God Of Desire

the calm before the storm

Anastasia :

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden light across the sparkling water of the pool. I stretched out on a lounge chair, my long legs crossed elegantly as I adjusted my sunglasses. The heat kissed my skin, but the faint breeze kept the temperature just perfect. Sipping my iced drink slowly, I savored the sound of ice clinking softly against the glass, letting my mind wander far from the peaceful setting.

But the serenity was shattered by the sound of approaching footsteps.

Tolya appeared at the edge of the pool, a familiar figure clad in a perfectly tailored suit, holding a sleek black folder. He stood there, ever patient, as I glanced in his direction and raised an eyebrow, expecting him to deliver the news I was waiting for.

“The research you asked for, Miss Volkov.” His voice was calm, devoid of any urgency.

I sat up slightly, sliding my sunglasses to the top of my head, curiosity piqued. My fingers reached out lazily as I took the folder from him, a small smirk playing on my lips. With a casual flick, I opened it, the pages filled with names and details, all laid out before me like a treasure map of my new territory.

As I began scanning through the pages, I noticed the first names: Madden Mori , Ivarsen Torrance, Gunner Torrance, Aaron Fane. I glanced up at Tolya, ready to cut to the chase. “Can you summarize this for me?”

He cleared his throat, his eyes serious. “These are the ones who lead this school...the Four Horsemen. Their families rule Thunder Bay and Meridian City, each holding a powerful background both inside and outside of school.”

My eyebrows raised in surprise as I shifted my weight, intrigued "mm so these are the horsemen ”

“Yes. Madden Mori is the oldest son of Kai and Banks Mori, and he has a sister your age, Jett.” He continued, his voice steady. “Ivarsen Torrance is the oldest of the Torrance siblings. Gunner is the second oldest, followed by their brother Fane, then Dag, and finally, their youngest sister, Octavia. Their parents are Damon Torrance, who is half Russian and also Banks' half-brother, and his wife, Winter...who, by the way, is blind.”

I blinked, absorbing the information and mumbles to myself “so that makes them cousin”

Tolya nodded and continued, “Then there’s Aaron Fane, the youngest son of Michael and Erica Fane. He has an older sister, Athos, who lives in France and owns a luxury makeup brand. Michael is a well-known basketball player, and Erica is the heir to the Fane wealth.”

Understanding dawned on me, and I nodded. “I know his father. Oliver is obsessed with basketball, and every time we meet, he lectures us about his favorite players. Michael happens to be one of them.”

Tolya looked at me, gauging my reaction before proceeding. “And finally, there’s the Grayson family: their oldest daughter, Indie, the middle child, Finn, and the youngest son, William Grayson II.”

“So, the Horsemen are Mori, Torrance, and Fane. Why is Grayson included?”

“Because these four families are all friends and kind of related. Another interesting point is that Damon, Will, Kai, and Michael were the original Horsemen of Thunder Bay.”

I nodded slowly, processing the implications. So, on my first day, I happened to meet all of them. What a weird fucking coincidence. I leaned back, taking a long sip of my drink, contemplating the tangled web of alliances and rivalries I had just stepped into.

As I sat at the long dining table, the aroma of freshly prepared pasta filled the air, mingling with the sound of laughter and clinking cutlery. My father, sat across from me, a thoughtful expression on his face as he twirled his fork around a piece of spaghetti. My mom was beside him, her warm smile lighting up the room. This was one of those moments where family energy enveloped me, reminding me that I was never alone in this world.