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Noel walked out of the headmistress’s office and hang about the dark hallway. He kept casting anxious glances at the closed door as he waited for Jayden to come out.
He was worried and he couldn’t help it. What could the headmistress need to talk to Jayden about? He just hoped he wasn’t in trouble.
Victoria Mills soon came down the hallway and Noel quickly stepped aside for her to pass. She walked up and instead of passing by, to his surprise and nervousness, she stopped by him. Her beautiful face resembled an ice sculpture as she studied him closely and Noel was once again struck by the uncanny resemblance between Jayden and his mother.
He shifted nervously under her penetrating stare and wondered what she wanted from him.
‘You are Noel?’ she asked in an elegant and cool voice.
Noel nodded though he had a hunch she already knew this and much more.
Her gaze became curious as she glanced up and down at him. ‘My son seems to really like you. Why?’
Noel bit his lips and shrugged. ‘I really don’t know. He has been there for me since the very first day and stood up for me more times than I can count. I don’t even know if I deserve it.’
Her face was expressionless. ‘Why?’
Noel glanced down. ‘We are from different worlds. I am a scholarship kid and I’m sure he only stays with me because of charity or feels compelled to.’
Victoria frowned slightly at him and sat down in one of the chairs lining the hallway.
‘Sit,’ she ordered.
Noel blinked in surprise and glanced unsurely at the chair next to her. He hesitated before obeying, staring fixedly at his knees after doing so.
‘I’ve known Jayden his whole life. He is many things but charitable is not one of them.’
Noel stared up at her.
‘Have you ever known him to do anything because he was forced to? He never does anything he doesn’t want to, much to my everlasting regret.’
Noel nodded slowly but frowned. ‘Why are you telling me this?’
‘Because,’ she paused, an amused smile appearing on her face. ‘I was also a scholarship kid.’
Noel’s mouth parted in surprise. ‘Yo…you?’
‘Shocking, isn’t it?’
She sighed. ‘I wasn’t born into wealth or a powerful family. I wasn’t even born to a middle-class one. We were seven children in a little hovel in the slums of the capital. I was the middle child, always ignored and left to take care of my siblings.
‘My father was a drunkard and my mother a whore, not by necessity but by choice. My father drank all night and slept all day whiles my mother was rarely home. She was out whoring herself, leaving me to take care of her children. She never used the money to feed us either, preferring to spend it on drugs. I had to beg in the streets for food and if that was unsuccessful, I would scavenge in the trash with the rats, scuffling with them for whatever little food we could find.’
She turned to Noel. ‘Do you know why I am telling you this?’
He shook his head, too shocked to reply.
‘To show you that our circumstances don’t define us. I left home at the age of twelve because I knew that if I remained I would never be able to shake off that life, continuing that vicious cycle of poverty. I left home illiterate and uneducated. I slept on the streets, taking odd jobs here and there. I worked hard, educated myself from bits of newspapers and textbooks tossed in the trash and when I was fifteen, I applied and won a scholarship to Lumière. There I was faced with the same hate and bigotry you’re facing now but I didn’t let that stop me.’
She smirked. ‘Now I’m one of the wealthiest women in the world, the matriarch of the second family of the Noble 52, one of the most powerful and wealthiest families in the world. I run multi-billion dollar companies and chair several charities. I have dined with Emperors, danced with Kings, granted audiences to Queens, and prayed with Popes.’
She turned to fix him with a serious look. ‘Do you understand what I’m trying to tell you? Life is shitty and hardly ever fair but we have to make the best with what we’ve got. Some are born up the ladder to success, others are born somewhere down the rungs and others are not even born anywhere close to it. The rest of us have to work harder than the rest to achieve our dream and that’s what defines us. Not where or how our life began but what we choose to make of it.’
She placed a finger under his chin and raised it, looking directly into his eyes. ‘You have to promise yourself not to let what you’ve been and are going through stop you. You have to promise yourself to rise above the hate, bigotry, and criticisms. Let them hit you to remind yourself about your purpose and use them as stepping stones to achieve your dreams because the only person who can stop you from achieving your dreams is yourself.’
Noel nodded. He blinked back the tears that were forming in his eyes and stared gratefully at her. ‘Thank you.’
She nodded and let go of him.
He paused and continued to stare at her. ‘Does Jayden know?’
She shook her head. ‘I’ve worked too hard for him to be burdened with that knowledge.’
At that moment, Jayden walked out of the headmistress’s office. He frowned suspiciously when he saw his mother and Noel sitting together and glanced from one to the other.
He looked at Noel. ‘Come. Let’s go.’
Noel stood up after shooting a worried glance at Victoria. They turned to leave but Victoria’s voice called out.
‘Jayden, we need to talk.’
Jayden didn’t stop walking. ‘Not interested.’
‘Jayden.’ His mother’s voice held a note of warning.
He sighed and stopped but didn’t turn around. ‘What is it, mother?’
His mother opened her mouth but changed her words at the last minute. She sighed. ‘Be careful.’
Jayden didn’t respond. He continued walking with Noel trailing after him.
That night, Samuel was in his dorm, getting ready for the paintball competition. Paul was bent over his desk writing away furiously.
Samuel walked up to him. ‘What are you doing? It’s almost midnight, the competition is about to start and you’re not even dressed.’
Paul didn’t look up from his work. ‘I’m not going, I’m far too busy. You go, have fun.’
Samuel gaped at him. ‘What do you mean you’re not going? You have to! We have to win this competition to make up for losing the House Cup. We’re lucky they’re still holding it after the whole food fight fiasco.’
Paul hummed not bothering to respond.
Samuel shook his head and walked over to the window. He was pulling the curtains shut when he caught something in the corner of his eye. He paused and peered closer, trying to make it out.
Paul looked up from his desk when Samuel bounded past him to the door. ‘Where are you off to in such a rush?’
Samuel hurriedly put on his boots. ‘I’ve got to check something.’
Paul was incredulous. ‘Now? The competition hasn’t even started yet. Can’t it wait?’
Samuel had already grabbed his coat and was out the door before he could respond. He took the elevator down and rushed out the Lair, grabbing a paint gun on the way out and quickly slung it over his shoulder.
He paused when he got outside and took a second to orient himself. He turned around wondering where he had seen him when his eyes caught a dark figure entering the wood that bordered the dormitories.
He smiled. Got you.
He followed quickly after him, keeping a safe distance so he wouldn’t be caught.
The moonlight filtered down through the branches, lighting their way as they walked. The figure moved silently through the foliage like a ghost whilst he kept stumbling on the thick undergrowth.
He cursed silently under his breath, wondering how he managed to move so quickly and silently whilst he fumbled about like a clown.
He tripped and quickly caught himself on the bark of a willow. He took a deep breath and looked up to find his quarry gone. He had disappeared like a wisp of smoke.
Samuel cursed again, a bit loudly this time, and made his way through the wood. He followed the path the figure had been taken before he disappeared but after ten minutes with no sign of him, he was close to giving up.
He took another step and tripped over a raised root. He felt himself falling and this time, there was no tree to break his fall. The ground rushed up at him and he closed his eyes to prepare himself for what was going to be quite a nasty fall when a hand reached out and curled itself around his waist, halting his descent.
He opened his eyes and turned, widening them when he came face to face with Jayden’s expressionless face.
Jayden studied him for a moment before letting go, causing him to hit the ground with a loud oomph.
‘What did you do that for?’ Samuel whined, rubbing his backside as he stood up.
Jayden walked away. ‘That’s for following me.’
Samuel quickly followed him. ‘Where are you off to?’
Jayden ignored the question.
‘Can I come with you?’
‘No,’ Jayden said, suddenly stopping.
Samuel also stopped and pouted. ‘Why not?’
Jayden continued walking. ‘Go away.’
Samuel jumped in front of him. ‘That’s the problem. You see I can’t.’
Jayden frowned.
‘I’m lost.’ Samuel finished with an embarrassed grin.
Jayden stared at him with a blank expression. ‘So?’
Samuel gave him an incredulous look. ‘I can’t very well go back if I don’t know where back is, now can I?’
Jayden continued walking. ‘Not my problem.’
Samuel gaped at him and rushed to fall in place beside him. ‘You can’t leave me here.’
‘I can and I am.’
‘What are you doing out here anyway? Are you taking part in the paintball competition?’
‘What were you doing out here following me?’ Jayden retorted in a bored voice.
Samuel thought for a moment before shrugging. ‘I just wanted to know what you were up to. So what were you up to?’
Jayden stopped suddenly. He had had enough. ‘Turn around.’
‘Wha-‘
‘Just do it.’
Samuel turned around slowly still unsure. ‘I don’t get the point of this.’
He turned back to find himself alone in the dark wood.
‘Jayden?’
No response. The wood was quiet with the exception of the occasional hooting and rustling.
Samuel looked around but there was absolutely no sign of Jayden anywhere. It was like he had completely vanished.
‘Oh come on!’ he shouted into the silence.
He turned around and tried to go back the way he came, muttering darkly with each step.
After a while, the low reverberating sound of a horn broke through the stillness, startling a few birds into the air.
Samuel looked up. The competition must have begun because later the excited yells of students could be heard as they rushed into the forest.
Samuel marched on, glad he had decided to bring his paint gun along. At least he would be protected though he was separated from his house.
He walked silently and quickly, eager to join his house before he was ambushed by the other houses.
He kept up the pace for a few minutes before collapsing to sit against the trunk of a birch tree. He would rest here for a while and catch his breath before continuing on the path.
A faint rustling sounded in the bushes behind him and he tensed, clutching his gun to his chest.
He turned around, placing the sight along with his eye, and aimed carefully.
The rustling got louder and closer, causing him to curl his finger on the trigger. He was about to fire when a white rabbit poked its head out.
It wiggled its ears curiously as it stared down the barrel of the gun.
Samuel blinked in surprise and placed the gun away. He cooed softly as he rose and walked gently, moving close to it.
The rabbit blinked up at him and wiggled its nose, sniffing him curiously. It didn’t run when Samuel sat down by it and it didn’t resist when he picked him up.
Samuel purred at it as he scratched behind its ears, causing it to lay his ears flat along his back in pleasure.
‘Aren’t you a cute little bunny? Yes, you are, yes you are.’
He turned the rabbit around to face him and raised it to his face.
‘What is a cute bunny like you doing here all alone, hmm?’ he asked as he wiggled his nose against its own.
The rabbit suddenly wiggled out of his arms and bounded away.
Samuel stared after it in disappointment. He was just getting to know the little fella. He sighed and stood up, dusting his knees as he made his way back to where he had been laying.
A hand fell over his mouth as he was suddenly pulled roughly against the trunk of a tree. His eyes widened when he saw Jayden looking up at him.
He placed a finger to his lips and turned his head as he listened though Samuel didn’t know what he was listening to.
He heard it soon enough. The bushes ahead rustled and he heard voices as their owners stepped out into the clearing.
‘Are you sure you heard something?’
‘Positive. It was in this direction.’
‘But, there’s nothing here.’
‘Let’s look around. I’m sure we’ll find something.’
They walked around the clearing and Samuel cursed in his head when he realized he had left his gun out in the open.
Sure enough, a moment later one of them gave a shout of excitement.
‘Look, a paint gun! I told you, I heard something. The owner must be hiding nearby. Come on.’
They came closer and closer to where Jayden and Samuel were hiding. Samuel’s mind raced as he thought of how to get out of this situation. They were like sitting ducks.
Jayden slowly removed his hand from Samuel’s mouth and placed it on his lips. After looking at Samuel’s eyes to make sure he understood, he took a step back and swung himself up the nearest branch of the tree.
He had moved so silently that even Samuel hadn’t heard him and within seconds, he had disappeared amongst the foliage.
He peeked behind the tree to see his opponents moving closer. They were almost in front of the trunk when Jayden swooped down from above, landing silently on his feet like a cat.
His chasers felt the air behind them shift and their eyes widened in shock when they turned to meet Jayden.
Samuel swooped down from behind his hiding place and picked his gun, using their momentary distraction to shoot the first one in the back, splattering him with gold paint.
He turned his gun on the other one only to find that Jayden had already disarmed and shot him with his own gun, causing a splatter of purple paint to stain his shirt.
Samuel grinned and placed the gun on his shoulders. ‘Aquilas, eh. Looks like we showed you who is boss?’
‘H…how?’ one of them asked in shock.
‘Never you mind about that,’ Samuel replied with a chuckle. ‘You know the rules. You’ve now got to leave the wood. Bye.’
He waved them off and turned round to face Jayden with a big grin on his face. ‘That was amazing! We actually make a great team.’
He paused. ‘Wait, how did you know where I was? Aw, I knew you couldn’t abandon me. Admit it, you care.’
Jayden scoffed. ‘I don’t.’
Samuel wasn’t listening. He tapped his chin thoughtfully. ‘I still don’t get it. Were you following me?’
‘No.’
‘Then how?’
‘I was walking with you.’
Samuel blinked, surprised. ‘How come I didn’t hear you?’
‘Not all of us walk around the wood like a blind rhino.’
Samuel huffed. ‘I wasn’t making that much noise. Why didn’t you just walk by me anyway?’
‘You talk too much.’
Samuel humphed, feeling offended. He was about to speak when Jayden suddenly cocked his head to the side, listening intently.
‘More people are coming.’
Samuel didn’t hear anything but after tonight, he decided not to question Jayden’s senses.
He nodded. ‘What’s the plan?’
Jayden just gave him a blank stare. He turned around and melted into the surrounding tree line.
Samuel hid behind a tree and waited which was a good thing because a moment later, he would have been caught by the group that had stepped into the clearing.
They appeared to be Lepus and they conferred quietly amongst themselves. They didn’t look up until a faint splat sounded through the clearing.
One of their teammates had been hit and they quickly snapped to attention and formed a circle, placing their backs next to each other.
They circled, peering into the darkness when another splat sounded from a different location, causing a ring of purple to appear on another teammate’s chest.
They fired blindly into the dark but more splats sounded as Jayden and Samuel picked them off one by one.
After the last one had been hit, they gave up and left the clearing. Samuel bounded out of his spot and whooped joyfully.
‘This is fun! Hey, I’ve got an idea. How about we form a team on our own.’
Jayden appeared by his side. ‘No.’
Samuel jumped slightly at his sudden reappearance. ‘Why not?’ he whined after he had recovered.
‘I don’t want to.’
‘Please?’
‘I didn’t come here to compete and besides, we’re in different houses. The only reason I’ve helped you so far is because they were not in my house and I was with you. I don’t fancy having a stain of paint on my clothes.’
‘Oh, come on.’ Samuel begged. ‘We make a great team. How about this? You only help me to attack those who are not in your house and I’ll help you with those that are not in mine. Besides, you were really enjoying yourself. Don’t deny it.’
Jayden frowned slightly in contemplation. ‘We’re still from different houses. How can I trust you and you me?’
Samuel waved it aside. ‘I trust you and you have nothing to worry about from me.’
‘That’s a mistake.’
‘It’ll be fine. Please?’
Jayden sighed. ‘Fine.’
‘WOOHOO!’ Samuel yelled in excitement. ‘Come on then. Let’s go win this thing.’
They made their way through the wood and Samuel was right. They did make a great team. Jayden used his stealth to distract their opponents and Samuel would open fire, picking them off one by one.
Very soon, they were one of the only ones left.
Samuel turned to Jayden. ‘We’re almost done. Let’s-‘
He never got to finish the sentence. As soon as he turned around, he came face to face with the barrel of a gun.
‘I did warn you,’ Jayden stated simply before shooting him in the face.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: So… really really long chapter I know. I normally write about five pages but this was almost ten!
You’re welcome.
So, we got to see another side of Victoria Mills. What are your current thoughts on her? Did this change your mind about her or your mind is still the same?
Lemme know in the comments and don’t forget to vote and comment if you enjoyed it.
Peace✌🏾.
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