Daizlei Academy Omnibus Collection

by Kel Carpenter

  “Tell me what?” He looked at me suspiciously as if the idea had just crossed his mind.

  The intercom came on again to introduce us.

  “I’m your opponent, sweetie.”

  “Hey, yo, I ain’t fightin’ no chick!” he yelled to his coach outside the ring, completely turning his back on me.

  My mouth dropped. “Oh, hell no.” I saw red.

  “Calm down,” Lucas called from the side of the ring.

  The bell rang.

  I let the monster loose.

  When I tapped the guy’s shoulder, he turned toward me, and I slammed my fist into his jaw and felt it unhinge as Lucas’s had—the exact same hit. The cheekbone was shattered, jaw broken, and there were several fractures in his mouth. I smiled . . . and his eyes turned a glowing red as fire consumed his fists.

  Several people gasped, but I laughed—like, actual open-mouthed, hysterical laughter. I suppose I looked a little mad. My sister’s ability? That was what I was up against? Why didn’t they just hand me the win because I could guarantee that she was more powerful than this troglodyte.

  I took a step back as he lunged, then ducked when he swung for my face. Why were they always so predictable? I sighed when he was too busy swinging blindly to notice my hand go under his and hit his shoulder, likely doing more than dislocating it. He fell back for a second, giving me time to aim for the place right below his ribs.

  “Ugh!” he cried out. His entire body shifted forward.

  More. I needed more if I was going to hold out over Christmas.

  Placing my fingers lightly around his boiling hot throat, I pressed my lips close to his ear. “I shouldn’t feel bad in the slightest for what I’m about to do, but it isn’t really your fault. Even if you don’t remember this, I’m sorry.” I gave him the words I couldn’t give my last opponent. I didn’t believe in apologies. Somehow I could never bring myself to give one—to feel sorry for something. I’d chosen myself over him, and I could be sorry for that. I could be sorry that I was going to do this to countless other men for the rest of my life.

  I snapped his wrist and twisted his arm behind his back, moving with it. After a final shove, he crumpled to the floor with me on top of him.

  My heart slowed. I felt the pull, the killing gene.

  It needed more.

  I grabbed his hair, drawing his head back.

  Silently, I cursed myself to hell for my cruelty, for what I was about to do.

  I slammed his head to the ground with a vicious crack. He was unconscious. I stood and stepped out of the ring without another word.

  “I thought I said don’t kill him,” Lucas groaned, giving me a disapproving look.

  “I didn’t,” I retorted. He could never know. No one could. It was easier to think I reveled in brutality than to realize that every body left in my wake was a sacrifice to my demons.

  “You smashed his head into the ring so hard that it cracked. He could have brain damage or be a vegetable for the rest of his life.” He sounded almost disgusted by me. He should’ve been.

  “That’s not dead,” I said, taking a bottle of water from the cooler. I acted indifferent, but all I really wanted was to scrub the blood from my hands and burn my clothes.

  “How can you be so . . . ” He couldn’t find the word.

  “Heartless?” I offered.

  “Yeah.” He sighed.

  Was that disappointment?

  He took a seat next to me, and we watched while they carried the guy out the ring.

  “Years of practice,” I concluded, looking into the distance. Keep the barrier, I reminded myself.

  “You’re not like that with me.” Ah, yes, the inevitable statement that had hung between us since the very beginning. I was different with him.

  “You’re my partner.” I shrugged.

  “What about that first match? You didn’t pound my head into the floor or knock out half my teeth.” He leaned forward an inch. He was right, but my demons wanted more now. The killing gene wanted more. I loved that I could have friends and feel normal sometimes. So I gave it more.

  Again, I shrugged. “You didn’t insult me, I guess . . . I don’t know.”

  “You got Lily to help me. Why?” he persisted, unable to accept my answer.

  “I felt bad. You didn’t ask to fight me. I picked you.” I was grasping at straws because that wasn’t completely true. I’d told my sisters the same thing that night, but it wasn’t true. I didn’t know what was.

  “They didn’t ask either,” he pointed out.

  “But they insulted me—. Just listen, Lucas, you’re not going to win this one. I have my reasons for things. Just let it go.” I was getting more and more uncomfortable with where this conversation was heading. He didn’t know the real reason behind every body carried out on a gurney. He didn’t know the monster with violet eyes. Yet, he stayed by me. I couldn’t fathom why.

  “Lucas, you’re up!” Coach Avery shouted from the ring.

  “Good luck.” I smiled as he got up to leave.

  “Thanks,” he said, giving me a half-smile before leaving.

  Tori’s voice filled my head, asking if we’d ever be more than friends.

  No . . .

  I didn’t need that. There was no point even thinking about it.

  Chapter 34

  “Congratulations, boys . . . and Selena. That’s another win for Daizlei. At this rate, we’ll make it to the championship this year!”

  True to his word, everyone got to sit in the back on the couches and play poker. I set my things in the seat by the window and joined the table with Lucas.

  He gave me a questioning look.

  “Did you think I had to be wasted to have fun?” I asked him, taking my cards.

  “You make me wonder sometimes . . . ” I had a feeling it had to do with me being ‘heartless.’

  Three hours and four hundred dollars later . . .

  “Okay, boys, I’m feeling charitable. Take your money.” I dropped the wad of cash, and everyone immediately scrambled for the pile on the table.

  “Why?” Lucas asked.

  “Because I have a heart,” I joked, and he shot me a glare.

  “Why?” he repeated.

  “I don’t need it, so there’s no point taking it.” I shrugged.

  The plane landed, and I grabbed my things and shuffled out the door.

  “Selena,” he called me back. The snow fell on his rumpled hair and tanned skin. His green eyes watched me, and I half-smiled.

  “What?” I called.

  “Have a good Christmas and Happy New Year. I’ll see you when we get back.” He was going back to Tennessee to see his family; Tori hadn’t shut up about it since I last saw her.

  “You too.” I waved before turning and heading for the dorm.

  The snow crunched under my boots, and I hummed happily to myself. I’d been looking forward to this break ever since I’d learned we could stay at the school instead of going home. I’d signed up right away.

  Outside, our dorm had been redecorated with lights, ribbons, and music. Somehow, one of the technopaths had gotten the doormat to sing Christmas tunes and never stop. I walked in to find that the inside had been changed once again. Mistletoe hung from every door, and the walls had been repainted green and red. When I reached my room, the door was already open, but the room was empty. The beds were made, the bathroom cleaned, dirty laundry missing, and no girls. I guessed they’d already left for break, leaving me the room to myself for two whole weeks.

  I threw my bag on the bed and grabbed my manila folder with all my work from the last week. As I was leaving to drop it off, my sisters came bursting in with duffel bags.

  “What are doing here?”

  “Nice to see you too,” Alexandra said sarcastically, throwing her stuff down.

  “Did you win your match?” Lily chimed in.

  “Of course, but seriously, what are you guys doing here?” I asked again, nicer this time.

  “Well, we d
ecided to stay with you over break while your roommates are gone,” Lily said happily.

  “Oh. Okay, well, I, uh . . . ” I paused, not letting any disappointment show. “I’ve got some stuff to drop off, so I’ll see you guys at dinner. Oh, and don’t screw up Amber’s bed, or I’ll never hear the end of it.” I motioned to the bright red twin-sized bed.

  “Whatever.” Alexandra plopped down on my bed.

  I left the room without another word and headed to drop off my work. Most of my teachers were already gone, so I slipped it into their mailboxes, and the ones that were here just hurried me out so they could leave. The real reason I was even doing this was so I could get to the library before it closed. The Court sounded absolutely fascinating, and I was dying to find out more.

  When I finally made it to my last drop off, my hearing perked up when I saw Elizabeth standing with Vonlowsky. I’d assumed she had gone home for break.

  “Professor Vonlowsky, where do you want these?” I interrupted.

  “Desk,” he said, giving me the glare. Of course, with our current relationship, I didn’t really blame him. I mean, I had said ‘fuck off,’ hadn’t I? Just because I was coming to class now and giving the bare minimum didn’t mean that all was forgiven.

  “If you expect to be on the trip this spring break, you have to be perfect for the rest of the year. No screw-ups. Understood?” he told her in a hushed tone.

  “Yes, sir,” she begrudgingly agreed.

  I tried to mask my laughter with a cough; the look I got from him said I hadn’t done it very well. I walked out the door before he could say anything and hurried down the path to the library.

  “Selena, wait up!” Elizabeth called, and I stopped. I turned to see her jogging to catch up with me. Her shoe slipped on the snow, and she fell to a crashing stop at my feet.

  “What was all that about?” I asked while helping her up.

  “Oh, I’ve just gotten into a little trouble as of late, that’s all,” she said nonchalantly, brushing the ice off her jeans.

  “How much is a little?”

  “Skipped a few classes, disappeared on some trips, nothing major . . . ” Her tone made me skeptical, but I let it go. We all had our secrets.

  “So why’d you stay here for the holidays?”

  “Going on a ski trip with my mother and sister is not my idea of fun, if you know what I mean,” she scoffed with a look of distaste.

  “Well, if you don’t have plans, you can stay with us on Christmas,” I offered halfheartedly as I tried to bring this conversation to a close.

  “Thanks, I might do that,” she said, looking over my shoulder. “Well, this has been fun and all, but I’ve kind of got somewhere to be. Don’t be a stranger.” She hurried away as I continued to the library.

  Chapter 35

  “Do you have any books on the Court?” I asked.

  Ms. Rivas peered at me from behind her glasses, dark eyes taking in who I was. “Follow me,” she said, leading me down another aisle. “What exactly are you looking for?”

  “Anything. I just want to learn about it—how it works. What would you recommend?” I knew from experience that being polite went a long way with this librarian.

  She reached up to the top shelf and pulled out a book labeled Court: The Innerworkings of the System.

  I took the book from her and flipped through it quickly. It was a few hundred pages long, complete with pictures and quotes. It looked easy enough to read. “I also need one on species.”

  “You need to be more specific. What exactly do you want to know?” She made a tsk noise.

  “Um, I guess something with facts about the different species, and their relationships with each other?” I wasn’t entirely sure what I was looking for.

  “I know exactly what you’re looking for.” Without moving, she stretched her arm around the aisle and out of view, only to come back with a book that looked oddly familiar. She handed it to me.

  As I read the title, I knew for certain I’d seen it before. Mystical Creatures of the Supernatural was printed on the cover in gold. I flipped through the pages . . . and then I remembered. As the word Demons caught my eye, I turned the page to see the fiery man with black hair and eyes like the pits of hell. This was the book Elizabeth had been reading when I’d stumbled upon her.

  “Will that be all?” she prompted.

  “Yes, thank you. You’ve been very helpful. When exactly do I need to return these?” I asked as she walked me to the counter to check out.

  “In two weeks, when school comes back in session.” She handed me the clipboard for my signature.

  I thanked her again as I left the library and went on my way.

  The sun was setting, casting shadows across the snow. I ran by my room to drop the books off before I went to dinner but stopped in the doorway and cursed when I saw the nail polish stain on my bed. We were going to have a talk about that. As I turned to leave, the air rushed from my lungs.

  “What happened?” I tried to calm myself as I looked at Lily.

  Her arm was black and blue, clothes tattered. Bruises darkened her face, and her lip was bleeding. She walked toward me with a slight limp.

  “I fell down the steps on the way up and hit my head a lot. Do you have any Tylenol I can take?” she asked meekly, sitting on the edge of my bed.

  I turned and grabbed the bottle out of my dresser then handed her two and a bottle of water. “Hold still, and follow my finger,” I ordered, watching her eyes. I let out a sigh of relief; no concussion.

  “Thanks.” She handed me the bottle.

  “Don’t mention it.” I frowned, putting it on my dresser. “So what exactly did you do again?”

  “I was coming back because I forgot something, and the ice on my boots made me slip on the stairs.”

  “What did you forget?” This sounded sketchy.

  “Ugh . . . my phone.” I watched her suspiciously, but she retrieved it from her duffel bag. I guess it really wasn’t all that surprising that she’d fallen and hurt herself—she did it all the time.

  “Are you okay to walk to dinner?” I asked.

  She nodded.

  “There’s no need to keep Alexandra waiting, then.” I started to leave the room.

  “Wait up. Let me change real quick and then we can go.” She ripped her bag open faster than I would’ve thought possible for her.

  “You should be more careful,” I chided and tapped my foot. The second she was done, I held the door open for her, waiting.

  “I try.”

  A thought occurred to me as I glanced at the books on my dresser. “Have you heard of the Court?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “Does Alexandra know?”

  “Probably.” She shrugged.

  “Why am I just hearing about this?” I demanded, a little disgruntled by this news.

  “Well, my roommates told me. Alexandra’s probably told her, so . . . I don’t know.” She shrugged. What she really meant was it was my own damn fault for being an antisocial bitch when I got here.

  “Oh,” was all I could say.

  “So how was Vermont?” she asked.

  “Cold,” I grumbled.

  “What I meant was, what did you do there with your week off?”

  “Boxed, made up work, and then boxed some more.” I yawned.

  “Really? You have to have done more than that.”

  “No, really, that’s all we did. You can ask anyone who was there. Coach Avery had us in the gym at least ten hours a day.” That was not an exaggeration.

  “Well, it wasn’t much better here this week. I had essays and tests in every class except Brighton, and that’s only because he got sick and the sub was lazy.” Her nose turned up on the word lazy, like that was the worst thing someone could be. It was a wonder her and Alexandra ever got along.

  “Personally, I’m ready for a break from all this schoolwork. I’ve never had to work this hard at a public school, and I’ve never actually failed classes.” We walk
ed through the doors to find over half the student population missing.

  “You failed?” Lily gasped in horror.

  “No, but almost,” I corrected, giving her an annoyed look.

  “I made straight As. This semester was so easy for me.” I knew she wasn’t trying to brag, but it still got on my nerves.

  “Applause goes to you for being smarter than the rest of us,” I said.

  “Not really. Alexandra didn’t make lower than a B minus.”

  “I highly doubt that,” I said lightly.

  “Doubt what?” Alexandra asked.

  “What was your lowest grade this semester?” I turned on her.

  “I didn’t tell you? B minus in history. It’s so boring, but with tutoring, I pulled it off,” she boasted with complete satisfaction.

  “Congratulations,” I said, disappointed in myself. How did I make lower grades than Alexandra? I was the one who’d tutored her.

  “What was your lowest?” she asked, picking at her pizza.

  “A C in Battle Simulation,” I grumbled.

  “Okay, that’s not bad. Lily’s a genius, and I cheat off the smartest kid sitting next to me. It’s not a big deal,” she tried to console me, but I waved her off.

  “Let’s get dinner,” Lily said quickly and yanked me out of my chair, clearly feeling better.

  “The food’s not going to disappear,” I muttered as she dragged me to the counter.

  “Look, your grades aren’t the best, but we both know you’ve missed quite a bit of school. Just do better next semester,” she said while grabbing the fattiest food she could find.

  “How do you stay so skinny?” I asked her, changing the subject.

  “What do you mean? You’re skinny.” She pinched my side, but it was solid muscle. Skinny wasn’t the word I would use. Athletic, maybe, but not skinny.

  “Yeah, but with the way you eat, you should be an Oompa Loompa . . . ” I muttered, grabbing a salad and water.

  “I’m only going to be young once, and I don’t want to spend it eating like a guinea pig. Besides, I got mom’s metabolism, and it doesn’t look like I’m going to get any bigger.” She laughed, getting a root beer and taking her seat.