Academy of Magic Collection

by Angelique S Anderson et al.

  “Do you think you can find the house again? Did the blood bonding protect you from the demons?”

  “I wasn’t attractive to the demons, so I wasn’t in danger. They only wanted to have sex with the pretty girls. Ava sometimes speaks to me and she told me that they were demons and to leave. I was scared so she transported me back here.”

  “You are beautiful Ivy. Every guy has their preference, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t beautiful. I wish my red hair looked good on me. Your red hair looks amazing on you.”

  “I hate my red hair. It is too bold and stands out,” said Ivy

  “Whatever blood bonding is. I’m glad that Ava protected you. I think she will always find a way to protect you, so draw on that strength.”

  “Blood bonding is usually something witches do when they meet their fated one, the one they’re supposed to be with, but you can blood bond with a family member if the love is strong enough.”

  Frowning I looked at the window. “Do you hear that?”

  Ivy shook her head. “Someone is coming.”

  “Quick hide under the bed.”

  “I want to fight with you. You still can’t summon your powers,” said Ivy.

  “I need you to live. You’re the only person who knows how to get to Trevor and the demons.” I pushed her under the bed. Stuffing my pillow under the covers I hid on the side of the dresser waiting to pounce on the intruder. A few minutes later, the window slid up, and someone crept inside closing the window.

  I jumped on their back. I wrestled them down to the bed. I was flipped on my back.

  “Any other time I would be impressed with your skills, but I don’t have the time. We have a problem,” said Aiko.

  “What are you doing here? Is Maximus preparing his men?”

  “Nobody has seen or heard from Maximus. I heard you were attacked last night but something is wrong. I came here to tell you that I’m going to track Maximus. If something happens to me and I’m killed, Orion Ali is in charge.”

  “You can’t go off on your own. Maximus loves you and wouldn’t want you to put yourself in danger, not even for him.”

  “Arianna, he’s like my father. I can’t sit by and hope that he shows up. Our forces are preparing for war and we need to help you guys. There is no one else to spare.”

  “Just hold on Aiko we can come up with a solution. There’s got to be another way.”

  “You must not know that the government came here earlier today and took Kyra. I heard one of the men say that they plan to kill her in seventy-two hours and take the baby for experimentation to create ‘superhero’.”

  “Why are you just sitting here?”

  “Liam has me locked in this dang room. He doesn’t trust me even after I gave him Kyra’s diary. The school was attacked and now Kyra has been taken. This is a mess.”

  Glancing at the door, I frowned. Someone was coming. “Don’t let them know you’re here. Hide.” Aiko took her time walking to the closet and sliding the door closed. We needed Maximus more than ever. I can’t tell her what to do and Aiko doesn’t listen to anybody but Maximus.

  Liam walked inside with two other men. He looked strained. There was more going on that I knew about and I don’t think he will be forthcoming with the knowledge. I can get the information out of Cade.

  “Derrick Grands came and took Kyra to the capital,” said Liam.

  “What does that mean? Will he release her to you?”

  “They will kill her and take the baby. The baby is as good as dead too, or it will wish it was dead, once it grows up with Derrick’s corruption and lack of morals.”

  “Can’t you do something?” There must be something that Liam can do.

  “His presence here is catastrophic on the academy. He now has the right to insert himself in the academy, since we have broken the law. The changes that are coming will forever impact the school.”

  “What changes? Can Derrick shut the school down over Kyra getting pregnant? She is one student and we have hundreds of students here.”

  “He has taken some of our students, the ones that he felt held the most promise, back to the capital with him.”

  “Valcrum have mercy on them.”

  “There’s another reason I came down here. Have you seen Cade?”

  “How would I have seen him? I’m a prisoner at this school.”

  “If Derrick knew what you were capable of you would be down at the capital too. A prisoner until death. He requires you to sacrifice your life for him.”

  “There isn’t that much difference between you and Derrick.”

  Liam nodded at the man standing closest to the door. “Open it.”

  “Derrick has not reached his car yet. If he and I are the same go with him if you think the odds are in your favor.”

  I walked out the room and down the hall. I saw Derrick point to a girl wearing a plaid yellow skirt and his men grabbed her. Running I ducked down the hall to the right and hid in the bathroom. There was no window, and if, they came in here, I was a goner. Why did I walk out of my room? I know nobody is a bad as Derrick.

  Heavy boots clicked on the tile sounding like large trumpets. Closing my eyes, I didn’t even breathe. The last place I wanted to go was to the capital. I would rather eat a gun, but I’ve made my bed now. Biting my lip my stomach dropped, and I almost wet my pants as the door flew open.

  “I guess you agree with me. I am not that bad after all,” said Liam. He chuckled and snapped his fingers leaving me clinging to the wall for support.

  Rushing back into my room I slammed the door shut behind me.

  “Aiko.” I yanked the closet doors open.

  “She’s gone. I heard her sneaking out of the window. I didn’t want her to know that I was hiding under the bed, because she is scary looking,” said Ivy.

  “I don’t know how to contact Orion or who he is, but I can’t let her go roaming and fighting through the city alone.”

  “What are you doing? You can’t mean to go after her alone. You don’t know how to use your powers. You’re as helpless as a human out there against the demons, vampires, werewolves and local nut jobs hiding in the shadows,” said Ivy.

  “I’m going to track her.” I wish mom had let me be in girl scouts or even camping.

  “I’m going with you. I can use my powers to protect the both of us, and I know how to track people. I’m very good at it.”

  My door burst open. Audrey closed the door shut. “You guys don’t think you’re saving the world without me, do you?”

  “Audrey, this is dangerous. You’re not going.” What the heck did she have on? She looked like she wanted to be a prison recruit. All she needed was a pair of handcuffs.

  “I already left Cade a note in his room.”

  “What did you tell Cade? I hope you wrote that you are just kidding.”

  “I told him that the three of us were going to save Aiko and left our three numbers. I know that was excellent planning, and I signed your name. So, he knows that you wrote the note,” said Audrey.

  “I didn’t write it. You did. Go get it and tear it up. You two are staying here and that is final.”

  “Wait. How did you get in his room?” asked Ivy.

  “How did you get in his room?”

  “Babes, no worries. I used my powers. There isn’t a place I can’t get in and out of. You need me because you might need to disappear quickly,” said Audrey.

  “What are you going to do? Make me invisible out of thin air?” I threw up my hands. Praying, a lot, for patience that I needed so desperately in this moment. Why didn’t they understand that this was a suicide mission? Aiko saved my life and I owe her no less than to try and do the same. They don’t owe me anything. Why put themselves in danger?

  “I can. I’ve mastered that part of my powers. You need us. So, shut up and let’s go,” said Audrey. She tossed Ivy her cell phone.

  “Did you put anything else in that note? I know you like to play matchmaker,” said Ivy. Pulling her hair
in a ponytail she slid her phone inside her pocket and walked to the window.

  “I sure did. This is the perfect time for a little extra,” said Audrey.

  “Valcrum, please, take me now.” Shaking my head, I closed the window behind me.

  Four hours passed. I had punched a vampire in the face and almost wet my pants. Ivy had killed two werewolves and Audrey had killed two mutants that camouflaged into their surroundings. If it had not been for Ivy, we would be dead. They had been following us and died before telling us a thing. I was beginning to feel discouraged. Where the heck was Aiko?

  The Village of Windstorm was an upscale place in Johns Creek. The houses in this area looked as if they were on several acres of land. I could only imagine what it must be like to not have to worry about money. I have been working for the last three years and I’m used to going hungry or not having enough food to eat. I can’t imagine knowing there was food every night. Things haven’t been the best at the academy, but I’m well-fed and I have a roof over my head; that’s all a person needs.

  “I’ve picked up her scent again,” said Ivy. She pointed to the house. It was the last house on Jones River Court. The gray and white traditional colonial looked drab sitting next to the colorful brick homes of the neighbors. The grass here smelled sweet and the tall green shrubs and Sago Palm trees towered on the side of the house. Whoever lived here had money and it showed. Rich people never think about stepping on someone else. Breathing deeply, I said my prayers. Something tells me that I might not get another chance.

  “You’ve been saying that for that last couple of hours. I’m beginning to think your tracking skills aren’t as good as you think they are,” said Audrey.

  “You two don’t start arguing. If we’re going to survive, we have to stick together.”

  “It’s not easy tracking a werewolf when she doesn’t want to be tracked. She’s gone to painful lengths to mask her scent and tracks,” said Ivy.

  Pointing, we headed around to the back of the house. Picking up a wooden log I was ready to save Aiko. Climbing the tall pine fence, we crept to the back door. Ivy moved to open the door, but it flew open. Ivy waved her hands and a ball of yellow light flew into the person.

  Running inside I lifted the log ready to bash their head in when Audrey flipped the light on.

  “Aiko I almost bashed your brains in.” I tossed the log down and helped her to her feet.

  “What are you doing here besides given me a headache,” said Aiko?

  “I came to save you. Whose house is this? Did you find Maximus?” I looked around at the platinum kitchen appliances and brown travertine tile throughout the lower level.

  “This is Walter Higgins house. Let’s go before his son comes home,” said Aiko.

  “Who is Walter Higgins,” asked Ivy.

  “His son’s DNA is what created the mutagens. I’d rather not fight him now,” said Aiko.

  “Where is Walter Higgins,” asked Audrey?

  “He plotted to kill Maximus and I can’t find him. I must assume that he has been successful. I killed him. When I heal, I will kill his son too,” said Aiko.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Cade

  What was Maximus doing in the city of Jonesboro? We saw an old abandoned building in a location that looked like the ones on Skids Row. The only thing missing was the homeless people and millions of empty beer cans on the sidewalk. I guess one of the good things that our government did was banned homelessness. Well, I say banned, but the government made the decision to execute the homeless people or the forgotten souls. At least that’s what I called them. They are someone’s loved ones but the loved ones have given up on them or so I thought. When the government started executing the homeless, relatives came out like cockroaches to claim their loved ones prior to execution.

  “If I wasn’t already dying, I’d perish from the stench alone,” I said. This place was horrible but quiet; too quiet. The surrounding pawn shops and grocery stores were boarded up and there were windows and doors with bars on them. It was not clear whether somebody was trying to keep folks out or keep them in. Holding my breath, I tried the lock on the building. The knob came off in my hand and the door fell open. Great. Tossing it to the ground I tried the light switch, which did nothing. Grabbing my sword, I moved forward toward the smell of a werewolf. Maximus either was here or is here.

  Everything in me felt like this was a trap. It was the perfect way of killing me and pinning my murder on the demons. What do I have to lose? I keep forgetting that I’m dying anyway. It’s hard to face the fact that your life is coming to an end when you least expect it.

  “Cade, what took you so long?” she asked.

  I could smell the lilac and lilies in the air. Who was this girl? Her voice didn’t ring any bells and she didn’t bother to turn on the lights.

  “Who are you?” I saw her shadow crawl on the wall. She was a witch. Only witches could have their shadows crawl on walls.

  “It’s him, you can stand down,” said Maximus.

  The lights came on in the entire building. I saw Maximus laying in the corner with his shirt ripped off and blood covering his abdomen. His fur was coated with blood and he looked beat up. What the heck happened to him?

  I didn’t take my eyes off her and it wasn’t because she was stunning. I hate to admit it, but she was beautiful, for a witch. She had blonde hair and blue eyes. She was a gorgeous witch and I didn’t trust her.

  “Who are you?” I didn’t bother to put away my sword because I wasn’t sure I was going to let her live.

  “Cade, this is Claire Deeds. She is the one that made the vampire virus.”

  “I was trying to cure cancer, but my research opened the door to make the virus.”

  “I should kill you right where you stand. You are the reason the vampires in this city will be dead in a month. The demons have been bragging that they have unleashed the vamp virus on the vampires here in Jonesboro and that we’re next.”

  “I unleashed a cure, so they can’t be infected by the vamp virus. They are not dying, at least not from the vamp virus,” said Claire

  “You’re a witch. I met Rose Piccard and I know what you witches think of vampires.”

  “Rose is a dark witch. I suggest you stay far away from her unless you have a death wish.”

  “Who is this Rose Piccard?” asked Maximus. He sat up and ripped off the rest of his shirt.

  Claire’s mouth flopped open. She licked her lips and turned her back on him. “Rose belongs to the Order of Shadows, a dark witch covenant that has grand plans to take over the world,” said Claire.

  “I’m just supposed to trust what you say. What happens when the demons unleash the vamp virus on us? They have the power to kill us all and you gave it to them.”

  “Do you have a better idea? I don’t care if you believe me or not. Why are you fighting so hard to be negative when you have the vamp virus?” said Claire.

  “I told you to stay close to the school. Why didn’t you listen?” asked Cade.

  “You didn’t take your own advice, and look at you?”

  “Boys, I’d love to listen to you argue but I have things to do and places to be. Cade, you are lucky that I have a cure on me. This cure was supposed to be my ticket to safety if I ran into Trevor.”

  My phone vibrated and Orion’s number flashed across the screen.

  “Orion. You won’t believe …”

  “No. Where are you? You need permission to leave. I can’t believe you took Arianna and two of her friends with you,” said Liam.

  “What?”

  “Tell me that you have Arianna and her two friends with you. The note in your room, from Arianna, was addressed to you,” said Liam.

  “What did it say?”

  “It said they were worried about Aiko and that they were going to save her.”

  “What?” yelled Orion.

  “Put Orion on the phone before he goes and gets himself killed. Aiko is his mate.”

  “Is
Aiko in danger?” asked Maximus. He stumbled up on his feet and walked over to me.

  “I see you found Maximus, alive. Orion, Maximus demands to speak to you,” said Liam.

  I handed the phone to Maximus.

  “I’m happy that you’re alive. I was worried that they had gotten to you,” said Orion.

  “Me too. Stay put until Cade or I call you,” said Maximus.

  “Maximus. She’s my mate. It doesn’t matter that she doesn’t recognize it. I’ve been patient like you asked of me, but I can’t have her out there alone,” said Orion.

  I snatched the phone from Maximus. “Aiko isn’t out there alone. Arianna is with her. I will find out where they are and call you right back. You can take your frustrations out on her when we get there.”

  Maximus snatched the phone back. “As your alpha, I say wait until I see Aiko and make sure she’s alright, then she’s all yours.”

  “It’s good to have you back Maximus,” said Orion.

  Maximus hung up the phone and handed it to me.

  A green long sleeve shirt suddenly covered his chest. “Does my nakedness bother you that bad?” His lips curved as he flexed his muscles and made his pectoral muscles dance.

  Rolling my eyes, I dialed Arianna’s phone number. I’m glad that Liam had me memorize some basic information about each recruit.

  “Hello?”

  “This is Cade, where are you guys?”

  “Do they have Aiko? There’s no way they could track her,” said Maximus. He started pacing in the middle of the floor.

  “We are in Jones Creek. They tracked me,” said Aiko.

  “Tell them to stay where they are. I will bring them to us,” said Claire.

  “Let me call Orion now,” said Maximus.

  Claire waved her hands and touched Maximus’s shoulder. He paused from talking to stare at her. Orion appeared a few minutes later. His shock wore off when he saw Maximus standing there.

  “No. I didn’t do anything wrong. Ari he’s blaming me. I can’t believe it. I am always in trouble,” said Aiko