I was not ready to admit how true that was.
“You feel guilty because you are torturing the other person you love, who you are still in love with, even if it’s a much less exciting kind of love.”
Another uncomfortable truth, or close to it.
I stared at her, feeling totally exposed. She was right. She was right about everything.
I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. I put my egg roll down and stared at the red pattern of the blanket.
“Nightfall.”
“Yeah. Whatever that means.”
“And he can see all that?”
“He doesn’t just see it. He feels it. A never ending gut punch.”
“Why doesn’t he shut me out then? They way you taught him to keep me from feeling him?”
“Because he’s addicted to it. He gets love from you. He hangs onto it. But if Maxim is really back…”
“Not for long. Just so we can find out…”
“What?”
Nightfall, you aren’t supposed to tell her about the other powers.
“We need his contacts in the Vamp world. He has information for us.”
“Sure.”
“I’m not even going to be here when he comes! Hopefully he’ll be gone by the time I get back.”
Karen just cocked an eyebrow and tilted her head. I watched her take a big bite of her egg roll. I could smell the shrimpy goodness from here.
But my appetite was gone.
I used a wet wipe on my hands and pulled my gloves back on.
I stared out the window and sighed. I was trying not to think about what Karen had said. I would die of embarrassment if Maxim even got a whiff of that. I focused on the steel box. It seemed more thorough than a garage door or moat. But I couldn’t really tell if it was working.
I closed my eyes, trying to imagine white light surrounding me. It was working! I felt warm and safe and–
“Sophie?”
Someone was standing next to me. Clearing their throat. I opened my eyes and stared up at Mr. Penbrecker, my thoroughly evil math teacher. And if a creature of the night such as myself thought he was evil, trust me, he was.
So much for the protective bubble.
“Do you want to join us for class, young lady?”
I cringed at the patronizing tone. He was awful. He was fond of belittling the girls in the class. The man basically embodied the patriarchy.
“I could review this for you later, in detention.”
I shook my head rapidly.
Mr. Penbrecker was notorious for being overly friendly with pretty female students. He’d never crossed the line as far as I knew, but he oozed sleaze. The last thing I wanted was to be stuck here with him.
I was sorely tempted to glamour him into being less creeptastic. If not for my sake, for the students he would have in the future. It was uncomfortable to be put down and coyly flirted with for the girls, and it set a bad example for the boys.
If he wasn’t so gross, I’d be tempted to eat him.
I felt my fangs wanting to pop and exhaled in annoyance. I didn’t want to drink his blood. I just wanted to tear his throat out.
Easy, killer. The guy deserves to be fired, not gutted.
Dylan’s voice rang out in my head. I smiled sweetly and shook my head.
“No, Mr. Penbrecker.”
“Good girl. Now come up to the chalk board and show us the formula we were just discussing.”
I dug my nails into my hands. I was not a dog. I did not appreciate being told I was a ‘good girl.’
Honestly, how someone had not knocked this guys block off was hard to believe.
I’ll do more than that.
No, Maxim. I can fight my own battles.
But you said you don’t want to eat him. I do. Slowly. While making him watch Buffy.
I smirked a little. Well, apparently I’d made another Buffy convert. Sure, she was on the other side, but she was the perfect example of girl power.
Buffy pretty much rocked.
I lifted the chalk to the chalkboard before Mr. Penbrecker could comment on my gloves. He’d mentioned them before. I had gotten a note from the nurse giving me permission to wear them. I’d tearfully told her I had a persistent rash.
It was always nice when my acting made glamouring and bloodshed unnecessary. But that didn’t mean I enjoyed the odd looks I got.
Yeah, in case you were wondering, fancy leather gloves went over REAL well in High School.
I solved the problem absentmindedly and turned to return to my seat. Everyone was staring at me with their mouths slightly open. Mr. Penbrecker himself looked dumbfounded.
“I didn’t mean for you to solve all the problems, Sophie.”
Whoops. I’d answered all the problems on the board. I just hoped I had moved at human speed when I did it.
About the author
Cameron Drake is an avid reader of fantasy and dystopian novels. This is Cameron’s sixth book.
Follow her on Facebook for updates and more, or join the Cameron Drake’s Owlettes for one on one book talk.
Also by Cameron Drake
Vampire Princess
Vampire Princess
Royally Cursed
Rogue Prince
* * *
The mermaid trials
The Mermaid Trials
Mermaid Academy
* * *
Dreamshifters
Original Witch
Moonbound
* * *
Coming soon
Vampire Princess Book Four
Mermaid Trials Book Three
Dreamshifters Book Three
Acknowledgments
Cover: Mayhem Cover Creations
Photo: Deposit Photos
Editing: Valorie Clifton
Mermaid Academy Page 17