Chapter 1
𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒚 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖
I stare at the bold logo standing proudly at the university entrance. It gets bigger and clearer as the car approaches the place of my dreams. The one which is a getaway to another world far away from the typical working classes but also a way to get back to them. I see it as a cocoon from which I along with hundreds of other students intend to fly.
It was not like your everyday learning institute. It was a universe that enclosed its own world of learners. It was the place from which the government bodies hired its personnel to work for them, confidentially. From secret agents to the leaders who'll work at the forefront in the sector of defense, finance, human rights, weapons - you name it.
An organization only meant for the elites, the kids of high societies coming from wealthy families with direct political involvement took shelter in this establishment. And I am no exception to that.
But still, the path to get in wasn't all money and power. The acceptance rate is less than one percent. There are three branches of the institute scattered over the country each focusing on a particular field . Considering the pivotal role of this academy the strength of the student body wasn't more than 100 in each branch. But these hundred students had to pass the vigorous tests - physical and mental, compete with high IQ peers, the brains who were trained by world-class trainers for the exam from the day they started walking.
The competition is insane.
But I, Asteria Blisse Williams got in.
I was meant to get in. That was anticipated. But getting in at the age of seventeen was a plus.
Normally eighteen was the age at which the candidates started their journey of appearing for the test but then getting accepted in their first attempt was rare. So qualifying at seventeen already made me popular among other students aged between eighteen to twenty-one (twenty-one being the age limit. )
" Ready to sign in for the bright future ...?" My friend Eden Soliel asked who was sitting at the back of the car with me. She was one of the closest friends and roommates of mine. After all, we trained for this exam in the same school for three years.
I nodded and returned her beautiful pearly white smile as the driver parked the car in the parking and we both got out of the car bidding farewell to the driver. It bewildered me how she managed to even fabricate that heart-touching smile and hid the scars of the wound that was inflicted upon this fine lady of twenty when she was just seventeen.
" That fake smile begs to differ, miss " I replied truthfully folding my arms in front of my chest as we walked through the building. It wasn't our first time here after all we've given our exams here.
Her cheerful expression changed as soon as I made the remark showing how I could feel her uneasiness . But she remained silent.
" Ugh just tell me why you dread this contract already ?! " I groaned as I unfolded my arms.
After passing the exam all the selected students are expected to sign a contract with the institution. It demands some harsh things since the students are agreeing to work confidentially under the government . Naturally I am curious to see what it is especially seeing how Eden gets uncomfortable when questioned about the contract.
It makes me nervous too since she's done this before. She has been to the YE academy before, she was among one of the youngest ones to be there. It was two years back to be specific. But something, something happened two years ago that she had to start all over again. That meant going through this whole pain-in-the-ass situation once again. Although no one knows what exactly happened.
Just one day she returned back to the training school with a lot of rumors following her reappearance. That was my first day at the school and my first interaction with her. Not only did it prove to be the beginning of our kinship but also the starting of nasty lies about her arrival. Some said that she was caught cheating in the exam, some said she slept with one of the teachers and later accused him of rape and the list goes on.
But I never believed any of this bullshit. I just couldn't. From my assessment, there's something much deeper than these petty lies. There's something in her eyes that makes it look like those innocent orbs enclose the secrecy of some dark things that are too dark to meet the light of the world.
"Just sign it without thinking about it much " she replied with a bitter tone. That's always what she ever replied with.
" We'll see " I added moving my eyes away from her. Although a few months ago I was dying to get in , to be accepted into the university but when I finally made it , the consequences scare me.
Now it may sound to you that I am being weird or throwing a tantrum and if so then trust me you're underestimating this whole concept of YE academy.
It's an institute that runs with the help of political leaders. They are the stockholders of this establishment and all of them aren't gonna be the progressive, trustful and virtuous leaders they claim to be. They are the manipulative hypocrites who live a life led by greediness and not morals. Many of them have connections with the underworld and by the underworld, I mean the shifters. The Wolves are the owners of many illegal activities like weapons, drugs, marketing, etc.
Yes, they are real, the species that are a mix of humans and wolves is fucking real. I got to know about their existence just when I cleared the exam. So apparently the two species - humans and werewolves have mutually agreed to call for an autonomous rule.
And the information about the existence of the werewolf's world is not known to many . Only those who are directly involved with the administration and political setup are allowed to know the truth because "humanity isn't ready yet ".
But even these selected people in which I am also included now keep their distance from the shifters.
Only those who act as a link between the two species are allowed interaction with them.
That's why YE is special, it is that link.
Although it has been made clear after countless conventions that human and shifter students are not allowed to study together in these organizations many a time the corrupt officials hire negotiators for themselves. A workforce that'll serve as a link between them and their illegal partnerships.
How do I know you ask?
Well, my father is one of them rather my family is in the same place. Luckily for me, my family has always been the one to favor the right ones. And that's what I have promised to myself - Fight for the right.
We made our way to the room we were supposed to report. This is the time when we're gonna sign the contracts agree to all the terms and policies set by the panel which I believe and as has been told about by my father to be just some regular demands of any University. And after that is the instructions and outlook of our three-year journey in YE academy so yeah basically the counseling stuff.
So let's just see what haunts Eden.
***
Sitting in the office along with other students I couldn't help but read the first page of the three paged contract once again and again and all over again. And each time I read the document my anger rose and I couldn't get over what was written. Everyone else in the room however looked rather nervous than angry.
What the actual fuck is this ?!
This isn't a student contract, this is more of a slave contract that basically ties us to the academy. Students aren't allowed to do anything that isn't approved by the institute. That includes seeing their families, going out, insane amounts of classes, and anything seen as an inappropriate action on the students' part will be subjected to corporal punishments?!
No, I am not having that, I didn't work my ass off to settle for this illegal bullcrap at the end! I sacrificed most of my teenage life to work for what I deemed as a staircase to the sea of opportunities, the dream of carrying forward the legacy of my family in this line of work. I was supposed to be the hire NOT the slave.
So this is what Eden was nervous about.
I looked at her as she sat on my left, in hopes of getting some sort of look of disapproval, disappointment, or any sought of distress. But to my surprise, I see her already signing the contract. Like a puppet, her movements seemed robotic, as if she were on a command to do what she was doing.
But wasting no time I dipped into my side, my face near her ear. " What the actual fuck is this ?! " I whispered -yelled in urgency getting strange looks from the officials and students.
" Just sign it, don't ask you'll know later " she commanded with an intimidating look. It's not very often I get to see that serious, commanding face but when I do, it's for a very well-founded situation.
"In case you forgot I'm still not a legal adult mine's already signed under dad's name. My scribblings don't matter. " I groaned.
But Eden just sighed before muttering something under her breath and went on to snatch the paper from my hands taking both of our contracts and handing them over to the concerned appointee.
So that's how I was left dumbfounded there. That's how my freedom was thrown out of the window. I didn't even get any momentary stillness to contemplate the situation I was in.
I don't understand how everyone signed it, why did no one protest against such shit rules ?! How in the world did MY dad sign me up for this hell ?!
* Beep beep *
The sound of the electric bell startled me and I was pulled back to reality. Not only that but it also came in as the harbinger of hopes. Something can still be done in order to help me get out of this weird-ass contract.
It's about time that the students who topped the exam get to interact with Mr. Van Doren and the university's faculty. He's the newly appointed director of this whole institute. Not only does he own YE academy, but he's also an extremely significant figure in our political setup. He's the heir of the Van Doren clan - a very influential political family which has just started working at the forefront. Because not more than a decade ago it was functioning behind the public eye. Only a selected group of people are allowed to meet them. So the guy is mighty rich and powerful AND mysterious. And I just got to know about his existence like a week ago. Apparently, his identity was kept away from us students until the results of the exam were out. It had Something to do with him just recently taking over the possession of the institute.
What an interesting clan.
Anyways, this is a really good opportunity to talk it out and hope for some amends. Since he has just taken the spot of the boss chances are he might not know about the strict rules and might be willing to change them a bit.
Of course, I won't be acting crazy and raising devils with him. I am certainly not in the position to do that, yet. Just a genuine concern from someone whose life will be significantly affected by his side's decisions. But I'll definitely raise the issue. Call me rebellious but I have to do this. Because I believe there has to be a convincing reason for such a degree of control.
It's exciting though!
***
I gulped nervously as I waited for the boy who went into Mr. Van Doren's cabin to get out. It had only been a minute since he went in and it's supposed to be an interactive session between the authorities and the trainees so as to familiarise the newbies with the faculty and make them feel comfortable so it should take some time.
Hah, bullshit.
These are just the formalities. I don't think it means anything. These are top-tier officials we're talking about here. We freshers account for their least bit of concerns. They're gonna be over with us as soon as they can.
Confirming my speculation the boy who I was thinking about coming out of the room within one minute. Some interactive session this is. He hastily pushed open the door as he exited as if this was a door to heaven or a door out of hell?
He didn't even notice me sitting on the nearest couch and left hurriedly. But wait. Why is he so red and flustered? What the-
Before I could express my shock at the strange state the poor boy left in someone else came out of the same door. More so a bunch of people came out. It was like the whole panel was walking out of the room. What is happening?
Am I not supposed to go in? Should I leave?
" Miss Williams, please go ahead " one of the girls on the counter with the typical white shirt and pencil skirt politely said leading me in towards the conference room.
Why am I the only one to get to meet Mr. Mystery alone?
Why did the rest leave?
I confusedly stood up and followed the lady towards the office room. We had just entered Mr. Van Doren's floor when the air started getting tighter. The further I walked the further my anxiety hiked up. There was something so enticing about being there, the indescribable magnetic pull of the air was suddenly so irresistible that it became hard for me to breathe. My feet had developed a mind of their own and were blindly following the girl In-front of me.
My heart was suddenly beating faster than a fucking horse.
What's wrong with me?
Why am I reacting this way?
Was it the pressure of meeting Mr. Van Doren?
Certainly not, it couldn't be! I am trained for these formal meetings. I have met several VIPs because of my dad's line of work so, what is it?
Maybe it's the anxiousness of finally getting through the last steps of this whole registration process, that's kicking in. Maybe the eagerness to converse about such an important contract is coming through.
As we took the right turn and the destination became more and more detectable excitement and this weird feeling started dancing in my abdomen.
It didn't take us any more than five seconds and we were already in front of the glass door with me standing a couple of inches away from the lady and her gesturing me to go inside. I tried to take a peek but before that my feet moved of their own accord and I was standing at the front door ..." May I come in - ..." as soon as I lifted my eyes my breath hitched mid-sentence.
Now I know why that boy was so flustered!
The deep brown married to the lighter hues of every tree on earth, a color that reminds you of the beautiful moist soil yet a fiery look was reflected by it. Those eyes were staring into my black ones. A face as if sculpted by the gods themselves. Those high cheekbones, jawline to die for. A muscular body so brawny that you could tell it took some work to carve such a fine piece of art.
An art, so bewitching that I forgot where I was and who I was staring at. I bit my lip internally screaming at myself for being so unprofessional and shamelessly checking him out.
" Mr. HALE VAN DOREN " read the desk name holder just mouthing those words sent a shiver down my spine.
" Come in," Hales said. The voice, god-damn that voice paired with a smirk on his face probably from my boldness of checking out a man in his mid-thirties while being a teen myself.
He's going to be the end of me.
I thought as I entered.
Thanks for reading❤️❤️