4. Arabella

Chapter 4

Arabella

" W ake up!" my father screams, pulling me from deep sleep. As I try to roll over to follow his orders and sit up, I see my wrist handcuffed to the post on my bed.

"What is this?" I question, raising my arm as much as I can and rattle the chain.

"You have five minutes to get dressed," he states, ignoring my question. "If you aren't, then you know what to expect." His threat hangs in the air without voicing it. I can still feel the beating he gave me last night, despite my body's natural healing magic working all night to mend me. I'm partially surprised I don't need a healer after the abuse he put me through. Not only did he punish me for being rejected and shaming our family, but he punished me for running away to my great-grandmothers and hiding from him.

As my father talks, he undoes the handcuffs so I can move around freely in my room. I wait to get out of bed until I watch him exit the room, and the door closes firmly behind him. Rushing to my closet across the room, I grab my favorite pair of black leather pants and an all-white corset with some gold embellishments. It's a bold option even for me, but I hope it gives me the confidence I desperately need to face this new reality.

Thank the Divine that the academy doesn't require uniforms, according to the rumors I have heard. That would have been torture. Grabbing a pair of cute black booties with studs, I pull them on to finish the ensemble and rush to the bathroom next door. I have just enough time to brush my teeth, throw on some quick eyeliner, and run my hands through my hair to get the knots out without causing it to turn the poofy mess that I hate trying to tame. Right as I enter my room to grab the bag off my bed that I had packed the night before my father steps back into the room.

"So you can follow orders," he snarks, walking up to me and pulling my bag from my hands. "You won't be needing anything in there. Everything you need will be provided to you at the school. None of this belongs to you anymore." At the same time he takes the bag from me, he places me back into handcuffs, this time they are placed on both my wrists.

"Is this really necessary?" I ask, raising my hand slightly. I'm not going to fight him on the bag. Sure, I have stuff in there I want to keep but it won't be the end of the world. Maybe I can have Warrick or my great-grandmother gather it for me to keep it safe from my asshole father.

"For now, yes. I don't trust you won't try something. These ensure you behave for our trip. Now, come," he demands, walking out of my room expecting me to follow him without complaint. It doesn't take long for him to guide me through our large house and out the front door. When we walk outside I see my mother standing off to the right.

"Mom," my voice cracks as I reach out to hug her. She shakes her head and steps back away from me hanging her head. I don't miss the tears that slip out of the corner of her eyes, but she doesn't look at me.

"You are shunned from this family until you can learn your place and powers," my father states as he grasps my bicep and pulls me down the front steps. "Be a good girl and fly with us to the Academy. If not, we will force you and the school will punish you as well."

I don't bother to argue, I know it will fall on deaf ears. My father couldn't care less that this may be the last time I see my mother. Even my mother is so far under his control that she won't fight him even for her own daughter. It hurts, but it isn't unexpected anymore. I hope one day she will find her inner strength and fight back against him but I'm starting to think that may never happen.

When we reach the bottom of the stairs, five Archangels are waiting in their military uniforms with three others beside them. Two of the three are familiar to me with the third appearing to be older than the rest of us but not by much.

Harper, I know from around the school. We only had one class together this past year, but she was always kind to me. Today, her long blonde hair is pulled back into a ponytail, and she chose to wear a pair of dark blue skinny jeans, white tennis shoes, and a flowy pink top. She's about the same height as me, maybe just a little bit shorter. Her flowy top hides the athletic build of her body but not by much.

Standing beside her is Stark, towering above the others. He was in the same year as us in school and ran in a similar circle as Maverick and his little best friend Jack. I tried to avoid him hoping that if he didn't think I existed he wouldn't target me in the same way Jack enjoyed. Seeing him standing here with the rest of us rejected is a surprise. I figured the popular circles never stood a chance of being rejected when they found their mates. It looks like even those sitting on pedalstals in school can fall. Today Stark is wearing the black ripped jeans I was used to seeing him in as well as a blue t-shirt with some weird design I'd never seen on it. His brown hair is messily styled and hanging down to cover his hazel eyes. He's taller than me, at least six foot four, but standing beside the archangels escorting us he still looks small which is surprising. He still appears cocky standing before us but it's not as prevalent as it is at school. Whether he's shaken by the rejection and being sent to RISE academy or it's because he is standing here in front of my father I'm not sure.

The other female rejected with them looks vaguely familiar. I think she was ahead of us in school because I remember seeing her in the halls. Today her pink hair is curled and pulled back into a ponytail the same as Harper's. I guess they all got the memo we would be flying today. Her eyeliner is dark with a cat eye look that put emphasis on her bright green eyes. I envy her outfit today: a pair of black bootie shorts, a red corset with horns, and knee-high black boots. It's giving me fuck off vibes that I am absolutely loving. With her boots she stands closer to the same height as Stark but without them I think she'd be around the same as me at five foot eight. The four of us together are rejected; that's unheard of, at least from what I know. At most, there have only ever been two angels rejected at a time from all the research I had done before the ceremony.

As a group, we all take to the sky and begin our flight. I have never been out of the angel realm, and despite my fear of the outside world, I am also excited. I'm ready to see new areas and even meet other species. Who knows, maybe I could find someone I like enough to become friends with. It would be nice to have another friend, especially since I'm losing Warrick, who I didn't even get to see after the ceremony. I would have liked the chance to say goodbye to him.

Despite the fact that angels can fly quickly, the flight to the academy is a long one. Two hours in and we stop for our first break. I hoped my father would remove the handcuffs but he doesn't. It is degrading being placed in them as the others aren't in any sort of restraints. I know he's doing it as a way to embarrass me. We all know I'm not a threat at all to anyone or myself. Each break we have during the trip is at most thirty minutes. On the third break, we receive some lunch, thank god because I was absolutely starving at this point. I never did have a chance to eat breakfast and flying burns a lot of calories.

It is late afternoon when our flying slows down. I have no idea where we are or whose territory we are now in. None of my school classes taught us much about the other races. Angels always believe they are superior to everyone else and it is told to us that it's not worth putting in an effort to learn about other races. Now, I wish we could have learned something about the other races.

"Excuse me, Sir, Seraphim Castiel," Harper calls out softly as we fly. It is the first time any of us has spoken and I'm surprised that someone is brave enough to try.

"Yes, Angel Harper," my father answers without a hint of menace in his voice.

"Where are we exactly? And where is the academy located?" Out of the corner of my eye, I can see her looking around curiously as she asks her questions.

"We are flying over the territory belonging to the wolves. As for the academy, it is in the center of all the realms in neutral territory." I'm surprised he explained all that, even more surprised he even responded to her at all. I figured he would ignore all of us since according to him being rejected is the same as being shunned or fallen, but I guess that only applies to me, his unwanted daughter. "Now, no more questions we are almost there."

The last hour of the flight is made in silence. The territory of the wolves is beautiful and I hope one day I will be able to explore it further and see the hidden beauties hiding within the woods passing by beneath us. As we break out of the trees in the distance a large castle appears. The building looks large with several turrets on the outside. It is beautiful and haunting all at the same time. As we get closer, we get lower to the ground before finally landing outside of some large black wrought iron gates that contain the RISE crest in the center, when the gate opens it looks like the crest would split in half. On either side of the gates are guard houses where several guards are either standing around or inside the shacks. As we land, a male walks out of each shack decked out in full military gear including knives attached to their thighs. The excitement I felt at this new endeavor disappears immediately, replaced by fear. This no longer feels like a school. Now it feels like a prison.

"Seraphim Castiel bringing four angel rejects," my father calls out as his grip on my bicep tightens. I look at the others around me and none of them are being held the same way I am.

Internally I roll my eyes and keep my focus on the security guards around us. Now they will be my biggest threat, not my father. I just wish that I wasn't being presented like a criminal in handcuffs.

"Thank you, we can take them from here. You can unhand and uncuff the girl," the guard on the right states. Already he's earning some brownie points just for freeing me from my father. I keep my attention on him at first as he is the one who interacted with us. The man stands at six foot six, his black hair is in a buzz cut and his brown eyes continue to flick between all of us. I'm not sure if its nerves or what but I'm almost positive his eyes have lingered on me just a little bit longer than the others. Taking my eyes off of him I turn to look at the other guard who is wearing similar clothes of a tight black t-shirt, black cargo pants, and black boots with a knife sheathed to his thigh. The difference between them was that his black hair was a bit longer than his friends and the front was slicked back slightly to keep it out of his eyes. He also seemed a tad bit skinny but wasn't any less buff. I'm pretty sure the two of them could stand their ground in a fight against the archangels my father brought with him, but I don't think they'd be able to stand against my father, not alone.

"I'd rather she stayed cuffed until we speak with the council. She has unpredictable powers," my asshole of a father retorts. It takes everything in me not to snort at his words. I'm hardly a threat and I have decent control over my magic. It only acts up when I'm actively using it.

"That may be," the guard answers, "however you are in our territory now. The young girl is no threat and will be escorted to speak with the council along with the others. You are not allowed entrance past these gates. Now, please don't make me ask again," his voice is firm and leaves no room for argument.

Doesn't he know my father loves to argue and do everything possible to get his way?

My father's hand drops from my arm as he walks around me and begins to undo the cuffs. His face is set with anger as he hastily uncuffs me. He doesn't do well with others telling him no and I'm slightly afraid for the guard in the long run. I'm sure my father will find a way to make him pay for this.

"Do not cause a scene or bring shame upon our family any more than you have," he snarls before shoving me forward.

Despite knowing it's a bad idea, I turn to look at him and give him one final comment. "Hard to bring shame to a family name that I no longer belong to." With a sweet smile, I turn on my heel and walk through the now-open gates.

I can feel him staring me down, his heated gaze on my back with every step away from him that I take. I half expect him to come after me and punish me. Either the guards won't let him or he's trying to save face. I win either way.

"Follow me. I'll take you to the council; they will give you further information," the guard who had silently watched us instructs. He doesn't wait to see if any of us follow, just begins walking up the long winding drive.

The stone driveway twists and turns as it winds its way up the hill. The closer we get the larger the school appears. There are two turrets on the side of the castle at the front, with several windows covering the stone exterior.

"Move to the side please," the guard instructs as he comes to a stop on the side of the road. The sound of a car approaching us makes me turn and I see a black SUV coming up the drive.

"So you're telling me that we could have driven here instead of flying for hours?" Stark groans as he watches the car pass us.

"Yes, almost all students arrive via vehicle. It's uncommon to arrive by any other method. I don't know why Seraphim Castiel chose for you all to fly here," the guard who had faced my father answers from behind me.

I jump at the sound of his voice, not expecting him to be behind me or any of us. Thank the Divine I didn't scream from the surprise.

"Scared, Little Angel?" he whispers in my ear.

"No," I sputter, rushing forward to get away from him. That dude moves so silently, I'm going to need to be on high alert. I hate that I already have a target on my back thanks to my father. I was hoping to just fly under the radar here. If I keep this guard's attention then that won't be possible anymore.

"This is the main building," the first guard explains." All administrative offices are in this building as well as your classes. After you meet with the council they will give you a map to get around. Please wait here and they will be out to get you shortly."

"You want us to wait outside?" Stark questions. It almost sounds like he's complaining, but I think it is more confusion than anything.

"Yes, stay here, Guard Noah will remain with you so don't try anything," he answers.

And there it is the kicker to his first instructions. I'd much prefer that he was the one staying with us. With a look out of the corner of my eye, I see Guard Noah staring at me. Goosebumps form on my skin and it takes everything in me to not visibly react. Better to just stand here and ignore him. I can blame the goosebumps on the fact we are standing under the large double stone arches that provide a shaded cover to the entrance of the school.