Seven Crowns (Bellaton Book 1)

by E. V. Everest

Main Hall Dining Room

  Speech & Debate

  9:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

  Hardin Hall

  Botany

  11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

  Greenhouse 1

  Lunch

  12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.

  Main Dining Hall

  Open Study

  1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

  Intermediate Mathematics

  3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  Lowell Room

  Intergalactic Relations & Historical Contexts

  4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

  Gordon Hall

  Free Time

  5:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

  Dinner

  7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

  Main Dining Hall

  Astrophysics Lab

  9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

  Tuesday and Thursday Only

  Tole Tower

  Lights Out 11:00 p.m.

  Saturday Class

  TBD

  Ana’s eyes widened on the words Saturday class. Was nothing sacred?

  Holden crossed the room and flopped into the chair across from Ana. Unlike the rest of the dining room, he didn’t seem to think anything about Ana’s presence at their table. His hair was damp like he’d just gotten out of the shower. “Morning,” he mumbled. “Whatcha lookin’ at?”

  “Class schedules. Looks like we’ve got Speech & Debate and Astrophysics together,” Adam said to Ana.

  She wasn’t listening. She was still staring at the schedule in disbelief. “I hope they’ve left enough time in the schedule for us to pee,” she muttered.

  Adam snorted, and some green liquid shot out of his mouth. “Yeah, they pack the classes in pretty tight, huh?”

  “They even scheduled one on Saturday. Is nothing sacred?”

  “Afraid not. Once we’re finished eating, we can all walk to Speech & Debate together. You’ll get to see all the families in action.”

  Oh goody, Ana thought. Hopefully, they would all be as fun as the carnivorous-plant-growing-tattle-telling Fleur family. Well, she’d know soon enough.

  12

  Gifts

  Ana followed Adam and Holden into an enormous classroom. Nearly one hundred seats were tiered, overlooking a lectern below. They took an empty row halfway up the left side.

  The instructor entered the room. He was a middle-aged man with graying brown hair. He wore a midnight-colored suit with a white dress shirt, unbuttoned at the top, and gave off an air of superiority.

  “Professor Cornwallis DuBois,” Adam whispered.

  Before Ana could respond, class began.

  “Welcome to another term, students,” Professor DuBois said. “I look forward to hearing your prepared speeches over the next few weeks. I hope you have taken advantage of the break to prepare. As you know, some of you needed more practice than others.” He made eye contact with a select few students. “Our first student will be…” He looked down at his list. “Ophelia Fleur.”

  He stepped down from the lectern and moved to a raised platform in the corner with its own desk. A small, pale girl made her way down the aisle. She had the blondest hair Ana had ever seen, a cascade of ethereal snow. When she arrived at the lectern, she adjusted the microphone with shaking hands and shuffled her cue cards for what felt like ages. She didn’t make eye contact with the audience.

  Maybe she is trying to buy time, Ana thought.

  The instructor must have thought so, too, because he said, “Please begin, Ophelia.”

  “H-hi,” she managed. The microphone blared as she moved a little too close. I’m Ophelia Fleur.”

  A few kids snickered.

  “Yes, Ophelia. We know who you are. Please go on,” Professor DuBois compelled.

  Ophelia started again. She was trying to tell them about an exciting research trip and the discovery of a plant that was rumored to be a cure-all. The content might have been interesting if her delivery wasn’t an absolute nightmare. Her voice was too quiet, and every few minutes, she would drop one of her notecards and scramble to pick it up. At one point, she dropped the whole stack. She stooped to pick them up and started to re-sort them.

  “If you can’t keep your notecards organized, you will have to continue without them,” the professor said.

  “Harsh,” Ana muttered.

  Holden nodded.

  Ophelia’s eyes widened in horror. This was going to be hard to watch. Although Ana had her doubts about the Fleur family, she was wavering. They couldn’t all be bad. This girl hardly seemed the type to grow carnivorous vines or set up assassination attempts.

  Professor DuBois’s eyes softened a bit. “Relax,” he commanded. “What are you trying to tell us about?”

  “A, um, a plant, sir.”

  He tried to guide her with a series of questions. “What kind of plant?”

  “The stargazer lily, sir.”

  “And what does it look like? Where does it grow? Why is it important?”

  Ophelia turned to answer him, looking away from the stadium seating. “It’s a huge blue blossom. About the size of a grapefruit.”

  “Don’t tell me. Tell your audience.”

  “Oh. Sorry.” She turned to face the class.

  The speech continued. It wasn’t elegant, but the improvement was drastic. Ophelia’s aunt had discovered a rare plant with healing properties. Unfortunately, the plant was proving difficult to cultivate. It only bloomed on the island, more formally known as the Southerly Province.

  “Everyone knows it’s difficult for outsiders to visit the island. My aunt was only there for a day, and she was sick for a week afterward.”

  Ana was taken aback. Apparently, Keia and Leilani’s stories about the island had been true.

  Mercifully, the speech came to an underwhelming end (they were still struggling with the plant which refused to bloom when removed from the island). Ophelia stepped down from the podium.

  “Henry DuBois,” the instructor called.

  A tan boy with thick, dark hair sauntered down the aisle. He winked at Ophelia as he passed her. She shrank into her seat. The boy stepped behind the podium, totally at ease.

  The instructor smiled for the first time since he had walked into the room. Clearly, this student was a favorite.

  Henry lifted the microphone. “Good afternoon.” His tone was warm and clear.

  Clapping and a few whistles broke out from the classroom. Ana felt like she was at a rock concert rather than a boring speech and debate class. What was this guy’s deal? Why was he so popular?

  The instructor gestured for them to all quiet down.

  Henry continued, after flashing a dazzling smile at his audience. “Today, I want to talk to you about an issue that is close to the hearts and minds of many in this room.” He paused for effect. “The colonies. For many of us, they seem like the place of myths.” He smiled at Ophelia. She sunk down even lower in her chair. “But they are, in fact, very real and impact the wellbeing of every person in this room.” He accentuated each of these words, letting them wash over his captive audience.

  All around her, the strangest thing was happening. The same students who had been sending each other messages, doodling on tablets, and completing homework for other classes were now paying the strictest attention. Every eye was on Henry.

  As he spoke, the students nodded in agreement.

  Ana realized this must be one of the gifts Samuel had told her about. She felt herself being sucked in along with the rest of the crowd, mesmerized by the cadence of his words.

  “You’re from Earth, right, Anabella?”

  His question caught her off guard. “Um, yes.”

  “Earth is one of our oldest colonies. To many of us, it doesn’t seem real. Sure, we have seen aerial shots and satellite imagery, but what is it like on the ground?”

  He was putting Ana on the spot. While his words seemed kind, his eyes drilled into her, daring her to answer. This guy could be seriously dangerous. How far did this power stretch? How much could
he influence others? Could he make them love him, hate him… die for him?

  With effort, she gathered her thoughts. “Earth is beautiful. Where I lived, there were tall forests filled with trees and animals.”

  He smiled, not at her but at the crowd. “And that is why we must continue to expand our current operations on the colonies, mining natural resources to improve our world.”

  She interrupted, “Your desire to exploit Earth’s natural resources isn’t what makes it important. It’s home to millions of people who depend on those same resources. Don’t you care about them? Or are they expendable too?”

  She glared at Henry DuBois. His beauty and charisma no longer had the same impact on her. He was as greasy as a used car salesman. The classroom had grown still, looking between Ana and Henry.

  The instructor gave a thin-lipped smile. “I do like to see a lively debate, but perhaps a later date would be more appropriate.”

  Henry concluded his speech in a grandiose way, and Ana was relieved when he finally returned to his seat. His power contained to one corner of the room. His spell lifted.

  In the seat next to her, Adam was beaming. “I can’t wait for debate rounds. I’ve always wanted to see someone show up Henry DuBois,” he whispered. “Pompous little a—”

  The professor called the next name on his list. “Holden Rockwell.”

  Holden walked down the aisle. He didn’t look excited like Henry or terrified like Ophelia. He didn’t draw eyes as he walked down the aisle. He was just Holden—steady and confident. He had chosen to do a narrative piece on his first flight.

  “I was fifteen years old when I first sat behind the helm of a fighter jet. Three thousand pounds of high-grade metal, nearly invisible to the naked eye, and some of the best technology our world has to offer,” he started.

  As he described the feeling of the jet lifting off the ground, Ana’s thoughts drifted to her own journey to the academy, to her time on the Bumblebee. As the room fell silent, she jolted back to the present.

  Holden had stopped talking. He was just standing there, mouth open and staring straight ahead. His hands clenched the podium. What was wrong with him? Was he okay?

  It went on for an uncomfortable moment before the instructor interrupted, “Mr. Rockwell, kindly finish your speech!”

  Another moment passed, and Holden muttered, “Sorry, Professor. I, uh, lost my place.”

  Holden finished his narrative in a hurry, rushing through a passionless finale.

  Returning to the lectern, the instructor dismissed the class with a final “And practice before we meet again!”

  Ana and Adam hurried to the exit where Holden was waiting for them.

  “Did it happen?” Adam blurted. “A vision?”

  Holden shrugged. “Nah, man. I just dropped my notecard. No big deal.”

  Adam looked relieved. “Oh. Well, dude, you looked like an idiot up there.” He slapped Holden on the back.

  Holden, usually the first to laugh at himself, only gave him a partial smile. Something was still bothering him.

  Ana knew that look.

  Holden had a secret.

  * * *

  In between classes, Ana hurried to her dorm room. She hadn’t expected to be attending school today. The rest of her classmates were carrying matching sleek tablets. They were smaller than a textbook but larger than a cell phone. She had seen some kids talk to them and others jot notes on them with a stylus. She was also pretty sure some of them were sending messages to each other.

  Meanwhile, she didn’t even have a pencil or notebook. She was hoping to find something back in one of the many rooms in her dormitory. Maybe the one with all the books.

  She was pleased to find her door was still vine-free. She turned the knob and entered. Petrie wrapped around her legs, purring, to greet her.

  She bent down and scratched his head. “Who let you in, boy?” She looked around but saw no one in the living area. “Madame Bali!” she called.

  There was no answer.

  In the end, she found her sketchbook in her duffel and a fancy ink pen in the library. She hurried back down the stairs and out onto the grounds. The walk across campus was peaceful. She could taste the salt in the air and hear the waves crashing in the harbor beyond the school’s walls.

  “Ana!” a voice called. “Wait up!”

  She turned and saw Holden jogging up the path. “You know where you’re going?” he asked, slowing down to fall into step next to her.

  “Not really,” she admitted. “I was just going to follow the path.”

  “You’d have ended up at the west gate. There’s a turn up ahead.” He pointed to a grove of tall cypress trees that spread over the path, creating an inviting canopy. As they broke through the last of the trees, the greenhouses came into view. They were a series of geodesic domes, spaced almost like a fractal pattern. The centermost dome was the largest, and Holden led them to the door. When they opened it, a rush of warm tropical air washed over them.

  The instructor, an older woman with silvering hair, greeted her at the door. She smiled and inclined her head. “Anabella Halt, it’s good to have your family at home once more.”

  “Thank you,” Ana said, shifting uncomfortably. All of this attention and formality was still new.

  The instructor looked around the room as if considering each student. “Why don’t you work with Ophelia today? She has a knack for growing things. With her help, you’ll be up to speed in no time. Though your family has always had a talent with living things.”

  Ana recognized the small pale girl from speech class. She looked much calmer than she had this morning, which Ana considered a good sign. Hopefully, she was a better botanist than she was an orator. She joined Ophelia at her table.

  “Hi, I’m Ana. The professor asked me to be your partner.”

  “I’m Ophelia. Though you probably already know that from my terrible speech.” Her cheeks tinged pink.

  “It wasn’t that bad,” Ana lied. She searched for something positive to say. “I thought the plant sounded really cool. I’d love to visit the jungle. I’ve always been interested in travel.”

  “That’s no wonder. It was probably your spirit crying out for your homeland,” she said as gentle as a breeze.

  What a strange thing to say.

  The instructor began to speak. “I know many of your other teachers will give you an easy first day back, but not in this class. While you have been away, the plants have flourished under the careful guidance of a few of our more talented students.” She looked at Ophelia, who looked down at her feet. “However, we must tackle the essentials. Each pair will be assigned a different task.”

  The first pair, Holden and another Rockwell she hadn’t met yet, were given the task of watering the plants. The instructor squinted as though she distrusted them with the task. “Just a touch of water. Not too much!” she reminded.

  The new Rockwell scowled and muttered something about “yard work” under his breath.

  The second pair was assigned to pick weeds.

  Ophelia and Ana were given the task of pruning. Ophelia, as it turned out, was much better with plants than speeches. She took the lead, and they finished in record-breaking time. They spent the rest of the class talking.

  * * *

  The rest of the day passed in a blur. Ana took notes in tiny script, trying not to fill up all the pages of her sketchbook. Plus, she had no idea what she was writing down. Intermediate Mathematics was very, very advanced by Earthen standards, and Intergalactic Relations & Historical Contexts was like reading a detailed, uber-realistic science fiction novel.

  All she wanted to do now was relax. If she was at home, she would have been watching television, hanging out with her roommate, or calling her brothers on the phone. She hoped they were okay.

  She entered her dorm and flung herself onto the couch. A few feet in front of her, a vibrant display of flowers adorned her coffee table.

  Wait a minute. Someone has been in here.
/>
  She rose from the couch and walked over to get a better look. Attached to the ornate crystal vase was a small card. She picked it up and read.

  Welcome Anabella,

  It is our fondest wish to meet at the capital soon.

  Yours,

  Imogene, Roger, & Lauren Fleur

  The flowers were beautiful, but a little line creased Ana’s forehead. How had they gotten in? Did they have a key? Or did they jimmy the lock or something? She knew plenty of kids that could pop the door on an old Honda with a coat hanger, but weren’t these people supposed to be rich? Maybe they paid someone to open it for them?

  Next to the flowers lay a small lilac box and a larger brown box. Ana opened the lilac box first and found a dainty silver bracelet with a tiny ruby surrounded by matching crystals, or maybe they were diamonds, she couldn’t be sure. She slid the bracelet on.

  Dearest Anabella,

  We’ve heard so much about you. We hope this bracelet is to your taste. Wishing you everything you deserve in life.

  Hera & Bellmont Jacobs

  Abandoning her worry, Ana plopped down on the floor and let her legs stretch out across the old rug. Well, if they wanted to drop off gifts, they could break in anytime. Inside the brown box were chocolates. Ana looked for the guide. There was always a guide. And she didn’t want dried fruit or nougat. Gross. Instead, a note fell out of the satin lining. In bright purple pen, it read:

  Anabella,

  A small token from your friends Oswald, Harmony, and Lydia DuBois.

  XOXO

  Ugh. Lydia DuBois. She wasn’t exactly Ana’s biggest fan (and the feeling was mutual). Still, Ophelia had been pretty cool, and her family had tried to frame Ana for destroying their vines. Lydia was rude, but maybe her parents were fabulous people—kind-hearted chocolatiers. Ana selected an ivory chocolate with caramel sugar on top. As she raised the chocolate to her lips, a throat cleared behind her.