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Rolling my shoulders back, I do as he says. Facing forward again, I have to admit that despite the grandeur of everything so far, the registration seems a little lackluster. A lone woman sits behind a table with nothing but an electronic device in her grasp. “Name,” she calls out, not bothering to look up at me.
Clearing my throat, I keep my voice low. “Addi, Addi Reed.” My heart races, my pulse ringing in my ears the moment the words slip from my mouth as I anticipate the world folding in around me. But a moment later, she nods and waves her hand dismissively. “Off you go.”
I blink, and blink again before I finally move, a sense of bewilderment in my step now as I rejoin the back of the fae line.
We’re done far quicker than the rest, and Professor Fairbourne wastes no time directing us down the path that leads to the fae building.
The smaller buildings are all visible from what seems like a communal area, and it’s no surprise to see that the fae building is the smallest. They either anticipated low numbers from us or didn’t care either way.
Professor Fairbourne doesn’t say a word until we come to a stop in front of the graystone building. There are four floors in total, and as I peer out toward the other origin buildings, I notice that even the human accommodations appear to be six or seven stories high. The accommodations for the vampires and wolves are double that.
“The first floor is your main communal area. The second floor has been assigned to the females, and the third and fourth floors are for the males. Each floor also has its own designated communal bathing room, however, because of the numbers, you are all welcome to enjoy your own rooms. Any questions?” Fairbourne rocks back on his heels, assessing each of us as he awaits an answer. When no one immediately speaks out, he sighs. “Okay, well, the food hall is in the main academy building, and I believe it is well signposted. Otherwise, you will find your names engraved on plaques on each door. Inside, you will find everything else you will require to begin classes tomorrow.”
I rattle my mind, eager to think of something to ask, but I’m coming up blank since there’s so much we’re not actually being told. Before I can come up with anything, he shakes his head. “Everyone here is between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two, and you’re here because you chose to be, not because you were called upon. We’re searching for the new leader of the Floodborn Kingdom. If you can’t come up with a simple question when asked, fates help us with anything else.”
My eyes narrow at him as he waves us off, trudging back down the path we just came down without a backward glance.
“Asshole,” Flora mutters under her breath, and I have to stifle a smile at the surprising outburst from her.
Everybody else ushers inside, and I count eighteen other fae attendees, plus me, confirming just how outnumbered we are.
The note from earlier flashes in my mind, bringing a smile to my face as I repeat it to myself word for word.
To Addi,
I’m so proud of you, and I’m saying this before you even leave the house. No matter what, you will always be the best big sister that ever existed. Dad’s telling me to put something specific, regal or some crap, but you don’t need any of that from me. You just need to know that I think you rock. Today, tomorrow, and every day that follows.
Be safe, because if I have to wait until death to see you again, I’ll find a way to bring you back and kill you myself.
I love you.
Nora x
I let the words reignite the embers of determination licking through my veins as I repeat the biggest mantra in all of this.
I’m not just doing this for myself. I’m doing it for my sister, my father, my people.
For the Floodborn Kingdom.
FIVE
ADDI
The communal area doesn’t really register in my mind, apart from noting the exit points. Otherwise, I hurry up the stairs among the small crowd in search of the space I will call my home for the foreseeable future.
The wooden floor creaks under my boots as I reach the second level. Guys carry on ahead up the remaining staircase, while the girls around me all squeal when they see their names displayed on the doors we come across. It’s the oddest reaction, considering the circumstances, but it seems we’re not all approaching this with the same regard.
I note that the door at this end of the hall has a sign for the communal bathroom, so it’s no surprise that I find my room at the other end, and I’m even less surprised to find Flora’s door to my right.
As Professor Fairbourne mentioned, there’s a small golden plaque on the dark wooden door engraved with ‘Addi Reed’ and my date of birth underneath. Why does my date of birth need to be on there?
“Hey, it’s your birthday next week,” Flora states, pointing at my door. “We should make plans,” she adds, and I hum in response, neither confirming nor denying my commitment to make plans. “If you need me for anything, you know where I am,” she offers, pointing at her door as her cheeks tinge pink, and I nod, grabbing my doorknob and stepping into my new room.
I make a mental note that the doors don’t seem to lock. There’s not even a latch from the inside, and I won’t be able to sleep a single second if I can’t rectify that. First, though, I need to take in my room instead of dwelling on that or the fact that this is the first birthday I will spend alone without my sister or father.
The door falls closed behind me as I brace myself against it, head falling back with a sigh as my mind whirls with memories from every birthday I remember up until this point.
The joy, the laughter, the happiness despite difficult times. All of it.
