Page 29 of Sinister
I stare at him for a moment before I try to remember what he just said to repeat. “I pledge my oath to Sable Lakes University. To uphold the values of the institution and to obey the laws set forth before me.”
“You’ll do well here, Miss Monacelli.” His friendly smile does nothing to stop my heart from feeling like it’s about to break free from the cavity of my chest.
How the fuck does he know my real last name? I let go of his pinky finger as though it just zapped me and scurry off the stage back to my seat. I pick up the tote bag and hug it to me hoping no one notices my mild freak out.
“Hey, are you okay?” Rome wraps his arm around my shoulders and leans into me.
I swallow the golf ball sized lump in my throat and watch Chaser stroll across the stage, his gown billowing behind him as he makes his way back to us. “He called me by my real last name,” I barely whisper, not daring to speak too loudly.
I feel Rome stiffen beside me, his arm going rigid across my shoulders. “Are you sure?”
I nod ever so slightly, still in shock this information was handed over to the university.
“Maybe they needed to be told, seeing as it’s on your birth certificate.” Rome taps Chaser on the leg as he stands next to me chatting quietly to the students behind us. “Hey, dipshit, sit down.”
Chaser plants himself onto the seat and half on me. “What’s up?”
“Did Sin say anything about Monroe’s enrollment?”
Chaser looks at us in confusion, his gaze narrowing as he thinks. “No, why?”
“I’ll tell you later.” Looking around at the other three hundred or so students, I wonder how many have to hide their name in fear of the men who eradicated their family coming after them.
After the long ass ceremony to matriculate each student, we’re all ushered to the great hall for lunch and to mingle. This is where our weekly formal dinners will be held and we all must attend or it’s a mark against our name. I’m told these dinners are a formal affair where we have to dress accordingly. This university is so regimented and weird, the complete opposite of where I was meant to attend.
The great hall reminds me of some of the ancient castles in Scotland. Vaulted ceilings with wooden beams, wrought iron candelabras adorn the walls and polished dark mahogany floorboards give this hall a medieval feel. I’m starting to like this place, even with its rules.
Long tables are set up at the front, covered in crisp white tablecloths, with an assortment of grazing options to choose from. The attention to detail that has been put into making this welcome both elegant yet casual is meticulous. There’s free flowing champagne for the ladies and top shelf whiskey for the men.
Standing on my own away from the crowd to get my bearings and allow myself a few minutes to settle in, I spot a student heading toward me. Her long chocolate locks are loosely curled and she’s also wearing jeans and a t-shirt under her gown.
She grins at me as she gets closer. “I think you have the best spot in this place.” She blows out an exasperated breath. “Hey, I’m Josephine.” She holds up her champagne glass for me to clink.
“Hi, my name’s Monroe.” I clink my flute to hers as she settles beside me with her small plate of nibbles.
“How ridiculous is all this?” She throws an olive in her mouth.
“I thought it was just me. It’s a bit over the top,” I agree with her statement and we both have a little chuckle.
“Which dorm building are you in?” She pops another olive and stares at me intently.
“I um, I live in the Spades Fraternity house.” I take a sip of my champagne to break up the silence that has surrounded us.
“Oh my God! Are you their queen?” Her eyebrows shoot up and her mouth opens into an O.
“Fuck no! I’m just forced to live there. That’s their queen.” I avert my gaze to Charlotte who is making small talk with one of the faculty members with Sin by her side. I wonder where he disappeared to earlier?
Josephine follows my gaze and glances at me with a knowing look. “Doesn’t surprise me. Look at her, she looks like she has a stick up her perfect ass.” She laughs at her assessment. “Glad to hear you’re not their queen, because we would have had to stop being friends right here and now.”
“Zero chance of me being queen, so our friendship is safe. Because I’m a nosy bitch, what exactly does the queen do? What is the point of the fraternity king etc?”
Josephine links her arm through my elbow and drags me away from the crowd further into the corner of the room, far enough away from listening ears. “Girlfriend, I can only tell you what I know so far but rumor is that the current king and two jacks ridded the Spades Fraternity of the reigning king and jack and forced the queen out of the university,” she whispers so low I need to lean into her to hear.
Dread drops into my stomach, a knot forming instantly, knowing exactly what they did. It takes me three short seconds to put two and two together. A heavy beat passes through my chest before I pull the mask of ignorance down over me. “What the hell?” I don’t know what else to say without incriminating my two best friends and Sin.
“Right! And apparently the queen is there for their needs. If you know what I mean.” Josephine waggles her eyebrows at me. “I mean, they’re fucking delicious, so I wouldn’t complain either.”
Throwing back the rest of my champagne, I try not to choke on it as her words make me feel nauseous. “Interesting,” I manage to say and nod at this new information. “Is this the same for all the frats?” I ask curiously and I hope her answer is yes, because Sass would lap that shit up and own it.