“Hell. No.” I cross my arms over my chest as I glare at Magnus.

“You need to finish your senior year, Jazmine,” Magnus replies firmly. I’m starting to think that he has something to do with my own stubborn streak.

“And I’m all for that, but I’m not going to a boarding school.”

I don’t know what I surprises me more—the fact that they have boarding schools here in Eden, or the fact that Magnus is telling me that the educational system is practically identical and that my high school credits would count here. I can’t even begin to figure out how that works.

Magnus lets out an exasperated sigh. I kind of feel sorry for him—he’s clearly never had to deal with raising a teenage girl before. He’s going to have some hard lessons to learn. I automatically scold myself for the thought, because I’m not actually thinking about sticking around here, am I? Especially not after the welcome that I received last night from his royal prick highness.

“Like I said, the Dynasty heirs have always attended Regency Mount Academy. It is tradition. Your father went there, I went there and then my father before me and so on.

“It’s the most prestigious boarding school on the entire planet. You’ll get the best education there. They also have a first-rate art program, which is perfect for a talented artist like yourself.”

“I still don’t get it—so the subjects are just like a normal high school? No, I don’t know, spellcasting, potion making or levitation lessons?”

Magnus lets out a chuckle then.

“I think you watch too many films. There is no such thing as witches and warlocks, Jazmine.”

“Right. Of course. Because there are beings called the Seraph which exist in an alternative realm but it’s ridiculous of me to even consider that witches and warlocks exist.”

“And to answer your question, yes—the subjects are the same as what you’d expect to find in a normal high school on Earth. However, there are some differences. Most notably, elements class.”

“Elements class?” I ask, as I take a sip of my coffee. We’re having breakfast in one of the many palace gardens and I can’t get over how beautiful my surroundings are. The ornamental gardens, with the picture perfect rose bushes, the white and black marble terraces, even the fine china on the marble table and the butler serving us; it’s a scene right out of a fairy tale.

“Elements class is where students learn how to use their powers.”

That response makes me bolt upright in my chair.

“What? But I don’t have any powers—I told you this before.”

Magnus looks frustrated again.

“Yes, and I told you before that you do have them, you just don’t know how to use them yet. You’ll be behind at first, of course, but the teachers have been made aware and you’ll catch up in time, no doubt.”

I cover my face with my hands and groan, although I really feel like screaming.

* * *

That evening, I find myself in the back of a limousine being driven to what is going to be my new boarding school. Two things strike me as totally surreal in that sentence. The first is that I’m in an actual limousine—I don’t think I’ve ever even seen one in real life before, let alone been in one. Second, I’m going to be attending a boarding school.

All ten of the schools that I’d attended had been public. I can remember that there had been a prep school in the same town as foster home number eight, and the kids I’d seen around town who attended it were insufferable—rich brats who wore fancy clothes and drove around town in their even fancier cars. I have a feeling that this boarding school is going to be ten times worse.

But I don’t bother to argue anymore. Magnus made it clear around half an hour into the drive, that it isn’t going to make any difference. So, I sit in silence and stare out of the tinted window instead.

Despite my mood, even I can’t deny how scenic the route is. The limousine crosses one of the many bridges which connect Arcadia to the neighboring islands. I realize that we’re heading towards the small island with the cluster of majestic looking buildings atop a plateau that I had seen from a distance that first day on the beach.

The bridge seems to go on forever, the silhouette of the island in the distance, not seeming to get any closer. But finally, like a veil being lifted, I can see the moonlight illuminating the small island at the end of the bridge. There is a large forest on one side of the island and a wide, rocky beach on the other. The only road through the island is the one leading from the bridge, winding up over tall cliffs to the large plateau overlooking the beach and ocean beneath it. The island appears uninhibited, apart from the large, sprawling buildings on the plateau. From this angle, the tallest building seems to almost touch the moon.

The scene is like a picturesque postcard of a deserted island getaway. But of course, I know that it isn’t an island resort on top of that cliff, but a boarding school for the insanely wealthy.

When we reach the plateau, I can see that the buildings look very much like how you’d expect a boarding school to look. Not that I’d actually ever seen one, but it isn’t difficult to envisage.

There are trees lining the buildings which are separated by sprawling lawns and green spaces. The tall building that I saw from a distance, looks like the main campus building and it’s flanked by smaller buildings on each side. There is what looks like apartment blocks, which are probably the student dorms, near the main building. Further away, just at the very edge of the plateau, I can see that there is a large mansion overlooking the rocky beach beneath. I find myself wondering what the building is.

I notice as we pass through the campus grounds, that the place is deserted and silent, apart from the sound of waves crashing against the cliffs below. Magnus tells me that classes don’t start until tomorrow, so most students won’t be arriving until then.

I find myself thinking that it all looks so normal. I don’t know what I’d been expecting. Maybe a medieval castle with a drawbridge and a moat, with magical dragons circling and students flying around on broomsticks, learning how to slay dragons. But instead, you could mistake the campus for some ivy league university, or at least what I think an ivy league university looks like.

I expect the limousine to head towards the student dorms but it heads in the opposite direction instead. Towards the mansion at the edge of the bluff.

“Where are we going? The dorms are over there, aren’t they?” I ask.

“You’re not staying in the dorms.” Magnus replies.

“I’m not?” I shoot him a puzzled look.

“No. Dynasty heirs have always had their own halls of residence.”

I look up at the large mansion up ahead as the realization dawns on me and I think I feel sick.

The limousine stops in front of the large marble-paved drive way, but the last thing I want to do is get out of the car.

“This is Sovereign Hall. It’s where you’ll be staying,” Magnus says, although through the churning in my gut, I’m finding it difficult to concentrate on his words.

I can’t believe I didn’t make the connection up until now—the Dynasty heirs have always attended Regency Mount Academy. Magnus had said this earlier, but I’d been too busy protesting about the very idea of going to a boarding school, that I didn’t even consider that I’d be going to the same boarding school as the spoiled brats that I’d met at yesterday’s ceremony. The very same brats who each made it clear that I’m not welcome here in Eden, let alone their high school.

I feel like hurling when I realize that not only will I be going to the same school as that asshole who had basically threatened me yesterday, but I’ll be living in the same halls as him, too, along with all of the other rich pricks who apparently hate me for just existing.

“Here are the keys to the Evenstar suite. I arranged for your things to be sent in advance and your class schedule should be on your dresser.”

“Oh, god.” I cover my face with my hands.

“What’s wrong?” Magnus asks.

“I can’t go here—I can’t live there.” I gesture to the white marble pillars and the large gold leaf double doors.

“I don’t belong here.”

Magnus sighs in frustration.

“We’ve been over this, Jazmine. This is exactly where you belong.”

“You don’t understand.” I’m almost pleading now.

“The Dynasty heirs hate me—they made that pretty clear at last night’s ceremony.”

Clearly the courteous bowing had fooled everyone but me, because Magnus looked utterly perplexed.

“What are you talking about?”

I’m silent for a long moment as I deliberate whether to tell him about the less than friendly welcome that I’d received last night from the heir to the throne himself. But something inside me is stopping me. I’d taken care of myself since I was seven and I sure as hell don’t need Magnus to start fighting my battles for me now. I can handle myself.

“It’s nothing,” I say finally. You’re right. I’ll be fine.”

Magnus regards me for another moment, suddenly looking uncertain.

“Are you sure it’s nothing?”

“Yeah, I’m sure. Don’t worry about it.”

“Good. Here, take this.” He hands me a cell phone and I don’t even know why I’m still surprised. I begin to ask how the hell they have cell phones here on Eden, but why wouldn’t there be? This place being a mirror of Earth and all.

“I’ll call to check up on you. But I’ve added my number on here, so call me if you need anything.”

It feels strange having someone care enough to actually check up on me or to have someone give a damn about me at all. I haven’t had that since I was seven and although it feels alien, I can’t deny that it chips away at my walls and I can feel some of the icy exterior that has built up around me throughout the years, thawing.

“Thank you,” I mumble. The words are barely audible, but Magnus hears it.

“You’re very welcome, Jazmine,” he replies with a wistful smile.