by K. G. Reuss
“A witch?” I asked surprised. “Like with broomsticks and toads?”
“Sometimes,” she shrugged. “Although, broomsticks are a bit old school. I prefer my car when I’m not here. And I’m not much of a fan of toads or anything slimy in general.” She shuddered. “What are you?”
“Um, I’m not really sure. I can hear and see ghosts—”
“Oh my God!” Harper stopped walking and gaped open-mouthed at me. “You’re a whisperer?”
“I guess,” I answered uncomfortably.
“That’s a super rare gift. I’ve never met a full-blown whisperer before. I’ve never even met anyone who’s met anyone who was a whisperer. I mean, I’ve met people who can sorta sense them and try to channel them, but never someone who could just hear them with their own two ears. Wow. That’s incredible. And really kinda creepy.”
“It is,” I agreed. We started walking again.
“Is that all you can do? Talk to and see the dead? How does it work? What’s it like? I bet you’ll get put into the psychic faction for sure. They’re sensitive to the Veil, and some of them can even catch glimpses of the future and all that.”
“Um,” I laughed nervously, wondering what kind of freak I would be if I could do more than see the dead. “It’s really quite terrifying. I’m not sure what else I can do. H-headmaster Brighton seems to think that I’ll have more abilities manifest soon. I’m not sure how it works. I’ve always been able to sense them. I was involved in an accident a few months ago where I almost died. But someone brought me back, and that’s when things started to get really bad.”
“I’m so sorry,” Harper said, her pretty face sad. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through.”
“Went through,” I corrected her, forcing a smile on my face, my voice soft when I spoke again. “It’s very quiet here so far. I like it.” The image of Shadow’s looming black form, his red eyes, his soft lips manifested in my mind’s eye. I shook the image away, not wanting the heartache of missing him to come back. Even if I did think he was Eric.
“I bet that’s because of the Conexus,” she said knowingly, confirming what I’d already been told by Eric and Damien. “All things supernatural try to stay away from them. It’s their job to police that aspect of our lives. It’s supposed to keep the Specials in line and all that. Plus keep us safe from all the dark creatures out there, but it worries me sometimes.”
“What do you mean?”
“They’re terrifying for lack of a better word. They run this campus. Raiden, their leader, he’s the scariest. They say he’s the prince. Like next in line to be the sigil.”
“What?” I gasped. “Like a real prince?” Damien and Eric had failed to mention that about their precious leader.
“Yeah, they say he’s the sigil’s son, but no one can confirm it since no one’s brave enough to approach him or any member of the Conexus. And the king’s son has never really made a public appearance for whatever reason. I’m guessing he just doesn’t want people falling all over him. Or he’s like a super freak.”
“That’s crazy,” I murmured, shaking my head.
“Yeah, but who knows, you know? People talk. Raiden is terrifying enough without having the title of prince attached to his name. There have even been talks recently that he heads up the new F.I.R.E. group the Order has put together.”
“F.I.R.E.? What do they do?”
“Well…” Harper started delicately. “Rumor has it that it stands for Federation of Interrogation, Reclamation, and Extermination. Which basically means they interrogate those suspected of siding with the Cipher, the group trying to overthrow the Order, and if they are deemed a threat or found guilty, they’re killed on the spot.”
“And this Raiden guy does that?” I asked, feeling sick to my stomach.
“Not just him. His second and third in command are also part of it. Eric Craft and Damien Wick.”
My guts twisted into knots. There was no way that Eric was involved in something so terrifying and wicked. And even though Damien was a punk, I couldn’t see him being part of it either. Neither fit the profile my mind made up for such acts.
“That can’t be true. They’re just teenagers.” I voiced my opinion, frowning. “Maybe it’s just gossip.”
“Maybe.” Harper shrugged. “But I wouldn’t put it past them. The members of Conexus aren’t the nicest bunch. And if it is a rumor, I bet it’s to add more fuel to the fire since the Order likes to use the Conexus to frighten us all. Anyway, don’t worry about the Conexus. While they’re super scary, they don’t usually bother anyone as long as no one bothers them. They work for the Order and do missions and stuff. So as long as you aren’t in trouble with them, you have nothing to worry about.”
“And if you are in trouble? Then what?” I pressed.
“Well, they’ll hunt you down until they find you. If they don’t kill you first, which does happen since they get off on punishing people, they take you to Xanan for punishment.”
The idea any of that was true made my stomach churn.
“So, these guys are a pretty big deal then.”
“Pretty much. They’re the best. I got paired to train with Damien Wick. I withdrew from defense classes as soon as I heard. No freaking way was I getting in a ring with that brute.”
“We-we have to train with them? Is that a really common thing?” They’d mentioned training. But I didn’t realize it meant with them. My heart jumped at the prospect of getting paired with Eric.
“No.” Harper shook her head. “I mean, sometimes people get unfortunate enough to get paired with them. Usually, they’ll either deem you not worthy enough and ask to drop you, or you’ll drop them. Everyone is terrified of the Conexus. Seriously, Ever. They’re scary. No one gets into the Conexus. Like, you can totally join any faction you best identify with. I’m a witch. I went with the casters. You don’t do when it comes to the Conexus. They choose you. And you don’t get to say no. Once you’re in, you’re in.”
“And if you do say no?” I ventured.
“You don’t. They only take the best. If you’re the best, you get recruited. And you don’t get out unless you die. That’s it.”
“That’s insane,” I muttered.
“My friend Sloane Monroe was taken by Conexus two years ago. She’s an amazing witch. One day we were giggling in our potions class. The next she was gone. She was pulled out of class. After that, we never spoke again. When I saw her again, she was in all black, the colors of Conexus. And that was that. They’re a crazy group,” her voice was hard before she went silent. When she spoke again, the anger was gone, only to be replaced by sadness, “I miss her. Sometimes I want to talk to her, but she just isn’t the same. She won’t even look at me… Just stay away from them. Not that it matters. They don’t socialize with Specials here. They stick to their own group and never speak to anyone.”
“That’s not true.” I frowned thinking about my time with Eric and Damien.
“What do you mean?” Harper crinkled her brows at me.
“Eric Craft and Damien Wick are the guys who brought me here. They spoke to me. I mean, Damien can be a complete douche canoe, but Eric seems nice—”
“Eric Craft and Damien Wick were your escorts?” she squeaked, staring wide-eyed at me. “Oh my God. Spill! You have to tell me everything!” We’d entered one of the larger buildings on the edge of the campus and were at the end of the hall on the first floor. She opened the door and gestured for me to enter the room. It was like a small apartment. It had a kitchenette equipped with a table, little stove, and refrigerator. A tiny living area with a sofa was visible from the door. A door was located in the center of one of the walls, which had to lead to a bedroom. There was even a window seat where I could sit and stare outside. It was pretty nice for a dorm room.
“Is this my place?” I asked looking around at the quaint quarters. I already liked it and didn’t see myself leaving it much.
“Yes.” She closed the door behind her. “Now, tel
l me about Eric and Damien!”
“Well, I was at the psychiatric hospital—”
“Wait. You were a patient at one?”
“Yeah, I-I guess I thought I was crazy or something, hearing dead people and all. Anyway, I made some mistakes and ended up in the facility.” I frowned, not wanting to get into everything.
“I’m sorry. I guess it can be hard for Specials who don’t know what they are. Go on.” Harper looked at me sympathetically.
“Right. Well, Dr., I mean, Headmaster Brighton, arranged for me to come to Dementon. He told my mom it was a place for troubled youths and that I’d get better here. She agreed, and a week later I was standing there waiting for my ride, and those two showed up.” I didn’t mention I’d seen Eric before my time at Rolling Thunder.
“What were they like?” She sat on the edge of the couch, her hazel eyes following me as I paced the small room.
“Damien is a bit of a jerk, but at the same time, he’s nice. He’s a shifter. He, uh, he can turn into a dragon. Eric is, um, really nice too. He helped me.”
“Damien can shift into a dragon?” Harper squeaked. “Wow. I can’t believe it. They never talk to anyone, Ever. You’ve got to be the first person outside their group to have any interaction with them. It’s crazy they sent them to get you. No one has ever had a Conexus escort before.”
“Really?”
“Really,” she answered solemnly. “You must really be important. I bet it’s because you’re like the only whisperer in forever. That had to be why. Headmaster Brighton probably didn’t want a Cipher to get you or something.”
“I hate those guys,” I whispered hoarsely as I absently touched my neck where I’d been bitten. It was still tender. I was grateful for the high collar of my jacket. I hadn’t had a chance to assess the damage yet. I just knew the guy with the deep voice who’d taken me from Eric had said he was going to help me. He obviously had, but I had no idea what he’d done aside from save me. I made a mental note to ask Eric his name, so I could thank him. I didn’t even know what he looked like.
“Yeah, Cipher are bad news. They’re Specials who live outside the law. They kill, steal, and do all sorts of bad things. They’ve been trying to overthrow the Order for years. It’s basically an all-out war. Their leader is named Aviram. They say he’s a vampire overlord and totally insane.”
“I forgot there were vampires here,” I squeaked, halting my pacing as my stomach rolled.
“It’s hard to forget about the vamps once you meet them. They’re why our classes are in the evenings and at night. So, the vamps can attend. That’s why you’re here in the evening. Most of our stuff happens at night. Our night is like a Natties’s day.”
“Vampires can only come out at night?” I was fixated on that bit of information.
“Well, they can come out whenever they want. It’s just they aren’t at their best in the daylight. They’re sensitive to the sun, and they aren’t as strong. So, night works best for them.”
“How haven’t they eaten everyone?” I asked breathlessly, the thought I’d been worried about finally falling off my lips.
“Oh.” Harper chuckled. “Well, the Conexus is here for one. Also, unless they’re Cipher, they don’t feed directly on humans or Specials. We donate blood to the Center. That’s where you were when you got here. It’s basically a small hospital for Specials here. Madam Ann is the head of it. She’s a fae. Anyway, you can go in there and donate blood for the vamps. They won’t just bite you.” She smiled at me. “They’ll ask for permission first. Technically, they aren’t supposed to drink from anyone, but you know, it’s kind of their thing.” She made quotations in the air. “It’s a huge violation if they drink from you, willing or not. The Order has been trying for ages to sort of phase them out, especially since the queen was murdered by a Cipher vamp a few years ago. They make up these ridiculous rules the vamps have to follow, like the no feeding from willing Specials. It’s hard for them to resist, so I have to admire their dedication to abstaining from it. It’s got to be tough. Seriously though, you’re safe.”
“Are you sure?” I looked through my window to see it was getting dark out. A rush of goosebumps surfaced on my arms, and I rubbed them as a means to calm myself.
“I’m positive,” she said firmly. “They’re actually just like us. I mean, if we’re talking normal. Only the Cipher vamps do the bloodlust thing where they kill like a whole village and eat them in a sitting. You’re safe here.”
“You sound so sure about it.” I laughed nervously.
“Seriously. Ever. The Conexus. We’re safe from everything here but them should they decide to turn on us. You’ll figure that out soon enough. Just stay on their good side, and this place will be your Eden.”
After our conversation in the living room, Harper showed me around my small space.
“These are your uniforms,” she said, nodding to a closet where various dresses, skirts, shirts, and vests were. “Your stuff is all white right now. Once you’ve declared your faction, your uniform will change to standard Dementon colors. You’ll get a pin that you’ll wear, and it’ll show what your concentration is in. For instance, all standard Dementon uniforms are navy or gray, with white shirts, but my pin is purple and gold because I’m a witch. Warlocks are also purple and gold since we’re basically the same, just male and female versions.” She leaned in, so I could see the shiny pin on her lapel. It looked like a shield with the crest of a lion in purple and gold. “My friend Jason is a psychic so his is green and gold. Vamps are maroon and gold. Werewolves are blue and gold. Shifters are turquoise and gold. Conexus are all black everything. Their pins have a red Conexus insignia in the center. I’ve never seen one of their pins up close, though. I try not to get close enough to know. And you, since I’m pretty sure you’ll end up with the psychics, you’ll get a green and gold pin. That’ll be interesting!” She grinned. “I’ve never hung out with a full-blown psy before! Jason has tendencies to See, but it’s usually just lame stuff like predicting what we’ll have for lunch next week.”
I smiled back at her, relaxing a bit.
“So, I have to wear this all white uniform for now until I’m officially in a faction?”
“Yep! I really like those uniforms. They look so clean!”
“Until I spill spaghetti sauce on myself,” I mumbled, fingering a white pleated skirt delicately.
“Or that.” Harper laughed. “Don’t worry. I have a spell that can take that right out!”
I grinned at her again. She was nice and reminded me of Nina. I could see me and Harper becoming good friends.
“It’s a good thing you got here when you did. Classes for the new school year start tomorrow! It’s going to be so exciting. You’re going to love it here.”
“I hope so.” I swallowed hard.
“You will,” she assured me. “You get this whole week to gear up for your faction. The first week of classes for new students is the time they use to gauge your strengths and weaknesses. You’ll be going through a lot of trials and stuff in addition to your other classes. Don’t worry though. It only lasts a week. On Friday, everyone gathers for the pinning ceremony. That’s where your faction will be declared, and you’ll be assigned your trainer.” She flashed me a big smile. “Maybe you’ll get paired up with Jason. He’s been a trainer for a year now and is rather good!”
“Who’s your trainer?” I asked.
“His name is Trent Reyes. He’s a were. A bit broody, but all the weres tend to be. He’s a royal pain in my ass though. He wants me to run every morning. Ugh.” She rolled her eyes. “I keep telling him that I don’t need to run. I’ll just blast whatever is chasing me.”
“How did that go over?”
“He assigned me to run at night as well,” she grumbled. “Total pain in my ass.”
We shared a laughed.
“I’d love to stay and hang out with you, but I have to go. I have a casters’ meeting in a bit I need to get ready for. Your cloak is hanging in
there. You’re supposed to wear it if you go out, and it’s cold. None of our standard clothes are allowed on campus except in your room, so make sure your uniform’s on when you go out. Workout gear is in your drawer. It’ll be all white for now until you’re in a faction. Then it’ll be changed to gray or black, like the uniforms. There’s a list of rules on your fridge. If you get hungry, the cafeteria is on the first floor of the economics building. There’s an entire campus map under the rules. There are vending machines all over. And there’s a small store over by the administration building that a dwarf named Waldo runs. He’s grouchy. Oh, if you need to use the phone, there are a bunch in the administration building. And if you need me, I’ll be at the Wolfbane Academic building on the third floor, room three hundred. My dorm’s in Marek Hall, fourth floor, room seventy. Classes start tomorrow evening at four. Try to get your sleep schedule arranged properly. It can be a real pain the first week!”
She gave me a wave and flounced out of my dorm, closing the door behind her. Embracing the quiet, I went to my suitcases, which had been placed in my bedroom. I opened the first one to find new, crisp bedsheets and a fluffy pink comforter with a matching pillow. I quickly put them on my bed then began unpacking everything else. By midnight, I had everything arranged the way I liked it. My clothes were unpacked. Nina and my mom had put together an amazing bunch of things for which I was grateful. I wanted to call and tell them, but I didn’t have my phone and didn’t want to venture outside if there were vampires around. I didn’t care if Harper said they were harmless. I’d seen that movie.
A small, flat-screen television sat on a stand in the living room, so I went to it and flicked it on. I was surprised to have all the same channels I had back home. And I could stream pretty much anything I wanted. There were a few channels which seemed to cater to Specials only, which was pretty cool. Maybe I’d get to familiarize myself with this world a little easier. At least I wouldn’t die of boredom. This place really was magical.
I waited in bed, wondering if Shadow was going to come to see me. Damien said I’d be safe here, but did that mean that Shadow couldn’t come to me if he wasn’t who I thought he was? Was the kiss we shared never going to happen again? I couldn’t stand the thought of never seeing him again. I lay in my bed worried. Eventually, I fell asleep around five in the morning after writing letters to my mom and Nina. I snuggled deep within my comforter without the fear of being pulled under my bed or woken up by my closet door opening racing through my head. It was the best night of sleep I’d had in months in that aspect. However, the ache from knowing I may not ever see Shadow again made me restless. Even if I hated being away from home, from him, the comfort of knowing I wasn’t being stalked by the dead made it all tolerable.