Reckless Souls (Saints Academy, #1)(23)
mere presence, and the deafening silence that follows his entrance means that he can only be one
person.
Zellus.
Dressed in a deep gray pinstripe suit, with his black and white peppered hair combed back off his
face, he looks regal, god-like as he looks out at us, but what is startling, is that his eyes are black, or
they at least look that way from here. Like a never ending vortex.
I wet my lips, swallowing nervously. As much as I didn’t want to meet him this morning, being
here, in such a public setting without having done so leaves me a little off-center, and I can’t say I like
it.
The thought instantly leaves me wanting to run for the hills, but in all honesty, what would I be
running back to? Realistically, being here is nothing more or nothing less than where I already was,
but the niggling fact that I may be able to unearth some of my past, where I come from, has me planted
firmly in my seat.
I taught myself for far too long to not care, to be numb to everything and everyone around me,
always leaving my emotions at the door, but the reality of my situation has only shown me that I was
masking it all at best. And now I’m here, with the prospect of a different future on the horizon, I can’t
turn my back on it.
Even in this damn uniform, it just might be worth it.
“Thank you for gathering here this morning,” Zellus begins, standing tall and proud at the center of
the podium, his voice echoing around me with a boom even though there’s no microphone in front of
him.
Nobody mutters a response as Noreen stands just to the side of the podium in front of me. Her
eyes briefly meet mine in acknowledgment, before she quickly taps away on her tablet.
“The main reason for calling an early assembly this morning is to advise of the confirmed plans
for this academic year's Solstice event. It will be taking place the week before Easter. Further details
will follow, but Noreen and other staff members are going to be working around the clock to make it a
magical event.” A sly grin graces his face as he waits for his audience to praise him with laughter.
Zellus is clearly an attention whore who expects, no, demands, the spotlight. Arrogant dick.
A light chuckle at his pun sounds out around me, but I remain silent, frozen in place, observing his
every move. Why would an assembly be called now for it? We’re in October, it’s ages away. My
intuition senses something isn’t right and my stomach tightens with knots, my throat becoming dry.
As if sensing my question, his dark eyes reach mine, his smile spreading wide as he claps his
hands in front of him. “But while I have you all here, there’s another announcement I’d like to make.”
When his gaze doesn't leave me, I feel all eyes in the room follow his direction, my body burning
under all of the watchful stares. But it makes sense now, starting with the solstice event, which is
months away, was just an excuse to get everyone here and tell them about… me, the fucking human.
The earthling.
“We have a late arrival at the Academy, as of yesterday evening. Miss Rhea Harrington was
confirmed by Pandora’s Box after spending twenty-two years in Phoenix Valley, completely unaware
of her magic.” Light murmurs begin to spread around me, but instead of sinking deeper into my seat, I
force myself to remain tall, my shoulders pulled back as I continue to meet the Dean’s stare head on. I
refuse to let him get to me. “No current origins or heritage known, so I do hope everyone here will
join me in offering Rhea a warm welcome, and wishing her luck in finding out who she really is.”
My pulse rings in my ears as my teeth sink into my bottom lip. I don’t care if they offer me a warm
welcome or wish me luck. Not one bit. Why would he go about introducing me so publicly? There’s
an underlying agenda but I’m not sure what his end-game is.
Asshole.
“With no known background, Rhea may be required to flit between classes, enabling her to come
to terms with all walks of life compared to how she has previously lived as an earthling.” It’s
official, I really fucking hate that nickname now. He can fuck all the way off too. His black eyes hold
mine for a moment longer, an almost challenge floating in them, waiting to see my response. I’m not
stupid though, I’ve played these games growing up. He claps his hands once more. “Assembly
dismissed.”
With that, he turns and heads out of the exact door he came in through, Noreen and the other
woman hot on his heels.
That’s it.
That was all.
Gather everyone under the false pretense of announcing the solstice event, point out the nobody,
then fuck off again.
Excellent.
“He just put a huge fucking target on your head, Rhea,” Harmonia whispers beside me, and I give
her a pointed look, implying thanks captain obvious, as the noise around us gets louder.
Rising to my feet, I shake my head and run my hands over my skirt. “I’ve handled bullies before.
Just because he’s the Dean doesn’t make him any different. I know how to take care of myself,” I