Chapter One
Alania
Some people count downto graduation like it’s the start of their real lives. Me? I’m counting down to what feels like a lifetime prison sentence. While everyone else is partying and planning their freedom from college, I’m preparing to be delivered to another school. A darker one. One that no one talks about unless they have the right blood and the right secrets. I dream of running, of slipping into anonymity by changing my name and burning my past. Girls like me don’t get to run. Not when your last name is Remington. I can’t escape their legacy; I inherit it even if it kills me.
“I understand, Dad,” I say with an exasperated sigh.
“I don’t know if you do, Alania. This is our reputation. If you go in there acting like chaos, it will reflect poorly on your mother and me,” Dad says with a scolding tone. Why is he pissy with me? I haven’t even done anything. Yet.
“I understand. I’ll be good,” I say gently. “I need to finish packing my room now…”
“Your brother will be the one visiting you. We will see you at graduation,” Dad says casually, like he and I don’t know what graduation means.
“Great. Bye. Love you,” I say, hanging up before he can lecture me again. I roll my eyes and toss my phone into my bag. I don’t care to read the notifications on my phone, because I know what they will be. Party invites, well wishes, questions, and more questions. For the next six months, I will disappear with no way to contact the outside world, and I fucking hate it. I hate my parents for this. I have begged countless times not to be made to go to this stupid finishing school, but alas, they don’t give a fuck. To them, I am out of control, and I need to learn to be obedient if I have any real shot at having a husband.
The thing is, I don’t want a husband. Not if I am expected to be a subservient little princess without a voice. Without an opinion. I won’t be my mother. They can try to break me, but I won’t bend. I do know I need to at least play the part somewhat, or they will kill me. I just need to get past graduation without being claimed by anyone, and I am home free. I will get the title of Master, and I will be free to do as I wish.
I jump when someone pounds on the door to my dorm room. Fuck. I thought I’d have more time. They bang on the door again, and I groan. “I’m coming. I’m coming,” I mutter as I drag my feet to the door.
“Alania Remington?” the man asks with a grunt. He is tall, bald, and mean-looking. I’d be willing to bet he ate a kitten for breakfast, or at least a hamster.
“If I say no, will you fuck off?” I deadpan.
“We are here to transport you to Hamilton School for Excellence. Where are your belongings?” the other mean-looking man asks. I gesture to the bags piled beside me, and he grunts before picking up an armload of bags.
“Are you going to grab any?” the first man asks me.
“Nope,” I scoff, folding my arms over my chest to watch them. He grits his teeth, and together they pick everything up. When they go to walk out of the room, they realize they have no way to stop me from running.
“Chill out, baldy,” I laugh. “I won’t run.”
They both grunt and walk out. I trail behind them, considering what would happen if I were actually to run away. Would they drop my bags and tackle me? Probably. I am so fucking over this, and I’m not even at the school yet. When we get to the blacked-out Escalade, the two men load everything into the back before staring at me.
“Get in,” the second man barks at me.
“Fuck you,” I laugh. “Say please.”
“Get in the fucking car,” the first one growls as he steps closer to me.
“Aht. You can’t touch me,” I say with a grin. “I am not a student at the school of the soul sucking yet, and there are non-society members around.”
“Get in the fucking car, or I’ll call your father and have him come here and deal with you,” he says with a grave tone.
“Say please,” I tell him with a sweet smile. “You can do it. You know how to say that, right? Puh-Leez. You can do it, Baldy.”
“Get in the goddamn car,” he snarls in my face, inches away. “...Please.”
“Good boy!” I say with a chipper tone. I hold up my end of the deal and pull the door open. I slip into the seat, and he slams the door behind me. Right away, I notice there are no handles for me to get out. Smart, because I seriously would have considered jumping the fuck out. Baldy is going to fuck me up the moment he is allowed to, but it was worth it.
The two men get in, and the first man is driving. The second man keeps glancing back at me, so I turn and look at him. “Yes?” I ask.
“Nothing. Just curious how long it will take for you to get yourself killed,” he remarks.
“What’s your name?” I ask.
“Jax,” he says.
“Well, Jax. I am hoping for soon, so… if you’d like to do the honors, Baldy might help you,” I say, making him smirk. “Baldy, what’s your name?”
