Page 43 of Rejected Darkness

"Wow, tough crowd I see," he laughs though it falls short of having any emotion. "Keep your chin up. I can't have you running off because of someone else. No, if you leave this school it's going to be because of me. Even if Talia has taken you under her wing as her little pet, I'm not worried. You'll be leaving R.I.S.E. one way or another."

"Do you ever get tired of hearing yourself talk?" I snap, reaching my last straw with him. I won't run away from this school. It's the best opportunity I've been given no matter what Rhys thinks he has up his sleeve. "Honestly, you are one of the most annoying people I know. Get over yourself and realize the world doesn't revolve around you."

I definitely shouldn't have taunted him, I know that, but I couldn't help it. Someone needs to knock him down a peg or two and at this rate it looks like I'm going to be the person to do it. No one else that I've seen has stood up to him in the ways that I have. Actually, no one even goes near him if it can be helped. The only people who do are the other Fallen. It makes sense, though, Fallen sticks together no matter what.

"What no dramatic exit, Princess?" he taunts, rising to his feet so he can tower over me. "You forget that you are staying somewhere safe thanks to my and my brother's hospitality. That can all be taken away if you aren't careful. Just remember that." With his hands on his hips, he stares me down, hard but I don't flinch. "You are mine, your time at this academy ends when I say it does. Just remember that," he snarls, turning on his heel and walking away from me.

I stare after him to make sure he won’t come back. Once he rounds the corner at the end of the hall, I let my body relax against the windowsill and sigh. None of this is how I saw today going. If I thought it was all a dream, I would pinch myself tomake sure I was really sitting here awake, but I know better. This is my life.

Looking down I check my watch to see if there are still fifteen minutes before classes let out. I do not have enough time to take a short nap, which means I'm stuck sitting here waiting until classes let out. Not the best thing but I can hear Dominion Haniel speaking and I'm thankful that I'm no longer in that class. He was a fair teacher but he was definitely hard. I also didn't appreciate him looping me into the drama between Rhys and Stark in class. That alone put him on my bad side.

Whoever would have told me that my father visiting would get me out of particular classes, I would have laughed in their face, telling them that it would mean more classes for me not less. Now, I've never been more thankful for his visit, even if it meant getting hit once by him. My class schedule is a lot lighter and I can focus on the things I need to focus on like my magic and who is stalking me. I really thought this school would be a chance for me to discover myself, especially after the pep talk Isis gave on our first day. In a way, I suppose it has been a chance to discover myself, but definitely not in the way I had expected it.

Now, I'm trying to figure out how to handle having two mates, who most likely are going to hate each other when they find out as well as being someone I didn't think that they were. I knew Phoenix was shy but I never took him for one to just dismiss me. I also knew Warrick could have a temper, I've seen it before I've just never seen it directed toward me. Just thinking about everything that took place this morning makes me want to punch something or someone. Both of them better avoid me today and give me the space that I deserve after their behavior. Maybe tomorrow I'll accept an apology from them, but that is a big maybe.

While lost in my thoughts, I miss the bell ringing to signal classes ending. It isn't until Dina, the girl who tripped me on myfirst day of classes is standing in front of me staring me down. "Can I help you?" I ask nicely, even when the last thing I want is to be nice to her.

"Yeah, you can. Stop acting like the damn world revolves around you and you can get away with everything. It's a bad look for you and so is being a slut. I saw that fallen escorting you to their floor, You're a disgrace to the Angels and I can't wait until your daddy hears all about this," she snarls before tossing back her head and laughing. "You're pathetic." She turns her back to me and begins to walk away but my decision is made before I have time to think my actions through. I am so sick and tired of everyone pushing me around today and talking down to me. No. No more.

"Who the hell do you think you're talking to?" I roar, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back toward me. "You know absolutely nothing about me. How about you keep your little petty judgments to yourself and mind your own business? It seems you need to focus more on the reason you were rejected. You're no better than the rest of us, especially not me, Angel," I emphasize her rank to remind her that in the angel hierarchy, she ranks below me. I wasn't stripped of my Seraphim title by coming here. It still means something even if she wants to pretend like it doesn't. I have no issues reminding her of her place if she wants to force the issue—especially today of all days.

"Excuse me," she screeches yanking her wrist from my grasp. "You are nothing. Your father doesn't even want you which makes you fair game. Stay out of all of our ways and go back to the hole you crawled out of. Maybe you do belong with those fallen scum."

Pulling my arm back, I use a small bit of strength and bring my arm forward as I ball my hand into a fist at the same time and punch Dina right in her nose. "Fuck you," I snarl. This bitch thinks she is so entitled when she is so far from it. "You aren'tany better than the rest of us here. Get off your high horse and learn something. Maybe then you will be able to leave and go back to Aeris, but I'll make sure to send a letter and ensure you have no place waiting for you back home. It's the least you deserve."

"What's going on out here?" Dominion Haniel calls out as he exits his classroom. "Why are all of you standing around? Don't you have classes to get to?"

Most of the bystanders begin to disperse as soon as he starts to talk knowing what is coming if they don't follow his instructions. None of us want to be in detention here so I don't blame them. Usually, I would agree with them. Striking Dina is completely out of the norm for me but she caught me on a really bad day and I couldn't help it. Sitting back and just letting things happen hasn't been working out for me. I'm tired of bullies and I'm tired of taking the abuse. Even if I do get detention for this, maybe Dina will have learned a lesson. Doubtful but there's still a slight chance.

"She hit me!" Dina moans, holding her nose and beginning to cry. I definitely didn't hit her hard enough to break her nose, only to give her a bloody nose. "I didn't even do anything."

"Come now, Dina. I highly doubt Arabella just stuck you for fun. I'm sure you goaded her into it," Dominion Haniel shakes his head and sighs. "Arabella, care to explain?" He turns to look at me next, seeing that the world isn't ending now that he has put Dina in her place.

"You're right she did goad me into it. I apologize for my actions, I should have controlled myself better. I've had a long day and that is no excuse," I explain, accepting my fate for what it is. I could have blamed her completely but I learned a long time ago to admit the truth and accept whatever punishment is sent my way. At least here the punishment won't be abuse of anykind. No, it will just be some detention which I can handle even on a bad day like today.

"Go see Councilwoman Talia. She will decide your punishment," he nods, dismissing me and turning his attention back to Dina. I don't bother to wait before gathering my back and pushing my way through the small crowd, still standing around. I definitely got the better deal here, and I'm not going to argue with it at all.

When I reach the end of the hallway, I see Rhys standing there and smiling at me. It almost looks like he's proud of me for what I did, but that couldn't be closer to the truth. He already said that he has it out for me. He has no reason to be proud of me for standing up for myself unless he somehow put Dina up to it, but I doubt it. When I get a tad bit closer, I can see the mischief in his eyes. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe he was behind what Dina did. I thought she hated Angels, but if he had said the right thing to her, it would perhaps have been enough to push her to go off on me. Asshole.

"Good job," he mouths as I pass him.

I give him a good glare and completely ignore him as I head to the stairs to make my way back up to the third floor. Looks like it's about to be my home for the day instead of classes. A few people are still lingering in the halls, but most are faculty who just give me a pointed look as I make my way down the halls until I reach Talia's door. Before I can even knock, the door is opening, and out steps Warrick.

Divine, could this day get any worse?

"Arabella, what are you doing here?" he asks, stepping forward and making me take a step back unless I want to be chest-to-chest with him.

"I just need to talk to Councilwoman Talia. Do you mind?" I try to keep my voice even and not give away how I'm feeling. The last thing I want is to explain anything to him, and I would preferto get into Talia's office to speak with her before Dina makes her way up here and begins running her mouth, which I'm sure she will do.

"Arabella, please come in," Talia calls out. Stepping around Warrick, I see her waving me inside. Choosing to ignore Warrick, I continue forward until I'm inside enough to shut the door behind me. "So you punched someone?" she laughs, shaking her head. "I have to say, I never thought that would be the reason you would end up in my office."

"What can I say? She deserved it," I shrug, and walk forward until I'm standing in front of the chairs at her desk. "Well, maybe not I should have just used my words and walked away but I've had a really stressful day."

"Day? Oh Sweetie," she shakes her head and sighs. "I think it's better to say that you've had a stressful week. I'm still going to have to give you detention but lucky for you, it's up to me what that detention will be. So you and I are going to have a walk along the lake and discuss everything that's been going on. How does that sound?"

"I can do that as my punishment?" I gasp, my jaw dropping open in shock.

"I'm the Council member in charge of the Angels. If I say that's your detention then yes, you can do that," she chuckles. "Let's go get some lunch first, hmmm?"

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