When we reach the plateau, I can see that the buildings look very much like how you’d expect a boarding school to look. Not that I’d actually ever seen one, but it isn’t difficult to envisage.
There are trees lining the buildings which are separated by sprawling lawns and green spaces. The tall building that I saw from a distance, looks like the main campus building and it’s flanked by smaller buildings on each side. There is what looks like apartment blocks, which are probably the student dorms, near the main building. Further away, just at the very edge of the plateau, I can see that there is a large mansion overlooking the rocky beach beneath. I find myself wondering what the building is.
I notice as we pass through the campus grounds, that the place is deserted and silent, apart from the sound of waves crashing against the cliffs below. Magnus tells me that classes don’t start until tomorrow, so most students won’t be arriving until then.
I find myself thinking that it all looks so normal. I don’t know what I’d been expecting. Maybe a medieval castle with a drawbridge and a moat, with magical dragons circling and students flying around on broomsticks, learning how to slay dragons. But instead, you could mistake the campus for some ivy league university, or at least what I think an ivy league university looks like.
I expect the limousine to head towards the student dorms but it heads in the opposite direction instead. Towards the mansion at the edge of the bluff.
“Where are we going? The dorms are over there, aren’t they?” I ask.
“You’re not staying in the dorms.” Magnus replies.
“I’m not?” I shoot him a puzzled look.
“No. Dynasty heirs have always had their own halls of residence.”
I look up at the large mansion up ahead as the realization dawns on me and I think I feel sick.
The limousine stops in front of the large marble-paved drive way, but the last thing I want to do is get out of the car.
“This is Sovereign Hall. It’s where you’ll be staying,” Magnus says, although through the churning in my gut, I’m finding it difficult to concentrate on his words.
I can’t believe I didn’t make the connection up until now—the Dynasty heirs have always attended Regency Mount Academy. Magnus had said this earlier, but I’d been too busy protesting about the very idea of going to a boarding school, that I didn’t even consider that I’d be going to the same boarding school as the spoiled brats that I’d met at yesterday’s ceremony. The very same brats who each made it clear that I’m not welcome here in Eden, let alone their high school.
I feel like hurling when I realize that not only will I be going to the same school as that asshole who had basically threatened me yesterday, but I’ll be living in the same halls as him, too, along with all of the other rich pricks who apparently hate me for just existing.
“Here are the keys to the Evenstar suite. I arranged for your things to be sent in advance and your class schedule should be on your dresser.”
“Oh, god.” I cover my face with my hands.
“What’s wrong?” Magnus asks.
“I can’t go here—I can’t live there.” I gesture to the white marble pillars and the large gold leaf double doors.
“I don’t belong here.”
Magnus sighs in frustration.
“We’ve been over this, Jazmine. This is exactly where you belong.”
“You don’t understand.” I’m almost pleading now.
“The Dynasty heirs hate me—they made that pretty clear at last night’s ceremony.”
Clearly the courteous bowing had fooled everyone but me, because Magnus looked utterly perplexed.
“What are you talking about?”
I’m silent for a long moment as I deliberate whether to tell him about the less than friendly welcome that I’d received last night from the heir to the throne himself. But something inside me is stopping me. I’d taken care of myself since I was seven and I sure as hell don’t need Magnus to start fighting my battles for me now. I can handle myself.
“It’s nothing,” I say finally. You’re right. I’ll be fine.”
Magnus regards me for another moment, suddenly looking uncertain.
“Are you sure it’s nothing?”
“Yeah, I’m sure. Don’t worry about it.”
“Good. Here, take this.” He hands me a cell phone and I don’t even know why I’m still surprised. I begin to ask how the hell they have cell phones here on Eden, but why wouldn’t there be? This place being a mirror of Earth and all.
“I’ll call to check up on you. But I’ve added my number on here, so call me if you need anything.”
It feels strange having someone care enough to actually check up on me or to have someone give a damn about me at all. I haven’t had that since I was seven and although it feels alien, I can’t deny that it chips away at my walls and I can feel some of the icy exterior that has built up around me throughout the years, thawing.
“Thank you,” I mumble. The words are barely audible, but Magnus hears it.
“You’re very welcome, Jazmine,” he replies with a wistful smile.
7
I’ve never set foot inside a boarding school before, but I’m pretty sure that Sovereign Hall is like no other student hall. The gold leaf double doors open out onto a cavernous, marble-floored reception room. A modern, all-white open plan kitchen and dining room flanks the reception on one side, and a living area with plush velvet couches and a large marble fireplace flanks the other. The far wall is lined entirely with glass and opens out onto what looks like an indoor swimming pool, with another wall of glass beyond that looking out onto the coastline below.
I crane my neck to look at the glass chandelier which hangs over the reception hall and the curved white marble staircase leading up to the rooms above. The ceiling is impossibly high and I wonder where it stops.
Upstairs, the first floor splits into two wings. I take the left wing and read the gold plaque on each set of double doors as I pass. Aldebran, Aspen, St. Tristan and finally Evenstar. I’m guessing the other heirs are rooming in the other wing. I’m less than thrilled to find that the St. Tristan suite is directly across from the Evenstar suite. In fact, the thought that I’m going to be living across the hall from the jackass that is Raphael St. Tristan for the entire year, makes me sick to my stomach.
I step into my quarters to find a large suite which is three times larger than any bedroom I’ve ever had in all ten of my previous foster homes. In fact, the room is probably larger than most apartments. A king size, four poster bed fills the middle of the room. A plush purple velvet chaise lounge sits between the large floor to ceiling mirror and marble top dresser. But the best feature has to be the black marble fireplace at the center of the living area, with the plush black faux fur rug sprawled in front of it.