The Aldean Chronicles: Hidden

The next week is better than the last. I submitted my assignment on time and have been doing better in my fire class. Professor Harding rarely calls on me, my mediocrity isn't available to amuse the class anymore.

On Friday, I see Kat in the dining hall and she smiles at me.

"Am I hallucinating or did Princess Katya just smile at us?" Paisley asks.

Sara laughs. "You are hallucinating because she didn't smile at us. She smiled at Cassie, they're best friends now."

Axel nods. "I would like to know how that happened."

"We're not best friends." We're cousins. "We only talked once."

"Where did you talk to her?" Axel inquires.

"During her training session with Tristan Oisin." Sara reveals.

"You did what," Axel demands. Well, it was a good week. "When did that happen? And how did that happen?"

"It was Saturday. And director Lillian arranged it, she agreed I needed help."

"Director Lillian doesn't help. She expects the best from you and kicks you out when you don't deliver." Michelle reasons.

"She felt bad for me. I didn't grow up here, what's worse than pity?" I say sadly.

"Failing." Axel counters. "Which is what I'll be doing if I don't start my chemistry project."

Sara moans for a very long time. She only stops when Paisley clears her throat and asks what's wrong. "It's my partner." She sighs dramatically. "I'm afraid we are not getting along."

"Why not? I talked to him two days ago. He seems alright." Axel says. "I think you're biased."

"Am not." She looks behind her. "Look at him, so smug, like he's the King of Illyria."

I turn back and see a group of guys sitting two tables away. "Which one is he?"

"He's wearing a blue top, the guy in the middle." Michelle describes. "He's really nice, he helped me with my bow during training."

I stare at him and his friends, he senses this and stares back at us. He has short black hair, black eyes and skin a few shades darker than Paisley's. Michelle and Paisley wave at him and he waves back. A second later, he excuses himself and walks over to our table.

"Jason," Paisley says. "What brings you here?"

"Just came to say hi to some friends." He replies. "Michelle, Paise, Axel. Sara." He turns to her with a smile.

She rolls her eyes and doesn't reply. I turn to Jason and smile. "Hi, you have to forgive Sara, she's a little mean. I'm Cassandra."

He has an amused look on his face. "I know, we have Geography together." He tells me. "Did you not know that?"

I look down in embarrassment. "Of course I know that, just wanted us to have a formal introduction. I completely remember you from Geography, you sit at the front."

He laughs. "We don't have geography together, we have biology. And also, I sit in the third row."

My smile drops. "We've only been in school for two weeks. It's not my fault for not knowing everybody."

"I would like you to know that I don't hold that against you." He chaffs. "It was nice to see all of you but I should get back to my friends." He shoots us all one last charming smile before leaving.

"The audacity," Sara mutters.

We ignore her and move to a different subject. "I'm so happy we don't have homework this week. Have you guys ever been to Waverly's?" Axel asks.

"I have, a few years ago," Michelle says. "That place is amazing."

"What's Waverly's?" I ask, as always, not understanding what they're saying.

"It's a restaurant. It's really good, my family goes there often." Axel explains.

"And expensive." Sara counters. "You can spend a month's rent on a meal there." She then focuses on Axel. "Oh to be rich."

"Fine, how about Terri center?" Axel counteroffers. "I used to go there all the time with my friends."

"I love Terri center, they have this really fun simulator." Michelle says.

"Terri's it is." Paisley claps her hands. "We can all go on Saturday."

"I agree," I say. "I haven't seen the city yet. Sounds like fun."

"Any objections," Axel asks Sara. She twirls her fingers in the air, causing a whirlpool in her bottle of orange juice.

"Why not?" She agrees. "I've heard Terri's is fun, I didn't grow up in the capital so I've never been too. It will be the first time for both of us." She says to me.

"And I cannot wait." It would be nice to leave this school and see the famous country I've heard so much about. After lunch, Michelle and I go to our language class. After it, I head to biology, Jason walks in and nods when he sees me. He gestures at his seat and I smile. After class, he walks up to my desk to talk.

"Hey." He greets me. "Paisley texted me and said you were all going to Terri center tomorrow. She said it was okay if I came."

I nod. "Are your friends coming?" I put my books in my backpack.

"I haven't asked them, I'm sure they'll be interested." He says offhandedly.

"I can't wait to go. Can you believe it's my first time outside this school? I've never been to Illyria before, as soon as I got here, I came straight to Brimstone."

"Yeah, Paisley told me about that. You're from Earth, that's so strange. Not strange in a bad way, just strange in a different way." He quickly adds.

"I get it." I sling my bag over my shoulders and head out of the class. "No need to apologize."

He follows me. "So which club are you heading to?"

"I'm not really into that, I'm just going back to my room."

"That's too bad." He lowers his voice. "I was invited to watch a meeting for the Blue rose society."

I laugh. "Isn't that a really exclusive club? How did you manage to get in?"

"A fourth year is from Calais. He said I can come."

"Oh to be rich." I quote Sara. "Have fun at your club."

"Do you want to escort me? It's on the way to the girl's dorms." He asks. "Maybe I can even put you on their waiting list."

"Thank you but I'm not interested, a club filled with rich overachievers doesn't seem like my scene."

"That's too bad, the club has a lot of high-profile members." He opens the building door for us. "The head is Dmitri Manslay." He's waiting for a reaction.

I nod my head, propelling him to continue. "I don't know who that is, care to elaborate."

"Sorry, he's a fifth-year. He's the best combatant at this school. He's rumored to start immediately after graduation in the military. He's a legend, my hero." He pauses. "After Consort Maxon, obviously."

"Impressive," I comment. "Any other notable alumni. Also, where is this place?"

"It's just behind the arena. A little two-story building with a blue door." He explains.

"They get their own building. Wow, how have I never seen it?"

"It's a little hidden, it's not exactly a secret society than an exclusive club. They have this harrowing initiation process. I can't wait." He adds that last part excitedly. I will never understand people like this.

"As for other alumni. Both the queen and Infante were members. Even director Lilian, she claims they met at a meeting." He adds, turning a corner.

If their parents were members, is it possible that Kat and Grey are also members? I try to turn back but we're already in front of the arena. "I should leave."

"Sure just see the building, it's amazing." He takes my hand and pulls us past the arena. We walk up to the building and I see a figure leaning on the door with a phone in his hand. It's Tristan, of course he's a member of this club.

He hears us coming and looks up. "Cassandra." He says. "What are you doing here?" He turns to Jason. "And who are you?"

Jason lets go of my hand and focuses on Tristan. "I'm Jason, Jason Leander. You're Tristan Oisin." He says confidently. "And you two know each other."

Tristan nods. "Nik invited you to sit in on our meeting." He says to Jason. "And you, again, what are you doing here?"

"I'm just escorting him." I point at Jason. "Don't worry, I'll be out of your hair now."

I turn to leave but he stops me. "Really, you're not interested in staying for the meeting?"

I turn back to look at him. "I'm not, I just want to get an early start on my weekend. Besides, I wasn't invited."

"Well, that's not a problem. I'll invite you." He offers.

I shake my head. "It's probably best if you don't, I can think of at least one person who doesn't want me there."

He waves his hand dismissively. "That's ridiculous, you should come." He opens the door and Jason strolls in happily. "Come on." Tristan stays at the door.

"I don't know," I play with my hands. "I doubt this is the best way to keep my head low."

"And why would you want to?" He lowers his voice. "If I was royalty, I would enjoy every single one of its perks."

I'm still hesitant. "It really is best if I don't. Family aside, I'm terrible around new people."

He laughs. "And yet you came to a whole new world without knowing anybody. And your family doesn't count cause... well"

That makes me laugh. "Still." I drag. He rolls his eyes and opens the door wider for me.

"I am definitely going to regret this," I say.

"But it will be fun." He gently pushes me into the building and walks in after me. "As your tutor and the person your father asked to look after you, I feel it is my duty to invite you in."

"Here I was thinking it was out of the goodness of your heart." I look at the room I'm in, it's small and has a pretty glass table in the center. On the table is a giant vase with pretty blue roses. I move closer to sniff the flowers and grin, they smell like normal red roses. The walls are a combination of gold and white and the floors are made out of shiny marble.

Hanging around the room is pictures of the club's notable alumni. There's an open door on the other side of the wall. Tristan and I walk into the expensively decorated room.

The walls are plastered with gold and purple wallpapers. The windows all have thick purple curtains and the front of the room has an elevated platform.

Chairs are lined facing the stage in five rows. There are at least six chairs per row. "How many members do you usually have." I ask Tristan as some members turn to look at us.

"About thirty, but eight graduated last year. We're taken in more from other classes and only have two spaces reserved for first years. As is our custom." He looks at me. "If you're lucky, you can get in this year."

"Please." I snort. "But I bet Kat joined this club the minute she started school."

"She wasn't interested. She joined in her second year. As for Greyson, I don't think he's ever set foot in this building."

Speaking of my cousin, she notices us and looks momentarily irritated. She quickly regains her composure and walks up to us. "Cassandra, you're here," she says. "Why are you here?"

"I invited her, Kat," Tristan says. "Just being nice and looking after her like her dad asked, you know, cause other people won't."

"You didn't have to bring her here. Not like I'm not happy you're here." She recovers quickly. "It's just, I don't want you becoming the center of attention at this school, it will be so much easier for people to figure out the truth about you."

"I don't plan on coming back. This doesn't seem like something I'll be interested in," I say to her.

Jamie sees us from across the room and jogs over "Cassie, you're here." He says with an awkward laugh.

"I am." I match his laugh. "No need to keep pointing out the obvious."

Our little crowd is gaining a lot of attention. A newcomer walks up to us, he's tall and has an imposing stance. He also looks older than all the other students I've seen.

"Don't we have enough first years?" He says to no one in particular. "Who invited you?" He directs that at me.

"I did," Tristan says. "She was passing by and I thought she would be a great addition to the club."

"She was passing by and you just thought she's the best person to join us." The guy repeats. "You seem to be forgetting that this isn't an ordinary club, we don't just accept anybody." Ugh. So pretentious.

"And like I said, I think she'll be a great addition to this club, Dimitri." Tristan insists. So this is the head of Blue rose. I want to sink into the ground, my presence is clearly angering him.

Jamie, sensing the tension butts in. "I've seen her training before, she's really good. And besides, it's only an invite, it's not like she's becoming a member. Right, Kat?"

Everybody turns to look at Kat. She just smiles tightly and says. "Of course, just let her join the meeting, Dimitri."

He rolls his eyes and nods. "Of course, Princess Katya. Whatever you want," he says that bitterly. He gives me one last look before walking away.

I let out a deep breath. "That was unnecessary. I could have just left."

"Nonsense, you belong here," Tristan says to me. "Unfortunately, you're on your own from now on. The meeting's about to start." He branches the snack table and grabs a cookie before going to his seat.

Jamie follows after him and I stop Kat from leaving. "I get the feeling you don't want me here."

She shakes her head. "Just wasn't expecting to see you is all." Her hands drift up to her necklace and she fiddles with it. "It's just best if you keep your head down. I know you don't want to draw attention to yourself."

"It's a little late for that. I'm already known as the girl who's scared of fire but is a fire elemental. I'm also the girl from Earth, these kids are harsh."

Her face softens and she looks sympathetic. "Students at this school can be mean. I still get stared at differently after what happened last year. It's been hard, I don't think I would have gotten through it if not for Jamie." She turns to look at him. He's chatting with another of his friends by the snack table.

Every time I see him, he always looks so calm and friendly. No wonder Kat likes him, he has such a relaxing presence. "In a way, my friends are like that. We're even going to Terri center tomorrow."

Her nose wrinkles. "Never went there, I did once but it was an official visit. Didn't even stay long, security threat." She sighs. "You're lucky you can do things likes this." And for the first time, I think she's being sincere.

"Katya, I get you don't like me. Part of me doesn't blame you. But I have no interest in taking over your life. I don't think I even can, I'm just trying to not get kicked out by Lilian."

She scoffs. "The only person aunt Lilian isn't after is Grey, she's not my biggest fan either."

I laugh. "Good to know, I thought it was just me."

She also laughs. "Sorry I haven't been the best since you got here. And I mean that this time." She stops touching her necklace. "And seriously if you ever need anything, just text me. I know you have my number."

"I will, thanks, Kat." She leaves me and goes to the snack table to get Jamie. He takes her hand and they go to their seats on the second row.