Chapter 1

Chapter 1

RAIN ANDREA RIVERTON

What the council wants, the council gets. What they can’t get, they eliminate. 

The atmosphere shifted the second we drove into Oakblood and past the banner that separated mortals from supernatural beings. A wide expanse of trees stretched across the land, adding to the eerie chill that made its way up my spine.

Strong dangerous magic pulsed through my veins.

“I checked in with the college already, you don’t have to go back to your mother on weekends if you don’t want to.” Aunt Eloise turned to me with a soft smile. 

Taking a deep breath, I tucked the stray hair that had escaped from the scrunchie behind my ear. “I might hate her, but I’ll have to see her eventually. Isn’t that one of the reasons I was asked to come back? To give her a reason to live.”

“I still don’t understand why the council needs you for that. They’ve never cared for her wellbeing, not even after your father died.” She took a right turn that led us down a narrow pathway. “It sounds shady. To be fair, everything in Oakblood is, especially those creepy old council members.” 

Her lips thinned into a line, there was something else she wasn’t saying and I knew it had to do with her leaving Oakblood years ago. While Dad had been one of the respected council members when he was alive, Aunt Eloise had reason to believe they were much more than they let on. 

There was no single house in sight as we drove through, the trees obscuring our trail. Oakblood was modernized but it didn’t take away the dark eerie ambience that haunted the entire town. The goosebumps I felt when we first crossed the banner still clung to my skin.

“I was told to make sure you were dropped off at Kingsbury College first. I’m assuming you’ll be given a means to reach your mother. If you want to.” 

“How was it when you attended?” My purple eyes peeped a glance at her.

She took a deep breath, closing her eyes. “I barely made it out of there alive, Rain. I lost so many good friends to the trials and training, which was one of the reasons I took you to Willow-crest City in the first place.” 

I was living a close-to-perfect life there until the council made their order. It didn’t matter that I was a full realm away from Oakblood because whatever the council wanted, they got. And for some messed up reason, they wanted me.

“While in there, do not trust anyone. Always sleep with an eye open. Your father might be no more, but he was still a part of the council, and has done some questionable things to others.” 

“Let me guess, their offspring would have it out on me?” I made a face which earned me a side eye from her. “I’ll be fine, aunt. You taught me how to use daggers, remember?” 

“Yes, but most of them have more dangerous weapons. And you, well… All I'm trying to say is, if it's within your power, do not make enemies.” 

The spooky gates of the big school opened on its own. Gargoyles crouched atop stone pillars. A weeping angel and other statues of different types filled every corner of the entrance. The students walked around dressed in brown pleated skirts, white shirts, and brown jackets.  

“I will not make enemies.” Unless of course, the enemy insists.

“And lastly, by no means should you have any interaction with Kai Malek. I don’t need to mention how many times he has tried to kill you and how he almost succeeded.” 

With the mention of his name, my throat went dry. I almost forgot that the devil was going to be here too. One of the major reasons Aunt Eloise had to make me move with her. 

“Avoid Malek, got it.” 

“The Councilmen, avoid them.” She pulled into a parking space and unlocked the car. “I have no idea what exactly it is they want with you or what your father told them, but by all means avoid them.” 

“Avoid the council, noted.” 

She squinted her brows like I wasn’t taking this seriously. I probably should have picked a jotter. “Rain, I’m being serious.” 

“I will be fine, I promise.” I gestured at my knee-high boots. “And I still have the four daggers you gave me strapped to my thighs.” 

Another deep breath. “Fine. Do you need me to walk you in?”

“Aunt Eloise! I am twenty, not six.” 

She giggled and watched me hop out of her car with a worried expression. My brown box with every essential I needed was in my hand as I stared up at the huge building of the school. It felt like I was standing in front of a med

ieval castle.

I would make it out alive. I promise.