Page 14 of Soulless Rivalry

My heart constricted a little after she said that, because as true as it was, I wished it weren’t.

The reason why I didn’t like physical touch was because I had been deprived of it for years. Ever since my dad died and mom became a shell of what she once was. Ever since I lost my grandma, nobody had really hugged or held me.

I could still remember those first few months after we moved to New York. My grandfather had me confined to the furthest room on the estate, away from everyone, because he still didn’t know if he should keep me or not. Even the cleaning ladies came only once a week, and someone sneakily came to deliver food outside my door. They knocked to let me know it was there, but by the time I opened the door, they were always gone. Aunt Matilda eventually convinced her father to keep me, but it took her months. Three to be exact.

Three months during which I didn’t see a single human being other than myself. Three months where I cried myself to sleep because I felt alone and scared. Three months during which I woke up screaming in the middle of the night after seeing my dad’s dead eyes in my dreams, and nobody was there to reassure me. No one was there to take me in their arms and tell me everything would be okay.

When Mamma’s father came to tell me he had finally decided to keep me, he didn’t forget to mention that if I failed to maintain their family image, he wouldn’t hesitate to send me away.

I didn’t dare ask where. I just nodded like the obedient child that I was and kept my mouth shut.

That day, after he left, Aunt Matilda came over with a bouncing Mia and a sulking Lorenzo. She was excited to meet her new cousin; he would have preferred to stay home reading but then eventually warmed up to the idea of me.

“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable, Elyssa.” Coming back to reality, my eyes found Sinem’s who smiled sheepishly. “I’m not used to socializing yet, so I don’t have the…codes, I guess?”

I frowned. “What do you mean? You seem like a real social butterfly.”

“I guess I am, deep down, but I never had the occasion to be. My dad is really protective of me. My brothers, too. I’m the only girl in the family. I’ve been homeschooled since I was ten.”

She didn’t specify why and I didn’t ask, but she went on. “I’m just excited to be here. And to finally have girlfriends.”

I found myself smiling at how happy she seemed to be with us. Sinem went on, telling us about her dad and brothers who she seemed to love more than anything. She’d grown up in Turkey but came to the US when she was ten, again, not specifying what happened in her life to make her parents move here.

Her dad was the reason why her uniform wasn’t like ours, it was pink because it was her favorite color and he couldn’t say no to her. She didn’t say it, but we all understood what it also meant: her dad was powerful as fuck, whoever he was.

After we were done eating, we decided on an early night because this first day of class had us all pretty wiped out. Miastarted piling up our glasses and plates, to make it easier on the cleaning staff who came after everyone was done, but Sinem grabbed her glass of pink lemonade because she wasn’t done with it.

We didn’t usually have anything other than water to drink—admin was a stickler for healthy meals—but since this was our first day, pitchers of pink and regular lemonade were served to us.

Mia and I led the way to the girls' dorms, while Briar stayed a bit behind to chat with Sinem.

“So, what do you think of her?” my cousin whispered while intertwining her arm through mine.

“I like her,” I said. “She seems fun. Real.”

Mia hummed and added something I didn’t quite catch.

Because my eyes fell into some deep pools of ice and I felt my throat suddenly constrict.

Konstantin was seated at a nearby table along with his three friends, or whatever they called their relationship. Personally, I didn’t believe the devil could have friends, but to each their own.

Asher Donovan, Rhodes Antonelli, and Royal Donovan. They seemed to be the only mortals good enough to earn Konstantin’s loyalty.

They quieted as soon as we passed by their table, their eyes riveted on us, making my skin crawl. I couldn’t help but wonder if he had run his mouth to them. Told them my secret.

He didn’t seem like the type to… well, talk, really, but you could never be too sure.

Without really noticing, I sped up a little so we’d be out of their sight as soon as possible. Mia matched my pace, well aware that Konstantin and I weren’t on friendly terms, although she didn’t know to what extent. Briar and Sinem didn’t get the memo though.

My cousin and I were almost out of the dining hall when a commotion echoed through the great room.

All chatter instantly ceased and Mia and I froze, our backs to the room.

Then we heard Sinem's voice boom, “Oh, my God! I’m so sorry!”

Mia turned around first while I closed my eyes, expecting the worst.

When I finally joined the rest of the school, watching the scene with rapt attention, my mouth opened a little in surprise.

---