Solasta Academy: Vicious Thorns

Chapter Three

Arzhel

After his run, he showered quickly and changed into his uniform. He had planned to meet Calia and the others for breakfast before classes, but they were notoriously late, so he had time this morning. Arzhel wanted to make sure Calia's wound had healed since the attack a few days ago, which made him worry for her well-being since she collapsed as soon as he found her in the woods. After she woke up, Calia explained everything about the mysterious woman who had bitten her on the arm, leaving a trail of silver blood behind her.

Being with the great and powerful Calia Nox meant a lot of danger in his life. But he never much cared about his safety since he's been living at the depths of death for years now. He was fine as long as Arzhel was beside her through it all. He would absolutely do anything for her because she was his girl. His everything. Even if he didn't deserve her, Arzhel didn't care. After all, he was a selfish bastard who needed her desperately as much as she wanted him.

He exited his bedroom, and his roommates, Torin and Elliot, turned around with worried expressions. "What's up? Did something happen with Calia?"

"Not this time," Elliot said grimly.

Elliot trailed his eyes over to the other male figure, and he followed his gaze only to find his Father, the infamous Wilhelm Koen, standing in his dormitory. He was much taller than Arzhel but lean as bits of gray hair sprouted into his black hair. Though the older Koen had dark-rimmed eyes that were in contrast to Arzhel's moss-green ones—a trait he shared with his long-lost Mother. He kept his hands stuffed in his pants pockets, which was the only signifier that he was in a good mood...whatever that was, which gave him a semblance of relief. He knew better than that. For years, he walked on eggshells in the house he shared on the edge of Faylinn, and now that he was here at Solasta, it meant he was not safe anymore.

Not like he ever was, though. He just pretended he was whenever he was in the arms of a beautiful silver-haired nymph.

"Dad," he mumbled. "What are you doing here?"

His father angled his head to the side as he turned his lips into a cruel smile. Elliot stood beside Torin with his arms crossed while the Vampire was practically hissing at the sight of Wilhem. He stared at his Father as he turned toward his roommates and said, "Boys. It's nice to see you two again."

"Sure," Torin said through gritted teeth.

Wilhelm turned back toward Arzhel, and he felt his stomach drop. Was this the day his Father finally snapped and killed him once and for all? Does he know about Calia Nox? Gods, he was prepared for any of this. "I'm here for the annual meeting if you must know," he admitted. "And I thought I would like to see how my son is holding up while I'm here."

"Well, I'm late for class. Maybe later, we can have a chat before you leave."

Lesson one in the rulebook: do not deny his father anything. It will make him more pissed. Still, he was feeling brave, which surprised Arzhel and the other males in the room. His father widened his eyes as if he wasn't prepared for his response but put on his perfect mask again.

"Later, then," Wilhelm replied bitterly. He turned around to go, but before he left, he smiled at Arzhel as if he knew something he didn't. "Maybe then I can meet your girlfriend formally and under better circumstances."

Arzhel clenched his jaw as he stepped forward, ready to fight him as soon as he mentioned Calia. "You met her?"

"Of course I did, son," he chirped. "She's the talk of the Kingdom, so I grew curious about who my son is dating. She's a special girl. Don't screw it up like you always do." One thing he learned about his Father from an early age was that there were two meanings behind his words, and it took him a while to understand what he really meant.