Chapter 28
T he lecture hall buzzed with the low murmur of students packing up their belongings as Professor Whitaker wrapped up our Comparative Literature class. As I gathered my books, I couldn't help but reflect on the events of the past few days. The memory of last night with Logan still lingered, filled with a confusing mix of revulsion and unwanted desire.
I shuddered, remembering the way his hands ghosted over my skin, teasing and tormenting without ever giving me the release my traitorous body craved. His words echoed in my mind; "You'll have to beg for it, Cadence." The thought made me sick, but there was a part of me, a part I hated, that wondered what it would be like to give in, to surrender completely to the dark desires he stirred within me.
I shook my head, trying to dispel the images of what it would be like to be fucked by Logan Bale. No. I couldn't let myself go down that road. I had to stay strong, had to find a way out of this mess. But how? The Regents seemed to hold all the cards, their power and influence reaching far beyond the walls of Covenant House.
This morning, Cole had informed me that Logan and Ryder would be away on "business" until late tonight. He also said that he had his own project that would keep him busy most of the day and since I was being such a good girl, I could get myself to class today. Arrogant twat.
Despite that, the relief I felt at this news was almost overwhelming. A whole day without their oppressive presence, without their hungry eyes following my every move. It was a small reprieve, but I was determined to make the most of it.
As I made my way out of the lecture hall, I scanned the crowd of students, half-expecting to see one of the Regents lurking in the shadows. Instead, I spotted a familiar face waiting just outside. Melody was leaning against the stone railing, her golden hair catching the sunlight and her smile as warm and inviting as ever. For a moment, my heart sank. Was this another trap? Another way for the Regents to keep me under their thumb? But as I approached, I saw nothing but genuine kindness in Melody's eyes.
"Hey, Cade!" she called out, waving me over. "How was class?" I forced a smile, trying to push down the constant undercurrent of suspicion that had become my default state.
"It was good," I replied, adjusting the strap of my bag on my shoulder. "Professor Whitaker's lectures are always interesting." Melody nodded enthusiastically.
"Oh, I know! I had her last year. She has a way of making even the driest material come alive." She paused, her expression turning slightly hesitant.
"Listen, I was wondering... neither of us have classes this afternoon, right? I thought maybe we could grab lunch together? There's this cute little bistro just off campus that I've been dying to try." I blinked, taken aback by the offer. Part of me wanted to refuse, to retreat to the relative safety of my room in Covenant House. Another part – the part that was curious about her invitation – leaped at the chance. Plus, this could be an opportunity to ask Melody some questions about her time as a Consort, away from the prying eyes and ears of Covenant House.
"Sure," I heard myself say, surprising myself with how eager I sounded. "That sounds great, actually." Melody's face lit up, and for a moment, I felt a pang of guilt. She seemed so genuinely happy at the prospect of spending time with me. Maybe I was just being paranoid, and had actually made a friend in her.
As we made our way off campus, I found myself relaxing slightly. The further we got from Regents University, the lighter I felt. The constant weight of the Regents' expectations, the suffocating atmosphere of Covenant House, it all seemed to fade away with each step we took. I even caught myself smiling at one of Melody's jokes, a genuine laugh bubbling up from somewhere deep inside me.
"So, tell me about this bistro," I said as we walked, genuinely curious. "How did you hear about it?" Melody's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Oh, it's this hidden gem that my sister told me about. She used to come here all the time when she was a student at Regents. It's family-owned, and they make everything from scratch. The sandwiches are to die for, and don't even get me started on their pastries!"
As she chatted animatedly about the bistro's menu, I found myself studying her. Melody was always so cheerful, so seemingly carefree. It was hard to reconcile the bubbly girl walking beside me with the dark undercurrents of Regents University. I mean she had been a Consort. Had she gone through the same things I was experiencing now? And if so, how had she come out the other side so... normal? The questions burned on the tip of my tongue, but I held them back. Not yet. I needed to wait for the right moment, when we were safely ensconced in the bistro, away from any potential eavesdroppers. Instead, I let Melody's chatter wash over me, nodding and making appropriate noises of interest as she regaled me with stories of her classes and the latest campus gossip.
We turned a corner, and Melody pointed excitedly to a small storefront tucked between a bookshop and a florist. "There it is!" she exclaimed. "Isn't it adorable?"
I had to admit, the bistro was charming. A hand-painted sign hung above the door, proclaiming it to be ‘La Petite Fleur.’ Window boxes overflowing with colourful flowers framed the large front window, through which I could see cosy tables and the warm glow of Edison bulbs hanging from the ceiling. As we entered, the smell of freshly baked bread and brewing coffee enveloped us. The interior was just as inviting as the exterior, with worn wooden tables, mismatched chairs, and local artwork adorning the exposed brick walls. It was the kind of place I would have loved to discover on my own, back when I was just a normal student with normal concerns. A friendly-looking older woman greeted us from behind the counter.
"Welcome to La Petite Fleur! Table for two?" Melody nodded, and we were led to a small table near the window. As we settled in, I couldn't help but feel a sense of surreality wash over me. Here I was, sitting in this charming bistro, about to have lunch with someone who I had only met about a week ago. I still didn't know if I could trust her yet, but it would really be nice to have someone who knew what I was going through?
I pushed the thoughts aside as we perused the menu. Everything sounded delicious, and for a moment, I allowed myself to forget about the Regents, about Covenant House, about everything except deciding between the roasted vegetable sandwich and the chicken pesto panini.
"So," Melody said after we'd placed our orders, her tone light but her eyes searching. "How are you holding up, Cade? Really?" The question caught me off guard. I opened my mouth to give my usual response, saying I was fine and hoping one day I would believe it, but something in Melody's expression stopped me. There was genuine concern there, and maybe... understanding? I hesitated, weighing my words carefully.
"It's... been a lot," I finally admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I feel like I'm drowning sometimes, like I can't catch my breath. Everything's happening so fast, and I don't know who I can trust or what's going to happen next." Melody reached across the table, placing her hand over mine. The gesture was so unexpected, so genuinely comforting, that I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes.
"I know," she said softly. "Believe me, I know exactly how you feel." And suddenly, I couldn't hold back anymore. The questions that had been burning inside me since I first learned of Melody's past came tumbling out.
"What was it like for you?" I asked, my voice urgent. "Being a Consort? Did they... did they force you to do things you didn't want to do? How did you survive it?" Melody's expression softened, a mix of nostalgia and something darker flickering across her face. She was quiet for a long moment, and I feared I had overstepped. But then she took a deep breath and began to speak.
"It wasn't... it wasn't what you're probably thinking," she said slowly, choosing her words with care. "I knew what I was getting into, at least to some extent. My older sister had been a Consort before me, so I had an idea of what to expect." I frowned, trying to reconcile this information with what I knew of the Regents and their manipulative ways.
"But didn't you feel trapped? Controlled?" Melody's lips quirked up into a wry smile.
"Sometimes," she admitted. "But being a Consort... it's not just about serving the Regents. It's about power, Cade. A different kind of power than what the Regents have, but power nonetheless." I leaned in, intrigued despite myself. "What do you mean?"
Melody glanced around as if making sure no one was listening, before continuing in a low voice.
"The position of Consort goes back to the founding of Regents University. The school has always valued its most promising male students, hence the title of Regent. But they also recognized that young men could be... easily distracted."
I snorted, unable to help myself."That's putting it mildly."
Melody grinned, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Exactly. So, they came up with the idea of assigning one of the most promising female students to each group of Regents. Someone who could take care of their... needs... while also keeping them focused on their studies."
"So, basically, they created a position of glorified sex worker?" I felt my face heat up at the implication. Melody shook her head.
"It's more than that. The Consort is meant to be a partner, an equal in many ways. The ultimate goal was often for one of the Regents to take the Consort as his wife after graduation, though that's not a requirement anymore."
I couldn't help but scoff.
"That still sounds like patriarchal bullshit to me."
"Oh, it absolutely is," Melody agreed with a laugh. "But here's the thing, Cade. The Consort holds more power than you might think. If she refuses to fulfil her role, if she withholds certain... privileges... it can have a huge impact on the Regents. They're not allowed to seek comfort elsewhere, you see. So, in many ways, the Consort can make or break her Regents." I sat back, stunned by this revelation.
Could it be true? Did I really have some kind of power over Logan, Ryder, and Cole? The thought was both terrifying and exhilarating.
"But... but they've already forced me to do things," I whispered, the memories of the Regent's Hunt and the claiming ritual flashing through my mind. "How can I have any power when they've already taken so much?" Melody's expression turned serious.
"Listen to me, Cade. It's a different world here at Regents. I know all too well the darkness that thrives here, and I have lost friends who have been swallowed up by it. But you're stronger than you think. You can turn this around, use it to your advantage."
"How?" I asked, desperate for any advice she could offer.
"Learn their weaknesses," Melody said, her voice low and intense. "Every Regent has them, believe me. Find out what makes them tick, what they really want. And then use that knowledge. Make them work for your approval, your affection. It won't be easy, and it won't happen overnight. But you can do it."
As Melody spoke, I felt a glimmer of hope spark in my chest. It was small, fragile, but it was there. For the first time since this nightmare began, I felt like maybe, just maybe, I had a chance of coming out the other side intact.
Our food arrived then, momentarily halting our conversation. As we ate, I mulled over everything Melody had told me. Could I really find a way to turn the tables on the Regents? To use their own desires against them? The thought was both terrifying and oddly thrilling.
"Melody," I said as we were finishing our meal, a thought suddenly occurring to me. "You said the goal used to be for a Consort to marry one of her Regents. Did you... I mean, are you...?" Melody's smile turned a bit sad.
"No, I'm not married to any of my former Regents. They've all moved on to new things. Although..." She paused, a faint blush colouring her cheeks. "I do still see one of them from time to time. Eli. We... we have a bit of an arrangement." I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by this glimpse into Melody's personal life.
"An arrangement?" She waved her hand dismissively, though her blush deepened.
"It's nothing serious. Just... comfort, when we both need it. But that's not important right now. What's important is you, Cade. You need to focus on protecting yourself, on finding your footing in this new reality."
I nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination.
"You're right. And... thank you, Melody. For everything. For talking to me, for being honest. It means more than you know."
Melody reached across the table, squeezing my hand. "You can come to me if you need to talk. But seriously, give those boys hell." I couldn't help but grin at her words, hoping I could live up to the way she saw me.
As we left the bistro, stepping back out into the warm afternoon sun, I felt lighter than I had in days. The road ahead was still daunting, still fraught with danger and uncertainty. But for the first time, I felt like I had a chance. A chance to not just survive, but to fight back. To reclaim some measure of control over my life.
Melody and I parted ways halfway back to campus, her heading off to meet some friends while I returned to Covenant House. As I walked, my mind raced with possibilities. How could I use what Melody had told me? How could I find the Regents' weaknesses and turn them to my advantage?
I was so lost in thought that I almost didn't notice when I arrived back at Covenant House. But as I climbed the steps, I felt a new resolve settling over me. I may be trapped here for now, but I was not powerless. Not anymore.
The house was quiet, except for the distant sound of music drifting from one of the other rooms. Logan and Ryder were still out, and Cole was likely holed up in his room or the library, working on whatever project he'd mentioned this morning. As I climbed the sweeping staircase to my room, my mind buzzed with everything Melody had told me at lunch. The history of the Consort position, the hidden power dynamics at play, the possibility of turning the tables on the Regents. I reached my door and slipped inside, closing it firmly behind me and leaning against it for a moment, eyes closed.
When I opened them, I was struck anew by the opulence of my surroundings. The room was beautiful, there was no denying that. But every luxurious detail, from the plush purple carpet to the silk sheets on the king-sized bed, felt like another link in the chain that bound me to this place, and to them. I shook my head, trying to dispel the creeping sense of claustrophobia.
Focus, Cade . I told myself. You have work to do .
With renewed determination, I moved to my desk, dropping my bag onto the polished surface and took off my jacket. I turned back to my bag, reaching in to pull out my Comparative Literature notebook. As I did, my fingers brushed against something unfamiliar, a folded piece of paper that I was certain I hadn't put there myself. Frowning, I pulled it out, a sense of unease growing in the pit of my stomach.
With trembling fingers, I unfolded the note, my heart racing as I read the words scrawled across it in harsh, angular handwriting, and the blood drained from my face as I stared at the threatening message.
"You don't belong here. Leave now, or someone will make you."