I took the only empty seat across from her and started picking at my salad.
“So has she told you about William?” Alexandra asked me with a not-so-subtle grin.
“Who’s William?” I asked Lily.
“Just a guy . . . ” Lily said as heat rushed to her cheeks.
“A guy that she’s, like, talking to,” Alexandra said.
“What is he?” Not so long ago, I would’ve been appalled by this question. Funny how Daizlei changes you.
“Super strong, so not that impressive, but he is kinda cute. So not my type. He’s insanely smart . . . Can you believe he’s the Andersons’ kid? The worst teachers in the school are married and have a kid?” she gossiped with the most enthusiasm I’d seen in a while. “So how are you and Michael?” Lily asked, desperately trying to change the subject and cover up her blushing.
“Not good. I think I’m gonna break up with him,” Alexandra said while pretending to examine her pizza.
“Why?” Lily asked in exasperation. Alexandra always did this.
“Do tell,” I said with slight sarcasm. I didn’t really care, but I was used to this being part of our conversations over the years.
“Well . . . okay. I know this sounds bad, but I’m bored with him,” Alexandra confessed.
“That’s just mean,” Lily scolded.
“It’s the truth,” Alexandra declared with her usual attitude.
“That doesn’t make it right,” Lily said.
“I can’t change that I’m bored with him, and I’m ready to move on.” She tossed her hair and made a face.
“I’m not surprised,” I said. They both turned and looked at me. “She’s a heartbreaker, and you’re a heartbreakee, that’s why you don’t get it.”
Alexandra laughed and semi-choked on her pizza.
A look of shock crossed Lily’s face. “How would you know? You’ve never had a boyfriend,” she snapped.
“Because, according to Lucas, I’m heartless, so I think that puts me in a whole other category.” I sighed.
“Wait. Are you guys talking?” Alexandra shouted with excitement.
“Spill,” Lily commanded, completely forgetting about my comment.
“No, of course not. Who do you think you’re talking to? Lucas and I are friends and partners—that’s it,” I said firmly.
“It sounds like more than that to me,” Alexandra said in a singsong voice.
“That’s because all you think about is boys and who to gossip about next,” I said.
“True,” she admitted.
“Well, if you ask me, I think he likes you,” Lily said, very matter-of-fact.
“And that’s why I didn’t ask you,” I said.
“Oh come on. You’ve never considered it?” she asked dreamily. She was such a romantic.
“No.” I glared.
“I think you’re lying. You just don’t want to admit it,” Alexandra said, sharing a gloating smile with Lily.
“Bite me,” I snapped bitterly and got up to throw my food away.
Chapter 36
“Merry Christmas!” Lily yelled, waking me from my extremely unpleasant dream where the other me had just shown up. She came every night now.
“Good morning to you too,” I grumbled.
“She’s awake. I’m opening my presents now,” Lily said.
After the first squeal, I knew I had to get up. I kicked my legs out of bed and walked to the bathroom to brush my teeth.
“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!” Lily called and ran to give me hug. She had opened the brand-new copy of The Notebook I’d gotten her for Christmas. The last one was lost in the move, and she’d been dying to see her favorite movie again.
“You’re welcome,” I groaned, stifling the urge to push her off me. It was too early in the morning for this.
“Come open yours,” she yelled as she ran back to the presents.
“Shhh,” I whispered. Why was she so loud?
“Shut up,” Alexandra said, reinforcing my point. She was still in bed with the pillow over her head, while Lily sat on the floor unwrapping gifts.
“Thank you!” Lily ran and jumped on top of Alexandra to hug her.
“Get her off me.”
“Maybe after a shower.” I ducked into the bathroom and closed the door.
“Well, hurry up then,” Alexandra complained.
Damn, she could be pushy. I stripped off my pajamas and turned the shower on. Outside the bathroom, there was another squeal. I sighed. She was the only person I knew who still acted like a kid when it came to holidays and gifts.
I took my time in the shower, allowing the sleepiness to wear off. I think the break had gotten to me—it usually didn’t take so long for me to wake up. When I was done, I dried myself and wrapped my hair. Christmas. How could the year already be halfway over? I guess it’s true what they say—time flies when you don’t have to find ways to fill it.
I dressed in jeans and a royal blue turtleneck before I turned my attention to my hair. I combed through the knots and blow-dried it before it drenched my clothes. I looked in the mirror and thought of the other me. She looked like me, but she didn’t. Did that make sense? The way she held herself, the look in her eyes, her laugh, it was . . . chaos.
“Selena, I know you’re done,” Lily yelled.
I jumped, and opened the door.
Alexandra was still curled in a ball sleeping with her head under the pillow, and Lily’s pile of gifts had gone down to zero.
“Get up,” she commanded, taking Alexandra’s pillow and whacking her on the head with it.
“That’s it,” Alexandra screeched and sprang for her. Lily screamed and ran to the door. Alexandra followed, chasing her out into the snow, where Lily had the advantage. Alexandra hated the cold.
“Not so bad now, are you?” she taunted her.
“Think again!” Alexandra called, wailing her in the side of the face with a snowball the size of my fist.
“Hey!” Lily shouted and started after her again.
I stood at the door, laughing at them. Fools.
Thump.
A snowball smacked into my chest.
“Oh, hell no,” I bellowed and tackled Lily to the ground.
Alexandra burst out laughing as the snowball fight took a turn for the worse. Wham. A snowball hit her square in the face, wiping the smile right off it.
“Oh, it’s game on,” she called and started after me.
Thirty minutes later, we trudged back into the room, cold and shaking, but laughing, and Alexandra and I opened our gifts. Tori had sent a box of homemade brownies with a card that read: Merry Christmas from the Hunters. It showed a picture of her, Lucas, and an older, blonder version of Lucas. Their parents stood next to them, arm-in-arm and smiling. I pinned it to the wall next to my bed where a few other photos showed the slow bonds I’d been creating this year.
I spent the rest of the day reading up on the Court and the different species while we watched The Notebook. Coach Avery was right. There were a lot more than the four main species. Werewolves, pixies, trolls, mermaids, nymphs, faeries, elves, even dragons. They all existed—well, dragons had existed a thousand years ago, but they were extinct today. Apparently, all those tales of knights in shining armor saving the damsel in distress from a dragon were based on true stories. The Middle Ages were the last time that almost all humans still believed in the paranormal, more often than not mistaking my kind for gods.
I also learned that not only are there demons, but angels too. They weren’t on earth to battle for heaven and hell or higher beings, but to protect people and do good things. Demons, on the other hand, were only here to collect souls and wreak havoc.
The worst problems came from politics; not good versus evil. There were so many political problems with all these species that I doubted half of them even knew why they hated each other anymore. The whole werewolf/vampire dichotomy was based on the story Helen of Troy, which turned out to essentially be true. A vampire named Helen was marr
ied to a member of the Court. At the time, the werewolf population was under consideration for representation in the Court, and Paris was the werewolf sent to secure their spot. Helen ran off with him and risked a hybrid species being created. Neither species wanted to deal with that, but Paris wouldn’t listen. The werewolves of Troy burned Helen alive at noon, angering the Vampire Council, which led to an all-out war that lasted three thousand years.
Numerous accounts followed. Tristan and Isolde were the sole cause of families in the Supernatural Council splitting. Sir Lancelot and Guinevere started the original witch burnings that lasted well into the eighteen hundreds. Cleopatra and Mark Antony created the bond between Supernaturals and Shapeshifters—they’re generally considered allies in Court now, and our history hasn’t been nearly as bloody.
When Elizabeth knocked on the door, I put the books up, and we headed out for dinner.
“What happened to your arm?” Elizabeth asked Lily.
“I fell down the stairs,” she said stiffly.
“You should be more careful,” Elizabeth said.
“That’s what I told her when she showed up looking like she’d just gotten mugged, and then a week later, she’s running down the stairs again.” I threw a hand up in exasperation.
“I wouldn’t have run if Alexandra hadn’t chased me.”
“I wouldn’t have chased you if you hadn’t hit me with my pillow when I was sleeping,” Alexandra grumbled.
“I’m hungry. Why are we even talking about this?” Lily babbled, trying to change the subject.
“You’re always hungry,” Alexandra snapped.
“Do you really want me to get dirty snow all over that brand-new cashmere sweater of yours?” Lily threatened.
“You wouldn’t,” she said, eyeing her.
“Try me,” Lily dared.
“What would William say if he saw you right now?” Alexandra taunted.
“Oh, don’t even go there,” Lily lashed out and kicked snow at her.
“Do they ever stop arguing?” Elizabeth asked me.
“No,” I said, shaking my head. A flaming fireball materialized in Alexandra’s hand. “Hey! What are you thinking?” I yelled at her.
“She got shit on my sweater,” Alexandra said.
“So wash it!” I bellowed in exasperation.
“You can’t just ‘wash’ cashmere,” she said, glaring at Lily, but the fireball extinguished.
“You know, I just realized, you never told me what your ability is,” Elizabeth cut in.
“Enhanced senses,” I said curtly, trying to shut her down.
“Really? That’s weird. I mean, Alexandra’s a fire user, and Lily heals, so I’d assumed you were even more powerful . . . ”
“Ow!” Lily yelled. She was down on all fours, but Alexandra was helping her up. Her knee was scraped, leaving behind bloody snow.
“How did you manage to trip on snow?” I asked her.
“I don’t know, it’s like I ran into a ro—”
Alexandra said hurriedly, “Selena, you should take her to the nurse. I think she should have it cleaned. Elizabeth and I can get a table.” Her smile was far too big, and she gave a slight nod, so I knew she’d tripped Lily on purpose, making Elizabeth forget the entire thing.
“Good idea,” I said as thanks, towing Lily along with me.
“That was close,” Lily whispered when we were far enough away that Elizabeth wouldn’t hear us.
“Tell me about it,” I muttered. My “enhanced senses” were a shitty excuse at best. How many more people were going to start asking about me—and, more importantly, how long could I hold them off?
Chapter 37
“Selena!” Tori shrieked and ran to give me a hug. “Where’s Amber?” Her lively gaze looked over the unpacked clothes lying on our roommate’s bed.
“She left a while ago.” I shrugged.
“Oh, okay. How was your break?” she asked, throwing her bag down.
“Good. Yours?” I was getting better at small talk.
“Great!” she said. “We went ridin’, I got to bake, and see Alec!”
“Who’s Alec?”
“My brother—the blond one on the Christmas card.” She pointed across the room at my wall.
“Oh. Why don’t you get to see him usually?” I asked while digging for gym clothes.
“He graduated last year and now he works at the Court.” She sounded disappointed.
“Really?” Now that piqued my curiosity. “What does he do there?” It wasn’t uncommon for stronger or more influential Supernaturals to work with the Council, but at Court you had to have some serious magic tricks.
“He has a certain ability they find . . . favorable.” She hesitated. “He can make others see what he wants them to.”
“Cheater,” I muttered.
“What?”
“Nothing.” I glanced at the clock. Bright red numbers read 4:59. Crap, I was late. I pulled my hair back into a ponytail and tied my running shoes. “I have a meeting to go to, but we can talk more when I get back,” I called over my shoulder as I walked out the door.
The hall was crowded with girls coming back from holiday. It must’ve been nice to have a family. Don’t even go there, I scolded myself.
The second I was outside, I raced for the gym, dodging people and their luggage. I burst through the gym doors and continued to the last door on the right. Twenty pairs of eyes turned to me as I took my seat on the edge of the ring.
“You’re late,” Coach Avery said.
“You’re observant,” I retorted.
“Don’t let it happen again,” he said before turning back to the group. “We have one more match coming up in the middle of March, and if we win, we’ll be invited to the Council for championships. I don’t know how many I can take, but if you don’t win in March, you’re not going. End of story.
“Now, if you’re failing or on probation, I’ve been informed that you won’t be allowed to participate in March, so if you need to, you can come see me during practice today and we’ll figure something out. Selena and Lucas, I want you in the ring.” He turned away before I could talk to him alone.
“Actually, can I have a word with you?” I interrupted, getting up from my seat.
“What, Foster?” I could almost hear the eye-roll, but he returned to hear me out.
“Can you please inform this school that I am female? I’m tired of my opponents laughing at me.” I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow.
“You’ve actually earned a nickname after the last match. I think their coach gave it to you.” There was amusement in his voice.
“What?”
“Heartbreaker.”
“You have got to be kidding me,” I groaned and turned away. “Forget I asked,” I called over my shoulder as I stepped into the ring.
He was still laughing at me.
“Heartbreaker, hmmm . . . I think it fits,” Lucas commented with great amusement.
I elbowed him in the ribs as I walked across the ring. “What did I say about readi—”
“Not yours. His.” He motioned to coach as the whistle rang shrilly in my ears.
“Stalker,” I muttered under my breath so he couldn’t hear me.
“How was your break?” he grunted, aiming for my stomach.
“Okay.” I paused to step sideways. “I read up a lot on the Court.”
“Sounds boring,” he said, but he stiffened at my words. Hmmm . . . .
“Oh, and I heard about your cheater brother,” I said with nonchalance. I aimed for his abs, taking advantage of his surprise.
“What about him?” he growled as my hand slammed into his rock-hard body.
Interesting . . .
“Oh, nothing in particular . . . ” I cringed as he took my hand and pinned it behind my back. His foot swept mine out from under me. I dropped to the floor.
“So you heard about his . . . talent.” It wasn’t a question.
“Why do you hesitate when I mention him?”
I brought myself into a crouch, and he moved closer to keep his hold on me.
“He’s dangerous,” he whispered in my ear.
“So am I,” I said and brought my free arm up to flip him. He hit the ground with a thud as I stood.
“I know,” he groaned, but I had a feeling he meant it in more ways than one.
“So why does he bother you so much?” I said.
“It’s different. He’s not you.” His face had taken on a sharper, much older look. He was completely serious, but why?
“You should keep in mind that there’s still a lot you don’t know about me.” I cut myself off before I could say more, and turned away to get some water.
I could feel his eyes following me. Lucas knew I had secrets. He just didn’t know how many, or how deep the lies ran. If he had, he never would’ve accepted me. I didn’t think I could handle him walking away now—even if I had to lie to keep him.
Chapter 38
“It’s the first official day back, which means your break is over.” Vonlowsky was beginning his class much like the rest of our teachers, by trying to calm everyone down. I sat back and relaxed as I waited for whatever speech he was going to deliver today.
“To start off the new semester, I’d like to give some people second chances to prove themselves and raise their grade.” He sounded downright gleeful. Fuck me.
“Hunter and Foster, go inside the simulator.” Fuck him.
“Which one?” Lily asked, but I already knew.
“Selena.”
I got to my feet and walked to the front, where Tori was waiting.
The bare minimum, that’s all you have to do. Take her down and walk away.
“Professor, I really don’t—”
“Ms. Foster, I really don’t care,” he said coldly.
“And what if I refuse to fight?” I came across as bold and insubordinate, but inside I was scrambling for a foothold on a wall made of glass.
“Let me be clear, Ms. Foster. If you do not fight, I will fail you. If I’m correct, that would mean your chances of going to the championships would be zero.” He held the door open while I stood there, debating.
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