Reckless Souls (Saints Academy, #1)(12)

by where I am.

In a brown pencil skirt, with matching blazer, and a silk white blouse beneath, she gives off the

air of being part of the administration, or even a librarian, but there’s a sparkle in her brown eyes that

tells me she’s much wiser than she first appears. Her comfy small heeled leather shoes don’t disturb

the soil beneath her feet, and her brown hair is pulled back into a ponytail. Guessing her age would

be like guessing how long the sun has burned for, but I would assume she’s maybe ten years older than

me.

When my eyes meet hers, I find her staring at me just as I am her, clearly sizing me up. Curiosity

swirls in her irises, possibly even a hint of judgment. I clear my throat uncomfortably at being caught,

when another crackle rings out around us.

“Perfect,” she mutters, turning on the spot, and I take the extra step to come to a stop at her side.

In slow motion, I watch as an invisible curtain is slowly lifted in front of me, inch by agonizing

inch, until I’m left gaping at the scene before me, my knees ready to give out in a mixture of shock and

awe.

I have been rendered speechless, again, and that shit doesn’t happen very often.

Black, gray, and onyx tones color the huge building before me. Intricate patterns, delicate window

frames, and archways decorate the gothic cathedral. Or that’s what it reminds me of at least. Super

tall and splatterings of stained glass finish off the overall appearance, leaving me in awe.

The sudden sound of birds chirping in the distance makes me startle out of the visual overload of

Saints Academy, but what catches me by surprise even more, are the people strolling around in

groups, going about their day, like I wasn’t just standing here staring at nothing moments ago.

Holy. Fuck.

Could they see me standing there acting like a toddler being introduced to candy for the first time?

Not like I give a shit about my reputation but still.

“Come,” Noreen orders, heading for the grand steps straight ahead that lead up to a huge double—

doored wooden archway.

I scramble to keep up with her, wetting my dry lips as I tighten the grip on my shambles of a

suitcase. “Are you sure this is all correct? I mean, I’m twenty-two years old, done with school and all

of the learning crap. I think Pandora’s Box may have gotten it wrong,” I state, staring at the fact

everyone here is wearing a uniform, but before I can take in anything else, Noreen turns around and

stops right in my path, forcing me to a stop directly in front of her.

“Pandora’s Box never gets it wrong,” her tone is sharp, nostrils flared and hands clenched at her

side. Well, fuck. That’s me being told.

I nod once, which she seems to accept and interpret that I’m going to keep my mouth shut as she

marches up the steps, leaving me to chase after her. Again.

The huge double doors slowly swing open, revealing cream marble flooring and a grand staircase

in front of me. Gold framed photos adorn the walls, with baroque patterns trailing the rim, all unique

and beautiful, with what looks like random people inside the images. I’m sure they hold some

importance, but I don’t recognize a single face.

“Miss Harrington,” I hear, and my gaze flicks back to Noreen where she stands to the left of the

staircase, waiting for me to get a grip and catch up again. I avoid colliding with anyone as I approach,

no one paying me any mind as I fall into step with her. “You’ve missed the start of the school

semester, so you’ll have to get caught up on all of your studies,” she advises as we make our way

down the wide hallway, lined with at least a dozen doors, each as ornate as the rest of the building.

Why does she make that sound like it’s my fault? I don’t even want to be here and she clearly

doesn’t understand that I was forced to go for testing. I mean, let’s be real, I was quite happy with my

boring mundane life, rather than facing the unknown.

Better the devil you know.

“Maybe I should just not be here,” I mumble, my eyes trying to take every inch of the place in, yet

seeing nothing at all in my shock. Being non-observant is unlike me because I need to be able to

protect myself from the unexpected.

“Don’t be ridiculous. When your powers grow, Miss Harrington, which they will, you’re going to

want all the guidance you can get. Let’s not forget the fact you added to the ward as you entered the

property, before the Academy revealed itself. If you were simply human, as you seem adamant on

believing, then those things wouldn’t have happened.”

My cheeks blush a little at her blunt statement of facts as she takes a left at the end of the hall,

revealing more wooden doors at the end. It’s like a fucking labyrinth. I keep in step with her, a million

questions running through my mind, but none of them forming to actually ask out loud.

“Is anyone going to explain to me what I’m actually supposed to do here?” I ask, finally forming a

question as the crowds of people thin out in this part of the hallway.

Noreen nods in response. “You’ll pick things up along the way, and I have an information booklet