Violet understood that life’s hardships had drained any warmth out of Nancy. There wasn’t room for love, not even for harmless little creatures.
Two weeks later, Violet learned the truth: Stray wasn’t actually a stray. It turned out the cat had a family and had only wandered a bit too far from home.
That was the last time Violet could remember crying. She had fought so hard to keep Stray, but she couldn’t win against the cat’s original family.
The man of the house had even tried to pay her for “taking care” of their pet, a payment she refused but that Nancy had gladly pocketed. In Nancy’s words, at least her foolishness had brought something useful.
She could still remember watching the man’s daughter, smug and satisfied, as she stroked Stray just like she had done only weeks before. If looks could kill, Violet would have riddled the girl with holes then and there. Rage bubbled up inside Violet, and for a brief moment, she seriously considered murder. Thankfully, Nancy dragged her away before she did anything reckless.
What hurt most was that Stray didn’t seem to mind at all. The cat had leaned into the girl’s touch without the slightest protest, as if everything Violet had done, all their time together, had meant nothing.
Violet remembered crying herself to sleep for days, nearly making herself sick with grief. It wasn’t until Nancy slapped her across the face and lectured her that she finally snapped out of it.
Her need for love and a real family had led her to bond so deeply with that cat. She’d thought it would be her and Stray against the world, but in the end, the cat taught her a harsh lesson that even family could walk away without a second thought – the same way her real family had abandoned her.
It may have sounded melodramatic, but for a ten-year-old starved of affection, it sure left a lasting mark. It had shaped her view of life and how she related to people. Yes, Violet had friends, but she kept them all at arm’s length, close enough for good times but never close enough to hurt her if things went wrong.
That’s why Violet wasn’t about to let this seemingly friendly new roommate get too close. In a school like Lunaris, no doubt everyone was waiting for a moment of weakness to stab her in the back. And she was not giving anyone that chance.
With a sigh, she reined in her intensity and asked, “What do you want?” while pulling awkwardly at her tie.
As much as Violet wasn’t used to the idea of a uniform, she had to admit the Lunaris uniform was regal and, on her, fit like a glove, hugging her curves. It was just the tie that irked her. She hated ties.
“I was hoping we could go to breakfast together,” Lila replied brightly, watching Violet struggle with the tie. When she finally ripped it from her neck and moved to toss it aside, Lila’s eyes went wide with shock.
“Oh no, you don’t!” Lila scolded, scooping up the tie from where Violet had tossed it onto the bed.
“Principal Jameson would roast you alive if you showed up with an incomplete uniform. Not to mention, deduct your points.”
Violet growled, “Those cardinal Alphas and those rich female brats don’t seem to care about that.”
“They don’t because they have thousands of points at their disposal. You, on the other hand, just made it into the top twenty. If you want to stay there, or climb higher, you’ll need every point you can get. It’s paradise if you can reach the top ten. They’re the elite of the elite and practically are untouchable.”
“I don’t care about their stupid ranking!” Violet snapped.
“Well, I do,” Lila said shamelessly, deftly looping the tie around Violet’s neck. “If you make it to the top, then I’ll be your lackey, scraping up the crumbs that fall from your table.”
“Lila, I already told you, I-” Violet’s words cut off as Lila yanked the tie tighter, making her choke.
“Oops, sorry,” Lila said with a silly smile, though the apology felt hollow. “You were saying?”
Violet dared not answer, not when Lila still had control over the tie and could choke her out for real if she said the wrong thing. Apparently, the cardinal Alphas weren’t the only psychopaths this school harbored-not that she was naming names.
Once satisfied with her work, Lila brushed her hands over the perfectly knotted tie, and asked in a deceptively calm tone, “Tell me, Violet, do you want to study here in peace?”
The words were on the tip of Violet’s tongue, but the shock from earlier left her silent. She only managed a stiff nod.
“Then you need this school’s currency, power. With enough of it, you’ll be left alone to do whatever you want.”
Or maybe I’ll just lie low at the bottom and be left alone, Violet thought dryly.
“Do you understand?” Lila’s voice was sweet but with a subtle edge.
“Yes,” Violet managed to squeak.
“Good!” Lila clapped her hands, her demeanor flipping back to cheerful so fast it nearly gave Violet whiplash.
“Come on, then,” Lila looped her arm through Violet’s. “Let’s get breakfast!” And without waiting for a reply, she tugged Violet along.
Violet could only follow, heart pounding in her chest. It was clear now she’d have to keep an eye open every night if she wanted to survive in that room. One bad day, and someone might very well use a tie to finish her off in her sleep.
If Violet had thought Mary was a walking Encyclopedia, then Lila was the world wide web. She never stopped talking. And Violet made a secret note never to let her secret out to her because God knows who she might leak the information to.
Although Violet noticed that every word she let out was essential information required for her stay here and there was no backbiting – at least to someone that doesn’t deserve it. But even at that, Violet was keeping her secrets to herself.
Just like her, every student in the West house was heading to the dining hall. And it seemed old habits don’t die young because just like her first day at school, the student’s creepy stares followed her as usual making her skin prinkle with the awareness.
However, Violet was pretty much used to it and ignored them, listening avidly to the stories Lila had to offer, keeping the important ones and filtering out the rest.
“About Ivy….” Lila switched topics as they made it outside, now following the flock of students heading in the same direction. “Don’t hate her too much, she’s not like you think.”
Violet frowned at her, “It’s the fact you think I’m stuck up on such frivolous things that annoy me. I didn’t come to this academy to -“.
“Yeah yeah, blah blah, you don’t have a heart and literally don’t care about anybody, I understand.” Lila cut her off before she could continue. It might have been a day but she already knew Violet’s personality.
“Deny it all she wants but the truth remains Ivy sees you as a threat and possibly jealous of you.”
“Exactly, why?” Violet asked, her tone raising as the ire grew inside of her again upon remembering yesterday’s incident. “I already told her what to do if she’s that jealous.”
“Calm down, Violet. Let me fill you in,” Lila began. “If you haven’t noticed, Lunaris Academy only accepts the wealthy, the spectacular, and the privileged. The Sinclair family may be new money, but when Ivy first applied, she was rejected. Can you imagine the shame? Even as an elite, she didn’t make the cut. Now there are rumors that the Sinclairs paid their way into the scholarship, just to get Ivy here. And then here you come, on your first day, making it into the top twenty-a feat no one else has accomplished. A feat Ivy believes she would’ve achieved, and more, if only she’d had that one chance encounter with Griffin.”
“Wow, I knew she was into being smacked down by Griffin. Tell her she won’t miss the next opportunity if she sticks around me,” Violet replied, voice dripping with sarcasm.
Though inwardly, Violet knew that with what she was still planning, being throttled by Griffin might end up the mildest punishment she’d face. Trouble had a way of finding her after all.
That is, if she stayed in this school. Violet planned to meet with Principal Jameson to have her scholarship revoked, if she could find a gap between her classes. The schedule here was relentless.
Lila sighed, realizing she wouldn’t get an ounce of sympathy from Violet. But she wouldn’t give up. Beneath Violet’s hard exterior, Lila sensed there was softness; she just hid it well.
Getting to the dinning hall was another long trek on its own and it was much closer to the school building than the dormitories. Although the west house had a vending machine in its hallway that dispensed snacks, Violet made a mental note to eat to her content here.
Lila hurried ahead to hold the door open for Violet, sweeping her arm with mock grandeur. “Welcome to the Silvered Court, my lady.”
Violet stopped, raising an eyebrow, “Silvered court?”
“That’s what we Lunaris kids call the dining hall.” Lila winked. “You’ll understand when you get inside.”
Violet didn’t have time to dismiss Lila’s words as mere exaggeration, there was already a line of students grumbling for them to move.
She stepped inside, with Lila holding the door open just a bit longer than necessary, letting it swing shut almost in the next student’s face. The student cursed while Lila grinned, not even one bit remorseful for her action.
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