Crossroads (Crossroads Academy #1)

by J.J. Bonds

  Chapter Five

  The universe has a dark sense of humor. It’s Friday afternoon, and I’m sitting in Sociology minding my own business when Nikolai, Jade, and Lexie traipse in. Apparently this is one of the few subjects where I don’t rate a beginners’ course. Lucky me. And, as fate would have it, they are the last to arrive, meaning that they fill in the empty seats surrounding me. So much for the benefits of getting to class early.

  “Hey Katia,” Lexie trills sliding into the seat next to me. Nikolai flashes me his ‘I know I’m irresistible’ smile and takes the seat behind me. Jade ignores my presence all together which is fine by me. It seems I can’t escape this trio.

  Professor Lynch doesn’t waste any time getting down to business. He passes around the course outline and begins to lecture immediately.

  “What is morality?” he asks, eyeing the class. It’s clear the question is not rhetorical and that an answer is expected.

  Someone to my left calls out, “Right vs. wrong?”

  “That’s it? What about the rest of you?” Lynch pushes, unsatisfied with this trite answer.

  “Morality has historically been considered a human concept. It refers to personal and cultural values that differentiate between right and wrong within society.”

  It’s Nikolai who’s speaking now. I’m shocked he knows anything about morality. I wouldn’t think moral code ranks very high on the priority list in his social circle.

  “It’s not quite that simple,” I counter. “Morality is subjective. What is moral to one society may not be so in another. There are countless examples of groups throughout the ages who have justified reprehensible actions using the moral imperative.”

  “Ahh! Interesting point, Miss?”

  “Lescinka.”

  “Let’s run with that for a minute,” Lynch says, eyes fixed on me. Lynch is the consummate academic. He’s dressed in a boring gray suit with a mustard yellow tie and wears his hair in a comb-over style. If he weren’t a vampire, I’m certain he’d be in need of glasses. And a pocket protector. “We do not feed freely on humans. While it is not expressly forbidden, the more sophisticated factions of our society make valiant attempts to source blood more humanely. Why is that?”

  “Because we’re civilized. Because we have the technology to feed without killing. Because all life has value,” I return simply. “If an innocent life does not have to be taken, if even one can be spared, the extra effort is worth it.”

  “What a crock. We don’t kill humans openly because the Council frowns on it,” one of my classmates mutters. “It’s self-preservation. Too many dead bodies mean a visit from the Linkuri. Not to mention too many questions and the risk of exposure to the humans.”

  I whip around instinctively to see my challenger. He’s sitting a few rows back and is slouched in his chair, legs extended lazily into the aisle. Everything about his disposition suggests the entire discussion is a bore. He’s tall and lanky with hooded dark eyes and even darker hair. His hair is spiked on top and fades into a closely cropped buzz which makes his thick brows that much more prominent on his overly thin and overly pale face. His pierced ears only further compliment his grungy look.

  “Interesting perspective, Blaine.” Lynch knows this student already.

  “Interesting? Soccer is interesting. Music is interesting. Killing simply because you can is not interesting,” I counter with disgust.

  “Get a grip,” Blaine laughs. Several of my classmates, including Jade and Lexie, join in. “It’s the truth. Fear, not compassion or moral obligation, is what keeps us from taking what we want when we want. It’s a shame really. A finer predator has never been seen. It’s natural progression. It’s evolution.”

  “So, what you’re saying is that if it weren’t for the Linkuri the blood would flow freely?” I ask. “It’s only an affinity for your life that keeps the thirst in check? Keeps you returning to the blood bank instead of a dark alley?”

  “Exactly. Survival of the fittest. Darwin had it all figured out,” he replies with a wave of the hand. He looks pleased that I’ve finally gotten it through my thick head.

  “Coward.” I know I shouldn’t provoke my classmates, but his attitude is unbelievable, and it’s clear he can’t be reasoned with. The look of disgust he gives me easily matches my burgeoning opinion of him.

  “I do love a spirited debate!” Lynch is clearly enjoying the exchange, but he does the right thing and redirects the discussion before it gets too ugly. “Does it matter why we don’t kill humans? As long as we don’t do it, does motivation matter? Katia respects life. Blaine respects order. Is one view better than the other?”

  “Motivation is definitely important,” answers Nikolai. “But this goes back to the point Katia made before. What’s right to one is not necessarily right to all. She holds a different belief structure than Blaine. His view is a bit more amoral. He sees humans as a food source. No different than a human sees livestock. There’s no right or wrong to it. Katia, on the other hand, sees a symbiotic relationship that can prosper in harmony.”

  Why am I not surprised? He’s making fun of my argument, belittling it in front of the entire class. I should’ve just kept my damn mouth shut. I sit there fuming. I swear if looks could kill, he’d be a goner.

  I feel the stares of several of my classmates on me as I wait out the remainder of the class, a stony look plastered on my face. As soon as we’re dismissed, I bolt from my desk. Just being in the same room with these people is making me claustrophobic, and I need to get some fresh air.

  Nikolai catches up with me in the hall, but I don’t slow down. I have no interest in talking to him.

  “Moral imperative, huh?”

  “What do you want?” I return, giving him the most acidic look I can muster. It doesn’t take much effort. I’m still burning with humiliation from the exchange in class.

  “Well, I thought perhaps you might be interested in continuing the discussion from Sociology. I found your point… intriguing,” he says devilishly. He flashes me what I’ve come to think of as ‘the smile’ and pushes his wild black hair out of his eyes.

  “Go to hell.”

  “I’m serious.” He ducks his head trying to look as repentant as possible. It doesn’t work. Everything from his black leather boots to his low slung jeans and fitted black V-neck scream bad boy. I force myself to meet his eyes and ignore the way the hard lines of his body press against the soft cotton of his clothing. “I didn’t mean to upset you back there. I was just trying to smooth things over a little bit. It was getting kind of intense, and Blaine isn’t one to forgive and forget quickly.”

  “News flash: I don’t care what you or any of your friends think.” I turn and point back toward the classroom just in time to see Jade closing in on us.

  “Nikolai, Nikolai, Nikolai,” she sings musically from perfectly glossed lips. “Collecting strays again? When will you learn?” Once again it looks like she’s dressed from her little sister’s closet in overly snug designer jeans and a red blouse with buttons that look as though they might burst if she were to take a deep breath.

  “Kind of busy now, Jade.”

  “Too busy for me?” she pouts, putting one hand on her slender hip and forcing out her chest as if to remind Nikolai of what he’s turning away.

  “Right now? Yeah.” His irritation is obvious, and it’s not well received by Jade. Her too small blouse shows plenty of skin and enough cleavage to melt the resolve of pretty much every guy I’ve ever known. Nikolai, however, is not so easily swayed. Maybe he’s seen it all before. It’s only there for a second, but I don’t miss the hostility that briefly distorts her pretty face.

  “I’ll remember that,” she returns icily before storming off, blonde hair tossing in her wake. I turn and do the same, leaving Nikolai standing alone in the hall.