ARROGANT JERK!

ARROGANT JERK!

“It means there’s something special about you.”

Zeda frowned at Carrie’s words the next day, dropping the letter in her hand onto a nearby table.

No matter how often her roommate and now friend called her special, Zeda didn't feel that way.

The letter was from Mr. Percival, saying he wanted to talk to her and fix her class schedule.

Three neatly ironed Shadowbrook Academy uniforms had also been delivered with the letter. They fit her perfectly, though the skirts were almost too short.

She stared at her reflection in the long mirror, fully dressed for her first day. She loved the uniform: a white shirt, a gray flare skirt, and a black blazer with a black tie.

Just as Lucian had been surprised she met Mr. Percival on her first day, Carrie was shocked he was fixing her class schedule himself.

“Is it really a big deal? Him fixing my schedule?” Zeda asked, adjusting her skirt.

"It's a hundred percent a big deal, girl!" Carrie exclaimed. “Teachers are usually the ones who assign new students to their kingdoms after learning their genus, and they also arrange lesson schedules. Not even Mrs. Amelia does it, and definitely not Mr. Percival.”

Zeda shrugged, trying to hide her unease with a casual air. “There’s a first for everything. Maybe I’ll start a new trend.”

“You wish,” Carrie chuckled.

Zeda laughed. “Wish me luck.”

“Atta girl. That skirt looks hot on you,” Carrie grinned, giving a thumbs-up. “Try not to be afraid of Mr. Percival, and for the theater department? Go give them a show.”

Zeda paid the cab driver and got out when she reached the administration building.

She was going to meet Mr. Carl to let him know she wanted to join the theater department before seeing Mr. Percival.

She wasn't sure which meeting made her more nervous.

Finally finding the door with Mr. Carl’s name on it, she took a deep breath and knocked firmly. A gruff voice told her to come in.

As she entered the office, she saw a short, chubby man with glasses standing near the window.

“Who are you and what can I do for you?”

“Uh… good morning sir,” she stammered nervously. “I’m Zeda, and I want to join the theater department.”

Mr. Carl cleared his throat. “I see.”

He sat down on the leather seat behind his desk and gestured for her to sit across from him, his brown eyes studying her.

“I assume you’re a new student, because I would have known if a student ascended the realm recently,” he said, a mix of respect and curiosity in his eyes.

“Yes sir, but I haven’t ascended the realm. In fact, I just learned about the supernatural world and what this academy is all about yesterday,” Zeda replied.

Mr. Carl frowned. “That’s weird. Does the director know about you?”

“I met him yesterday when I arrived, and I’ll be meeting him later today as well.”

“That’s good,” Mr. Carl nodded, though he still looked surprised. “So, do you know how to act, or is it just something you’re interested in learning?”

“I can act, sir. I started acting in my junior year. It’s something I love doing,” Zeda replied confidently.

Mr. Carl smiled, looking pleased. “Alright then. I was about to go to our theater room for rehearsals with the crew. You should join me so you can have your trial, and then I’ll know what decision to make.”

Zeda grinned, “Alright, sir.”

They arrived at the theater department building a few minutes later in Mr. Carl’s SUV.

He led the way into the large red brick building, with Zeda walking nervously behind him.

She noticed students in their uniforms glancing at her and muttering things she couldn’t hear.

Zeda sighed. Her eyes were going to attract a lot of attention. Something she didn’t want at all.

They entered a very large room designed like an auditorium with a stage.

Some students were chatting and laughing in groups, while others were play-acting.

The room quieted, though, when she walked in with Mr. Carl. He nodded in response to their greetings, and then all eyes fell on her.

Zeda lifted her chin to hide her nerves with confidence.

“Oh, the first newbie to join the crew,” a male voice mocked from a corner, making others laugh.

Zeda found him with her eyes and offered him a cold smile.

“She has ascended the realm!”

“A new student ascending the realm?”

“What if her eyes are fake?”

Zeda gritted her teeth as the students kept muttering about her, especially the girls.

“Quiet!” Mr. Carl ordered, his voice echoing through the noise.

They slowly obeyed.

“Everyone, have a seat. We’ll start our rehearsals now,” he said, then glanced at Zeda. “But first, we have a new student who wants to join us.”

Few students started clapping while many were just staring at her.

Mr. Carl continued, "So her trial will be a solo performance, and then I'll know if she's good enough to join the acting crew, or undergo training in the department."

Everyone started muttering, but then stopped suddenly when the door opened.

Zeda followed everyone’s gaze to the door, where a guy walked in with two other guys flanking him.

Zeda gasped. Wasn’t red hair and red eyes supposed to be a weird combination? He was so handsome, with smooth pale skin. His sharp cheekbones stood out under a messy head of red curls.

“Prince Vyr, welcome,” Mr. Carl greeted, his voice suddenly nervous.

Zeda blinked twice. He’s Vyr, the vampire prince Carrie told her about?

Vyr barely acknowledged Mr. Carl’s greeting as he settled down two rows behind everyone with his companions.

Suddenly, it was as if the temperature in the room dropped below freezing. No one said a word.

Zeda counted three full seconds before Mr. Carl finally cleared his throat.

“So as I was saying…”

“Give me a recap of what’s happened so far, Carl,” Vyr interrupted rudely.

Carl? Zeda gritted her teeth. Where were his manners? He’s just a prince, not a freaking god!

Even if he looked like one…

He was late for rehearsal if he was even part of the crew, and instead of being punished, he was asking for a recap?

Zeda glared at him, but he didn’t even spare her a glance. Beside her, Mr. Carl swallowed hard.

“Nothing much has happened, Prince Vyr. I was just about to give her a trial. She wants to join the crew.”

Vyr looked at her then. His eyes were a vibrant, unsettling crimson, like polished rubies in his smooth, lean, sculpted face, and they were cold as they looked her over.

“And who are you?” he asked in a stuck-up tone.

Zeda wanted to tell him to buzz off, until Mr. Carl cut her off.

“Introduce yourself, dear,” he said, a pleading look in his eyes.

Zeda frowned. She had thought he was a strict man with those glasses and all.

She straightened her back and glared at Vyr. “I’m Zeda.”

He snorted. “Kids have just one name these days? And why are you making fun of the realm with those lenses?” Every word dripped with disgust.

He just called her a kid? She’s 19 for crying out loud! And did he just accuse her of wearing colored contacts?

Zeda opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind, but Mr. Carl’s sharp gasp stopped her.

She glanced at him before lifting her chin to answer the arrogant jerk.

“I’m Zeda Iverson. And no, these are my natural eyes and not some damn contacts.”

She wasn’t sure why everyone started muttering, whether it was because of her sharp tone or because she denied wearing contacts.

Vyr stood up, and if possible, the room became even quieter than before, like everyone was holding their breath.

His long legs moved with a smooth, almost liquid grace as he walked towards her like a silent predator stalking its prey.

He stopped just inches away from her, his musky leather scent filling her nose as he stepped into her space.

It took Zeda a moment to realize she had been holding her breath, and she let it out slowly.

“I should see for myself,” Vyr said, his smooth-as-butter voice threatening to make her melt.

With long, cool fingers like Mr. Percival’s, he lifted her chin and stared at her eyes.

The movement made Zeda realize how tall he was; her head was level with his chest.

She ignored the jolt of electricity his touch sent down her body and glared at him.

It took every bit of strength in her not to drool over his face. He was stunningly beautiful, and his perfectly arched brows added to that sexy arrogance he had about him.

Zeda hated herself for a moment, shocked by her own reaction. He was literally bullying everyone, and she had just found his arrogance sexy?

“Tell me, kid, is this the real color of your eyes?” Vyr asked. His voice was even silkier and smoother; she felt like doing what he asked and telling him all her secrets.

Zeda realized he was trying to compel her and imagined a wall in her mind before pushing him away with all her strength.

Vyr took a step back.

“Don’t you dare use mind compulsion on me, you arrogant jerk!” she snapped, her voice dripping with disdain as her finger pointed at his face.

The room exploded into chaos as the crew started showing their shock.

Many stood up, including his two companions, and some began recording videos with their phones.

Zeda didn’t dare look at Mr. Carl. She imagined he had gone pale.

From the reactions of the crew, it was clear to her that no one in Shadowbrook Academy had ever challenged Vyr Machiavelli.

But then, she had come too far to care already. Whatever the consequence was, she was going to face it head-on.