I always knew I was different, but I never knew why. My name is Aiden Cross, and if you asked me a month ago if this type of thing existed, an academy for the exceptional, I’d call you a liar…
Book 1: The Loner
The supernatural exists, and apparently, I’m one of them. It’s in my DNA, just like all of the other students here at the academy.
I thought it was cool to be around others like me, but it turns out that this school is like high school on steroids. Having powers just makes things worse.
There’s Tristen, a pyro, who bullies me every chance that he gets. His powers are more developed than the rest, so he has no problem pushing me around. If that wasn’t enough, his goons also join in on the fun, especially when Kaci is around. I like her. I think she’s amazing, but I’m pretty sure Tristen likes her, too. And who wouldn’t? She’s smart, funny, resourceful, and can move things with her freaking mind.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why sharing a crush with your nemesis sucks. Him showing off usually means me looking like a loser, and I already have a hard enough time as it is fitting in.
And then, there’s another girl, Summer. A literal ice queen who does whatever she wants, whenever she wants. Her parents picked her name as a cruel joke, because anything bright and sunny is like death to her, and to be honest, I don’t even know how she’s still at the academy. I’m sold on the idea that she high-key hates everybody and everything, but we always seem to cross paths at the worst times.
Which…yeah… (Is her hair really jet-black? She has to dye it, right? That’s not natural, right?)
Anyway, my classmates aside, the academy is full of its own challenges. The classes are tough, the exercises are brutal, and to top it off, I’m at a major disadvantage because I can’t access my powers at will, and I'm in the advanced courses.
Book 2:The Prodigy
I finally learned how to use my powers, and just when things were starting to look up, I was attacked and everything changed.
A student on a Dox-induced rampage ripped through the academy grounds in order to get to me. Dozens were hurt, myself included, but with the help of my friends, I was able to put an end to the chaos.
I barely escaped with my life, and I was happy that it was over, but something’s been different since the attack.
After I recovered, I noticed that my powers are no longer working like they should.
Dr. Kresnik and Mr. Hoover said that everything’s fine, but for some reason, it hurts to channel my energy, and when I summon my flames, it’s barely an ember.
Everyone thinks I’m a hero because of what I did to stop that attack, but I don’t feel like it. I feel a lot of things, but none of them are remotely heroic. If anything, I’m afraid.
Things are changing, and I’d feel a lot better about it if my powers were back in commission. Even at my strongest, I was too weak to win on my own. If something were to happen now when the academy is vulnerable, I wouldn’t stand a chance…and that’s just the thing.
Something is happening. The longer I stay here, the more I can see that things are beginning to shift.
A change is coming, and I need to be prepared for whatever comes my way. We all do, but first, I need to figure out what's going on with my abilities.
Book 3: The Elite
There’s no way we could have seen it coming. Crown was supposed to be safe, but somehow, some way, a trio of high-level mercenaries gave us the fight of our lives. After a long battle, we managed to fend them off, but not without casualties.
Mr. Hoover fought to protect us all—he saved our lives while risking his own—and now he’s bedridden in a hidden location. Mr. Ferris and the others are optimistic about his recovery, but we won’t know until he opens his eyes.
In the meantime, there’s work to do.
There’s a new threat on the horizon, and as we are now, we don’t stand a chance.
Mr. Ferris has been assigned to watch over us; to train us and make us stronger. We’re all targets, and there’s a mole on the campus leaking critical information.
There’s no telling when or what the next attack will be, but I do know one thing—We’ll be ready.
book 4: The Strong
I thought the countless hours of training I’d endured prepared me, but nothing came close to what I encountered that night. Everything was going according to plan until Mr. Ferris and I were ambushed.
After a hard-fought battle, we lived to fight another day and left with the knowledge of a new threat that'd been fostered right under our noses.
An old enemy returned with new friends and a seething hate for everything that we’d become.
I knew what I had to do, but in that moment, I couldn’t. I hesitated…and what’s worse is that he’s still out there, full of rage and fueled by revenge.
There was no right way to break it to the others. I should have done more when I had the chance.
Our first mission was a success, but I’m not sure what the future holds.
None of us are.
All we can do now is move forward and prepare for the worst.
I won’t make the same mistake twice, but there has to be another way.
book 5: The Betrayed
I thought tonight was just another night—as normal as one can be given how things have been going, but she came out of nowhere when I needed her most.
The woman who claimed to be my sister.
The night after getting released from the hospital, the mole who infiltrated Crown somehow tracked me down and attacked me, just like she said.
She fought by my side, and together, we won. If she hadn’t been there; I probably would have met my end.
We didn’t talk for much longer after, but she made it clear that the whole network of academies for our kind are corrupt and shouldn’t be trusted. According to her, they’re using us as tools for battle and political gain.
There’s a war going on, and even Crown has a part to play.
She wanted me to go with her and leave the academy for good, but I couldn’t make the decision right then and there.
It was a lot to digest, and it turns out the mole wasn’t alone.
A massive attack on Crown Academy has started—one planned well in advance.
There’s no running from this, and I’m fine with that.
I’m not the same person that I was when I first enrolled. I’m strong enough to fight, and that’s what I plan to do.
Crown won’t fall. Neither will I.
