HER THREE CRUEL MATE

Chapter 2

Isla pov

I didn’t wake up to the sound of birds or a gentle alarm. I woke up to a freezing tidal wave.

The ice-cold water hit my face like a physical blow. It was so cold it felt like needles pricking my skin. I jerked upright, gasping for air, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird. My thin blanket was ruined, turned into a heavy, soaking weight that clung to my legs.

A high, mocking giggle filled the tiny attic room.

“Oh look,” Sera said. She sounded delighted. “The princess finally decided to join us.”

She was standing at the foot of my small cot. She looked perfect. Her dark hair was already styled into shiny curls, and she wore a silk robe that probably cost more than my mother’s house. In her hand, she held an empty metal bucket. She swung it back and forth, looking at me with eyes that were bright but completely empty of kindness.

“You’re late,” she said. The playfulness in her voice vanished, replaced by a sharp, icy edge.

I wiped the water from my eyes, shivering violently. My teeth were actually chattering. “What—what was that for?”

“Breakfast,” she snapped. She didn't sound like a girl my age; she sounded like a queen talking to a bug. “You were supposed to be in the kitchen an hour ago. Do you think I’m going to my first day of school on an empty stomach just because my little servant wanted to dream? My time is expensive, Isla. Yours is worth nothing.”

I clenched my jaw so hard I felt a dull ache in my skull. I swallowed the bitter words that wanted to come out. “You could have just knocked.”

“Knock?” Sera tilted her head, looking genuinely amused. “Do I knock on the oven when I want it to heat up? Do I knock on the broom before I sweep? You’re forgetting what you are, Isla. That is a dangerous habit.”

She dropped the bucket. It hit the wooden floor with a deafening CLANG that made me flinch.

“Get up, wolf girl. Cook. We leave in thirty minutes. If the eggs are cold, you’ll be the one eating them off the floor.”

She turned and slammed the door, leaving me alone in the damp, dark room.

The kitchen was a blur of noise and heat. The smell of frying butter and woodsmoke usually made me hungry, but today it just made my stomach twist into knots. My hands were shaking so badly I almost dropped the spatula twice. My hair was still damp, sticking to the back of my neck like a cold hand.

Sera strolled in a few minutes later. She was fully dressed now in her Royal Academy uniform—a crisp blazer with gold thread stitched into the crest. She looked like she belonged in a palace. She hopped up onto the marble counter, swinging her legs and watching me work with a bored expression.

“Don’t burn it,” she warned, her eyes following the movement of the pan. “I hate the smell of failure in the morning. It ruins my mood.”

“Yes, my lady,” I muttered. I kept my head down, focusing on the sizzling eggs.

“That’s better. You’re finally learning how to speak to your betters.”

When I finally set the plate in front of her, she didn't pick up her fork right away. She just leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. Her gaze was heavy and suffocating, like she was trying to read my very thoughts.

“You look nervous,” she remarked.

“I’m not,” I lied.

“You should be.” Her lips curved into a tiny, dangerous smile. “And one more thing, Isla. When we get to the Academy, you don’t know me.”

I stopped moving, a dishcloth clutched in my hand. “What?”

“You heard me. Don’t speak to me. Don’t look at me. Don’t even breathe in my direction unless I give you permission.” She stepped off the counter and walked over to me. She was so close I could smell her perfume—it was sweet, like roses, but it felt like it was choking me. “You aren’t my friend. You aren't my classmate. You are a debt that I own. You are the shadow behind me, nothing more.”

She reached out and tucked a damp strand of hair behind my ear. Her touch was soft, but it made my skin crawl.

“If you forget that... if you make me look bad in front of the others... I’ll make sure you remember exactly why you're here.”

She grabbed her blazer, straightened her collar, and walked out of the kitchen. The silence she left behind was heavy. I stood there, staring at the scraps of food on her plate, my chest tight with fury. I wanted to scream. I wanted to break every expensive plate in this house.

But I didn't. I just cleaned the table. Because girls like me didn't get to fight back. We just survived until the next day.

By the time I finished the chores and rushed outside, my heart dropped into my stomach.

The long, gravel driveway was empty. There was nothing but a faint trail of dust hanging in the air. Sera’s sleek black car was gone. She had left without me.

“How am I supposed to get there?” I whispered. The wind was the only thing that answered.

I had no money for a taxi and no one to ask for help. I had no choice. I started walking.

I followed the winding road down the steep hill, my boots splashing through the muddy puddles left by the rain. Every step felt like a mile. After forty minutes of walking, I finally found a bus stop. I sat on the cold, cracked bench, clutching my bag to my chest. When the bus finally arrived, the driver looked at me with confusion. He looked at my messy hair, then at the gold Academy crest on my blazer. He knew I didn't fit.

The ride was long and bumpy. I pulled out a crumpled map I had taken from the library. My eyes traced the red circle around the Academy grounds. I felt like I was looking at a map of a different planet.

When the bus finally reached the last stop, I stepped off and gasped.

The Royal Academy of Carden was a monster made of stone. The gates were made of heavy black iron, towering so high they seemed to touch the gray clouds. Thousands of students were streaming through the entrance. They all looked like Sera—perfect, rich, and untouchable. Their laughter echoed through the air, but to me, it sounded like a warning.

I felt tiny. I felt like a stain on a white sheet.

I saw a girl about my age walking a few feet away. She had a kind face and wasn't wearing as much jewelry as the others. “Hey!” I called out, running to catch up. “I’m new. I’m... I’m a little lost. Could you help me?”

The girl stopped and turned. She smiled, and for a second, I felt like I could breathe again. “First day? Don't worry, this place is a total maze. I’m Maya. I can show you where the main hall is, we’re going that way anyway.”

“Thank you so much,” I breathed. “I thought I was going to wander around until graduation.”

Maya laughed, but the sound was cut short.

The sound of screaming tires tore through the air. Two massive black cars swerved onto the sidewalk, stopping only inches from where we stood. A cloud of gray dust and the smell of burnt rubber hit my face, making me cough.

“What the heck!” I shouted, stumbling back. My heart was racing.

The car door swung open with a slow, heavy thud.