Chapter 7
An Adventure
Sinta
‘I’ll find you’.
It sat in the back of my mind even a week later, taunting me. Haunting my dreams.
Hot sweaty dreams.
Often already I’d wondered if he meant it, if he really would. But then I remembered how sexy he was, and how rich he was, and reality reminded me that I wasn’t special.
He probably already had some gorgeous fortune hunter he’d picked up at an Elite party.
Yeah, reality was a bitch.
But I couldn’t focus on that right now.
No, right now I was mere minutes away from taking a huge step into the biggest adventure of my life.
Standing at the railing of the gigantic fancy boat – or yacht, I wasn’t really sure – ferrying us across the ocean, I could see an island in the near distance.
Fairview Isle, home of Fairview Academy.
And my home, for the next four years.
Clutching a duffle bag in one hand and a backpack in danger of bursting in the other, my eyes soaked in everything they could.
Which wasn’t much. I could make out smatterings of buildings, the dock where we would depart the boat, a huge clock tower closer to the middle of the island.
And blue waters. Crystal clear gorgeous blue water.
The boat I stood on was the only human way to get to the island, and it was probably magically tagged to be allowed through the Academy’s wards.
Others with the means to could teleport to the academy, or if they were a flight shifter could make the journey by wing.
Though I had no idea what they would do with their stuff……
“Excuse me.”
“Oh.” Shifting out of the way, I clear the path for a waiter to slide past me and all the other non-Elite Fae on the deck, ducking to avoid the platter of finger foods and beverages he was carrying.
Upon boarding the yacht we’d been shown to some shaded seating areas and standing space on the decks, and told our access was restricted to these areas and a bathroom at either end of the boat.
The Elite were immediately shown inside the large rooms.
The spaces had huge windows, so we could all see what we were missing out on.
Fireplaces, food, comfy seating, lounge areas, TVs.
Yeah, the hypocrisy was real.
I watch the waiter disappear into one of those rooms and circle it, offering food and drink to the Elites within.
My sister was likely in one of those. I hadn’t seen her, and I was hoping I wouldn’t.
“It’s beautiful, right?”
Pivoting, I take in the small red-headed female standing next to me, a cute sparkly black suitcase at her side, big almond brown eyes peering at me from behind black framed glasses.
Studying the thick grey tights, brown ugg boots, and slouchy black sweater she wore, I smiled.
She wasn’t particularly Dominant.
She had enough power that I could easily sense it, but not so much my beast wanted to challenge her. I’d say she was just below mid-level.
But she looked like my kind of person.
Almost everyone on this boat had gone for style over comfort.
A stupid choice since it was the start of February and absolutely freezing thanks to the wind whipping over the sea.
I’d dressed similarly to her in my favourite pair of high-waisted worn black jeans, a white long sleeve shirt layered under a grey one, and my favourite fraying leather jacket that helped block some of the wind.
And, of course, a pair of old rubber-soled ugg boots.
Following her glance at the island, I quickly realised she wasn’t talking about the boat.
“It really is. Even with the freezing temps.” I laugh, trying to push my hair back from my face.
“I know! I’m from Texas – it gets cold there, but not this kind of cold. This feels like it’s trying to turn my bones into ice cubes.” She groans, shivering dramatically. “I’m not sure I like it.”
“You get used to it.” I sympathise. “The weather is like this in New York, so I’m not too far out of my comfort zone.”
“Oh, New York! I only got to see a little bit of it before I had to be on the boat. Is it really as fabulous as they say?” She demands, rubbing at her nose.
It was quickly turning a rosy pink.
“Only if you stay out of the side alleys and pretend not to notice the hookers.” I joke. “Do you have a scarf or something, you’re looking a little too close to getting frost bite.”
“Um, no. I kinda didn’t know what to pack….. or what to shop for. I thought I’d just do it when I got to the island since they have shops on campus, but now I’m thinking that was a huge mistake.” She worries and nibbles at her pale-looking lips.
Wincing on her behalf, I put my backpack down and dig through my duffle for one of my few scarves.
“Oh, no, you don’t have to do that!” She squeaks, waving me off when I find one and pull it out. “I’m fine, honestly!”
“Your lips are about five minutes away from turning blue.” I hush her and reach up to loop it carefully around her slight neck.
I was small, admittedly, but this girl was even smaller than me and had something about her that just screamed fragile. Bundling her in the thick wool scarf and tucking it beneath her jacket, I stand back with a smile.
“There we go, no frostbite for you.” I tease.
“What about you?”
“Oh, I’m a native to this weather. I can brave it for a few more hours before I’d have to worry.” I laugh, sticking out a hand. “I’m Sinta.”
“I’m Kenya!” She squeaks, pumping my hand with an enthusiasm that made me laugh.
“Are you excited?”
“So excited. And nervous. And worried.” She sighs, the sound almost lost in the wind, and tucks her hands up into the sleeves of her sweater. “I’m worried about my meeting with my counsellor. They assigned me to one of the ones with a reputation.” She says with a frown that dragged down her entire face.
“Reputation?” I question.
“Some of the counsellors are…… um,” She studies me for a moment, wide eyes worried.
“Mean?” I fill in.
It wouldn’t be anything new, to be honest. Most of my teachers and professors during High School had been the absolute banes of my existence, so I knew I could deal with them being the same here.
As long as they didn’t mess with my grades or anything.
“No. More like racists – elitist. The counsellors decide what power level we are awarded and where we are housed, and a lot of them don’t believe in giving good reps and housing to lower-level Fae. I got assigned Mr Morgus – graduates call him The Morgue because he’s responsible for heaps of Fae dropping out of the Academy each year.”
I gape at her.
I mean, yes, I knew that the Academy ran mostly off of power hierarchy and elite status, but I didn’t think professors and counsellors would have that kind of a role in it.
Oh Gods, what if mine was elitist?
A no-power dud snake shifter, they would surely shove me in a closet somewhere and call it good.
“Do you know all the counsellors with those…. Beliefs?” I ask.
She nods enthusiastically, shifting on her feet. “Oh yeah, I even know which teachers its best to avoid. I didn’t want to go in blind, better to know who I’m dealing with.”
Digging into the pocket of my jeans, I yank out the map of the island with my orientation information on the back.
“I got assigned a ………… Mr Orichalcum?” I think I butchered the pronunciation, but she seemed to know who I was talking about.
“Oh, you’re so lucky! He’s rumoured to be really fair – well, strict, but fair.” She tells me. “You have nothing to worry about with him, he’s powerful but he’s not nasty like some of the others.”
I breath a relieved sigh, tucking the paper away. “Can you switch counsellors?”
“Not until a month into the courses, and we don’t get to choose who we switch to. So, I could end up with someone way worse in a twisted game of karma.”
I wince. “Yeah, no thank you.”
“Students, please make your way to the off-ramp. We are about to dock.” Someone announces over the boat’s speaker system.
“Oh! We’re here.” Kenya squeals, scooping up her suitcase. “Wanna find each other later? Get some food?”
“I’d love to.” I agree, picking up my own bags. “Look after my scarf for me?”
“This thing just became my new favourite piece of clothing.” She agrees before bouncing away with a frantic wave.
Chuckling, I turned to look at the island.
It was even more beautiful up close.
And daunting.
I suck in a fortifying breath and head to the offramp, hitching my duffel onto my shoulder.
Fairview Academy, here I come.