St. Albans boarding school is a school full of rich young masters and mistresses who most likely saw way too many teen dramas throughout their childhood and are now determined to live out the fictional scenarios in real life. These characters come from backgrounds as influential as the children of ministers that hold positions in government to the next leader of a mafia-style organization and spoilt brats of the rich and famous. There are also us students that got into this school because we’re actually good at something the school wants but we’re merely background characters in this story. Even though I don’t look like I do, I’m alright at cello and somehow gained a scholarship. Daniel, however, is definitely one of the rich young masters but until now I was not aware as to how rich we were talking.

Daniel Windsor did not live in an apartment, nor a house, or even a mansion. Daniel lived in a castle. Somehow, it seems this boy is not only a cult leader but some kind of lord or descendent of some kind of royalty. He could have warned me, so I could’ve avoided the stupid look that I had as I stared in awe of the towering magnificence. The three-story building comprised of a black shingled roof and pristine white walls that were so clean, they would have to have been cleaned daily.

The structure seemed a little mismatched as the main entrance was made from stone and had tall yet slim stained glass windows that showed scenes of nature and some hooded figures who all had golden eyes. A large, circular window sat above the entrance with the image of what seemed to be a family coat of arms. It depicted a hand as white as snow clenching a rose so tightly that it was as if the hand’s life depended on it. The thorns of said rose pierced the skin, drawing several drops of blood which fell onto an open book below. An inscription was painted on stone underneath in a language that didn’t look like any that I had encountered before now.

The remainder of the mansion-castle hybrid was of a modern style but also somehow kept with the ancient look of the stone section. Its walls were not stone but were concrete with tall windows that seemed somewhat boring in comparison to the strikingly coloured windows nearby. This part was obviously an afterthought. The type that occurs when the occupants start to outgrow the building.

I looked to the aforementioned inhabitant beside me and found he was staring at me. I had taken a little too long staring at his house. He raised one perfectly groomed eyebrow at me and then proceeded to exit the car before I had any chance to defend my strange behaviour.

I looked back to my door as Clive opened it and beckoned for me to follow his young master. I obliged, quickly scuttling out and towards the glorious, ginormous, mahogany doors which were opening to great us. The interior of the building was as regal as the exterior. My eyes worked around the room, studying the obviously expensive furniture that was all made of beautiful dark brown wood that seemed to shine. An ornate yet modest chandelier hung above us in the large foyer we stepped into. I felt as though I had managed to step into the castle from Beauty and the Beast. I look to my side at said “beast” and smiled at the thought of him as a big, fluffy, bear-looking monster. I quickly covered my mouth as I could not help but smirk at the thought.

The “beast” lowered his head in a slight bow as two figures entered the room. The first was a man who was fairly tall with black hair and tired, blue eyes that seemed to say, “I really don’t care”. Though his eyes were tired, his face was stern and gave me an understanding that this was Mr. Windsor and he is a strict dad. Mrs. Windsor, however, was a polar opposite to her husband. She was petite with blonde hair and green eyes that sparkled with joy. A lifetime of happiness and joy was etched into her cheeks through lines and there was a bounce to her step that gave her a childlike atmosphere. Mrs. Windsor’s first impression was simply, an extremely friendly and welcoming woman. The perfect hostess.

“Welcome,” the woman exclaimed as her kind eyes mixed with slight contempt as she gazed upon her son. Curiously, the remainder of her face was still held in the previous joyful expression and thus this gave her a psychotic appearance. It was clear that this woman was a sleeping snake and it would be best to tread lightly around her.

“I’m so sorry about the suddenness of all this,” she continued, “I must say I didn’t realise my son is so incompetent to make such a dreadful mistake as this. I really thought we had trained him better.” Her smile turned into a thin line and she inched closer. Her husband trailed behind her as if he was only an accessory but as she came to stand in front of me, he stood by her side and took my hand. The sudden physical interaction had me feeling extremely uncomfortable, but I obliged as I was afraid such a gesture would be rude in wizard culture. I mean, I literally knew nothing and I’m honestly so scared of that woman. My instincts told me that anything I could do to fly under the radar was a leap in the right direction.

“I’m sorry I failed you,” Daniel muttered to his mother and her eyes filled with quiet anger at the tinge of sarcasm in his voice. The anger lingered for a few tense seconds but then strangely subsided and an eerie smile appeared on her face.

“That’s fine son,” Mrs. Windsor forebodingly chuckled, “it’s a good thing you messed up the spell. If you were a decent sorcerer, you would have already noticed that the spray you created was so weak that it’s worn off”

“I…I didn’t r-”

“yes, of course, you didn’t realize but look where your silly mistakes could have landed you if you were competent at this? What were you going to do? reverse the potion? I’m sorry but that potion doesn’t have a way to be reversed. There has never been a need and our family would never give our prey, their friends or family a chance to escape. You would have been stuck marrying a boy and that would make it pretty hard to become the head of the family when you can’t even produce an heir. The family would have been fine because we would’ve just made your younger brother the heir, but all the effort I and your father had put into readying you for the position would have all been for nought. I just hope that the second part of this potion didn’t work”

“second?”

“yes, second! It’s a family exclusive potion for a reason, or maybe you were too busy with the prospect of which girl to pick to listen to me explain this?” Mrs. Windsor’s voice had become raised to a stern yell at this point and so the room was plunged into an awkward silence that seemed like it was more silent than silent. I looked to Daniel to get a better grasp of the family dynamic and was surprised to find the egotistical rich boy had become silent. He stared guiltily at his shoes in a way that reminded me of when I would get in trouble for repeating a swear word I’d heard my father say when he’d stubbed his toe. I felt pity for him, which was weird when he had only been horrible and dismissive of me for most of the time I had known him.

“So... how do we check for the... second affect?” Daniel murmured in a voice that was almost a whisper.

“The family insignia. It’ll be somewhere on his body if the potion worked,” she stated and I immediately started scanning my body of anything that could be the insignia. Daniels mother shook her head at my actions and moved closer as she grabbed my hand that was moving to undo the buttons of my uniform. “Checking with human eyes can miss it.” She explained and her eyes glowed a brilliant gold. She then began to speak in tongues and I could feel something that resembled a cold breeze working it’s way across the expanse of my body. Crawling so slowly and methodically that it seemed the ‘breeze’ had an intention and so couldn’t be mistaken it for a lazy breeze. Then, after about a minute of this strange feeling, it stopped suddenly and it felt as if I had just stepped out of a walk-in freezer. Everyone looked to Mrs. Windsor for confirmation of the worst or sweet relief, but the women's open and seemingly unmasked face had become blank. Nothing could be deduced from her brilliant poker face and so I began fearing for the worst.

I didn’t quite understand what it meant to have this ‘insignia’ on me but with the seriousness that the issue was being dealt with, I was predicting that they now either: owned me according to wizard law or I was now bound to Daniel through some sort of wizard courting ritual. I honestly could not decide which was worse. I just wanted to tell Bianca that I liked her and then maybe take her out to a really nice dinner. I had even been saving up to take her to this really nice restaurant I heard my mother entice my father into a date with once. I guess that’s just how life is sometimes. Hopefully, I can ask her tomorrow.

“I have some horrible news,” Mrs. Windsor hissed at her son. Her blank expression broke to reveal the severity of the situation. I came to the understanding that I was definitely not asking Bianca out tomorrow. Daniel had been standing very still and his posture had been perfect until his mother had spoken. He was now rocking back and forth on his feet in front of his mother's disappointed gaze. His face was obviously schooled calm as he awaited the verdict as his mouth had become a line as thin as a pencil that occasionally twitches like a decapitated snake. The only person who had not changed since entering the room and exiting the room was Mr. Windsor. His expression was still as devoid of happiness as before. It was as if he was only a robot that was dragged around by Mrs. Windsor for aesthetic and accessory purposes only.

“He bares the insignia?” Daniel questioned as he ceased his incessant rocking in favour of crossing his arms firmly across his chest. The room thickened as his mother seemed to pause for dramatic effect (I swear these people are the most dramatic and over the top people I have encountered in my life and I swear if she doesn’t just give him a clear answer I will go over there and shake her). His mother only responded with a slow nod and the rocking continued.

“The insignia means that he is claimed by the family and thus no other family is allowed to make contact with him without our prior approval. It is a sign that he is betrothed. According to the traditional laws of marriage, someone who bares the families sign is to be wed in four months. It cannot be reversed and the person must marry the person who made the potion. That’s why it was so important that you made the potion, Daniel. You would know this if you ever decided to listen to us when we spoke to you!” Mrs. Windsor spoke through gritted teeth as though to stop herself from yelling. My mouth flew agape at the news and my eyes snapped to the person who had basically ruined my love life. Not only that, but I was pretty sure that I only liked girls. My mind started making connections to things that Daniel had single handedly ruined so fast that my mind overheated and I just couldn’t take another minute silently. I am never one for confrontation but I couldn’t stop myself.

“What the actual hell! Why would you do something so important so carelessly!” I bellowed as I stepped so close to him that I was sure that my yelling was hurting his ears. He stood still and looked me dead in the eyes as I heaved from outrage. I couldn’t help but think about how conceited he was for not apologising straight away. I wanted to slap him or call him names but Mr. Windsor placed himself between Daniel and I. He looked at me with a look that was somehow even more disapproving that his usual facial expression. I huffed and backed off in favour of standing with my arms crossed and conveying my feelings through a death glare. Daniel stared back at me in what seemed to boredom and turned his attention to his mother.

“So I’m betrothed to a man after all?” Daniel asked his mother seemingly without even a shred of interest in the situation.

“I’m afraid so. Strictly no dating anyone else from now on. Not like it was a problem for you before,” she sneered at Daniel, “tradition also states you need to spend every day together and I suggest you do if you don’t want to be miserable for the rest of your life. I suggest trying to become friends at least. Do you live in the dorms, Alex?”

“I do. I live in Greymond house.”

“I’ll arrange for you to be moved to Fairchild. Make sure you are packed and ready to move in the next 3 days. Daniel, can you make sure your friend is ready to move out by then as well. Now, Clive, take these two back to school and get the contact information of Alex’s parents. Have a lovely evening children” Mrs. Windsor finished with a smile and she turned on her heels and quickly exited the room.