Chapter 1:

Mare POV:

I took a deep breath as I sat up in bed. Today was my first day of my new high school. My family and I had moved from a suburb place called the Stilts to the bustling city of Archeon because my mother had gotten a new job. My new High School was named after the city. Archeon High School. One of the most prestigious high schools in Norta for silvers and newbloods. I had managed to get into the lottery to get in.

Finally getting up, I started my routine of brushing my teeth, doing light makeup, and putting on my outfit. Today I decided to do a few necessities such as concealer, filling in my eyebrows and mascara. I finished it off with a little bit of gold eyeshadow. For my outfit I wore a plain white V-neck short sleeve, black ripped jeans, my white converse, and layered gold necklaces. Finishing up, I walked downstairs where my parents and siblings were eating breakfast.

"Good Morning!" Mom said.

"Good morning to you to" I smiled.

"Hungry?"

"Obviously" I laughed. Since when was I ever not hungry.

She grabbed me a plate and filled it generously with pancakes and syrup while I sat down at the table in the center of the kitchen.

"So, are you excited?" Dad asked above all the chatter among my siblings.

"For?"

"School of course!"

"Oh, yeah. So excited!"

"I know that's your sarcasm face, Mare" he said, slightly rolling his eyes.

I shoved a bite full of pancake before responding.

"Well it's a new school so of course I'm nervous, but I think it's going to be good!"

"There you go, Mare! You've got a positive mentality!" he said, purposely staring at my brother Shade while he said it.

Shade caught his eye. "What?" he said shrugging.

"Hey when are you going to ask that girl Farley out?" I questioned.

"Oh, uh… soon" he responded sheepishly.

"Uh huh…" I joked. He had a big crush on Diana Farley who went to the same college as him.

"Okay kiddos! Time to go!" Mom chirped, checking her phone for the time.

I sighed as I reluctantly got up. Grabbing my black backpack and swinging it onto one shoulder I walked out the door.

"Bye!" I yelled back

"Have a good day!" they all replied.

I walked down the driveway to my car. Opening my door and sitting in the driver's seat I threw my backpack into the seat next to me and put my keys ignition. Since I had spare time I drove to my favorite new café that I had discovered since moving to get a drink.

When I walked in I ordered my regular caramel macchiato and sesame bagel.

"Order 87!" the employee yelled. Getting off my phone I walked over to grab it. After getting a straw and preparing to leave something unexpected happened. I was walking out of the café when I rammed into someone. My coffee spilled all over me staining my white shirt.

"What the fuck?!" I said, shocked.

"Oh my god! I'm so sorry!"

I finally looked up to see who was speaking as they were also at least half a head taller than me. My jaw dropped. It was a boy who looked about the same age as me. He had glossy black hair and warm golden eyes that went with his chiseled face and muscular body. It wasn't then until I came back to my senses and realized that my white shirt was dripping with what used to be my drink.

The boy in front of me looked very apologetic and kept on apologizing.

"It's fine" I said.

"Wait, are you sure?"

"Yeah, it's alright". It really wasn't. I didn't have enough time to go back home and grab a spare change of clothes or I would be late for school.

The boy seemed to read my thoughts as he reached in his backpack for something.

"Here!", he smiled. He produced a sweatshirt out of his hands.

"Take it"

"Oh, it's really fine" I began to protest.

"No, really. Take it!"

I couldn't help but smile as I took the sweatshirt and pulled it over my sopping shirt. It was a deep red color with a fire symbol embroidered over the left side.

"Thanks! But how am I supposed to give it back to you?" I asked.

"You don't have to!" he smiled. "You can have it" he winked.

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Okay then…"

"Cal" he said, finishing my thought.

"Cal!" I smiled.

"And you are?"

"Oh I almost forgot, I'm Mare"

"Mare… You have a nice name"

"Almost as good of a name as Cal" I joked.

We kept on talking as he walked me to my car.

"I've never seen you around here. Are you new?" he asked before leaving me to drive.

"Yeah I just moved here"

"From where?" he asked me, curious.

"Guess you'll have to find me again to find out!" I teased.

"Will do!"

I couldn't stop smiling as I made my drive to school. Once I arrived I found a parking space and started walking down the concrete path, navigating through a wave of students to find the front office. Once I got there the secretary gave me my schedule.

Schedule:

1˚ - Reading and Writing: Mr. Johnson (A-1)

2˚ - Advanced Sparring and Gym: Mr. Macanthos (Gym/Field)

3˚ - History of Norta: Mr. Jacos (H-4)

4˚ - How to Control your powers: Mrs. Eldridge (A-7)

5˚ - Etiquette: Mrs. Blonos (B-5)

6˚ - Calculating advantages: Mr. Spencer (E-3)

7˚ - War and Conquering: Mr. Rhambos (D-6)

I sighed. This was going to be a tough day. Walking down one of the main halls of the school I tried looking for my first class which was supposed to be in "A" hall. I was too busy looking at the signs on the wall and almost crashed into a row of lockers, until someone stopped me with their hand.

I looked up. It was another boy. He looked a little bit similar to Cal. They had the same hair and eyes. The boy looked curiously at my hoodie as if studying it.

"Need some help?" he asked politely.

"Oh, yeah could you help me find my class" I almost laughed. I could feel the red color coming across my cheek, embarrassed.

"Definitely!" he grinned. "I'm Maven by the way"

"I'm Mare" I smiled.

I gave him my schedule to show him what my class was.

"Mr. Johnson?" he frowned. "He's known to be pretty boring"

"Well that's what I'm expecting from someone who teaches reading and writing" I grinned.

He laughed along with me.

"Shall I accompany you to your class?" he smiled.

"Sure!" Together we walked along the hallway to my class. He told me a little bit about himself saying that he was in the same age as me and played basketball.

"Well this is you", he told me kindly.

"Thanks!" I waved goodbye.

Maven was kind and nice. There was something about him that I just couldn't shake. He looked familiar but I couldn't point it out. Shaking my thoughts out of my head, I focused on the classroom in front of me. I opened the wooden door to find a classroom full of students chatting. I could tell those who were strongarms were practicing their strengths with arm wrestling, and others such as nymphs were practicing their abilities with the water in their water bottles. I couldn't help but smile. This is what I had wanted. A place where I was accepted and could hone and practice my ability.

There were only 2 seats left that were empty in the classroom and I took the one closer to the window. I grabbed my phone out to relax before class started. After about five minutes the bell rang.

2 people walked into the room. One was an older male who I presumed was Mr. Johnson. The second one, was Cal! He walked straight towards the only empty seat left and saw that I was sitting in the desk next to him.

"Hi!" he whispered as he grinned.

I couldn't help but smile back at him. He had a comforting warm feel about him. I wonder what his ability was. The rest of class was boring as expected. Mr. Johnson told us a little bit about himself, saying what he expected from us, and for us to follow directions. Today he told us to pair up into partners with the person sitting to the right side. That meant… That meant that I was paired up with Cal…

"Well Mare, I guess you're stuck with me then!" Cal said while he turned to look at me.

I shook my head in disbelief. "Okay then" I chuckled.

"Enjoying the sweatshirt?" he laughed

"Ummm yeah it's nice" I said awkwardly as I could feel a tinge of red rise to my cheeks.

"Well you better think it's nice, I'm suffering in the cold while you stay warm"

"Oh, I can give it back if you like" I started to say.

He stopped me. "It was a joke, Mare!" he said as he burst out laughing.

"Keep it down, Calore!" Mr. Johnson snapped.

I was about to completely disregard his comment until something clicked. Calore. That was the royal family's name. What the fuck? There was no way…

"Did he just say Calore!?", I asked, shocked.

"Uh, yeah. My dad's Tiberias Calore the sixth" he replied sheepishly, running his hand through his hair.

"Wow I feel stupid now. I'm wearing the hoodie of someone who's royalty!"

"No I don't want you to feel any different now that you know that I'm a "royal", told me.

I laughed. I would expect a royal to be stuck up, but what Cal showed me so far defied my expectations.

"Why'd you laugh?"

"Because you're very different from what I expected."

"Is that so?" he said with a playful gleam in his eye as he teasingly shoved me.

"Calore!" Mr. Johnson said warning him again.

"Yes sir! I know" Cal replied.

I knew that we had to be quiet but I couldn't help but stifle a giggle.

Before we knew it we had blown through all 4 worksheets assigned and the bell had rung.

"Sooo what class do you have next?" Cal asked.

"Ummm let me check" I said taking a look at my schedule.

"Advanced Sparring and Gym"

"Advanced huh? Well guess what? I have that too" he laughed.

Together we walked towards the gym where we split to change into gym clothes. When I walked into the locker room there were many girls changing and I couldn't help but be self-conscious. It was uncomfortable being around so many half naked girls and the fact that it smelled like sweat didn't help. Telkys were standing and having their clothes dress themselves while I picked an empty locker in the back and started to change into the red and white gym shorts and shirt.

Once everyone got outside Mr. Macanthos told us to run 3 laps around the track course and of course had more telkys teleport barriers around us. Thankfully I was a fast runner. I began to lead the pack of students before I was joined by Cal again. Of course. I couldn't help but feel annoyed that he was catching up to me and I started to sprint even faster.

"Careful, Mare" he said to me catching up again. "Don't start out too fast, you'll tire yourself out."

"Thanks for the reminder" I smirked.

He must have been right because in the end he beat me by 5 seconds exactly.

"Not bad Calore!" I said in between huffs.

"Not bad either Barrow" he smirked, reaching for a water bottle on the nearby bench.

For half of the period we practiced firing targets with our abilities. I couldn't help but notice that most of the people around me nearly always hit the bulls eye. I wasn't that controlled with my ability yet and I tried going slowly with concentration. I felt the electricity start flowing from my arms and I aimed carefully for the target. You could hear the prominent "BAM" sound it made when it hit. Dead center.

"Hell yeah!" I yelled, as I couldn't help my excitement.

"Good job Barrow but keep it down!" Mr. Macanthos yelled to me.

I felt the red color come alive into my cheeks. I turned around and saw Cal staring at me. Was it just me or was it getting warmer all of a sudden?

"What?" I grinned.

"Nothing. Just observing" he replied giving me a wink.

"Okay" I shrugged not really sure of what to make of his comment.

He laughed, turned back around and hit his own target with concentrated fire right in the bull's eye.

I scoffed. Show off.

Before I knew it class was over. Mr. Macanthos said that we would practice sparring tomorrow since this was the advanced class. I retreated to the locker room where I got dressed before the bell rang. Once I finished I grabbed my things and walked outside to try and get to my next class. When I arrived in the lobby I saw Cal leaning against a wall staring at me. Obviously he had a string of on looking girls a few feet away from him that were admiring him. They whispered in one another's ears and stared very obviously at Cal. Sometimes I forgot he was a prince.

I couldn't feel more awkward as I went up to him and the string of girls in his hoodie as I was still wearing it.

"So, why are you still here?" I asked, curious.

"I'm waiting for you"

The girls closest to him immediately stared at me with hard cold eyes. I guess they were his "fan club". I shuffled my feet awkwardly and just went along with it.

"Alright then. I have History next."

"History? Don't suppose you have Mr. Jacos now do you?"

"As a matter of I do"

"Well, good news! He's my uncle"

"You don't say? It wouldn't trouble you to show me where his class is would it?"

He smiled at me and willingly walked me the long distance from the gym to my class. I wonder if I would see Maven again today. He was nice and I needed a friend to talk to. Once I said goodbye to Cal, I opened the wooden door and walked in and observed the room. It was smaller, filled with books and maps on the walls, and had a dusty sort of smell to it. In fact, the one window open didn't seem to be doing much and you couldn't see one bit of the color of the wall because it was covered by so many things.

I again picked a seat by the window. I thought I could relax, but then I locked eyes with the boy with silver hair in front of me. He gave me an award deserving death stare. I flinched as I looked in his eyes, realization hitting me right in the face. I knew who he was. Ptolemus Samos.

(A/N) Hey guys! Thanks for reading! More drama coming soon. I was inspired to write this so I did and it turned out to be longer than I thought. Don't worry though, I'll be updating "Love is pain, Love is bliss" soon!

Love you all!

Don't forget to review with your thoughts on what should happen!

- Katelyn