Chapter 1
ANASTASIA
Present
As I stepped out of the town car, I knew this wasn’t freedom—it was a trade.
Crestview University wasn’t my choice; it was the price of getting out.
The alternative? Another year in Blackridge, medicated and monitored, pacing the same four walls while they documented my decline.
They wanted proof I was broken, and after three years in isolation, they nearly got it.
Sergio—ever the negotiator—gave me a way out.
Go to Crestview, follow the rules, and stay away from the past. It’s not about recovery.
It never was. It’s about appearances, control, and making sure I don’t embarrass anyone.
That I don’t embarrass him. But if watching the person you love die in front of you doesn’t leave a mark, maybe that’s the real insanity.
The University is in Percé, Ontario—a quiet coastal town with sweeping views of the ocean.
Or so the brochure says. It’s the kind of place people romanticize.
I used to love the water, the crash of the waves, the endless horizon, the illusion of freedom.
But after Blackridge, even the sea feels like it’s watching me.
I miss the calm it used to bring. And then there’s the castle.
It looms behind iron gates, massive, like something pulled straight from a fairytale.
The pebbled path winds through a tunnel of trees, their limbs stretching inward like they’re trying to keep me from turning back.
At the top, stone steps lead to two towering wooden doors, carved with intricate designs.
It’s breathtaking, but not in a way that makes you feel alive.
It’s the kind of beauty that suffocates.
That traps. I haven’t even stepped inside, and already I know: this isn’t freedom.
It’s just another cage. Only this time, it’s wrapped in ivy and gold, and Sergio still holds the key.
Nevertheless, the view is breathtaking. I’m just waiting for the giant with the beard to come out and tell me I’m a wizard, a witch?
Or maybe a beast will take me captive and gift me his library—You get it.
I'm just trading one cage for another. I might not have bars on my windows anymore, but a golden cage is still a cage.
From the brochures, it seems like this place has everything one could need.
A courtyard out back overlooking the forest, an indoor pool, and a massive library.
This University is filled with society's most important members. And by important members I mean the future heads of all the families, son’s and daughter’s of congressmen and diplomats.
They’re meant to prepare us for our lives outside, taking over the family business or getting pawned off to create family ties.
I was meant to get away from this. We tried… I failed.
I’m greeted at the front by some lady in a long black dress, who almost looks like a nun sans the head covering. She looks nice enough, I’m not religious by any means, but I feel like I can trust her.
“Ms. Díaz, welcome! We’ve been expecting you. Hope your drive up here was pleasant,” she states.
I’ve been sitting in the back of a car for hours, I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast yesterday, before I was picked up. So no, the drive up here was anything but pleasant.
“My name is Ms. Hyson, please follow me. You may leave your bags here and we’ll have them delivered to your room.”
I simply nod and follow along.
“There'll be a uniform waiting for you upstairs, you’re expected to wear it every day, except on the weekends. No classes then, so you get to relax and enjoy the amenities.”
I follow her up a set of stairs passing portraits of who I can only assume were the previous inhibitors of this place.
We take a couple of turns and head left down a small corridor.
I can't help but feel eyes on me. There are five doors on each side, which I’m assuming these are just some of the dorms. We stop at the last door on the right.
She opens the door to guide me inside and as I’m about to step in I catch a glimpse of someone at the front of the corridor we just came down.
He’s gone in a flash. But he was there.. watching me. I'm sure of it.
The inside of the room seems normal enough.
Off to the right, there's a bed that looks big enough to fit at least two of me—more than enough space for someone who's 5'3" with short legs— and a small desk sits next to the bed on the left in front of a window.
At least I'll be getting a little Vitamin D and not be fully closed off again.
The window in my room overlooks a courtyard and there's a giant tree off to the side. Good to know there’s an escape route should I need one. I’m no Spiderman but how hard can it be to climb down a tree? Across from the bed is the closet, not very spacious but its not like I brought a lot with me.
I open the closet door and see there is a couple of uniforms already hanging there.
Three black skirts, a long and short-sleeved white button-down shirts, two black vests, a green tie, and one cardigan sweater, for when the weather is dreary.
Then there’s a small bathroom. No shower, that’s down the hall, she pointed out.
But good to know I won’t have to go through hoops just for a midnight pee.
I take in my new environment, “Will I be able to go into town?” I ask.
“Yes, there’s a bus that goes into town on the weekends, a few of your classmates usually go down and visit the local shops. I’ll be sure to include the bus schedule along with your class schedule and map of the school, being a big school and all, one can get lost.”
She smiles and says, “Lord knows I’ve taken my fair share of wrong turns when I first arrived here.”
I follow, Ms. Hyson down the corridor we first came from into the administration office. I watch her scramble through some files before she finds what she’s looking for. She hands me my class and bus schedule as she had said.
Just then a girl walks in.
“Ah, Ms. Sato so good to see you and perfect timing,” Ms. Hyson says. “This here is Anastasia Díaz, she’ll be joining us. Would you mind showing her around and getting her acquainted?”
“It’d be my pleasure, Ida,” the girl says.
“Ms. Sato, we’ve talked about this, please address me as Ms. Hyson.”
Ms. Hyson tries to sound stern but I hear the warmth in her voice.
The girl turns to me.
“Hi, I’m Romi Sato, but my friends call me Ro,” she smiles and holds her hand out to me.
“Anastasia Díaz, but you can call me Stassi.” I reach out to take her hand returning the smile.
Beautiful and intricate tattoos dance up her arms and her ears are decorated in silver. She’s wearing black spiked boots laced up her calves. Remind me to ask her where she got those, I definitely need a pair.
She leads me out of the office and we walk down a series of hallways before appearing before a grand dining hall. This must be the cafeteria, and I’m most definitely going to get lost around here.
“Come on, you must be starving,” Ro says. “Breakfast is still being served and Maggie makes the best French toast you’ll ever try.”
I smile and let her drag me along, she’s right, I’m starving. I’ve been too anxious to eat anything. When I got picked up yesterday we came straight here and didn’t make any stops.
“So, what’s your story?” Ro asks me, “It’s not everyday we get transfers, never mind a third year.”
“How—“
Ro cuts me off, “I looked at your file, one of the perks of helping out in the office,” she winks at me. “But most of it was sealed off, so… what’s your story Stassi?”
Well, I’m sure that little tidbit will come in handy. I wonder what else she knows.
“Well, nothing too exciting to tell really. I was in a pretty bad accident three years ago, went a lil crazy after, and been doing online classes at a facility ever since,” I shrug.
I don’t know why I’m telling her all this, but it’s not like I have anything to hide.
Whoever really wanted to know could just look up the news clipping.
It’s not exactly a secret, although some of what happened is still a blur.
It’s a way the body protects the mind from trauma, is what my therapist would tell me.
“Was finally given an ultimatum, finish out my classes here, or stay locked up. And as fun as being in grippy socks sounds, I needed to get out of there before I really went crazy,” I force a laugh
I’m an over sharer I know, sue me. She doesn’t need to know the nitty gritty details yet, although I have a feeling she’ll get it out of me soon enough.
“What’s your story?” I ask back. A girl like her has to have an interesting story.
“Oh my story is not nearly as exciting as yours,” she laughs it off.
Guarded. I get it. Company meet misery, we’re going to be best friends.
“Come on, I promised you some french toast, trust me you won’t be disappointed,” Ro finally states, pulling me to the food line with her.
She wasn’t lying, this is some of the best french toast I’ve ever had.
The food at the facility was slop at best, doesn’t matter how much money was being funneled in.
They didn’t care about our well-being. My therapist was the only good thing to come of that place.
If it wasn’t for Fleur, I don’t know where I’d be.
She’s the reason I stayed half sane while I was there.
Helped me work through a lot of trauma and taught me some helpful coping mechanisms. 3-3-3 she would tell me; angel numbers.
Three visible things, three audible things, three moveable things.
As helpful as it could be, my mind was too loud to concentrate on anything else and I still chased that forbidden release.
It had been a while since I’ve done that, however.
After they found my hidden razor they made sure there weren’t any other sharp objects around.
That’s when I resorted to hoarding my pills.
Doubling the dose when I needed to be numb to the world.
I look around the dining hall, taking in the ornate paintings and chandeliers.
Multiple tables are set about, table cloths and all.
Fancy. A few students are gathered, getting their morning fix like us.
I can’t help but feel eyes on me again. The feeling has been with me since I got here.
I look around until my eyes land on his.
The most beautiful pair of bourbon eyes.
They bore into me with such intensity, like he’s looking into my soul. Chills erupt down my back.
He’s sitting with two others.
“Who’s that?”
I stare back at him. He has inky black hair, short on the sides and longer up top, strands hanging down covering his face. Giving him this whole mysterious vibe.
“Who..Oh thats Eryx, his dad, Viktor, is head of the Bratva.”
Why does that name sound so familiar?
“Next to him is Roman, his brother, and sitting across is Caine, Eryx’s best friend.”
“Rumor has it,” she continues, “he was engaged to somebody, but he called it off three years ago before anything was finalized.”
“Is he always such a creeper? He won't stop staring.”
Roman, has his same eyes, a deep honey brown. His hair cut short, not as messy as Eryx’s. His best friend Caine has a buzz cut, and the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen, like two sapphires. He also has half of his face tattooed to resemble a skull and piercings on his face that mirror each other.
Eryx hasn’t taken his eyes off me, and the other two keep looking my way too, to see what's keeping his attention as they’ve been talking to a wall for the past ten minutes. I get up from my seat and head their way. Ro tries to stop me, but I ignore her attempts.
Standing in front of his table, I gaze right at him, a silent stare-off between the both of us.
“Hey Pendejo, do you mind? Some of us are trying to enjoy our breakfast, I don’t need your peeping eyeballs burning a hole though my damn head!
” an annoyed tone coming through. I’m not usually so direct, but its not even 7am and already its been a long day.
I’ve been in the back of a car all damn night, in a new environment.
I haven’t had any sustenance since leaving the facility a day ago, and a hangry Stassi is mean.
Him staring isn’t helping the situation.
The two guys sitting with him stare at me, then back at Eryx, trying and failing to hold back a laugh.
I snap my fingers in Eryx face, “Excuse me, asshole, are you listening.”
He catches my wrist in a firm grip, “You'll want to watch that pretty mouth when speaking to me, Moya Vorona, before I make you eat your words,” venom dripping from his mouth. A threat. Or a promise.
He stands up and walks away without another word, leaving me there with my jaw on the floor. Who the hell does this guy think he is?
Roman and Caine get up to follow. Caine grabs my chin, closing my mouth. “Careful, you’ll catch flies leaving your mouth open like that.” And then they walk away.
I’m left standing there with so many questions.
Ro comes up next to me, “I tried to warn you, it’s best to keep away from them.”
I should listen to her, this is supposed to be a new chapter for me. A clean start. But there’s something that feels familiar about him. And I’m going to figure out what.