Bechora
If I had any doubts left after everything I’d already witnessed, the map changing to show the interior and guide me to my room eliminated them. I stood just inside Magus House, eyeing the stairs that were off to the side of a large open common room, wondering if I had the energy to follow the dotted line leading to them.
“They just let anyone in this place these days.” A nasally voice spoke behind me.
I turned my head to find a fit blonde raking her eyes over me with her lip curled in disgust. She looked like she’d just walked off a runway. Somehow, her pointy ears made her seem more ethereal. I studied her for a moment before turning my gaze to the curvy brunette beside her. Both of them looked to be around my age, but they clearly came from money.
“Come on, Maera, let’s wait in Vallynn’s suite,” the blonde spoke, still sneering at me. “Don’t want to risk the smell of trash rubbing off on us.”
Maera, the brunette, laughed, exposing slightly pointed teeth before nodding at the blonde and moving toward the stairs.
“Great, not only do I not know how to get home, I have to deal with mean girls,” I muttered to myself, shifting the strap of my black duffle bag to a more comfortable position on my shoulder.
I waited until they were out of sight and made my way up the stairs, following the dots on the map until I reached the fourth floor. When I stepped onto the floor’s landing, I couldhave sworn the hallway shimmered. Rubbing my exhausted eyes, I shook my head and looked back at the map, noticing a gold star was marked on a room numbered four-hundred-fifty-eight. The black dots told me it wasn’t far, and I sighed in relief. Mr. Scowly snatched me from the parking lot at work when all I wanted was to go home, shower, and collapse into my bed. This place wasn’t home, but until I could find a way back, it would have to do.
What I found when I opened the door to my room caused my jaw to drop open. Shadrie, the goth girl who led me to orientation, was flitting around what appeared to be a smaller version of the common room, shooting icicles from her hands, causing them to wrap around twinkling lights.
“Holy shit, Elsa!” I managed in my shock.
Shadrie squeaked and whirled around to face me. “You startled me!” she shouted before the corners of her lips tugged down into a frown. “Who’s Elsa? I’m Shadrie, remember. We met earlier.”
“I know,” I replied, stepping into the room and shutting the door behind me with my foot. “Elsa is from a movie.”
Shadrie burst into laughter. “I know. I’m just fucking with you. We get movies and stuff from the human realm. Ours are better though, if I’m honest. Most of the human films about us get things crazy wrong. It’s super annoying.” She moved toward me as she talked, reaching out and tugging my duffle bag from my shoulder. “I’m super glad we’re roomies! I know a few people, but most of them are stuck-up bitches. You seem like you’d be fun.”
I reached out to take my bag back, but Shadrie was too fast. She turned and was headed toward a door across the shared space. I raced after her, barely noting the tiny kitchenette tucked in one corner, before she disappeared inside another room. She was already standing in front of a closet with my stage outfit from the night before in her hands, her nose scrunched in disgust.
“Are you a stripper or something? Girl, we have to get youmore clothes.” She snorted.
“Uh, yeah. I am actually.”
Shadrie’s eyes opened wide, going round as saucers, and her face flushed red as she slowly turned her head to look at me. “I- Oh, no. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. You just don’t have much in this bag, and I was…”
I raised my hand and waved her off. “It’s fine. I’m used to getting that kind of reaction over my job. But the money is… well, I guess was… good, and it’s not like Mr. Scowly gave me time to pack anything else before he snatched me from outside the club.”
“It’s a good thing classes don’t start for a few more days in that case. The academy usually gives students enough of a heads up that they're packed and can pick out any electives, but not always.” She smiled. “There’s some bedding and toiletries already in your closet, so you’re set there. In the meantime, we can order you a new wardrobe and some uniforms. There’s a cute shop on campus that my sister showed me when she went here that we can check out for anything else you need.”
“Actually, I’m exhausted. I’d really love to just shower and get some sleep. The clothes I’ve got on are clean enough, I can make them work for tomorrow.” I quickly lifted the collar of my gray t-shirt and gave it a sniff to confirm.
“Umm, okay. I might have some pajamas you can borrow.” Shadrie said, making her way out of what was apparently my room and across the common space to her own door.
Too tired to argue with her, I moved to the closet where she’d mentioned I’d find bedding and toiletries. Tucked away on a metal shelf that ran the length of the space were towels and travel-sized soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, and a single unopened toothbrush. Just beside those sat a black bedding set complete with pillows. Grabbing the bedding, I made the bed first, knowing once I was clean, I’d probably pass out as soon as the bed was back in sight. Then I grabbed the towels and toiletries and headed into the common area of our dorm. Shadrie was emerging from her room just as I made it to themiddle of the room.
“These should fit you,” Shadrie smiled, handing me an oversized black sleep shirt and a pair of shorts. “The bathrooms are coed here, but you should be fine. Most people will still be exploring campus.”
“Thanks,” I replied, taking the clothes and snagging my map from my bedroom to follow to the bathrooms.
The long hallway was deserted as I made my way to the showers showing at the end of the hall on my map. Cracking open the door, I listened for anyone inside for a moment before walking in and looking around. It looked like what one would expect of a college bathroom. There were rows of stalls opposite sinks and mirrors, and beyond those were rows of shower stalls with opaque white doors. Stepping into the first shower, I quickly hung my towel and clothes on the hook and turned the water on. Steam filled the space as I let the hot water wash over me and soothe some of the ache that came from dancing all night before I washed up as best I could with the travel-size soaps and shampoos. My hair was going to be a nightmare without conditioner, but that was a problem for after I’d slept.
Just as I was drying off and dressing in my borrowed pajamas, I heard the door to the bathroom swing closed. A distinctly male voice rumbled through the room, muttering something I couldn’t quite catch. His heavy footsteps echoed past the shower stall I was in, followed shortly by the sound of the water turning on in another stall. Not wanting to deal with another person when I was dead on my feet, I quickly threw my hair into my towel, ignoring the few wet tendrils plastered to the side of my face, and slipped from the shower. I cringed when the stall door slammed behind me.
“Fuck’s sake, are you so desperate you have to follow me to the shower-” the male spoke behind me, causing me to turn toward him. “Oh, sorry. I thought you were someone else.
Gorgeous was an understatement for the man before me. My eyes tracked down his body, from his short black hair,his stormy gray eyes, to his face that looked like it had been chiseled from stone. My breath caught in my throat, and I had the strangest urge to lean forward and follow the droplets of water that trailed from his broad shoulders down his muscular chest and stomach with my tongue.
“Hey, you good?” He asked, his brows knitting together.
My eyes snapped back to his face, and I flushed in embarrassment. “Yeah, I’m good. Sorry, I’m just exhausted. I haven’t slept in God knows how long. Speaking of, I should uh, get back to my room. Sorry about, whatever this is.” I was babbling.
