Persephone's Point of View
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The girls in the sisterhood always seem to get tense whenever I'm near, and honestly, I can't say I blame them. There's something about me that makes them uneasy, even when I'm not actively trying to. It's as though my mere presence sets something off, even if I don't fully understand it. And it's not like I'm exactly making any attempt to make them feel comfortable either.
If anything, I go out of my way to make it clear that I'm not here for socializing. But right now, that's not what I want. In fact, I'm doing my best not to add any more weight to the already thick air surrounding us. This situation? It's uncomfortable for me, too. It feels as if the very atmosphere around me is heavy, like the walls are closing in.
I can practically feel the tension pressing down on me, and it makes it almost impossible to breathe. The last thing I need to do is make anyone else feel worse, but it's so hard to shake this feeling that it's always going to be this way for me. I've been in enough rooms, enough situations to know it doesn't matter where I am, the discomfort is always just beneath the surface.
I hear one of the girls speak up. Her words are bright, almost airy, and so innocent in tone that it's almost infuriating. "Why don't you befriend the girls? They're cool!" she says, like it's a simple request, like it's an easy solution. I can tell she has no idea just how much harder it is than that. If only it were that simple.
"One more reason for them to stay away from me," I mutter quietly under my breath, the bitterness seeping through in my voice. It's not like I'm trying to make enemies, but I don't need to be friends with them. It's not like they're my type of people anyway. With a sharp exhale, I turn away and head toward the far corner of the cafeteria, hoping for a fleeting moment of peace.
I'm about to settle into my corner, relieved that I might get some solitude, when I spot them—my siblings—walking in. Of course, they aren't alone. Atlas is with Ali and Pedro, laughing and chatting with a casual familiarity that makes my stomach churn. Apollo is with his usual crew—Eric, Duke, and Neo-Brynolf, Loki's best friend, who also happens to be the guy my brother is dating.
It's impossible to ignore the sight of their little groups, all united together, and instantly, my mood sours. There's just too much noise, too much chatter, too many people. I don't want to deal with it, not today, not now.
"Ugh," I groan softly, barely able to keep my frustration contained. I turn around sharply, seeking an escape route, but of course, my luck is terrible today.
Before I can leave, I nearly bump right into Loki—just _my_ luck. The one person I truly don't want to see, and definitely not now, not today. Without thinking, my powers take over. I use my telekinesis, shoving him aside with more force than I intend. It's like an instinct, a knee-jerk reaction to avoid any kind of physical contact. I don't care that my skin's covered; I just don't want the touch.
"Move," I snap at him, the sharpness of my words hanging in the air. The harshness is clear in my tone—there's no room for pleasantries, no space for niceties. I'm not in the mood for any of it.
But before I can take another step, as if things weren't complicated enough, _Pride-Niklaus_ shows up—of course, he does. The one person who seems to have made it his life's mission to make my life a living hell. It's like a curse walking into the room, and the very sight of him makes my blood boil. The fact that I'm now cornered by him and his entourage just adds to the pressure.
My heart is pounding in my chest, my patience stretched thin to the breaking point. In an instant, I open a portal to the library, stepping through it as quickly as I can just to escape the chaos. It's the only way out for me at this moment, and I'll take it, even if it's just temporary.
But of course, peace is something I can never seem to get. No sooner have I settled into the library, pulling out my ear pods and queuing up Let Me Love You by DJ Snake featuring Justin Bieber, than the familiar pull of a portal opening behind me hits. My stomach drops. I don't even have time to react before someone grabs me. They yank me out of my momentary sanctuary, pulling me through the portal and right into the main hall of the academy. I can feel the eyes of every student in the room on me, and it sends an uncomfortable shiver down my spine. The scrutiny is overwhelming.
As I try to adjust to the sudden shift in environment, I realize I'm surrounded by the other Captains—the leaders of the sisterhoods and brotherhoods—and Headmaster Samuel. This is not the kind of attention I want.
I can't help but mutter under my breath, my frustration seeping out in the form of a low growl. "Aye, a girl can't even have a moment of peace in this place," I grumble, sarcasm dripping from every syllable. The sheer annoyance in my voice is unmistakable, and I don't even try to hide it.
I glance up, my gaze briefly meeting the eyes of Headmaster Diana, who's still holding my forearm with an almost unnecessary firmness. Immediately, a wave of discomfort washes over me.
"Hands off, please," I say, my eyes locked onto her hand, unable to hide the irritation that's building.
She lets out a small sigh, muttering an apology, but it doesn't feel sincere. "Sorry, dear," she says softly, almost too softly for my liking. As soon as her fingers leave my arm, I let out a long breath, the tension I hadn't even realized I was holding starting to dissipate. "We needed you here," she continues, her voice unnervingly calm, like she expects me to just accept it.
I pull one of my ear pods from my ear and stuff it into my pocket, leaving the other in place. I still hear the music faintly, the steady rhythm a small distraction from the overwhelming chaos surrounding me. "Of course," I say, my voice flat, my tone laced with sarcasm that I can't hold back. "Always a pleasure to be in front of all those lowly arses." The words spill out before I can stop them, dripping with disdain.
"What did we talk about?" Headmaster Diana asks, her tone now sharp as she glares at me. She's clearly not in the mood for my attitude, but at this point, I'm too far gone.
I bite my bottom lip, holding back a sharp retort. My eyes wander, refusing to make eye contact with her. "Aye," I mutter, my voice barely audible, thick with irritation.
With a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips, Diana turns to address the group of students who are all staring at us expectantly. I take the opportunity to distract myself by fiddling with my gloved hands, trying to ease my mind from the overwhelming presence of so many people around me.
"Welcome to another year at Sky-Eden Academy, dear students," Headmaster Diana announces, her voice ringing out in the hall. "Today marks the first day for the freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior students. The youngest students have already started yesterday," she continues, the sound of her voice echoing through the hall as she lists the students' ranks and the start of their academic journey.
"Thus," Headmaster Samuel interjects, stepping forward with a tone that demands attention. "We'll begin the separation of the 88 freshmen into the five sisterhoods and five brotherhoods of Sky-Eden Academy." He gestures toward the group of Captains, their faces all set in serious expressions. "You'll be joining your respective houses soon enough," he adds, his voice steady and authoritative.
Then, with a purposeful gesture, he points to each of the Captains as Headmaster Diana begins to list them off, almost as though it's some kind of ritual.
"For those who aren't familiar, or perhaps forgot," Headmaster Diana continues, her tone smooth and formal as she lists the houses. "Sisterhood of Tartarus, with Persephone Callidora Bathory-Moreno as the Captain," she says, pointing toward me with a forced formality. I don't even acknowledge her, keeping my gaze focused intently on my gloved hands. "Brotherhood of Elysium, with Apollo Valentine Bathory-Moreno as the Captain. Brotherhood of Olympus, with Atlas Vincent Bathory-Moreno as the Captain."
Yes, that's right. Each of us holds a leadership position in a different house, and we're ranked as the top students at the academy. Unfortunately, I have to share that top spot with Pride-Niklaus, the one person who can't seem to leave me alone academically. I don't understand why he targets me, but he does, and it's like a weight I can never escape.
"Brotherhood of Inferno, with Pride-Niklaus Zayn Python-Cervenka as the Captain," Diana continues, her voice dripping with distaste as she mentions his name. I can't blame her for feeling that way, though I'm sure she doesn't hate him more than I do. Then she goes on, "Sisterhood of Paradise, with Vain-Dove Zara Python-Cervenka as the Captain."
Headmaster Samuel picks up where his sister leaves off, his tone unyielding. "Brotherhood of Jotunheim, with Loki Vilhelm Aaberg as the Captain," he says, his eyes flicking briefly toward Loki, who has that obnoxious smug look on his face that makes me want to throw something. Ugh, another pain in my ass. "Sisterhood of Valhalla, with Freya Abigail Shiloh as the Captain," he adds, his voice cutting through the room.
Freya—she's another one who's impossible to ignore. A dark witch with a very obvious crush on both Vain-Dove and Nora-Camilla, her snake-shifter best friend. I don't know how those two don't notice the tension between them, but then again, they've been painfully obvious about it.
I can't help but notice everything. Being perceptive is a curse when everyone else's crushes are so painfully obvious.