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They’re going to piece it together eventually so I may as well be honest.
“Hendrix.”
“As in Sebastian Hendrix.” Brax’s disapproval is clear with the way my brother’s name burns his tongue. I don’t know whether I was expecting them to fawn over him or something, just like the students did in the courtyard, but to my surprise, they’re all wearing scowls.
“Yeah,” I rasp, and Brax huffs. “I can’t read what your anger means. If you hate him too, then—”
“Wait, you're Raven Hendrix, as in Abel Hendrix’s daughter that’s been in hiding for the past fourteen years?” Creed catches me by surprise with his knowledge. I don’t know whether to confirm or deny since only half of that statement is true. The looks I’m getting from the four of them tell me some form of explanation is going to be needed anyway.
Clenching my hands, I exhale sharply. “Yes,thatAbel Hendrix, but I technically wasn’t in hiding. I was living in Shadowmoor, remember?”
“No way,” Eldon huffs, eyes narrowing at me. “My mother was friends with Evangeline. I would know if you were in Shadowmoor.”
“Did he miss the marking on my face?” I direct my question back at Creed, my eyebrows raised as he shrugs in response.
“I’m standing right here,” Eldon interjects, and I turn a wide smile his way.
“It doesn’t feel too great, does it?” My lips twist, preparing for him to lay into me, but he just rolls his eyes and waves me off.
“None of this makes any sense.” Brax glares at me, even as I nod in agreement with his statement.
“You’re telling me. I have shit to figure out and classes to attend tomorrow and I don’t know anything, so if we’re done here, I have a lot to wrap my head around.”
I take a backward step toward my assigned room, and when no dispute arises, I take another, and another, until the door handle is in my grasp.
“We’ll be eating in two hours. That’s how long you have to get a grasp on your seemingly-new reality.” Eldon gives me a pointed look and I nod in agreement.
“Anything else?”
The four of them look at each other, something silently communicating between them before Creed takes a step toward me but stops short as he tucks his hands into his pockets.
“If all of this is true, Sebastian is going to make life hard for you, Raven.”
“I thought as much. He’s never made anything easy. But I’ve spent the past fourteen years in the depths of Hell, I can protect myself.”
* * *
The extra curriculum sheet blurs in my hand as I try and fail to read it again for the fiftieth time. I got into the vehicle and came here of my own volition because I had no prospects, no future, but now? I don’t know whether I like this as an alternative. The schedule is filled with everything. There's just too much.
Hand-to-hand combat, ordnance training, team building, and survival instincts are just some of the mandatory classes, leaving me worried over what will come. One thing is clear though: they’re training us for war. A war I’m not entirely aware of. The lady at the shop mentioned that I would pay with my life, like it was a known fact and expectation. I don’t recall anything like that being mentioned in Shadowmoor, but then I guess we were all fighting among ourselves there instead. The soldiers of Shadowmoor protected just that: Shadowmoor. They never actually left the perimeter.
Some of the other classes are more magic specific, but I don’t really pay any attention to them since I have nothing to work with.
Stretching out on my bed, I squeeze my eyes shut tight before prying them back open again. The words seem to form a little better this time, but it’s still overwhelming to digest. I drop the sheet of paper with a sigh, deciding that now just isn’t the time for it, before draping my arm over my face.
A nap. I need a nap.
The second my eyes drift closed, a knock sounds at the door and I groan. Glancing at the time, I’m not the least bit surprised that exactly two hours have passed since I managed to slip away from my housemates.
When I don’t respond quickly enough, another rap of knuckles vibrates, louder this time. “I’m coming,” I huff, too intrigued by the prospect of uncovering more of their dynamic to argue.
Pulling the hair tie from my wrist, I quickly braid my hair back off my face as I head toward the door. The second I open it, I come face to face with the giant that is Brax with his fist poised in front of my door ready to knock again.
His eyes darken with annoyance as he takes a step back. “How nice of you to join us.” He stalks off to the dining table to join the other guys, unpacking boxes of food to fill the table.
“I don’t have to.” I remain in place as I defensively fold my arms over my chest.
“Actually, you do,” Zane hollers with a wide smile. “Maybe I should give you the housemate handbook to read after you’ve gone through all your academic stuff.”
