CONVICTION OF THE DAMNED: SUPERNO ACADEMY BOOK ONE Page 4

  “Come on now ladies, we have an initiation to attend.”

  Kaida backed away towards the bedroom, never once taking her eyes off me. She was obviously convinced of the magic enough to warrant her helping Laina pack even if she had no idea what the hell was going on.

  My top thought was that we were experiencing the side effects of a gas leak we didn’t know about.

  “Initiation for what?” I asked him anyway, figuring playing along was the easiest bet for now.

  “Superno Academy; the new recruits join tonight, and you’ll want to get yourself acquainted before starting school tomorrow.”

  Ryder flicked a pamphlet at me, and a gasp escaped at the gothic medley I saw. The school he mentioned looked like my worst nightmare. It was a castle for rich kids, and I knew I hated it before I even opened the damn thing to look inside.

  Kaida was classy enough to get away in a place like that, hell maybe even Laina could do it if she didn’t have her weird visions. But there was no chance on Earth I would ever be considered more than a pissed off little freak there.

  All thoughts of insanity and gas leaks dissolved, leaving a cold hard knot in my chest in their wake. I was not rich kid material and that was something I was truly glad about. Money had only ever been something I needed to look after my family; it was never something I coveted in excess.

  Even though I didn’t care, I still knew my sisters did. And that if they had their hopes raised for a better future and school, seconds before it was ruined again by the knowledge of the cost, I wouldn’t be too impressed.

  “Encase you haven’t noticed we can’t afford a place like that.” I snapped. “Not that I actually believe that’s where you’re taking us to, and not your basement.”

  Ryder’s expression softened as he answered, almost giving off the vibe that he cared before his mask of indifference slipped back into place.

  “Your tuition has already been paid for the entire four years you have left. Or are you already forgetting what I said about being the daughters of the old Queen?” He ran a hand through his blonde tresses, “I also don’t have a basement either. So if I were going to murder you I’d do it right here.”

  I bit my lip and ignored the murder part of his reply, running through all the possible options I had and settling on nothing in particular except the possibility of a new future that didn’t seem so far off now.

  “So, that woman left us some money? To pay for the school and stuff?” I asked, already trying to figure out how to take our newfound funds and run without risking Ryder following us.

  “Not just some. You three girls are heirs to the biggest fortune in all the four kingdoms. But of course, you must be taught how to be fae before you even stand a chance of claiming your inheritance.”

  He said it like it was no big deal, clearly no clue how much even a couple of thousand dollars would do for my family.

  “You will have access to some of the money each month whilst you study, but the majority of it won’t be given until you finish school.”

  He continued rambling on about funds and various money related things I didn’t care for and didn’t make sense. The only part I understood was the bit about us getting a twenty-thousand-dollar refund each for each of the two years of school we had apparently already missed out on.

  Holy shit that’s a lot of money. Are we rich? Like royalty rich?

  “Okay.” I said, the finality of the word resting on my heart. “We’ll come with you stronzo. But you keep your hands to yourself and if it turns out this is all a bad trip I'm on, then I will gut you.” I muttered. Ryder nodded, a crooked smile lighting up his face. It was a shame he was bat shit crazy; he truly was hot as hell.

  Ryder clapped his hands together before rubbing them against each other ridiculously fast until they were nothing more than a white blur.

  “Excellent. Are you ready to go then?” He asked louder, and my sisters joined us in the room with bags in tow.

  “I’ll send those ahead to your rooms; I doubt you’ll want to carry them around all evening.” With a wave of his hand and a sprinkle of blue dust the bags vanished, no trace of them left standing.

  My knowledge of Vampires wasn’t the best, but nowhere on TV did it say they could make things disappear.

  “It was a portal powder, courtesy of the Potion teacher. You’ll learn how to make it yourselves soon enough.” Ryder answered my thought, making me think that perhaps he could see inside my head. I didn’t like that idea one bit.

  “Let’s go then.” Laina grinned, grabbing hold of mine and Kaida’s hands.

  Ryder reached his hand out towards us, and I ended up being the unlucky one to grab it. His skin was soft against my own, and the tiniest burn of cold fluttered through my veins. He was as hard as a statue and far cooler than a Human should have been.

  He grabbed a large handful of the same blue powder he’d used on our luggage out his pocket, bending over to whisper to me as he did.

  “Well then Princess, you ready to start your new life?” He mumbled, and with a bang of blue light we were gone.

  Kaida

  The ground shifted beneath my feet as the so-called portal claimed our bodies for whatever destination the lunatic near me had asked for. Even stood next to a so-called Vampire, hurtling through the universe to the unknown, I still didn’t believe that magic existed.

  Logically I knew I had witnessed the magic display that Ryder had performed; his speed, strength, and mind control to name a few. But they were still too much of a fantasy for me to contemplate that this entire evening hadn’t been a consequence of the half a bottle of tequila I had slugged back like juice secretly in the shower. Fae aren’t real. This is a dream.

  My sisters didn’t know I was slightly drunk as it had to be kept a secret. Alcohol made my emotions easier to let loose and that was not something that people tended to desire. They never told me I couldn’t drink, and I knew they frowned upon it when I did. But as I span through the pitch-black void of nothingness I couldn’t help but wonder if the drinking had been the best idea for me; there would have been no chance of me coming here willingly without it.

  With an almighty thud I barrelled into solid ground, stumbling as I clung to my nearest sister. Dari yanked me upright, keeping both me and Laina from falling on our assess and making fools of ourselves.

  When I was sturdy, I noticed I was standing on soft grass, a haze of low evening light covering the vast sky. The sounds of birds and trickling water reached me, and I could have sworn I could smell the fresh scent of flowers and a forest.

  The courtyard was stunning even in the low evening light. The floor was pebbled white and grey, with a giant fountain in the centre. Atop the fountain was a marble statue of a couple and three faceless children. They had the body of a dragon wrapped around them like a shield. It was beautiful.

  I couldn’t see it clearly from where I stood but based off the crowns on their heads it didn’t take a genius to figure out who the statue represented.

  “That’s us, isn’t it? What’s with the Dragon.” Laina asked and Ryder nodded his head.

  “It’s the memorial statue, for your family.” He shuffled his feet uncomfortably. “It was actually built for your fifth birthdays to go in the garden of the Royal palace. But obviously never made it there. And the Dragon was the symbol for your family. It represents the God of Life, who your parents worshipped.”

  Ryder didn’t need to explain any more. The statue never made it because our family were supposedly slaughtered, and we were sent to the mortal realm without our memories and any idea what the hell we were.

  “Who’s the God of Life?” Dari asked.

  “Zephyr.” Ryder replied.

  It wasn’t fun to think about being presumed dead for so long, and a shiver of unease settled down my spine as we headed down the path towards a set of double doors, where a group of people who had appeared out the darkness in front of it.

  Ryder gently pushed Dari forward and the rest of us
followed, never once letting go of each other’s hands. The closer we got to the unknown faces the more the voice in my head was screaming obscenities at me. I knew if I held onto my sisters, I would make it through the next couple of minutes, but I didn’t hold out much hope for anything after that.

  I didn’t like strangers, especially when there were eight of them.

  “That’s Principal Novak, she’s going to introduce you and do all the boring shit.” Ryder muttered to Dari, shooting her a wink as he pointed at one of the three women present. “She’s batshit but nice enough.”

  Novak beamed at us, the multitude of charm bracelets on her arms clicking together irritably as her smile threatened to crack her face.

  “Oh welcome, welcome my lovelies. It is such a pleasure to have you here with us again!” She was a waif of a woman, shorter than me and looked as though she would break with the slightest breeze.

  Her robes were a flurry of colours and her hair a bright pastel pink. She didn’t look like any Principle I had ever seen before; she looked like a rainbow explosion, which was not a compliment in my book. I was tired of her already despite her pleasant behaviour. I could never bring myself to trust people who wore obscene amounts of loud jewellery.

  Novak hands waved pink glitter that sparkled in the night, seeming to come straight from her skin. What the actual fuck?!

  “It is with the warmest of hearts and the brightest of smiles I welcome you back to our fold girls.” She turned to the people beside her. “I’m sure you all remember Princesses’ Gwendolyn, Annabella and Katarina Darklight, the missing daughters of the Lion Queen, returned home at last!”

  The people next to the principle turned towards us, breaking down the last remaining ounce of my patience, Dari following right behind me. Novak ushered us closer to her when we tried to stop a good six feet away, and I caught a glimpse of her strange yellow eyes that I hoped were fake. They gave me the creeps.

  This is wrong. You shouldn’t be here. I don’t like it.

  “Your initiation packs and guidebooks have been sent to your rooms already, and in a moment we will all be going through to the Green Room for the initial back to school party. After that you are free to do as you please until classes start tomorrow. I know you will have multiple questions and we will be sure to answer them in time, but I wanted for us to make a small re-introduction before you get lost in the magic of the night.” The smile she gave me seemed off, like she was terrified rather than happy. I could feel Dari tense up next to me and knew she felt the same way.

  Dari may have loved attention, but only when she chose it, and I personally despised anybody staring at me at all.

  “You have already met Ryder, the leader of our Guard, but this is Victoria King, your guide around the school to ensure you feel confident about the things you have missed out during the last few years whilst you were vacationing in the mortal realm.”

  Dari snorted, the idea of someone calling us being presumed dead as a holiday completely ridiculous. Dari was going to go for Principal Novak before the hour ended, I could feel it. She was almost growling as the girl called Victoria muttered hellos.

  I didn’t bother looking at her; I wouldn’t be using her as a guide. I didn’t need someone to show me around anywhere, I was big enough to figure that shit out for myself. Dari and Laina replied back, being nice enough to make up for my silence.

  “And this is Mario, my assistant principle. He’s got your keys to the dorms for you.”

  A man darted out from the group with a squeal. He was a tiny, with skin dark as night, and robes that glistened with silver glitter. He approached us with a jubilant grin, tapping mine and Laina’s arms before I could retreat, mumbling about placing an unlocking spell on us all. The feel of his skin on me broke the last of my control and I stepped forward, ready for this farce to end.

  Dari beat me to it, and grabbed Mario by the scruff of his robes, using the bridge of her hand to hit his nose first, before grabbing his arm and flipping him to the floor. He dropped to his knees with a sickening thud, and I chuckled as Dari bought her arm back to punch him.

  He looks scared. I wonder if he’s ever had his ass handed to him by a girl before?

  “Dare, stop.” Laina said, her voice echoing in my ear as she placed a hand on Dari’s shoulder. She dropped her hands immediately, returning back to her normal standing position like she hadn’t just broken a guy’s nose.

  “Don’t touch my sister.” Dari said flatly, but she did not raise her voice. If Laina was telling us not to be violent, it was for a good reason, and we always listened.

  Mario took a second to get back to his feet, and his beady eyes narrowed at me before he went for Dari’s arm, trying to place something on her skin with his filthy hands. He managed to tap her bicep before she yanked herself away. He’s dead. I’m going to kill him.

  “I said back off stronzo!” Dari snarled, her chocolate eyes narrowing into slits. “Or I’ll rip off your arms and shove them so far down your throat you will be able to feel the inside of your stomach.”

  A few of the spectators mumbled laughs as they watched her, and I could have sworn I heard Ryder call her wonderfully violent. I couldn’t decide what kind of person would use a compliment like that, but I knew my sister didn’t need to find out.

  “Princess do I need to coerce you again or are you going to behave?” Ryder asked, snaking his hand around Dari’s wrist.

  The two stared at each other for an entire minute, before Dari muttered fine and backed off.

  “It’s just a key spell my lovelies, no need for alarm.” Novak hurried to calm us and prevent Dari breaking Mario’s legs.

  Unlucky for her, I was the one she needed to worry about, not Dari. But I knew she would soon find that out. Especially if her handsy little friend tried to lay his grubby fingers on me again.

  “Katarina, why don’t we continue with our evening and introduce you first. These are the Heirs of the rulers of Mirane, as I’m sure you well remember.” Novak smiled at me like a fool, presuming my lack of hostility so far meant I was the polite sister, as she motioned to the four people beside her, I hadn’t looked at before.

  Who are they? What do they want with us, and why are we expected to know them already when I have never seen their faces?

  “Quanto sarebbe facile uccidere questa stronza prima che sapesse cosa l'ha colpita? How easy would it be to kill this bitch before she knew what hit her? I asked my sisters, before turning to Novak with a wicked grin. “I don’t know who Katarina is,” I guess it’s my name but fuck that, “and nor do I know who these people are. We have never met.” I replied.

  Novak shuffled, her yellow eyes tightening the slightest bit as she tried to think of a plan to salvage this introduction.

  “Katarina was the name your parents gave you, but I forgot the mortal world would have given you new ones.” She pointed at Dari first calling her Annabella, then moved onto Laina who was apparently called Gwendolyn just like on the file Ryder had shown us.

  If I wasn’t already judging my parents for abandoning us, knowing their terrible name choices didn’t make things better.

  “The people who gave birth to us couldn’t be fucked to stick around the last few years so hard pass on that stupidly pretentious name.” Dari scoffed. Calling her Annabella was just something I could never even begin to imagine. It was far too feminine and childlike for her.

  Laina didn’t throw out any objections to her name but that was more for her lack of attention than wanting to go by her new name. Principle Novak tried to insist a little more, muttering things about tradition and not needing to keep up the human pretences now that we were ‘home’.

  “Look la puttana, you can either call us by our so-called human names or don’t bother speaking to us at all. But I'm not being dragged out of my apartment by a damn bloodsucker, to the middle of fucking nowhere, and having a complete psychotic looking stranger try and tell me what the hell my name is. So, you either use whatever name we give you
or be quiet.”

  Novak hesitated for a moment, the debate inside her head slowly dying out as she realized Dari really meant everything she said even if Novak didn’t know what insult she had called her. Novak knew she couldn’t win with my sister; she was stubborn to the end.

  I wonder if anyone has ever told her to be quiet before? I doubt many are rude to their teachers.

  “Fine then. Perhaps if you tell us all your human names, we can add them to our minds instead?” Novak asked me.

  “Her name is Laina,” I said, pointing to my sister with a meaningful stare, “And this is Dari.” Novak continued beaming as though she didn’t despise what I was saying, and she asked what my name was.

  “Kaida.” I replied with a bite.

  Dari shuffled next to me, a low chuckle escaping her.

  “Anything else you’d like us to discuss? I can tell you my bra size if you’re interested. Or maybe you’d like to know my favourite sex position?” Ryder tried to stop the laugh escaping him but couldn’t, and the glare he received from Novak only made the entire thing funnier.

  I had to bite back the humour on my own lips. Dari was always quick on her feet at making inappropriate jokes. She had never shied away from saying whatever came inside her head, regardless of who she was speaking to. It was one of her qualities I preferred.