Soul and Disaster: Slayer Academy (Book 1)

by Cassidy Summers

  “Yes, I know. I never thought it would be easy,” I tell her. She gives me a friendly smile and sends me on my way. I leave the training room and stroll back to my room, thinking about the conversation I had with Tessa. I realize I want nothing more than to prove not only to her but Rylan too, that I can make it in this class.

  Chapter 4

  I flop onto my bed and go over the combat schedule and can’t help but grin at all the things we’re going to be going over. It’s so detailed that I’m momentarily surprised by the efforts Rylan and Tessa have put into our training. We’re going to be going over all sorts of stuff from one-on-one combat, to groups, and even one against a group. Next week we get our introduction into weaponry which then continues in detail in the weeks following when swords, whips, and chemicals are added. I must admit that seeing it all written down like this is making me feel extremely giddy and excited inside.

  We’ll learn particular skills for being in combat against werewolves and vampires, then aquatic-based skills for battling against the Mer-people and creatures of the sea. It’s incredibly rare that a member of The Guard will ever battle against these creatures, but it’s always a great skill to know.

  My eyes skim down the schedule and I realize just how much work is going to be involved in graduating this year. I mean, we learn about defense against trolls and pixies as well. This year is going to be epic.

  Glancing at the time, I realize Jacinta is still nowhere to be seen, I pull out my phone and begin writing out a text.

  Bianca – Where r u?

  Jacinta – Library. I’ve got homework already! Won’t be long.

  Bianca – K, bring me a muffin?

  Jacinta – lol okay, fatty!

  Tossing my phone on my bedside table, I reach under my bed, pull out my laptop, and boot it up. After waiting the agonizing five minutes it takes to get it started, I open my emails and start typing.

  To: Gabrielle Moore

  From: Bianca Moore

  Subject: First Day!

  Hey Mom,

  We had our first day today and you wouldn’t believe how great it was, well apart from all the classes. They were pretty boring as usual.

  Combat Training was awesome! Though, I’m going to be sore in the morning. I have Tessa as my instructor which is great. I was paired with Daniel for sparring and totally whipped his butt, though it wasn’t easy! Tessa said I did pretty good but thinks it’s going to take a lot of training to keep up with the guys. She mentioned she will try and visit soon.

  We have this other instructor Rylan. He seems a bit tough, but nothing I can’t handle.

  I’ll pop over sometime during the week to check in on Millie.

  Love you,

  Bianca.

  Feeling sore from combat training, I scoot myself off my bed and onto the floor to begin stretching out my body, knowing just how sore my muscles are going to be in the morning. As I’m finishing off my stretching, the door opens and Jacinta comes flying through.

  “Think quick,” she sings and with a flick of her wrist, I’m struck in the head. I look down to find a chocolate muffin looking up at me from my lap.

  “Hey,” I cry, reaching up and rubbing my head where the muffin had hit.

  “I thought you said you wanted a muffin?” she asks as innocently as ever, even going as far as to appear offended. “I’m only doing what has been asked of me.”

  “You’re such an idiot,” I laugh, ripping open the packaging and shoveling a giant piece of muffin into my mouth.

  Jacinta makes herself comfortable opposite me. “What are you doing on the floor?”

  “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m stretching. Training was full-on. My whole body is aching. Though, I’m sure Daniel feels worse,” I grin, making Jacinta grin right back. “I practically had him begging for mercy."

  “Are you serious?” she laughs as I give her an enthusiastic nod. “He’s never going to live that down.”

  “Well…maybe just a little bit serious,” I admit, tearing off another bite of my muffin. “How was fairy studies?”

  “It was so good,” she raves. “I have Miss Davis and she really knows what she’s talking about and for some reason, she really likes me. Though, I’ve got Nora in my class,” she adds as an afterthought.

  “Oh, that sucks,” I say. Nora was in Jacinta’s Fairy Studies class last year and has always been an A-class bitch, though we could never figure out why.

  “Who are your instructors?” she asks, making me launch into a full-blown explanation of Tessa and Rylan while accidentally ‘forgetting’ to mention the effect his smoldering good looks had on me.

  When I hear the familiar ‘ping’ coming from my laptop, I reach up onto my bed and pull it down on my lap to see an email from mom patiently waiting for my attention.

  To: Bianca Moore

  From: Gabrielle Moore

  Subject: Re: First Day!

  Hi Darling,

  I’m so happy you’ve had a great first day and who would have thought you’d have Tessa as your instructor. Make sure you listen and train hard. She may be small, but she’s certainly a force to be reckoned with. She will make a great instructor.

  Let me know how Millie is doing.

  I’ve got to run. I miss you both so much already.

  Love Mom.

  Jacinta and I spend the afternoon watching ‘Dirty Dancing’ and chatting about our classes, teachers, and friends. Before long, exhaustion takes over my aching body and I climb into bed, thinking about dark, gold speckled eyes as I drift off into a well-needed sleep.

  ----------

  “Bianca.”

  I’m shaken awake by an insistent Jacinta calling my name. “What?” I moan in the most unflattering morning voice. I open my eyes just in time to see a pillow flying towards me and not a second later, smacks me right in the face.

  “Get up. You’re going to be late,” Jacinta says with urgency.

  I grab my phone and hit the home button, lighting up the screen. 8:32 am. “Shit,” I cry, jumping out of bed and rushing into the bathroom, my muscles screaming in agony from yesterday’s training. “Why didn’t you wake me?” I yell through the bathroom door as I quickly undress, realizing I must have fallen asleep without setting my alarm.

  “I tried four times,” Jacinta calls back.

  Whoops. “You should have tried harder,” I shout, reaching into the shower and turning on the taps.

  I wait impatiently as the water warms while listening to Jacinta’s taunts. “But you looked so peaceful with your mouth hanging open, drooling all over your bed,” she says, trying to sound honest, but cracking into laughter moments later.

  “Hey, at least I don’t snore.”

  “I do not snore.”

  “Yeah, well I don’t drool,” I grumble, feeling the water and deeming it acceptable to step into the shower and get on with my morning.

  “Alright, alright. I’m heading down to get something to eat, I’ll grab you something.”

  “Thanks.”

  I rush through the rest of my shower and throw on some clothes, quickly brushing through my long hair and throwing it up into a messy bun. I grab my bag and catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror that Jacinta has hung near our door. Yep, not bad.

  Not a second later, I get my ass down to the cafeteria.

  I fly through the doors just in time to run straight into Luke, accidentally knocking his water bottle from his hands. “Whoops,” I say as I begin to bend down to collect it for him.

  “Watch it,” he scolds, fixing me with a look of pure hatred. I straighten up, deciding he can pick up his own damn water bottle.

  “Oh, please,” I say with a roll of my eyes. “Save it for someone who cares.”

  Geez, could my morning get any worse? I turn away from Luke and search the room for Jacinta while hearing Luke mutter something about ‘regretting that later’. I find Jacinta putting her breakfast tray away and leaning over the table, reaching for a banana. “Hey,” I say, c
oming to stand next to her.

  “Oh, hey. Here,” she says, holding the banana out to me and giving me an amused smile as I hesitate to take it from her. “They ran out of muffins,” she laughs, answering my unasked question.

  I give her a sigh as I take the banana from her waiting hands.

  “I think it’s time to go,” Jacinta announces. We head out of the cafeteria and towards the academy classrooms. “What have you got first?”

  “I forget,” I shrug, reaching into my bag and pulling out my planner before peering at my class schedule and groaning. “I’ve got Alchemy studies.”

  “Ahh, with me,” she smiles.

  “Oh, that’s right,” I say, lacing my arm through hers.

  We make our way to class and sit side by side. Trey walks into the classroom and quickly scans the room. He spots me and Jacinta and a wide grin spreads across his handsome face. He makes his way towards us and drops his bag before taking a seat in the row in front. He leans back in his chair and begins to turn around, probably to say something utterly ridiculous when he’s interrupted by a loud voice demanding the room’s attention. “Alright, seniors, eyes to the front,” the teacher says, giving Trey a stern look. “Welcome to Senior Alchemy Studies. I’m Mr. Adams and I will be your teacher for the year,” Blah, blah, blah…this class is going to be painfully boring.

  I grab my notebook and flip it open to a blank page. Taking my pen, I scrawl out a note to Jacinta.

  *So…what are your thoughts on Trey?*

  I gently rip the page from my notebook and slide it across the table to Jacinta. She quickly reads the note and gives me a questioning look before reaching for her own pen and quickly scribbling down her response.

  *Why do you ask?*

  *Just wondering* I write, sliding the note back to her with a suggestive wiggle of my brows.

  *He’s cute*

  I look up and notice a shy smile and a slight blush staining her cheeks.

  *Oh really? Does someone have a crush?*

  I smirk as I watch her read the note while her cheeks turn a darker shade of pink. She pushes the note back, refusing to give me an answer and I hold back a laugh, knowing I’m definitely onto something. I’ll take that as a big whopping YES!

  *Why don’t you ask him out?*

  Jacinta’s eyes widen in shock as she reads the note and I’m rewarded with a sharp look and shake of her head. “Are you crazy?” she whispers with raised brows.

  “Who knows?” I whisper back, trying to be as discreet as possible, but breaking into a too-loud snicker.

  “Girls,” Mr. Adams loud bark startles the class. I look up into his steady glare. “I wonder what could possibly be so important that it needs to be discussed right now. Please, do share with us all.”

  I watch him for a silent moment before realizing that he isn’t going to let this pass without receiving some sort of response. “Of course, Mr. Adams,” I nod. “We were just discussing how cute your outfit is,” I say in complete seriousness as the room breaks into chuckles around me.

  He steps forward and quickly snatches the note up off the table and begins reading over it. His eyes flick between Jacinta and Trey as his mouth presses into a tight, annoyed line while making Trey turn around with curious eyes. “Discuss your love lives in your own time. I’m not impressed,” Mr. Adams scolds while scrunching up the note and launching it across the room. It hits the rim of the trash can before dropping down into it and making the boys in the class applaud his efforts. “See me after class.”

  “I’ll see you then,” I smile, slouching back in my chair, knowing I‘ve just earned myself my first detention for the year. Jacinta flashes me a horrified look then rolls her eyes. Clearly thinking what I’ve just said was the dumbest thing I’ve done in a while, though it’s not like I was about to spill what was written on that note. I mean ‘girl code,’ right?

  The rest of the morning drags by and I was right that Mr. Adams had given me a detention slip following class, though what I wasn’t expecting was the second detention slip he had happily handed me for disrupting the class with my witty comments and obvious lack of respect for authority in which he apparently didn’t appreciate.

  I make my way toward the cafeteria for lunch when I see Trey walking ahead of me. “Hey, Trey,” I yell. Trey stops walking and whips his head around, instantly recognizing the sound of my voice. “Wait up,” I say, breaking into a jog.

  “Hey, chunky-monkey,” he says, as I catch up to him. He flings his arm over my shoulder. “What’s going on?”

  “Oh, not much,” I say. “But listen, I’ve been dying to ask you something,” I tell him, sounding more evil and conniving than intended as I begin to meddle in everyone else’s love lives.

  “Go on...” he says cautiously after a short pause.

  “Well, ahh, I’m just curious when you’re going to get your shit together and ask Jacinta out?”

  “Umm, what?” he says, suddenly very wary of the topic. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Oh, come on. It’s so obvious you’re into her,” I say, trying to add a little encouragement to my words.

  “It is not,” he argues with wide eyes, realizing that his words are a complete confirmation of his affections.

  “It so is,” I laugh. “So, quit wasting time and get on with it. You guys would make the best couple.”

  Trey lets out a loud huff. “Alright, alright. So I like her,” he says, breaking into a wide grin and rolling his eyes in defeat. “But it’s not like she wants to date me.”

  “How will you know if you never ask?” I grin as we reach the cafeteria, picturing just how great they’d be together, not to mention how damn happy Jacinta would be.

  Trey rolls his eyes, clearly thinking that I’m absurd to have even suggested it. “Enough about me,” he says. “What’s going on with you and Daniel?”

  “Um, what?” I ask in horror, completely thrown off guard.

  Trey’s brows furrow as he watches me with confusion. “You don’t like him?”

  “No,” I practically spit out with a hint of hysteria, immediately feeling guilty about how quickly I dismissed it. “I mean, he’s super-hot in that dark and sexy kind of way and he’s a complete flirt, which is fun, but I’ve never really thought about him as anything more than a friend,” I lie.

  Trey and I continue walking deeper into the cafeteria when I spot Jacinta sitting at our favorite table. “Ah, there’s our girl,” I tease. “Why don’t we go ask her about that date of yours?”

  “Do it and die,” he whispers urgently with a stern warning in his tone as we reach the table.

  “Oh, hey, guys,” Jacinta says with a smile, tying back her hair and exposing the soft skin of her neck which practically has Trey drooling.

  “Why, hello,” I say, turning to Trey with a mischievous look. “Trey was just telling me that he wanted to ask you something.” I try to hide a smile and enjoy watching as Trey’s face turns to one of complete horror before turning to me with a look that suggests he’s going to pulverize me.

  “Oh, yeah?” Jacinta says, looking up at Trey giving him the most spectacular smile that I’ve realized she reserves just for him. “What’s up?” she asks sweetly. God, it’s no wonder he can’t resist her charms.

  “Ah,” he says, looking down at her, “I just wanted to see what you think of Bianca and Daniel dating?” He grins down at me, presenting me with an intriguing challenge. I let out a low groan, but apparently, that isn’t enough to finish the conversation.

  “Oh, seriously?” Jacinta beams. “That would be so cute.” She almost gushes before turning on me. “You didn’t tell me you like Daniel?” she demands, sounding offended.

  “What? I don’t like him. We’re just friends,” I say, suddenly on the defense.

  “Who’s just friends?” I hear from a familiar, curious voice behind me, turning to find Daniel joining our group with a tray brimming with food.

  Oh, FFS!

  Jacinta grins
. “You and B.”

  Daniel flashes me a seductive smile, placing his tray down on the table. “Come on, baby. You know you and I will never be just friends,” he says stepping into my personal space, nearly whispering in my ear, but speaking just loud enough for the whole group to hear. “Besides, you can’t resist this body.” He gestures up and down his lean, muscular frame. “And I sure as hell can’t resist yours.”

  Stepping forward, I press my body up against his and say in a low tone, “You know, I think you might be right, I’ve always been a little curious about you,” I whisper, putting my hands low on his waist while resisting the urge to feel him up.

  Daniel winds his arms around me, pulling me even closer before tilting his face down to meet mine. “I’d kiss you if you weren’t so full of shit,” he whispers.

  My act slips as my face cracks into a wide grin which quickly turns into uncontrollable laughter. “Hey, I saw an opportunity and I took it,” I explain, inwardly debating if I should be taking a bow for my brilliant performance.

  Daniel, still holding onto me, leans into my ear. “Be careful. I might not be able to stop myself next time,” he murmurs, shifting ever so slightly which puts his lips directly in line with mine. I’m frozen in place, considering what it would be like to close the small gap and feel his lips on mine and I’m suddenly nervous. Daniel pulls back. “One day, you’ll see,” he promises as he pulls away and sits down at the table.

  I shake off the strange feelings flowing through my body and look over at Jacinta who has her jaw hanging open while looking completely dumbfounded. “Ah, come and get some lunch with me,” she says, indicating to the table filled with all the lunch options.

  “Yeah, sure,” I say following her lead.

  “Um…what was that?”

  “Nothing,” I say, quickly glancing over my shoulder to see Daniel’s eyes still on me and an amused smirk playing on his lips. “I was just messing with him. Though, I didn’t expect him to take it quite so far.”