“Why did you do it?” He screams, his dark eyes promising pain.
I can’t respond, the only thing I can do was cower and look at the floor.
“Where is Neil? Answer me now or I swear to god you’ll wish you were the one that died.” He yells again, this time his words penetrate my terrified brain. What the hell is he talking about.
“If I knew where Neil was, I would tell you. I want him to be caught more than just about anyone. And I have no idea what you are talking about. Whose dead?” I whisper out meekly, unsure if he would even be able to hear me.
I can tell by the look on his face that I hadn’t given him the answer that he wanted, and for a second I think he is about to strike me. Instead, he looks at me in disgust before turning and walking out the door, slamming it as he leaves.
“One way or another princess, you'll tell us what we want to know. Make it easier on yourself and just tell the fucking truth,” The detective screams at me before opening the door in front of him and pushing me not too gently inside. Landing on my ass, I don’t even hear the door close, just the sound of it locking.
Son of a bitch! Jumping up to my feet, the pain from my fall barely registering as I start pounding on the door. I can’t be locked in, not again.
“Open the door. Please! I won’t leave, just please unlock it.” I squeak out. Tears falling as the nightmares threaten to surface.
After what feels like hours, my sore arms and throat beg me to stop. Slumping down the front of the door, I scream as the memories of Neil locking me in the closet flare to life. He called it his punishment room, but it was definitely a closet with bare walls, a bed pan and a blanket just big enough for me to lay on. He would lock me in for hours when I “was bad”. Said it was for my own good, but really it was the only way he kept me from leaving him.
The last time he left me there for four days with only a small bottle of water and a pack of saltine crackers. That had been the worst time, the time that had finally broken me. By the time he came back, the smell had been so bad; I had been violently sick. His punishment took a turn for the worse that night and had almost killed me.
A loud knock behind me scares me so bad, I jump and hide behind the bed on the opposite side of the room. Looking for something that can protect me from whoever is outside that door, I come up empty other than a picture of the detective and four other men.
I go stock still as the door slowly creaks open reveals a shaggy haired blonde with green eyes. He is tall enough that it makes me sink lower into my hiding spot. His fit body showing off through the wife beater and basketball shorts he has on. There is no way this picture is going to do enough damage to get me away from him if he has nefarious intentions.
“I’m not here to hurt you, I just brought you some lunch.” His voice is more soothing than I care to admit and I peep out of my spot just enough to see that he is, in fact, holding a tray in his hands with a bowl of some sort of soup and a water bottle.
I’m not going to fall for it though, there is no way I am eating shit till one of them has tried it first. That is how most women found themselves drugged or worse.
“You try it and I will come out.” I say just loud enough for him to hear. I know that I am giving my hiding spot away, but my stomach starting to growl was going to do that before long anyway.
“Okay, it’s just potato soup and a bottle of water. The water hasn’t even been opened.” He stated sitting the tray down on the opposite bedside table and eating a big spoonful of the soup. “See nothing wrong with it, it hasn’t been poisoned. You can come out and eat. I would like to talk to you.”
Slowly, I stand up. The man has what can only be described as a flirty grin on his face as he looks me up and down. Before I can say anything, his eyes snap to the photo in my hand and the smile is gone in a flash and replaced with fury.
“Why the fuck do you have that?” The man yells as I realize he is talking about the photo in my hand. “You don’t deserve to be protected or to eat. I don’t give a fuck what any of the guys say!” Throwing his arm out, he knocks the tray off the table, sending potato soup flying. Leaving me completely stumped as he gets up and storms out of the room. Locking the door behind him.
Loud voices from down the hall break the eerie silence that has settled since the guys over dramatic departure. Running up to the door, I strain to make out what they are all saying. Multiple angry male voices are fighting for attention before a bang has silence falling again.
“We should just use her as bait. I don’t want to be around her any longer than I have to.” The gruff angry voice of the man who grabbed me earlier rings out. There is no way in hell I will ever agree to that.
“I am a police officer, I don’t know if I can do that. I know she had something to do with Dan’s death, or at the very least she knows what happened to him, but I still swore to uphold the law.” The detective said, leaving me to wonder who the hell Dan was and how exactly I am guilty when I have never met the man.
“Fuck the law. Dan is dead, we all know that fucking prick Neil killed him and she definitely knows where he is. There’s no way he will leave the hot piece of ass he was fucking for a year. She is his girlfriend as well as his secretary. She ran his fucking life; she has to know something. I say we take a vote, majority rules.” Another voice rang out.
There was no fucking way I‘m going along with this. Neil will take me again, and if he didn't kill me, he would definitely lock me away again in the closet. I have to get out of here. Panic slowly starts to crawl into my head as I examine the room I’m in. Finding a small window above the dresser, I decide to go for it. I’m just small enough that I should be able to fit through it.
Throwing a glance at the door one more time, I walk over and as quietly as possible climb on top of the dresser and attempt to push the window open. Holding in my scream of frustration when the window doesn’t open. Looking down I grab the first thing I see, which just so happened to be the photo that I had been holding earlier.
Taking a deep breath, I slam the frame into the window being sure to knock out all of the shards so they won’t cut me as I climb through. Dropping the photo, I shimmy through the window as fast as I can before full out running towards the woods behind the house.
Just as I am about to the tree line, I am hit by a train. My world going black as I try to process what has just happened. Before the darkness pulls me under, I hear words whispered above me.
“Don’t leave just yet, Princess, the fun is just about to start.”
To Be Continued …
About Rieka Eli
Rieka Eli is a badass tattooed southern mother of two, who spends her free time with her wife and kids. Coming up with fantastical stories and reading everything she can get her hands on. When she's not reading or writing, you can either find her at the gun range or attempting to cook things she saw on the food network
Infernum Academy by Alexis Taylor & Axel James
The Gateway for the Lost Prequel
Dear diary journal thing
There is always that one defining moment in every Supernaturals life when they get their calling. For each Supernatural, that would happen on the day of their 14th birthday. Once we had transitioned, we would be invited to attend the prestigious Draiochta Academy. It's a moment we all look forward to from the minute we learn what our fate will be.
My family, we were born of magic. My great grandmother was one of the most powerful supernaturals of her time. The Ceallaigh name was revered, every student treated like royalty. Well, they were until one night almost 50 years ago when everything changed and our curse began.
My uncle James was in his final year at the Academy. He had just been offered a teaching apprenticeship and had finally opened up about his love for his roommate Charles. On what would have been their one year anniversary, Charles and eleven other students vanished. No one knew how twelve students could just disappear and for months the staff at the Academy, the supernatural council, students and family
of the missing searched in vain. With no leads and no signs of any foul play, the search was called off and everyone slowly went back to their own lives. Thoughts of the missing students started to fade.
James, however, had not given up, he had started his own investigation determined to find his partner. The night before he was due to graduate news broke that the bodies of the 12 missing students had been found not far from the Academy grounds. Later that night my uncle broke into the headmaster at the time, Mr. Freidrickson’s home and shot him 12 times before turning the gun on himself. The community was in an uproar, my family was devastated and the council needed someone to blame.
My uncle was the perfect scapegoat, they announced that James Ceallaigh had killed the missing students in a fit of jealous rage and that after being confronted by the brave headmaster. He had taken the cowards way out by murdering another innocent and then killing himself. Not yet satisfied with blaming what could be an innocent man, they stated that no one with Ceallaigh blood would be permitted to practice magic ever again. Our magic was bound and we were banished from the Academy.
Our family was hurt and angry, still wanting answers for what had caused James to flip. Until they received an anonymous package a few weeks after James had died. The package held inside journals, letters, and files on the 12 missing students, the headmaster and some very high up members of the council. Hidden right at the back was a letter from James explaining that he knew who had killed Charles and the others. He stated that no one would take action against so many powerful people so he had to do something.
Unfortunately, whatever happened that night left two people dead, a family in ruins, and no answers. For years, we were told stories about our Uncle. We were still taught about our heritage and were made to study magic. My gran would say that they could take our powers but they could never take our knowledge.
I became obsessed with learning all I could about my Uncle. However, all my gran would tell me when I would ask about him was that she took comfort in the fact her brother died trying to do what was right and that one day all would be right again. The Ceallaigh name would be restored to its former glory and we would finally have justice for James and the students whose deaths were covered up to protect those in power.
She was right, today on my 14th birthday, on what should have been a regular day for me was anything but. For the first time in 46 years, a Ceallaigh received their magic. The binding that kept my magic from me had broken and on that day my fate was sealed.
I would not only enroll in the Academy, but I would finish what Uncle James had started. Revenge on those who had killed all those innocent people and framed my family to live in shame. I would enroll in the Academy and I would not rest until I exposed all of their lies and cleared my uncle's name. I was going to avenge those who had fallen or I would die trying.
If you are reading this, then I have failed and it is up to you to continue our legacy.
Chapter One
4 years later
Pulling up at the Academy, I could see just how terrified my mom was. She was shaking and kept frantically looking around her. It was almost as though she thought this was a trap and at any minute the council would swoop down and take us away.
It had taken a lot of work to get us here. My great gran, gran, and mom had fought begged and bargained to convince the council that since their binding had failed, I needed guidance to control the power growing inside me.
Finally, after four long years, I received a call telling me I had been accepted and would enroll immediately. However, they had stated that in no uncertain terms was any other member of my family allowed on the school grounds. Which was why we were currently sitting in my mom's car on the other side of the road, hidden away as best she could.
Today was my eighteenth birthday and exactly fifty years since the students had vanished, I had planned it perfectly. The council was convinced I was unstable, that my powers were out of control leaving me as a huge risk to myself and others. After a long battle, the risk of me exposing my magic or hurting a human was too great and they reluctantly allowed me to enroll.
However, rather than the full acceptance of 6 years, I was to be given a year to year review. I didn't care about that though, I wouldn't even need a year to expose them all. Plastering a smile to my face, I turned to my mom I had to get her calmed down and make sure she got out here safe before anything else.
“Chill, mom. Everything is going to be okay. Nothing will happen to me. You know the only reason I am here is to clear the family name. Thanks to Great Gran, I have more control of my powers than anyone else my age and most people who are older. I will be fine, I promise.” I said every word ringing true. My great gran had been teaching me magic ever since I was old enough to walk. Other kids played sports or did trivial things. I, on the other hand, studied and prepared, especially since my magic manifested.
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Neive.” Her words quivered as she spoke, once again showing how worried she was about me being here.
“It will be okay, I promise to call often, and you can text me anytime now. Remember, I showed you how.” I stated even though I knew there was no way she would text me. My mother was a lot of things, but being tech savvy was definitely not one of them.
“I will just worry. We have no idea how you will be treated there. This isn’t just a small thing. This is fifty years of hatred and bigotry that you are going to have to be dealing with. Just try to keep your head down and find out everything that you can.” She choked out before pulling my hand into hers. “I love you Neive, now get out of here before I change my mind and drive off with you still in the car.”
“Love you too mom. I will call once I get settled in.” We both knew I wouldn't be calling. Not until I had found the answers we were looking for but those few little words would bring some comfort.
Getting out of the car, I glanced back once more to memorize her face. This may very well be the last time that I see her. Slamming the car door behind me, I got my suitcases and backpack from the trunk and headed towards the gates. I did not turn around until I heard the noise from the engine faded into nothing. I could do this. I had to do this. My family, my uncle and those students needed justice and I will die trying to get them it.
Steeling my nerves, I held my head high as I made my way through the wrought iron gates. The school grounds were full of students I couldn't have picked a better time to turn up. I could already feel the stares of others on me as I went, and could hear the whispers as well. I figured everyone here would know who I was and this just confirmed it.
The giant double wooden doors were open as I walked in the entrance. It seemed as though the whispers got louder the further into the school I got. This place definitely looked more like an old castle than a school.
Looking around, I finally saw the sign that said new student admissions to the left and followed until it led me to a small door.
“So the rumors are true. They actually let a member of that scum sucking murder family back in the Academy. You have no place here and need to leave before Headmaster Hannigan sees you.” The whiny voice behind me had my cringing. That voice was the stuff of nightmares and I really didn't want to see the face attached to it.
Turning around, I could not stop the laugh that burst out of me. She was, for lack of a better word, orange. I’m talking orange like the fruit or some Doritos from top to bottom. It was clear that she had dipped in way too much self-tanner.
“What are you laughing at, freak?” She spat as I tried to reign in my giggles. Her blonde hair and blue eyes just made the orange in her skin pop out even more.
“I’m sorry, maybe your threats would have been a bit scarier and less comical if you didn’t look like you had been swimming in a bag of Doritos.” I laughed before turning back around and opening the door to what I assumed was the office.
“Name?” The woman at the desk said without looking up.
“Neive Ceallaigh,” I stated ca
using the woman to whip her head up and look at me. I’m honestly surprised that she didn’t get whiplash from that one single move.
“I was told to inform you that you would be staying in your own room this year. We will also be keeping a very close eye on you and if you get in trouble, you will be out of here. Now that that is out of the way here is your schedule, and dorm assignment along with your key. I would say it is good to have you, but that would be a lie. So please get out of my office.” She said before looking back down at her computer making it very clear that I was not liked and that I had been dismissed.
What a bitch? I thought as I grabbed the papers and key off the desk and headed out of the room to find my dorm. Luckily, I made it up with only scathing looks and mean whispers that I could care less about. If they were going to scare me off they were going to have to get more creative.
Chapter Two
Alaric
My life had been planned out from the age of eight. After learning of my grandfathers death and the curse that had been placed on my family, I knew I would stop at nothing until I found a way to end this.
I had watched five of my brothers perish over the past five years. That left only three of us. I couldn't understand why our family risked having children only for them to be born male and have to watch them all die. When I asked my mom this she just told me that when I fell in love, I would understand why. Why, knowing her husband would die, did she risk it all to have a small piece of him still with her? Only two children born in the last 50 years had been female and all males had died before their thirtieth birthday, no matter what my grandfather had done surely we had paid our dues now.
Tormented: A Bully Romance Anthology Page 19