THE SILVEAN

CHAPTER 3

10 YEARS LATER

I just turned 17 when I received a letter with no stamp. No receiver's address just the words: The Academy council, Silverhelm High report to the council.

I burnt it.

Days later the Academy came 'Scholarship', the headmaster said 'For promising children'. His eyes didn't blink when looked at my necklace, I didn't have a choice.

The council owned the orphanage. They owned the academy. They owned me. They owned it all.

So I went, first day in, White uniforms, white walls, white lies, 300 kids all staring at me. I kept my head down hands in my pockets with fingers around my necklace I gripped tightly, cold as always.

The dorms smelled like bleach and old bread just like the orphanage, 6 girls to a room. My bed by the window so I could jump if I had to, old habits I guess.

'New girl', Someone said behind me

'That's the Liora kid' my spine locked

'Shut up' another voice said.

'She's cursed, don't touch her'. I turned to a blonde girl with expensive uniform council crest on her bag. She smiled but it didn't reach her eyes.

'Hi, I'm Vivian your dad worked for my dad right ? before the accident'

Accident. That's the lie they fed to people, 'Yeah', I said voice barely above a whisper.

'Cool', she said. 'Just don't burn anything down, we heard what happened at the orphanage'.

My blood went ice, what orphanage fire ? There was no fire just the car just the cliff, unless.....

Shhh the voice in my head said.

The whispers started the next day,

'Traitor's daughter'

'Stone cursed'

'Her mom was a terrorist'.

They left things on my bed, ash in my shoes and a drawing of me on fire, I didn't react I couldn't If I do react the voice gets too loud.

At night I couldn't sleep the necklace was tight, like a finger, like the deal, like it was trying to choke me

We made a deal Eira, I kept you alive now you'll keep us both alive

Those words kept echoing in my head for the past ten years reminding me of the consequences of my actions that resulted to my nanny's death, I'd wake up gasping with ash in my mouth even though there was no fire.

In the library, I hid there between the stacks where no one looked, my only comfort zone in this hellish place and that's were I found it.

A book with no titles its pages black when I touched it, it was warm like the sun's radiance.

Mine the voice growled, I dropped it and ran

- - - - -

A month later, In training class with daggers everywhere chipped wooden targets, Vivian was in my group 'Watch her', she told the others. 'She's unstable'.

I threw a dagger missing on purpose, the instructor sighed.

'Again, Eira' I picked up the dagger once more my hands shook not from fear but from holding it back, Vivian bumped into me.

'Oops' the dagger slipped not at the target but her, time slowed down the blade paused an inch away from her throat hovering in the air with black smoke curling off it.

The whole room went silent, the deadly kind then it clattered to the floor followed shortly after by Vivian's screams, the instructor grabbed me 'What did you do ?' 'Nothing' I whispered. 'I didn't---' but the lights flickered and a voice Good girl

- - - - -

They gave me detention, I sat alone as always. In the basement that's were he found me, Kael Pinehurst, Heir to a large enterprise was sitting on the table reading my file like I was some ex- convict.

'You made the lights go out', he said voice calm without looking up 'It wasn't me'. 'Liar'. He closed the file,

'Traitor's name, Eira Liora, Age 17, scholarship case. An orphan, file reports parents died in accident' he looked at me his golden eyes empty, 'Do you believe that ?' he asked. Of course I didn't, my father died before my very eyes and you ask me if I believe that. No one knew that I saw everything unfold before my eyes not even the servants, they thought I just fainted from shock, yet I didn't answer.

He stood walked towards me then stopped two feet away like I was a wild animal, like I was some sort of disease.

'They're going to expel you', he said 'Or worse, unless.....' 'Unless what ?', I asked

'Unless you let me help you' he said

I laughed, a bitter one 'Why would you help me ? I'm a Liora you're a Pinehurst', 'Because', he said reaching out he didn't touch me and just pointed at my wrist, at the faint mark under my sleeve.

The one the orphanage sisters called a birth mark, Silver, in the shape of a crown. 'Because you're not just a Liora', he said, 'You're something else entirely' the necklace burned.

And the voice Don't trust him

But his eyes weren't cruel they were just tired like mine.

- - - - -

The door slammed open as Headmaster Pinehurst, Kael's father walked in with him two guards.

'Kael, step away', Kael didn't move an inch, 'She's dangerous', the headmaster said 'She attacked a student'.

'I didn't---' I tried to defend myself 'Silence' the headmaster said, 'Take her away'. The guards grabbed my arms roughly while Kael stared at me just once and mouthed Run, but it was too late the necklace tightened.

Then the lights went off and in the dark, the voice whispered

Now Eira. Burn.