High Fae Academy - Year Two: Paranormal Fae Romance Read online

  High Fae Academy

  Year Two

  Copyright belongs to Kaylin R. Peyerk

  "He felt now that he was not simply close to her, but that he did not know where he ended, and she began."

  Leo Tolstoy

  Chapter One

  I’m so screwed.

  The thought echoes through my mind as I sink lower into the bathtub. Despite being totally freaked out, I couldn’t pass up a calming bath. Especially since Rowan still isn’t answering any of my pleas for help. They must have done something to trap him or silence him. But why? My body is still weak and aching without him. Are they aware that we can’t live without each other? Our souls are fused together, and Rowan told me that if he dies, I die, and vice versa.

  I drag myself out of the bathtub when the water becomes too cold and dirty to stand it any longer. The entire room is familiar, but not. I know it isn’t my bathroom, but the sense of Deja vu is so strong that I have to keep reminding myself that this is not my home. That the dark fae, and the high dark fae at that, have kidnapped me and brought me here. Do they plan to make me comfortable before killing me? Or do they want to convert me to their side of the war? Little do they know that I’m not fighting for anyone. And what the hell is with me having a connection with dark Lucian? This entire situation is so messed up that it makes me cringe.

  By the time I’m dressed in some other girls’ clothing and padding down the hall, a thought dawns on me. Is there a copy of me here somewhere? And if there is, does she have her own copy of Rowan? I don’t think so, it seems to me that there can only be one Rowan in the world. But then again, I also thought that there could only be one Lucian, and here we are. Ugh, this is so confusing. I’ve never wanted to talk to Rowan more than I do right now. My soul feels cold and lonely without his wrapping around it. Without even knowing it, I had become emotionally dependent on his presence.

  Voices slither down the hallway, and I pause, “She should be coming soon. I’m not surprised that she’s taking her time. She’s tired and will continue to deteriorate until we reunite them.”

  The voice sounded like Damon, but I can’t be sure. Reunite them? So, they do have Rowan trapped here somewhere. But is he in a dungeon where I can physically find him, or in some weird bottle containing his soul? Before I can even begin looking for him, I need that information.

  “There isn’t a lot of time left. They can’t be separated for long, so we have to work to gain her trust before then. She doesn’t do us any good dead,” Lucian’s copy says.

  His cold tone makes me flinch. Even if that’s not the real Lucian, those words still sting. Apparently, they do plan on using me for something, and they can’t contain me if I have both my full strength and Rowan to help me. This situation is making me increasingly uneasy. Do they really think I don’t know that this is the realm of the dark fae? Am I not supposed to notice the dark aura of everything and everyone around me? Perhaps that’s another reason they took Rowan. They thought that without him, my spirit power would be weak enough to fool. Well, they were wrong, and I know exactly what they’re doing. But I think I’ll let them believe that I’m compliant and trusting. That way, I can snoop around for Rowan without being watched like a hawk.

  “Hello, sorry I took so long. I didn’t mean to.”

  They all turn to me and smile, beckoning me forward. The resemblance they have to their light fae halves is unnerving. If it wasn’t for the darker tint to their skin, I wouldn’t be able to see a difference at all. I try to keep my face natural and open as I take a seat at the head of the table. Rai, or Rai number two, begins filling a plate of food for me. The mouth-watering scent of garlic bread and cheese-filled pasta wafts to my nose when he sets the plate down in front of me. As I dig in, the men around me stare unwaveringly.

  Around a mouthful of pasta, I ask, “Can you not stare? You guys are freaking me out. Am I a pig or something?”

  Damon’s copy chuckles, “Sorry, we’re just worried about you. You’ve been passed out for quite some time. Rai healed you as much as he could, but sometimes the body has to do the rest.”

  My eyes shoot to Rai again, and he smiles warmly. It makes my chest feel calm and happy, and I try to remind myself that this Rai is not my friend. This Rai hasn’t laughed hysterically with me after almost dying, hasn’t taught me the value of control, and certainly hasn’t gained my trust. Despite having those thoughts, I send him a quick smile in return. If I’m ever going to escape this place, I have to pretend. I have to make sure that they have no reason to doubt my loyalty to them.

  “Ah, thanks,” I pause, trying to decide if I should probe for more information, “But I still feel a little bit groggy. And Rowan hasn’t reached out to me since I woke up, which is unlike him. Do you think there’s something wrong?”

  The men shift around me, suddenly looking guilty and uncomfortable. It makes me think, got you. The room is silent for a long time, and I continue to shovel the delicious food into my mouth. I’m hoping that it will give me enough strength to go searching for him tonight once everyone is asleep. Well, depending on if this Lucian knows we’re supposed to be sleeping in the same bed or not. I send a silent prayer up to whatever god is listening for Lucian’s doppelganger not to be aware of our situation.

  Damon speaks again, “I’m sure he’s recovering as well. Let us know in a few days if he still isn’t back, and then we can look into it. Sound good?”

  They all watch me closely as I nod, trying not to look suspicious of his answer. It’s hard to not trust these people that look so much like my new family, but it’s even more difficult to act as if I don’t want to scream every five minutes. The amount of stress and uneasiness of this situation may soon overtake me. And is today Saturday? After being asleep for a few days, my internal clock seems to be broken.

  “What day is it?”

  “It’s Saturday, so you can do as you please today,” Adrian responds.

  “Alright, I think I want to hang out with Cyrena today, but I can’t find my phone. Do you guys know where I put it?”

  They look at each other again, and it makes me smirk on the inside. The Cyrena here doesn’t know me, and they probably don’t have a phone ready for me to use. Especially with all of my old contacts in it. I never looked in my old clothes to see if my phone was in one of the pockets. If I could get to it, maybe I can call someone. Annie would help me if I really needed it, but I know she’d be wary of coming to the dark fae realm. Wherever this is located. Are we on a different continent? An island? A completely different dimension?

  My mind spins with too many questions, and there’s no one here to answer them, reminding me again of how much I miss Rowan. He had been a solid presence over the past few weeks by making me feel safe and normal in a new world that’s anything but. My heart aches in my chest, and my eyes water, tears threatening to spill over. I look down at my plate and shovel the final shells into my mouth while trying to push my emotions aside.

  Lucian says while standing up. “We’re not sure where your phone is. We will get you a new one. And Cyrena is in the contest still so she won’t have time to see you today. You may go watch it if you’d like. I have to go to oversee it, have a great day.”

  He glides to my chair and leaves a whisper of a kiss atop my head before leaving the room. My roots tingle at the contact, and I try to tell myself that I shouldn’t feel this way. The others talk amongst themselves and ask me random questions about my week at school, my schedule, and my friends. I know that they’re only trying to gain a sense of my day to day in order to replicate it, but I answer them, nonetheless.

  I must convince th
em that my trust is genuine if I’m going to be left alone to investigate this place. I’m interested in getting to know them so I may learn the real cause of this war. Are they the repressed people I believe them to be, or are they the bloodthirsty demons the light academy makes them out to be? It will be a hard line to walk on the way to the truth, but I find it to be a vital step in becoming the fae queen the prophecy had foreseen.

  “Well, I’m going down to watch the contest, I suppose. I’ll see you guys later, alright?”

  The men nod, barely looking at me as I slip out the door. I’m in the high rise building where the light fae had taken me for dinners with them throughout my stay at the academy. It’s also the same building that Fiora’s office is in, but I’m not sure I have the balls to see her doppelganger right now. Despite knowing what I have to do when I’m here, it doesn’t get any easier. I had just gotten used to the other academy, and now I’m in the dark fae realm?

  What the actual fuck is going on?

  In my mind, I wait for Rowan’s witty reply, yet it stays silent. He’s truly gone, and the hole that he left is unmistakable. I have to find him, that will be my top priority. To do that, I need to friend someone here that I can trust. The masters have an ulterior motive, so they’re out, and that leaves with Cyrena. I know that light Cyrena would help me, but will this one? And is it too big a gamble to even ask?

  First things first, I have to check for my phone. Trying not to fast walk, I go back to my room to look for my soiled clothes. They’re still there lying in a heap on the bathroom floor, and I sigh in relief. My fingers fumble for the pockets and feel something hard. My phone flips out, and I almost yelp in joy. It’s at five percent battery, so I’d have to make it count until I can swipe a charger from someone.

  I kick myself for never getting any of the masters’ numbers, but then again, I had never seen them use a phone. Knowing their age, they probably don’t even have one. What’s the point when you have enough magic to send a message or to teleport to the person you’re trying to talk to? I move down the list, trying to find someone that would be willing to help me. The only one I can think of is Annie. I decide to send her a text, wincing at the fact that I haven’t contacted her since I arrived at the academy.

  Hey, I have a bit of a problem. I need your help.

  My phone is silent in my palm as I wait for a reply. Maybe she won’t say anything back because she’s so hurt by my sudden departure from her life. I know I would be. My knees bounce nervously as I sit on the edge of the tub, waiting and watching the black screen with a brutal intensity. She will respond. I know her, even when she’s mad at me, she loves me. We grew up together, we owned a business together, and we’re practically sisters. She will reply. Fifteen minutes later, she miraculously does.

  Ah, I see your back from the dead, and only to ask for a favor. How fitting of the future pompous fae queen.

  Hold on, did you know this whole time?

  Perhaps, but we're not talking about me. We’re talking about how you’ve ghosted me for the past few months.

  I’m sorry, Annie, I truly am. I have no excuse for that other than this has been one train wreck after another. But I’m seriously in trouble, and you’re the only person that can help. Will you please help me?

  Of course, I will, I just wanted to milk your guilt for a minute. What did you get yourself into this time?

  I decided to come out and say it, I’ve been kidnapped and taken to the dark fae realm. They don’t know that I know. I need you to go to the light fae academy and tell the masters’ where I am.

  Oh. Oh god. Yes, I will leave right now. Don’t worry, Tiana, we will come to get you. I promise.

  Thank you, Annie, I know I don’t deserve your help, but thank you for doing it anyway. I love you, and my phone is going to die soon. I’ll talk to you as soon as I can.

  I’m glad she’s going to contact the masters’ even though they might already know what happened. It doesn’t hurt to confirm their suspicions. And while I know they’re most likely planning to storm this academy to steal me back, I still have a slight feeling of hopelessness hanging in the back of my heart. I’m all alone here with people that look like my friends but aren’t. But it’s time to put my big girl pants on and get over it. I’m allowed a healthy amount of fear, but I won’t let it hold me back.

  After shoving the phone beneath the mattress, I leave to go sit and watch the contest. Maybe I’ll learn a bit more about what kind of magic these fae possess. Is it different from the light? Who could know? Even the light masters’ knew very little about the dark fae. It upsets me that no one has ever tried for anything other than war. Aren’t fae supposed to value formality and rules? Or is that just another myth?

  The sounds of fighting become louder and louder as I make my way toward the stadium. Knowing my way around sends another strong wave of Deja vu through my chest, and I try to reign it in. How do they know to build things that look exactly the same? Or do they simply appear? Is this nothing but a shadow world filled with fake buildings and dark sorrow? The thought sends a shiver down my spine. I try to keep an open mind and shove any predispositions of the dark fae away. I need to know them for who they are, not what I’ve heard.

  The inside of the stadium is full of screaming fae and other supernaturals alike. However, the supernaturals look normal, as if they’re not doppelgangers. Are these supernaturals free to live in whichever realm they prefer? And if so, have any of them been to both? One of them might be my key to learning about why and how these fae came to be. I sat down in the front row of the stands next to a quiet group of first years. They give me a quick once over before looking away.

  There are two fae circling each other in the middle of the sandy arena as if their match had just begun. Lucian lounges on a familiar throne at the far end of the stadium, looking bored. When he spots me, he flashes a quick smile. I smile back tentatively before looking back at the two glowing fae. They have a strange dark aura leaking out of their skin, and while I’m slightly appalled, no one here seems to be. It must be normal.

  One fae lashes out, their inky magic flying forward to strike the other. The second fae flies through the air and crashes into a tree on the opposite end of the arena, making me cringe. The students around me roar in pleasure at the sight, and my mind briefly agrees that they must be bloodthirsty before I check myself. The light fae acted the same way in their arena. While I may be one of them now, these beings do not have the same human emotions that I do. They have no empathy unless they learn it, and I suspect most of them choose not to.

  The second fae stands and charges, they meet in the middle and clash in a rush of shadows. You can barely see them through the thick film of magic, yet the students around me rave and cheer. Can they see through the glamour? The magic feels wrong, and I can’t place whether it’s because I’m not used to it or because it really is wrong. Does everyone here have that power, and if so, what is its purpose? Damon’s words echo in my head.

  Fae receive their magic from mother earth. All fae are created with a purpose. We are born to help her flourish.

  If all fae are born to help mother earth flourish, what does their seemingly dark power represent? Just as that thought crosses my mind, one fae overtakes the other, and shadows bleed into the other faes mouth, ears, and nose. The body convulses and spasms, bones breaking, and limbs bending at unnatural angles.

  Their skin turns a sickly shade of gray as the life leeches out of them. Finally, they fall to the sandy ground, a now withered and broken husk. Horror courses through me, but I’m careful to keep my face blank. Lucian stands to revive the dead fae and the other parades around the arena to the sound of deafening applause. I’m suddenly sickeningly aware of the dark fae’s power, the only one left that the light fae don’t possess.

  The dark fae are death bringers. The grim reapers of the fae world.

  Chapter Two

  That night I’m quick to retire to my rooms. I could barely look at them as we ate and laug
hed together at the family table. Although I can see why their power is necessary, I had never thought about it before. While spirit fae bring life and may change emotions, or even possess a soul, they cannot use their power to forcefully leech the life out of someone. That power belongs to the dark fae alone, and it seems that they all have it. The brothers rule as one, yet, I can sense that they have some kindling of natural power. Or at least the ruse of it for my benefit.

  I stay in my rooms long after darkness had fallen, pacing and waiting impatiently until everyone would have gone to bed. I heard Lucian come in some time ago, retiring to his own room and closing the door behind him. Is he asleep now? Would it be safe to sneak out? I open the door soundlessly and peak out. His door remains firmly closed, and I can feel his restless spirit behind it. Light Lucian is always restless, sleeping or awake, so it would come as no surprise to me if dark Lucian is the same.

  I step out of my room and move quickly to the door leading out of the spirit dorm or whatever dorm they call it here. If everyone has the same powers, everyone learns the same curriculum, right? Or am I wrong in assuming that no one holds any other power? Who knows at this point. All I can think about is whether they use that power on the battlefield or not. That thought only leads me to picturing Lucian and the others as dried out husks, never to rise again.

  A shiver courses down my back as I hurry across campus, my bare feet making no noise on the concrete. The only logical option for Rowan’s imprisonment is the main building where we eat dinner. I can only hope that it’s not in Fiora’s office as her quarters are in the room adjacent to it. She would wake for sure if I went snooping around in there. Once I get there and slip inside, I’m not sure where to start. I’ve only been to the very top floor and Fiora’s office.

  Instead of using the elevator, I take the stairs to the basement, deciding to work my way from the ground up. The building is dark, so I conjure a feeble shaking fae light, and I feel it suck my strength. With my soul being so recently ripped from Rowan’s, none of my elements are up to the task, yet they lend me the strength they can. I can only see a foot in any direction, and so far, the basement has a metallic mildew scent to it with nothing down here but dust and unused shelves. But there’s a strong sense of magic lingering in the back of my throat.