I can get my hands on, I decide to get this shit over and done with first. I make sure to grab both keys and the lists before locking up after myself and following the map.

I’ll be curious to see my housemates later. I’m not really a people person, but I guess I’m going to have to adjust a little. Not too much though. I’ll be able to hide away in my room as much as possible.

Finding the right page in the map book, I hurry toward the on-site facilities. I don’t know what I’m expecting to find, but it’s not rows of stores, restaurants, and bistros. This is madness. Since most people are in classes, I get to move around without interruption. It’s only when I step inside the uniform store and the assistant comes over to help me that I stutter.

“How am I supposed to pay for this?” I ask nervously as she immediately starts taking my measurements.

She looks up at me with an inquisitive glance but chuckles. “Your presence here is an honor to many. No student pays for anything here.”

“Nothing?” I clarify and she nods.

“Your favor will be returned in one of two ways, as will everyone else’s.”

Confusion knits my eyebrows as she takes a step back and waves me toward the dressing room. “How?”

She grabs one of each item before coming to a stop beside me. “You’ll pay with your life. Either failing to survive the trials and tribulations of the academy, or on the battlefield, defending your people.”

“What battlefield?” Back in Shadowmoor you chose to be a soldier. It wasn’t forced upon everybody.

“Oh, well, I’m not really sure, but I guess the realm is always under attack from others and Silvercrest is where the elite are trained to protect us.”

She presents the information like I should know this, like it’s a basic fact. Which it might be for everyone else, but apparently citizens of Shadowmoor aren’t provided with the same basic information offered to others.

Her words repeat in my head non-stop as I leave the store bagless. She scanned my room key, promising my items will be there upon my return. The same thing happens in the book store. I triple check I have every item on the list before they do it, but my mind is still fixated on the words the assistant so casually shared.

I’m here to die? Is that the case?

I mean, I know we all die eventually, but this feels way more brutal. I really don’t have a clue what I’ve gotten myself into. Or more exactly; what Abel has gotten me into.

More and more students appear around me and I assume it’s the end of classes for the day, which only serves as a reminder that I still haven’t eaten. Using the cashless positivity that comes with unwillingly putting my life on the line, I grab a coffee from the vendor, along with a deli sandwich and cupcake, before I head back to my room.

I’m completely lost in thought as I somehow make my way back by memory without the map. No one seems to pay me any attention as I head down the trails and spot the sign for my house. But that all changes as I push my key into the lock and open the front door.

Four sets of eyes whirl around in my direction, annoyance, anger, confusion, and surprise greeting me as I smile mildly back at the four hot guys filling the space.

“I guess this is our new housemate.”