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A ding sounds and the lift doors slide open. Stepping in, I swipe the card that will allow me access to the top floor. A place only few students get the privilege to. Honestly, I think it’s a way for the four families to remind everyone they are above everyone.
I hate everything about it.
Once I exit the lift, I pause in the large hallway. Four doors stare back at me, taunting me. One for each of the founding families when an heir arrives at the academy. I’m the last of our current generation to attend Eyam. The others have been here for three years, but now there’s a full house up here, and I want nothing more than to turn around and leave.
Taking a deep breath, I straighten my back and walk towards the door with a large M engraved into the wood. The lock turns easily under my key, the door opens with a slight creak.
How surprising.
The place isn’t perfect.
My mouth lifts, a small smile forming on my face.
The dorm is much larger than what I’m sure is standard for university kids, though, I’m not surprised. What else can be expected for the kids that will one day run this place.
I toss my bag on the large grey corner couch and move towards the window. The view is stunning, which I hate to admit. We’re facing the main campus, but it’s not the castle that draws my eyes, beautiful as it may be.
It’s the large fields and forest that surrounds it.
We’re tucked away, deep into the countryside, miles away from civilisation.
It’s overwhelming and a little scary, if I’m being honest.
I walk over to the couch and drop down onto it, resting my head against the cushion and closing my eyes. I hadn’t intended to doze off on the couch but it was too comfortable, and after the four-and-a-half-hour drive, keeping my eyes open was almost impossible.
“Honey, we’re home.” A large hand nudges my shoulder while two excitable voices talk over one another, pulling me from my deep sleep.
I blink a couple of times, trying to adjust to the interruption. When they finally peel all the way open, I glance up at my two friends—now roommates—staring down at me with matching smiles on their faces.
“Hey, guys,” I say, standing. They rush over to me, wrapping their arms around me until I’m the middle of an awkward cuddle sandwich. “Okay, I can’t breathe. Get off me.”
I push away from them, laughing, slapping at their hands as they reach out for me again. “When did you get here?”
“Just now,” Noah answers, throwing an arm over my shoulder and pulling me onto the couch with him. “But I’m never getting into a car with her again.”
Betty huffs, brushing her natural red hair over one shoulder. “Please, you couldn’t even follow basic directions. If it wasn’t for you, we’d have been here hours ago.”
“That’s what satnav is for, it’s not my fault your stupid car is ancient and doesn’t have it.”
“You leave Bertha alone,” she snaps, folding her arms over her chest. God forbid anyone talk down about her pastel pink Beetle.
Noah sticks his tongue out at her, reaching to pull her down too, but she swats him away and moves into the kitchen.
“This place is fucking swanky.” She whistles, her hands moving over the marble countertop on the island. She’s not wrong. Now that I’m finally awake, I get a good glance over the large open-plan space and have to admit despite the old worn-down architecture outside, the families have worked their magic on the interior.
Bookshelves fill the wall opposite us, adorned with books I’ve never heard of, while a large TV takes up space in the centre. The couch we’re sitting on could seat up to eight people at least, and there’s two large matching armchairs sitting opposite.
The kitchen is filled to the brim with all the gadgets you’d need to make fancy dinners and host parties; It’s a shame that neither of my friends nor I know the first thing about cooking.
And throwing parties? You must know and like people for that, and unfortunately, that’s something we’ve never been good at.
It’s just the three of us.
“Get your feet down,” Kyle snaps, shoving at my legs to knock them off his black couch. I flip the bird at him, pressing the heels of my boot further into the linen cushions. He grumbles, muttering expletives under his breath all the way to the fridge.
I don’t know why he’s got his panties in a wad anyway; all he’d have to do is call his dad and the thing would be replaced within the hour. Nothing is too much for the heirs, and our comfort and happiness here is of utmost importance to our parents.
At least for some of us.
