Free Web NovelChapter 10: The Worst Team
"Can I sit here?"
Aria lifted her gaze and immediately recognized the girl.
"You..." She pointed vaguely at her. "I know you."
The girl smiled knowingly.
"Aleksandra," she supplied. "Though you can call me Alek." She paused, frowning slightly. "Or Sandra, I suppose. Either works."
Aria considered that. "Which one do you prefer?"
Aleksandra thought about it for a moment.
"Alek sounds cooler." She shrugged.
Aria grinned. "Alek then."
One Alek’s brows lifted. "So can I join your table?"
"About that..." Aria hesitated.
Brittney had declared she was assembling them a team. However, if Aria was finally making an effort with other girls, then surely she should have some say in who joined it.
She looked Alek over.
The girl was honestly pretty, with ginger hair, freckles sprinkled across her nose, and wide brown eyes that gave her an almost harmless appearance. Back in the conference hall, she sounded intelligent.
If Aria intended to survive this madness, she needed information. And Information usually came attached to smart people.
Aria cleared her throat.
"Sure. Go ahead."
Alek smiled and took the seat opposite her. As she settled down, Aria glanced around the hall. For once, it seemed she hadn’t completely messed things up.
Everywhere she looked, girls were grouping together, forming little alliances of their own. Perhaps she should thank Brittney for the idea. Otherwise, she probably would have ended up sitting here alone.
Not that she would ever admit that out loud.
Although she was still wary of girls in general, Alek must have seen something worthwhile in approaching her because most of the candidates still looking for a group were actively avoiding their table.
Aria didn’t particularly care. She wasn’t trying to collect followers. Unlike Karen.
The blonde had claimed one of the long rectangular tables and was seated right in the middle while the other girls filled the surrounding seats. The scene reminded Aria of the famous painting of the Last Supper. Only with more blondes and significantly fewer miracles.
"Karen thrives on attention." Alek’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.
Aria looked back at her, curiosity flickering across her face.
Alek continued. "Her father is one of the most influential politicians in Nova City and her mother’s family comes from old money."
That explained a lot.
"She’s powerful," Alek said. "Or at least people think she is. That’s why they’re flocking to her." Her lips curved in a smile.
"If it’s any consolation, I’ve never seen her intimidated by anyone before, until you."
Aria scoffed. "Intimidated?" she repeated. "Karen looks like she wants to bury me alive."
"Exactly." Alek looked entirely too amused by that.
Aria narrowed her eyes. "You seem to know her pretty well."
Alek picked up the menu, pretending to study it. "Rich people circles."
That somehow explained absolutely nothing.
Aria brows furrowed. "I don’t get it."
Alek glanced up.
"What don’t you get?"
"I thought the Concordia Program mainly targeted poor families desperate for money." She gestured vaguely around the room. "Why would rich people send their daughters here knowing how dangerous this place is?"
Alek let out a small laugh. "What have rich people always wanted?"
Aria said. "More money?"
"Power," Alek corrected. "Money is just how they buy it."
She set the menu down. "Humans have almost no influence inside Bestial City. We trade with them. Even negotiate with them. But we don’t actually have any real power there."
Aria listened carefully.
"Now imagine one of their daughters catches the attention of a dragon heir. Or a basilisk prince."
Realization slowly dawned on Aria. "Oh."
"Exactly." Alek nodded. "One marriage. One relationship. One child. That’s all it takes to secure influence that money alone can’t buy."
Her expression hardened now. "And throughout history, whenever powerful people wanted to gain something, who usually paid the price?"
Aria already knew the answer.
Alek answered anyway.
"Women."
The word landed heavily.
"They get dressed up differently depending on the century, but the game stays the same. Different era. Different strategy." She smiled humorlessly. "Same sacrifice."
For the first time since arriving in Nova City, Aria felt like she was finally talking to someone who understood exactly how messed up this entire situation was.
Right at that moment, Brittney stumbled back into her life and ruined the serious mood. She was dragging Trisha along with her. Well, dragging might have been a strong word.
The caramel-skinned girl was walking under her own power, but from the way she kept trying to pull her arm free, it was obvious she didn’t actually want to be here.
Brittney’s gaze landed on Alek and her eyes widened.
"Oh my God." Pride immediately filled her face as her attention moved to Aria.
"I knew it," she declared dramatically. "The two of us really do think alike. Fate clearly destined us to be together."
Aria stared at her. She genuinely wondered whether Brittney cared if people misunderstood the things that came out of her mouth.
Apparently not.
Just as Aria expected, Trisha shot Brittney a look.
"What kind of fetish cult are you starting this time?"
Brittney grinned like a Cheshire cat.
"Not a fetish cult," she corrected. "Just a clique of smart girls trying to keep each other alive in this twisted game."
Before Trisha could object, Brittney shoved her into the remaining empty seat and claimed the last one for herself.
Aria watched the interaction unfold.
"You two know each other?"
"I don’t—"
"Very well," Brittney answered over Trisha.
Then she pointed at Alek.
"The three of us actually."
Alek sighed. "Rich people circles."
There it was again. That vague answer.
Aria immediately felt her defenses rise. She didn’t like this.
She was the outsider at this table. The others shared a history she knew nothing about, while she sat there trying to piece together conversations that apparently everyone else understood.
And if there was one thing Aria hated, it was feeling out of the loop. Worse, if things ever turned ugly, where would their loyalties lie? Certainly not with her.
Perhaps this whole team idea had been a mistake.
"Trisha is technically my relative." Brittney explained.
"Technically," Trisha emphasized. "The connection is so watered down it’s practically nonexistent."
"And yet," Brittney countered sweetly, "you still carry the Thorne surname."
Trisha released a long suffering sigh. Arguing with Brittney was physically exhausting.
Now that she was closer, Aria could properly study her. Long brown locs framed Trisha’s face before giving way to soft curls at the ends. With her striking hazel eyes, she possessed the sort of exotic beauty that made other girls jealous.
The contrast between her and Brittney was almost ridiculous. While Trisha looked elegant and intimidating, the brunette looked like trouble wrapped in a pretty package.
Baby-blue eyes sparkled with mischief as though she woke up every morning searching for new ways to create problems.
"She’s normally not this grumpy," Brittney informed Aria.
Trisha immediately narrowed her eyes.
"Don’t."
"She’s only mad because I kissed her crush during a game of Truth or Dare."
"BRITTNEY!"
Trisha looked absolutely horrified.
Brittney said. "What? I’m just giving Aria context. If we’re going to be a team, it’s important we get everything out in the open. Secrets create trust issues."
"In that case," Trisha snapped, "why don’t you tell Aria how you’re considered a disgrace to the Thorne family?"
Just like that, silence fell over the table.
Brittney stopped smiling.
Alek immediately took a sip of her drink, thanking the waiter who served her right on time.
Aria stared at the scene, then pinched the bridge of her nose.
So much for building a survival team. At this rate, they were going to kill each other long before the beasts got the chance.
Before Aria could say anything, Brittney beat her to it.
"Yeah, you’re right," she admitted with a smile that was anything but amused. "I am a disgrace. That’s exactly why I’m here."
The joke landed flat. Yet Brittney continued anyway.
"But unlike your parents, I’m not trying to use you as a pawn in some power game." She nodded toward Karen’s table. "You’re smart enough to make your own choices, Trisha. If you want to join Karen’s group, go ahead. I’m sure they’ll take you."
For once, Trisha opened her mouth and had absolutely nothing to say.
A strange silence settled over the table.
After what looked like a brief internal battle, she finally sighed.
"Fine. Let’s get this over with."
Brittney immediately brightened.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Thank you!" She practically launched herself across the table.
Trisha held up a hand instantly.
"Don’t."
The warning in her eyes was clear. Brittney wisely stopped where she was.
"Alright, that’s enough." Aria’s patience had finally reached its limit.
Just like that, all eyes shifted toward her.
Aria licked her lips before speaking.
"I don’t do teams."
That earned her several raised brows.
"I’m usually better on my own." She confessed. "But I have enough self-awareness to admit I can’t do this alone."
The girls exchanged glances. At least she was being honest.
Aria continued. "I don’t know much about Bestiaris Academy. But every game follows the same rules. The people with the most information and the strongest support usually win."
Her gaze moved between them. "So do we agree to have each other’s backs?"
Alek, Brittney, and Trisha looked at one another.
Brittney answered first.
"I’m in."
"Me too," Alek said.
Trisha hesitated for only a second.
"Well," she muttered, "you people seem like you know what you’re doing. Fine. I’m in."
Brittney looked far too pleased with herself. She did it! The team was complete. There was no backing out now.
"Good," Aria said.
For the first time since arriving in Nova City, she felt like she might actually have a chance.
"Now the next step is combining whatever information we know about Bestiaris Academy—"
"Aria Aspen." Her name cut through the conversation.
Immediately, Aria looked up to see
Abigail standing a few feet away.
Her hackles rose instantly. What did they want now?
Abigail approached the table.
"You need to come with me."
The atmosphere shifted. All three girls stood at once, their sudden movement drawing attention from nearby tables. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
"Where are you taking her?" Brittney demanded. From the look on her face, she seemed fully prepared to throw hands if necessary.
Abigail remained completely unfazed.
"Aria is needed for some questioning."
"Questioning about what?" Trisha asked.
"She’ll be back shortly."
The vague answer did absolutely nothing to calm anyone.
Across the room, Karen let out a laugh.
"Who knows what trouble she managed to cause this time."
Aria ignored her.
Even though her heart had started pounding, she forced herself to stand.
"Don’t worry," she told the others. "I’ll be back."
Hopefully.
She turned toward Abigail.
"Let’s go."
