Chapter Three

Chapter Three.

Natasha

Stepping through the gates of the Academy was like walking into a different world. Towering stonewalled buildings, with winding staircases that led to their individual entrances.

My eyes widened when I spotted flying gargoyles in the sky.

I ignored my guide, as he warned me to stay close.

And regretted it almost immediately.

I ducked just in time as one headed straight for me. My knee scraped the gravel floor, and I cursed.

“And you didn't deem it fit to warn me?” I hissed, rising to my feet. Thankfully, my pants had lessened the effect of my fall.

“I told you to stay close. The gargoyles are hostile to non-students.” He said, and that was it. He didn't offer further information.

He led me to one of the buildings that stood out. If I'd thought the Academy was majestic on the exterior, then the word for the interior would be; grand. Breathtaking.

Paintings adorned the wall, and I let myself admire them as my guide led me through the large hall with pastel accents. Golden chandeliers hung on the ceiling.

We stopped in front of a brown door, and I watched as my guide knocked on it. It opened after three consecutive knocks.

I took a deep breath, and walked in.

“Your Highness,” the smiling faced man seated behind the oak table said to me. I turned to see that my guide had disappeared.

Books were neatly arranged in the high shelves behind him. From where I stood, I caught the glimpse of the view outside.

“I am Sir Patrick, the principal of this Academy.” His eyebrows crinkled, and I couldn't resist smiling back.

“I am-” I began saying.

“I know who you are, Princess Natasha.” He interrupted.

I nodded curtly.

“The Academy will provide everything you need. You don't need that bag,” he said, gesturing towards my leg.

My gaze darted downwards, and sure enough, my bag had disappeared.

“Nothing from the outer world is accepted within the Academy grounds.” He explained further.

“But the clothes I came with haven't disappeared from my body,” I retorted sharply.

“They would, once you're within your dormitory.” He shrugged nonchalantly.

I observed him closely. His hazel eyes trained on me without blinking, and he appeared harmless. But I could sense the sheer power beneath that calm and harmless mask.

“How do I find my dorm?” I asked, with a sigh.

All I wanted to do at that moment was rest.

“Here,” he held out a wristwatch towards me. I hesitated, before reaching out to grab it.

I studied its features closely. A diamond wristwatch just like the one my guide had been wearing.

“I didn't know the Academy was so generous as to hand out wristwatches to its students.” The words were out before I could stop them.

“That isn't an ordinary wristwatch, Lady Natasha,” he chuckled, but my brow arched.

Lady?

He probably read the confusion on my face.

“Every student is addressed as ‘Sir/Lady.’ You'll get used to it.” He explained.

I scoffed. “You bet I would.”

I clasped the watch around my wrist, admiring its delicate yet mysterious features.

DRRA was boldly written on it.

“I suppose I'd find the dorm on my own?” I asked sassily.

His eyes narrowed. “You didn’t want to come here.”

“No, I didn't. Where.Can.I.Find.My.Dorm?” I gritted out.

He didn't respond, leaning down to peruse through the large book on the table. He traced the book with his finger, his face morphing into a scowl.

“What is wrong?” I asked in an uninterested voice.

“All dormitories are occupied, I'm afraid,” he said.

“Deal with it, then.” I replied without hesitation, trying not to think of how easy it'd be to slip through the Academy's gates, back to my kingdom.

“All female dormitories are occupied.” He said again.

“I don't suppose you're considering letting me stay in the male's?” I frowned.

“That’s the only alternative.” He sighed.

I clenched my jaw. “Whatever. I don't plan on staying here for long anyway.”

Relief crossed his facial features, as he ticked a corner of the page with an unusual looking pen.

He handed over a tag to me. “It’d lead you to your dorm. And here,” he added a folded note.

“Hand it to Sir Kai. He'd understand.”

Kai. There was another Kai in my supposed dormitory?

That was surely a bad omen. I accepted the note without a word, and turned to leave.

“Lady Natasha?” He called out, as I twisted the doorknob.

I faced him.

“Stay away from the overgrown garden surrounding the Academy. All isn't as it seems.” He said solemnly.

I merely nodded and walked out of his office.

★★★

I climbed up the long winding staircase that led to the rooms above, while examining everywhere.

The walls were made of light and dark stone, with high vaulted walls. The marbled floors gleamed in the soft light.

The air seemed to hum, which I dismissed as my imagination. But according to Sir Patrick, everything wasn't as it seemed.

Or maybe he was trying to make the Academy seem mysterious. If the latter was the case, good luck to him.

I stepped off the last staircase, muttering a word of thanks to the heavens.

“Dorm Tulip.” I read out from the tag.

The door was slightly ajar, which I found odd. I pushed it gently and strode in.

I couldn't tell what I'd been expecting, but…this wasn't it.

Maybe I'd been expecting a normal dormitory with bunk beds. Or maybe a cramped room.

The large dark walled living room greeted me. Ahead were three, no, four doors. The main rooms, I supposed. Dark curtains covered the windows.

There was no one in sight. I decided to make myself comfortable, while waiting for Sir Kai. Whoever he was.

The ornate dark table had a lit scented candle on it. I sat down carefully on the sofa, and crossed my legs.

My eyes flew open as I registered someone's presence moments later. And scent.

My heart thudded against my chest.

That scent.

No, that wasn't possible. He couldn't possibly be-

I whirled around to see that familiar face. He was leaning against the entrance, a slight frown on his face. Dressed in a black button up shirt and black trousers, Kai was the very picture of devastating handsomeness.

I pushed off the sofa, my eyes narrowing.

“Hello, Pest.” He finally said, breaking the silence.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I hissed. I looked around for any weapon I could use as defense.

He walked in leisurely.

“Maybe I should be asking you that question. What are you doing here?” He retorted, his face bland.

Blood roared in my ears, as everything clicked into place.

“You’re Sir Kai.” It wasn't a question.

“Indeed.” His smile was cold, without mirth.

My chest heaved. “How-”

“You might want to hand over the note Sir Patrick gave to you.” He said nonchalantly.

I blinked, my throat going dry. The heavens were surely full of humor.

Dark humor.

I robotically handed over the note to him, my fingers going numb.

“You can't stay here.” He simply said, flicking his hand. The note vanished from his hand.

“I agree.” I forced the words out of my mouth. I hated admitting that we both agreed on something.

As I expected, a smirk tugged the corner of his lips, broadening as I scoffed.

“Go talk to him. Who knows? You might get special treatment.” He shrugged.

“Of course. I wouldn't want to murder someone during my first semester here.” I threw back a sweet smile on my face.

His face closed up. “I think you phrased that wrongly. You mean, you don't want to get murdered during your first semester.”

I was about to retort, when I heard a familiar voice behind me.

“And who else, but the Princess of Gavemorth?” The voice was taunting.

I faced the owner of the voice, color draining off my face.

“Calise.” I straightened, regaining my composure.

“A cold welcome, cousin. But I guess that'd serve.” She smiled, pushing a strand of hair off her face.

I didn't bother asking her what she was doing here. She was a student, just like I was.

She strolled past me, like I was nothing. I watched as she made herself comfortable on Kai's body. Her lips curled in a taunting smile.

I pushed back the rearing feeling of hate, and another foreign feeling.

Jealousy.

“I have somewhere to be.” I merely said, turning to leave, when I stumbled into a hard wall.

Not wall, I quickly discovered as my eyes traveled up the well chiseled body.

“Leaving without saying hi?” He asked.

“I-” Every single thought disappeared from my head, as I beheld his features.

Brown eyes. White hair. Xavier.

“It’s been a while,” he simply said, and pushed me off his body. Humiliation tinted my ears as my nipples peaked at that mere contact alone.

I turned to see that Calise was no longer on Kai's body, and instead was standing a few meters away.

“Yes, it has been a while.” I said with spite.

The last time I'd seen the King of Zandaya, was when we joined hands to fight against the force that was terrorizing the Dark Realm.

He pushed his hands into his pocket, and shrugged.

I turned to leave again.

“Shit,” I cursed as I stumbled on something and crashed to the ground. I winced as I forced myself up.

I knew whose handiwork it was, as I met her smiling face.

“Who does the fourth room belong to?” I asked calmly, like I hadn't fallen.

“Who do you think?” Calise winked.

I scoffed. “Leave.”

“That room belongs to me.” I ordered calmly.

She threw her head back in mirthless laughter. “W-what?”

“You heard me, Calise. Leave. This instant.” I ordered again.

Her eyes burned with hatred, as she crossed her arms. “And if I refuse?”

“Why don't you try finding out?”

A brief look of fear crossed her eyes, before it vanished.

She approached me, and halted right at my front. We were close now. Very close.

I watched in amusement, as she raised her hand.

“I’d advise you don't.” A voice warned from behind us, making me freeze.