Page 2 of Brutal Prince

I glanced to my right when a ‘staff only’ door opened and closed, catching my eye. We all knew the Snake and Chalice chamber was beneath the Benedictine Athenaeum with only two ways to get in. One was through that ‘staff only’ door and other was the fire exit, which was impossible to get into from the outside. Believe me, I’ve tried. I was also told by Ollie that there are a handful of keys to unlock the doors of the chamber but they’re all in the hands of senior members including current president of the Snake and Chalice, Thomas Buchanan.

Apparently, when a president leaves the position, such as the case of previous president, Jonathon Wheeler, he’s gifted with a key. Therefore, there must be a few in circulation to steal right from under their noses.

“You’re dismissed,” Vanderbilt said, after several seconds of silence. “This conversation is over.”

“You still haven’t said to me whether or not you can give me a job.”

“I thought I made it clear that I’m not an employment agency.”

“I’m confused. Why did you ask to meet me then?”

“To educate you on that fact.”

“You could’ve told me over the phone.” I stood to leave, feeling perplexed and annoyed, yet my skin prickled in suspicion. What was this really about?

He dropped his eyes back down onto his laptop screen and continued to tap away on the keyboard. I inspected the athenaeum of glass cabinets displaying old texts, maps and photographs and various other historical artifacts associated with the college. There were several tables with students studying and an admin area, but I suspected the majority of activities was behind the ‘staff only’ doors.

Feeling utterly disappointed I left and ran down the stone steps, heading across University Square directly towards the Edgar Allen Poe Library that bore the Snake and Chalice symbol. All the old original university buildings on the square had that symbol etched into stone. That included the art gallery, museum and Benedictine Athenaeum. That was back in the 1800’s when women were forbidden to attend this elitist university, until feminist groups forced a change. Yet, it seemed like we hadn’t come very far at all.

Just as I stepped up the library steps my phone rang, an unknown number. “Hello?”

“Gretta Nelson?”

“Is this Benson?”

“Sorry, I’m using a different phone to the one you rang me on.”

“Okay. What’s this about?”

“There’s been a change of heart. Would you mind coming back to the athenaeum?”

“Sure,” I answered wearily.

I walked back across the old cobblestones on the square where a sea of pink cherry blossoms lay after the Spring winds shook the trees. We were on the edge of Summer which was a welcomed reprieve after a long cold winter. Summer break was just around the corner for those privileged few who didn’t have to work. I’ll be working the entire summer break. I didn’t have anywhere to go anyway and I can’t leave Mom for long periods of time.

Vanderbilt was standing by the ‘staff only’ door when I entered back into the dank building. Even with plenty of lighting, it still was dark and creepy. I could almost see the ghosts of long dead male students who graced this building with their inflated egos and high hopes.

“Step this way,” he urged, opening the ‘staff only’ door to let me pass first. Once he closed the door behind him and we were completely alone down a well-lit hallway with a dozen closed doors, did he continue speaking, “I sent your picture to our superior and he was very pleased with you.”

“Pardon?” We walked along the hall to the end door, which unlocked and opened. Behind that door were stairs leading downwards, vanishing into shadows.

“He’d like to meet you in person.”

“Who are we talking about?”

“It will be just a quick meeting. A once over, shall we say.”

“With who? Who am I meeting with?”

He ran down the stairs ahead of me to large wooden double doors. This wasn’t the plan. This wasn’t how I imagined it would go. Ollie and Darryn warned me to never step foot inside the chamber alone, yet this was the perfect opportunity. Three imposing figures stepped out from the gloom and stood in front of the double doors dressed head to toe in black.

Every girl on campus was weary of this look. Black balaclavas, gloves, voice changers. I wondered if I was in trouble and considered running, yet I couldn’t. A battle raged inside of me and curiosity won over fear.

“She’s pretty with a nice body,” the man in the middle stated using his voice changer to sound like a creepy robot. He stepped forward, pulled off his glove revealing his Snake and Chalice ring and ran his fingers through my cherry red hair. I wore it in a short pixie do for pure convenience, but I dye it red to make me feel alive. Feeling alive was a privilege not gifted to someone like me. Besides, Lise said the color makes my blue eyes pop. “We could use her.”

“For what?”

“What does she need?” the man in black asked Benson.

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