I watched in amazement when the missing numbers began to light up in an orange-gold color until all the mini boxes were filled with numbers.
There was a click, and the hand scanner began to work its magic, scanning the lines of my palm and moving up to my fingers.
I stared straight into the screen, noticing the retina scanner that started right after my hand scan was complete.
"Silver Spell Solange. Leader of Team 999. Do you confirm the fellow individuals behind you are indeed your teammates?" the robotic female voice asked.
"Yes," I said with confidence.
"Approved. Dorm 999 belongs to Yuriel Xin, Dimitri Hellsin, Ryuu Kensuke, Wolfgang Vasiliev, and Silver Spell Solange, who will remain leader unless deemed incapable. Please scan in order of leadership."
I moved my hand and glanced at the others, wondering how they were going to choose a second, third, fourth, and fifth leader.
They exchanged looks, Yuriel, Wolfgang, and Ryuu looking at Dimitri.
"Oh. You guys want me to be second? I thought Yuriel would be better."
"I like the third spot," Yuriel replied. "It's a holy number."
"Where does...actually nah. You're gonna give me some bible quote or something and I didn't read it," Dimitri reasoned, walking over to where I was.
I moved aside, and he scanned his hand, looking straight into the retina scanner.
Once he was done, Yuriel followed, then Ryuu. Wolfgang grinned. "Gotta save the best for last." he hummed.
We grinned, finding his little comment amusing. He finished his scan and I returned to place my hand on it once more.
"Excellent work. Dorm 999 has officially been claimed. You will not need to complete the keypad entry upon arrival from now on. Please enjoy your stay at S.S.S. school. Best of luck."
The golden gates began to open. "We did it!" I beamed, walking back to grab my luggage. The others did the same, all of us moving quickly onto the property before some new mysterious trick came up.
"Ryuu? How did you complete the keypad?" Dimitri asked.
Ryuu glanced our way, arching an eyebrow. "You guys didn't know what that was?"
"Um...a keypad?" I asked.
"With missing numbers," Dimitri added.
"Sudoku," Ryuu declared.
"What?" I asked. "What's that?"
"You guys have never heard of Sudoku?' Wolfgang asked.
I looked at Yuriel and Dimitri; the three of us were clueless as to what they were referring to. "Um, nope," I replied.
Ryuu and Wolfgang looked at Yuriel, who rolled his eyes. "Just because I have Asian heritage, doesn't mean I'm supposed to know what Sudoku is, you silent racists."
"But don't all Asians play it?" Wolfgang asked.
"I think that's a very broad assumption," I pointed out. "Just because I'm white doesn't mean I buy Starbucks."
"That's a thing?" Dimitri asked.
"Yup. I own a coffee shop though, so I can make whatever I want. Plus, Starbucks is gone now."
"Really?" Ryuu asked.
"Yeah. Some snake shifter took over the company but didn't know anything about business management. Sucks really. Their specialty drinks were good," I replied.
"I feel we went way off topic," Yuriel dryly stated. "And you own a coffee shop?"
"Yup." I nodded my head. "My parents gave it to me. We have a few coffee shops our family manages, but both my sister and I manage our own now. My mom's taking over while I'm away, but it's the perfect location because it's near the station that most students need to get to the school," I replied.
They all nodded before Dimitri looked over to Wolfgang and Ryuu. "Hey! I'm half-Asian, too. You guys didn't ask me."
"Really?" they both replied.
"Hmm. You look more native though," Ryuu added.
"Man, Dimitri. That was a slow response," Wolfgang noted.
"I was thinking!" Dimitri defended.
"Can we continue this Race Jeopardy inside? I'm still hungry," Yuriel suggested.
"Oh, Race Jeopardy! Do black shifters actually run fast for $200," Dimitri stated.
Ryuu groaned. "Who keeps saying black people run fast? We all aren't that Usain Bolt guy."
"Did you guys know Usain Bolt is actually a cheetah shifter?” Wolfgang noted.
We all gasped. "No way!" I commented. "No wonder why he’s so swift!"
"Wait, so did that movie the Black Panther derive from an African man who was a panther shifter?"
We were all silent for a moment, trying to think if it was true. "Maybe," I said in deep thought. "Would be the perfect inspiration for the movie."
I thought about something as we continued to ponder.
"If we're playing Race Jeopardy...Is it true that black shifters have long cocks and Asian shifters have small ones, for $1000."
The four guys were completely silent, all of them gawking at me. I shrugged.
"What? Is it true? False? Too racist for you? How did we even get to this conversation again?"
Yuriel and Dimitri looked at one another before glancing at Wolfgang and Ryuu. "So...do we have to measure our cocks now to answer accurately?" Dimitri questioned.
"I feel as though this is a challenge." Ryuu narrowed his eyes.
"My cock is bigger." Wolfgang chuckled.
"I'm sure yours is the smallest," Yuriel replied.
"Hey! How would you know?!" he countered
"You're the shortest," Yuriel stated.
"Dimitri's the same height as me!" Wolfgang countered.
"He's a hellhound, though,” Ryuu pointed out. "Your cock is a tad smaller than mine."
"What kind of brother are you?! You're supposed to defend my ass! Not counter me," Wolfgang argued.
"Yeah, but this is like the battle of the cocks. Every man for themselves."
"I'm gonna lightsaber your fucking cock."
"I bet his cock is like a training lightsaber for little kids," Dimitri chuckled.
"I should slap you with my damn cock! Then you'd see," Wolfgang argued.
"Would it reach my face if I knelt down, though?" Dimitri questioned with a sly grin, looking like he was about to burst into a laughing fit.
The other two snickered, and I couldn't take it anymore. I began to laugh, covering my mouth to try to be a bit empathetic.
"Battle of the cocks?! How did we go from Sudoku all the way to Penis Wars?!” I had to wrap my stomach with my arms. "Living with you guys is going to be hilarious."
The others began to blush, and Yuriel cleared his throat.
"Let's go inside," he encouraged. "And this battle isn't over."
"It's on!" the others replied, which only made me laugh harder.
"All right, my not-so-humble boyfriends. I'll be happy to judge your cocks with a glass of wine," I assured them, grabbing the handle of my bag, noticing their completely red faces. "You guys have to remember I'm the leader and get to participate in your manly games."
With a wink, I waltzed to the front door, feeling my own cheeks begin to flush.
I can't believe I said that. Totally flirted with all of them. However, I am curious about who has the biggest cock. Wait, no. We haven't really gotten to that stage yet. Slow down, Silver. There's enough cock for...uh...me. Yes. Only me. Four cocks...oh goodness.
Pulling my mind out of the gutter, I looked back to see the guys begin to recover, grabbing their stuff to walk up the path.
I turned back around, catching onto their words.
"I think we chose an interesting girlfriend," Dimitri whispered.
"Agreed," the other three replied.
I grinned, reaching the door, and placing my hand on the handle.
Living with four hot men while trying to survive this school's challenges. This is going to be an interesting four years.
15
Everyone Deserves To Celebrate
"I can't believe they stocked up the fridge with wine." I reached for another bottle of rosé, closing the sleek, high-tech fridge.
Turning to
walk to the kitchen island, Dimitri moved to stand next to me, offering to open it.
"Thank you." I gave him a sweet smile as I handed over the bottle.
He nodded before answering my previous comment. "I'm surprised there was any alcohol in there. They have imported beer."
"They have Soju, too," Yuriel added. "Hard to get around here unless you specifically go to the Korean alcohol stores."
"I'm glad we get a few days off. This schedule looks interesting," Wolfgang noted. Dimitri finished pouring me a glass and recorked it.
Putting it back in the fridge, he grabbed another bottle of beer and Soju for Yuriel. The two of us walked back to the lounging area in the chic living room.
The entire house was absolutely stunning. Each room varied in color, with the living room being the most artistic, incorporating all the different shades from the other rooms.
We had everything from an entertainment system, theatre room, playroom that had a variety of games like pinball machines and pool tables, and a pool in the backyard that could clean and empty itself during the winter months.
All our rooms were located upstairs, with the guys giving me the biggest one since they said a girl needed her space.
Wasn't going to argue with that.
We hadn't completely unpacked, just changed and freshened up. I was glad each room had its own bath and shower, making it super convenient.
All the beds were queen-sized, had large black desks and lamps for work, and a bookshelf for whatever textbooks we'd have to purchase.
Or any books we brought of our own.
We decided to pre-drink while checking over our schedules, still debating if we wanted the rest of the day off or to go party.
"Does it look hard?" I questioned, sitting down between Dimitri and Yuriel on the main couch that faced the 95-inch flat-screen T.V.
Ryuu was on our left side on the two-seat couch and Wolfgang was sitting on some beanie chair that was on our right.
"I'm not sure," Wolfgang replied. "It doesn't seem difficult, but who knows what's in store for us?”
"The purpose of the first year is for us to adapt to everything," Yuriel replied, taking a sip of his Soju before he continued. "It's the year dedicated to helping us adapt to their expectations and gain a better understanding of magic and what roles we'll play when we go out into the field."
"How do you know that?" Ryuu asked.
"Research," Yuriel replied. "Didn't you guys do that?"
"It's actually hard to get a lot of information on S.S.S. and their requirements," Dimitri noted. "Especially when you live in another country. I only discovered its existence through our local newspaper. Some guys that were well known by the townspeople graduated and they brought it to the paper to celebrate."
"Ryuu and I only knew about it when his parents bought the mountain. We’d see the students in their uniforms and got curious. Your dad didn't even know much about it, did he, Ryuu?"
"Nah. He had to inquire about it through a friend. Sure, their overall organization is known, but apparently, unless you live close by, you wouldn't know about the school. It's kind of hard to explain."
"They spelled the name when they trademarked it," Yuriel announced.
"Huh?" I asked. "They spelled — as in placed a magic hold on — the name when it was made official? Why?"
"S.S.S. is the best spy school in the world. However, it's not as frequently talked about as you’d think. A spell was placed on it so that only people who had the goal of becoming stronger, wiser, and pursuing a career that helps others would really remember the school. It's complicated to explain and a bit confusing, but essentially even when news reporters talk about it or write in the papers, they never write ‘school’ or state it’s an school, so to speak. They always say S.S.S. organization and if they mention the school itself, people assume the organization is financing a school. Not an actual school created to mentor shifters into spies," Yuriel explained.
"That's a total mind fuck," I admitted, sipping my wine. "Anyway, that means the first year is supposed to be a breeze?"
"Somewhat," Yuriel replied. "It's about adapting, but I've heard of teams getting surprise quests or missions. The final exam is also a pain."
"I've heard about that," Dimitri noted, drinking half of his beer before he continued. "I've heard the final usually ends up with a few team members dying, if not the entire team."
"Delightful," I sarcastically stated. "Nothing like ending your first year by dying. There's no revival mode?"
Ryuu chuckled. "We honestly don't know.”
"Some people say the final exam and the surprise missions are fake. Others say they're real. I've heard people have died, but isn't that something we should all be ready for when applying for this school?" Wolfgang mentioned.
"It's an school that needs the best of the best. Not average or the lucky people who barely skim by. I'm sure by the end of the semester, we won't see half the teams we'll meet in class," Yuriel replied.
"We have to get a triple S score on everything, correct?" Dimitri inquired.
"It honestly depends," Yuriel replied. "They're strict on certain missions where they'll only take perfection, but I've heard as long as you get an S and above, they'll let you through. It's when you reach the final year that things get chaotic and strict."
"That's when you’re a few months away from being a real spy and all the benefits and risks that come with such a role," Ryuu commented, drinking more of his beer.
I sipped more of my wine and relaxed into the back of the sofa. "There's also the three-strike rule. My sister mentioned it."
"Three strikes?" all the others but Yuriel questioned.
"If you get below an S score. You get a strike. Only counts for the first three years. Essentially, you are given the chance to continue or come back," Yuriel answered. "If you leave, you have to start all over and will only have two strikes left. Some people leave to train and get stronger. Others leave and decide whether being a spy is what they see for their future. It's a personal choice."
"Three strikes and you’re out. Guess it's pretty lenient of them," Dimitri concluded.
"Hopefully I'll have some classes with you guys,” I said, unsure how things would go. I was a tad nervous about the whole classroom setting. I wasn't the type who fit in and made friends with anyone. Not with how powerful I was magic-wise.
Maybe this will be different.
"We'll check tomorrow," Wolfgang said with a relaxed grin. "Why don't we just relax and enjoy the evening with alcohol and food."
"That sounds more entertaining," Ryuu agreed.
"I'm down. We should order some hot food. Do you guys like spicy wings?" Dimitri asked.
"Spicy wings and beer? This is going to turn into a competition," Ryuu declared.
"I love spicy food," Dimitri announced. "You'd lose going against me."
"Ryuu's stomach is like a bottomless pit," Wolfgang revealed. "You'll struggle."
"You're underestimating me," Dimitri chuckled. "Let's order some!"
The two of them got up and began talking about what else they wanted to order. Yuriel and Wolfgang looked my way.
"You want spicy wings, Blossom?" Wolfgang asked.
"I don't mind. Though, I enjoy honey hot wings better," I admitted. Wings to me were best with the sweet and hot combo.
Wolfgang nodded, looking at Yuriel. "Honey garlic?"
"How’d you know?" Yuriel questioned.
“Angels don't like spicy food," Wolfgang replied, getting up. "I can handle spicy stuff but prefer sweet. I'll make sure those two don't order up a storm. I think some garlic sticks with cheese and marinara dip would be nice, too. Hmm. Now I want pizza."
"Can we get pepperoni?" I sweetly asked.
"Anything for our girlfriend." Wolfgang winked. He walked over to the other two, who were punching in the order on some screen that was integrated into the marble wall.
Turning to Yuriel, I noticed his gaze was still on me. "What?"
"Nothing," he replied.
"Why were you down in my area?" I questioned. It was one of the questions I wanted to ask earlier but had skipped my mind when Dimitri arrived.
"Picked up my bike," Yuriel replied, returning to drinking his beer.
"You don't look like the type to ride a motorbike," I mumbled, sipping more of my wine.
"Maybe," he replied.
"Did you move your bike?" I asked.
"Nope. I'll do it later."
"But you’re drinking. You can't now." I grinned mischievously.
"You're observant," he muttered. "I'll figure it out."
"Was your family happy you got in?" I asked.
"It's an expectation," he replied. "Nothing to celebrate about when I knew I'd get in."
"That's depressing," I commented, meeting his starry dark blue eyes. "Whether it’s an automatic in or not, doesn't mean you shouldn't celebrate."
He stared at me for a long moment. "Did you?"
"Yup. My mom and sis made me a nice brunch and cookies. Oh, I brought some with me. We can all have some. We should get a cake. Everyone likes cake." I already had the perfect idea for what cake to get.
"Your family must really treasure you," Yuriel whispered, rising up from the couch.
"And yours doesn't?" I asked.
"Our values are different from mages. You'll understand a bit more once you see how shifters interact," Yuriel acknowledged.
"I don't think it should matter about values. Love is love. Just because you’re an angel, doesn't mean you can't receive love," I countered, rising up as well to face him.
"Even with what you know about me?" His voice was low enough for only my ears to hear.
"Doesn't matter what you are, Yuriel." I reached out to wrap my hand around his and give him a sweet smile. "You deserve to be loved like anyone else. You and the others also earned a celebration. Let's go get a nice big cake and more alcohol. We'll celebrate the first of many accomplishments."
I tugged him along to the others, who were in the middle of a discussion on which chicken wing flavor was the best.
"You're weird," Yuriel muttered.
"Weird but you're still dating me," I taunted with a giggle.
"Guess I still am," he whispered.
SSS: Year One (Supernatural Spy School Book 1) Page 17