by Tricia Barr
Something to show him? From Oberon’s experience, that wasn’t always a good thing, and did little to help motivate him to move faster. Usually it was a piece of boring family history, or something for him to work on or fix.
Oberon let his mother take the lead, and he followed her like a shadow through the wet grass surrounding The Island. At last, they arrived at the entrance. His mom pushed open the heavy, wooden, arched double-door, and to his surprise, his father was standing just inside, waiting for him.
His father held in a laugh. “Miriam, you’re soaked! You should have at least taken an umbrella with you. Or you could’ve pushed the rain aside so you wouldn’t get wet at all.”
She let loose a fake laugh. “If you had seen what your son was doing outside, you wouldn’t have been too eager to stop and grab an umbrella, either.”
His father’s features sank like a rock in the Missouri River. “What trouble have you been causing, Oberon?”
He cast his eyes to the ground, hating the piercing gaze he was receiving. “I’m sorry. I was practicing some lightning manipulation while the storm was out. I didn’t want the storm to end without getting a chance to.”
Oberon brought his eyes back up to his father and saw confusion on the man’s face.
“What’s so wrong with Oberon working on his abilities?” he asked, glancing back at Oberon’s mother.
“We can talk about it later,” she replied, and Oberon sighed with relief as the conversation was swept away for the time being. “Why don’t you tell Obe the good news?”
Excitement flashed upon his father’s face again. “Right! Oberon, I want you to meet someone. Someone very important.”
Oberon tried to hide his anxiety. Who was his father talking about? A tutor? Was he doing so poorly in school that he needed one? Or maybe a new teacher had been brought in, one who was specialized enough to help him with his new abilities while his father taught at the school and his mother managed the kitchens?
He was so busy falling into his spiraling thoughts that Oberon gasped as a girl with long, blonde hair poked her head out from behind his father. Her eyes were like the blue of the Missouri River, and her small nose came to a point. She looked to be about his same age.
His father stepped aside, revealing the girl in her entirety. She was gangly, mere skin and bones, and she was wearing a hot-pink t-shirt and baggy corduroy pants, both of which were much too large for her wiry frame. “Oberon, this is Serilda Vogel.”
Serilda’s lips formed a slight smile and she nodded her head. She didn’t take his eyes off him, and he felt his cheeks redden. She was cute, and he didn’t know how to react. Oberon froze—everything except his thudding heart.
His father stepped over to Oberon, placing large, strong hands on his shoulders.
“After we heard rumor of a girl who could transform into a lion-like bird in Minnesota, I had to check it out.”
Amazement slammed into Oberon harder than a whipping tree branch. “You’re a gryphon?”
“Am I talking to a corpse or what?” Ren’s voice—old Ren, that is—pulled Oberon out of his memory.
They were on a bus, and Oberon had no idea where they were precisely, geographically. But they were somewhere in Canada at this point. They’d been traveling for three days now. Their destination was Calgary, Alberta. From there, they’d make their way to Mount Joffre.
“Where are we?” Oberon said, looking out the bus window. All he saw were blankets of snow, trees lining the highway here and there.
“We just passed a town called Milk River,” Ren replied. “But a better name for it would’ve been Ice Cream River, or Popsicle River, or something, because it was completely frozen.”
Oberon blinked a few times, then rubbed at his eyes.
“So... did you hear anything I’ve been saying for the past five minutes?” Ren asked.
Oberon shook his head. “I was... thinking.”
Ren studied him for a few moments, then nodded his head. “Thinking about how masterfully made the upholstery is on the back of the seat in front of you?”
Oberon looked down at his intertwined fingers. “I was thinking about Seri.”
Again, Ren studied him, then sat back in his chair and looked forward. “I suppose finding out that there are more gryphons would lead you down memory lane.”
“If Delphine is right, that is,” Oberon said.
Ren snorted. “What, you think she’s lying?”
Oberon shrugged. “Eduard seems to have her wrapped around his finger. He might have instructed her to send me farther away from Myreen. Just to lessen the likelihood of me getting involved.”
Ren blinked a few times. “I suppose that’s a possibility. But it doesn’t seem like Delphine’s style.”
“Ren,” Oberon chided, “she was right there when I was thrown out of the school. She was standing with Eduard.”
“You can’t start thinking that way. If you start second-guessing your friends, you’re going to find yourself miserably alone.”
“And what do I do if we find gryphons?” Oberon asked. “Ask them to take me in? I’ve spent my life searching for my people, knowing I could offer them a home at the Dome. Now I can’t even do that!”
“And vampire’s love sunbathing,” Ren said. “The Dome will gladly take in any shifter, gryphon or not. I think the real question is, would you want to return after being ousted?”
Oberon set his jaw and thought about that. The Dome was a part of him. The school had become his purpose. Could he just abandon that part of him? Could he forsake twenty years of his life?
“You’re Oberon Rex,” Ren said. “You have the respect of every shifter in the Dome, whether they admit it or not. And someday, even Eduard will realize that. So don’t sit there acting like you’ve swallowed naga venom. You’re nobler than a daydreamer. You’re a dreamer. And by my tails, we’re going to keep making your dreams happen.”
Oberon’s heart leapt at Ren’s little pep talk. The kitsune was right. He didn’t have to live in the shadows that Eduard had thrust upon him. He’d find the gryphons and bring them home.
Looking into the dark eyes of his friend, Oberon said, “You know, you never did tell me how you got your leg out of the wall of The Island all those years ago...”
Chapter 14: Kenzie
Kenzie trudged through the snow, cursing under her breath. Whoever had set this school up obviously didn’t care if students got there or not. Two miles. That’s how far it was from the nearby city. Sure, vampires wouldn’t have any problem with the trek, but seriously? They took human recruits, for crying out loud.
And the snowy trail was wreaking havoc on her travel suitcase. Those wheels were meant for pavement and comfort, not four-wheeling through the backwoods.
Of course, she was the only one on the trail at the moment. Probably because no one else is stupid enough to trek to, or from, the school in this weather. But Kenzie had a mission, and she couldn’t put it off any longer.
Hopefully Leif was still intact. And Myreen.
Her stomach churned at the possibilities, death not even being the worst of them. She wondered how parents could allow their children to go to a school like Heritage Prep—or if they even knew where they were sending their kids.
At least she couldn’t get lost. The black towers loomed from the lonely branches of the frozen forest, a crown promising pain and death. Real welcoming.
Kenzie shuddered and pulled her hat lower over her head, then thought better of it and pushed it back up. She didn’t want her vision obstructed.
Still, the cold air licked at her bare neck, and Kenzie sighed. Gram had insisted on cutting and coloring her hair before she left. The strands still seemed stiff or hollow or something, even if the outer layer was soft from whatever had been in the after-color conditioner. Red. Gram had chosen Fiery Copper, or something like that. She couldn’t deny the hue was perfect for her skin tone, but she thought the red would make her stand out more than anything. And the cut was s
o short. It irked her. She’d worn her hair at least long-ish for most of her life, particularly fond of the longer locks in the winter. But now? It would be years before her hair grew back out to an acceptable length. Hopefully that sacrifice would be worth it.
The closer she got, the more ominous the towers loomed. She swallowed her doubts and kept trudging forward. She prayed the castle would be warm. Or at least warmer than it was out here. Even hiking, she was having a hard time shaking the chill. Stupid hair.
Kenzie groaned when the trees opened up and the front entrance came into view. Stairs. Hadn’t she been through enough? She sat down in the snow, not caring that her butt was getting cold. Her legs needed a break, and she wanted to gain her bearings before she entered the dungeon.
The cold sun would keep the vampires indoors, though that wouldn’t prevent them from sending humans out, if they deemed it necessary. She wondered how tight of a guard they kept on the place, and if they’d spotted her already. The school was solemn as a grave, and silent to boot. Figures.
Movement in her periphery startled her, and Kenzie whipped around and tried to get up, stumbling on the frozen snow.
“Who are you?” asked a voice in her ear, and Kenzie froze.
She knew that voice. Kenzie pulled off her hat and turned toward Adam, trying to give him the most unimpressed expression she could muster. Her heart beat in her throat, and she was glad he wasn’t a vampire. She took a quick glance again just to make sure, but he looked about like he had last time. No way had he turned into a vampire. Yet.
“I’m a new Initiate.”
Adam squinted at her. “Do I know you?”
Kenzie stifled a snort. He should know her, after all the time they spent sucking face. Looked like the hair had done the trick. Thank you, Gram. She shook her head and shrugged. “It’s my first time here.” She kept her face angled down. Hopefully he’d take it as respect and not recognize the fear coursing through her—or her face.
Adam grunted. “Hey Thomas!” he called as another person approached.
Kenzie let out a breath when the new guy came closer, also looking very human. Stupid me. Vampires wouldn’t be out here during the day. It was early yet. Leif was the only vampire she’d ever heard of who could daywalk. Still, being this close to the nest made her feel vulnerable, like the snowy white blanket was camouflage for their pale skin.
“Have you heard anything about a new Initiate?” Adam asked Thomas.
Thomas shook his head. “No, but they’d be more likely to tell you than me.”
“Leich ín dhaermandah,” Kenzie breathed, and both boys froze, getting a glazed look in their eyes. Kenzie’s heart fluttered. She wasn’t sure if that would work on more than one person at a time. Thank the fates it had.
“You will forget the past five minutes. You just met me and you were expecting me. You’re supposed to take me to Draven.” She hoped that would do it. “Dhaermandah,” she said, finishing the spell.
The look on both boys’ faces lost that glossy look, and they smiled at her.
“Let’s get you to Draven,” Adam said.
Thomas nodded and grabbed Kenzie’s bag, making light work of the contraption that had fought her all the way here. Kenzie grimaced. Some days she wished she were something more useful. Magic had its uses, but it took so much effort to access. If she could just pull out strength or warm against the chill like a phoenix or a dragon or a... mao. Kenzie shoved the thought aside. She couldn’t think about him. Not now. There was too much at stake.
A few other Initiates wandered around, sending curious looks at the trio. They seemed to defer to Adam, though, and since he seemed confident, they didn’t question it. Kenzie was both grateful and terrified that Adam held that much power. She just needed him to not recognize her. But if everything went smoothly, surely she could avoid Adam in such a large structure.
Finally, they reached the colossal stairs, and Kenzie trudged up them between Adam and Thomas. Her legs were screaming at her to stop, but she had to keep going. If she just made it to the top, maybe then she could pass out. Okay, so she had to make it past the lobby, but still. A lobby had to have chairs, right?
But as she entered the enormous doors—which were even bigger than they’d appeared to be—her spirits sank. The interior was just as black as the rest, making the vibrant red accents pop. Banners flanked the room, bearing the Heritage Prep logo, a single drop of blood dripping between the words. Kenzie could almost appreciate the darkness of the whole setup—if she wasn’t already so nervous about the vampires this place housed.
There was a loud sniff and a sigh of satisfaction. Kenzie whirled to see a young woman with long golden hair framing a pale face leaning toward Kenzie, her eyes heavily lidded. “Ah, fresh blood. I love new recruits.” She sniffed again, and her brows crinkled. “But now’s not the time for them. And something about you smells different.”
“Hey Ann, what do we have here?” asked another young man, also pale and blond, though nearly a foot taller than Ann. He sniffed the air too. His eyes snapped open and zeroed in on Kenzie. “You’re a selkie,” he hissed.
Kenzie took a step back, the hair raising on her neck. Of course. That was how Leif had figured her out. He’d been able to sense the magic in her. She’d just walked into a den of creatures that could smell her magic. Great. Maybe she could mask her scent? It might buy her some time.
She muttered under her breath. “Sweeph an bolladhá, sweeph an bol— Ahh!”
Kenzie hit the floor with an “oof,” her head spinning. She tried to suck in air, but failed, her lungs burning.
“Don’t you say a word, selkie,” the young man hissed again.
Kenzie shook her head and held up a hand. “I just want—”
But she was interrupted again, this time by the young man pulling her into the air, pressing her against the cold black stone. A heartbeat later he was clamped down on her neck, Kenzie kicking and screaming. He placed a hand over her mouth, stifling her cries. Her will was seeping from her. The pull of venom tried to lull her into complacency. Kenzie wanted to give in, but she clung to her purpose. She bit down on the hand over her mouth with all her might, and the hand flinched back in surprise, though the teeth seemed to tighten their latch.
“Daywalk,” Kenzie croaked.
There was a clamor in the room, something she hadn’t fully noticed in light of the attack. It buzzed and droned, and she knew she was the epicenter of the excitement. But the venom was working, and Kenzie relaxed against the wall and sighed.
“What did she say?” came a shrill voice.
There was a crack, and the teeth braced on her neck unclamped, the body in front of her yanked away.
Kenzie fell to her hands and knees, gasping for air, though it wasn’t her lungs that needed replenishment.
“What the hell were you thinking?” It was that voice again, less shrill now, though the feminine tones still held a hardness that exuded authority. “Who is this girl? What’s she doing here?”
Kenzie looked up to find herself looking into a face so angelic, she could hardly breathe. The woman’s pale skin was offset by blood red lips. Stark white curls framed her petite face.
“She’s a selkie,” spat the vampire who had bit Kenzie, but her eyes were still locked with the woman in front of her.
“What did you say about daywalking? And no magic, or I’ll be forced to let Todd finish the job.”
Todd smirked, but Kenzie ignored him. “I have a spell. For daywalking.”
“Where? Tell me.”
“In my grimoire. Which I’ve hidden by magic.”
“And why bring such a thing here?”
“I want to be admitted to the school,” Kenzie said, her eyes dropping to those ruby lips. She had no idea why they were suddenly so attractive, but under the influence of the venom, she meant every word. She needed to be here, with these beautiful people. It was her destiny, her calling, her path.
“And why would a selkie want to go to a vampi
re school. You could never be turned, not without losing your magic.”
“The shifters won’t have me,” Kenzie said, all the disappointment she’d felt for months coming out in those few words, coloring her voice with bitterness.
The angel in front of her smiled. Her gaze went to Todd, and she snapped a finger. “Get Draven. He’ll want to see this.”
Todd nodded, though he wore a brooding frown. Kenzie guessed he wasn’t happy about this new development, but he didn’t voice anything to the woman, just darted off in a blur.
The angel wrinkled her nose and sniffed. “Does anyone have anything to stop the bleeding?”
“I do,” volunteered a young woman, who rushed forward and kneeled next to the angel. She had large glasses that made her eyes huge, her tall, spindly frame looking frail next to the woman with the red lips. “I keep a tube of superglue on hand at all times,” she said as she dabbed some on Kenzie’s neck.
Kenzie sucked in a breath at the sting, and nearly jerked her head away when cold fingers clamped her skin.
“Sorry,” the young woman said. “I probably should’ve warned you it would sting.” The pressure on Kenzie’s neck stopped, and the young woman put her hands on her lap. “There. That should do it.” She stepped back, clasping her hands together and lowering her head, as if she was afraid she might get yelled at for her actions.
“Thank you. Piper, right?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I thought I recognized you.”
Kenzie swallowed, the fuzz in her head beginning to clear. Her heart rate kicked up a notch as she realized how close she’d been to becoming a meal. If not for the woman before her, she’d be dead. “Thank you for saving me,” Kenzie said.
The woman smiled, her ruby red lips practically glowing against her pale skin. “We’ll see what you say when Draven arrives.”
“And what is so important that I must be pulled from spending quality time with my daughter?” a man asked, and Kenzie nearly lost her breath again.