by Serena Nova
“Violet, don’t,” Nox said.
This had me looking at the back of her head. A giggle escaped me when I said, “Your name is Violet, after the colour?” I choked out, couldn’t hold the full laugh I felt coming up. Violet turned around so fast, her bun almost seemed to move out of place, almost. Hair, violet. Before I could keep my mouth shut, I laughed some more. “You should turn your hair purple. If you can’t I can help with that.” I held up my fingers, twirling one around.
Violet pointed a finger at me and spat out, “You can’t talk to me like that, I’m part of the Selection. I’m in the council, the Heir to one of the high houses. If you insult me again–” her eyes darkened with her threat.
“If I do, what will you do, Bun?” I asked her. My mood turned around. She wanted to feel important, needed to let me know who she was. I didn’t care.
“You-You. Watch your back.” Violet turned around.
“Violet,” Nox said, “shut up.”
I turned my gaze toward the man sitting next to me.
I had seen him in the arena and in the hallway a little closer. Sitting with him in the car gave me the chance to look him over. Really look at him. Blond hair, cut in a modern hairstyle, short at the sides and long on top. I was being stared at by light-blue, almost white eyes. A smile was on his lips and solely there. He was handsome, but not so handsome you would jump into a bed with him.
Astra told me that her parents wanted her to marry him. That he was a bad person. A chill crept over my back, he looked nice, almost as if nothing was wrong with him.
“Are you done?” he asked. My eyes widened a little. I hadn’t noticed that I had pushed my magic towards him, sensing him. I focused on my magic, what I felt from him. His fire magic and his water magic, nothing more. Nothing that would explain the chill he gave me; the neck hairs that rose up every time he laughed.
I pulled back my magic and answered, “Yeah.” I turned my head to look outside. I could see the trees, the evening darkening the forest faster, letting the shadows grow and play.
“Why did you become a Protector?” he asked me. I didn’t turn my head when I answered. I could hear the leather seat in front of me creak and knew that Bun Lady turned in her seat to listen.
“Why not?” I said. I couldn’t tell them it was because of Gran, because I was a Royal. My mission was to keep it as vague as possible.
“Do you like it?” Nox’s next question. That was a question I could answer. “Yes, it is great to know how to fight with your hands, to hit someone in the face and feel their nose break,” I said, smiling into the window. I remembered the first time when I’d broke someone's nose. Thalia’s nose.
The crunch it had made, the blood that rushed out of it. The way her head moved back, she stumbled, didn’t fall. I would never forget that day, she deserved it. Thalia had used her magic on one of the Protectors in my class, we were young, thirteen years old. That girl didn’t know how to defend against magic yet. Alexa had been in the hospital for weeks. It took her a long time to get back on her feet, and she still has the ice burns on her arms that Thalia made. I punched Thalia the moment I saw her doing it. It was worth cleaning the dining hall for a week.
Violet puffed out a breath. “You are a Witch, why would you become a Protector? Your status makes people do those kinds of things for you.” Violet’s voice pitched higher when she spoke, her anger still lining her words. I looked at the back of her seat, rolling my eyes at her.
“No, because when they all are dead, you will be, too, and me, I will be fighting my own battles, staying alive with what I learned. So, yes, I’m grateful and happy to be a Protector. Better than being a stuck-up Witch.”
“Where did you come from?” Nox asked me, he ignored Violet who bristled in her seat.
“A home,” I answered him, back to looking out of the window.
“Where?” he asked again.
“Somewhere.” I answered, and before he could ask more, I said, “Why are you asking me that?”
“I want to know you, Isadora.” My name was drawn out, almost as if he was testing it on his tongue.
“Who are you?” was his next question.
“Nobody,” I answered.
That made him laugh. Before he could ask me something else, I turned in my seat and looked at him. “Who are you?” I said.
He laughed again, knowing that I was deflecting him.
“I’m Icas Nox. Council member and the Heir to the house of Nox,” he said.
This made me look at him again, he was from one of the houses that had started the uprising. Who’d planned most of the whole thing. I breathed out, slowly.
“My nephew is King.” A sly smile crossed over his face, and his eyes turned even colder. Before I fully registered it, it was gone. It left me wondering if I saw it correctly. The council of the high houses are called Heirs, they weren’t the Heirs to the Kings. They fought over that, made sure that the strongest of them got on the throne. It was always Kings, never Queens that got the throne. They were there for the baby making.
“Fun for you,” I answered him. We had learned about the council in school, how the Kings ruled the world. How they used the council to assist them. All the boring stuff. I never got why we needed to know that. We Protectors were good for one thing, that was as bait, sacrificed to do the dirty work, to fight the creatures they couldn’t stop. They taught us how good the Kings were, how they fought for us, and kept this world safe. They didn’t.
If you were lucky, you had money to keep you safe, living a life of luxury, freedom, and maybe even peace. If you couldn't and you were a Null, you become a Protector, you sacrificed your life to keep your family, and the world, safe. There was one good thing about this all was it paid well.
If you had magic, it was easy. Even if you were a weaker Witch or Elemental. Magic was seen as a status, it gave you power and a place in the world; without it, you were nothing, replaceable.
I was done with the questions from him. I was done with him and the whole trip.
“Wake me up when we arrive,” I said and closed my eyes.
“Miss,” someone said. I bolted upright. I hadn't noticed that the car had stopped driving. My mind felt foggy, and there was a lingering feeling in there. I looked around, finding a man, next to the opened car door.
“Yeah?” My mind was still sluggish and slow.
“Welcome to the Castle,” the man said, and I looked behind him. We were in front of a stone staircase, which led up to steel doors. They were open, showing an entrance lit by a chandelier. I unbuckled my seatbelt and got out of the car. My eyes moved over my surroundings, finding a fountain and the castle walls and a big iron gate. No other cars.
“Where are the others?” I asked the man, who still stood next to me.
“Which others?” he answered. “Will you follow me inside, miss?” he asked before I could fully react.
I looked around again. Maybe I had missed them, my mind was still foggy. I searched for Astra’s car. She should have been there, she had been in front of us when I had fallen asleep. I saw the Protectors by the walls and the man at the entrance. Nobody else.
“Where is Astra?” I asked him. I saw Violet walking towards the entrance.
“Remember this the next time you demand something,” She laughed and turned around.
The man by the door looked at her and back at me. “The Kings will be seeing you in the throne room.”
“Good.” I stormed up the stairs. Astra was missing. They were the people I needed to talk to. I stormed past another man and walked into the high hall. The chandelier hung in the middle of the room, and there were two staircases–one on either side of the hall. Two doors led towards two other rooms. One was filled with chandeliers and windows that lined the wall, but was otherwise empty to the end. The other had two big chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, a golden light coming from them. At the end of that room stood four chairs, the throne room.
I moved towards the open door and into the
hall. Windows lined the wall at my left side and paintings hung on my right. A marble floor let the sound of my feet vibrate through the room. The room itself was stunning in the dark, except not at that moment. Normally, I would have sucked in a breath, stood still, and enjoyed a beautiful thing like that. Just not then, not when Astra was missing. I had one mission. Getting her back.
I reached the raised platform, the four empty chairs in front of me mocked me. Nobody was there. My anger rose.
“You have to wait,” Bun Lady's voice sounded behind me. I turned around on my heels, the anger radiating from me–all pointed towards her. She flew towards the wall, I kept her there. My wind magic blew my hair to the sides, and the chandeliers swayed in the wind.
“If I were you, I would let her go,” a male voice said behind me. His low tone caressed me, and a shudder ran through me. He sounded amazing.
I kept my shock away and my anger in place. “Why should I?” I ground out, still I let her drop to the ground when I turned around to meet the person who had spoken to me.
I was met with four pairs of eyes, all locked on me. Four males stood in front of me, my breath hitched, and I stood there enjoying the beauty.
8
“Thank you,” one of them said, as he smiled at me. A smile that warmed me from my toes to my head. I wanted to smile back at him, almost forgetting my anger. Then I remembered why I was there. That Astra was gone. I heard Violet muttering against the wall. None of the Kings, they must be the Kings, had walked towards her to help, to check if she was fine. She was, except her ego, that one got some bruises.
“Who are you?” the first one to my left spoke. I looked at him, checking him out. His obsidian hair was braided in two rows, bright silver-grey eyes assessed me. He had a strong chiseled jaw, and lips every woman would have wanted to kiss. His arms were folded in front of his chest, his t-shirt straining under his muscled arms. Arms I would love to have felt around me.
I shook my head, getting those thoughts out of there before I answered, “Isadora.”
Violet finally found her feet and walked towards the Kings, she stood close to them. Almost touching them, and my anger surged forward; my breath hitched with the burst of emotion. I was not a jealous person, until then.
“We found her in the Selection. She is a Witch.” Violet’s finger pointed in my direction, her scowl deepened.
She really wasn't attractive looking like that, and it made my strange jealousy lessen as I rolled my eyes at her and looked back to the Kings.
The one who had smiled at me, the third one in the row, was still smiling, almost if it was glued to his face. It made me feel awkward, and I scuffled on my feet a little. I couldn't resist my own smile, giving him a small one in return, which lit up his handsome face, and for the second time that day, my breath hitched.
Again, I shook my head, I needed to remember Astra, not drown in those beautiful males that had stood in front of me.
I swallowed, folded my hands behind my back, and adjusted my stance to the rest position of the Protectors. All four Kings raised their eyebrows at my movement, and they seemed to ask me a question.
I answered the unspoken question.
“I’m a Protector.”
The King that stood the most to my right spoke up, “You are a Witch and a Protector?” I looked him over, the soft light of the chandeliers had given his copper hair a golden sheen. His hair fell loose around his head, giving it the perfect ‘just out of bed’ look. His green eyes, radiant and soft looked at me. His eyes lowered over me, the same way I had done to him. He had on black jeans, and a grey shirt, showcasing his pecs. Yes pecs, the real deal, those were what every woman dreamed of. I needed to start thinking normally. But those pecs, yeah, I wanted to trace my tongue over his body. And I hadn't even seen him naked. Down hormones. I closed my eyes and focused back on my anger, on Astra. Not his body. Naked. Shit.
“No, I’m a Protector.” I kept my voice calm when I spoke. I looked him straight in the eyes, his beautiful forest-green eyes.
“You used air,” the first one said.
“Witches can’t be Protectors,” the green-eyed one said after that. I wished I had paid attention in the class, where they explained who was who. I had slept great in that class, to be honest.
I think those two were the oldest of the four. They had an air around them that told me not to mess with them, with any of them.
“I am. Whether you like it or not, isn’t my problem.” Violet sucked in air, I looked at her and smiled. I really didn't like her anymore, and she had moved even closer towards the Kings.
A laugh startled me out of my hate stare towards Violet. The dark-russet-haired one was laughing. His hair reached his shoulders, hanging loose and inviting me to comb my hands through it. Dark eyes watched me, the laugh had ignited a sparkle in them that I hadn't seen there before. Still, wariness took away that light. He mimicked my stance, showing his powerful body when he moved. What did they feed those men?
“Listen up. I need to find Astra Bronac,” I said, getting straight to business.
“You don’t speak to the Kings like that!” Violet screeched at me. I shrugged and ignored her. I had important business to attend to.
I looked at all of them, and lingered on the smiling one. His honey-blond hair was cut short, though not too short that you couldn’t run your hands through it. His hair looked like silk, softer than my own. Striking blue eyes shone with mischief. They were looking at me, or rather straight into me, into the depths of myself. Places I wouldn’t even visit, he found them.
He was the shortest one of the four, leaner, though still with powerful shoulders and arms, leading towards abs that showed through his shirt. Didn’t they have a tailor who knew how to make clothing that fit, because otherwise they had bought a few sizes too small for themselves. You could almost hear the stitches scream when they had moved around. I snorted, an un-lady like sound. I hadn’t cared in the past, I wouldn’t start now.
“Violet.” Violet looked up at the first king. “You can leave.” He dismissed Violet. She glared at me, and started to protest.
“We said leave,” the redhead told her. She bowed and turned around, mumbling.
I waved at her and smiled. “Next time, bring some cookies,” I said after her. A chuckle sounded from one of them. I didn’t know which one. When Violet walked through the doors, they closed, and I placed my hands on my hips. Time for business.
“I need to know where you guys took Astra,” I demanded.
“Who do you mean?” the smiling one asked.
“The other woman, the one that would be entering your Selection. My best friend, Astra Bronac,” I told them, like that would explain everything.
“We will look into that,” the redhead said. I needed to recall what they were called. We had learned it, but I’d never memorized it.
“What are your names?” I asked them. The blond one smiled, again. I’m sure it was glued to his face.
“You don’t know who we are?” the first king asked, one eyebrow pulled up.
“Yeah, yeah. I know you are the Kings, never remembered your names, though. I need names,” I told them. I kept myself from snapping my fingers, by keeping my hands behind my back.
The King with the dark-black eyes, eyes that reflected the night, took two steps towards me. I braced myself, balancing on the heels of my feet. His whole body screamed danger, powerful.
When he started speaking, his voice was soft, low, and strong. Power and authority sounded through his voice. He was the one who saw to the military parts of the kingdom, the commander of the Protectors. I knew for sure, because he gave me the feeling I should have surrendered. Nobody had ever given me that feeling.
“My name is Flynn Nox.” The others looked at him, confusion crossed over their faces. Gone before I could ask them why. Flynn turned and pointed towards the first king.
“His name is Averey Thorne. The one on the end, the redhead; his name is Cian Reeve, and the last one, the ch
eerful one is Rayan Leighlin.”
Averey had taken a step closer, too. “And we are the Kings, the rulers of this world. We would appreciate it if you started explaining a few things to us.” He pointed behind me. I looked over my shoulder to find a door behind the four thrones.
I got the hint and turned around, walking towards the door. I heard their footsteps behind me. Knowing they were following me, I put a sway in my hips. And then, I rolled my eyes at myself. Why did you do that?
When I reached the door, Rayan slipped before me and opened it. I smiled at him and watched as his eyes roamed over my body; the heat started slowly building up in my body. I shivered and willed it all down. No time for this.
I still wore my Protector’s outfit, black cargo pants, and black t-shirt. For a second, I thought about my bags, where they had gone? I forgot in the moment I entered the room, a light switched on, and the room lit up with a yellow glow. It showed two sofas, a fireplace, four desks lined in front of the wall and a lot, a lot of paperwork. Maps lined the walls, and a few bookcases filled the room. There were two swords hanging on the wall above the fireplace, their steel reflecting the light. The room was filled and felt homey.
They moved past me, sitting down on the sofas. I stayed standing, arms folded behind my back again, not letting myself relax.
“I need to find Astra. And I think Icas Nox has taken her,” I told them when they were seated. All their heads snapped up to me.
“You mean my uncle?” Flynn asked. I nodded.
“Why?” Averey asked.
“Because Astra’s parents arranged a marriage between them when she was younger. And with her in the Selection, she can’t marry him.”
“Why would he take her?” he asked again, his hand under his chin rubbing a day-old scuff I hadn’t noticed.
“You haven’t seen him looking at her. He wants her, knowing that she is the most powerful Witch from our school.” I looked at them one by one.
“Violet said you are a Witch, too. Why are you here then if she is the most powerful?” Cian’s warm voice reached me, I looked at him. His green eyes were filled with curiosity.