Elena
"I'm doing well, Grandma. I'm settling into my new room just fine," I assured her over the phone. I paced over to the window and glanced down at the hordes of new students unloading their stuff and carrying it all into the building. I watched as brothers and sisters, moms and dads helped their son or daughter unpack everything, and I felt a pang of regret that my own parents couldn't be here to see me off into this next stage of my life.
"Have you met your roommate, yet?" Grandma asked, pulling me out of my dreary thoughts. This was supposed to be a happy day, not a day for me to sit and feel sorry for myself. This would be a place where I could make something of myself, become whoever I wanted. Become someone my family could be proud of.
I could hear clanking in the background. "Sorry, I have to bake some cookies and bars for the fundraiser," she replied to my unspoken question. "As I was getting everything out, I thought of you and wanted to check up on you." She had dropped me off at the school yesterday morning for early admission. I had some paperwork and such to fill out, yet, so the school allowed me to come early.
I laughed into the phone as I sank down into my rather uncomfortable, wooden chair and faced my desk, straightening my calendar that hung on the wall beside it. "I'm sorry I can't help with any of it. But to answer your question, no, I haven't met my roommate, yet. I'm sure she'll show up soon, though."
"Right you are. I look forward to hearing all about her, but I really need to focus on these cookies. I'll talk to you later, my dear." I said goodbye and hung up, a small smile on my lips. I always loved talking to my grandma, however short our conversations were. She was a piece of home. My only family left. I didn't even want to think about what I would do without her.
Turning to look at the rest of the room, I noted all the boxes I still had yet to unpack. I had gotten too preoccupied with touring the campus and getting all the paperwork I had needed filled out to really finish putting all my things away. I had most of my desk organized. It was just my clothes that needed to get hung up and shoved in drawers.
Glancing down at the folder I had placed on my desk, I opened it and took out the page that listed my schedule. I was certainly taking a full work load. I had three biology courses and a couple lab classes. I was thankful I had been able to sneak a foreign language class in there. I hadn't been able to take as many as I had wanted, but at least I had something.
Standing, I went over to my closet and started pulling out the boxes that needed to be unpacked. Grabbing the box with all my pants, I started putting them into the drawers while I thought back to orientation to see who from that group I could remember meeting. There had been a Noel, who I had liked well enough- a shy, quiet kid. And that was when I had met Alexa, my future roommate. I had sent a brief text to her yesterday to tell her I had moved in, and she had replied this morning that she and her family were on their way, but they had yet to arrive.
After I got two boxes unpacked, I stood up. I had had enough of the unpacking. I had one box left, but that could wait until later. There was still some daylight left, and I wanted to be able to do a little more exploring, get a better feel of the campus. Maybe see if I couldn't find Noel. I didn't know which room he was in, though I did know he was in my dorm. But maybe he hadn't arrived, yet. We had never exchanged numbers at the orientation, so I had no way to contact him.
What were the chances of me running into him out on the campus?
Eevie
"Mother, don't you dare broach that topic again," I told her without turning to face her, which I'm sure pissed her off, though, of course, that was why I did it. She had ambushed me before I had been able to even get out of bed, so I had rolled over and turned my back to her, the blanket over my head.
"Whether you wish to speak of it or not, the issue still stands," she seemed unperturbed about me turning my back to her. But then she was good at keeping her emotions in check. Heaven forbid anyone could tell what she was feeling. She was stil standing in the entry way of my room.
"I am not getting married. End of discussion," I threw the blankets back and walked into my closet to change into some proper attire, grabbing first a pair of skinny jeans. I felt entirely too exposed in only my nightshirt in front of my mother, and I couldn't very well kick her out of my room, as much as I might want to.
"Do you have any idea what this marriage would do for your family? For the country? You know we are not the most well off of the noble families. Everyone in the darn demon realm seems to know of it. But this marriage would help our standing. This is by far the best match we will ever be able to find you. We could hire a full staff here, again," she replied wistfully. "Not to mention peace between the noble families. And you're throwing it all away because of selfish reasons."
"I have a right to want to marry for love, to be happy," I told her angrily. I knew what I would be giving up if I didn't go through with it. Pulling on my favorite light blue crop top, I stepped back out of the closet and sat on the edge of my bed and faced my mother.
"Of course you should, but we were not given that luxury. But you never know, you might be able to fall in love with your betrothed in time." My mother came and sat beside me on the bed and took my hands in hers. "I want you to be happy, Evelyn. I do. I know you don't think I do. And your father and I would not have set you up with this boy if we didn't think he'd be a good match. But we need this alliance. And not just for this family. We need it to keep peace. Please put aside your reluctance and do this. Besides, the other families are starting to talk. You are getting rather old to still be single."
I glared at my mother. She knew why I was still single, and for her to bring it up so nonchalantly, I wanted to murder her. "You know why," I gritted out between clenched teeth, refusing to break eye contact and back down. I wouldn't. Not on this topic, which I still felt the scares on my heart as though the loss had happened only yesterday.
"Yes, yes. That human boy still holds your heart. Dear, he is dead, and it's high time you leave him in the past. Your father and I let that tryst carry on far too long." Standing up, she shuffled to the door. "Now, do i have your cooperation for this marriage or not?"
I wanted to scream and cry. Instead I hung my head, "Yes." There was no point in arguing with her further about it.
"Good." She hurried from the room before I could change my answer.
Getting up, I grabbed a pair of boots, slipping them on and lacing them up. I may have said I would cooperate, but they didn't know I was still very much against it. I was planning on heading out to the Council where I was planning on being bonded to a human. I was sure this would break the arrangement.
I walked out of my room and down the hall. We had a lovely manor my father had been able to commission, and for a time, we had had a full staff of servants, but my father had come from nothing and was not accustomed to wealthy living. He spent too much money too quickly. Ninety five years ago, we had had to reprieve our household staff. We were able to keep a couple, but all but one left for better opportunities with better standing noble families.
My father and mother were by the other nobles, and only within the last few decades were other nobles learning to simply tolerate us. But when out in public, my entire family had to be on their best behavior. Any slip-up at all was regarded as a weakness we couldn't afford to have at the moment. We had to keep up appearances we were well to do. I doubt anyone had any real idea how hard pressed for money we really were.
Not that I cared. Nor had I ever. Sure, I kept up appearances for my family's sake, and I was a damn good actress when I wanted to be, but I knew being a noble's wife wasn't my future. I longed for adventure. For the unknown. After I met my human love, life just never looked the same to me. I understood now how fleeting life can be, and I didn't want to squander a moment, so why, then, would I waste my happiness on marrying some dolt who had had everything handed to him?
My parents wouldn't tell me who I was supposedly betrothed to. I'm sure they thought I'd do something to slip from his favor so he'd drop the engagement. I knew nothing of the gentleman other than he was a high noble family anyone of my social standings would kill to be with. But I wasn't just anyone.
I slipped out of the house without a word to anyone. And no one stopped me from leaving as I came and went as I pleased all the time. Nothing out of the ordinary from me. I had a full day planned for myself, the least of which was to meet with the Council and bond with a human, something that would royally piss my parents off. But I looked forward to it.
When I arrived at the council, I noticed I was not the first one to arrive. I didn't take much time to look around before I found the head of the council and smiled pleasantly at him. "Mr. Black, I hope that you are doing well," I smiled inclining my my head respectfully.
He returned the smile, "Evelyn, good to see you. Are you ready to be bonded to a human?" he asked as he turned around and rummaged through some files on his desk. He pulled one out and handed it to me when I nodded yes, I was ready. "Go ahead and look over the file. We will be sending out the letters to the humans shortly, and my son will be bringing the humans later tonight. So until then, relax and enjoy yourself."
"Thank you, Mr. Black," I bowed slightly to him before I strode over to a set of chairs and sat down, looking over the file. Which human would I be bonded with? A woman named Elena. A biology major. Premed. Interesting. She seemed ambitious, which I liked. I glanced through the rest of the file before closing it and looking around.
There was another demon here, glancing at all the pictures on the wall. I wondered if I should go and say something. See if he knew anything about being bonded to humans. I hadn't heard much about it before Mr. Black had approached me, so I really didn't know what to expect.
Getting up, I made my way over to him, pretending as though I was looking at pictures as I got closer. Finally, we were practically shoulder to shoulder. Finally, I turned and stuck my hand out, "Hi, I'm Eevie." He turned and looked at me, and I hoped he didn't find me too forward.
