Daizlei Academy Omnibus Collection

by Kel Carpenter

  I couldn’t help smirking when he shot me a look. He didn’t turn away; he kept his eyes on me, and they seemed so sad. I turned back to Avery, ignoring Aaron and his burning gaze. His intensity was staggering.

  “The tournament is three weeks from now, and a week before Winter Break. I’m leaving and will be out of town for a few days, but I’ll let you know who’s going within the next two weeks. This trip is a week-long deal, and it is a privilege. One that that can be taken away from those of you who choose not to show appropriate behavior in and out of my gym. Is that understood?”

  “Yes,.” One word echoed through the room as every boxer responded.

  “You’re dismissed. Head back to class immediately.”

  I was shuffling toward the door with the others when Coach spoke again. “Except Hunter and Foster. I need to have a chat with you two.”

  I turned back, not even bothering to take a seat again.

  When the door was shut behind us, he spoke. “Your places are secured as of this moment. I have, however, been informed by Headmaster Daizlei that we have some things we need to talk about. First, Miss Foster, we need to deal with the fact that you’ve missed so much school that you’re now failing three classes. Again. You have to bring your classes up to at least a C before we leave on this trip, especially Battle Simulation. Because there’s so little time, I’m going to ask Lucas if he’ll tutor you until we leave.”

  My heart sank. I had no clue I was failing all those classes. I also didn’t want to deal with this while we were pissed at each other.

  “I’ll tutor her,” he said, far too somberly. Normally, he would’ve given me crap for failing Battle Simulation, and I would’ve made a joke about how BS stood for Bull Shit.

  “Selena, I need your help to teach him this season,” Avery continued, ignoring the obvious tension.

  “Teach him what, exactly?” I asked, a little skeptical.

  “To fight without relying solely on his ability, to predict the competition, and to be a step ahead. I need your help to make him better. As his partner, can you do this?”

  “I can,” I assured him with a nod.

  “I would appreciate it if you refrained from any long-term injuries, please?”

  I rolled my eyes. “I’ll try.”

  I saw Lucas smirk out of my peripheral vision.

  “You’re dismissed. Get back to class.”

  We let ourselves out and walked in silence.

  “Lucas, I don’t know what you’re pissed about, but you need to get over it. If we’re going to be partners, you need to accept that I have secrets, and that’s not going to change. What you see is what you get. I’ve always been honest with you about that.”

  He sighed, and I was expecting another argument. “So, how do you manage to fail Battle Simulation?” he asked, letting it go.

  I fought back a smile as he grinned, and settled for elbowing him instead. “Shut up.”

  Chapter 30

  We started studying after boxing practices, during lunch, and all day on the weekends. I felt like I was being grilled on school every second of the day. He was a good tutor. I could at least understand it when he explained things, as opposed to Professor Anderson, who was definitely more boring than listening to Alexandra every time she got a new boyfriend.

  Teaching him to be a better boxer was much trickier than memorizing types of rocks or dates. I had to come up with ways to stop him from automatically reading everyone’s minds. Sometimes, I blindfolded him and made him listen to commands while I threw things at him. Sometimes he listened, sometimes not, but after getting hit with a few baseballs, he got the hang of it. Other times, we would just spar, and I would remind him to watch with his eyes, not his mind.

  Progress was slow on both fronts, and we were spending nearly every second of the day together when I wasn’t in class. By the time the tournament came around, I’d brought all my grades up to at least a C, even in Battle Simulation, where I was very careful to tread the line between doing just enough to get by and failing. Fighting in Vonlowsky’s class wasn’t enjoyable. And, unlike like boxing, it wasn’t to keep the darkness at bay. I kept myself on a tight leash whenever he tried to sic me on some underprepared sophomore. The fights were quick, and most of my classmates were thankful that I held back in class. Word had spread since my first match, and even those who weren’t there were hesitant to fight me. What they didn’t know was that I was holding off for Vermont, not wanting to dismember the boys who’d grown on me in the gym. Lucas might’ve had something to do with that.

  As the weeks ticked by, Aaron pushed my buttons less and less, though he never stopped staring. It bothered me, but I tried not to let it show. I didn’t know what his problem was, and I didn’t think he did either. He was always in trouble in class nowadays, and was spending nearly as much time at the gym as Lucas and me. Coach noticed the change, and applauded him for getting his act together—finally securing that coveted spot on the plane. I didn’t think he was really straightening out. I thought he was teetering on a cliff and didn’t know what to do with himself. In a way, I felt bad for him. I didn’t know what was going on, but I knew I was finally seeing what it was like for Lucas to watch me fall. To watch me lose myself.

  For once, I knew the compassion that Lily had always had. The very feeling that always seemed to elude me.

  I hoped he figured it out. I hoped he found peace—even if I could never bring myself to tell him that.

  Chapter 31

  I was standing outside in jeans and a sweatshirt with my duffel bag and eleven guys, who were also waiting for the plane that would take us to Vermont. It was five in the morning on a Saturday, and bitterly cold. That didn’t stop Jack from throwing a giant snowball at Aaron’s face, or him getting pissed and responding in kind. I thought it was funny until they all joined in. Next thing I knew, powdery white ice exploded on the back of my head. I turned. Lucas was standing there, snowball in hand.

  “Don’t you dare.”

  “Oh come on, Selena, have a little fun,” he taunted, hurling it at me.

  I sidestepped the throw. “No.”

  When the plane finally pulled in, I was the first one inside and took my seat as far away from the baboons that called themselves boxers as I could. Did that stop them from irritating me? Not a chance.

  I threw my duffel bag into the chair next to me and pulled out my iPhone, relaxing into a semi-comfortable position. I didn’t even get thirty seconds into the song when there was a tap on my shoulder.

  “What?” I snapped. My irritation levels were through the roof at the moment. Probably from lack of sleep since I’d had another all-night movie marathon with my roommates and then had to pack.

  “Is this seat taken?” Lucas asked me, motioning to my duffel bag.

  I shook my head and stashed it under my seat.

  “Everyone take your stuff up to the front. If we win, you can sit wherever you want on the way back,” Coach Avery boomed through the cabin.

  I sighed. Great. My only chance at peace had just dissolved into thin air.

  “I’m going to listen to my music so that I can maybe make it through this flight without killing somebody.”

  Once the jet was up in the air, it didn’t take long before I passed out.

  The forest seemed much darker this time. Lonelier. Desolate. It was dead silent as I walked through the fog. I knew it was here.

  Ever since I’d started school, it was always here, watching me. I frowned as a chill went through me. Tonight, it was closer than usual. I started to walk a little faster as the dream took on the realness of life. I was getting caught up in it again, and again.

  A twig snapped, and something moved to my side. I ran. Sprinting through the woods, I looked behind me and in every direction as I headed to nowhere. I knew better; these woods were never ending, and it was only a dream . . . but it was so real.

  Something brushed my arm. I whipped around, but nothing was there. A wicked laugh rang through the ai
r, and I stopped running. It had found me.

  “Show yourself,” I called to it.

  I started to take a step back when I bumped into something. I turned to see myself, grinning maliciously with glowing violet eyes and a monstrous laugh. I put my hand over my mouth to keep from screaming.

  I jumped two feet out of my seat, shocked back into reality. My eyes snapped open, only to see the back of the seat in front of me. My heart raced as I closed my eyes and leaned back. My skin was clammy, covered in a cold sweat, and fear still gripped my heart. What the hell was that?

  “What’s wrong?”

  My eyes fluttered open to meet Lucas’s intense green gaze. There was worry in his voice, and I felt his mind reaching out. Testing me, or checking on me, I didn’t want to think about which. I kept my barriers up.

  “I’m fine,” I stuttered. I was not fine, nowhere near it. The monster stalking me in my dreams was . . . me. At least, some form of me.

  “Why are you afraid?”

  “What?” His question threw me off guard, and his eyes searched mine.

  “I can’t read your mind clearly, but I can feel your fear. What are you so scared of?”

  “Nothing, it was just a nightmare,” I said, and turned away. Effectively ending the conversation.

  Outside the window, the jet was descending into fields of white, and a single pop of color stood apart from the snow. The forests around it were dense and filled with ice. Not a soul could be seen, and the wall that protected it had spikes, so very like the one at Daizlei.

  We were here—Vermont’s School for the Supernaturally Gifted.

  Chapter 32

  “Faster, Hunter!” Coach yelled from the side of the ring.

  We’d been sparring for the last three hours, and Lucas was still struggling. We’d arrived two nights ago and were only three days away from the tournament.

  “Watch my hands. Watch my eyes. Watch my feet. Nothing should get past you,” I instructed, while ducking his next blow. “I will slap you if I see that glazed look on your face again.” I kept on his case. He wouldn’t get better if I didn’t, even though it irritated him.

  “I’d like to see you try,” he taunted.

  Faster than he could see, I lunged out and hit him on the back of the head just to prove that I could do it.

  “I would like to see you try,” I retorted.

  He did.

  I knew I didn’t have time to block it. I braced myself as the pain came at me in a full-blown punch to my stomach. I fell to my knees. Holy shit, that hurt. Damn his temper.

  I lay there for a minute while Lucas crouched to his knees. “You okay?”

  It wasn’t like me to show pain, ever.

  “Fine,” I wheezed. My whole stomach felt like it was exploding. I rolled onto my side as a wave of nausea hit. It took everything in me not to throw up right then and there. I knew I shouldn’t have eaten breakfast.

  “Foster, is there an issue?” Coach called.

  “No, Coach,” I called back.

  “Then get up, and this time, block yourself better.”

  I felt it coming up and fled the ring. I jumped over the ropes and onto the floor, sprinting to the trashcan. I heaved as my breakfast came up, and tried not to fall in.

  When it stopped, I wiped my mouth, took a swig of water, and spat it in the trash. Stomach acid was some foul stuff.

  When I turned away from the trashcan, Coach was watching me with concern. “Please tell me you’re not sick.”

  “No, Coach. I shouldn’t have eaten.” After climbing back into the ring, I rubbed my stomach once before preparing to fight again.

  “If you can block yourself better, you can go after this, and take Hunter with you,” Coach said, and we began circling again.

  I aimed for his gut, which he’d expected, but when he caught my arm and pulled me in, he didn’t expect me to go for his shoulder. I dislocated it with one hit and aimed my rebound for the center of his chest. I struck with deadly accuracy, and the air left his lungs in a whoosh as he fell back. He landed on his butt and couldn’t get up again with his arm hanging uselessly at his side.

  “Hold still,” I instructed as I crouched next to him. I popped his shoulder back into place, and he groaned. Good thing Supernaturals heal quickly.

  I climbed out of the ring and landed next to Coach Avery. A few seconds later, Lucas stood to my left as we waited for whatever work he was giving us.

  “Vonlowsky was very specific about your Battle Simulation work. He wants three essays on his desk Friday afternoon. These are the topics you can choose from.” He handed me the manila folder with my name on it.

  “From you, Anderson wants a detailed ten-page essay on the Court and how the system works. She said to remind you that this is twenty percent of your grade, so take your time.” He handed Lucas a single sheet with requirements on it, and turned away, dismissing us.

  “What is this Court? That guy from the last match brought it up too. ‘Member of Court,’ I think.”

  They both just stared like I’d grown another head.

  “You’ve never heard of The Court?” Lucas asked, and I shook my head.

  “How exactly did you get accepted into Daizlei?” Coach Avery asked me.

  “I’d just moved in with my aunt, and she had everything worked out.” I shrugged, annoyed with this conversation already. They didn’t need to make me feel stupid for not knowing this.

  “No one bothered to explain this to you?” Coach pushed. Did he think the answer was going to change?

  “No. Explain what?” I crossed my arms and cocked my head impatiently, waiting for an explanation.

  “Go get started on your paper, Hunter. I’ll deal with her,” Avery said, taking a deep breath.

  Over his shoulder, Lucas mouthed, “Meet me later.”

  Go. I motioned back with a quick nod before Avery saw.

  “The Court is our form of government, I guess you could say. There’s a Council that consists of the oldest and most powerful ruling families. This Council takes care of everything that has to do with Supernaturals, and also gives advice to the Head of Council. The Head of Council is also a Member of Court, the highest-ranking form of government in the world. Are you with me so far?” He was trying to be patient in breaking this down for me.

  My irritation lessened; at least he was trying. “So there’s a Council that controls everything with Supernaturals and the head of it is called the Head of Council, who also belongs to the Court?”

  He nodded and continued. “The Court consists of the four Heads of Councils, one from each of the ruling species. Each of these Heads of Council is from one of the current ruling families of each species. They also have two representatives from the Council, usually family, giving the Court a total of twelve members. The Court controls everything, do you understand?”

  “I think so,” I said. “So how do these ruling families take control?”

  “Usually, the Heads of Council pass on their title to the oldest, or in our case, most powerful child, when they get too old or die, but it depends . . . ” The Court sounded familiar in a way that was almost eerie.

  “What if another family wants to rule? Or the Council doesn’t want certain people to rule? What if the kids are little when the title’s passed on?”

  “It all depends on the case. It’s sad to say, but not too many people stand up to the ruling families—they rule for a reason. If the Council didn’t want someone to rule, they could fight for the title. That hasn’t happened in a long time.”

  “Do other families ever join the Council?” A weird prickling sensation was making its way up my spine.

  He laughed once, as if that were absurd. “No, it’s strictly the oldest and most powerful.”

  “What are the ruling species?” The question earned me another incredulous look.

  “Supernaturals, Vampires, Shapeshifters, and Witches.”

  “How many species are there?” I asked.

  “Many. Much more
than four.” He was watching the other boxers now. I was clearly cutting into his training time.

  “That doesn’t seem fair,” I said.

  “It’s been that way for over a thousand years. Now, you have three essays due when we get back, and they’re not going to write themselves.” He dismissed me.

  I felt numb walking down the hallway. A whole other world existed—one with multiple species and ancient oligarchies. What bothered me the most was that the words seemed so familiar. Not just the Court, but the Council and all of it. I felt like I’ve heard it before. I just couldn’t remember where.

  Chapter 33

  “Focus, Selena. Your match is up first, and you need another strong win,” Lucas urged.

  I grabbed the tube of Icy Hot and applied it to my black and purple stomach.

  “I shouldn’t have hit you.” He sighed, glancing at my stomach.

  “Don’t even go there. I should’ve done better.” I pulled my shirt down.

  We were inside their gym, waiting to start the tournament, and the crowd was growing larger by the second.

  “Boxers to the ring. I repeat, first match boxers to the ring,” the intercom announced.

  “Knock ‘em dead! Not literally, Selena,” Lucas backtracked when he saw my malicious grin.

  I entered the ring and faced a wicked-looking guy, who was tall and muscular with dark brown hair and eyes that had a tinted reddish glow.

  “Is this a joke? Come on, sweetie, who put you in here?” He hooted with laughter, looking around the ring.

  “Well, I can see they didn’t tell you.” I glared, cracking my knuckles. This was humiliating; I didn’t like being made to look foolish.