Elle’s POV:
No, no, no. I could see exactly what Colton was trying to do, and it was tearing me apart. My whole body was shaking by now, panic utterly destroying ever coherent thought in my mind. “N-No—“ I tried to cut in, reaching towards my lover, but Andreas yanked me sharply backwards. I struggled against him, but the utter terror in his voice made my heart stop.
“Stay away from that monster, Eli,” he whispered fiercely, though his voice broke along with my heart. My gaze jumped between them, pleading and afraid, and when Andreas opened his mouth to yell again, I lost it.
”STOP!”
Colton’s POV:
It was working. He took the bait. I could see his lips moving, telling Elle to stay away from me. I tried not to look at Elle’s face because I knew exactly what would be on it. Hurt. Panic. Betrayal.
I’m sorry, my fierce little monster…
But then Andreas opened his mouth again and Elle burst into a Windsong, the force of her magic freezing us, clasping our mouths shut.
I was surprised to find out I didn’t fear the coldness that came afterwards. I had become too used to being controlled.
”Shit!” I cursed aloud, pushing my hands through my hair. Before I knew what I was doing, all the Song in the room was slamming back into my body, streaking away from the people I had accidentally controlled. Pain exploded across my chest. “I—I’m so sorry—“ I managed to choke out, hugging my knees to my chest in a failed attempt to stop myself from trembling. “I didn’t—I didn’t mean to—“
The second she stopped her Song, I immediately rushed towards her, despite her being closer to the other two than me.
“Hey, you’re okay,” I whispered, rubbing her back. “You’re all right. Don’t apologize. It’s not your fault.”
I didn’t know what I was doing, but I didn’t want to see her in pain. It wasn’t supposed to end this way. She wasn’t supposed to Sing. She wasn’t supposed to intervene. But why wouldn’t she?
“Elle, please understand why I’m doing this,” I pleaded to her quietly, hushed so the other two won’t hear. “I’m sorry, but I need to protect you.”
Elle’s POV:
I broke the moment his arms went around me. Shattered into a million tiny pieces. Crumbled to dust.
“C-Colton—“ Tears began to slip down my cheeks. Cacophonous creaks and groans echoed around us; the pipes in the walls, swelling to a breaking point. “No—You don’t—you don’t get to m-make this decision for me—“
Weak, quivering notes of Windsong mingled with each word I spoke, but the music was too chaotic, too jumbled, to actually accomplish anything. “D-Don’t leave me—“
Everything began to move in slow motion; Andreas’s hand, closing around the back of my shirt. His strong arms, pulling me from Colton’s embrace. Panicked shouts of ‘get away from him!’. But I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe.
If I don’t make this decision for you, Elle, you’ll keep sticking with me. And I’m a monster, love, no matter how much you look at it otherwise.
I disappeared before anyone could even blink, joined by Key who nuzzled my neck, telling me what type of an idiot I was. I truly missed him acting like moronic—it had been a while since he nestled in my hairs, pulling on them.
And then the lunch bell rang. I sighed, not feeling hungry but not allowed to skip meals. I had to be present. As the prince, I needed to be with the Royalty.
“N-No—No—“
He was gone. My Colton was gone. Andreas’s arms were enveloping my body, pulling me into a massive hug, but he might as well have been sinking a knife into my chest. I struggled against him, stammering the same name over and over again, but he refused to let me go.
My mouth was incapable of speech, of forming any words other than ‘No’ and ‘Colton’. A pipe burst somewhere in the immediate vicinity. Tears continued to pour from my eyes. Guilt and horror and absolute heartbreak ravaged my completely, leaving me a trembling, incoherent mess. “Y-You don’t understand—“
Andreas’s POV:
I almost lost it. What the fuck had Colton done to Elliot, to reduce him to this? My best friend was crying his eyes out and struggling against my grip, unable to speak except to utter the name of his abuser over an over again, absolutely devastated. What kind of psychological torture had he been put through? Why the fuck had I not noticed before now?
Students began to pile up in the dining hall, sitting down, chatting amongst themselves while I carried my feet towards my father.
I felt heavy, but I forced a blank expression on my features. I forced myself to pretend everything was okay, that I couldn’t hear Elle’s pleads and the witch's insane laughter ringing in my ears. It didn’t work, but it felt nice pretending it did.
“Colton!” My father greeted, enveloping me into a hug I barely felt. “This is a rather upsetting lunch, but I do hope you’ll enjoy it.”
I didn’t have the energy to quirk an eyebrow. My father didn’t press. He simply waited for all the students and their bondmate’s to enter.
Kaden’s POV:
At first, I was shocked. I didn’t know what I was seeing, or even hearing for that matter. Then before I knew it, the prince was gone and Andreas had a sobbing Elliot in his arms, hugging him tightly.
I joined in.
Was this who the prince truly was? An uncaring bastard? If the country was in terrible condition during his father’s rule, then I doubt none of us would survive in his. His cold, uncaring eyes worried for no one. He was ruthless. He could pretend to care but he’d be sharpening his knife behind his back.
And Elliot took the worst brunt.
Andreas’s POV:
“Eli—Eli, listen to me.” I inhaled shakily, the Prince’s threat on my life fresh in my mind. Seconds before he’d disappeared, I had watched him wrap his arms around my heartbroken friend. Pretending he cared, directly after admitting to strangling him. How long had this been going on between them? This…. This abusive relationship, this psychological torture?
“Prince Colton is not a good person.” Immediately, Elliot shook his head, turning his pleading eyes on me. “N-No—You dont inderstand—“
“But I do,” I cut in, rubbing soothing circles into his back. “Elliot—we know you like him. Maybe even love him. And I don’t know exactly what has been happening between you two, but I know it’s abusive. Horribly abusive. And I know it’s tearing you apart.”
“No—he’s not—he doesn’t—“
“Doesn’t mean to hurt you?” I guessed, forcing the tremors from my voice. “That’s what abusive people tell you, Eli. You have to stay away from him.”
Kaden’s POV:
I rubbed his head softly, my heart breaking for my best friend.
“Andreas is right…” I whispered, shock still laced with my voice. “You have to stay away from him. No matter how much you want him, the fact is that he’s been emotionally and physically abusing you, and that’s not okay. You have to realize that.”
There was no way I was letting Elliot out of my sight now. He’d go back to that bastard of a prince without a second thought. That’s what the always do—victims. Andreas and I would protect Elliot.
Andreas’s POV:
“No—“
Elliot was growing more agitated by the second, if that was even possible. “N-No, you don’t—You don’t know the full story—“ He had to restart the sentence several times before we could actually understand it.
“What’s the full story, then, Eli?” I whispered, tightening my hold on him. “What has he done besides emotionally and physically abuse you? Sexual abuse?”
“It’s not him!” Elliot practically shouted, still trying to pull himself away. “It’s not him—who’s hurting me—“
I stared at him in shock and horror. “Is that what he’s been telling you? He’s been pretending that he changes personalities?”
“Elliot, we understand you love him,” I started softly, my horror matching Andreas’s. “But that’s ridiculous. That’s exactly what abusers do. He wants to hurt you so he’s hurting you, but he needs you with him so he’s pretending he’s two people when he’s just one. Elliot, you need to realize that.”
Elle’s POV:
I finally wrenched myself away, wrapping my arms securely around my middle. “No. That’s not what’s happening—Colton’s not like that.”
Andreas shook his head firmly, but I was already backing away. “I-I need to find him.”
I immediately reached out for his arm.
“Elliot, no,” why wasn’t my best friend realizing that this wasn’t healthy? “You aren’t leaving. We aren’t going to let you out of our sight now.”
Desperate, I blurted the first truth that came to mind. “I’m hungry—I haven’t eaten since yesterday—Please. Let’s—Let’s just go down. To the dining hall. Please.”
He even kept him starved? And that’s the man Elliot have his heart to? If he wasn’t the prince… no, if I had a chance, I would kill him. He’d pay for hurting Elliot.
“Okay,” I replied softly. “Let’s go eat.”
My shoulders sagged in relief. “Th-Thank you. I had another chance. They weren’t going to isolate me in my room—I could use this opportunity to talk it out with Colton.
But just as I was turning towards the door, my hand flew up to the blotchy purple marks ringing my neck. I couldn’t go out like this..,.
“I’ll heal this,” I said immediately, reaching out to gently touch his neck before letting a stream of energy through, slowly getting rid of the bruises. Once I was done, I pulled him into a small hug. “Let’s get some food in you now.”
Each gentle touch made me flinch, but I nodded. “Let’s—let’s do that. Thank you.”
Once the students took their seats, my father stood up and gained their attention.
“Students,” he called. “I regret to inform you that our teacher, Mr. Carter, has passed away.”
I immediately went cold. No way. He was an Elite. Could it be…?
Andreas, Kaden and I had entered late, hurrying towards seats in the back, but even we arrived in time to hear the horrible announcement.
What?
“Sir Carter, as most of you all already know, was our teacher in terms for Attacking,” the King continued solemnly. “He died two days before due to lack of energy.”
I sat there, shell-shocked. Lack of energy? What was that supposed to mean?
From across the room, my eyes clashed with Colton. And for a split second, I let my emotions write themselves across my face, for his eyes only.
I turned away from her immediately, knowing I couldn’t look at her and keep up the emotionless mask.
“As you all know, energy is our main source of power. Too much of it and too little of it can cause our deaths,” the King crossed his hands over his stomach. “Our teacher, unfortunately, let his energy get too low. How or why, we don’t know yet.”
I knew why. I knew how. I just couldn’t say.
“But you students shouldn’t be worried about this. You will still have a teacher,” the King tried lifting the mood. “Meet Altair Jason.”
The man I didn’t know was present stood up from his seat, hood dropping from his face. He was tall, well-built with broad shoulders. He supported long brown hair tied in a low pony tail. He had a scar on his left cheek, but it was his aura that bothered me. How could someone look terrifying, yet feel so safe?
“Hello, there,” his voice, soft despite his features. “I know this isn’t the best of times to celebrate. My name is Altair, and I’m going to be your new teacher as an attacker. This is my bondmate, Crystal.”
Crystal, his bondmate, was a small creature, scales the color and shape of diamonds, a combination of white and blue. She had large eyes, and face more of a turtle’s. No shell, no wings.
Andreas’s POV:
I narrowed my eyes, studying the new teacher closely. Was he as nice as he seemed? Or would this be another double-cross. And his bondmate…. What was that?
Kaden’s POV:
I stared at the teacher with slight apprehension. That quickly? They found a teacher that quickly to replace Carter? Why? How?
“There’s not much I have to say,” Altair continued. “My classes would be in the evening, for both the juniors and the seniors. That also means I’ll be teaching both the Type A’s. Would the other one stand up, please?”
Beside me, Elliot froze. His panicked eyes found mine, but people’s heads were already turning, expecting him to rise. I reached over to squeeze his hand reassuringly, and after a moment, he complied and got to his feet.
Colton’s POV:
Finally, I looked at Elle, the fear on her features. I clenched my fists, ready to defend her if something went wrong.
But Altair merely smiled.
“Well, you’ll be in good hands,” he said softly. “I’ll be looking forward to teaching both you and the Prince.”
And he took his seat. The King rose, told everyone to begin eating, but the damage was done. Another death of an Elite. They only knew of two. We knew of at least five.
After lunch, I slipped out quietly, not wanting to linger any longer.
[TIME SKIP - Elle’s POV, that evening]
At first, Andreas point-blank refused to let me go to class with the new teacher.
“Colton will be there,” he growled, eyes darkening dangerously. “I don’t want that son of a bitch anywhere near you.”
I hated the way he said his name, spitting it out like it tasted foul. I also hated the fact that I could barely say the same name without feeling my heart clench painfully.
He’d left me. After only one night together, he’d left me, thinking he was keeping me safe. But he wasn’t. By distancing himself from me, he was increasing the probability of the monster regaining control. He was endangering everyone.
Of course, that wasn’t the only reason for my heartbreak.
But finally, finally, I managed to wear Andreas down. “I can’t not show up to class, no matter who else is there. Without a trainer, I have no way of controlling my powers. I have no idea how I’m going to change as a result of my bondmate’s status—this class will help keep me safe. Come on, Andreas….”
He sighed. “Fine. But the moment I see you getting hurt by him, I’m going down there to whoop some princely ass, death sentence or not.”
Colton’s POV:
I winced, clutching my head painfully, harsh breaths escaping my lips. Why was her control getting stronger? Why was it hurting? The more I resisted, the painful it got.
”Quit resisting, pest… Come on, I’ll make it painless…”
It was hard not to succumb to the voices. So hard to keep focus. Elle. The second you let go, she’s going to be in danger. You are not going to endanger Elle.
”It hurts, doesn’t it? I can save you from it. I can protect you from the pain. All you need to do is submit to me.”
Elle. Elle, Elle, Elle. Sweet, hardworking Elle who does not deserve being hurt. She does not deserve what I’m going through. I’m going to prevent that. I won’t let you in.
”What are talking about? I’m already in, Princeling…”
“Your Highness?” I looked up immediately, the soft eyes of Altair meeting line. I blinked, straightening. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, of course,” I cleared my throat, standing up from my spot on the floor. When did I get here? “Are the lessons starting soon?”
“Yes,” he answered, eyes furrowing in worry. “The students should be coming in here any second.”
