The walk towards Room 707 was a long one. I tried every trick in the book to keep myself busy while I walked towards my own ruination.
What did the headmistress have installed for me now? I was yet to find out.
It was only a matter of minutes before I reached the West Wing.
It looked like sunlight hadn't kissed it since Lucifer got kicked out of Heaven. I hate to say it, but the air was thick and charged with someone's regret.
Definitely not mine.
Somehow, I noticed how the shadows stretched longer than normal. Every few steps, the rune on the wall would glow faintly like it were warning me to turn back.
Cute.
I ignored it, that's just how I am, and then I kept walking, adjusting my jacket. The corridor felt like it stretched so long I thought it was as endless as Persephone's persona, but there it was, just when I was sinking in deeper into my paranoia—Room 707.
The numbers glowed faintly and then turned crimson; they pulsed like they had a heartbeat. Of course, it had to be red—as red as my father's shower.
"Well fuck me sideways—Room seven-oh-seven," I muttered under my breath, still holding onto the rune key the headmistress gave me earlier.
The metal buzzed against my skin, burning a little.
What can I say? Demonic metal always knows the owner.
That's how it works around here.
The lock clicked and the door creaked open, like something you'd expect in a horror movie.
Except, spoiler: this wasn't a horror movie. Well, better make it one, 'cause I'm in it.
Silence.
Well, at least for a span of five seconds.
My eyes immediately caught a glance of a figure who was sitting on the bed. She had long silver hair that cascaded down her shoulders and icy blue eyes. My guess, she was a water demon.
She crossed her legs like she owned the place.
She didn't, by the way.
Like hell couldn't mock me any further. There were two more.
Three girls.
Three.
You've gotta be fucking kidding me right now.
I got three chicks.
"Uh," I blinked slowly, "is this a prank?"
The first one was tall and elegant. She was the silver-haired one with icy blue eyes, but now they turned pale from just looking up from her book and glancing at me.
Was it my eye contrast, or just her eyes turning from icy blue to somewhat pale blue?
Either way, I couldn't tell the difference.
"If it is, then I guess I wasn't informed," she said calmly.
She struck something inside me. She wore that look and held that voice that screamed I don't give a fuck who you are.
Don't get me started on the second girl. She was all sunshine and rainbows—red hair, freckles, and let's add the type of laugh that screamed trouble incoming.
"You're Xavier, right? The...demon prince who almost torched the Initiate Hall?"
I stared at her blankly like I was trying to see any hint of fear, but all I saw was that 'awe' feeling.
"You make it sound like it was on purpose."
"So, it wasn't?" she asked, leaning forward with that annoying smirk.
I tilted my head. "Define 'on purpose'."
Her grin enlarged.
My attention turned to the third girl, who hadn't said a word at all. All she did was sit on the bed near the window, wearing black like mourning was her favourite colour. My guess, maybe she was a banshee or a wailing spirit.
My eyes met hers. Her eyes were amber, sharp, and dangerous, but she didn't flinch, nor did she look away.
She just smiled faintly, the kind of smile that could give you the creeps, obviously not me.
I was a Satan.
"So," I said, as I dropped my bag on the empty bed. "There are three girls with attitudes I don't want to mention, and then there's one dorm. Can someone tell me what's next? You'll tell me there's a curfew, too?"
"Only if you promise to break it," the redhead one said, her voice was low but playful.
I arched a brow. "You're either flirting with me or testing how long your survival instincts can last."
She tilted her head, her smirk widening. "Can't it be both?"
The one with the silver hair sighed. "Ignore her. She has this habit of flirting with anything that breathes."
"Not anything. Anything worth breathing near," the redhead shot back instantly. "And you've just gotta admit...he's not bad to look at."
"Oh, I know, right?" I said, now I was finally sitting on the bed. "I'm just surprised you actually dared to say that out loud," I said with a grin.
The quiet one finally spoke. If she didn't, my mind would have assumed she was dumb or that a dragon caught her tongue. No offense. Either way would've worked for me.
If she had delayed sitting, maybe I would've assumed she could walk either.
That's just me.
Her voice was soft, but sharp enough to cut glass. "Careful, Xavier Astaroth, 'cause you might burn more than just classrooms this year."
For a second, I thought I saw her eyes glint gold.
For a second.
I smirked. "Wouldn't be the first time, though."
They all exchanged half-intrigued, half-nervous glances.
Perfect. I liked it.
As if trying to get on their bad side and act like the boss, which I was, I leaned backwards, folding my hands behind my head. "So, which of you's cooking dinner tonight? I like my meals with sarcasm and mild fear."
The silver-haired one, as if annoyed, muttered: "You're impossible." Then she locked eyes with her book once more.
"I know, right?" I said easily. "But you'll get used to it. All of you will."
Eventually, that is.
The redhead giggled, and the silent one just kept staring.
It was just... us.
Three girls. One demon. One dorm.
The Academy really wanted a disaster this year.
And don't get me started on their names, because I didn't give a fuck what their names were.
Aren't I right?