Delayed Admission

by Heather Renee

Nope. Hard pass. No way was I going with him.

  “I think I’ll take my chances here. I appreciate you stepping in tonight, but I’ve learned my lesson. I won’t be going out alone at night anymore. I’ll be just fine.”

  He tsked at me. “Your power is growing and, without training that you can only get at the academy, you’ll only continue to attract the scavengers. More will come, and they won’t wait until you’re alone in the dark. They don’t take consequences into consideration when they’re looking for their next fix. If one gets their hands on you, they’ll keep you alive even after they’ve fed from you, just so your energy can rebuild before they suck you dry all over again. It’s how they’re able to stay on earth when they should have died long ago.”

  “So, they’re like a magical vampire?” I cringed at my own question.

  Enzo laughed. “You could say that, but don’t repeat that in front of them. They despise vampires.”

  What in the actual hell? Vampires were real, too? I had just said the first reference that came to mind, and I… this was too much.

  “Raegan, honey. I meant what I said when I told you that you weren’t alone. I will go with you to Shadow Veil. I promise this is a safe place, and I will be with you for as long as you need me. I know it’s hard right now, but I need you to trust me.”

  Glancing between the two of them, I knew I really didn’t have a choice. As I peeked at my still-glowing hands and battled with the swirling sensations within my body, I also knew I would have eventually agreed anyway.

  Though, it didn’t mean I had to make it easy on either of them.

  Chapter 3

  Standing from the table, I went to the window. City lights could be seen in the distance, and I let my mind focus on that, imagining the sounds of downtown Portland instead of the bickering behind me.

  “I think I’ve had enough crazy talk for the night. I’m going to go to bed and hope that when I wake tomorrow, this will have all been a very shitty dream and my life can go back to the way it was.”

  Enzo snorted and muttered something that sounded a lot like an insult to my ears.

  “If you have something to say, just spit it out,” I snapped. When he didn’t respond, I continued, “I realize my reaction to all of this may seem ridiculous, but I didn’t know any of this existed until an hour ago. Excuse me for needing time to process. You don’t have to make me feel worse by being so pompous.”

  Enzo stood from his chair, only needing three strides to reach me from across the room with his ridiculously long legs. “You’re not taking this serious enough. Those scavengers will be back, and I’m not going to wait around until you’ve processed the situation. In my world, that will get you killed.”

  His eyes flashed a darkness I hadn’t yet seen within them. Gone was the friendly elf who had saved me and made jokes about tea when he arrived in my home.

  Pressing myself against the wall, I swallowed hard and forgot whatever it was I wanted to respond with. Enzo was dangerous, and I needed to remember that. His sexy grin and somewhat endearing personality weren’t things I could let distract me.

  Taking a step back, his eyes were back to their previous color. “School starts next week on the second of September. You’ll have plenty of time to consider your options before then, but it needs to be done at Shadow Veil. That’s the only place you’re safe now that a scavenger has found you.”

  Needing a moment, I remembered the shadows that encased me and the pain I felt when the creeper grabbed me. Glancing down at my arm, I lifted my sleeve up and found a red welt just above my elbow.

  The mark caught Enzo’s attention, and he hissed as he settled his hand over the bump. Something that felt a lot like ice stabbing me entered my arm beneath his touch. My arm instinctively pulled away, but his grip didn’t falter.

  “You’ve been marked. I need to remove it, or you won’t last the night before another scavenger comes.” Enzo’s face relaxed, seeming to be sympathetic to my situation.

  Clenching my jaw, I waited not-so-patiently for him to finish. When he released my arm, the welt was no longer visible, but where his hand had been, there was a red outline.

  “It will fade by morning,” he said when he noticed my stare.

  Glancing at Jules, I took a moment to assess my current situation. I knew I wasn’t normal. I had known that for a while, but I was also stubborn as a mule. I had very little time to process. A night wasn’t enough, but if I was honest and cut them some slack, I had been processing for weeks, ever since my hands began to glow.

  Sitting back down at the table, I focused my attention on the saltshaker. If I could make it move, then I’d go willingly, but if it did nothing, I was going to need more time and a hell of a lot more information.

  Enzo started to say something, but I snapped my fingers at him, halting whatever words he wanted to say. Instead, I squinted my eyes and put all my effort into sounding like a lunatic within my head.

  Move.

  Come.

  Slide, you stupid saltshaker!

  It did nothing and I felt like an idiot.

  “Do it again,” Enzo said. “This time, don’t try so hard. Magic should be effortless. It’s a natural part of you. Even though it’s suppressed, you should still be able to do basic magic like move an object from the bit that’s leaked through the binding.”

  His words were encouraging and his expression sincere as everything in him seemed to be completely focused on me. My skin heated and heart raced as I thought about how it would have been to have his attention like this without all the complications. Even the smirk I could see hiding behind the twinkle in his eyes drew me to him.

  As much as I wanted to argue with him, I knew there was a chance he could be right. When I’d had episodes in the past, I had never meant to do it. Maybe in magic, less was actually more.

  When I tried again, I closed my eyes and visualized the saltshaker, then thought about what I wanted it to do. Without looking, I opened my palm and called the item to me. Two seconds later, the cool glass was within my grasp, and I glanced down.

  “Raegan, have you done that before?” Jules asked.

  “Just once and by accident.”

  She nodded but didn’t say anything else.

  “We need to leave by sunrise. Are you going to make this harder than it needs to be for yourself?”

  I grunted. Harder for me? Who was this guy?

  Oh, right. He was an elf who could zap me out of existence.

  “Can Jules come with me?” I asked. I might have been mad at her for keeping my parents’ secret, but she was still my only family. Blood or not. I had kept a secret from her, too, and I wouldn’t be a hypocrite by staying angry with her, especially when she promised she would come with me.

  Enzo shook his head. “Not right away, but she’ll be able to visit soon. First break from school will be eight weeks in, and she can come then.”

  “When will I be able to go home? How long am I expected to stay at this academy?”

  I wasn’t okay if this was going to be like a prison sentence. No way in hell. They could kiss my ass.

  “School is on for eight weeks and then there’s a one-to-two-week break for respite in which you can leave school or have visitors. Typically, first-year students aren’t allowed to leave during breaks until the summer, but since you should be a second-year, I’m not sure what the council will say.”

  The council had been mentioned several times already, and I wondered who they were. I pictured them as old people, withering away while they told everyone around them what to do until someone with more power came along to stop them.

  Whatever was within me made itself known then, reminding me that I wasn’t normal and none of what was going on with me was getting easier. I needed to quit procrastinating and just deal with this shit head on.

  “Okay.”

  Enzo leaned back in his seat, smugly. “Okay, what? I need to hear you say the words, Raegan.”

  “Okay, I’ll go to this acad
emy with you. Learn about witchcraft voodoo and whatever else. As long as you promise that when I’m done with it, I’ll know how to make those scavenger dirt bags disappear.”

  “You’ve got fire in you. I think we’re going to have a lot of fun this year.”

  “Not too much fun,” Jules interrupted. “Raegan, you need to take this seriously. I know you weren’t a fan of school during your last year, but this isn’t something to be flippant about. Magic is dangerous, and if you don’t properly learn how to control it, innocent people will get hurt. There is no doubt about that.”

  “I understand. So, what now? Do we run through a wall and take a train?” I was kidding, but my body tensed slightly, wondering if the books or movies had gotten any of it right.

  “Not exactly. I’ll transport us like I did when we came here from the park. We’ll arrive on the outside of the school and have to walk through the security boundaries.”

  The train would have been better. I didn’t like his teleporting. Well, more accurately, my stomach wasn’t fond of it.

  “If tonight is my last night of freedom for however long, then I’d like to spend it without you lurking in my house. No offense.” But he has to go, I finished silently.

  He leaned forward, meeting my stare. “You got it, but I’ll be close by, so don’t even think about trying to run.”

  The thought hadn’t crossed my mind, but now that he mentioned it…

  No, I wouldn’t run. My parents had done that for some reason—kept me hidden from a world I should have been a part of—and I wouldn’t do that. Instead, I was going to put every effort into figuring out why they had done what they did.

  Why was I their dirty little secret, and who were my birth parents?

  Beyond learning how to control my glowing fingers and whatever else came next, figuring out those two things was my priority.

  “I’ll be here, and I’ll be ready.”

  With a nod, Enzo disappeared, and then it was just me and Jules. We stared at each other for several minutes, neither seeming to know what to say. Both of us had omitted important information, but I didn’t believe either of us meant any harm by it. We were just trying to protect each other, and it backfired. Lesson learned.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” she asked.

  “Not really. I have a feeling this is something I have to experience for myself and no amount of questions will make a difference, but I’m disappointed you can’t come with me. What if I’m really bad at all of this?”

  She reached for my hand. “You’re going to do great. You’re strong, Raegan. You’ve been through hell, and I know whatever comes next won’t get in your way of showing the world what you’re capable of.”

  “Thanks, Jules.” I glanced around the living room. “Are you going to stay here? It sounds like you have a family out there somewhere.”

  “I haven’t decided, to be honest. Portland has grown on me, but I miss my pack. I was going to ask you after your birthday if you wanted to come with me back to New Orleans. I even had permission from my alpha to tell you about us, but Enzo beat me to it.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you what was happening.”

  “I’m sorry, too.” She smiled at me as an idea seemed to form in her head. “Why don’t we go pack your stuff and then head out for the night? Go out to a late dinner, cause some trouble, whatever you want.”

  “Let’s do it. Sleep is overrated anyway.”

  Plus, I could do without sleep for the night if it meant the nightmares stayed at bay. Maybe going to this academy and figuring out whatever was going on with me would make them lessen.

  A girl could certainly hope.

  The sandman had never come for me that night. By the time me and Jules got home, it was after two in the morning and my mind was racing. I knew Enzo would be there in a few hours and didn’t see the point of sleeping.

  When the time came, Jules tapped on my door before popping her head in. “He’s here. Are you ready?”

  “Does it really matter?” I shrugged.

  “Just breathe. I’ll be there to check on you before you know it.”

  I grabbed my rolling luggage off the bed and headed toward the hall. Jules went ahead of me and, when she moved to the side, my eyes met Enzo’s as he leaned against the wall in our living room, smirking at me.

  “I thought for sure you were going to let me have some fun by chasing you down. I’m actually disappointed you didn’t run.”

  “I don’t run from anything. You’d be smart to figure that out sooner rather than later,” I stated matter-of-factly.

  Jules pulled on my arm, tugging me toward her. “I’m going to miss you,” she whispered as her arms wrapped around me.

  “I’ll have my phone. I’ll call as often as I can.”

  She pulled back, her mouth in a frown. “They won’t let you keep it. No outside electronics allowed, but I’ll get word to you, I promise.”

  I wanted to roll my eyes and say something snide, but it wouldn’t change anything, so I kept my thoughts to myself. “Okay.”

  When I turned around, Enzo held his hand out to me. “Times up, Ginger.”

  The glare I shot him would have brought weaker men to their knees. I hated that nickname. Kids had used it incessantly when I was too young to defend myself, but I was older and could do something about it.

  I strode over to him, my face mere inches from his and my palm hovering just over his junk. “Call me that again and you’ll be missing what I assume is a vital organ, according to you.”

  He hissed. “You fight dirty.”

  “Your point is?” I quipped.

  “Just making an observation.” He flicked his gaze to Jules. “We need to go.”

  “I don’t know you, Enzo. More importantly, you don’t know me. If you hadn’t saved my niece last night, I wouldn’t be letting her leave with you right now, but you did, so I am. Do not make me regret that. I still know people at the academy, and if I find out a hair on her precious head has been harmed, I will find you.”

  “Is that a threat?” He winked.

  “No, it’s a promise. One you’d do well to remember if you know what’s good for you, Elf.”

  “Understood, Fox.” He nodded respectfully.

  With one more hug and a quick goodbye to Jules, I turned back to Enzo. His hand waited for mine once more and, this time, I didn’t hesitate. It was time to woman up and figure out who I really was.

  Enzo’s grip was firm and warm as his thumb stroked across the back of my hand, almost absentmindedly. Before I could process the movement, my world went black. Seconds later, my hand was released, and I bent over, this time not throwing up, but coming damn close.

  Enzo waited patiently as I got myself together. When I did, I was severely underwhelmed. “This is the school?”

  “Yep. Just wait until you get inside.” His grin was so prideful, but I didn’t get it. The building before me wasn’t ancient like I had been picturing. It was modest in appearance and size. Maybe a few thousand square feet, nothing that should have been able to hold a school, let alone be impressive.

  “Wait, I didn’t grab my bag.” I had been so distracted when he grabbed my hand that I hadn’t thought about it.

  “I grabbed it when you were saying goodbye to your aunt.” His head gestured toward his left arm, where my luggage was held firmly in his grasp.

  “Thank you,” I said, taking a step toward the building before us.

  His arm moved in front of me. “Wait a second.” Lifting his palm, he placed it on my forehead and a warmth spread through me. “There. Now you should be able to go through the shield without it messing with your head.”

  He pushed me through, not letting me consider his words. When I stumbled, his hand caught my wrist. “Where are we?” he asked.

  “Uh, magic school?” I didn’t understand why he was asking me that. Maybe he should have been more concerned with his head and not mine.

  “Good. Just checking. And it’s Shadow
Veil Academy, not magic school. Don’t be so human.”

  There was little doubt in my mind that I was going to punch him in the face at least once by the time I left this place.

  When I glanced back at the school, my breath hitched. Holy shit. The monstrosity before me was not the modest home I had seen just moments before we walked through the invisible shield.

  Three turrets spread out evenly amongst a mansion that was surrounded by a concrete border with iron gates placed throughout, the main entrance having an expansive arch over it.

  As we approached the gates, I noticed a crest carved into the arch with the letters “SVA”. The artwork was intricate and stunning within the stone, and I was already mesmerized by the beauty even though we hadn’t even walked through the gates yet.

  When we were within two feet of the front gate, it opened on its own and everything began to set in. This was no ordinary school, and I wasn’t an ordinary student.

  This was magic school, and I had no idea who I was or what I had gotten myself into.

  Chapter 4

  As my shoes crunched on the gravel walkway, I was in awe. Everything around me looked to be straight out of a movie. The building had to be hundreds of years old, yet it was in pristine condition and seemed to have a faint glow surrounding its edges.

  When my eyes glanced up toward the sky, I could see the shimmer of the shield over the property. It stretched far beyond what I could see from my vantage point and made me want to start exploring right away.

  When we left Oregon, it was around five in the morning, which meant it was around eight in Massachusetts where Jules had told me the school was located just outside Salem. I also learned that the Salem witch trials were very real and a direct link to the history of the school. Creepy, but interesting.

  “What do you think?” Enzo asked, slowing his pace to match mine.

  My eyes focused on the gargoyle statues that were placed on top of the turrets and every twenty feet or so around the border of the school. I heard his question, but my mind was racing with everything I was seeing, unable to think of a proper answer.