The Aldean Chronicles: Hidden

“Any volunteers,” professor Harding asks the class. “I need to submit two names for the competition. Don’t make me pick.” His eyes fall on me. “How about you, Miss Harrington?”

I shake my head. “No thank you, I’m not very good at competitions.”

He almost rolls his eyes. “Fine then, Roma and Elaine. I will be submitting your names.”

They both groan for show but I can tell they’re excited. The match against Grovehills might not be a big deal to the school but it is a great way for them to show off their powers.

“Hey,” Tristan says, matching my stride. I’m walking back to my table in the dining hall.

“Hey,” I say back. It’s been two weeks since our first date. We haven’t been on a second or seen much of each other since then. We talk on the phone almost every day though.

“What are you doing next Saturday?” He asks, escorting me to my table.

“I was thinking of spending the day curled up in my room studying. But I wouldn’t mind shifting some things around.”

“How would you like to go somewhere with me on Saturday?”

I laugh and catch the looks we’re getting. “Everyone’s watching us.”

“They are. Give me your tray, I don’t want to look bad.”

“No way.” I swerve my tray away from him. “It doesn’t matter. They’re always looking at me, I’m used to it. So, tell me. Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise.” He teases. “I’ll give you a hint though, it’s more of an activity. As much as I loved your dress on our last date, it wouldn’t do you much good on Saturday.”

I gasp mockingly. “Like I’ll wear the same dress on two consecutive outings.”

He laughs. “You sounded so much like Kat.”

“I’m turning into my cousin, even you’re seeing it,” I say. “Aunt Freya will be thrilled to hear this.”

I finally reach my table, it’s full. A stranger is sitting in a seat that’s supposed to be empty. “I’m gone five minutes and you replace me,” I say this with a smile so they know I’m joking.

The girl looks up at me with awe. “You’re her.” She says out of breath. “You’re Princess Cassandra.” She turns to Tristan. “And you’re Tristan Oisin, I am obsessed with you.”

I look at my friends with wide eyes. Who is this, I want to ask. Sara speaks up. “This is Abby, she’s one of the new students.” The new students started arriving two weeks ago. They’re the people who tried out last year but didn’t get into the school. They took the places of students who were ‘asked’ to withdraw last semester.

“Okay, is she replacing me?” I joke again.

Abby shoots up. “No it’s okay, I’ll leave. I wouldn’t want to take your seat.”

“Please stay, maybe now I can convince Cass to sit with me.” Tristan says.

“I’ll pull up a chair.” I drop my tray on the table and get a chair from a nearby table.

“One of these days you will sit with me,” Tristan says in a low playful voice.

“Will you tell me where we’re going on Saturday?”

“Not a chance.” He brushes my hands with his fingers and waves bye to my friends. I take my seat, it's wedged between Sara and Axel.

“When are you going to introduce us to your boyfriend?” Michelle asks.

“He’s not my boyfriend, if he becomes that, then I’ll introduce you.” I bite back.

Paisley laughs. “So you have another date next tomorrow.” She giggles. “Are you excited?”

“I am.”

“Well so is everybody else.” She says. “These past few weeks, rumors have been circulating that you two are together, you more or less proved that just now.”

“Whatever, just don’t tell me what they’re saying. I don’t want to know.” I've been avoiding our school’s site for a while. I read one bad post about me and lost it. I decided to stay away from all of it, the good and the bad. “You know the rules. You can’t mention posts about me on the site. Let’s talk about something else.”

“Oh, have you chosen a club yet?” Axel asks.

I groan. “Nope, I don’t know which one to join.”

“I thought you were a Blue Rose member,” Abby says in a small voice. “I read about it on your fan blog.”

My what? “Um no, I’ve decided that I’m not interested in that. I’ll just wait till the end of the month and let Director Lilian pick one for me.” I consider what I just said. “Or pick one before the end of next week.”

The next day, I get a surprise call from my Aunt. “Cassandra,” she says in a firm voice. “Lilian told me you didn’t sign up for any competitions, good. We wouldn’t want you embarrassing yourself when you inevitably lose.” Encouraging. “I need you to come to a dinner tomorrow night at Secretary Davis’ house.”

“Oh, I actually have plans tomorrow. But I can move them back and make it to dinner.”

“Perfect.” She claps. “Just do whatever it is you had planned for the first half of the day and meet the highest-ranking members of our government that evening.” Her words are soaked in sarcasm. “Cancel your plans and get to the palace before 8am.”

I want to complain but I’m scared of what she’ll do to me. “Okay, I’ll be there. I’ll call David and have him pick me up.”

“No need, a car has already been arranged for you. Make sure you’re ready by 7.”

“Will Grey and Kat be there?”

“No, just you, me and some guests. Don’t embarrass the family.” She ends the call. It’s almost time for dinner so I call Tristan.

“Hey, I’m so sorry my aunt just called. She wants me to come to this thing tomorrow night.” I tell him. “I have to cancel our date.”

“It’s okay. Don’t apologize. We’ll reschedule.”

“I feel bad, is there any way I can make it up to you?”

I can’t see him but I know he’s smirking. “You can sit with me and my friends this evening, how about that.”

I laugh. “I’ll love to.” I am a little nervous though, sit with me is code for ‘meet my friends.’ After our call, I shoot Michelle a text saying I won’t be sitting with them for dinner. I put a grey coat over my white romper and leave my room. I get to the dining hall and grab a simple fruit salad. I spot Tristan sitting with his friends and walk over to them.

He saved me a seat beside him and I take it with a huge smile on my face. His friends stop their conversation to watch us. “Allow me to formally introduce my friends.” He says, draping his hand behind my chair. “You know Jamie, this is Dan, Marty and Carlos.” He points at all of them.

The guy he called Dan nods and claps mockingly. “A princess, nice. I thought only our dear Jamison was capable of claiming such feats.”

I refuse to react to that. “That was so inappropriate,” Marty says. “Please forgive him for saying that.”

Carlos nods in my direction, he’s wearing headphones. “Well, these are my friends,” Tristan says sadly.

I smile. “Nice to meet you all,” I say politely. “Jamie.”

“Cassie.” He’s the only person returning my smile.

“Your friends seem nice,” I whisper to Tristan.

He removes his arm from the back of my chair and brings it to his lap. “Starting to regret introducing them.” He laughs.

Kat and Mika arrive at the table and take their seats. “Cassie, should I be scared that you’re here today.” She sits beside Jamie, his lips twitch a bit when she says hi to him.

I look away from them, I don’t want to accidentally give his secret away. “I can’t make it to our date tomorrow so I’m spending the evening with him.”

“What are you doing tomorrow?” She asks, digging into her dish.

“Your mom called me half an hour ago. Wants me to go to some party at Secretary Davis house.”

“That’s where you’re going.” Tristan laughs.

Kat shifts in her seat. “You’re going to that, wow.”

“Why, what is it,” I ask, confused.

“It’s this dinner he throws once a year. It’s the only personal event he organizes so it’s a pretty big deal.” Tristan explains.

“I’ve only been invited once. Three years ago, he hasn’t invited me back since.” Kat says.

“Grey?”

She snorts. “Never, poor Lilian. She thought this was his year.”

I hum and stab a piece of diced apple. I’m not looking forward to tomorrow.

***

The dinner went the same as the others I attended last month. The only difference is the presence of a moody young man by the name of Arin Hames. He’s Secretary Davis’ grandson.

“So tell us Arin, why are you attending Grovehills?” Representative Filt asks. “I hear you’re quite good, why not Brimstone?”

The man beside him huffs. “Not attending Brimstone doesn’t mean your future is over. I attended Grovehills and we ended up at the same place.” There’s laughter at the table.

Arin doesn’t even try to smile. “Grovehills has an excellent science program. I was advised that if I want to pursue a future in the sciences, it will be the best place for me.”

“So you’re serious about that.” My aunt says. “I would have thought you’d follow in your family’s footsteps. Attend Brimstone then go into politics. Like your grandfather and mother.” His mother is the deputy Governor of Dolma state.

He offers her a very tight smile. Nice to know he can put his mood aside when talking to the Queen, wouldn’t want her as an enemy. “Everybody keeps saying that. My heart just isn’t in it. Besides, you need a certain charisma to succeed in politics. Something we can all agree I don’t have.” We all laugh.

His grandfather nods. “First time I’ve heard you make a joke. I’m impressed.”

I sip from my glass and take Arin in again. He has brown hair carefully styled for tonight and accompanying light brown eyes. He has the highest cheekbones I’ve ever seen. All that scowling must have sunk his cheeks in, or maybe he’s just naturally chiseled. He’s really good-looking.

“So, Grovehills.” Filt teases. “Will you be participating in this year’s inter-school competition?”

He surprises even his grandfather by saying. “Yes, I will be.”

Filt laughs. “I admire your confidence, Grovehills has a history of losing every year.”

My aunt playfully rolls her eyes. “Oh Filt, lay off the boy. Let’s leave school in the past and focus on our present jobs. Leave the campus rivalry to the young ones.” She gives me a look then fleets her eyes towards Arin.

I look directly at him. “Arin, are you sure you’ll be able to hold your own against Brimstone reps? We’re putting our best second year combatants forward.”

I swear he rolls his eyes. “Thank you so much for your concern, Princess Cassandra. But I’ll be fine.” His grandfather shoots him a warning look. “But you should be bothered, our first-year fire elementals are formidable.”

My aunt laughs. “Oh the banter, I miss these rivalries.”

I laugh. “I’m not competing this year.”

“Saving up your talents for Unity Day or Milton’s match, I presume,” Filt asks.

I shake my head. “I’m actually skipping out on all competitions this year. Don’t think I’m ready yet.”

There’s a millisecond of awkward silence. “We don’t need you getting hurt. Besides you already have a role at Milton’s match.” My aunt cuts in.

“It’s a shame you’re not competing, the council has been meaning to see your powers in action.” Representative Kerr says in a patronizing voice.

The veins on my aunt’s forehead pop, she straightens herself. “Give her a few months and she’ll be outperforming every opponent she faces. Like a true Harrington.” She says this a little harshly and the guests look uncomfortable. “Till then, she’ll continue with her training.”

I stay quiet. After dinner, we leave our places at the table and chat with each other. I escape an agonizing conversation with Mr. Sandrin and approach Arin.

“Hey, Grovehills.” I start. “You look like you’re having the time of your life.”

“Princess Cassandra, pleasure to make your acquaintance.” He says, not at all pleased.

“Your grandfather seems nice, I like him. You seem to have inherited his.” I pause. “Demeanour.”

“Thank you, Princess. Such a kind thing to say.”

“You’re welcome, I’m looking forward to seeing your match next Saturday. I’m sure you’re amazing.”

“I’m honored, your highness. That you’re looking forward to seeing my game.” His face is still stoic.

“Yeah. And also, my friends call me Cass or Cassie.”

“Thank you for telling me that, Princess.” I give him a look and he frowns. “Well, we’re not exactly friends now, are we?”

I’m taken back. “No, I guess we’re not.”

“Nice that we agree on that.” He bows mockingly and leaves. I go back to my seat and soon the secretary is standing beside me.

“Sorry about him, he’s not the most pleasant to be around.” He says. “Still, he shouldn’t have been rude.”

“It’s alright. At least he wasn’t disrespectful to my aunt. That would have been a problem.” I joke and he smiles.

“I’m happy I invited you tonight. You’ve been doing well since December and you proved yourself tonight.”

“The only thing I proved is that I am too weak to participate in a competition, everyone here thinks I’m a joke.”

He’s silent for some time. “They know you’re powerful. It’s just easier to tear you down by spreading rumors that you’re incompetent. And since they’ve never seen you in action, they no reason to change their views.”

I sigh. “That’s uplifting.”

“You have to prove yourself, Princess. That’s something every one of us will have to do eventually.” He glances at Arin. “Believe it or not, he doesn’t have any friends.” I gasp. “I just wish he had some.” He gives me a pleading look.

“We don’t even go to the same school.”

“Well yes but you’ll see him next week, won’t you. Maybe you can strike up a conversation then. Cohort with the enemy a bit.”

I smile. “Why do you want us to be friends so badly?”

“You seem like a nice person.” He says. “And also, believe it or not, I don’t know that many people his age. My social group is above 50.”

I laugh and look back at Arin, as soon as our eyes meet, he looks away. “I’ll talk to him next week if you want, secretary Davis. But you have to tell him to put in a little effort.”

He nods. “Thank you, Cassandra. I will.” He then walks up to my aunt. I catch Arin looking at me, he once again looks away quickly. I stare back at him willing our eyes to meet. He looks back at me and sees the simple smile on my lips. I raise my glass in his direction, he turns away and doesn’t look at me for the rest of the night.