Pride-Niklaus's Point of View
♕︎ ♕︎ ♕︎
The song The Castle by Chris Grey played softly through the speakers of my phone as I followed through with my usual morning skincare routine. The calming, melodic sound of the song helped me focus, creating a peaceful atmosphere as I applied the cream to my skin, gently massaging it in. My mind was in the rhythm of the task, the scent of the product blending with the melody of the song, when suddenly, my phone buzzed with incoming texts, pulling me out of my tranquil state.
It was Dove. Of course.
Dove: Nik, can we gather at your penthouse?
Dove: And can I get to you first?
Dove: I want to have a sis-bro talk
Dove: I'll bring tiramisu for you.
Dove: And a present.
Me: Present? curious eyes emoji
Me: I like presents.
Me: I also love tiramisu.
Dove: grinning mischievously gif
Dove: Come on, I know my brother.
Me: Aye, you can come.
Dove: victorious dance gif
Dove: I love you, Nik.
Me: I love your presents.
Dove: dramatically hit gif
I couldn't help but smile as I closed her chat. The text exchange was typical Dove—always playful and full of enthusiasm. Next, I opened the group chat with the rest of my friends. My sister's way of making everything overly dramatic was hard to ignore, and the name of our group chat was, of course, entirely her fault. As expected, the screen was filled with a playful stream of messages that made me roll my eyes, but also grin a little.
Kai: Hey, Cinderella, are you done yet?
Kai: Still dolling yourself up for your crush?
Kai: We wanna come up.
Kai: Cinderellaaaaaaa?
Kai: bored Rapunzel on the tower gif
Kai: Princess, it's us,
Micah: Throw your glowing black hair for us,
Dom: To climb this tower of yours,
Nathan: Save us from the boredom of waiting for you to finish getting your pretty arse ready.
Nora: He's gonna kill you, lust-slut.
Kai: grinning mischievously
Kai: Nah, he loves me too much for that.
Dove: We'll be with you in a minute.
Dove: Crossing the fencing.
Nora: We're here.
Nora: Be useful, Micah, open this door.
Micah: gasping offended gif
Micah: Why me?
Micah: Kai is the annoying arse here.
Kai: Don't get me drowned with you, wings.
Dom: watching entertained gif
Dom: I'm hungry.
Nathan: socialist Bugs Bunny sticker
Nathan: We are hungry.
Dove: I brought food.
Dom: Long live Zalla-Walla.
Dove: knife in hand gif
Dove: You ain't getting any food if you call me that again, glutton jerk.
Dom: Aye, don't do that to me, love.
Me: Stop flirting with my sister, Dominic.
Me: The door is open.
I chuckled at the banter between everyone, shaking my head. The chaotic energy of the group always made my mornings interesting. I closed the chat and returned to getting ready. After applying some cream to my hair, I ran my fingers through the curls, trying to tame the unruly locks. I then walked into my walk-in closet, standing in front of my perfectly organized clothes, deciding what to wear for the day.
After a few seconds of thought, I grabbed my all-black, newly reformed academy uniform and slipped it on. The black hoodie beneath the jacket kept me warm, perfect for the winter chill outside. I paired it with my favorite boots—black, sleek, and sturdy. They not only gave me the extra height I enjoyed but also added that much-needed confidence boost to my step.
I stepped back and checked myself out in the full-length mirror. My reflection looked incredible. I saw a perfect balance of badass and stylish—a look I had perfected over the years. But I didn't stop there. No, I always took the extra step to make sure every detail was flawless. I grabbed a few pieces of jewelry—bracelet on my wrist, three rings, a necklace that always managed to make any outfit pop, and of course, the piercings and earrings that had become my signature style.
Next, I touched up my makeup. A little soft eyeliner to accentuate the amethyst color of my eyes, and some rose lip balm to keep my lips from drying out in the cold winter air. The finishing touch was a spritz of my signature scent—lime and cinnamon. The fragrance had become my mark over time.
Finally, I checked on my collection of fifteen daggers, hidden in the pockets of my jacket, pants, and hoodie. I always kept them close. Each one was perfectly placed, ready for action, just as I liked it. Then, I used my air magic to dry my hair in the way that always left it looking perfectly styled—sleek, shiny, with just the right amount of volume.
With a satisfied sigh, I grabbed my phone from the marble countertop where it had been resting. The song All of Us by Labrinth and Zendaya now played through the speakers. As I picked up my phone, I opened Pangea, the academy's social media platform, where everything was combined—Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Pinterest, even a digital bank. It was a one-stop shop for everything.
I quickly snapped a photo in the mirror, adding a caption from Meet You in Hell by Jade LeMac, a song I'd been obsessed with lately.
※※※
I'm your biggest fantasy.
I'm your worst nightmare dressed inside a pretty dream.
You best believe.
I'm your worst fucking enemy.
Unless you bow down and beg for me on your knees.
You best believe.
M, double E, T, you in hell.
Meet you in H, E, double L.
※※※
After posting it, I shoved my phone back into my pocket and headed out of my suite and into the living room.
The moment I entered the space, I was met with the sight of my six friends lounging on my two wine-colored leather couches. Kai and Dom were wearing their crimson red uniforms, a striking contrast to the plush surroundings of my luxury living room. Nora stood out in a dark green uniform with a skirt, while Micah and Nathan had gone for lighter blue uniforms. And then there was my sister, Dove, always doing her own thing. She wore a dark pink uniform paired with high-waisted shorts, completely out of the ordinary. Every single one of them wore the golden symbol of the Life Tree, representing Sky-Eden Academy, but each also had their house's symbol on the left shoulder or side of their chest.
Kai, who had been the first to notice me, shot me an exaggerated look. "Finally, Cinderella," he declared dramatically, stretching the word finally like it was the most crucial part of the statement.
Dove, always the dramatic one, stood up from the couch and began to circle me, eyeing me up and down as she did. The clicking sound of her 10cm black heels echoed in the room with each step. "Nik, have you noticed that you only doll yourself up like this when you're at the academy and when you know you're going to see her?"
I scoffed, shaking my head at her teasing. "Don't be delusional, Dove. It's because I have an image to maintain here."
"And what image is that?" Nora giggled from her spot, clearly enjoying the teasing exchange.
"Of the hottest, of course," I replied smoothly, throwing my arms wide and spinning in a full 360-degree turn. "See? Hottest."
I flashed them all my best smirk, feeling confident in the way I looked. The day ahead was mine, and I was ready for whatever it had in store.