What Lies Beneath

Chapter 3

Asha walked through the great halls of the castle-like school, her eyes seeming to glitter as she glanced at the elegance surrounding her. 

     The school's walls were a nice cream with gold accents everywhere. There were paintings that she knew were the real deal from actual professionals. The tables, vases, and plants were delicately placed between classrooms. Even the lockers blended with the surroundings. The canals flowing throughout the building had an unnaturally slow flow. When she looked up, the ceiling had paintings representing many important moments in the histories of all peoples. 

     Everything was absolutely perfect.

     "Ya done admiring the school like a tourist? This place is where we belong now."

     Asha follows the voice back to her friend in the canal—who she kindly glares at. Lyra's only response is a playful slap of her tail against the water, sending sprinkles all over Asha's pants.

     Asha laughed as she continued walking, "But seriously, you know this is my first time actually stepping foot inside of the place. When everyone was going to get their physicals, I was with my cousin who thinks I still have a crappy punch. I had to get mine done separately and at some clinic nearby."

     She playfully rolled her eyes at the remark about her cousin, but that hadn't been what really happened. That night, she had yet another nightmare. When she'd finally awoken, her canines were very noticeably longer, her ears were slowly regaining their point, and she felt like she was going to go insane.

     Her cousin had to spend all day and night to help her regain her control again. It was exhausting but worth it. If he hadn't been able to, she could kiss her mortal life goodbye.

     "Left."

     Asha swung left and smiled. "Thanks for that Lyra. It would suck if my first impression to everyone is being the girl who walked right into a canal on the first day."

     Lyra giggled. "I mean, these uniforms wouldn't leave much up o the imagination. Pretty much all white with those little hints of purple, it'd make the blasted thing see-through. The skirts already are quite improper anyway."

     Asha chuckled. "I mean, I guess it's meant to provide the boys with a bit of a show when we kick, huh?"

     The girls looked at each other and bit their lips, summoning all the self-control that they could muster to stop themselves from laughing so loud that they'd make the whole school look over. That wouldn't be the best first impression to make on everyone either.

     Asha took a controlled breath before speaking again, "Seriously though, I wonder what they were thinking."

     Lyra nodded along in agreement before saying, "Straight ahead. Those doors lead to the auditorium."

     Asha nodded and walked through the already open door. When she looked around, she saw chairs all over the place: on the ground, along the walls, and even in the canals. The room itself was huge, definitely at least twice the size of her apartment. In the back center stood a gigantic stage. Her lips soon formed into a small, appreciative smile.

     Lyra sighed. "It looks like everyone's already making their groups and getting the hierarchy set up, huh?"

     Asha nodded. "It does look like it."

     All around her, kids were chattering, getting invited into groups, and getting to know each other. Seats had been claimed and you could tell a lot by looking at where people sat. 

     Located in the back were the kids who are way too arrogant to think they actually need to take anything away from orientation. Either that or they just don't care about schooling in general. Most of them looked like wannabe tough guys or popular girls. Their reputation means everything to them.

     In the middle are the people who slightly care and slightly don't. Or they simply haven't made up their minds about that yet. They're kind of rowdy and excited. They also happen to be the most social of the group. They even possess some diamonds in the rough though you'll find most to be completely average.

     In the very front of the auditorium were the nerds. They've trained and studied hard for much of their lives just to get here today. They're the ones who tend to possess many talents. Some can be snobby—feeling that they're better than everyone else. But others are quite timid.

     Finding out where they would sit was only the first step in their journey to not being a complete loner. Asha knew that the next step would be someone approaching her to be apart of their group. The same would go for Lyra, but she wasn't one who needed to be worried. Her personality was magnetic so she'd have friends in no time.

     "Let's sit in the middle," Asha said as she found them two spots with her chair on land and Lyra's on the edge of the canal.

     Asha knew to pick the middle—the only place that would accept a magicless human. Most of the students here are average, and those were the types of friends she'd need to make. Especially when she knew that she wasn't likely to have many—if any—classes with her best friend.

     When they settled into their seats, not even a minute passed before two other mermaids called out to Lyra. "Hey, Lyra! We haven't seen you in a while! Come join us!."

     Asha inwardly sighed as she looked at her best friend. She offered a small nod to let her know that she was okay with it.

     Lyra sighed. "It's fine. I can just stay here wi—"

     Asha shook her head, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Go on. You can't stick with me throughout this whole thing—especially when we won't have many classes together. That means that you've got to make other friends."

     Lyra smiled at her before swimming over to join the other girls. When Asha glanced over, she saw the group laughing and smiling.

     'At least she could make friends easily.'

     Unfortunately for Asha, everyone knew that she was powerless. Every student in their school has an armband on that displays their magic level. Her black bland revealed the number zero. No one wants to hang with a zero.

     She decided to instead stare at the stage straight ahead. She knew it'd be the same. Everyone was going to avoid the zero. Even the seats on both sides of her were vacant—though she'd known they'd been spotted. She'd heard what the people who gave them up had to say about it.

     But then again, what's new?

     A few minutes go by and the chatter of students has grown significantly. More kids had flooded the auditorium, yet none had taken the spots next to her. None had taken the initiative to even try saying anything to her. All there was were the whispers about her behind her back.

     "They let a zero in here?"

     "Ew. Let's not catch the zero virus."

     "Look at the zero all alone. There's a reason she's called that you know. Zero friends, zero talent, and zero chance at achieving anything."

     She hadn't needed heightened senses to hear the last one. That guy wanted her to hear him. Wanted to watch her sitting in a pathetic silence.

     She sighed quietly to herself and smiled, using every ounce of self-control to hold back her tears. She didn't know why it affected her so much—getting called a zero all the time. She didn't know why she hadn't gotten used to the crushing feeling of loneliness. It's as if someone took a bolder, and launched it straight at her heart.

     Lyra, it seemed, would be her only friend forever if it lasted. After all, she knew where she'd end up one day—how everything would end. But, she wouldn't simply sit quietly and take it. She'd live her life for as long as she wants and that would be her own little rebellion against this society. At least until she couldn't anymore.

     A few more minutes passed and teachers finally started entering the room. Professors that would teach a range of skills—and make soldiers out of each and every one of them. Each one came dressed in their own military gear as if to show them what their end goal is—as long as they survive this school. Then came in the administrators, a number of honors on their suits.

     Soon, they've all reached the stage where they take their seats. There is only a woman who remained standing and walked to the podium. The lights went out as she opened her mouth to start speaking but was interrupted by the opening of a door.

     Asha turned around to see what was going on and her eyes landed on two boys standing at the entrance. The auditorium was completely silent as everyone watched them walk further and further up. 

     When they reached her row, the shorter of the two leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Pardon, but are these seats taken?"

     She shook her head and started to get up to move over, but they moved quickly and took both spots on either side of her. Her cheeks flushed at the admittedly very handsome guys sitting next to her.

     She would've sat there, flushed, for a little longer if she hadn't caught a whiff of a scent that didn't belong. It was only for a second, but she was sure it was from the guy sitting on her right. Her gaze turned to meet his and they both stared at each other with the same expression. Their mouths were agape, eyes partially wide, and noses ever sharp.

     Asha only allowed herself to stare for a few more seconds before snapping back into reality and facing front. There was no way that this guy next to her was what she smelt. She must've smelt wrong. Her nose twitched as she caught another whiff. But just like the other one, it didn't last very long. She knew exactly what he was doing though. He was calling for her.

     She kept facing front but glanced at him with her peripheral vision. She hadn't been mistaken, and now she knew that he was certain he hadn't either. Yet another fae was in this city and entering the military, too.

     'What type of fae is crazy enough to do that?'

     Her mind raced with that single question, even if she were doing the exact same thing. However, this guy could be a problem for her. He knew her secret. She knew she could out him if he outed her, but she wouldn't ever do that to anyone and severely lacked the guts to even think about blackmailing him. Then, what should she do?

     Her eyes remained steady on the front as she kept her breathing normal, too. She especially couldn't lose control now. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath in and held it for a few seconds before exhaling and opening her eyes one again.

     This time, she blocked out anything that was happening on her right side. However, she wasn't paying attention to the orientation at all. She didn't know this place well enough to know a good place to talk to him, nor was she sure that he'd even want to.

     No, he'd definitely want to. After all, he called out for her that second time. That meant he wants to speak to her. She wouldn't have to worry about it because he would be the one to find a way. But she wouldn't let him take control of it, she'd make sure to do that herself.

     Out of curiosity, she turned to her left at the other guy who'd arrived with him. She subtly sniffed the air and the scent was also familiar. He was a wood elf through and through.

     She turned back to the front, relief lacing her features. She only had to deal with one fae—one fae who knew what she was and that she was anything but a zero. Hopefully, he'd talk to her first before talking to anyone else.

     'Great. I'm on this topic once again.'

     She closed her eyes for yet another deep breath, but that caught in her throat as she felt lips brush against her ear, and a breath soon following. It sent an involuntary shudder down her spine and goosebumps to crawl up her arms.

     A quiet, deep male voice soon followed. "I can smell your panic from over here. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone any of your secrets princess. But we will need to talk later today. I'll find you."

     As he pulled away, Asha felt her heart drop to her stomach. He knew way too much about her. He said he won't tell but knowledge is power.

     She took one more shaky breath before sinking into the seat. Not even a full day in and she's been found out already. Great. Absolutely great.