Читать книгу The Falling of the Stars - Lina Fischer - Страница 15

The New Chapter

As I took the first step into the building that I would now call my home, I stared at the room around me. The light was soft, a staircase led to god knows where, and the portraits on the walls gave me the impression of a secret society. The hallway ran the length of the building and ended with a large door, which led into the dining hall, as I could have guessed.

It was as gorgeous as it was from the outside and I couldn’t hide my amazement. I heard Eden chuckle next to me as I stared at every single detail.

“It’s amazing,” I said, mouth agape.

“You’ll get used to it after a while,” he said, looking at the portraits with a mysterious look in his eye.

“Have you been here before?” I asked him, looking into his eyes, shimmering in the low light.

“Yes. Do you remember when I suddenly left and you didn’t knew where I was?”

Of course I remember, how could I forget.

I woke up one day looking forward to spending time with Eden. When I went to his room and knocked, the maid told me that he had left the night before. I will never forget the look on the her face.

I was devastated, not only because he left without saying goodbye, but also because we kissed the night before and he had told me that he loved me. I slowly recovered, but it took me months to get over it.

I had no clue that my parents made him go to the academy. I thought he left because he didn’t mean what he said the night before.

“Eden, I didn’t know that they made you go. I thought you left because you didn’t love me,” I said hastily, afraid that he would hear the vulnerability in my voice.

“I did love you, and I tried everything to get them to let me stay, but they said it was for the best. It was, I learned more than I ever could’ve back home,” he told me, and I knew he was right; as much as it hurt me, it was the best for him.

“I knew something must have happened. You weren’t the same when you came home; you were so distant and you would avoid me as much as possible. I thought you hated me and I couldn’t wrap my head around why,” I exclaimed, remembering the time where I was so desperately in need of a best friend who was never around.

“I knew you were a lighter as well, and that you are more special than all of us. I thought if I stayed away from you I could protect you better and I wouldn’t have to lie to you all the time. Believe me, it broke me knowing that I knew more of you than you knew yourself,” he said with a sad expression on his face.

“I hope I’m not interrupting,” I heard a familiar voice say, “but I’d like to welcome you to the academy, Astoria.”

“Mrs. Fray! Lovely meeting you, I had hoped to see you again, what a nice welcome!” I exclaimed as she welcomed me with a warm hug.

“Welcome back Eden, it’s a delight having you around as always,” she said, holding out her hand. “Now, Astoria, how do you like the academy so far?”

“Mrs. Fray, may I say you have a gorgeous academy? I am at a loss for words, thank you for having me,” I said with a smile.

“Oh, dear, we are more than happy to have you! We’ve heard that you were taken by surprise as you discovered your power – I’m a little bit surprised that it took you that long to realise,” she said with a warm smile.

“Yes, it was certainly a surprise, especially because everyone knew except for me.” The cold undertone in my voice reflected the betrayal that I felt that night.

“And let me say I am so sorry for your loss, may the queen rest in peace. At least she passed away in her sleep and didn’t feel any pain,” she told us with a sympathetic look.

What was she talking about? Did she not know the truth about how Mom died? Why were they lying to everyone about it?

Eden saw that I was confused and shot me a silencing look.

Mrs. Fray noticed my confusion, but fortunately she misunderstood. “I am sorry if I have offended you in any way,” she said, looking concerned.

“Don’t worry Mrs. Fray, everything is alright. It seems as if the gathering is about to start, should we head in?” Eden asked me.

“I’m ready whenever you are.” And with that we stepped into a gigantic room full of people.

The crowd was a tumult of voices until I heard Mr. Fray clear his throat.

“Hello students, and welcome to this gathering. Today we come together to welcome a new student in our academy, Astoria,” he said, pointing in my direction. “It’s an honour having you here! She’s new to all of this and it would mean the world to us if you would help her out a little bit. As for the rest of you, I am happy to announce that the final exams are officially over! Congratulations everyone, now go and enjoy the rest of your evening.”

With that, students started to leave the room and go back to their dorms.

Some people had stayed in the room, and I was getting uncomfortable as I noticed that they were all watching me. What did I expect? That I could just walk in here and everyone would like me?

I saw three boys making their way up to us and expected them to come up to me, but instead they hugged Eden and said hello to him.

“Eden, how have you been brother? It’s nice having you back!” a young man with blond hair said. His eyes reminded me of the ocean, and I realised that I was staring at him.

“This is Astoria everyone, we grew up together and she’s new here,” Eden said, introducing me to his friends.

“Hi, nice to meet you Astoria. I’m Ash and these are the dorks I call my friends,” the blond man said with a genuine smile. “Nice to meet you Ash. Hello everyone,” I said, and finally took a good look at them.

Most of them were average looking boys, the ones that you’d expect to be here, but one in particular caught my eye. I would recognise his grey eyes anywhere, as well as his ginger hair, perfectly parted in the middle, making his hair fall to each side.

“You’re the one I bumped into at the ball! What a coincidence meeting you here,” I said happily. I had found the stranger once again, just as he said I would.

I heard the others whisper and couldn’t get past the feeling that I must have said something wrong.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’ve never seen you in my entire life,” he said, uninterested and cold.

I’m not sensitive, but that hurt my feelings, especially because he made me look like an idiot. “No, I’m sure it was you,” I said, sticking to my guns.

“What’s she talking about, Nathaniel?” Ash asked.

“I have no clue. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have other places to be,” he said, and I stared after him as he left the room.

Why didn’t he just tell them the truth, why would he be ashamed? While I was talking to some of the boys, I heard Eden’s phone ring. He answered the call, but the only thing I could make out before he left the room was that it had something to do with politics back home. Great, now I’m alone with boys I’ve known for less than 20 minutes.

Ash came up to me and greeted me with a smile. “So, Astoria, what brought you here?”

“Funny story. There are some things you have to know before I start…” I told him the story of how I discovered my powers, though of course I left out the part where my mother died.

He listened without interrupting me, and it was good being able to talk to someone who wasn’t involved in the whole situation.

“Wow, I’m sure that was a lot, especially meeting Aaron when you first discover your powers. You must have been so afraid, how did you manage to survive?” he asked carefully.

“I didn’t know who he was, I’d never heard of him, and when he attacked me I didn’t even think, it just happened. Everything happened so fast.” I said, remembering that moment once again. “Why are you here Ash, what’s your story?”

“Well, I can’t remember a time where I wasn’t here at the academy. My parents sent me here when I was little and I never felt like going back home, you know – I don’t get along with them really, so I decided that I’m better off here,” he said.

“I’m sorry, I’m sure that’s not easy for you. I never knew my real parents,” I told him.

“Wait, so the king and queen aren’t your real parents?”

“No, they adopted me when I was a baby. I never got to know my birth parents.” The thought that they just left me there on the front porch always saddened me.

“At least you have a beautiful family now, that’s all that counts,” he said, trying to be comforting. “Hey man, everything alright?”

I turned around to see Eden hastily making his way over to us. “I’m sorry but I have to return, they have problems back home and you know how your Dad can be. I’ll come back as soon as I get the chance, I’m sorry, Ash will look after you,” he said while picking up his things, and gave me a kiss on my forehead. “May we meet again,” he said before taking off. Before I could process what happened he was gone, leaving me and Ash alone.