BEAST ACADEMY 2: LET THE QUEEN RISE

Forth Chapter

Eveline's POV

Some minutes let me forget through what I went. Losing someone when you found him is...painful misery. It's good that you have people who can make you happy and collect those broken pieces of your heart...Reece did this to me.

"Oh God, your uncle seems...angry" I murmured and finished champagne in one gulp but the young lord looked unperturbed. I couldn't read his expression, he looked serious but had no cold but yet he didn't show any emotions. He was calm like a tiger who would attack at the right time.

After our show, people didn't care to applaud but of course, we heard applauding from the bar side were sat guys and girls of our age, separate from 'aristocratic' crowd.

"REECE WILLER!!" we heard the stern hoarse voice of lord Benedict. People looked at him worriedly, clearing him a path. Reece nodded graciously to Lady Roseberry, his uncle, and only now, I saw a fragile girl beside lady Roseberry. "Uncle. Ladies." how he can be so calm and serious as if it wasn't him flipping me a few meters up to the ceiling.

"Benedict! How your nephew could do such a thing?! It's so inappropriate and outrageously! And, and--" madame Roseberry was...inadequate right now and gladly Mister Benedict interrupted her by just raising his hand.

Man's grey eyes were angry but more I could see...sadness. He looked into his nephew's eyes, not caring about my presence. I guess nobody cared about me but Reece on the other hand, as I understood he is the only heir left in his family...Benedict wasn't married and he sure didn't have any children...For him, Reece is like a son, whom he raised like his own.

Young ruler looked at his uncle's eyes, copying that seriousness. I think Reece knew the outcome...but he did it anyway...for me?

"Let's go." Lord Benedict took his nephew by the shoulder and went to the hallway. They need to talk about everything. If Benedict raised Reece, he will understand him and won't judge, right? Uncle Benedict surely respects Reece and tries to understand the young boy, otherwise, he wouldn't take him away in private.

"Miss Campbell," oh God, no, have mercy on me!

I was so into my thoughts that I forgot about standing ladies in front of me. 

I turned my eyes to Lady Roseberry and pulled on a sweet smile, "Lady Roseberry! I see that this is your beautiful daughter," I looked at Melissa, who had a shy smile from tight lips.

"Indeed, she is a precious diamond, perfect lady...perfect in every move" I widened my eyes and stared at the woman who looked like Cinderella's mother. "Stop it, mother" seeing my bored face, Melissa began feeling uncomfortable and now her moves weren't 'perfect' they were nervous. I guess, her mother noticed that too, otherwise, her pale face wouldn't flare in anger and frustration like this. 

"I would feel embarrassed too" I whispered to the girl on what she smiled.

"What are you saying to my girl?! You better not talk to her!" 

"Wow, don't make a fuss here, alright? Anyway, I need to find my friend, so, au revoir, ladies!" I made my way through the crowd, hearing indistinct muttering but then I noticed my ripped dress...oh, yeah...sacrifice. I rolled my eyes and went to the bar where sat 'cool guys', I mean really, they are cool but mostly they were normal!

A song of our Badass Squad "Street fight' by Adam Jensen and because I love siblings Lark and Eleanor I am giving them a song but this song also suits Bern and Eveline but I kinda think more of Lark and Eleanor, "She wants me dead" by CAZZETTE. Comment who's song is it? 

I sat on the stool and ordered a martini before a girl from the group called out for me."Hey, spice girl! Wanna sit here?" her voice was deep and confident, not talking about her sexy outfit. Leather, black dress till her knees and black fur on her shoulders, her black hair was long and in a high ponytail. Damn, I thought here they had a dress code!

"Hey," I blurted out coming near four guys and three girls. There were boy twins but one was more like a bad boy style and the other was preppy and he had eyeglasses, other boys were in suits, white, and bloody red. They all nodded except for the bad boy, he checked me out and huffed, making me hell angry.

"How is life?" one girl in silk dress asked with blond hair. "Not bad...for now" I answered back and received laughs.

"I like her" muttered between laughs, a guy in the red suit. He had the same blond hair as the girl in silk.

"What's your name?" asked another girl in manish suit. "Eveline Campbell," I said, and took ready martini with three olives on a toothpick. "Wait...so you are Cam? That Cam?" asked the bad boy taking a sip of cigarette.

"Well...only one person calls me like this, Be--"

"Bern! Our Bern!" he finished for me and revealed a slight smile, "So you are that psycho girl" he chuckled and hopped off the table. How should I kill Bern? "Sorry for being such an ass. I am Lark. That nerd's name is Levi," he pointed at his preppy twin on what he saluted. "And I am Maverick, just call me Rick" exclaimed the guy in a red suit with almond-shaped blue eyes and snowy white hair, surely bleached.

"Nice to meet you" I gave them a slight smile and drank my cocktail in triangular shape glass. "Ma lil bothe tol me a low bout you" that's absolutely how he talks, this piercing accent...made me miss my town where everyone curses as usual. "You are Bern's brother?" I asked him and he bit his lip, looking at me from the forehead, well, I guess I already understood it. Same playful eyes and arrogant gestures. "Back off Ricky. And this is all favorite boy here in Benedict's household - Nathaniel Ricardo, remember him, Cam, cause he is your golden ticket and excuse. Let's say he is a local King, of course after Reece but I kinda think that Uncle Benedict loves him more,"  everyone nodded, seriously and I tried my BEST not to laugh. Nathaniel was in a white, perfectly fitted suit and he was looking like second Zayn Malik, I swear.

"This is our girls, sweet Penelope," he pointed at blondie in silk who shyly smiled. "Reckless Ava," he nodded respectfully at the man-like girl who sat with Levi. "And everyone's favorite Eleanor or known as Lark's sister" he laughed at the hot girl who called me. Eleanor sat before me and was drinking beer with one hand while her other showed inappropriate gestures at Lark making him burst out in a laugh, "She is a troublemaker, I don't recommend you to stick around her," Lark shook his fingers near his neck while shaking his head and widening eyes. "Hey! As if you are an angel here!" she exclaimed at her brother while Lark pompously fixed his coal-like hair and fired back, "Sweetheart, that's the point, I should be only one trouble or we will kill poor young Lord" Eleanor look away and huffed as a mad sister would. "What about young lord?" I asked him, "Reece is general of the army, he is the best out of best here, so he trains us, and to be honest we are not really a gift" he smiled and looked back at the girls.

"It's good to meet you all. But where is that pain in the ass?" I asked looking at Maverick. They all chuckled at me before I saw upcoming Bern who had a tired expression on his face. "Speaking of the devil..." murmured Ava, rolling her hazel eyes. "Miss me? Oh! Cam! I see you have already been introduced to my group of outcasts!" I furrowed my eyebrows while everyone glared at the blue-haired guy...I won't be shocked if Eleanor will kill him with only her glare...this girl gets me shivers. 

"What?" I heard him ask and then chuckling after ordering a beer. "Why do you always need to ruin everything?" asked Levi. "Pft, she needs to know is what she is getting to," answered back Elsher. "Agree," muttered Lark. "We are outcasts...but, I don't mind being one" he continued, winking at me. 

I went with my eyes through them and furrowed my eyebrows, "What is that supposed to mean?" I awkwardly let out a laugh, eyeing Bern's playful expression but his eyes were sad and he didn't want to tell me a thing even if he started it.

Nobody dared to start but then I heard the quiet voice of reckless Ava. "We are orphans. We grew up like soldiers, and we can't be like everyone...We don't have families, we grew up together, side by side...We have no freedom...since we came to this household, huh, we couldn't able to be fully free. Yes, we are living here, eat here, wear fancy clothes that servants give us but we also obey certain rules that were created for orphans, and if we will disobey them...the end is predictable" her look was on her hands, Levi saw that and tried to cheer her up, by hugging her by the shoulders. 

Maybe this Household for shifters is modern and more civilized but my beast academy is way more kind and people there are happy...all of them.

"That's..." I didn't know what to say...it was wild and inhuman. 

"You don't need to say anything..." I heard Maverick say while drinking shot after shot.

"Let's not talk about this, okay? We are fine and we don't break rules," half-whispered Penelope, and her voice was so soft and childish.

We all turned our heads at Bern who cleared his throat, "Of course we don't break them..." after some seconds everyone burst out in one loud laugh, including me. "Thanks to our straight-A student, without him we would have more punishments and way worse" Maverick did a respectful but of course playful bow to Nathaniel but he only shook his head, smiling slightly.

"So, Eveline, tell us something interesting about yourself," asked Nathaniel through bored eyes. 

The song "Dancing with my demons" by blame my youth

Pfff...I don't think they should know my past but...I want their trust and...I need friends.

"To be honest...That's complicated. I told Bern half of my story--"

"Or more precisely, nothing" I looked at Bern who pretended that he is very interested in the mark on bottle beer.

"Yeah, I am not a storyteller..." 

"Tell whatever you feel you want. You can trust us...well except for Levi and Ava, they are too goody nerds and too silent, that I don't know if it's a good thing or bad" said Eleanor, looking at the couple and laughing. Of course, it was a joke that gladly I understood and she is lucky that I have a sense of humor.

"Soooo, I am from the beast academy and I found about my abilities more than a half year ago," when I muttered it, their eyes were on me and everyone listened seriously and they didn't even mock around (Including Maverick and Lark) 

"So you were, uh...you?" not understanding Penelope asked cautiously.

"I was adopted and then my parents told me after nineteen years...After, I studied and live in the academy but then I with my friends had some problems...real problems with a witch and one bastard. Uhm...I also lost my mom...and...cousin brother that I only found...I also lost a best friend" I gulped hard and blinked multiple times to remove the upcoming tears. I didn't look at the guys but I felt their stare and there was a weird silence. 

I heard a man clearing his throat and looked up in reflex and met with green eyes...

"I never really thought that you...lost someone. If you would give me a hint, I would--" he trailed on and I barked, "I never wanted to remember this! But now...Now I am ready," I gave them awkward smile on what they smiled genuinely.

"Girl, nobody will understand you like like us...we know this feeling" said Eleanor and Lark added, "Yeah, we felt this too many times." and then I heard Nathaniel, "Just remember that you shared with the right people." and then my already favorite blue-haired boy, "You are not alone, Cam" I faced each one as they said and I smiled genuinely at the end and didn't notice how my tears scattered down the cheeks. 

I was lost in words...Emotions filled me and I wanted to scream in happiness and pain.

"Lads, can I borrow Eveline? Eveline? Are you okay about that?" we heard out of nowhere Reece with a mischievous and happy Cheshire cat smile, say. 

"Umm..." I saw how Maverick hesitated and looked back and forth at me and Reece, and his expression said it all. "After your emotional story and we felt kinda like bonding you are taking her away, Reece? Really?" grumbled Eleanor, making everyone chuckle but Bern was laughing at his best, "Typical Willer, you can't do anything about that" he stated, widening his arms. 

"Sure, I am okay..." I looked at the guys who smirked and drank their drinks, trying to look as usual but I saw how they gave each other winks and smiles. 

But I couldn't say a word as Reece took me by the waist and led the way through the back hallway.

We were silent and my tears already dried on my cheeks. Reece was as if deep in the thoughts and I was impatient for the talk but this is Reece. He doesn't talk like Bern does but with him, you are feeling comfortable and cozy even in grave silence. 

"Where you are taking me? I thought servant should accompany me..." I teased and he looked at me from the side, not carrying to turn his head. I saw how the end of his lip flicked a little and then a sweet dimple appeared and I don't know why but that gave me butterflies. I just don't know if it was the dimple or the fact that I made him laugh.

"I just wanted to show you my bedroom." how romantic!

Wait...what?!

"Excuse me?" I wanted to laugh but instead, I was looking kinda furious.

"Relax, I just thought...after your story. I remembered how you said on the ship that I should gain your trust. The thing that came into my mind is showing you my bedroom first." he responded so professionally but it was so...childishly cute and...thoughtful.

"Wow...That's...thank you" I bit my lip till pain and he now turned his head at me, "You don't need to thank me, I just want you to trust me and I don't want you to feel like I am an important sort of aristocratic lord that don't have emotions and cold. I am a guy who just wants to make a girl feel free with him and by the way, don't ever call me 'Lord, your grace, young lord' I don't want to be this person with you..." he stated while looking into my eyes and nothing else. This trait of Reece, he doesn't talk much but if he talks, his dialogue with the person is proper and he looks straight into the eyes. Feeling the person and saying everything truthfully and from his heart. 

Words come not from the mouth. They come from the heart.

We came near the big white doors and I was feeling a little scared for what will come. I don't have luxuries after being 'Campbell' so, I was intrigued.

Reece stormed open the doors and in the view came to a small living room-like space, on the right were the doors into the bedroom and to the left was...office. 

"Wow...big" I chuckled and he embarrassed looked away but then hurriedly went to the office and I curiously went after him, "Reece? Everything's okay?" when we were inside, we saw big chaos...It looked like someone was looking for something.

"Oh, God...I doubt you did this..." I looked around and was shocked not less than sandy-haired.

"Eveline, I think we should go back...I don't like this all. Is your servant there?" he asked worriedly and I nodded, "Okay, you need to find her and get back to your room, alright?" he turned me back by the shoulders, and soon I was doing what I was told to, but my mind was filled with different thoughts and only I could hope for is.

Please, let it be just an unfunny joke of a teenager.

Hey, I hope you enjoyed it! Stay tuned and please share with this book cause some of you who read the first book don't know that the second book is out too. Well, all love! xo.