Moonveil Academy: Trapped With The Five Kings

Elara:

Friday night came earlier than I expected.

One moment I was sitting cross-legged on the rug in my dorm’s living room, staring at the spells written across the pages of my Runes book, and the next, I was realizing that an entire week had somehow disappeared.

Another week at Moonveil Academy. Another week of classes, magic, arguments, awkward encounters, late-night studying, and learning things about myself that I wasn’t sure I was ready to know.

At the moment, however, I was far more focused on the warmth fluttering deep inside me whether I concentrated on any of the spells. It fluttered once or twice before dissolving into nothingness.

Turned out everything that happened last Sunday night wasn’t just an illusion created by Alaric. At least the warmth I had felt inside me wasn’t completely fake. And probably nor was the fact that I actually used my magic that night to stop those flying objects from crashing into anyone.

I was just beginning another attempt when three sharp knocks echoed through the dorm.

Crazy immediately vanished from the couch. One second the cat was lying there with his tail lazily swishing against the cushion, and the next he had disappeared behind the curtains.

”Coward,” I muttered, earning an offended hiss from somewhere behind the fabric. I rolled my eyes and walked toward the door, wondering who would possibly visit me on a Friday night.

When I opened it, I found the last person I expected standing outside. Purple hair framed a beautiful face, violet eyes gleamed beneath perfectly shaped brows, and that familiar frown was already sitting proudly on her lips.

”Finally,” Violet announced. ”I was beginning to think you had forgotten me.”

I blinked. ”I’m sorry... that’s absolutely not the case.”

”Coffee.” She pointed one perfectly manicured finger at me. ”You promised me coffee.”

I opened my mouth to explain that I’d been busy, but she was already walking inside as if the invitation had been issued weeks ago. ”Hey-”

”No.” She held up a hand. ”Whatever excuse you are about to give me, I don’t care.” She turned around and looked me up and down. ”You are wearing sweatpants. Excellent. That means you haven’t made plans.”

”Actually, I was practicing.” I pointed toward the books.

She glanced at them, raised one violet eyebrow and then shrugged. ”You can practice tomorrow.”

”I don’t think that’s how learning magic works.”

”And I don’t think you are allowed to spend every Friday night hiding in your dorm like an eighty-year-old librarian.” She grabbed my wrist. ”Come on.”

I stared at her hand around my wrist. Even if I found her personality too bold for my comfort, I just couldn’t find it in me to be angry at her for some reason. ”Are you kidnapping me?” I asked.

”I’m rescuing you. There’s a difference.” She dragged me toward the bedroom. ”You have five minutes. Get changed.”

I turned to look at her. ”Where are we even going?”

”Somehere that’s not as boring as this dorm of yours. Now hurry up, Elara.”

I should have been irritated. Instead, I found myself sighing and doing exactly as she told me. There was something refreshingly uncomplicated about Violet. She didn’t treat me like a princess. She didn’t stare at me like I was some mythical creature. She didn’t ask about my powers, my family, or the five Regents. She simply treated me like a twenty-year-old girl who desperately needed to leave her room for one evening.

And about ten minutes later, we were already on our way to whether destination she had planned for us.

The town below the academy was nothing like the human towns I knew from Florida. The streets were brighter, the buildings older, and magical lanterns floated above the roads without any visible support.

There were shops selling enchanted jewelry, potion ingredients, magical books, clothing, weapons, and things I couldn’t even identify. Yet somehow, the coffee shop Violet chose felt almost normal. Warm lights hung above wooden tables, soft music played somewhere in the background, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee made my stomach growl.

She noticed. ”You haven’t eaten, have you?”

”I had lunch.”

”It’s almost eight.” She shook her head like a displeased mother. ”You are hopeless.”

She ordered enough food for both of us before I could argue. And somehow, over coffee and dinner, I forgot that I was supposed to be miserable. We talked about everything and nothing. She told me about professors she hated, students she couldn’t stand, the ridiculous hierarchy at Moonveil, and how she once turned an upperclassman’s shoes into frogs after he tried to flirt with her.

”You did what?” I nearly choked on my coffee.

”He deserved it.” She replied with a shrug. Her smile was completely unapologetic. ”He learned his lesson.”

I laughed so hard my cheeks hurt.

At some point, she leaned forward and narrowed her eyes toward the counter. ”Speaking of lessons...”

I followed her gaze and found a man standing near the coffee bar. He was handsome. Very handsome. Dark hair, warm eyes, tall frame, and an easy smile that made him look far less intimidating than most of the people I’d encountered at Moonveil.

”That’s Cassian,” Violet whispered. ”He’s been staring at you for ten minutes.”

My eyes widened. ”What?”

”Relax. He’s harmless.” She guaranteed.

I couldn’t help asking, ”How do you know?”

”Because I know everyone.” She grinned before calling his name. The man looked over. ”Come here.”

He actually did.

I wanted to disappear beneath the table. ”Violet,” I hissed.

”What?”

”You can’t just call people over.”

”Apparently I can.” She seemed just as excited as I was feeling anxious.

Cassian stopped beside our table, and Violet introduced us with far too much enthusiasm. He greeted me respectfully, but unlike the nobles at Moonveil, there was no superiority in his expression. We exchanged a few words, and I found myself relaxing despite my embarrassment. Maybe Friday nights weren’t so bad after all.

Then I made the mistake of looking through the cafe window.

Across the street, the doors of a crowded bar opened, spilling music and laughter onto the street. And standing outside were four people I recognized instantly - Reign, Kairo, Alaric, and Esmeray. They were together, exactly as I’d seen them countless times at the academy.

Reign was laughing at something Alaric had said, while Kairo leaned against the wall with that irritatingly knowing expression he always seemed to wear.

My stomach tightened before I could stop it. I didn’t want them to see me. I didn’t want another confrontation. I didn’t want Reign ruining the one peaceful evening I’d had all week.

I immediately turned my face away.

Violet noticed. ”What?”

”Nothing.” I stood. ”We should go.”

She blinked. ”Already? Why?”

”I’m sorry Violet. But I don’t feel like staying out any longer.” I tried to be as polite as I could.

She studied me for a moment before glancing toward the bar. Her eyes widened slightly when she recognized the group. Then she looked back at me. ”Oh.” That single word told me she understood everything.

She didn’t ask questions. She simply grabbed her bag and stood. ”Fine. Let’s go.”

We walked out of the cafe together, taking the opposite street before any of them could notice us.

After a few steps, she bumped her shoulder against mine. ”You know,” she said casually, ”I can’t really be of any help against those four.”

I glanced at her. ”But?”

”But if you ever want a shoulder to cry and regret your choices, I’ll be there for you.” She answered with a bright smile and a wink.

It was supposed to be funny, yet it made something warm settle inside my chest. It was such a small thing. Such an ordinary thing. Yet after everything that had happened since the night my family died, ordinary kindness felt almost foreign.

I smiled. ”Thanks, Violet.”

She smiled back. ”You are welcome, Elara.”