Chapter 102 The mask

Chapter 102 The mask
Chapter 102

RAVENNA 

Selene's smile widened into something that she clearly thought was charming, but just looked smug to me. "How does it feel seeing another woman holding your man's hand, Ravenna? It must be quite painful for you."

I turned to Samantha beside me, and we both burst out laughing at the exact same moment. The sound echoed through the classroom, drawing confused looks from other students who were still packing up their things.

Samantha managed to speak first through her laughter, her tone dripping with exaggerated mockery. "Did she just call Darius your man? Did I hear that correctly?"

I picked up the thread immediately, matching her mocking tone perfectly. "Would I ever make someone like Darius, who is known throughout this entire academy for being nothing more than a fuckboy, my man? Do I look that desperate to you?"

Samantha continued without missing a beat. "It would be like you were completely blind to reality. As if you could not see what everyone else sees so clearly."

Selene's face heated up with obvious embarrassment, red creeping up her neck and into her cheeks. But I was not finished yet. Not even close.

I stepped forward and placed my hand gently on Selene's arm, my expression shifting to something falsely concerned. "You need to start correcting your statements and assumptions about Darius and me right now, Selene. I am not in any kind of relationship with him. I have never had even an ounce of romantic feelings for him. We are just teammates. Assignment partners. Nothing more than that."

I reached up and brushed a strand of her perfectly styled blonde hair back from her face in a gesture that probably looked friendly to anyone watching. "Samantha just informed me that you are going to be our new roommate. I think we should not start off on the wrong foot like this, do you not agree?"

I grabbed her hand before she could respond, holding it firmly whilst smiling brightly. "I would very much like to be your friend, Selene. I think we could get along quite well if we tried."

Samantha stepped forward as well, her own fake smile firmly in place. "I would like to be your friend too. The three of us girls should stick together, especially with all these boys around causing trouble."

From the corner of my eye, I could see Darius and Dorian standing there looking completely stunned, like they had just witnessed something impossible. Their expressions were almost comical in their shock.

Selene recovered from her surprise and smiled back at us, though I could see calculation behind her eyes. "I would love to be friends with both of you. How wonderful that we are all going to be living together."

"Perfect," I declared cheerfully. "Now, shall we head to hockey practice together? I am sure you are eager to meet your new teammates on the female team."

We all left the classroom together, Samantha and I flanking Selene on either side whilst she chatted about how excited she was to be at the academy. Behind us, I could hear Darius and Dorian following at a distance, clearly confused by this entire interaction.

When we reached the ice rink where the female team practised, Samantha surprised me by announcing she wanted to join as well. I had not known she was interested in hockey at all, but I was not going to discourage her.

Coach Lena arrived shortly after we had all changed into practice gear. She was a stern-looking woman in her forties with sharp eyes that missed nothing. "Alright, ladies. We have some new members joining us today. Let us start with warm-up laps around the ice."

The practice that followed was brutal. Lena pushed us hard through various drills whilst I kept a protective eye on Samantha, who was clearly struggling with her balance on skates. I caught her arm several times to prevent her from falling, earning grateful looks.

After about an hour of intense training, Lena called us all together. "I need to choose a team captain. Someone who will lead practices and represent us in meetings with the administration."

Her eyes scanned across all of us before landing on me. "Ravenna. Your performance on the male team was incredible from what I have heard. I would like you to be captain."

I shook my head immediately. "Thank you for the honour, Coach, but I have to decline. Selene would be much more suitable for that role."

Selene looked at me with shock that quickly transformed into a calculating smile. "Coach Lena, perhaps you should know that making me captain would be in everyone's best interests. Richard Pike has considerable influence over decisions made at this academy. I am sure he would appreciate seeing his future daughter-in-law in a leadership position."

The threat was thinly veiled but unmistakable. Do what I want or face consequences from Richard Pike.

Lena's expression darkened with obvious displeasure. "I am not scared of Richard Pike or his influence, Miss Blackwood. However, since Ravenna has declined and personally recommended you for the position, I will give you the captaincy. Do not make me regret this decision."

Selene's smile widened into something triumphant. "You will not regret it, Coach. I promise."

Practice ended shortly after that, and we all headed back towards the dormitories to shower and change. I was walking alone towards the library later that evening, needing some quiet time to work on assignments, when someone suddenly appeared from around a corner and grabbed my arm.

I spun around ready to fight, but relaxed slightly when I saw it was Asteria. Though relaxed was probably too strong a word. Irritation flooded through me instead.

"This needs to be the absolute last time you try sneaking up on me like this," I snapped, pulling my arm free from her grip. "One of these days I am going to punch you on instinct before I realise who you are."

Asteria ignored my anger completely. "What exactly are you doing with Selene? Why are you suddenly being so friendly with her?"

A slow smile spread across my face. "I am making use of the information you provided me. Is that not what you wanted? For me to get close to her?"

Asteria studied my expression for a long moment before nodding slowly. "Just be careful. Do not let her suspect anything."

She handed me a bag that I had not noticed she was carrying. "Aunt Lyra sent this for you. Said you would know what to do with it."

Then she turned and walked away without another word, disappearing into the shadows like she had never been there at all.

I looked inside the bag briefly and saw it was filled with various items from home. Snacks I liked. Some books. A few pieces of clothing. Small reminders of the life I had before coming to this academy.

Late that night, after we had all returned to our shared room and gotten ready for bed, I found myself studying Selene carefully whilst pretending to read a book. She sat on her bed talking to Samantha about various topics, completely oblivious to my observation.

"My family has been friends with the Pike family for generations," Selene was explaining. "Our fathers did business together even before Darius and I were born. The engagement was arranged when we were both quite young, though we only recently made it official."

"That must be quite romantic," Samantha commented, though I could hear the falseness in her tone. "Like something out of a fairy tale."

"It is," Selene agreed with a dreamy smile. "Though of course, there are practical considerations as well. The marriage strengthens both families' positions. Combines our business interests. It is a beneficial arrangement for everyone involved."

She continued talking about wedding plans and future expectations whilst I made careful mental notes of everything she said. She had not mentioned the specific nature of the family business deals that Richard Pike could not afford to miss. 

That was interesting. What kind of arrangement was so important that it required binding Darius to this woman permanently?

If I was going to strike effectively against either of them, I would need much more information than I currently had. I needed to understand exactly what was at stake. What would hurt them most if it fell apart.

The following morning, I arrived early to my first class and immediately bent my head over my notebook, trying to finish reviewing my notes before the professor arrived. The classroom gradually filled with other students, their voices creating a low hum of conversation around me.

Then suddenly, the room went completely silent. The abrupt shift from noise to nothing made me look up in confusion.

Standing at the front of the classroom was a man I had never seen before. He had ash-blonde hair that caught the light and beautiful grey eyes that seemed to assess everything they looked at. He was tall and well-built, dressed in casual but expensive clothing that marked him as someone important.

He turned his head slowly, scanning across the assembled students. Then his gaze landed on me.

Our eyes locked, and something electric passed between us that I could not name. His grey eyes widened slightly with what looked like recognition, though I was certain we had never met before.

He stared at me with an intensity that made my breath catch and my heart rate pick up for reasons I did not understand.