⁰⁰⁷ | Defiant Little Thing

🎧 Daylight by David Kushner

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I couldn't help it, I laughed, I actually barked a laugh, and he glared at me. "You defiant little thing, why are you laughing? I'll do worse to you if you get into WIA."

Shit, why did it sound so sexy? "Do I look scared?"

"Do you lack survival instincts or something? Do you not recognize death when it's right in front of you?" He hissed.

Massaging my throat, I tilted my head, glaring at him from up and down, "Were you born this arrogant, or are you putting some effort on it? Was I supposed to be frightened? Because you don't look like much to me."

To my dismay, the Royals laughed to that, and I got a firm feeling that they really don't like this arrogant male, which only made me want to be closer to him, even though he's a grade A douchebag, apparently. He did save me from the fall, though, but so far the only thing he has on storage are his looks, and though he is really breathtaking, that's not enough to me. His personality and his arrogance is pissing me off.

"Enough!" The old female with the wings exclaimed. "I'll deal with the orphanage matter later, because I cannot allow kids to go through this, and no matter what you try to say Mr. Fletcher, this child is not healthy and she is hurt, and it was not from just now."

"He tried to hide her from me," River finally said. "But I knew there were eight 22-year-olds in the orphanage as of now, and I worked through that, but he tried to hide her from me, and she's been hurt by them. She is forcing herself to speak, which she shouldn't even be doing," he stared at me annoyed, "hence why she vomited blood. She's sick because of him."

"I did no such things, that's blasphemy," Fletcher yelled.

"And you called me dumb?" I scoffed. "Are you a God? No, you're not. You are low born piece of shit, so it ain't blasphemy. It's the raw truth."

"You are lying!" Lisa yelled at me.

"Want me to take the robe off?" I glared at her. "I'm just like when Mr. Fletcher locked me in the torture room, I can show them the state of my body. My magic is off, and I have no make up to fake wounds, want me to show them?" They all stayed dead silent, glaring at me with hatred. "As I thought. You silence is confirmation enough."

"You are too arrogant for someone who won't make it," Lisa said.

"Oh, but I will," I grinned viciously.

"You are a weakling, Davina," she mocked.

"Tell me that when they take the shackles off me, I dare you."

"I said enough," the old female yelled and I almost flinched. "We will deal with the torture matter after the Choosing. We have more urgent matter now, and the world does not evolves around the two of you. You might not even make the cut, so, just join all the other orphans and let's get over with this mess. We have a schedule to follow. And you," she turned to the arrogant bastard, "will stay with me, and away from those orphans."

"I'll do whatever the fuck I want," he countered, but followed her, "but you are lucky that being with you will make it more entertaining," but then he stopped at my side, being close to twice my size. "You're welcome."

"Excuse me?" I glared up at him, annoyed.

"You're welcome," he repeated.

"I am not thanking you for anything," I snapped.

"That's on you, defiant little thing, I still saved your life."

"I was never in real danger to begin with," it's true.

His eyes lingered in me for a second, giving me the shivers and I had to hold myself on the edge of my will to stay composed. "Stubborn little thing, are you suicidal?"

"I am not suicidal, you bastard," I growled.

"Masochist then," then, without letting me say another word, this damn bastard turned his wide sculpted back to me and walked to the female with the wings, who I'm starting to believe to be the headmaster.

"Audacious bastard," I gasped.

"That's big coming from you," River mocked. "Come."

"Come where?" I narrowed my eyes at him.

"To the coliseum, Davina," he scoffed. "If you pass, it'll be a very different story, and we'll take care of your health, and feed you, and all that you've been obviously lacking. But only if you're strong enough."

"Which I doubt," Lillian said viciously, "especially when there's 11 fallen nobles your age, But in the case of you surprising us and going all against the odds, you better prepare yourself, because we'll make you wish you were going to hell instead."

I gave her an up and down scrutinizing look and she turned red all over, blushing hard, "Bold of you to assume you can hurt me more than I've already been, kid. You're not even a shark in the water and you want to play with me?" I laughed bitterly. "I will make the cut, and when I do, it's me who will make you wish you were in hell instead."

"You little," the black girl tried to say, but River stopped her.

"She's feeling big, let her fall on her own, she won't be a problem to us after today, she's pinscher who only knows how to bark. Just look at her, the poor girl is all fucked up, she won't withstand the tests," he scowled at me. "But until then, as your responsible warden, follow me, Davina."

"I'm not feeling big, I am big, fake Prince," I poked him purposely.

"You'd do better shut, if you want to reserve energy for all of it."

I clenched my jaw, glaring at him, knowing he's right. "Humph."

Without a choice, I followed him, away from Fletcher and Lisa.

𖤍 𖤍 𖤍

The center of the coliseum was where they put all of us low borns and orphans, while the surroundings with the seats for the people to watch it closely was all packed with Faes of all ages in students and masters WIA uniforms, everyone waiting to see what was going to come out from this Choosing in particular.

They mixed us all, from 5 to 24, everyone mixed up in one very big crowd that took all the space of the center of the coliseum.

But I could tell that most of the eyes were on us, the kids from my orphanage, and in me in particular, probably because of the free falling dam drama, which probably wouldn't have happened had that bitching demonic dragon not been purposely falling like that. I have a feeling she did it to throw me out of it, and it was personal. Must be because she knows that I am Ravenna Wintergrave.

And when I saw the old winged female in the center of the platform above us, I knew I was right on thinking that she is the headmaster, because it's her, and seeing that arrogant bastard standing at her side made me very, very, unreasonably annoyed. "Welcome to the 500th Choosing, children," she exclaimed using a magical device to amplify her voice to everyone. "In this precious day, some things will be a little different than in the past 499 Choosings, changes that came to be with the drastic change in power."

What? What kind of changes?

"Instead of 5 kids from each cutting age of 5 to 24, we'll be taking 7 kids from 5 to 21 years old, 11 from the 22 year olds, and 10 from 13 to 24 years old, resulting in a total of 150 children instead of 100. We'll take in more of the older ones for reasons that will be explained to those who make the cut," and almost all the Faes around me cheered with hope.

Almost all, because I didn't.

I know they didn't do this because they want to help more kids, to take more of us, but because they want to take in all of the fallen nobles in this hellhole. There are 11 fallen nobles my age, and if I'm not wrong, there are about 6 fallen nobles at the age of 10, 7 at the age of 12, 10 at the age of 23, and many others randomly spread in the other ages. They are doing this to get all of them inside.

But it's not going to work. I will get into this damn academy.

"There are 50 fallen nobles here, it's not really a win," I scoffed.

"But there won't be in the next Choosing, and it will be better."

I turned to Gregory, who was right behind me. "But it's bullshit."

"Maybe this time, but we'll be winning in the next time, they will not change this, or it'll be a clear manipulation," he whispered, winking.

"It's still bullshit," I mumbled.

"You think we have a chance?" He whispered hopeful.

"Of course," I reassured him, knowing that he isn't weak at all, it's something I noticed when I met him. He's Rose's brother, and she was not weak, and neither is him. "We'll do well," I cheered him.

"Can I hold your hand? I'm nervous," he giggled anxiously.

I offered him my right hand and he took it, coming to my side, and standing a head taller than me. "We are all in the same boat, don't worry."

He didn't get time to speak, as the headmaster spoke again.

"For those who don't know me, I am Dove Di Angelo, headmaster of Wintergrave Imperial Academy, and I've been hosting the Choosing ever since it's 10th edition," I knew she was old as hell. "I am a light elementalist and I'll take care of all the kids who make the cut in today's Choosing!"

I know her, I didn't know it was her when I met her, but I know this female, I've met her before, but its not a wonder that she hasn't recognized me, given how I look absolutely different thanks to the immortality dew I took. She was a close acquaintance of my parents, and she came to meet us more than a handful times, but I knew her as White Dove. It nauseates me that she's okay and working under the usurpers like this, fucking bitch.

"Shall we begin?" She asked and they cheered. "Undo the binds."

"5-year-olds orphans, raise your wrists and spread your legs," a guy behind her spoke loudly and the kids did, then, with a move of his hand the shackles binding them were undone and a big wave of magic overflowed from them. "6-year-olds orphans," he began to go by age.

I counted the numbers, eyes closed, hitting my right feet in the floor still barefoot, anxiety rising inside of me, more because of the anticipation than anything else. There's no way I won't pass, even if I stayed the entire past weak locked in a place that force my body to be weaker today. I have to pass, I will pass, I will-

"22-year-olds orphans," he finally called.

"Wait," the arrogant bastard spoke and we all turned to me, and I found his eyes on mine, glowing with mischievousness, "leave that one at last, she was so arrogant about her potential, that it would be better to leave her at last," he exclaimed, pointing at me. "After the 24-year-olds, and after all the 22 and 23-year-olds."

"Hah, she'll be humiliated," I heard Lisa mock me somewhere.