“You look stunning,” Donovan said, his eyes radiating with a glow that lit up the room.
“Thanks,” I said, feeling embarrassed. “Where have you been?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Donovan took a step toward me and I felt my breath hitch. He had a hunger in his eyes I had never seen before. “I had to take a break,” he said, looking down at his feet for a moment.
“From me?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
“Yes.”
My heart sank at his words and I willed myself not to cry in front of him. He didn’t deserve my tears. He had taken off after yelling at me and now he wanted to walk in here right before the dance? No way!
“Well, you got your break. But if you will excuse me, I have a date waiting for me,” I said.
I tried to move past him, but Donovan stopped me, grabbing my arm and causing both of us to shiver from the electric current that coursed through our bodies when we touched.
Pulling me to his side, Donovan placed a gentle kiss on my lips. Sparks lit inside of me as my hands found his arms. For a brief, blissful moment, I allowed the kiss to take me to another world. A world in which there were no mysteries and fights between my boyfriend and friends. Where I would feel this passion when Zane kissed me.
Wait, Zane!
Becoming alert, I grabbed Donovan’s shoulders and shoved him backward and away from me.
“What are you doing?” I asked, feeling angry with both of us. He was wrong to kiss me, knowing I had a boyfriend, but I was also wrong to feel the intense emotions I felt while we kissed.
Gasping for breath, I sat up in the bed.
It had been a while since I had dreamed. Thankfully, this dream was one that made my heart swell with happiness. Remembering my first kiss with Donovan was a nice image to have locked away in my mind. It was the calm before the storm. A time when my biggest worry was having feelings for Donovan, when I thought Zane was my boyfriend. Now, everything has changed. Falling back onto my bed, I stared up at the ceiling and allowed myself to only remember the good moments. The bad ones, I was still currently living through.
***
“Come on, you can run faster than that,” Eden shouts at me.
I roll my eyes as I push myself harder, my legs only a blur underneath me. We are out on the track during gym today and my training session is taking place of any other assignment that could have been given out.
“Looks like you are still getting special treatment,” Brie sneers, as she races beside me.
“Don’t you ever stop? Like, get a hobby or something,” I growl at her.
“I mean, as a human you got to do your own routine during gym. Now as a Vampire, you still get to train while the rest of us are working on what we are told,” she says, completely dismissing my questions.
I’m so done with Brie. What does she expect? I have a rogue Vampire possibly after me and the entire school. But sure, just throw me into the mix of students with no training.
I refuse to let Brie mess with my head like she did before. There is just too much at stake right now. For the first time, Brie is the least of my problems here.
“Look at what has been done. Don’t you think it is time to give it a rest. Take your mean girls act somewhere else,” I say, before shoving myself forward and leaving her in the dust.
When I reach the mark where Eden had told me to stop, I hear clapping as I slow to a stop.
Donovan is standing before me, a wide grin over his chiseled face and his eyes are bright with happiness.
“I heard your exchange with Brie,” he muses.
“She never stops,” I say, walking over and kissing him.
“Just ignore her. You are right; we have more things to worry about and keep us up on our toes. She is just a mean girl,” Donovan agrees.
Eden runs over to us and she shows me her clipboard. Shoving it in my face, she begins to jump up and down. “Look, you beat your last score! Each time you run, you are getting faster,” she beams.
“That’s great,” I say, proud of myself.
“Soon enough, we won’t have to track all of this. You will just be a natural like us,” Eden states.
I like the sound of that. I just want to fit in like everyone else. But, that got me thinking. Things were starting to change around The House of Shadows and not just for me personally. The school was about to take on new students and professors. I couldn’t help but wonder if this were good or if I was making things much worse around here.
“Hey, Eden. Can I talk to you?” I asked, my face growing serious.
Donovan shifted and his head whipped around to face me. “Is everything ok?” he asked me.
Donovan was always on edge when it came to me. I mean, I couldn’t blame him after everything that had happened to me. But, I wished now he would ease up a little bit. I was stronger now and I needed him to see that.
“Yes, everything is fine. I just have some questions. Can I meet you for lunch?” I asked Donovan.
He hesitated for a moment before finally nodding in agreement. “Sure, I will see you there.”
He took off in a flash and left me and Eden alone on the track.
“So, what’s up?” Eden asked.
“I have two things I want to discuss,” I said.
“Maybe we need to sit down for this,” Eden suggested.
We walked over to a grassy area and sat down. I began picking at a few blades of grass as I began to share my feelings. Eden was a great listener, and I knew she would be able to ease my mind and offer advice on a few things. “First, I wanted to talk with you about the changes at The House of Shadows. Your dad is bringing in new students and professors and adding in new classes. That is a lot of changes to occur just because of Zane. I hope he doesn’t blame me for any of this,” I stated.
I never wanted to cause anyone additional stress and that’s exactly what I felt like I was doing. The Dean along with Donovan and Eden had been so accommodating to me ever since I arrived. I would never want to take advantage of their kindness.
Eden leaned back on her hands and stretched out her legs. “Audrey, the changes that are happening are a long time coming. Years ago, the Vampires and Witches made a truce. We share the lake, but each of us have our own separate piece of the land. We had all agreed to maintain our distance from one another to keep humans from asking questions. However, there have been secret meetings and discussions from the heads of both academies that would at some point, unite both schools. It was inevitable that at some point, Witches and Vampires would need one another.”
When she stopped, I allowed that information to sink in. I guess she was right; such strong and powerful forces should utilize their strengths. I wonder why it took so long for this to happen?
“I guess that makes sense,” I reply.
“What else did you want to talk about?” Eden asked
“Well, when the Witches get here, will we learn spells and magic, too?” I asked.
Eden laughed and allowed her head to fall back. “We aren’t magical, so we won’t be able to perform spells, but maybe we can learn a few tricks from them. Together, with our speed and their abilities to cast spells, we can fight together,” she finished.
Now, that made sense. I liked the idea of joining forces.
“Last thing I want to ask. Donovan has been so sweet and kind to me. I really want to do something to show him how much I appreciate him,” I stated.
“That’s really sweet. I thought you were going to ask something else,” she admitted, seeming relieved.
I thought back to what Donovan had said about how he dated one of the Witches. “Oh, Donovan already told me about the Witch he dated. That doesn’t bother me. I just want to do something nice for him.”
“Ok, good. I love that you want to do something for Donovan. He has been such a loner until you arrived. Maybe just do a nice movie date. He is pretty simple,” she mused.
“Yeah, that might be a good idea,” I agreed.
We talked for a few more minutes and then I heard the coach blow his whistler. Class was almost over and we would need to get changed before heading to lunch.
Just as Eden and I got off the grass, a student came rushing into the crowd of students. “Hey everyone, did you all hear the news?”
CHAPTER 9
______________________________________________________________________
Of course, everything would have to go crazy just when I thought all of the drama had settled down.
When the guy ran out to the track, I thought he was going to just share some information about a hot student scandal, but I was wrong.
Eden and I ran over to the crowd and began to listen.
“I was just leaving my Biology class when I heard the Dean talking with some of the professors. Another woman was there, too, the professor from the Witches academy,” the guy began.
I leaned over and whispered to Eden, “Who is this guy?” I asked.
“That’s Jake. He’s a few years older than us,” she whispered back.
I hadn’t seen Jake before, but honestly, my eyes had only been for Zane and then Donovan. I really hadn’t branched outside of my circle of friends. Now, I wished I had.
As Jake continued talking, we were all anxiously waiting for his next words. “Right before Zane kidnapped Audrey…”
At the mention of my name, my eyes perked up and I stood taller. As Jake continued, I felt sick as I knew this had something to do with me as well. “You know, Audrey, that human who is now a Vampire. Anyway, right before he kidnapped her, a Witch at the SpellCaster Academy went missing. They suspect Zane killed her. The Dean is going to set up new security measures,” he said.
I pulled Eden aside and away from the group. “What is he talking about?” I asked, through gritted teeth.
“I have no idea, but we are going to find out,” Eden said.
We slipped away from the group and ran back to the Academy. Once inside, Eden was on a mission to find her dad. I could see the anger rolling in her eyes and, I swear, she was steaming mad.
“Dad,” she yelled out through the halls.
I stopped dead in my tracks. Eden never addressed him as dad while school was in session. She respected his title, but right now, she was a kid angry with her father.
We stormed through the halls, other students darting and jumping out of our way as Eden parted them like the Red Sea.
Finally, we found The Dean leaving his office, a group of professors hot on his tail.
“Dad, I need to talk to you,” Eden shouted.
The Dean looked startled at hearing Eden call him dad. He tried to keep his composure, but I could sense he was upset.
“Eden, you need to calm down,” he said sharply.
Shaking her head, no, Eden stomped her foot and I felt the ground below me shake. “No, I have to know. Did Zane kill a Witch?” she asked defiantly.
The Dean closed his eyes and fisted his hands at his sides. Turning to the other professors, he said, “Excuse us, I need to speak to my daughter in private,” he said.
The group dispersed and The Dean went to grab Eden by the arm, but she shook him off.
“No, dad. Audrey and I heard Jake telling a group of kids during gym that Zane is a suspect in the murder of a Witch. Are you heightening the security around here? Why didn’t you tell me Zane was a suspect?”
Her questions came out in a fury. I glanced between father and daughter, unsure if I should go or stay. This had everything to do with me, but, at the same time, I felt like I needed to give the pair privacy.
“Can we discuss this in my office,” The Dean said, glancing my way for a brief moment.
“Sure, but Audrey is coming with us,” Eden stated, grabbing my hand and pulling me into the office.
I was too stunned to fight, so I just went with what Eden said.
We walked into the large office and Eden and I sat in the two gray, leather chairs facing the large desk in front of the large window, overlooking the school grounds. I loved the large, solid oak desk with nickel brushed metal on the edges. It was very fitting for the Dean.
The Dean walked around his desk and sat in his large chair. He rubbed his eyes before he addressed us.
“What you overheard today was correct. While that wasn’t news I wanted all students privy to, I guess you and Adurey should know what happened. Shortly after we rescued Audrey from Zane, I received word that a witch from the SpellCaster Academy had gone missing. They found her body in the lake, drained of all of her blood and two bite marks on her neck. I had to share with the Witches what was going on here with Zane. I didn’t want to alarm everyone at once, there were a lot of things happening at once. I am going to hold another meeting with the school once the Witches get here.”
When he stopped talking, I glanced over at Eden. Her anger had subsided some, but she still looked hurt her dad had withheld this information from her.
“You should have told me,” Eden pouted.
Nodding, the Dean agreed. “Yes, but you still have to remember. While I am your father, I am also The Dean. I have two positions here.”
“I understand that, but still. Audrey is my best friend and I should know what’s going on with her. Besides, Donovan is going to be upset, too.”
At the mention of Donovan’s name, my heart swelled. I needed to finish this meeting and plan a date night with him. We were going to be swamped with new classes and new students soon enough. I needed to get in as much alone time with him as I could.
My mind was brought back to the present when Eden turned to face me. “Adurey, what do you think?” she asked.
I felt guilty that I had stopped listening. “Sorry, what again?”
Eden sighed before asking me again. “I asked if you wanted additional security. Dad said they are adding more security around campus.”
“Oh, um, I don’t know. Do I need it?” I asked both of them.
“I don’t think additional eyes on you would hurt, especially with everything going on with Zane. We can trust the Witches, but when two powerful supernatural forces join together, the news usually travels fast. You girls need to get to lunch. I will speak with you later this evening,” The Dean said, addressing Eden.
She huffed and then stood. I followed her lead and we left the office. Eden closed the door with a loud bang. I wasn’t sure that much force wasn’t needed, but Eden was upset, so I didn’t say anything.
All I could think about now, was seeing Donovan. His face would make me feel better-- at least for now.
Chapter 10
____________________________________________________________________________
Eden and I walk into the cafeteria and I can tell that she is still heated from her exchange with the Dean. I knew there was a lot that I could be stressing over right now, but, honestly, all I wanted to do was see Donovan and spend one uneventful evening with him. I can already feel the shift in the air that change was coming. The red flags were popping up everywhere and I needed to enjoy the calm before the storm.
I spotted Donovan already seated at our table, and relief flooded through me. He looked up and spotted me, his eyes glowing as a smile spread across his face.
I waved and walked over to the table with him. As I moved through the sea of students, I took in the odor of the animal blood the Vampires drank. My mouth began to water and I stopped dead in my tracks.
My fangs clicked and I could feel my body shaking. Glancing around the room, I realized I was the only one having this attack right now. Of course, it’s because I am a new Vampire. My hunger was ravenous and I wasn’t sure if I could control myself much longer. I needed to drink that blood now.
Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder and a soft, soothing voice in my ear. “Come on, let me help you,” Donovan said.
I turned and we locked eyes. Just seeing him made me feel a little better. My body was still shaking, and I had an undeniable urge to run and grab the blood as fast as I could, but with Donova
n by my side, I was able to walk to our table.
He helped me sit down and held my hand.
All the while, Eden was fuming and didn’t even notice my freak-out-moment.
“Thanks. I don’t know what happened,” I said, looking at Donovan.
“You smelled blood. Thankfully, it was animal blood or that could have been messy,” he joked.
I tried to smile, but I was frightened by my own reaction. What would happen if I smelled human blood?
Fear struck me as I thought about the Witches. Would I crave their blood, too?
“Donovan, will I attack the Witches?” I asked nervously.
Squeezing my hand, he offered me support. “No.They use a spell that masks the scent of their blood. Don’t worry about what just happened. You are new at all of this,” he said.
He offered an empathetic smile and it warmed my now cold heart.
A waiter brought over the large glass of blood, and I guzzled it down faster than I could blink. It fueled my hunger and I could feel the energy coursing through me.
Everyone else was sipping their blood and enjoying the food. I knew it would take some time for me to adjust to all of this, but I hoped it would happen sooner or later.
“What is going on?” Eden asked, glancing at me.
“What?” I asked.
She had been quiet and I had almost forgotten that she was there.
“Why is everyone staring at Audrey?” Eden asked.
The table grew silent and Donovan looked over at his sister like she had just grown two heads.
“Are you serious?” Donovan asks.
I decide to jump in because Donovan still doesn’t know about what we overheard. Although, I’m sure it will come to light soon enough.
“I freaked out when I smelled the blood in the cafeteria. You all have been feeding me at the cabin or in my room. I guess it was just a shock,” I admitted.
Renewed: House of Shadows Book 3 Page 4