One wrong step, p.4
One Wrong Step, page 4
The guy looked overly relieved, and after that, Lopez continued ringing off names. Students climbed the steps, excited and hopeful, only to pout when they descended alone.
“Next - oh, of course. Sabrina Glinda Stefanovic.”
Curiosity had got the better of me by this point, and I’d squeezed forward into the crowd. Giggles suddenly followed a sweeping pink ball gown. Hair a bright bottled blonde, skin as pale as snow, Sabrina glided forward. With a smile that didn’t move, she barely glanced at Lopez before settling her gaze across the room, her voice sweet as sugar. “I, Princess Sabrina Gilda Stefanovic of the people, here and now call forth my ally, my partner in arms and supporter, through all the good, and especially the bad, until Fate parts us on the Ink’s behest.”
The book sparkled, yet this time, the glitter pen added another name. Lopez read it out with little enthusiasm. “Comet Penryn”
Bells chimed in the air, and I ducked as something whizzed overhead. A tall, pale boy flew forward, his blue wings buzzing, showering everyone in purple dust. “Oh girl, I knew I was destined for you.” He squealed, throwing his arms around her as she grasped him back. “I‘m going to make those boys drool over you, after they drool over me, of course, but still. We are-”
Lopez cleared her throat, cutting him off.
“Oh, right. Sorry, doll.” The boy grinned, and Lopez looked ready to smite him, but he hurried on, spilling his vow as a Fae of the Glade so quickly the book could hardly keep up. Finished, he bowed deeply to Sabrina, gracefully helping her descend the stairs, as luck would have it, right into my path.
Stalling before me, Sabrina’s nose turned up in a sneer as Lopez continued.
“I hadn’t realised we’d started inviting the help to these affairs.” She mocked, taking precious care to swirl her dress away from the puddle I was creating. “Can you afford to spend so much time away from the dairy farm?”
Heat tickled my cheeks. “I don’t know.” I pouted. “Can you spend so long out of your pen?”
A course of sniggers echoed nearby as parents clicked their tongues. Sabrina went rigid, her eyes firing daggers, while Comet came forward puffing out his chest. “You should be careful how you speak to Princess Sabrina, peasant.”
“In case she misunderstands, and I have to repeat myself?” I tilted my head, blinking innocently, before looking back to the stage.
Someone else had been called up, no ally for them though, all the while Comet gaped in shock, while Sabrina vibrated with enough fury, that she stamped her foot.
“Next, Killian Benedict Charming.” Lopez actually smiled this time as a roar went up.
“Charming? Like, the Prince?” I scoffed. But Sabrina heard.
“You stay away from my beloved. You’re not even worthy to speak his name.” She seethed, storming away in a whirl of pink, Comet glaring too as he went.
Snorting, I shook off my disbelief, only to trail my eyes up at the boy – no, the Greek God – waving at his adoring fans. Tussled golden hair swept across his brow, his skin a rich tan, while even from a distance, I felt the warmth of his smile. Broad shoulders strained against a white shirt and blue blazer, and just the thought of being corralled by that muscle…
Whatever disbelief I had flew from my head as I clapped along with everyone else.
“I, Prince Killian Benedict Charming, of the people,” He spoke, his voice sending shivers down my spine, as I imagined a crown on his head, and that head between my thighs. “Here and now call forth my ally, my partner in arms and supporter, through all the good, and especially the bad, until Fate parts us on the Ink’s behest.”
“Please be me. Please be me. Please be me.” A guy beside me chanted, his fingers crossed and his eyes squeezed tight.
“Ronan Gouveia.” Lopez called, a resounding sigh of despair falling from my neighbours’ lips.
From the far side, another guy with thick black hair and olive skin leapt up the stairs, taking two at a time. Clasping forearms with Killian, Ronan spoke his oath, calling himself a faithful Knight and, once again, that gold chain appeared. Descending the steps, I and the rest of the room watched as Sabrina slinked up to Killian, planting both hands on his chest as she stretched for a kiss; one quickly provided.
Shaking my head and turning away, I watched the circus continue. Some of the wolf pack went up, and I did well to hide behind enormous dresses when it was their turn. The best act, however, was by those obviously disappointed in their lacking ally, one student even bursting into tears. For all the drama in getting here, that entertainment alone was almost worth it.
Eventually, though, Lopez clapped, drawing silence to the crowd as she flew higher for all to see her. "Now that the Day Court is assigned," she said, "I will now-"
She stopped, something; or someone tugging on her down by her foot. Craning my neck, I couldn’t see who it was, but swiftly Lopez rose again, a twist to her lips. “Apologies. It would seem there is a book left and a name missed.” She cleared her throat, unfurling the scroll further, all the way to the ragged end.
She read it. And then read it again, and again, drawing hurried whispers from everyone. Darting eyes around, she searched the crowd for someone, but failing, she closed the scroll. “Azariah Everly Heart.”
The silence was so sudden; the room hung itself on a single thread. Heads swivelled, lips pressing together as the tension rose higher. Looking too, I wondered who could draw such a reaction, but my gut turned sour as more and more eyes fell on me. Slowly, the crowd pushed back like I had the plague.
“Azariah Everly Heart?” Lopez said again, spotting me. “Well, get up here.” Her wings were a blur.
“I- what? Me?” I huffed a half laugh, but no one laughed with me. “That’s not my name.” Yet with speed, Lopez was suddenly there, nose to mine as she pinned me with a gaze.
“And what exactly is your name?”
“Zara.” I sputtered. “Zara Johnson.”
“Zara?” She nodded, her hand snapping from nowhere, tightening around my arm. “Zara. A nickname for Azariah, no?” Sharp nails dug into my skin as she dragged me up the stairs.
Swinging me beside the last remaining book, I looked at the crowd and felt my chest tighten with unease. The wolf pack watched hungrily, one or two even whistling. Only Larc didn’t react, his face a mask of stone. Except for his eyes. They burned. I saw Sabrina too, her plump lips in a vapid sneer while her Prince watched with a curious gaze, alongside everyone else. But most mirrored Sabrina’s expression.
“Well.” Lopez hissed, making me jump. “Speak, girl.”
“Oh, I…” I gaped, trying to recall the words everyone had repeated over and over.
Yet, flicking my gaze up, I locked eyes with shadows and found myself taking a step back. Hair threaded with purple and inky darkness, skin as pale as snow, the guy lent on the railing with eager interest, tattooed hands clasped before him. Slowly, he smiled, showing two blindingly sharp fangs.
“I-I…” The word tripped out of my mouth as I forced my gaze away, mind blank. “I really don’t think I belong here; I’m not ‘of’ anything…”
Burning me to ashes with her eyes, her wings picking up speed, Lopez unfurled the scroll once more and, casting a glance frowned. "It seems you're written as a princess.”
“But…” Outrage fluttered around the crowd, and people began shouting, but Lopez shut them all up with a snap.
“Enough! Speak your vow, Miss Heart, and get on with it.”
“I, Zara- ugh…Azariah Everly Heart of the people … ah, here and now…” My brain fluttered the words to me as they stuck to the tip of my tongue. “Call forth my ally…my partner in arms and supporter, through all the good, and especially the bad… until Fate parts us on the Ink’s behest.”
My book trembled as gold glitter poured from the page. The invisible pen spelt out my name slowly and with vigour as if the ink resisted the idea as much as I did. Golden lightning cracked off the page and the crowd flinched back. Finishing with a snap, it was clear there was a name underneath mine. The crowd surged forward to see, but not before Lopez snatched my book up.
Her only reaction was a tremor in her jaw as she softly closed the book. “Jade Foxleaf.”
Gasps cut through the room, and all heads turned to a girl at the far end. She stood with her friends, all of them with wings on their backs. Hers fluttered a stunning burgundy, her long black hair reaching her hips, while a gold hairpin held half of it up away from her Asian features. She’d dressed in a silky gold cowl neck dress. She would have been stunning if it wasn’t for the furious scowl licking her features.
“Mistress Lopez. I’m a second year. They cannot assign me to a first-year - especially not to her.” That stung, but Lopez didn’t even flinch as the girl pressed on. “If this is some punishment for last year, I was cleared-”
“Cleared or not, you have been called, and now you’ll be repeating your first year right alongside her.” Lopez’s words were curt and final. “Approach to accept your vow, Miss Foxleaf. The Ever Book has spoken.”
For a moment, I didn’t think she would. But eventually, Jade approached, the click of her heels deafening as her wings swished, deadly and slow. Standing next to me, she was half a head shorter and didn’t bother hiding her disgust. “I’ll make you pay for this.” She breathed before snatching up my hand. “I, Jade Foxleaf, Fae of the Glade, bind myself to you, Azariah Everly Heart, as your ally.”
She yanked her hand free as soon as the words left her lips, but it wasn’t fast enough to stop the gold chains from curling around our wrists. By the time they’d disappeared, so had she, right into the arms of Larc, who pulled her in tight. My stomach dropped.
“Wonderful.” Lopez snipped as she pushed me down the steps. “Now we are truly done, we may move on to the Allies of the Night.”
Retreating to the shelter of my window alcove, a bubble of disgust repelled everyone away from me, and I didn’t pay any attention to the second half of the ceremony. It was much the same as before. Name, ally, vow, chain; name, no ally. The invisible chain that was put there by a magical book and a flying fairy, while a pack of werewolves and what I suspected was a vampire, watched on. Oh, and a Prince and a Princess, and a Knight, Mermaids, Dryads….
Bile swirled against my throat, and a dizzy wave rushed over me. I couldn’t stop my hands from shaking, or the ground from moving. But I plastered my back against the window and refused to bow. Fainting, vomiting, or breaking down in front of these people didn’t sound like an option.
“Okay, wake up,” I whispered, soaking in the cool touch of the glass at my back. “Time to wake up.”
But my body didn’t respond, and without warning, there was a clamour of applause. Snapping my gaze up, a string quartet began playing, and the crowd dispersed into a mingled conversation. Looking above it all, I spotted Lopez fluttering away to the other end. Shoving through the crowd, I took off after her.
Rushing out the side door and through a hall, I found myself in a courtyard, arches running around a fragrant garden aglow with fireflies. But Lopez was nowhere to be seen.
“God, fucking damn it!” I shoved my fingers through my hair. “What the Hell am I meant to do now?”
I didn’t belong here. I’d fallen down a well. Cracked open my head. I was out cold in a coma somewhere with doctors fussing over me because there was absolutely no way I was in some fucked up fairyland.
“Oh, dear. Is the little Rabbit all alone?” Spinning, my heart leapt into my chest as three figures approached: Jade buzzing on glowing wings, Larc tall, dark, and twisted, and Maverick, the last of whom slunk forward, whimpering. “Is the little Rabbit gonna cry?”
My breath quickened; my nerves fried. “You’ll be crying first when I crack you in the balls again, so back off.”
A growl snapped forth as Maverick stepped closer, his hand curling, but Larc’s cold, hard voice stopped him short. “Mav. Heel.”
Fury burned in Mav’s gaze, but he stepped back until he was behind his Alpha, who looked me up and down. Finally, Larc’s mask broke to reveal a scornful sneer. “This school really has gone to the depths.”
“You’re telling me.” Jade sneered. Floating forward, I could feel a tugging at my wrist like I should meet her halfway, but I kept my feet firmly rooted to the floor. “What in the Inks made you think coming here would be a good idea?” She said, flicking a sharp nail in my face. “Hasn’t your family done enough? Hasn’t your blood polluted the Inks enough?”
I wanted to laugh, but her tone told me she meant every word. “Look… I have no idea what you’re talking about. I don’t belong here, and Azaz-whatever isn’t even my name. I was looking for Headmistress Lopez to explain, but-”
“There’s nothing to explain! Your name is Azariah Heart and is in the Ever Book. I’ve been bound to you.” Jade’s wings now humming, too fast to follow. “Don’t bother lying.”
“Though you’re right about not belonging here.” Something dark flashed in Larc’s eyes.
“I can fix this.” I threw up my hands as the three of them crowded in closer. Glancing beyond for help, which was futile. The courtyard was empty. Even the fireflies seemed to have drifted away. “You don’t want me here; I don’t want to be here. Same side. Just tell me how to get home, and I’ll go.”
“You can’t undo a binding.” Jade snapped, flying higher to tower over me. “I’m stuck with you, having to repeat this entire year, too. All because of you.”
“That means she doesn’t get to spend time with me,” Larc said, pacing forward with a predatory gaze.
“I think it’s time for another dip, don’t you?” Mav smiled, sending an icy chill across my limbs.
The trio circled me, trapping me against the stone wall, and my stomach dropped. “I-I don’t…” I stammered, at a loss, backing up into the courtyard’s inner wall. I’d never been in a fight. Didn’t want to be. I wanted to be left alone. “I just want to go home…”
Jade lunged, snatching my wrist, her fingers as hot as a branding iron. I shrieked and tried to wrench my arm from her grasp. My vision tunnelled, my ears rang, and my muscles seized. I wasn’t breathing as Larc and Mav swept in, too.
“And I thought the Night Court were the tormenters,” a warm voice chimed. “They are better at it, after all.”
Everyone span, and my heart lodged in my throat as a familiar Greek god walked towards us. Blonde hair in a perfect sweep, his warm-honey eyes on me, Killian approached, flanked by Ronan, his knight. Immediately, Jade let my arm go, leaving behind a red handprint while Mav slid to defend his Alpha.
Larc straightened, hands sliding into his pockets, that mask falling back over his face with a tight smile. “Don’t bother getting all high and mighty on us, Killian. You know as well as we do how messed up this situation is.”
Killian didn’t stop until he reached our group, taking the time to throw me a reassuring smile that sent butterflies swarming in my stomach. “All I know is that your bed will remain cold for thirty seconds longer than normal, Alaric. Yet, for some reason, I can’t bring a tear to my eye.”
“Besides, maybe Jade would like a year without fleas. Try a real man.” Ronan smiled, throwing her a wink.
“I’d rather cut my wings off.” Jade sneered, but their anger was smoking out.
“So, what is this?” Larc glared at Killian, ignoring his girlfriend’s spat. “The glorious prince sweeping in with his boot-licking ancillary.”
Ronan laughed, his hazel eyes twinkling. "Says the guy who licks his balls."
My lips twitched. Killian, however, didn't rise to the bait. "This concerned student is making sure the lines are drawn. That none of us have forgotten which side of the line we stand. Which court. I’m sure the smoke eaters and crones will try to have their own fun. Are you really going to stoop to their level?”
“I’m okay with stooping.” Jade pinned me with a glare. “I might even lend a hand.”
Yet the tension in the air seemed to ease slightly. Sensing a light at the end of this, I flipped my hands up in a peace offering. “Look, we all clearly want me gone, so let’s do that. Let me go home.”
Killian’s warm eyes flicked to me for just a heartbeat, and mine tripled in my chest. Those butterflies did a somersault. “You’re not leaving Azariah.” He purred, “There is no need to.”
“Typical Prince,” Larc said, laughing, “Always thinks he can save the day.”
But Killian didn’t react, his eyes never leaving mine, his smile sweet and kind. “It’s in my nature,” Somehow, he seemed to stand taller, gaze sharp as he looked back at the others. “Now, go and fulfil yours and chase some other tail. You’ll clearly need one to replace your lovely Jade.”
A warning growl thundered out of Larc, and I could have sworn I saw his jaw tremor as his teeth elongated. Yet, he didn’t pounce and instead pulled Jade close. “You better know what game you’re playing, Charming. I’d hate for it to bite you on the ass.”
“I’d never had such an issue. Not with Ronan at my back.” Killian waved off, his smile having no business being that charismatic. As Larc left, Jade scowling and Maverick a ball of tension, he turned that charm to me.
“Now, I hope they didn’t scare you too much.” He smiled, checking me over a little too thoroughly. Ronan silently stood at his back.
“I’m fine.” I folded my arms across my chest, trying to cage in those butterflies. “Really, I just want to go home.”
“Well, that is disappointing to hear.” He smiled, catching my hand in his own and placing a delicate kiss on my knuckles. “But for now, it seems you’re not going anywhere. So, enjoy the party, and try to stay out of trouble. I’d hate for anything to happen to you.”
Allowing my hand to drop, he span away while Ronan gave me a fleeting look. But soon enough, I was alone.
Alone, scared, and utterly terrified.
Chapter Four
Eventually, after I’d pulled myself out of my shock and got my breathing under control, I ambled back to the library, intent on finding the first faculty member and demand I see Headmistress Lopez. I was done. This wasn’t exciting, wasn’t entertaining, and receiving thinly veiled threats was the last straw.
