Corviticus University

by J. E. Cluney

  “She never got over it though. Ollie was the one apparently,” Skip fluttered his eyes at me and I snorted.

  “Yeah, well, that bitch fucked up my life,” Ollie snapped.

  Skip’s face dropped as he chewed his cheek and looked away. Even Lucas shifted uncomfortably as Oliver took a swig from his juice bottle, a deep frown marring his normally sweet face.

  “How?” I murmured. He’d said it with such hate and a dark look in his eye.

  “Because,” he grumbled as he stood up.

  “Where you going?” Skip asked.

  “For a walk, I’ll be back,” Oliver muttered as he strode over to the closest bin and tossed out the remaining bit of his sausage roll and stormed off.

  I went to stand but Lucas held out an arm to stop me.

  “Let him be. She’s the reason he’s cursed,” Lucas murmured.

  “What? How?” I gaped.

  “When they were dating, he and his cousins and brother were harassing the witch neighbor, just usual boy stuff. Glenda was there too, and she threw a tennis ball at the witch. It hit her in the back of the head, and when the witch turned back, she assumed it was Oliver who was standing beside Glenda. She struck him with the curse, forcing him into cat form. He never dobbed Glenda in, and then the witch moved after informing his parents that his curse wouldn’t lift until he was twenty. Glenda left him, she wanted to be with a true shifter, and Ollie was no longer that, and then his family… well, let’s just say a few months later he moved in with me,” Lucas explained.

  “Jesus, that little bitch,” I murmured in disbelief. “Did he tell the truth when they split?” I asked.

  “Yes, but the damage was done. His parents contacted the witch but it couldn’t be lifted, not even by the witch who cast it, she cursed him badly in a moment of anger, and she regretted it when she learned the truth,” Lucas sighed, giving me a sad smile.

  “Poor Ollie,” I mumbled as I set my iced coffee down. He didn’t deserve any of this.

  And now this little wench was here. Here to screw with his head some more.

  “I hate her,” I stated bluntly.

  “Join the club,” Skip scoffed.

  I stared off in the direction Oliver had headed, my heart squeezing for him.

  And Lucas had mentioned his family too. What had happened there? Why would no one tell me?

  13

  I found my way to my next lecture after lunch with Skip and Lucas.

  I was beyond relieved when I headed inside and saw Oliver slouched in a corner seat.

  “Hey,” I murmured as I sat down beside him.

  “Hey,” he mumbled.

  “Got you something,” I smiled as I pulled the caramello koala out of my bag. I’d bought it at one of the kiosks on the way through the courtyard.

  He smiled and shook his head, but accepted the offering.

  “Don’t let that little pink barbie get you down,” I squeezed his arm. “I could fight her for you? I have wolf in me, and she’s tiny,” I offered, drawing a chuckle from him.

  “She’s a true shifter, and your wolf side isn’t your dominant side. It’s obvious as hell,” he grinned.

  “Why?” I feigned shock at this information.

  “Werewolves are more badass, you’re definitely favoring your fae/pixie side,” he shrugged. “Although, you were quick with your wittiness today,” he gave me a sly smile.

  “She was being a little shit, and I couldn’t have her being a bitch to you,” I shrugged.

  “I can’t believe she’s going to be studying here this year. And she’s dating my cousin,” he groaned as he slouched forward and began unwrapping his caramello koala.

  “Who cares, she’s not worth your worry, besides, you’ve got me to protect you,” I winked as I gave his arm a soft punch.

  “Y’know she could turn into an elephant and trample you, right?” he raised an eyebrow at me.

  I instantly pictured an elephant wearing a bright pink tutu and snorted at the image.

  “What?” Oliver chuckled as I shook my head.

  “Just picturing an elephant in a pink tutu,” I said, unable to stop myself from grinning.

  Oliver rolled his eyes but chuckled at it as well.

  We settled as the lecturer started the introduction, and I was grateful he’d relaxed and gotten somewhat back to his usual cheery self.

  I wouldn’t let that little pink demonic barbie drag him down. She didn’t deserve the light of day for what she’d caused. And she obviously didn’t give two fucks about it, which only pissed me off more.

  Thursdays were our tutorial and prac days, we’d attend different tutorials on Thursday morning, and then in April our workshops would begin.

  “We can’t miss any of the tutorials, but lectures are made available online the day after for students who couldn’t make them,” Oliver said as we began the walk through the courtyard. Our magical classes were located in buildings down towards the back of the campus, so we’d walk partway together.

  “I’d prefer to attend most of my lectures in person, you can’t ask questions in a recording,” I said as I shifted the weight of my laptop bag on my shoulder. The sun beat down on us with a fury, and the day had significantly warmed since the clouds had passed.

  “Yeah, it’s good though, if I have any issues, worst case is that I’d have to watch them from home,” he said as he flicked a bug off his arm.

  “Or, y’know, I could bring you in as a cat,” I offered with a smirk.

  “Haha,” he rolled his eyes. “But the staff actually have been made aware that there could be shifting problems with me, thankfully,” he sighed, and I could sense his shame in having to inform the teacher body of that.

  “What will the magic class be like?” I asked, trying to shift his mind off of it. Not to mention I was actually curious.

  “They’ll give you a run-down of the abilities of your kind, they may even split you up, like with me, I’ll go to a shifter class, but according to Skip, I’ll be split from the group with the other true shifters to practice with them. Although, to be honest, I might not attend much, I can’t do much of the stuff I should be able to do,” he muttered as he kicked his jogger against the pathway in annoyance.

  “And fae?” I asked.

  “They may separate you by your sub-species. So true fae in one class, pixies, sprites, etc, in others. You’ll also be tested for an elemental ability, and sometimes they’ll pair you up if there’s someone who knows a bit more if you need additional help,” he smiled as he turned to me. “Don’t worry, it’ll be fine.”

  “I know barely anything about myself except for some reading I’ve just done,” I groaned.

  “You’ll be fine, you’ve managed this far,” Oliver grinned as he pulled us up just outside of the buildings we were headed for. “Meet back at the fig tree after? That way we can walk home together?” he suggested with those sweet amber eyes relaxed and at ease.

  “Sounds like a plan,” I nodded as I brushed my fingers against my laptop bag. I hadn’t once taken my iPod out of the side pocket today. That was an unusual feat.

  “Awesome, and good luck,” he beamed as he moved forward and pulled me into a tight, warm hug. It sent sweet shivers coursing through me, and I clung to him for a few moments longer than was necessary. He was so warm and smelled of sweet caramel. Maybe that was just thanks to his love of caramello koalas.

  “You too, don’t go getting stuck in cat form,” I chuckled as he pulled back and stuck his tongue out playfully.

  We parted ways, and I headed to my class with an uneasy knot in my stomach. The lectures and working out my schedule were the easy part.

  I sucked in a deep breath, wondering what would await me in the lecture hall I was headed for.

  The amount of first-year fae that greeted me in the room was more than I’d expected.

  At least fifty fae were spread out in the room, and I froze as I took in the lecture hall with wide eyes.

  All these people were fae, a
nd there was no doubt in my mind they knew everything there was to know about themselves.

  I spied a vacant spot closer to the back, and I made a beeline for it, glancing around at the people I passed.

  Many were true fae, even I could tell. They had that extra glow and beauty that only the true, full fae had, the other pixies, sprites, and whatever else, were still stunning in looks, but they didn’t have the obvious fae glow.

  And not to be crude, but there wasn’t a single one in this room who looked a little overweight. A side effect of being a fae. They were actually incapable of becoming overweight, something many supes had in common thanks to their genetic makeup. It was even more strange for fae, since they adored sweet things. I’d only recently found out from Skip that it wasn’t the same for reptile shifters though.

  I sat down in the dark, cushioned navy seat away from the cluster of students, satisfied I’d avoided being pulled into conversation with any of them.

  “Hey, you mind if I sit here?”

  I internally groaned as the silver haired girl walked down my aisle to stand beside me.

  There were a heap of seats around, why this one next to me?

  She seemed to understand my confusion as those grey eyes lit up and she smiled.

  “You’re a halfling, like me, I’d rather sit with you than the rest,” she said.

  She could tell I was only a halfling? Damn. Well, guess they all already knew how to sense each other. I hadn’t even bothered to open up my power to see if there were other halflings.

  I was drawing a few unwanted stares already. True fae were arseholes, stuck up creatures who thought of themselves as royalty. Like my Aunt and her family, even if they weren’t rich. Their kind were just proud. Sometimes I was glad I was a halfling with more pixie in me than fae.

  “I’m Emma,” she thrust out her hand, those strange grey eyes taking me in with a broad smile. Her silvery white hair was done up in a braid that fell down over her shoulder, and I wondered briefly if it was dyed. Some supes had unique hair colors, just a genetic thing, although rare.

  “Allison,” I accepted her handshake, and her smile widened as she sat down beside me in her jeans and dark grey singlet.

  “So, you’re a wolf halfling, and pixie?” she frowned, cocking her head as she analyzed me. Probably sensing what I was through that colored aura thing.

  “Yeah, that’s me,” I shrugged, focusing on sensing what she was, not that I understood the colors.

  She was a swirl of purple and pink, and I grinned as I recognized the colors thanks to the boys teaching me a little.

  “And you’re a pixie witch?” I checked, and she nodded.

  “Yep, us halflings should stick together too, the full-bloods look down on us most of the time, although some consider us special,” Emma shrugged.

  “Guess they think we’re like mutts, huh,” I sighed.

  “Yeah, most creatures try to stick to their own kind when it comes to relationships, except fae, some of them will get with vamps, but vamps can be with any creature since they can’t reproduce,” Emma said as she sat her bag beside her on the vacant seat.

  “Why do I get the feeling it’s like how the world had problems with interracial couples?” I murmured.

  “Cause it is. They prefer same species to stick together, although they don’t mind cross-shifters, say a dingo and a border collie or something like that. Or fae and pixie, etc. Although fae can be odd about their own crossing with the subspecies. But when the lines cross right over, like us, then they don’t like it much, but they can’t stop it,” Emma frowned. “You don’t know much, do ya?”

  I cringed as she recognized my instant uncertainty with all things supernatural.

  “I grew up pretty sheltered, including from the supernatural world,” I admitted.

  “Well, that sucks,” she clucked her tongue as she leaned back in her seat. “Better late than never I s’pose though.”

  “Yeah,” I managed a weak chuckle.

  “Well, don’t worry, you’ll learn a lot here in these classes about yourself, and I can help you,” she grinned, even her eyes lighting up. She sure was a bubbly one.

  “So what are you studying?” I asked as the room filled with soft conversation as we waited for the lecturer.

  “Sorcery and magic, not taking a standard mundane course with it like business or something, maybe in a year or two I might branch into something else, but my mom runs a successful potion store and needs more hands, so I’m learning here while she teaches me at home as well,” she grinned as she leaned forward, and I could sense she’d been opened up like a book.

  “My family is a long line of strong witches, potion makers mostly, my dad is a pixie, he’s the odd one out in my family, but we were a weird bunch anyway, so he fits right in, although he gets some bad looks when he’s out with mom from other supes, mostly faes. Shifters and witches are the most common of supes, true shifters are heaps rarer, practically royalty, faes are relatively uncommon, but you’ll find plenty here as they’d rather attend this uni than the ones down at the city or Caboolture as it’s more dangerous for them with newer vamps springing up all the time in those areas. Those with fae bloodlines smell yummy to vamps, like us with sweet things I guess, they love us, but new vamps, especially those turned from humans, can be dangerous, they get a bloodlust and if they get a whiff of fae when they’re first turned, they can hunt us and kill us. A few years back there was an outbreak of murders in Brissy, fae drained completely by newborns, that’s newly made vampires. Anywho, ever since then, less and less fae go to the city, they tend to stick to less populated areas, unless they’re in warded zones, where the warding helps null their scent to vamps. It’s still there, but they don’t get that crazed hunger, and newborns can’t sniff you out either. That’s some epic magic used in warding,” she whistled as she beamed at me.

  I was just amazed at the chopping and changing and her ability to hurl all those words together. She was practically bouncing in her seat as she spoke, but I kinda liked it. She was bubbly and energetic, alert, and had no misgivings about me.

  “I grew up in Maroochydore, a warded area, so I guess I was lucky there. My cousin dated a vampire witch too, so I guess I never really learned much about the issues with vamps and fae,” I frowned.

  “Vamps turned from supes are even less of a problem, they have better control than human turned ones,” Emma shrugged.

  “Can shifters be turned?” I asked.

  “Yeah, although some lose the ability to shift and become more like a true vamp. Some creatures who are turned keep some of their abilities from their previous state. Witch vampires are a common one, they keep some of their magic abilities most of the time when they get turned,” Emma said. “But nothing too epic, only the more moderate abilities. Some can still make potions infused with magic, others can hurl it, and are capable of a few spells. Everything else is gone though.”

  I pondered over this as the lecturer came into the hall finally.

  So Marcus had some magic abilities? What could he do? He was an interesting one for sure.

  We fell into silence as the lecturer called for quiet, and she informed us of our schedule. Every Monday afternoon we’d attend a magical class, pixies would meet in one room, full fae in another, sprites in another, and the list went on. Brownies were a thing, as were goblins, dwarves, and elves.

  When I’d enrolled, I’d had to state what I was, my bloodlines, so they could make sure they had classes available to suit.

  “Do you know what brownies are?” Emma whispered as the lecturer focused on speaking to the larger true fae group about what their classes would consist of.

  “No,” I murmured.

  “Brownies are nature fae, think of them as the hippies of our kind, very earthy, their magic consists of harnessing nature, so they can make things grow and flourish. Most of them will probably be studying some kind of agricultural course. Goblins, contrary to popular belief, no longer look as hideous as they once
did, although they don’t have the same beauty as other types of fae. They’re greedy though, and can be nasty. There’s only a couple in this class, and I know for a fact that Jeremiah is studying law. He’ll become a feared lawyer one day, they hate to lose anything, so they’re good in that department. Their magic is odd, similar to a low witch, can be honed in certain areas. You should know a little about pixies, their mischief magic and such. All fae have a sweet tooth, although you’ll find brownies are more fruit eaters. Goblins aren’t as ugly as they used to be a few centuries back thanks to careful cross-breeding with other types of fae and honing their magic to help promote better looks. Yeah, it’s a weird history there, don’t get me started,” Emma snorted, earning her a look from the lecturer, who was now addressing the sprites.

  Emma ignored this and continued in a hushed tone, her grey eyes flicking around excitedly as she spoke. “Sprites are water creatures, so they can breathe underwater and are excellent swimmers. Their magic is more water based, so they can sometimes be mistaken for elementals, but the difference is that they can’t wield it as powerfully as an elemental, and they can communicate a little with water-life, like mermaids,” her eyes narrowed as she gave me a questioning look.

  “My housemates told me about mermaids,” I murmured, and she nodded as she moved onto the next one.

  “Dwarves aren’t common, normally they’re short, but the few we have here are the more modern day form, where they’re normal size. They’re strong though, normally bulkier than the rest of us, and are great warriors and forgers. Their magic is usually infused into weapons, making them more powerful depending on the user. And then there’s elves, they’re the true warrior fae kind. Think ‘Lord of the Rings’. Damn, wasn’t Orlando Bloom gorgeous,” she sighed as she got side-tracked for a moment, her eyes practically glazing over for a moment as she swooned over the elf. I’d never actually watched the movies, but I’d heard of it and knew of the elf man with gorgeous long blond locks.

  “Anyway, they’re capable of wielding weapons unlike others.They have a natural ability to hit their target with any weapon, they’re capable of carefully inflicting wounds, as in, if they want to incapacitate you but not kill you, they’re the main ones who can do that with ease. If they want to not do permanent damage or vice versa, that’s them too. And if you want a bullet or arrow to curve in mid-air around something or whatever, they can do that too,” Emma said, her cheeks reddening as she ran out of breath.