Equinox Academy: Dark Prophecy

Chapter 13

Kass’s POV

My heart pounds in my chest as I watch Calix take his leave. My lips tingled from where they grazed his cheek, but the most unforgettable moment was seeing that beautiful smirk on his face. Calix is already breathtakingly handsome. He is like a piece of forbidden art that is both captivating to look at and so sinfully sensual that it takes your breath away if you stare too long. But his smile, as small as it was, damn near caused me cardiac arrest. He’s like an exotic animal you see on a safari. You want to sit there and take pictures of it all day, but you know that underneath all that beauty you can sense that danger that is both intriguing and fear-inspiring. His face is crafted by the gods, and it seems completely unfair for someone to be so handsome. His jawline could shatter diamonds and his cheekbones are high and sharp. His nose is long and there is a noticeable notch that some would call an imperfection, but it only adds a rustic feel to his aristocratic features. His icy white, blonde hair is long and silky. I can imagine running my fingers through them while I kiss his soft pink lips. And his body… My goddess, if the fact that he was way taller than me wasn’t a major turn-on, the perfect swimmer's physique underneath those tailored clothes is just the icing on the man candy cake. What’s unique is he has such pale skin, which is uncommon for Nymphs if my knowledge was correct. Most Nymphs are from the Asian Continent and sport a tanner complexion, but Calix’s pale skin is almost porcelain white like a Lamia.

As I check out his ass, which, if I’m being honest, looks biteable and freaking great in the slacks he’s wearing. I hear a throat clear beside me and I try to snap out of the fantasies playing in my head of grabbing said butt while he pounds… Sophie giggles lightly and I turn to see a Cheshire cat grin on her lips. She stares me down for a moment and crosses her arms over her chest, arching one perfectly groomed eyebrow at me. Damn, she’s adorable. I finally noticed her outfit and I couldn’t help but admire her dress, although definitely not my style or color. She’s rocking a cute bubble gum pink cocktail dress that hugs her chest just right, giving her some nice cleavage action. It’s a halter top style with a jeweled bodice that has large teardrop jewels in the center which downgrades in size as it moves towards her back. It has a puffy skirt that is all tulle and floats around her hips like a tutu. It’s a modest style and stops just above her knee, making her legs look long despite her shorter stature. She curled her hair in soft waves and her makeup was minimal aside from the matching bubble gum pink lipstick. Her heels are sparkly pink, and I can’t help but laugh at the fact that we are polar opposites as far as style is concerned. I’m all dark gothic badass and she is the bright and bubbly princess. I guess the “opposites attract” thing really is true. But I can’t help but like the girl. She is too adorable to resist.

“So, would you like to explain to me why you were making sexy eyes at Calix, or hell why you were escorted here by him?” Sophie’s words made me blush slightly, but I tried to hide it. She’s perceptive though and a knowing smirk crosses her lips as I say, “I’ll explain everything as I promised as soon as I get a drink in me.” Her smirk turns into a smile, and she claps gleefully before linking arms with me and pulling me towards the double doors I’d just seen Calix walk through. It takes an obscene amount of effort not to outright laugh at the opulence before me. Everything is trimmed in gold. And when I say everything, I mean every damn thing from the crown molding to the freaking table cloths. There is a gold chandelier in the center of the ceiling that looks like something straight out of beauty and the beast. I will say it is gorgeous with its intricate curves and crystals that add a soft glow to the room. A DJ sits in one corner of the room just in front of a packed dance floor. There are so many bodies smashed together you can hardly tell who’s dancing with whom. There are tables scattered everywhere, allowing people to sit and mingle. A buffet sits near the back offering finger foods for those who get the munchies and I plan to explore the options at some point. I notice two bars, one where most students have congregated and another in the far corner. I saw a small group over there but only two people caught my eye. One is Calix and the other is a gorgeous specimen sitting to his right. Before I can get a good look at him, Sophie is pulling me towards a table that looked empty until I notice Ky. I smile softly when he looks up and can’t hide my smirk when his eyes damn near bulge out of his head.

“Damn Kass, you look spectacular.” Ugh, swoon… My cheeks heat as he stands to hug me. I returned the hug, happy to see his pretty face again. “So, I’m sure you want a drink. What are you having?” Damn that accent. “Jameson, double shot on the rocks.” He smirks and says “Whiskey girl, damn I may reconsider this male persuasion. Nothing sexier than a stunning woman who loves a good whiskey.” I snicker as he leaves, and Sophie gives me the run-down on the dorms in the Earth tower. She seems to like one of her neighbors, but she is also certain she only likes her because of her relationship with her cousin. Ky returns with my drink, and I sip the amber liquid, enjoying the slight burn as it slides down my throat. Just as the heat settles in my belly, I hear Sophie say, “Okay spill because there is so much chaos surrounding you right now and we really want to know what happened after we left.” I cringe slightly because I knew this was going to happen and I really could use two friends in this place. I look between Sophie and Kylar and decide it's best to fill them in on everything so they can give me some guidance on where to go from here. So, I proceed to explain the events that took place after they left. Sophie looks shocked and Kylar seems stunned as they listen slack-jawed to everything that transpired. When I finish with the recap, I take down the rest of my whiskey, which gives them a moment to collect themselves.

Sophie seemed to be the first to recover. “Holy s**t Kass… five elements… I mean I heard the rumors from the other girls in the Earth dorms, but I thought it was a fluke. You’re not kidding, though you have all five elements? It was confirmed?” I sighed hard and nodded while both of my new friends seemed to digest this information. Ky speaks up then “So you met, Than, as in tall, dark, mysterious, and hot as sin Thanatos?” Confused I question “Thanatos?” Kylar seems exasperated “Yes Kass, the only Than that is known to frequent this campus is Thanatos. As in the God of Death Thanatos.” The shock that courses through my veins must show on my face because Kylar outright laughs at my expression. I can’t help but blurt “He’s a god?” Which has both of them looking at me with a little bewilderment. Sophie hesitantly says “Um, yeah Kass, he’s like one of the only gods who choose to walk among Supes and humans. There is speculation but no one knows the real reason why he stays.”

Fucking hell…

Than’s a godsdamn honest to Goddess God…

Thinking back, it does make sense. I remember the snort that Headmaster B gave when he introduced himself. Not to mention his power had felt ancient. I remember being confused as to why his power felt different from others. It makes perfect sense why I felt his youthful appearance was deceiving. His eyes didn’t lie though. The moment I looked into his eyes I knew he was older beyond his years and wiser than his youthful face portrayed. “That damn mind reader.” Ky and Sophie’s eyebrows lifted, and both asked “Huh?” I waved my hand and dismissed my comment “Never mind just be careful what you think around him.” That only seemed to add to their confusion. Sophie sips her drink, and I am about to head to the bar and grab another one when Sophie asks “So what are they going to do as far as your schedule is concerned? Learning one element is tough enough, how are they planning to teach you four more?” I sigh even harder this time and say “Not sure honestly. Than is taking over my Spirit element training and he said they would discuss with the headmaster how to make a specialized schedule that will help me learn the other elements. He also thought it would be best if I had tutoring outside of class, which would be mandatory.” They both cringe and Kylar comments “Damn that sounds like a lot.” I nod my head and stand to head toward the bar to grab another drink. When I return, they are both whispering conspiratorially and I can’t help but ask, “Alright, what’s with the whispers?” They both look up with what looks to be mischief in their eyes. “So Kass,” Kylar says, and I can’t help the sense of foreboding I feel at his tone. “Yes?” I ask hesitantly which causes him to smirk and say “I couldn’t help but point out that you seem to have met two of the four most coveted men in the entire school. How does it feel to have met Spiro and Calix on your first day?” Confused by what he says, I ask, “What do you mean the most coveted men in school?” Neither can hide their shock, but Sophie decides to spell it out for me. “Kass, remember how we discussed the royalty that are at this school. Well… it just so happens that you have now officially met two of them. Spiro and Calix are the crown princes of North America and Asia.” It’s my turn to be shocked. I stammer out “w-what?” Ky jumps in and says, “Spiro’s full name is Spiro Bishop. He is the crowned prince of the North American Region, and Calix’s full name is Calix Thessaly-Yamato. He’s the crowned prince of the Asian territory.”

Crowned Princes…

What the f**k???

The day’s events pass by in my mind and I can’t help the embarrassment and sadness that overtakes me. I can’t believe they are princes. Yes, they exude exponential powers, but I would never have guessed they were royalty. I feel a sad pang in my chest as I realize that, despite this weird feeling I get when I was around both men, I know now that they are way out of my league. My chest hurt in that spot where my scar was. I rubbed the ache. I mean it was only brief, but I enjoyed the stolen moments with both men, but I know that I can’t compete with all these girls for the hearts of men who are clearly from a different world than I am. I mean my expectations weren’t that high, but now the divide is so large it seems impossible to overcome. That doesn’t stop the intrigue I feel for both. Spiro is sweet and kind. His boy next door's personality normally wouldn’t appeal to me but there is something about him that just draws me in. I still remember the moments we shared in the hall and after the cuffs were removed. I know I wasn’t the only one who felt it either. And Calix’s abrasive personality was originally off-putting, but his undeniable beauty and those sweet moments we shared outside the ballroom can’t be denied either. I like both for different reasons, but I can’t help but feel like I’m losing before I even get a chance to get to know them.

Sophie and Ky seem to sense the shift in my mood, so Kylar decides to lighten it. “They don’t matter anyway, Kass. Even Sophie can see that I’ve decided to switch teams and marry you the moment we graduate from here. It will be a fulfilling life of serenading you with my lovely accent.” Both Sophie and I crack up laughing and I can’t help but fall a little more in love with these unlikely pair of friends. Kylar stands as I finish my next drink and says, “Alright enough heavy s**t, let's celebrate our acceptance. Another round?” Sophie and I nod in agreement and Ky walks backwards towards the bar, giving us a sexy as sin wink and smile that has us both fanning ourselves in an exaggerated fashion. We both fall apart in laughter as he turns to saunter towards the bar. Out of nowhere, Sophie grabs my hand and gives it a light squeeze with eyes that softly say, “Everything will be okay.” I squeeze her hand back, my eyes softening for a moment before I slap on my “I don’t give a f**k smirk,” which I hope is convincing.

When she pulls her hand away abruptly, I notice her stare is focused behind me and they are slightly wide in shock and a bit of adoration. “Hey cuz, it’s good to see you. Are you enjoying your first academy mixer?” I feel a shiver going down my spine. The man’s voice is deep and smooth. There is a hint of a growly and husky tone to it that makes it sound almost animalistic. He has a distinct Spanish accent, and it only adds to the toe-curling timbre of his voice. I don’t look just yet keeping my focus on Sophie. Her eyes soften even more, and I know this must be one of the other crowned princes. Sophie had said her cousin was royalty earlier, which would make sense that he’d want to see her. What doesn’t make sense is my acute awareness of his presence over my shoulder. I can feel the tingles coursing up my back and my magic is practically purring in excitement at his proximity.

Welp, I guess I’m about to meet prince number three…

Sophie replies “Hey Jer, it’s great to see you as well. The party is awesome, we’re having a blast.” His chuckle has warmth heating my lower belly and I clench my hands in my lap to hide my reaction to his voice. “That’s wonderful little cuz, would you mind if I joined your group for a moment? Calix and Spiro are being boring, and I really could use a break from them.” He steps closer and I can feel a shiver course down my spine as he slightly brushes my shoulder as he approaches a now standing Sophie. They hug and all I can see is his back, but damn, he’s tall like Calix. I know I try to mentally prepare myself to come face to face with another prince, but despite my efforts, I am still caught off guard by yet another handsome man. He isn’t aristocratically handsome like Calix or a boy next door handsome like Spiro. He’s more ruggedly handsome like a lumberjack mixed with a God. I could totally picture him with a flannel t-shirt tied around his waist exposing his bare chest, swinging an ax to cut firewood. And goddess what I wouldn’t pay to see him without a shirt on. Where Calix is pale-skinned, Sophie’s cousin has olive skin that has a gold undertone in the soft lights. His hair is a soft and curly dark brown. It falls everywhere and looks tousled in a “just f****d” kind of way. He has a rugged square jawline with a neatly trimmed beard that adds to that sexy lumberjack look. His cheekbones are high but softer around the edges, which makes me believe he laughs a lot and if the dimpled smirk he’s flashing tells me anything, he tends to be the cause of his own laughter. He has the most exquisite emerald, green eyes that are shinning with mischief and something much hungrier. For a moment they flashed gold and my heart stuttered in my chest and that place where my scar was aching slightly. He’s wearing a tight green button-down shirt that complements his eyes and shows off his bodybuilder's physique. I stare unabashedly transfixed but then realize that his lips are moving, and I have to mentally shake myself to get my mind back on track and stop ogling my friends' cousin.

I need to get laid…

A giggle slipped from Sophie and, to my horror, I realized I must have said those thoughts out loud. Sophie’s cousin's smirk widens into a full blow smile, and I fought really hard not to blush for the thousandth time today. Which is not helped by the deep chuckle that comes from the gorgeous man in front of me. “I’m sorry what, you were saying,” I say, noticing my voice is a bit breathy and Sophie’s cousin's eyes flash gold again which has me ensnared. He steps closer and I am engulfed in his masculine scent, which has my thighs clenching. He smells like cedar, pine, and sandalwood. It reminds me of being surrounded by trees in the forest and I really want to inhale a deep whiff, but think better of it. He sticks his hand out and says, “Hello Tesoro, my name is Jericho, but you can call me anything you’d like.” He winks and I almost want to snort at the cheesy line. I smirked at him and placed my hand in his. And just like with the other two princes, sparks shot up my arm and hit me right in that spot just above my left breast. His eyes flash gold and his fingers tighten around mine. I feel him lean in closer, a slight tug from his hand that draws me closer to him. We stare for a moment just drinking in each other’s features, but Sophie clears her throat and I realize I’m supposed to be introducing myself. Damn these overactive hormones. I gave myself a mental shake and relaxed my stance and said, “Hi Jericho, my name is Kassandra but you can call me Kass.” His eyes shined with mischief again, but after a moment we both stepped back and I slipped my hand from his.

Goddess Kass, not another one…

I may need to consider finding a f**k buddy before I wind up jumping the bones of a royal heir. These princes are wreaking havoc on my overactive libido. I returned to my seat and couldn’t help but glance over to the bar where I assumed Jericho had come from and spot both Calix and Spiro. To my surprise, both princes were watching me intently. Kylar finally returns with my drink and I’m relieved that Sophie distracts Jericho's unwavering attention from me while she makes introductions. I down my whiskey in two gulps, needing the burn to ground me back to reality. Kylar shares a couple of words with Jericho, but when Sophie pulls him into a conversation, he leans over and softly whispers, “And then there were three.” I can’t help but snicker softly at his words. When I refocus on Jericho, I notice his eyes aren’t on me but on the nonexistent space between me and Kylar. His eyes are no longer shining in mischief but have grown a shade darker and look to be filled with anger. His jaw twitches slightly when Kylar seems to shift closer, but he’s doing a good job of covering it with a smirk. I tilt my head slightly and Ky notices the movement. He stares back at Jericho and notices the anger in his eyes, but instead of flinching like I suspect him to, he turns toward me with amusement flashing in his green eyes. My eyes widen because Kylar is the shy type, but I can tell the drinks are helping him loosen up. I’m wondering what he’s about to do when his long nimble fingers lift off the table and slowly drag up my hand. I’m still staring at him when he lifts my hand in his and stands. In a husky accented voice that sounds even sexier than usual, he says, “Kassandra, would you like to dance with me?” He brushes his thumb over my knuckles gently and gives me another mischievous smile. He’s up to something but my buzz is finally kicking in, so I decide to go along with it. “Sure, Ky, I’d love to dance.” His smile lights up his face and he leans forward to brush his lips over my knuckles. As he leans up, his eyes flash toward Jericho and I hear a low growl from Jericho’s direction. I hear Sophie giggle as Ky pulls me to stand. Looping his arm around my waist, he guides me towards the dance floor as I hear a chair scoot back behind us. As we approached the throng of writhing bodies, I noticed whispers from the other party-goers, but instead of focusing on the words, I decided to say f**k it and enjoy my night. I know that my years here are going to be difficult, so I need to take advantage of the times when I can live a little.

Ky and I begin swaying to the beat, his hand on my hips and my arms around his neck. Just as we get comfortable with each other’s presence, Bom Bidi Bom by Nick Jonas comes over the speakers. Kyler’s eyes flash and he grabs my hand and spins me out and back in. My back is now to his front, and he grinds against my ass. He places one hand at the base of my neck and pushes my back down while slowly dragging his hand to the base of my spine. Giggling, I follow his movements, rolling my hips with his and letting my hair fall forward. As the beat drops, I flip my hair back as I drop my hips, dragging it slowly over his front while coasting my hands over my hips, up the sides of my breast, and over my head. I slowly wrap my hands around his neck and his hands slide forward, guiding my hips in a sexy roll, causing my whole body to move against his. He drags his nose up my neck and then whispers gently in my ear, “Don’t look now but I think I might be in a bit of danger.” My eyes snap forward and I realize Kylar has positioned us so that we are facing the bar where Spiro, Calix, and now Jericho are seated. He’s right. They all have eyes on us, and I can’t tell if they want to f**k me or kill Kylar. A soft laugh escapes me as we continue to grind against each other. When the song shifts to Please Me by Cardi B and Bruno Mars, I slip my hands from around Kylar, who takes that as his cue to let me do my thing. I sway my hips to the beat and close my eyes, feeling the music as it courses through my body. It’s been so long since I’ve let go and I just want to enjoy myself. I spin giving the princes my back, twerking my ass in time to the beat, and rolling my hips sensually. The song shifts through two more popular beats, and I feel myself working up a bit of sweat. Just as I’m about to call it quits, I feel a hand snake around my waist, but unlike Kyler’s warmth, I don’t recognize its presence. My body flinches as the fingers tighten around my waist and my pelvis is crushed into my ass. I looked over my shoulder to find one of the newer students from the pit of dread. I think I recognize him as one of the first guys called up, but I can’t remember his name. He’s not ugly, but he definitely is aggressive, which isn’t always bad, just not in these circumstances. Trying to break apart with him without being mean, I go to take a step forward but he yanks my body back into his. He presses his d**k harder into my ass and I can’t help grinding my teeth in annoyance. I noticed Kylar’s face in the crowd as he moved towards me. He must see my annoyance and wants to try and rescue me from the situation. I gave him a subtle shake of the head, letting him know to stand down. He stops coming towards me, but he doesn’t take his eyes off me. I’m hoping to keep this civil, but I know how to take care of myself. I eat shitheads like this for breakfast. I lean my body back cringing at the stale smell of beer pouring from his mouth. This guy is basically my height in heels, so I gently turn my head, breathing out of my mouth, and whisper, “I’m not interested. Let me go.” I go to stand up but instead of heeding my warning, he tightens his grip and says, “Oh come on baby, don’t be like that.” His grip becomes punishing, and I grind my teeth hard in annoyance. He presses his d**k harder, and I try one more time. “Let go now.” I feel myself growl from clenching my teeth and I sense him hesitate before his finger press harder at my waist. “Don’t be such a b***h grind on daddy’s d**k and if I like it, I’ll be sure reward you like the good little girl you are.” He sneers and I fight the gag reflex at both his words and his breath.

Whelp hard way it is…

I physically relax against him and slip my hand down my thigh in what I’m sure he thinks is a sensual dance move. He loosens his grip slightly and I take advantage of his distraction and flick the skirt of my dress out in what most will think is a fancy dance move. I spin in his hold, grab the back of his neck, pull him close and position my blade right next to his pathetic excuse of a d**k. He grunts when his drunken brain realizes what’s going on and I fix cold eyes on his face a dangerous smirk playing on his lips. Very softly, I whispered in his ear, “Now, since you can’t seem to understand the word no, I’m gonna make this crystal clear for you. When I’m finished speaking you are going to remove your filthy f*****g hands from me and I’m going to walk away. If you ever touch me or anyone else without permission, I’ll take my pretty little blade and slice your d**k in half. You’ll heal but the process is excruciatingly painful.” I allow a bit of the darkness that lies within me to surface, and I see the fear flash through his eyes as I push the blade just a bit hard into his groin. I smile manically for a moment, and I see a slight glow in my eyes reflected in his as I say “Now nod if you understand.” His body is shaking slightly but he nods his head and releases his hold on my body. I soften my smile and wink at him. He scrambles away as I tuck my blade back in the holster. When I turned around, I spotted all three princes’ eyes on me. Each of them holds varying expressions. Jericho looks slightly amused, his lips tilted up in a smirk and his eyes dance with mischief and heat. Spiro seems shocked, but I can see a form of pride in his eyes. Calix looks impressed and I see a weird mix of hunger and darkness in his pale eyes. I sent a wink in their direction and turned to spot Kylar finally reaching me. He throws his arm over my shoulder and laughs loudly. He leans over and whispers in my ear. “Damn girl, remind me never to piss you off.” I snicker and hook my arm around his waist as he leads me off the dance floor to the bar for another drink.