Chapter 1
/ Mark's POV \\
I'm sleeping and I find myself in a bed that I'm not used to. As my eyes open up the chill of the air stings around me, making me retreat under the covers further and further until my foot touches the footboard and I stop. It's quiet with only the sound of the wind to occupy me. I hear commotion outside but it's in a language I don't understand: sounds Scandinavian. I get myself up and out of bed only to realize that I'm no longer wearing my old clothes. I'm wearing much bulkier outerwear and öfter für-like clothes under it. I hear a voice that is too familiar.
"You're finally up I see".
"Yeah I slept okay" I responded but strangely enough it wasn't in English.
"We found you yesterday on the beach… alone. You were pretty cold, I'm amazed that you're up this quick" the strange man tells me. I'm a fighter, always have been. I try and get up when the sharp pain fills my right leg. I fall, onto something warm and hard. I look up and it's some sort of creature. I can only mutter the words before darkness surrounds me.
I open my eyes only to find I had fallen asleep in my physics class. I pull my head up and unstick my finished test from my face to see that class is nearing the end. I ask to be excused to the bathroom and, with the teacher's approval, I briskly leave. I try and understand the meaning of this odd dream but come up with nothing. . I arrive at the bathroom, walk in, and enter the last stall, the one with a sink. I bend over and splash my face to test if I am really awake. I am. I go on and start to wash my face while I ponder my thoughts. As I am washing my face the lights in the bathroom flicker a few times before shutting off completely. I see a glimmer in the mirror... right where my head would be. There is a dark black crown of cold metal seemingly on my reflection. I am compelled to reach out and touch it. When I touch the glass I suddenly feel a weight on my head: the crown.
Quickly removing the crown I finish washing my face, dry off, and walk back to my class. Before going in, I quickly seal the crown in my bag. The power is still out but everyone just continues their test. The final few minutes of the period are mundane and it ends not soon enough. After thanking the teacher I grab my bag and head out. It's colder to the touch but I ignore it and move on with my day. Lunch is upon me and I walk slowly up to where I normally sit with my friends. I get there first and sit down alone. Confident that I am away from prying eyes, I pull out the crown and decide to put it on. I am a damn fine looking queen if I do say so myself. All of a sudden I can see someone walking down the hallway right to me. He's taller than me with a pale yet darker complexion. I've never seen him before yet I can't seem to break my gaze. He walks quickly and with a purpose, as if he is looking for something important. Eventually his golden-hazel eyes lock with mine. I quickly take the crown off, but only after he sees it. He walks over and sits uncomfortably close to me.
"Hi-" the raven haired boy starts. His voice having a new accent to it.
"Oh, erm... hello," I respond.
For some reason he looked too familiar but I can't put a finger on it. I'm ripped from my thoughts as my boyfriend, Joshua Wylde, walks over to where I am sitting. He is quickly accompanied by my other two close friends, Alexis Kingston and Lauren Dagworth.
The new boy stands up and seems like he was about to sprint away. "You can stay!" I practically shouted, sounding more desperate than I wanted it too. Something about this boy is drawing me towards him. Not romantically but I just want to be around him. I don't want to see him sad or scared.
"Please, join us for lunch," I offer, standing and taking a step towards him. I can feel the heat in the room increasing as the fire in his eyes ignite something inside me. Everyone's eyes are on me;the crown still in my hand. "Don't go," I manage to say, "I would love for you to meet my friends." I smile and sit down next to Joshua.
He looks as if he is pondering my request before taking a seat on the ground next to me. The air around us chills, to my relief. I only now notice that I am grasping the crown a little too tightly. I managed to cut my finger slightly and, not wanting to concern anyone, I stuff my hand in my pocket. The blood quickly is soaked up by the fabric leaving my finger dry, staining the grey a deep crimson. To my avail nobody seems to notice, for the time being.
"Babe, you should put the crown back on, I bet you're pretty cute in it." Joshua suggests as he suppresses a chuckle.
"Yes! You should. Also who is this new 'friend' of yours?" Alexis asks as she starts to unpack her food. I put the crown back on and lay into my boyfriend's side. The new kid only looks at us curiously before mimicking the same action on me. Both Joshua and I are taken by his sudden show of affection but I don't move away. Something about him is alluring to me. I have a feeling of fullness when he touched me, a feeling I should know but seemingly can't. As we three lay on each other we go about our normal lunch with the new kid staying silent.
Eventually I acknowledge him, "Hey, what's your name?" I ask, slightly shaking him.
"Myr-," he paused,"Trey!"
I don't think anyone else caught his slip up, or even cared about his name for that matter, but I sure did. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you Trey!" I respond as I stick out my hand for a handshake. He seems hesitant but connects his hand with mine. His skin is strong yet smooth, chilled to the touch, and just as quickly as the handshake started it had ended. The air around me seemed to grow increasingly hotter again. Sweat was beginning to form as I look back at Joshua.
"Is it just me, or has it gotten colder in here?" he asks while he rubs my side. Alexis and Lauren agree with him and look at my puzzled face. y gaze shifts off of them and back to the full uneaten pizza in front of me. I grab a slice and take a bite, quickly dropping it and letting a few curses slip my lips. I look down at my hands.
"Odin ofan, brennandi" Trey says to me quickly as he sits up and feels the burns on my fingers. Joshua picks up the slice and is concerned.
"It's not hot, it isn't even warm." he announces. Where I had grabbed there even seemed to be the lightest traces of frost.
That is when Trey notices I am still wearing the crown. "Where did you get that... crown, is it?"
"Oh, funny story... it was left at my door and I kinda just put it in my bag. I thought that you all," I motion to my friends and boyfriend, "had given it to me. Why else would I have it?"
Alexis, not believing the lie for a second, motions for me to give it to her. I take it off of my head, slightly nicking another finger on the sharp points,and pass it over to her. I wipe the blood off onto the inside of my sweatshirt before anyone can notice. Alexis brushes her fingers over the blades that protrude from the top and the smooth matte metal that encompasss the band.
"Careful, it's sharp." she glares at me, "Any ideas?"
/ Normal POV \\
"Yeah, but it's kinda," she pauses, "Fuc- scratch that... no ideas," she replies eyeing up the crown. Her gaze is stolen by the stranger standing up from his position next to Mark and Joshua. He stretches his arms and cracks his back before looking back at the group.
"I need to use the restroom, where would that be?" he asked, trying to hold the urgency from his voice.
"I can show you!" Mark said overenthusiastically as he got up to lead him. Joshua let out a slight whimper at the sudden loss of his lover. "Hush it you! I am not leaving forever!" Mark retorts.
"Might as well be," Joshua sighs.
They walk down the hall in silence before reaching the bathrooms. Trey just follows Mark while memorizing the layout of the school. They walked inside and it was pitch black.
"Power is still out, here" Mark said pulling out his lighter.
Trey goes up and touches a black smudge on the mirror. Below it there is something written, See him for true eyes can not lie. When Trey touches the lettering the lights suddenly flash back on, partially blinding the boys.