Academy of Magic Collection

by Angelique S Anderson et al.

  “If you see the package call me and if I see it, I’ll call you. If we do this smart and together, we will have a better chance of seeing tomorrow,” said Orion. He walked away disappearing into the crowd toward the stage.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Trevor

  It has been a week. One week since I met Celeste Love and she promised that she’d have a vial of the vampire virus and that the angel infected would be dead. I haven’t seen any evidence that the vampire died. My plan is progressing but not at the speed that it needs too. I want to see the fruits of my labor. I made a snap judgment on not killing her and allowing her to prove herself. I will not make that same mistake again.

  I’m restless. It hasn’t rained lately, therefore, Valcrum isn’t crying. His eyes need to open and the flood gates need to spill over so that every living thing on earth is submerged in his tears. He will pay for sending me here as a punishment. I will destroy everything he loves until he faces me or destroys me.

  “Why didn’t you finish the boy yourself? Do you know what you’re upset about,” asked Dylan? He chugged his beer and reclined in the Lay-Z-Boy sofa.

  “I was giving Celeste a chance to prove her loyalty. What was the boy’s name again?” Why didn’t I just do it myself? That would be one angel dead and gone. I ran my hands through my hair. Lately, I’m more frustrated than usual and I don’t want to admit it.

  “His name was Leonardo Romano. You don’t trust anyone, so you should’ve done it yourself and saved yourself from worrying.”

  “Do you trust her?”

  Dylan smiled and walked over to the window. “I sure do. She has more reason than you to hate the angels. You hate the angels indirectly to get at Valcrum and she hates them directly for what they’ve done to her.”

  “Let’s go and see if the boy’s dead body is laying outside the academy.”

  “I think you’re a bit on edge because of Kyra,” said Ted. He smiled and shook his head. “It’s no secret that ever since she stormed off and refused to see you, you have been grouchy. Call her, apologize and keep it moving,” said Ted.

  “I’m just questioning Celeste’s loyalty that’s all. Have you forgotten why we are here?”

  “No, but I know you want to kill everyone, even us when you get in this kind of mood. Just kiss and make up with her,” said Jake.

  “I didn’t do anything wrong. What guy doesn’t want sex when you’ve been doing it nonstop like rabbits. I don’t call you one day and now you think that’s all I want. Rubbish.”

  “Your pride will be the death of you one day. Just call the girl. I’m sure she’s waiting by the phone,” said Ted.

  “Kyra isn’t the wait by the phone type. You wait too long and she may be sleeping with someone else. She’s that type,” said Winston.

  “Do I look like I care if that happens?” If another man touches what’s mine. I’ll kill him.

  “Yes, you do. I’ll call Bethanny and she’ll bring Kyra if I ask her to. You’re welcome,” said Jake.

  “Tell her we’ll meet them outside the gates in…. It’s crazy out there and it’s for their safety.”

  “They will meet us there,” said Jake. He slid the phone in his pocket.

  “Let’s see if the boy’s body is outside of the school. He should have left trying to find a cure.”

  “Does a cure exist,” asked Winston?

  “If it does it won’t for long.” I need to get my hands-on Claire Sands. She can make enough of the vampire virus to kill them all, then I’ll kill her.

  Baby, I can help you. I know where Claire Sands is and I don’t mind helping you.

  Victoria, what kind of games are you playing?

  If you break up with Kyra, I’ll tell you where to find Claire Sands.

  Let me get back to you. You have betrayed me one too many times for me to trust you.”

  I promise you this, when you go to the academy you will not find the boy’s body because he still lives.

  I will see if the boy lives and then we will speak. Walking to my bedroom, I sprayed the new musk scent all over me. They say girls go crazy for a guy that smells good, so I’ll see what Kyra thinks. The scent will make Kyra wonder what I have been up too.

  Five minutes later, we arrived on the back path near the wall of the academy. There was no dead body. Celeste has not proven crap to me. I am disappointed. Pulling out my phone, I text her demanding that she meets me here.

  I checked my messages so many times that I started tapping on the screen more than I needed to. This is the second phone I have had to replace. When Kyra cut me off sexually, I threw my phone against the wall. I’m trying not to destroy the simple means of communication I have here, but Earth is wearing on my patience.

  “Celeste didn’t text me back, but she should be here. Stay alert.”

  “Do you think inviting another girl here was smart,” asked Dylan.

  “Why not? This doesn’t concern her.”

  “How would you feel if she showed up tonight with another guy you didn’t know?” asked Dylan.

  I narrowed my eyes at Jake who burst out laughing. “I invited her. Not some man.”

  “He’s a glutton for punishment, and unfortunately for us, we’ll be the ones who have to deal with his nasty attitude later,” said Winston.

  I bit my lip, the metallic copper taste flooding my mouth. I guess I shouldn’t bust my lips if I want Kyra sucking on them. That isn’t all I would like her to suck. I have plans for that smart mouth of hers.

  “Boys, here comes Celeste.” I saw her before she got close. She was strolling down the path swinging her arms cracking her knuckles. Her hair is another flamboyant color, lime green, but she still looks the same.

  “You wanted to see me.” She stopped in front of me with her hands inside her pockets.

  “Do you see something wrong here?” Pointing around us I looked around then back at her.

  “Nope. What’s wrong?” She shrugged.

  “Leonardo is not dead. You failed to prove your loyalty to me.”

  “You’ve called me out here to kill me. Did it occur to you that I’m immortal? Beyond that, did it cross your mind that I could help you?”

  “I’m supposed to take your word for it.” She cannot be immortal. Valcrum will pay for stripping my immortality from me like a blanket snatched from a newborn.

  Trevor, she isn’t lying. I sense massive power flowing through her body. I’m not sure I could kill her. There might be a way but I am not sure. You cannot kill her so play nice.

  “I came here expecting to find Leonardo’s body and instead I find out that he still lives.”

  “The vampire virus takes a month before it kills its host. It is a very slow and painful death. If you wanted him to die quick, then you should’ve said something.”

  “Bethanny and Kyra are coming now,” said Jake. He slid his phone in his pocket and smoothed out the wrinkles in his shirt.

  “Ok.” I do not know why I bother being on time, these girls, have no concept of time when it comes to getting ready for a date.

  “Here. I’ve done what I said I would do and now it’s your turn. Put up or shut up.” She handed me a vial of crimson substance.

  “What is this? What can I do with a tiny sample? I need all of it.” I held it up and examined the liquid swirling around in the test tube.

  “You can kill a whole city if you spike their blood supply with it. That is what they did to the vampires in Buckhead. Did you find Claire Sands?”

  “Working on it.” This small sample would kill a city full of vampires. I think I am loving modern science. We will try this out on the city of Alphaville to see what destruction I can cause there.

  Leonardo is not dead. I can deliver Claire Sands to you, and your revenge will be in motion. Do you want my help or not? It’s up to you, but you have five minutes to choose, and I will not offer you this choice again.

  In my pocket, I had the power to kill a city full of vampires. What could I do with Claire Sa
nds making me an unlimited amount of the vampire virus? This was a no brainer. I’m here to destroy Valcrum’s most precious gift and get my revenge.

  Victoria, we have a deal. Tell me where I can find Claire.

  Ha. You must forget I know you. I will hold up my part of the bargain once I make sure you have done the same.

  Bethanny, Chasity, and Kyra headed toward us. The heels on their feet made so much noise we could hear them a mile away. Who was the other girl with them? She was as attractive as a tattered used dishrag. I’m sure Bethanny found the ugliest girl in the academy to bring tonight. Shame on Bethanny. She looked like she might faint if I talked to her. Oh well, I only have eyes for one. My spitfire. Kyra was a joy even when she was not trying to be.

  Kyra’s mouth was set in a thin line. I bet her jaw ached from keeping it so tightly closed. She was still pissed off at me. That tight white-collar shirt that hugged her breast was scandalous. The fact that she only button one button was deliberate. Her charcoal plaid skirt had a purple pinstripe in it and she had on purple eight-inch heels. She would not be able to run in those shoes because they just were not practical.

  I’ll break up with Kyra after I bring her home. There is no time limit on breaking up with her.

  You must break up with her now, not later tonight. Why sleep with her again when you are done with her? You need to let her move on and find a guy that will put her first.

  Victoria guys don’t put women first. Any girl that expects a man to do that is crazy.

  “Who’s the girl?” asked Bethanny. She pointed to Celeste who flipped her lime green hair out of her face.

  “You got a problem baby doll? We can settle it here and now?” Celeste stepped closer to Bethanny, but Jake grabbed Bethanny.

  “Touch her and you die,” said Jake. He smiled waiting for Celeste.

  “Bethanny control yourself. Are you so scared of competition that you would rather Jake see you get the snot beat out of you?”

  “That hussy doesn’t want a piece of me. If she doesn’t touch my meat, then we’re good,” said Bethanny.

  Celeste frowned and hocked up a wad of spit and shot it on the sidewalk. She hunched her shoulders.

  “Who’s your friend, Bethanny?” I rolled my eyes. Bethanny was like a venereal disease that would not go away. I would not mind if Celeste killed her, but Jake had a tender spot for her. I can’t imagine why.

  “That’s just Ivy. She was curious about leaving school grounds so this is her first time,” said Chasity.

  “How are you?” said Ivy. She elbowed Chasity in the gut. “They don’t need to know I’ve never left school grounds,” she whispered.

  “Excuse us,” said Kyra. She elbowed her way in between Celeste and me.

  I closed my eyes savoring her scent. Kyra had bathed with that coconut bar, and she had that Brazilian Moni in her curly hair. She smelled like an exotic desert, and my mouth watered to taste her. My fingers twitched to caress her skin.

  “You’re excused,” said Celeste. “Who do you think you are? A princess? You want to talk then talk, or better yet scram,” said Celeste. She pushed Kyra down and she toppled in the dirt. “If you had any smarts you’d stay down,” said Celeste. She faced Kyra daring her to get up off the ground.

  “Come on Celeste.” I put my arm around her neck and walked away.

  “I don’t usually mix business with pleasure but I’m willing to make an exception with you.” Celeste leaned into me and placed a small kiss on my neck.

  Closing my eyes, I forced myself not to flinch.

  Kyra unsnapped her high heels.

  “You tramp. There won’t be anything left of you when I’m done with you.” Kyra swung her shoe and hit Celeste over the head with the spiked heel. She swung the heel again, but Celeste grabbed it and broke it in half. Celeste ran her finger down her bloody chin and tasted her own blood.

  Celeste raised her fist, but I grabbed her arm. “Allow me to do my job.” I stepped in front of Kyra shielding her from Celeste’s wrath. The girl shook with her anger and I didn’t want her to kill Kyra. “Kyra, why are you acting this way? You wanted to break up, so we broke up.”

  “We did not break up. One argument is hardly a reason to break up.”

  “You did not want to please me so don’t be mad when another woman is dying to do it.”

  Kyra lunged around me to get to Celeste, but I grabbed her arms as she tried to swing and kick Celeste. When she could not hit her, she scratched her throat and spit at Celeste. I turned Kyra’s face away before she could spit on her.

  “Kyra. Don’t you have some pride left? I don’t want you.”

  “Why did you invite me if you didn’t want to see me?”

  “Winston wanted to talk to you. I didn’t ask for you to come. Why would I?” I looked back at Celeste then at Kyra.

  Wow. You told her you were going to pass her to your friends. I said break up with her, not ruin her life. Kyra will never recover from that. I almost feel sorry for...

  Victoria, shut up.

  Pow. Kyra backhanded me. “You know we were not broken up. You use that as an excuse to sleep around with this circus free animal? I hope she burns your junk off.” Kyra wiped her tears from her face and headed down the dark path toward town.

  “Trevor, you don’t get to tell me who to sleep with. That decision belongs to me. You can have your fun because I will.” Kyra turned and walked away until she veered off the path.

  “Dylan go make sure she gets home.”

  “If she’s bold enough to fight me she can fend for herself. Some horny man will take pity on her if she proves herself worthy of saving,” said Celeste.

  Well, if you thought you were going to get her back later forget it. She will probably have slept with twenty more guys by then and you won’t want her. It’s best to have her yourself before everyone else does.

  We headed down the street. Celeste was curled up on my arms like a cat, and something inside me was cold, hollow, and empty. There was no way I would sleep with Celeste. I made Kyra think that, but I am not going there. Not today or any day. Cutting my eyes at Dylan, I jerked my eyes toward the direction of Kyra and he slipped off down the path.

  Most of the tension left me. Dylan would protect Kyra with his life, so I didn’t have to worry about that. Kyra could hold a grudge and she is very prideful. I am not sure hurting her pride was smart.

  Victoria, where is she. Tell me now.

  Claire Sands lives at 11102 Sandy Beach Lane, Buckhead. Her house is the third one on the right-hand side with the red door.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Arianna

  Light filtered into the room, and across my face. My eyes fluttered open and I rolled over, turning my back to the window near the desk. Shifting, burrowing deeper in the covers I closed my eyes. Hushed voices in the distance made me open my right eye. Is that Kyra? Turning around, so I faced the window, I closed my eyes and pretended to sleep.

  Five minutes later the window slid up and someone entered the room. A second later, someone else climbed through the window. I kept my breathing even as I pretended sleep.

  “You told me Kyra was sleeping with her roommate down the hall,” said Maximus.

  What? That’s Maximus’s voice. She’s pretending to be me. I thought she stopped doing that when we were ten. Does he stay close to the school? He said he can’t be here and yet he’s in my room. He must think I invited him.

  “Kyra is needy. I guess she’s scared about her first day of school or meeting with the headmaster.”

  “If she’s smart she should be scared. Liam doesn’t play and he’ll know if you’re lying, so she’d better tell him the truth.”

  I opened my eyes. Maximus was wearing darker jeans and a dark sweater. Kyra was wearing her favorite short pink dress. The dress always blew in the wind and it stayed up more than it did down. Closing my eyes, I feigned sleep.

  “Let’s just go back to your place. It’s still dark, so we have some time to get to know ea
ch other,” said Kyra.

  My eyes flew open. Maximus’s back was to me and Kyra was busy rummaging through her purse. Once she pulled out a small grey package, she slipped it inside her tissues stuffed bra. Classy Kyra.

  “Do you remember what I asked you?”

  “I’m twenty-one and not married. Who cares if I have some fun?” Kyra swayed her hips as she wrapped her arms around him. She leaned in to kiss him and he pulled back from her taking her arms from around his neck.

  “I don’t date young girls. I have a reputation; some of its warranted but some of it is lies. Your purse is over there show me your state identification card that says you’re twenty-one and I’ll take you to my house right now. Hell, I’ll take you anywhere you want to go Arianna.”

  “I can show you my identification after.”

  “No, you’ll show me before. Do you remember what I said to you when I dropped you off at the gate earlier?” He stepped back out of her arms.

  “You said you like me. I can’t tell that you like me by the way you’re acting.”

  “Goodnight, Kyra. You may sleep around and I’m not judging you, but Arianna is classy. You should get some class before you meet the wrong man offering more than what you’re willing to give.”

  “How dare you talk to me about class. Get out of my room. You were busting out of your pants, from lust for me and now you act like you don’t want me.”

  “I don’t want you. I like your sister. My reputation has barred me from meeting nice girls but that changed tonight when I met Arianna.”

  “Your luck didn’t change. Goody two-shoes has never had a boyfriend or even been kissed. She wouldn’t know what to do with you if she had step by step instructions.”

  “Lucky for her training is my middle name. She doesn’t have to know what to do it’s my job to teach her. Oh, you don’t know your sister as well as you think you do.” He walked to the window and pushed it up. The wind blew into the room and I curled my toes underneath the covers.