Chapter One

This is a story I am starting soon, after I have finished the Kings mates. This is basically a teaser chapter, and will be up by itself until I publish the rest of the chapters (generally one by one so not to long)

Comment your thoughts and don't forget to vote.

Also don't forget to check out my other story, The King's Mate.

Disclaimer:

> This story in no way is to insult, degrade or make fun of religions, races or cultures.

No fair

You really know how to make me cry

When you gimme those ocean eyes

I'm scared

I've never fallen from quite this high

Falling into your ocean eyes

Those ocean eyes

Chapter One - The beginning

Nephele's POV

All the legends are true.

Or that's what they told us in Greek Mythology class in high school. That class had enticed my whole love for mythology. Well that class and the Percy Jackson Books which I had consumed in a number of days as an eager ten-year-old.

I took the class because the subject is fascinating but I truly don't believe in the whole one sided religion stuff. If there is one God, why can't there be another? It was so unfair to the other religions. I was insulting and rude to think that people had more privilege than another.

It was just the way I thought. Fate had to be fair to some degree, right?

I shouldve been on the other side of that argument considering that I knew that life isn't fair. I was one to know that, I was the one to live through that.

"Nephele" Angelina, my best friend and fellow classmate, whispers in my ear.

"You should focus, our final assignments are coming up and who know what you'll get." She scolds in a playful tone, her eyes twinkling with love as she stares at our teacher.

Our rather young teacher.

I swear, she has been 'in love' with him since the first time she walked into the lecture hall. I wasn't surprised. He was cute, tall and he dressed well, something my best friend constantly looks for in men. She is a strange person. To me, he was just another teacher, teaching another class I take.

I sigh, refocusing on the medical lecture. I take off my pen lid and start writing down he notes required for my next assignment. The class passes in a blur, the lecture seeming to drag on at the same time. When the teacher dismisses the class I almost bolt out of seat in joy. I was tired and I still had to go to work. I quickly assemble all my spread pens and highlighters, me being a colourful and colour-coding genius.

Angelina nudges my shoulder and looks towards the teacher, pointing her head indiscreetly towards him. I follow her gaze to find another teacher looking at me directly. The stare sent shivers down my spine. I didn't feel safe around him, never have to be honest.

The new teacher was known as Mr. Vaughan. He was a young teacher, the same age as my medical teacher. He taught Medical Administration, a class that I took for three months and have to take for another three months and. I sigh deeply, not wanting to deal with him right now.

"Stay with me?" I ask Angelina quietly in a murmur. She nods her head and raises her eyebrow as if to say 'of course, are you kidding me?'

I shake my head and collect my books. I take the steps down to the main floor one at time stuck behind the long line of awaiting students. I try to go to the furthest side of the line, the one that will hide my retreating figure from the teacher. Angelina grabs ahold of my hand stepping behind me, closing me into a small space essentially. I let out a breath, realising it would be harder for him to get to me from here.

The teacher has known me since freshman year when he was graduating. He always seemed too friendly, too happy to see me. He always tried to talk to me, that was normal. What wasn't normal was the way he would try to touch me inappropriately. I always managed to get away in time before it escalated but it was harder when he became one of my teachers. I was about to exit the door when my name was yelled.

"Nephele" It was the voice of Mr. Vaughan. I freeze shortly before pulling Angelina along and all but run out of the lecture hall and towards the front doors to the University. The sound of rushing footsteps and shoving is heard closely behind us. All the more to run for. Angelina is still behind me running, or speed walking alongside my retreating figure. I pull us up behind a tree hoping that will be far enough for now. Angelina breaks out in a laugh.

"Oh my god, you should have seen his face. He was like 'Get back here' and 'oh my god my love come back to me'!" Ange, as usual, exclaims dramatically, laughing hysterically at the same time. I break out in a chuckle. "But El, you should really get a restraining order against him. He is starting to show up everywhere you go. He even was at your brothers birthday party..." She pauses passively "In California! We were in a totally different state, and there he was, speaking to your brother! What the kind of creep follows someone across the continent just to get in with the fam." She continues obviously frustrated.

"Calm down Ange. If it gets worse I will consider calling the police but I want to just finish my degree and then I will be on my way, out of his way." I say smiling, reassuring her I was fine with it and didn't let it bother me too much. It did bother me, but I'd rather just keep my head down and get on with the internships next year.

I peek, looking around the side of the tree to find Mr Vaughan outside the main University entry doors. Above him are the big letters of 'Gold-Shore'. He looks around quickly scanning the area, his eye lingering on the tree where we are currently hiding for a few seconds too long. He then flips his hand to check the time before walking calmly back inside the University doors. I turn back around a sigh drastically before facing Angelina.

Gold-Shore was one of the most expensive University's in the world. The school within the university was for the top of the top, either in means of riches or smarts. I wasn't in either. Sort of anyway. I had received a part scholarship, easing the funding of the University meaning I could still pay within mortgaging my parents house.

"He has some serious issues with personal space and stalking" She mutters under her breathe but I laugh at her comment anyway.

"Forget about him. Lets get to work" I say, grabbing her by the arm and continuing down the concreted path to the car park. Angelina comes from a rich family, her parents paying for everything. Her University degree, her car, our apartment. She wasn't stuck up though, and for that I was grateful. Her parents were also loving and kind. They had adopted me when I was fifteen due to circumstances and I couldn't be more grateful. They have done everything for me, and I owe them my life because of that.

They insisted on paying for my University degree but I declined and went to work so I could pay myself. I wasn't the highest grading student, although somehow I was able to manage the scholarship to a long list of awaiting University's, Gold-Shore being on the list. To the outside world, I was deemed as perfect, an angel in some eyes.

But I was far from that. I wasn't perfect, nowhere near it. I wasn't an angel, I have seen things some demons wished they could see. Life wasn't fair. And I knew that.

We approach her Mercedes G 63 AMG, Angelina throwing the keys to me. I wasn't surprised she got this car for her twenty-second birthday. She had wanted it for ages and she eventually run down her parents. Not even paying attention the keys fly straight past my face. In shock I quickly manoeuvre my arm to catch it. The keys land in my hand miraculously and I smile.

"Some reflexes you have there El" Ange smiles brightly before jumping in the passenger seat. I roll my eyes and walk around the front of the car before climbing in. I put the keys in the ignition and start driving.

'You only let me drive because you would have to walk all the way around the car if you drove?" I question laughing mentally already knowing the answer.

"Of course" She gives me a goofy smile and I chuckle. Typical Ange.

"Lazy Ass" I mutter under my breathe as we pull out of the University's car park. She grumbles and turns towards me egger to defend herself.

"I'll let you know, this 'ass' is far from lazy" I cringe when she says the sexual reference. She laughs aloud at my reaction but doesn't say anything hinting that it was a joke or something. I knew it wasn't though so I kept quite. Lost in thought I continue driving.

We arrive at the small café where I work a few minutes later with me quickly parking the car and running inside with my bag slung over my shoulder. Ange takes her time, on her phone to her latest fling, a guy from California she meet up and slept with when we were visiting my brother.

She doesn't actually work here, she just accompanies me for the few hours I work. I don't ever ask why. She says its for my safety or something but she always brushes the subject off when I try to get her to tell me more. It is strange but I never have thought to ask her further. I don't know why. I give a small wave to the manager and owner of the small café, a 27 year old women named Madison who is a single mother to a beautiful 4 year old boy. She always brushes of the subject of the child's father, saying he was a mistake who broke her heart. I always felt so bad for her, she was an amazing and kindhearted lady. She was an even better mother and I always took her shifts if I could so she could spend some time with her son. She laughs at me barrelling through the shop and waves me off to go get changed.

I quickly change into the black button up shirt and some black jeans, slipping on some black converse to accompany the 'black' look. I rush, placing my backpack in the little locker stall and run back out the front to confront Madison and ask what I am going to be doing today. There are only four workers who work here including me. Madison, a guy named Alex, another guy named Nick who attends University with Ange and I, as well as me.

I walk out front to an awaiting Madison. She smiles and shakes her head.

"Typical Nephele" She laughs and approaches me with a hug. I accept and hug her back smiling, I pull away with a 'sorry'. She smiles and goes back to the coffee machine preparing a coffee for a customer waiting at the take away area.

"Hey Nephele!" Nick says from the barista position smiling at me and giving me a wave. I wave back and get to serving the small tables that accompany the shop. Nick has been a great friend, helping me keep Mr. Vaughan away.

He was an awesome body guard. He sat with Angelina and I everyday for Lunch whenever our timetables matched and we often went out to parties and amusement parks together. Nick was gay, which did not bother me at all, he was one of the best friends I could ever ask for. He was one of the only people in my life that I trusted. I deliver a muffin and chicken n' mayonnaise sandwich to an elderly lady sitting in the corner of the shop before running back behind the counter to help catch up on coffee orders. The door bells chime and Madison doesn't look up from her position at the cashier, smiling automatically as she tries to fix the cashier.

"Hi, What can I- " She freezes halfway through speaking and I turn to look at the man, a worried expression on my face. He looked to be around thirty with black hair a blue-grey hooded eyes. He looked dramatically tired and worn down.

"Madison -" He starts but she shakes her head. I shuck in a harsh breathe connecting the dots. I step over to Madison and grab her hand in mine, giving it a squeeze of support. The whole café quietens as if knowing who he is.

"Please leave." She states quietly looking down at her bright blue apron, her hands fumbling over the material. His mouth is agape as he struggles for words.

"Madison Pleas-" He is cut of by my voice.

"Excuse me Sir, but I think it would be apricated if you either left or ordered. I do not believe you are welcome here." It is said with confidence, me trying to sound formal and respectful, but keeping the tone of my voice fierece. I felt the feeling in the air; could almost taste the fear from Madison who stood behind my left shoulder.

His eyes widen and blaze in fury. I gulp but hold my ground not stepping back, maintaining eyecontact with the arrogant man. He was an extremely intimidating, but I could be worse if I wanted to be. He opens his mouth about to speak up, but Madison cuts in.

"Please. Nephele was right, you are not welcome here. Please leave." He looks baffled, hurt and anguish flashing through his hooded eyes, but the emotions quickly pass before he glares at me once more. I roll my eyes internally, knowing that the male arrogance was typical for men like him.

He gulps at Madison's words, but nods his head before looking at her once more.

"I am sorry. At least know that." He says before walking out of the café and turning a corner.

I release a breathe I didn't know I was holding as the door chimes with a sway, letting us and all the starring customers know that he had left.

I turn to Madison, engulfing her in a hug to give her some support, making sure to block out all the stares I could feel.

"That was him wasn't it?" I whisper to her, knowing somethings about her. She nods he head against my shoulder. I pull away and allow Nick to consult her.

"You should go home. Go home to Nathaniel, he will be happy to find you picking him up from school, won't he?" I smile and she nods, Nick murmuring in agreeance with a brave smile. I give her a warm look.

"Nick and I can close up, it will be all fine. I'll see you tomorrow okay?" She smiles back and heads out the back. I notice that she does not really register Nick or I's efforts to console her, and seemed as if she was reflecting on some things, but at least we tried.

Nick approaches me, his hands wringing each other nervously.

"Well that went well. Glad you were here, I could never say something like that." With a laugh, he tells this to himself more than me. I laugh back and gently punch his shoulder. He whines and grabs his should cradling it, as if I just dislocated his shoulder. I shake my head and get back to work, the café coming to life again, and the customers resuming their original activies amongst the sets.

Deep in thought about it all, and hoping the man doesn't hurt Madison, I continue on with the day. She does not deserve a guy who cannot look after and cherish her, and that was the final thought on the matter.

The rest of my shift passes in a blur, me mostly thinking about whether Madison got home okay and if she needs to have to day for tomorrow. She was like a mother to me, a twenty-seven year old mother. A New York mother. I laugh as I remember when she named herself that. She was normally so bubbly and hopeful. She never cried in front of me, never. She was never sad, never. To see her upset hurt. I felt so bad. She has always been here for me, she has always protected me. I sigh, smiling as the final customer leaves, the bell ringing on his way out.

"Shut Down Nick!" I yell trying to get his attention from wherever he was located in the shop. He yells back an 'OKAY'. I shake my head and start to clean the tables. Angelina left an hour ago saying shell be back to pick me up but considering she isn't here, I assume she is watching Game of Thrones or something.

I quickly finish packing away everything and stacking chairs. I wipe down the cashier bench as well as the barista bench. I untie my apron and tie my brown hair up into a messy bun. I run out the back and throw on a white plain jumper hoping it will keep the nightly spring air from me as I walk to the apartment. I smile when I find a message from Angelina.

I am so so sorry but I am in the middle of an episode. I can come now if you want?

I laugh aloud. Guessed it. I reply instantly.

Its all good Ange. I will be there in about 10 minutes. See u soon <>~

QOTC: What type of music do you like?

Let me know your thoughts below:

~<>~

SONG: ~<>~ Ocean Eyes - Billie

How did you like the two recent chapters? Please let me know!!! I REALLY NEED TO KNOW X

Tiktok - GracexRose

BYE BESTIES!

ROSE xoxox