Chapter one
“You’re going away”
Emotions are like a light switch. You can flip them on and off at will.
That’s what my papa, Anatol, taught me when I was 5. I have never forgotten that lesson, and I absolutely never will.
“Never forget, Nova. You always have to be in charge, otherwise bad things will happen” he told me.
So as my parents are telling me that they are sending me to Black Ice academy, I am keeping my emotions off.
“It’s where your mama and I met” my father admits, smiling at my mother.
I’ll be the first to say, they are an adorable couple. They were both born in Russia, and moved to the states when they were 17 with their families. From there they were both sent to Black Ice Academy, school of discipline for gifted individuals.
The discipline at this school, however, is different. The discipline at Black Ice consists of b**m.
And the gifted part? Individuals with magical inclinations.
That’s right. They discipline you through bondage, domination, sadism, and masochism, despite you potentially being to rip their head off without touching them.
My 16 year old self is fairly familiar with b**m, having heard noises from my parents room at night, researched the clubs they go to together, and found their stash of kinky toys.
“I’m assuming I’m going to be a dominant?” I question. They both look at me as if I have two heads.
I honestly don’t see myself as either a dominant or submissive. In fact, I don’t see myself as a part of the b**m world at all. If I had to choose to be a dom or sub, however, I would choose dom.
“No, dear. You’ll be a submissive, of course.” My mama, Irina, says.
Now that is a funny joke. I am a very gifted medium. An untrained one, sure, but gifted nonetheless.
See, as a medium, I don’t see things like some do. I feel things. I can feel if a spirit is around, and I can feel whether it is dark or light. I can feel every energy around me, therefore always being able to discern emotions, and I can control phenomena’s through the energies I feel.
I’m also pretty scary when I get angry, which is why my dad taught me the light switch trick for my emotions when I was young. When somebody gets me so angry that the light switch of my emotions turns on despite me not allowing it, I have been known to do crazy s**t like summon a demon or let out so much negative energy that I made someone break down and scream themselves hoarse with no palpable explanation.
The most f****d up part? It doesn’t bother me to watch people in emotional or physical agony when I’m angry enough. I like causing the chaos, and I like watching it play out.
I can watch someone writhe with a smile on my lips if I’m angry enough.
I know that if I turn on my emotions right now I will flip out and probably let a demon loose on this house, so I keep them off. I’ll let them out later.
“You think it’s wise for a medium as strong and gifted as I am to be a submissive? Do you not think that would end in me letting a demon loose on anyone who dares dominate me?”
“We’ve thought about that, baby. That’s why we’re having a family friend’s son be your dominant. He is as gifted as you are, but more trained. He’ll be able to negate your power.” My dad explains.
I lick my lips into a dark smile. “Nobody can negate me when I lose control.”
“Trust me, he can.” My mom assures me.
Well, f**k that. I don’t want somebody who can fully control me. I have never been in a position where I was completely helpless, yet if they pair me with someone who can block my power, I clearly will be.
I’m physically strong because I can harness the energy from around me. Without that I’d still be very strong due to my four pack and awesome muscles, but I wouldn’t have the supernatural strength I always have had.
“And who the f**k is he?” I ask, still maintaining a calm persona despite knowing that my emotions are scraping at the cage I have them in.
“His name is Viktor.” My dad speaks up. “And he’s been wanting to make you his for many years.” He adds.
Hah. Somebody wanting to make me theirs? Bad decision. I don’t get tied into relationships. Too time consuming and difficult.
God, why couldn’t I just have been normal? Then I could worry about boys and stupid s**t like any other 16 year old girl.
Both of my parents are gifted with control over the element water. That’s why they were sent to Black Ice.
Since they had similar powers and were both inexperienced, they ended up choosing each other as their partners.
Well, really, the dominant chooses the submissive at the school. My father chose my mother. Boys are always the dominants and girls the submissives.
Sexist, I know.
Gifted as my parents are, they have nothing on me. Since I have control over energy itself. That gives me control over everything. I can harness magic, control the elements, do just about everything that any gifted person can do.
That’s why I scare the s**t out of everyone.
And that’s probably why I’m getting sent to that godforsaken school. Though I am a fairly disciplined person, there is nobody who can stop me when I get out of line, unless I choose to listen to them.
It sounds as though Viktor will be able to overpower me.
“Are you wanting me to break? Submit?” I question my parents.
“Yes. As every girl there will. It’s for your own good, Nova.” My mother informs me.
Own good my f*****g ass.
“Will this hinder my studies?” I ask.
“No, it will not. In fact they have a speech and debate team as well as a theatre program. They function as a regular school, save for after school curriculums. That’s where the training for your powers comes in. And as for the discipline part, you will be living with your dominant, so that will be left up to Viktor to decide.”
“I will try to escape.” I flat out tell them.
My dad smiles. “We would expect nothing less. But know that Viktor has already grown attached and grown to love you. His parents and your mother and I have been telling him about you and he has been watching you from afar for quite a few years now.”
Well, that’s not f****d up or creepy at all.
“How long will I be at this school?”
“You will finish your last two years of high school there, and will potentially stay for your bachelors degree there, as well.”
“And how does Viktor fit into the picture, again?”
“Any time you step out of line or break a rule he sets, he will get to discipline you as he sees fit. In addition he will be courting you and attempting to win your heart.”
I snort. How does he expect to do all of this in addition to school?
“You said they have a debate team? Do they participate in tournaments?”
My mother nods. “Yes. To all other schools in the area, Black Ice appears as a normal boarding school. So the debate team does go out and partake in tournaments.”
They should know that there is absolutely no way that I am just going to sit back and be docile. I will try to escape that school like my life depends on it, because to me- it does. I would rather be dead than have someone try to sexually break me.
“And what, exactly, is Viktor allowed to do? Do I have a safeword? Are there any hard limits?”
“No. He has free range to do anything, whether or not you allow it. The one thing we put our foot down on is breaking skin. He cannot pierce or cut you.”
My father speaks the last part as if it makes a difference.
“And you are aware that if he penetrates me without permission it would be considered rape, yes?”
“You think I liked it the first time your father had his way with me? No. I was screaming for him to stop. Yet here we are, years and years later.” My mom says with a scoff in her voice.
Lovely. So my father raped my mother. How absolutely crucial for me to know.
“I’m sorry, are you aware of how f****d up that is? Papa, does Mama have Stockholm syndrome?” I question. My father shakes his head and chuckles.
“The first time your mother and I slept together was during a punishment, so naturally she wasn’t enjoying it. The next time we did, however, it was out of passion- and it sparked the relationship that we now have.”
In other words, my own mother has Stockholm syndrome. Lovely.
Might as well get back on topic, despite knowing that I will now, and forever, view my father as a rapist.
“When do I leave?” I ask.
“Tomorrow. We have packed what you need, and we will give you your phone and credit card to take with you. You may buy whatever. In addition, you will be staying in the best house on campus with Viktor, because we will allow nothing but the best for our little girl. If Viktor lets you, you may buy a car. All of your privileges will be regulated by him.”
I slam my fists down on the dining table, standing up abruptly. My parents are throwing money at me and at the same time saying that it will all be regulated by that asshole. I don’t need anybody to regulate my spending habits! I am very reasonable, as is. With my 1,000$ allowance per week, I have saved quite a bit of money because of how little I spend. I have more in my bank account than half of my classmates combined. I don’t want anyone controlling any aspect of me, especially money. That is just insulting.
“Who the f**k is he to think he can control me?!” I demand.
“He is Viktor Strauss. Nineteen year old CEO of a scientific research firm.”
“That shouldn’t even be possible” I mutter. “How can a 19 year old be a CEO?”
“Remember when we wanted to move you forward several grades so that you would be done with college at 18 and you said no? Well, that’s what Viktor did. That’s how he’s a 19 year old billionaire CEO.”
“I don’t want to go” I growl at my parents.
“You don’t have a choice. You need to train your powers while having someone who can effectively discipline you.”
“I will never forgive you for this.” I say.
“Yes, you will.” My mother promises.