PHOENIX
I follow Ms. White in silence, my footsteps echoing on the marble floor. I try to take in my surroundings so I can commit this moment to memory, but it’s too dark and everything falls into the shadows.
On first impressions my mind is fucking blown. Sure, I knew Stonebrooke had a reputation for being one of the greatest colleges around but fuck me. This place seems huge and something tells me we haven’t even touched the surface. There’s no way I’m going to be able to find my way around this place all by myself.
It sounds stupid as fuck but I feel like I’ve been transported into a fucking fairytale. Not that I believe in happy endings. Dark, gothic and fucking perfect—a lot like the castle from Beauty and the Beast. Who knows, maybe there could be a Beast or two waiting for me hidden deep in the shadows. That is not something I’d shy away from.
I push that thought aside, trying to keep my mind focused on the here and now. Storing it away for another moment in time. I don’t want anything to creep in and affect my mood. Seriously, even though I’m hella nervous, this is the best I’ve felt in as long as I can remember. I don’t want anything to get in the way and ruin this foreign yet amazing feeling as it bubbles deep in my chest. I want to keep it alive for as long as physically possible.
Before too long we come to a stop just under a marble arch, in front of a pair of double oak doors. “This is the Great Hall.” She announces, watching me, her small beady eyes curious. I don’t know what she thought she was getting from me but I can already tell I’m everything she thought I wouldn’t be. Just looking at her startled expression tells me as much.
“I can imagine this must be overwhelming for you. I don’t want to show you too much at once. A full guided tour will be arranged for you tomorrow. I’m sorry I’m throwing you in at the deep end but I didn’t expect you to arrive so late…”
Yeah, neither did I, but the coffin dodger driving the hurst clearly had other ideas. My arrival far from his top priority.
“Tomorrow will be pretty full on for you so I’d suggest you eat dinner and head straight to your quarters. You’ll need all the rest you can get.”
Quarters? What the hell is this place? Next, she’ll be telling me there’s a common room for my house too, like Stonebrooke is some kind of Hogwarts on steroids. “Where will I be staying? How will I find where to go?” I ask, not sure if I’ve spoken out of turn. I’ve been brought up to only speak once I’ve been spoken to, otherwise it would lead to dire consequences.
Ms. White opens her mouth to answer me, but she’s quick to close it again, her attention averted. “Savage.” She says the name like it’s an inconvenience. “Dare I ask what you’re doing?” Her tone has changed drastically compared to when she was speaking to me. Gone is the soft, carefree tone I’d become accustomed to, and in its place is a straight talking, no bullshit taking stern Dean. One who doesn’t tolerate problems on her ship.
“Just heading to the library.” The deep voice replies. “Last minute studies. You know how it is, and I’d hate to fall behind.”
She shakes her head in what I’m guessing is disbelief as her short gray pixie cut blows in the wind. I’m not sure if she buys his excuse but when I look at him, he doesn’t strike me as the type of guy who’d go out of his way to study. He looks like he’d be the type of guy to burn the library down with everyone else still inside it.
“I’m sure that’s a likely story, however your plans for this evening will have to wait.”
“It’s pretty important.” He deadpans, zero emotion in his voice.
“I need your help with something, and I won’t be taking no for an answer.”
“No can do.”
A small smile curves on her lips as she takes another step toward him. “It’s non-negotiable.” She warns, her tone taking a downward turn, growing sterner by the second. “You see, this here is our new student and she needs some assistance.”
“Brilliant,” he snarls back, clearly in no mood for small talk. He’s eager to make his escape and to be honest I don’t blame him. I wouldn’t want to be lumbered with the new kid either. “I don’t see how that’s my problem.”
“Maybe I didn’t make myself clear. Allow me to rephrase… I’m making this your problem.”
I turn to face him and my blood runs cold when I see him watching me, like a predator lying in wait as he eyes up his prey. An icy shudder runs straight down my spine when his midnight blue eyes look me up and down, and he looks far from impressed with what he sees.
He’s tall, well-built, his muscular shoulders set wide as he folds his big arms over his never-ending chest. His eyes are sharp, captivating and framed by long thick lashes. His nose is straight, his plump lips perfectly proportioned. Seriously, his cupid’s bow would give most of the supermodel’s a run for their money. This guy looks like he’s just come from hell to torture my soul some more. Sent specifically to hurt me. His eyes, although captivating, are dead. Completely void of any emotion. Scary as fuck. Maybe the Dean will rethink her decision and take pity on me. Maybe she’ll let him get on with his plans because a guy like this has no business being all alone with me. Surely, she wouldn’t be so cruel to send me to the dogs on my first night.
“Sorry Ma’am.”
“I’m asking you for a favor, Savage. I think it’s high time I claimed a few of them in, don’t you?”
“Why don’t you ask one of the first years to do it. I’m too busy to babysit a stray.” He growls out, looking right at me as he calls me a fucking neglected scabby dog. Against my better judgement my hands fly to my hair to make sure it’s not all over the place and his wicked smirk tells me he doesn’t miss it.
“I don’t want a first year, Savage. I’m asking you and I won’t ask again.” For such a petite woman she sure knows how to hold her own. She’s kind of scary too when she gets all authoritative.
Realizing my time is up, I turn to get a better look at him and when he steps toward me all the air is knocked out of my lungs. Like I’ve just been sucker punched in my chest, his large frame casting me into the shadows. He’s not happy about being my escort, that much is clear in the sharp set of his jaw, his Adams apple bobbing as he swallows down his argument.
“Fine.” His eyes linger on me longer than necessary and all the small hairs on the back of my neck stand tall and I know it has nothing to do with the cold night air circulating around us. No, this is my body warning me to stay the hell away from the tall, dark, tatted stranger. My heart, however, is a whole other matter, beating violently in my chest, thudding hard, desperate to escape the beautiful monster. Desperate to avoid the inevitable pain and trauma along with his devastating beauty.
“I’m glad that’s finally settled. Phoenix, this is Dane Savage.” The Dean muses, almost like she’s second guessing her decision. Quickly realizing she’s about to feed the innocent lamb to the fucking lion. My fate is in her hands and she doesn’t seem to care. Dane, however, tried to give me a free pass and I know I won’t be as lucky going forward. “Now, I’m about to do something most people wouldn’t dream of, but Mr. Savage knows better than anyone not to get on the wrong side of me. Isn’t that right?”
“Yes, Ma’am.” He bites back through clenched teeth and I hear the lack of conviction in his tone. This boy is bad news, and a stupid reckless part of me is intrigued to find out more.
“I’m going to place Miss Melrose in your capable hands,” her small beady eyes watch us both cautiously. “And I’d like you to make sure Miss Melrose gets to her room safely.” She turns, this time focusing all her attention on me. “I hate to do this. I know it’s not professional or the usual standards we hold here at Stonebrook but your late arrival hasn’t given me any other option. I have an urgent meeting that I must attend.”
“I can always try to find my own way…” I shoot my last chance saloon, but I’m ignored as my plea falls on deaf ears around us.
“Handle her with care, Savage.” She ignores me completely, her mind already made up. More than happy to stick with her decision. “Don’t make me regret putting my trust in you.”
I’m forced to watch with bated breath as the Dean turns on her heels, leaving me all alone, out in the dark with someone who looks like he’d live comfortably in my nightmares. I’m beginning to think that coming to Stonebrooke is going to be more detrimental to my mental health than hiding out in Braxton.
Dane watches me for a moment, longer than necessary before moving toward me, gliding effortlessly like a seasoned predator ready to strike. His large frame makes me feel so small and I feel like I’ve lost all sense of control since I got out of the hurst. I feel vulnerable. Exposed. Naked under his heated glare.
“Have you eaten?” His voice is low, but I don’t miss the hint of malice. It’s obvious he’d rather be anywhere else but here with me, and I can’t say I blame him. No one wants to be left with the new girl, and I could also do without the big flashlight on my head.
“I’m not hungry.” I mutter, lying effortlessly as I fight against my chattering teeth as the wind whips up and assaults my body. Pulling my jacket sleeves down, I wrap my arms around my body as my defensive walls shoot up. A part of me thinks the extra chill is coming from dark and dangerous. Hell, I’ve never known anyone to make me feel so on edge before. All of this is wrong, but what can I do about it now?
“Bed?”
My eyes grow wide, shocked by his question. “Excuse me?” disbelief is heavy on my tongue, causing a low rumble to erupt from his heavily tattooed throat.
He takes another step toward me and now he’s so close I can feel the heat of his breath as it tickles my head before he slowly brings his body down to my level.
“Mmmm… that wasn’t a straight-out no.” He smirks back at me, taking my comment way out of context and my stupid heart malfunctions, skipping a beat or two.
I swallow hard, his cedar scent invading my senses, hypnotizing me, pulling me deeper under his spell as his blue eyes never leave mine. Not even for a second. “If you’re asking if I want to go to bed then the answer is yes. If you mean with you, then absolutely not.” I feel the heat of my embarrassment rush to my cheeks and I hope the he doesn’t pick up on it. The last thing I want is for this monster to know he has some kind of effect on me.
He licks his lips before pulling his body back up to his full height again, drowning me back into his shadow once more, his muscles flexing under his tight black t-shirt, allowing the tattoos on his arm to glow under the moonlight.
He drinks me in, not trying to hide it as he undresses me with his eyes before throwing his head back on a laugh. “You might live to regret that Buttercup, because I don’t ask twice.” I don’t miss the threat dancing between us.
“Wow… looks like someone is a little full of themself.” I say before I can stop my mouth from moving. I’ve no idea where this newfound bravado is coming from but I’m not mad about it. The last thing I want to do is stand here and look like a little victim for him to take advantage of. Maybe it’s my fight or flight kicking in. It doesn’t escape me that once again I seem to be dancing with death—a habit which seems to be forming. But no matter how dangerous this guy seems; I just can’t seem to stop myself. Another one of my downfalls is always having to have the last words and one of these days that might end up being the death of me.
Surprisingly, dark and dangerous doesn’t say anything. Instead, he turns on his dirty, laceless army boots and walks in the opposite direction. Fuck, does he really expect me to follow him like some kind of obedient dog? “Hey, where are you going?” I ask, reluctantly calling out into the darkness.
“Follow me and you’ll find out.” He laughs back at me, fueling my anger some more.
“Are you serious? I don’t even know you and you want me to follow you around a dark ass castle? How do I know I can trust you?”
“That’s the beauty of it. You don’t.” His voice floats between us like ice. “The choice is yours, Buttercup. Follow me, or don’t. Maybe I’ll lead you to your room, maybe I’ll lead you to mine.” He pauses, “but trust me, whatever the outcome it will be better than staying out here on your own. As scary as I can be, there’s a lot worse who roam these walls, always on the lookout for strays… but like I said, it’s your choice.”
Fuck. I’ve gone and landed myself in an impossible situation. Do I stay here and try to figure this out all on my own or do I take the risk and follow in the big bad wolf’s footsteps while praying to everything holy that I end up at my room, safe and in one piece?
A huge part of me is unsure about him. All the signs lead to him leading me into a deadly trap. However, the small rational part of my mind is fighting back, telling me that this guy doesn’t know who I am. There’s no reason for him to do me dirty. Not really. Maybe I’m overthinking things and he’s just your average kid trying to scare the new girl just for shits and giggles.
This is a new start for me. A chance for me to finally wipe the slate clean and erase the demons of my past. I know a huge part of that is leaving my old self back in Braxton and I suppose that also includes my suspicious mind and anything else which no longer serves me.
Cautiously, against my better judgement I force one foot in front of the other, tiptoeing over foreign ground. I’m in an impossible situation. If I don’t follow him, I’ll end up lost and all alone in this unfamiliar place. It doesn’t help that I haven’t seen another source of life since the Dean left us and because I’m the new girl nobody here knows who I am, which in turn means no one would notice if I went missing.
I have no fucking choice but to trust him, even if this is the perfect alibi for the psycho a few feet in front of me.
Stop Phoenix. Quit with the negative mindset. Not everyone is out to get you.
“Wait…” I call out after him, reluctantly giving in and admitting defeat. Whether I want to admit it or not, the truth is I’m going to need this guy if I have any hope of finding my living quarters. So long as he takes me safely to my room, I can deal with everything else later.
The tall muscular Adonis continues to walk ahead, completely ignoring me. Happy to act like I don’t fucking exist. Arrogant in the knowledge that right in this moment it doesn’t matter what he does or doesn’t do because I need him. Knowing I have no other option other than to follow him, and even though I have no idea where he’s headed, he doesn’t falter, continuing straight ahead, delving into the darkness without any disregard for me.