Page 28 of Sinister
“Who got the matching college presents?” I raise my eyebrows as Chaser opens the back door for me to climb in.
“It’s the frat’s cars. We all drive the same so the campus knows where we belong.” He places his hand on my butt and shoves me into the car.
I bite my tongue because I want to so badly give them shit for being a part of this, but I’ll wait until Sin isn’t around. Sin climbs into the driver seat, completely ignoring my existence while Rome climbs into the passenger side and Chaser next to me. Sin places his arm on the headrest in front of me and turns in his seat to reverse the monster of a car out of the garage. Our eyes lock for a split second with him looking away first. We’re the first out of the three garages and Sin floors it down the long cobblestone driveway and takes the turn onto the main road at an alarming speed, throwing me half onto Chaser. I right myself in my seat and place my seatbelt on just in case this idiot crashes the car.
Chapter fifteen
Monroe
Sin pulls the car through fifteen-foot wrought iron gates attached to an arch that has the university crest in the center of it. I’ve learned on the drive here that SLU has four colleges under its name, and we’ll be attending Dacre Hall. The other three colleges include Emmanual Hall, Trinity Hall and Pembroke Hall. Apparently, there’s some ancient hierarchy and naturally Sin and the boys are enrolled in the college that is at the top of the pecking order.
As we head along the cobblestone driveway to student parking, I marvel at the ancient English, gothic looking sandstone buildings with their arched stained glass windows and carved stonework. There’s a cavalcade of black Range Rovers behind us and must look as though the King and Queen are arriving with their guard. Students in the parking lot all stare as we pull up and park and one by one the other Range Rovers slowly follow.
“Does anyone know where I go to register for classes?” I glance at Chaser who is busy texting on his phone.
Rome turns to look back at me, handing me a small black pencil case looking thing with the school crest printed on it. “Your ID card and badge are in there. We all do the same core subjects for first term, so naturally we made sure some of your classes are with us.”
“Great, I don’t get to choose which college I go to and now I can’t even choose what I want to study.” I unzip the pencil case and pull out my ID card and look at the terrible photo they chose for it. “Thanks for picking the shittiest photo you could find.” I roll my eyes and place the ID back in the pencil case. Running my finger over the four card suit symbols in the crest, I wonder what their significance is.
“You look that shit in real life so quit complaining.” Sin places his ear buds in before exiting the car and slams the door shut, striding off to who knows where.
“Don’t fucking listen to him. You can always update the photo. Sin had to find one quickly for Raphael so he could get you enrolled.” Chaser adds before climbing out of the car and taking my bag with him.
“Come on. We’ll be late for our matriculation ceremony.” Rome hops out of the car and opens my door for me.
Climbing out tentatively, I look around at the other students in the parking lot, and most of them look as terrified as I do. Only these buffoons I’m living with seem to not have a worry in the world as they exit their SUVs and head toward the main building.
Walking in step with Rome and Chaser on either side of me, I get a lot of dirty looks from other girls as we pass them. I ignore the stares and study the beautiful architecture of every building we pass. As we file into the main hall where we need to gather, we’re handed a tote bag adorned with the school crest and stuffed to the brim.
“What’s all this?” I poke around the tote bag trying to see what’s under the plastic covered puffy material.
Rome heads to the very front of the auditorium and I dutifully follow even though I’d rather sit right at the back out of sight. Chaser is close behind me when we walk past other students already seated and I notice they’re the students from the frat house. Sin is already sitting in the first seat of the row, looking like he owns the place. Rome leaves the seat next to Sin empty and takes the next one, pulling me down to sit next to him. I glance up at Chaser, who is chatting with someone in the row behind us, and as I turn to face forward again, I catch the glare of someone as they walk toward us. It’s the Queen of Spades, making her way to the open seat next to Sin.
She struts past me, throwing me a scathing look, before she gently sits down between Rome and Sin. I so badly want to give her the finger but instead I look up at the vaulted ceiling of the auditorium and at the paintings of past important people who have attended the college. Each one unsmiling in their pose and wearing the same badge on their jacket lapels.
Chaser seats himself next to me when a man in a long black cloak walks onto the stage. The students all hush and silence falls over the room.
“Welcome Dacre Hall students. I am Vice Chancellor, Lord Alex Broers, and I have been at Sable Lakes University since I too was a fresh young student. My time here has served me well and I believe you are about to embark on a pivotal turning point in your lives. You’ll either thrive or you’ll flail in this institution. Sable Lakes University is steeped in history, and we pride ourselves as a beacon of global excellence in education, research and sporting endeavors. Our rollcall of Nobel Prize winners, our gathered field of inventors and innovators, and our distinguished and accomplished alumni all speak volumes of our values and where we hold ourselves amongst society. It is here where we expect all our students to prosper, excel and exceed all expectations. Now, if we could all stand and take out our gowns, please.” He waits patiently.
Looking at both Rome and Chaser as they dig through their tote bags, pulling out black fabric before standing, I quickly rummage through mine and grab mine out. Standing up, I shake out the fabric to reveal a black gown. It’s not floor length like the Vice Chancellor’s and the other faculty members.
“Students, please put them on and remain standing.” His voice bellows through the speakers in the auditorium.
I slide my arms through the cape, and it reaches halfway down my calves, the fabric is soft and feels nice against my skin. I glance at Rome beside me in his gown and he looks so ridiculous that I have to stifle a giggle.
“Students, these gowns are to be worn at the weekly formal dinner and to all ceremonies and activities. Your pin will be always displayed with pride and visible at all times. If you need sizing adjustments, please see the uniform office and exchange it there, do not exchange with other students. Now, please take out your new sports jacket from its plastic sleeve.”
The rustling and movement of all the students has the Vice Chancellor grinning. I grab the puffer jacket out from the plastic sleeve and hold it up. It’s dark blue, squishy and I think I’m in love with it. I know this will be a staple in my wardrobe come the cooler months.
“As you can see, the school crest is proudly displayed on the right breast. You will take your new winter sporting jacket to the uniform office and have your initials embroidered onto the left breast. These jackets are for more casual events and for out of school social events if you so wish to wear them. They are not for selling and swapping with other universities as has happened in the past. They are also not to be worn by anyone who does not attend Sable Lakes.” He leans away from the microphone and coughs before walking to the table at the side of the stage and taking a sip of water, then returning to his post.
“If you look into your tote bag you will see items to help you settle in. I expect we are a mature bunch of young adults and I won’t find any items littered through the grounds. Now, please file row by row to the side of the stage to be called upon to state your oath.”
Sin leads us to the side of the stage before he ascends the few stairs and walks across the stage to the Vice Chancellor. He proceeds to grab the Vice Chancellor’s pinky finger and repeats hushed words to him and then leaves the stage, grabs his tote bag and exits, going fuck knows where.
I watch on in fascination until it’s my turn. Climbing the stairs, I make my way across the stage and stop in front of the Vice Chancellor. He smiles at me and holds his hand out for me to hold his pinky finger.
“Repeat after me,” he says. “I pledge my oath to Sable Lakes University. To uphold the values of the institution and to obey the laws set forth before me.”