Chased by Darkness: A Reverse Harem Academy Romance: (Four Kings Academy Book 1)

by Taylor Spratt

  The reader had finally come up for air, his attention landing on me, and he took a hard swallow, his eyes bulging open. The book slid out of his hand but he caught it inches from the floor.

  Every kingly eyebrow on stage raised and their jaws dropped to the floor, their eyes super glued to mine.

  My eyes darted from one king to the next. What was going on here? They didn’t seem this interested in the girls before me.

  “Well?” Bain said, clearing his throat. The smug expression returned to his magnificently scarred face. “What faction do you choose?”

  I stared back at him blankly, blinking rapidly. Crap, I still hadn’t thought this through yet.

  “I-I, um…” I muttered, and Bane’s brow furrowed.

  “Um? There’s no Faction named ‘um’ here,” he said in a sarcastic tone.

  “Waiting for introductions?” He laughed in a deep, booming voice and cocked his head to the side. “I’m Bane, the Fire King, this is my brother Luca, the Wind king. We are the great and mighty Flamenado.”

  Luca just sat there ogling me, waving a friendly hand in my direction, his heavily dimpled smile speaking on his behalf.

  “I am Raiden, King of Water,” the jelled back brunette said with a raspy, deep voice, taking his book and sticking it behind him. “And this is my brother, Alexander, King of Stone and Earth.”

  These four must be elemental wizards, and Alexander, huh? No way I’d forget that name, not that he’d let me with those cold steely eyes of his on me, all hot and heavy. He’d taken notice of me from in the line, shaking the life out of me to notice him. So why wasn’t he saying anything now?

  Even without words Alexander’s presence was so powerful, so warming. I quivered, feeling the sensation of touch run over my skin as his eyes roamed down my body. For a moment, the world sank away and all I could see was him, all I could feel was his essence, chilling me to my core.

  I moaned softly, licking my lips in a heavy-lidded daze.

  “What did you say?” Bane interrogated, rubbing his chin. His thick brows rose high in confusion, the thin scars on his face stretching with his actions.

  My eyes darted around the room, my cheeks now burning hot. God, take me now!

  Alexander chuckled and smiled, leaning back in his chair to look down on me confidently. He knew exactly what he’d been doing to me. It was probably a dirty little spell of his. Why else would my body be going so haywire just from the sight of him?

  “Hello! Earth to space?” Bane called out, leering at me now. “Are you going to choose a side or what?”

  “I-I meant to say that I don’t want any trouble. I just came here to graduate. I don’t wanna join any clubs.”

  “Clubs?” Bain asked, giving a boisterous laugh that echoed off the walls. “Clubs she says.” No one else spared a chuckle, not the other kings or a single student behind me. If what I said was a joke, then no one else found it funny.

  Bane’s face straightened, his finger raising to flick a tear from his eye. “This is no club, Void User. In this Academy, everyone chooses a side. Want to survive till graduation? Pick your kings wisely,” he said. “Personally, I’d go with Flamenado. We’re big on protecting what’s ours.” He shot me a cocky grin, throwing his head back.

  Man, was he full of himself. You’d think he thought he was a god.

  My heart stopped. Wait. Did he just call me a Void User? How did he know that? Did everyone else at this school know about my affliction? Already? Bile rose to the back of my throat at the thought.

  Bane opened his mouth to speak again and, interrupting him, Raiden said, “If it is protection you seek, the only logical choice is Floodquake. Safety is impossible with a king who will turn a room into a fire pit every time the Soaring Boars lose a match.”

  Bane shot daggers at Raiden furious at the jab, the flame on Bane’s throne now flaring wildly.

  What was that about? Is he trying to pick a fight with flamethrower?

  “Want to take this outside, Flood Freak?” Bane barked, turning on his throne to face Raiden.

  Raiden tilted his head calmly to glare back at Bane and he cleared his throat.

  “Unnecessary violence is the sign of a beast, which I am not,” Raiden spouted in a superior tone. “But if you continue to annoy me, maybe I will heed your request.”

  I froze, my every muscle cemented in place. This was too much, way too much. One minute I was living a carefree life, the next I was thrown into some hellhole of a school where people are literally tearing each other to bits. And now I was standing mere feet from some so-called kings that looked about ready to tear this entire damn building down?

  Bane lunged from his throne, stretching his arms overhead. Spurts of red flames exploded from his hands, engulfing his palms in thick fire.

  Fireballs? Please, not again.

  Raiden stood to face Bane, his jet-black hair turning frosty white.

  My teeth clattered, my hands and feet going numb from the frigid air swirling through the room. What in the world? It was cold as ice in here! The room filled with the sound of coughs and chattering teeth as the temperature continued to drop.

  Raiden’s hands turned blue and ice crystals sprouted and danced around his fingertips. The crystals expanded and clustered till a four-foot-long ice spear formed in his hands.

  “Trying to freeze me to death, Flood Freak?” Bane mocked as his fireballs tripled in size.

  “Don’t worry. They say evil doesn’t die easily. You have nothing to worry yourself with,” Raiden said with a smile and Bane’s expression soured.

  Weren’t the other two kings going to stop their brothers? Why was Alexander and Luca just sitting there, ignoring the impending battle to look at me like brain dead zombies?

  Hello, guys? Do you two not see the emergency happening right in front of you?

  Desperate to cut the tension, I pointed an accusing finger at Bane and blurted, “The students outside didn’t seem so protected! One of them was buried up to his neck and beaten. A girl was nearly suffocated to death. Yet you merrily strode past them and did nothing to help! Not to mention the guy you almost killed. You expect me to choose your faction under these conditions?”

  “Don’t be mad at him for that. I was there to save the day, wasn’t I?” Luca said rising to his feet, pushing his long blond hair back flirtatiously. “My brother is a tad rough around the edges, but he’s not so bad when you get to know him. Speaking of which, I’d really like to get to know you.” Luca’s lips curled up into a devilish smile. I swallowed.

  Wait, wait. Doesn’t he have a girlfriend? Not that I minded the way he was looking at me right now. It was like he was devouring me with that sexy gaze of his. No! Focus, Aria. One problem at a time.

  “Um…” My brain choosing this moment to short circuit. So instead I point towards the other two. “And you too!” I shout with malice lacing my voice, making Raiden and Alexander brows rise to their hairlines.

  “You couldn’t possibly expect me to choose your faction. Your subjects were doing half the damage out there. Didn’t you see people getting hurt? How can you protect me if you couldn’t protect them?”

  “You’re different from them,” Alexander said in a sensual, deep voice, breaking his silence for the first time.

  “Different how exactly?” I asked, and he didn’t say a word, his gaze falling to the ground.

  Smiling, Luca spoke up again. “It’s obvious if you think about it. A woman as beautiful as you deserves special treatment. I couldn’t bear to see a face so lovely suffer the tiniest injury. This Academy is too cruel a place for a delicate rose such as you. Join Flamenado and we’ll see to your… needs.”

  “She chooses Floodquake! You would see that if you shut your blow hole for one minute!” Raiden barked at Luca.

  The two of them bickered as Bane steadied, bending his knees, about to pounce on Raiden.

  You could cut tension in the air with a knife. This was way too much pressure. I understood they had rules but w
hy in the world did they care this much which faction I chose?

  “Get ready, Flood Freak!” Bane barked.

  “Bring it on!” Raiden retorted.

  “I’ve decided!” I blurted, stopping Raiden and Bane in their tracks. All four kings turned to stare at me, none more intensely than Alexander. Everything in his big, beautiful eyes willed me to choose Floodquake.

  “I choose no faction. I want to be independent.”

  My declaration echoed off the hall walls, only to be joined by horrified gasps and whispers from the crowed of students.

  Alexander’s chest sank, Raiden and Luca followed with deep frowns, and Bane? His eyes turned a burning red, his flame balls flared in a fit of rage.

  Oh man, I’d really done it this time.

  None of them said a word, their heads now hanging in disappointment when Bane, now twitching with annoyance whispered, “Get out, Void User.”

  “What?” I said, shaking nervously.

  “If you’re not gonna choose, stop wasting my damn time!”

  My cheeks warmed in embarrassment and my head turned to face the students behind me. I was lost in a sea of shadowy glares and mean muttering. Not a single pair of kind eyes to be seen.

  You fucked up, Aria, now everyone hates you.

  Clenching my fingers hard around my backpack straps, I turned and ran from the hall.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Aria

  I tore through the hall exit, my heart racing. Once outside, I took a moment to catch my breath, noticing the perfectly manicured lawns. Nothing like the wild forests I once called home.

  I sighed. If only the smell of fresh-cut grass was my only problem. The students at this school were anything but normal and don’t get me started about those kings.

  I just rejected them all in front of the entire student body after they’d gone out of their way to convince me to join their sides. Would there be retaliation? Or would they just leave me be, forgetting about me?

  Inside Bane called out, “next!” in a fiery tone. I scattered into the gardens, down the brick trail that split the lawn in two, leading to a slew of ridiculously tall buildings in the distance.

  I held my head down, passing a swarm of giggling girls. One of them muttered, “Void User” before roars of laughter exploded from their ugly little lips. If everyone hadn’t known before, they sure knew now. So that’s one more strike against me. Great.

  I clenched my fists. Okay, that was it. I just wanted to find my bed, curl up under the sheets, and stay there until the end of days.

  Halfway across the empty trail I flopped my backpack open and pulled out my welcome package. Shaking open the bag, I removed a small brown scroll.

  I opened it and my head fell to one side, my brows drawn in confusion. The parchment was blank. Completely blank! Wasn’t this thing supposed to be a map or something?

  This school was huge, there must be hundreds of buildings around, each greyer and more haunted looking than the last.

  The sun was falling fast and a chilly breeze filled the air. Grey shadows washed over the gardens, clinging tight to every birdbath, bench, and candle lamp that lined the trail.

  Crack. Creak. Squeak. What was that? Goosebumps rose high on my face and neck and my eyes darted in every direction.

  There were no birds, students, or even the tiniest flame to light the candles on my path. Only me and impending darkness.

  “Gah! Where in the hundred hells is Backstrom Hall!?” I cried out.

  A bright light shot from the blank parchment and I jumped back, dropping it to the floor. The light cleared, and a small stick figure appeared on the paper. I gingerly picked it up.

  “Backstrom Hall. Backstrom hall. Want to go to Backstrom hall?” A voice reverberated from the parchment.

  “Um hello?” I replied. Was this thing talking to me? “Yes! Can you show me how to get there?” There was a long pause, then a long black line stretched across the sheet in front of the stick figure, the curvature of it matching the trail ahead of me.

  I took a step forward, and the figure moved along the line.

  Nice! My own personal tour guide.

  A chorus of voices emerged from the hall and students poured from the exit, filling the trail and filing toward me.

  My cheeks reddened, and I cupped my palm over my mouth, every embarrassing memory of my time in the hall rushing through my mind.

  I turned and sprinted the rest of the way across the garden. Following the map’s directions down many lonely trails, I ended up under a red archway that led to glass double doors.

  I flung my body at the doors, pushing them open, and a gust of freezing cold air hit me like a wave. The hair on my legs and neck stood to attention. A cooling enchantment gone haywire? I gripped my arms tight and walked through the lonely hallway.

  Wall after dreary wall of old trophies and faded pictures of girls in long black dresses with pointed black hats filling the room. These were ghosts of years long past, immortalized by the glass cases that housed them.

  At the end of the hall, a large wooden door came into view. Engraved on the sign overhead, in curly black letters was the words Backstrom Hall.

  I pushed open the doors and my jaw dropped. Breathtaking. Warm earthy air spilled through the doors, blanketing me in a protective embrace. The room was spacious with cheerful olive walls and shining hardwood floors.

  Black couches lined most of the walls, their fluffiness rivaling the clouds themselves.

  Sitting there right next to an old wooden bookshelf was… Oh my god! A brick fireplace. I hadn’t seen one of those bad boys in years. It looked so cozy and inviting with twelve black brooms adorning the walls above it.

  I imagined myself curling up in front of it, like a fat old cat. Soaking up all the heat. All that warmth just for me.

  Best of all, there wasn’t a girl in sight.

  My shoulders fell remembering this place wasn’t just for me. They’d all be here soon. No doubt seeing my performance at orientation. Couldn’t wait to see the look on their faces when they realized they were the lucky girls who got to shack up with the resident ‘Dark walker.’

  I continued walking down the hall till I reached ‘T3.’ I pushed the key from my welcome package into the door and after a fumble, it opened.

  I popped inside. My eyes scanning every inch of my new room. God, it felt good to say, ‘my room.’

  Damn. I think I could get used to this. Four walls painted in a pretty pink, with exotic flowers painted a few inches apart. There was a cute little desk and chair in the corner and a wide bay window with a view of the trees, trees, and more spectacular trees outside.

  Then, like my greatest fantasy come to life, every muscle in my body liquified at the glorious sight of the bed. My palms cupped my cheeks. Was this really mine? For almost a decade I had made my bed from old blankets and the softest shrubs and leaves I could find. But whatever made this gloriously cushy looking queen, did not come from the forest’s floors.

  My lips curled up into a smile. I could already feel those warm fluffy sheets soothing my aching bones, stealing my every worry.

  Maybe living here for a while wouldn’t be so bad. Sure, I’d been framed for murder, and shoved into a giant hellhole, and these resident demons they call students were down right nuts. But maybe all I needed was a little positive thinking. After all, positivity saves the world, doesn’t it?

  So what if I refused to pick one of their stupid factions?

  How many times had King Yora and Queen Amina tried to enlist me in their armies, when they got into one of their cute little wars?

  Okay, so he was a pixie, and she was a fairy, the furthest things you could get from elemental wizards, but the principle was the same. When I refused to be their giant witch weapon, their little heads were fit to burst. But they eventually wore themselves out, made up and invited me for dinner.

  So maybe I shouldn’t hold my breath on the four kings inviting me out. But I think they’ll see that one less s
ubject isn’t the end of the magical world.

  I shut the door and crept toward the bed, inching toward the untold promise of my fluffy white heavenly nest when a rock came tearing through the glass, shattering my window.

  It pelted my forehead in an earth-shattering blow.

  “Ahhhh!” I screamed, falling hard to the ground.

  A sharp pain radiated from between my eyes, my forehead on fire.

  I touched the sensitive area and pain ripped through my body making my jaw clench. Ow. Ow. Ow.

  Hot blood ran down my head and into my eyes. The sting. The pain. Oh God the pain. Who would do this? I rubbed my eyes clean, staining my hands with blood.

  The void rose up in my chest fighting for escape. My every pore expanded like a doorway to the darkness.

  I stretched and grabbed the stone from the corner of the room. It was so heavy, the silvery smooth stone so big it dwarfed my palm.

  Written across its surface were six words that made my breath stop: Keep your Door locked, Void Bitch…

  I threw it against the wall and it chipped the paint before tumbling to the ground. Tears streamed down my cheeks, mixing with the blood that still slid down my face.

  God, please stop this terrible pain. Just a little. Please.

  I heard a slipping sound behind me.

  Glancing back, there was a small picture on the floor near the door. I picked it up and had to squint my eyes to look at it.

  What is this? This photo was burned and singed in so many places it was almost impossible to make out.

  When I finally saw it, my eyes widened. Amidst the black angry burn marks and tiny holes that almost completely disfigured the face, was me, standing in the orientation hall arguing with the Flame King.

  A big shiny rock and half burned picture, huh? It didn’t take a genius to know what all of this meant. The Elemental Kings were pissed, and I was in some deep shit.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Aria

  It smells like cheese in here. My head turned in every direction, scanning the room. Tons of beds, tons of blond nurses and a lot of sick students but no cheese. So, why does it smell so cheesy in here?