by ERIN BEDFORD
"No. It's not." I straightened and crossed my arms over my chest, doing my best to look down on her the same way she did to me every day. "I want a weekend pass."
Her lip twitched. "Are you asking or telling?"
Seeing that I was acting like a child, I dropped my arms and took a breath. "I mean, can I please have a pass for the weekend? I'm going to go crazy if I don't get out of here. I already have someone on my butt twenty-four seven." Well, except for the fact that I'd ducked out of lunch to come here without telling my escort. "I won't even really be having free reign, seeing as those trackers you have on the students are as good as shock collars."
"I see someone told you about those." Azazel's lips curled up menacingly. "It's one of my better ideas."
"It's barbaric."
"And yet, you want one." She held her hands out to either side.
Fuck, but I did. I didn't care if it told them where I was all the time or shock the shit out of me, I needed out of this place, and now. Even if just for a little while.
"Yes..." I struggled to get the next word out, "Please."
"Very well." She reached into her drawer and pulled out a bracelet identical to Ayden's. She gestured for me to hold my arm out. Reluctantly, I did so, watching as she clasped it on my wrist. "This cannot be taken off by anyone but me. So, don't be getting any ideas." She gave me a pointed look.
"Of course not, mistress." I gave her a mock bow, the sarcasm heavy in my tone. "I live only to please you."
She snorted. "If only that were true, both of our lives would be so much easier."
THAT NIGHT, I had the theater dream again, but this time I wasn't alone. Someone else was sitting in the theater with me. Except I couldn't tell who they were. The closer I got to them, the more indistinguishable their features became.
The projector playing the reel of my life clicked loudly in my mind, signaling the end of the film, and yet, the dream didn't end. The shadows played in the corners watching and waiting. Not taunting me as usual.
Then for the first time ever, the projector started again. This time, the screen showed scenes I'd never seen before. Ones that weren't from my life at least. Or maybe they were ones that had not yet happened?
A blond winged man with a gleaming sword fought with a dark-haired figure on the ground. I couldn't see either of their faces, but they were both heavily beaten already. Fire burst from the dark-haired man's hand and the blond spun away from it, using his wings to extinguish the flame.
"Stop this!" I yelled, but it wasn't me, it was the me on the screen. I ran in between the two of them, throwing my arms up to block them. "This isn't going to solve anything. We have to work together."
I tried to tell myself to get out of the way, that I'd only get hurt, but neither man came after me. In fact, the moment they saw me, they were hesitant to attack. Then out of nowhere, the ground beneath our feet shook and broke. The last thing I heard before the screen went black was someone screaming my name.
I woke up in a sheen of sweat. It was still dark out, and one glance at my alarm clock said it was just after five in the morning. Too wired to sleep, I rolled out of bed and grabbed my toiletry bag. Since we were going into town today, I could put on street clothes and not wear my uniform for once. I hated that thing, and would happily burn it the moment I got to leave this place.
The hallway was quiet on my way out of my room and into the coed bathroom across the hall. I slipped into one of the stalls and sat my belongings on the provided shelf. Turning on the shower, I turned it up as hot as it would go, hoping it would wash away some of the chill my dream had left behind.
I didn't know how long I stood there in the shower, but the water tank at the school must’ve been phenomenal, because the hot water never ran out.
It was while I was in the middle of lathering up my hair that the door to the bathroom opened. A familiar voice called out.
"Anyone in here?"
I froze. What was Dex doing in the student bathroom?
I almost didn't answer him, but realized he could hear the water running. "Uh, yeah. I am."
There was a pause. Then heavy steps crossed the room. I could feel his presence on the other side of the shower stall door. "Is it alright if I shower here? The faculty one has been on the fritz."
More focused on the fact that I was naked in the same room as Dex than his actual words, I fumbled out, "Sure. Why not?"
It was after the shower stall next to me turned on that I realized not only was I naked, but now Dex was, and he was mere feet away from me. My eyes bore into the metal wall separating us, as if I could see through it to Dex on the other side. He must have been doing the same thing, because he didn't move around for a long moment. Then, as if a spell broke, he shifted out of the water spray, and the distinct sound of him squirting a bottle filled the room.
I washed myself at a glacial pace, wanting for some reason to prolong the time I was in there with him, even if I couldn't see him. Another part of me wanted to just hurry up and run away before I could make this any more awkward. He'd flat out refused to admit anything was going to happen between us, and yet, we were somehow drawn to each other.
Was it fate? Or maybe God was finally paying attention to me and this was how he was getting his jollies off?
"Did you get a pass for today?"
Dex's voice startled me, and I dropped my conditioner bottle on my foot. "Shit."
"Are you okay?" Dex paused on his side, and I rushed to answer.
"I'm fine. Just dropped my conditioner."
"Oh. Okay." Was that disappointment I heard in his voice?
No. I was just projecting too much. There was no way that Dex actually wanted to rush to my rescue, and yet, the dream came back to me. I didn't know why, but I had a feeling that the man fighting in my dream had been Dex, and he'd been fighting...for me.
A tense silence filled the bathroom, each of us washing on our own side. It was then that I realized I hadn't answered his question. "Azazel is letting me go today."
"That's surprising."
I snorted. "Yeah. Except, I have this nifty shock collar keeping me from getting out of line, so that should be fun." I fingered the metal bracelet. Should these be gotten wet? Since I hadn't gotten shocked yet, I figured it was fine.
"Yeah, she's quite proud of those. I remember the day she set them up. The students almost rioted." He chuckled to himself, and I couldn't help but close my eyes and savor the sound of it. Of course, that only made me imagine what he was doing over there. The water trickling down his bare skin. His muscles contracting and releasing as he rubbed over each pectoral and then down his rippling abs, taking his precious time as he made his way down his happy trail and wrapped his hand around his—
"Elle?"
I jerked out of my daydream so hard that my foot slipped, and I crashed to the ground. "Fuck," I groaned, rubbing my back and side where I hit the nearby bench. Much to my horror, the shower stall flew open, revealing a very naked and extremely wet Dex.
My mouth gaped open, the pain in my back momentarily forgotten as my eyes raked over him. They trailed over every inch of his deliciousness and landed on the long hard length settled between his legs.
A sharp inhaled breath from him reminded me that I was naked too. I scrambled to my feet, grabbing my towel off the hook on my way up as Dex turned his back on me, giving me a glorious view of his backside.
"Are you okay?" Dex asked, his shoulders tight and the cheeks of his ass flexed.
I securely wrapped the towel around myself and turned off the water. "Yeah, I'm fine. A bit bruised, but I'll live."
Dex jerked his head down once and then hurried back to his stall. The door closed with a clack, and the knobs of the shower squeaked as he changed the temperature.
My face heated as I imagined the cold shower he must be having now. "Dex..." I stepped to the wall separating us, placing my hand against the cool surface.
"Go get ready to leave, Elle," Dex gruffly responded, dismissing
me.
Sighing, I gathered my things and walked back to my room, not bothering to change first. It was still early, so no one was in the hallway, not that I'd have cared one way or the other. When I arrived in my room, I shut and locked the door before throwing my towel clad self onto my bed.
This was bad. This was so unbelievably bad. I had the hots for Dex. Well, of course, I did. He was irrefutably handsome and sexy in a dark, dangerous way. I snorted. Dex, dangerous? He was a teacher, for one, and more angel than human. He wasn't any more dangerous than Sarah was.
Still...man, did my imagination not do him justice. I sighed longingly before forcing myself to get out of bed and get ready.
I decided on a pair of Rockstar jeans that were ripped at the knees and up the thighs, and a white ribbed tank top over a black bra. I topped it off with my jean jacket that my mom and I had bedazzled one lazy summer day. Wearing it made me feel close to her, and I needed that right now.
Once I was ready, I made my way downstairs. I grabbed a piece of toast and an apple from the breakfast table and ate on my way out the door. There was already a group of students waiting at the front for our ride.
Ayden waved at me from her group of friends. "Elle, over here!"
I meandered over to them. Nodding and greeting them each until I reached Zephyr. He offered me a small smile and nod. "Hey."
I smiled back. "Hey. Sorry about—"
"Don't worry about it." He scrubbed the back of his head and laughed. "I let my mouth run away with me sometimes."
"I gotcha. It's cool. I was having a day." The others were watching our exchange with curious glances, but didn't ask us to elaborate.
"I see you got them to let you off your leash finally," Joash commented as he shifted closer to Coral. I arched a brow. Back on again it seemed?
"Uh, yeah." I chuckled and lifted my wrist, showing off the bracelet. "Only to get a more permanent one I can't duck out on."
"What did you do to get a babysitter?" Bayu asked as we began to pile into the bus that had just arrived.
I struggled with how much to tell them. Then figured the truth wouldn't hurt. "Tried to run away while you were all getting drunk."
"What?" Ayden gasped at me as she slid into the first available seat. "Why didn't you tell me?"
I shrugged and took the seat beside her. "’Cause I didn't want you to get in trouble too."
"But why would you want to leave?" Bayu leaned over the back of our seat, astonishment in his voice. "You're safe here."
Zephyr smacked his brother on the shoulder. "Not everyone came here willingly, fucktard."
"I know that, but you didn't have to hit me, dipshit." Bayu smacked his brother back, and the two of them began to make more and more creative names for each other.
I found myself smiling as they argued back and forth. It made me wish for a sibling. Nikki was the closest thing I had to a sister. I frowned and shifted in my seat, letting the rumbling of the bus fill me.
"I would have helped you if you really wanted to leave," Ayden murmured a few moments later.
I angled my head her way. "Don't worry about it. I'm working it out."
"I knew you didn't come here on your own," she continued, her head dipped down a little bit. "And I hoped that making friends and even going to the party might help, but it seems you are determined to leave."
"It's not that." I sighed and lifted a foot onto the bench of the seat. "I just got pulled out of my life so abruptly that I didn't get to explain to anyone or even prepare. My dad..." I blew out a harsh breath. "We don't exactly have the best relationship, and he just showed up out of nowhere, dropping this bombshell on me and then disappearing. I just want answers, and no one seems to want to give them to me."
"That sucks, but I want you to know I'm here if you need to talk." Ayden reached out to touch my hand but then stopped, dropping it back down into her lap.
Smiling softly, I grabbed her hand and squeezed it tight, forcing back the flinch that came with her death. "Thank you."
THE BUS CAME to a stop right outside of Newbury. We all piled off, and most of the students rushed off to different parts of town before their feet barely touched the ground. I loitered by the bus until Ayden and the rest of them got off.
"So, where to?" I tucked my hands into the front pockets of my jacket and waited for Ayden to lead the way.
"We're going to the game store," Bayu announced before he and his brother took off down the street.
Coral and Joash were holding hands now and whispering to each other. Coral blushed at something Joash said before murmuring, "We're going to go check out..." She seemed to struggle with an answer before Joash just led her away. She waved and flushed prettily. "Bye!"
"How much you want to bet they don't make it to a single store?" Ayden shook her head and giggled. "I swear, those two are worse than rabbits."
I watched them leave with a perturbed feeling. "They seem a bit..."
"On again, off again? Yep." Ayden popped her p's and sighed, shrugging. "They’re better than a soap opera, I'm telling you."
We strolled down the road heading into town. Newbury wasn't a large town by any standards. I was used to growing up in Omaha, so this kind of place really wouldn't have done anything for me under normal circumstances. Except two weeks stuck in the Fallen Academy had me excited just to go to a diner. A diner! Somewhere I wouldn't have bothered to eat at before this all happened. Now, it was the highlight of my month.
What being quarantined will do you to you...
"It's a bit early to eat lunch..." Ayden checked her phone, and my palm itched to have my own device back in my hands. "We can walk around and check out the stores if you want? Or just find a spot and people watch?" She looked at me expectantly.
"I don't mind either wa—" I began to tell her, and then caught sight of an electronics store. "Actually, why don't we go in there?"
Ayden's mouth twisted to one side, but thankfully, she didn't argue.
I had to keep myself from running to the store so Ayden and the loitering teachers wouldn't suspect anything was up. When we walked in the electronics store, I pretended to look around, but I could already see the display for pay as you go phones.
If Azazel and my dad thought they could keep me down by taking my phone, they had another thing coming.
I just needed to get my hands on one of them, and then I could get a hold of Nikki. While I didn't have plans right now to take off, especially after the talk I had with Ayden, I still needed to let her know I was okay.
Standing in front of the phone display was like standing in front of the holy grail. I swear, it was that monumental. I felt a huge weight fall from my shoulders as my hand wrapped around one of the plastic cases.
Until my world came tumbling down around me.
A shadow fell over where I stood, and I barely had the phone in my hands before it was plucked away by Professor Rufus with a smug grin.
"Hey, give that back. I'm going to buy that." My fingers curled into fists, and the need to knock the smirking asshole on his butt was almost too hard to refuse.
"You are on restriction." Rufus stared down at me hard, though he still had a gleeful gleam in his eyes. "That means no cell phone. You're lucky our liege even let you out of the school. I wouldn't have let you if I were running the academy." He sniffed and shifted away, pointing a finger at the door.
Clearly, someone thought they were better suited for Azazel's job, but either way, he had just ended up on my shit list. Holding back the need for violence, a valiant effort on my part if I did say so, I marched out of the store and waited by a nearby tree for Ayden to come out.
She did a few minutes later, confused and searching for me. Ayden spotted me a few seconds later and walked over to me.
"Hey, what happened? I thought you needed something."
I shook my head and kicked the stone sidewalk beneath my foot. "Nah, they didn't have what I wanted. Let's go check something else out."
As we walked, I
noticed quite a bit of teachers and other staff members in town. None of them had been on the bus, I'd been sure of it.
"Do they usually come to town with the students?" I pointed out to Ayden.
She shrugged. "Sometimes, but usually it’s only a few. They must be taking extra precautions this time with all the angel sightings lately." She stopped before a clothing store window and surveyed the outfit on display. "They usually just make sure that we don't use our powers or cause a fuss."
"And what about the people who live here?" I noticed a few guys about our age staring at us unabashedly. "Do they know...what we are?"
Ayden scoffed and straightened. "Of course not. They put up with us because we bring money to their little town."
"How could they not though?" I stared right back at the guys until they finally stopped and walked away. "We don't age the same, so they are bound to notice eventually."
"I’m sure they have, but none of them have said anything, or if they have, I'm sure our liege had one of the mentals do a memory alteration."
"They can do that?" My brows rose as we walked to the next store. This one had a guy making custom wood furniture. They were exquisite, if a little out of my price range. Not that I had anywhere to put it now. Until I got out of Fallen Academy, my mom's house was just going to sit there.
"Anyway, the teachers like Dex tend to stay away from town. He has too much angel blood in his system, so he ages even slower than the rest of us." She stopped at an ice cream stand and got a cone from the starry-eyed boy who wouldn't stop staring at us. "You want any?"
I shook my head no. "Really?" I asked, when we were far enough away from the boy. "He told me he was a hundred and twenty-five."
"And he barely looks over twenty, right?" She giggled, licking her ice cream cone.
It was then that I noticed we were getting a lot of looks from the town's people. "Uh, Ayden. Is it just me, or are they staring an awful lot?"
Ayden shrugged. "Humans always do that. They're drawn to us cause of our—"
"Angel blood. Yeah. I get it."
Except I didn't. No one had ever been drawn to me. If anything, they ran in the opposite direction any time I came around. Out of habit, I ran my finger over the mark on my hand, which was now completely gone. Had the mark my dad put on me also kept humans from seeing the angelic part of me as well? It was another thing I'd have to ask him when I saw him next.