Chapter 7

• Violet
• “Amazing,” Esther said, making me look up to meet her eyes. “This is a junior-level skill. We don’t expect freshmen to heal more than ten.”
• Unsure of how to answer, I managed to give her an appreciative smile. From the corner of my eye, I caught Chrystal’s eyes shooting daggers in my direction.
• If it wasn’t for Esther urging everyone to take a seat again, I had no idea what she might’ve done to me.
• “Violet,” the woman spoke as everyone sat back down. “Please come visit me after class. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”
• The rest of the class was mostly theory, and after an hour the bell rang. Students began to gather their things, but I waited, just as Esther had told me to.
• Chrystal who had been glaring at me for well over an hour, now stood at my table with her minions. Knowing I wouldn’t be able to stop whatever she had planned for me, I looked up to meet her gaze.
• “Yes?” I asked.
• Chrystal chuckled, rolling her eyes. “I wasn’t even talking to her,” she said to the other girls. “But I guess some people just need to be the center of attention—don’t they?”
• I knew better than to respond. Speaking back would only invite trouble, so I diverted my gaze, keeping my mouth shut, and waited patiently until she left the classroom.
• Once everyone was gone, I made my way over to Esther’s desk.
• “Sit,” she said warmly, gesturing to the chair, and I sat down.
• Esther studied me for a moment, tucking her gray hair behind her ear. Her gaze was observing and sharp as if she was trying to read me.
• “Your mom was…Claire Hastings from the Bloodrose Pack, correct?” she asked after a moment of silence.
• I nodded, unsure where this was going.
• “She was one of my best students,” Esther acknowledged. “I also knew your dad, Greg. He was such a strong fighter, they were always together, always eager to learn. Your Dad Fergus too, of course…or Uncle?”
• “Dad is alright,” I corrected her, a smile tugging at my lips.
• Back home people rarely spoke about my parents, they treated them like literal ghosts. It was nice to hear about them for once.
• “She was so good,” Esther continued, “And I’m going to give you the same opportunity I gave to her.”
• I blinked, confused. “What do you mean?”
• “Have you heard of the Elite Team?”
• I furrowed my brow, the name familiar. “Yes, my cousin—” I hesitated, correcting myself, “my brother, Dylan, is on that team.”
• Esther nodded. “Indeed, he is, and so were your parents.”
• The Elite Team was a special group within the academy, made up of the best students from all years. They were the face of the school, the protectors of the school and followed a separate program.
• “I want you to take trial classes with the Elite Team,” Esther said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
• My heart skipped a beat. “W-Why?” I stuttered.
• “Because,” she sighed, “a freshman who can heal thirty fish in one go has a bright future ahead of her.”
• Her words hit me harder than I expected. I knew I had a talent, but no one ever told me I had a bright future. Not the teachers back home, not even the healer, no one.
• I was used to being told what I needed to work on, or what I wasn’t doing good enough. Those were the things that made me push myself harder.
• I wasn’t used to compliments, and hearing that I was good enough for something meant more to me than she could have ever imagined.
• “The Elite Team is not something out of the ordinary for a Bloodrose,” Esther added, noticing my lack of reaction.
• I hesitated, suddenly feeling the pressure that came with it. Protector of the school?
• What I lacked in many other things, I made up for in healing—but I wasn’t some extraordinary student.
• “I don’t know…”
• Esther’s expression softened. “You’re strong, Violet—too strong. You need to challenge yourself before you get bored.”
• I breathed, “This was only the first class—“
• “And I only need a few seconds to see whether someone is good enough for the Elite Team,” Esther finished.
• Her eyes were full of determination—she trusted me, believed in me—and I didn’t want to let her down. Maybe there really was something. Who knew?
• “Okay,” I said. “I’ll do it.”
• “Good,” Esther smiled, relieved. “I’ll send you an email with the details.”
• As I got up to leave, it suddenly occurred to me that something was bothering me—something only she could help with. “By the way,” I said. “When we first met, you called me Adelaide?”
• The smile faded from Esther’s face. “Did I?” she cleared her throat.
• “Yes, you did,” I reminded her. “I saw a picture of Mom…with that girl, Adelaide, in the hall?”
• “They were close friends,” Esther replied quickly.
• “Close friends or best friends?” I wondered.
• “Best friends. I meant to call you Claire. I got it all mixed up. My bad.”
• “I see,” I chuckled, finally making sense of the situation. “Do you maybe have her number or anything, so I can get in contact with her and—”
• “No, she passed away many years ago.”
• “She passed away?” I raised a brow.
• “Yes… the things depression can do to a person.”
• “Was she depressed?”
• Esther didn’t answer, and grabbed a pen and a piece of paper from her desk. “I’ll write you a note. You should head to your next class.”
• Other students were already beginning to fill the room for the next period. Esther scribbled something onto a piece of paper and handed it to me. “Here you go.”
• The same woman who had been so warm just seconds ago was now cold and distant. By her tone, I could tell the conversation was over, but there were so many questions I still wanted to ask.
• About Adelaide, and the bond she shared with Mom. Maybe it wasn’t important, but there was something about the way they hugged in that picture that pulled me in. I felt drawn to Adelaide, and I wanted to know more about her.
• I took the note, deciding to let it drop before heading to my next class.
• ~
• After two more classes, history and emotional healing—it was time for my lunch break.
• With my tray in my hand, I looked across the crowded cafeteria. It was an unorganized mess. Everywhere I looked, students were talking, laughing, eating…kissing. I felt out of place, as usual.
• I spotted Nate, sitting with a group of his friends at a table near the center. Kylan wasn’t there. Nate caught my eye and waved at me to come over.
• I quickly turned my head, pretending I hadn’t seen him. I knew he meant well, but I had no business sitting at a table full of Lycans.
• We might go to school together, have classes together—but we were not the same.
• They disliked us, and we disliked them. It had always been like that.
• I settled for a table all the way in the corner, hoping nobody would bother me, then my thoughts drifted back to the Elite Team.
• How was I going to be part of a team when I could barely count to ten in public? I was socially awkward, not good at making friends—and now Esther expected me to be part of a team?
• Was I really ready for something like that?
• I pulled out my phone, hesitating a moment before dialing Dad, thinking telling him the good news would cheer me up. Maybe he would be proud of me for once or at least acknowledge what I had accomplished on my first day.
• As always, the call went straight to voicemail, but I decided not to let it get to me. He was the Alpha—perhaps he was just busy.
• I left him a voicemail instead. “Hey Dad, it’s me, Violet. I haven’t heard from you in a while, but I just wanted to tell you that I’m still alive. I…I miss you, and I love you. Bye.”
• The voicemail ended with a beep. The love I had for him was one-sided. That man had never been warm, affectionate or caring for a single day in his life—but I still loved him. He had taken me in, took care of me when he didn’t have to. Regardless of everything, I was still grateful.
• I sighed, playing around with the food on my tray.
• Dad didn’t care.
• My mate didn’t care.
• My brother didn’t care.
• None of those students cared.
• Final conclusion? My life sucked and so did Starlight Academy. The only one keeping me sane was Trinity who was not here at the moment.
• Suddenly, a loud tray slammed onto the table, making me flinch. My eyes widened as I looked straight ahead, coming face to face with someone familiar.
• "Since you were ignoring me, I figured I’d invite myself over."
• It was Nate.