by J. L. Weil
The monster stomped toward her with sluggish movements, as though his body was too heavy for him to run.
Renna! Hurrying into the restroom, I noticed the mirror ripple with my reflection, like the portal was spelled to sense our essence. Rushing through it, I lay Catina on the academy grounds, leaving her there with Zero, while I ran back to the other side of the mirror, returning to the clearing.
My eyes landed on Renna, who was trying to get her bearings, pushing off the grass. There wasn’t a scratch on her, thank God, but the strength of the hit had affected her. Enraged and panicked, I ran full speed toward the demon looking to kill her. His clawed hand lifted, open this time, clearly looking to slice her in two just as Renna stumbled to her feet.
The Rock Monster’s arm swung down at the same instant that my body connected with hers, and I tackled her out of the way. A scream ripped from my chest when his claws pierced my left thigh, slicing through skin and muscle. Slamming onto the ground next to Renna, I immediately turned, pulling out my gun and took aim at his chest.
With a deep exhale everything stilled around me, and as I fired, time seemed to slow.
Three bullets swirled, one behind the other, leaving trails of white smoke while they cut through the air. The demon came at us… until they hit his body. An explosion of rock and gravel rained over the forest, like tiny projectiles, and I curled my form around Renna’s to cover her. I slightly shook over her, fiercely holding her to me—the blast triggering a memory I’d much rather keep buried.
Jagged stones sliced our exposed skin, until nothing but silence spread along the forest. Heart hammering in my chest, I pulled away, looking all around us. Holy shit, I could hardly believe I had done it. “I killed the demon,” I panted, sitting up fully.
Renna’s stunned eyes connected with mine when she sat up too. “What the hell were you thinking, risking your life—?”
My lips crashed over hers as I pulled her to me, finally satiating the urge to kiss her. Just like the first time, she gave into me with little persuasion, and our mouths crushed against each other with a desperate need, sharing a passion-filled kiss. Her soft breasts flushed against my chest, our tongues brushing. She stole my breath. I bit her bottom lip, taunting her, and she whimpered in my mouth with desire. I claimed her lips again.
Damn did she taste like heaven.
Renna pulled away, catching her breath while staring into my eyes, still shocked and confused… and pissed off ten ways to Sunday. “Why the fuck would you do that? You’re human, Scorpion. You just risked—”
“Risked my life for you even though you are infuriating, perplexing, and mind numbingly stubborn? You are welcome.” Letting go of her, while she furiously scowled at me, and I glanced at my left thigh to find tattered jeans with three slashes marring my skin.
“Gods, of course you managed to get yourself hurt!” she snapped, kneeling over me.
“I’ve survived worse,” I assured, pulling off my shirt, and ripping the bottom from it to wrap around the top of my thigh, making a tourniquet with it. Tearing the sleeves, I cleaned the area to assess my injury, grunting at the pain as I dragged the cloth over my skin. Thankfully, this demon had no venom. “They are clean cuts, they’ll heal.”
Taking the middle section of the shirt, I placed it around the wound, tying the makeshift bandage at the ends and stood, cringing. Our eyes snapped to the rocks around us when they began to vibrate, dragging over the earth toward each other, as though to stick together again, but then they burst into red smoke and disappeared before the monster could form.
“I don’t know what the fuck that was, but we need to move.” Reaching for her hand, I pulled her with me, grinding my teeth as I forced myself to put weight on the injured leg.
When we crossed the mirror and stepped onto academy grounds, I let out a relieved sigh, seeing the glass surface solidify once again.
“The demons can only be vanished back to Infernum, they are not really dead,” Renna explained, looking at me strangely.
“Even the Spider Queen?” I asked shocked, seeing her nod. “But you said I killed her.”
“We refer to it as death because we are getting rid of them forever, but their essences are magically tied to the prison they were damned to by the gods.”
“And this time it’s not forever because the gate is breaking for good,” I added, remembering the council’s explanation. Renna nodded again. “What happened back there?” I glanced into her eyes, knowing she understood I was talking about her reaction to the demon. From the way Renna had fought the spider creature with me, I knew she was more than capable, but something had thrown her off her game.
“He had no blood, no pulse, no heart, no scent I could perceive. I couldn’t sense his magic until…”
“Until he jumped out of the trees.”
“You felt him before I did,” she begrudgingly admitted, lifting her chin and I recognized the gesture for what it was. She didn’t want to appear weak in front of anyone, least of all me. “I had it under control. I didn’t need you to come save me like I was some damsel in distress. I’m anything but that. I don’t need your protec—”
“I know you don’t, but I’m offering it nonetheless,” I whispered, stepping closer until our chests almost touched.
My hand cradled her cheek, and I looked down into her striking blue eyes that hypnotized me every time.
“That’s what being in a team with me means, Renna. I’m not here to dictate your every move, or tell you what to think. I’m here to help you, guide you so you can be even more amazing than you already are. Leading you doesn’t mean taking your freedom away from you. I mean to embrace who you are and use your abilities to our advantage, offering mine in return so we can be even stronger, and accomplish this together. It’s not you vs me. I need you to please understand that.”
Vampire… my rational brain warned. Oh, shut up...
Our breaths mixed when I leaned closer, the urge to kiss her again all consuming, and my thumb gently stroked her cheekbone. I watched her chest rise and fall with her rapid breathing, her gaze falling to my lips.
Instinctively leaning into her, my head tilted to kiss her, but she blinked, pushing me away. “Do you really think I’m going to fall for the whole hero routine you have going on? I’m not just another girl you get to seduce. I’m not even your same race, Scorpion. I’m a vampire.”
“Trust me, I know, but as it turns out, I don’t give a rat’s ass. And with the way you respond to me when I kiss you, when I touch you, when I’m close to you this way, I don’t think you do either.”
“Get over yourself.” She walked past me, bumping my shoulder, and bending down to grab the cat next to a still unconscious Catina—he was licking her cheek as though he meant to heal her bruise. Zero yelped when Renna wrangled him into her arms, marching along the path back to the castle.
Grunting, I lifted the witch into my arms again, following her.
13
When we stopped in front of the door to Ambrose’s office, I expected Renna to announce our presence and wait for us to be called inside, instead, she knocked once and pushed the door open, entering the space like she owned the joint.
Was she pissed off now?
Ambrose flashed toward the other end of the room, while my eyes connected with a startled Serenity, who sat on the leather sofa.
“Do you make a habit of entering the headmaster’s office without knocking?” the High Witch seethed, smoothing her long ponytail as she stood. “We were in the middle of discussing a private and very important matter.” Her amber eyes flared, focusing on Renna, who sent the cat flying to the floor like a hot potato.
“As a matter of fact, I do. He is my father. Besides, this is urgent,” Renna defended in a clipped tone. “The witch was out of control. We had to battle a damn demon on our way back. Scorpion needs healing again because he’s an idiot. And this is the last time I touch that stupid furball.”
Yep. She was pissed.
Dandy
. Just dandy.
I sighed.
Ambrose’s head angled toward me, nostrils flaring, and his gaze intensified while he watched me. He’d taken in the scent of my blood. In perfect control of his nature, he exhaled and straightened his spine, holding his hands behind him while his sapphire eyes analyzed me.
“How did he place himself in danger, I wonder?” he asked Renna, as though I wasn’t there.
“He jumped in front of me when the demon attacked me,” Renna barked, crossing her arms over her chest.
Frowning, I glanced at my beautiful vampiress, realizing only then how difficult it must have been for her to be with me all this time while I was bleeding. “I’m fine,” I mumbled, hating the fact that I caused her any discomfort.
“Come here,” Serenity called, gesturing to the couch. “Let me see that wound.”
Placing Catina on the cushions gently, I fell on my ass next to her from weakness and exhaustion. I began to unwrap my thigh, looking at the slashes. “They are just scratches. The demon’s claws got to me.”
“What type of demon?” Serenity questioned, her concerned eyes flying to Ambrose, and exchanging a loaded glance.
“It was a... Rock Monster?” I made a face when she frowned. I took pride in naming my teams and missions, and I was kind of great at it to be honest, but this was embarrassing. “I don’t know how else to describe it. He seemed made of pure reddish rock, with a massive torso and arms. His head was large with white horns on the sides. His fingers were thick but thinned, turning into ragged claws.”
“His eyes glowed red, like he had pure fiery lava insi—”
“We have less time than we thought,” Ambrose interrupted Renna, his concern growing while he and Serenity stared at each other.
“What does that mean?” Renna and I both cautiously asked.
“Here, drink this,” Serenity instructed, and I took the small vial she offered—it also had a glimmering magic crystal just like the one used last time, but it was an eight-point star. Without question, I drank its contents.
“What you fought was a Magnum Petram—Rock Giant. It is a creature created by the Damanta. It feels no pain, it doesn’t bleed, and has no thought other than to kill.”
“The perfect soldier,” I whispered, dread rocking my spine as Ambrose nodded.
“This means the crack in the gate has spread, allowing them to use their once bound powers inside Infernum,” Serenity informed, clutching her hands as she began to pace the room. Amber eyes focused on the window while she ran scenarios in her mind, and the long skirt of her gown dragged along the wood boards. “They can’t quite escape, so they are sending the next best thing to earth.”
“I vanished it by shooting into its chest before it could do more damage,” I offered, remembering Renna’s words about us not being able to truly kill the demons. “But if the gate is ripping apart, that might not work anymore.”
“Correct.” Ambrose glanced at Catina, his brow dangerously furring when he noticed the deep bruise on her otherwise fair skin. “Do I want to know what happened?” His eyes went to Renna, and she opened her mouth to explain.
“I—”
“I'm ready to brief you now, Sir,” I assured him before she could begin, standing to my full height beside her—my leg healed. Taking a military stance, I bumped my heels together and lifted my chin, like I would do when reporting to the General. “It’s my fault, Sir. When I was trying to convince the witch to come with us, she got agitated, and her unstable powers flared. I had to stop her before something happened, and knocking her out was the only way I knew how.”
Renna glared at me shocked, and somehow, I managed to piss her off even more.
“You hit the witch?” Ambrose asked, clearly not buying it when his stern gaze fell on Renna.
“Yes, Sir. I sincerely apologize. I was startled by her powers and reacted.”
“You hit Catina?” Serenity asked as well. “A woman. You are telling me, you hit a woman?”
Shit. I internally cringed with her statement. I had a strong aversion to abuse of any kind. I would never do that. “I am deeply ashamed of it, and I’ll accept any punishment you deem necessary. It will not happen again.”
Amusement and pride fleeted over her expression and she nodded, as though considering it. “I suppose it’s understandable for you, a human, to get scared with her powers, given that it is the first time you’ve dealt with that sort of thing,” she excused, supporting my lie.
“Even though you managed to battle two different demons without batting an eye,” Ambrose added knowingly. Crap. “No punishment necessary. We understand these things happen.” Throwing one last reproaching glance at Renna, he walked back to his desk. “Leave us, we have to meet with the rest of the Aereum. There’s much to discuss after this development.”
Renna whirled around, stomping to the door, but I hesitated, looking at Catina still unconscious on the couch.
“Sena, our healer, will take care of her, and I’ll appoint her a room in the academy. She’ll be watched over until she awakes,” Serenity assured, sensing my hesitation.
“Yes, ma’am.” With a firm nod, and bumping my heels together again, I turned.
“And Scorpion…” Ambrose called, forcing me to face him again. “Though we appreciate the reverence offered, we do not require military formalities here.”
“Oh,” I frowned, finally relaxing. “I'm sorry. I’m just so used to—”
“We know…” Serenity nodded, her gaze shifting to my vampiress who stood by the door. “Before you both leave, Ambrose and I were discussing this earlier, and after what happened, we think it’s imperative for the two of you to start training together.”
“Understood.”
“I have to spar with him too?” Renna complained at the same time, and I repressed a grunt.
“Why do you have to oppose everything?”
“Why do you agree to everything?” she retorted.
Sigh.
“You are a team,” Ambrose reminded. “Which means you need not only to fight together, but to—”
“Learn from each other’s strengths and weaknesses so we can complement one another, becoming one formidable team. Not a group of individuals, but a seamless unit,” I finished for him, knowingly, and he nodded, pleased. “Sorry for the interruption, Sir.”
“Suck up,” Renna mumbled.
“Apology accepted. And yes, that is exactly what it means,” Ambrose assured glancing at her, then focused on me again. “But battling demons is not the same as fighting humans, Scorpion. Renna has trained for this purpose, and I expect her to answer any questions you might have.”
Renna rolled her eyes.
“You shall start tomorrow, first thing,” Serenity added, standing from the sofa and joining the Vampire Lord at the desk. She lifted the receiver and handed it to Ambrose. “Could you please inform Professor Mikos that we need him to have a private session with them tomorrow?”
His gaze softened as he looked at her and nodded, beginning to dial.
“How does 6 o’clock sound for you two?”
“That’s perfec—"
“Why so early? We are exhausted from tonight. You got your witch; we should be allowed to sleep in at least.” Renna argued at the same time.
“You’ll attend your classes as you normally do, so the training needs to happen before that,” Ambrose confirmed hanging up the phone. “Mikos will be waiting for you in the weapons room at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow. Do not be late.”
“The weapons room is also the training room,” Serenity informed me. “It is close to the witch’s dorm where you are staying, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find, but here is a map of the academy.”
Ambrose handed me the map at that moment, it seemed printed on age old paper—like parchment—but it was brand new. I smiled, accepting it, and wondered how long they had been working together. They operated seamlessly, like the perfect unit.
“Thank you. Will do.”
“I
trust that Renna will escort you back to your room, so you can learn the way,” Ambrose suggested.
Grunting, she left the office and with a final nod, I stepped out behind her.
With every step we took the silence became heavier between us, tension thickening in the air as we walked out of the headmaster’s tower and toward the dorms. I appreciated the gesture, though it was not necessary, I had gone on a walk through the institution before meeting Renna in the commons earlier today, memorizing every inch of this place in my reconnaissance mission. Still, this would allow me an opportunity to talk to her, maybe fix things between us.
Curious eyes glanced our way, whispers floating along the halls while we walked, but neither her nor I paid them any attention. I was sure everyone here was wondering what the hell was going on, given the secrecy the council seemed to maintain. What was a human doing with one of them, a vampire nonetheless? I was wondering the same thing, but for very different reasons.
We stopped next to my door, and she turned to face me. “Successfully delivered to your door, now I’m gone. See you tomorrow.”
My hand reached for the knob, turning it open. “Can we please talk in private for a moment?” I gestured to my dorm, knowing we couldn’t speak out here with heads peeking from the other rooms along the corridor.
Noticing the same thing I had, she glared at me, marching inside. “You know most of them can still hear us.”
Yep. She was still pissed.
“Listen, Renna. I—”
“No, you listen.” She whirled around when I closed the door. “I told you I don’t need you to protect me. I’m not a defenseless little girl. I am strong, independent, and more than capable to fight my own demons, pun intended. I’m also prepared to deal with the repercussions of my actions. I don’t need a savior.”
“Our actions,” I corrected, irked and confused. Why was she so defensive toward me?
“What?”
“Those weren’t your actions but ours. I told you this before, and I meant it. The moment they placed us together we became a team, and I’m responsible for it. That means that everything we do reflects on me. When you knocked out Catina, so did I. When that demon hit you, it hit me too, because I’m not only responsible for what you do, or for whether we succeed or fail, but also for what happens to you… Don’t you see? I can’t let anything happen to you. I would never forgive myself.”