GRIMM Academy : The Complete Collection

by R L Medina

  Her eyes blinked behind her coral glasses. “What did he do?”

  I sighed. “Well, it was probably Tyler’s idea, but did you know Grayson works in the cafeteria?”

  She nodded. “Yes. Part time there and part time as the headmaster’s assistant.”

  His assistant? Shock filled me at the revelation.

  “Did they sit at one of his tables again and act like royal douchebags?”

  My eyebrow arched at her description. “Yeah. How did you know?”

  Shiloh shook her head, anger flashing in her eyes. “They do it every time he’s scheduled. Or they did. I thought Javi put a stop to that.”

  Hurt echoed in her voice. I didn’t know what to say. Javi’s friends were bad influences, but when it came to Grayson, he was just as bad as they were.

  “Tyler used some chant and Grayson threatened to report him to the guards. Javi stepped in and nothing else happened.”

  Except for the words Grayson threw at me.

  “Now he probably hates me. Again.”

  Shiloh frowned. “Who?”

  “Grayson. That guy is so confusing. One minute he’s buying my coffee and the next he can barely stand the sight of me and I’m freaking sick of it!”

  Her eyebrows shot up. “Are you sure it’s… hate?”

  I frowned. “What do you mean?”

  She rolled her chair closer to me and sat down. “It sounds like he likes you and isn’t owning up to it. Some guys want you to make the first move.” Her lips pursed.

  Was she hinting at Javi? Not wanting to go down that rabbit trail, I stretched my arms out in front of me and sighed. “I don’t know what to think anymore. I wish he would stop playing mind games.”

  She gave me a yeah, me too look and tapped her lip. “Maybe you could try the old fake date trick?”

  Noticing my obvious lack of understanding, she blushed and adjusted her glasses. “You know. Go out with someone else to make him jealous? I’ve never tried it, but it always works in the movies.”

  I scoffed. “I don’t know. When does real life every turn out to be like the movies?”

  “More than you think. Life is stranger than fiction sometimes.”

  “But wouldn’t that be using somebody just to get someone else’s attention?”

  She blushed. “Yeah, but not if they were in on the secret too.”

  “Hmm.”

  I was beginning to like the idea more and more. If I did this and he got jealous, then I would know he liked me. But if he didn’t get jealous… well, then I’d get my answer.

  I smiled at her. “That is perfect. Thank you!”

  She returned my smile and glanced at my physics homework. “Afraid, I can’t help you out with that though.”

  Sighing, I pulled the book into my lap and shook my head. “I might have to get myself a tutor. Know anyone?”

  Shiloh laughed. “Sorry. It’s just. The top physic student I know is… Grayson.”

  My eyebrows shot up at this information. “Figures.”

  “If the fake date doesn’t work, maybe you can try to get him to tutor you. That could work too.”

  I snorted. “Yeah. I’ll impress him with my utter incompetence in physics.”

  She shrugged. “Some guys prefer girls that are… less intellectually advantaged.”

  A flush spread up her neck. I winced. Was she referring to Javi again? I frowned. What did the idiot say or do now?

  “But not all,” I responded.

  I fell silent, wondering if I should try to say something positive about my cousin. But how would I say it without making it too obvious? Shiloh was no idiot.

  “Yeah.” She looked away. “I have to get my laundry. Do you want anything from the vending machine?”

  “No thanks. I’m good.”

  I watched her leave and stared down at the textbooks in front of me. Groaning, I picked up the first one and started reading.

  Not five pages in and a knock sounded. Thinking it was Shiloh with her basket of laundry, I stood up and flung the door open.

  It was Javi.

  He glanced past me, disappointment flashing on his face as he noticed the empty room.

  I opened the door up wider and let him enter. He stood, staring at Shiloh’s stuff like a creeper.

  “What do you want, Javi?”

  His head whipped toward me. “I heard you got sent to the headmaster.”

  “Yeah. Did your dad tell you?”

  He frowned. “No. My dad was there too?”

  “No. He saw me go in the office though.”

  Javi winced. “Oh.”

  “Yeah.”

  “You got a mark?”

  I nodded.

  “Why didn’t you say anything at lunch?”

  My eyes narrowed. “Are you kidding me? I wasn’t going to tell all your jerk friends my business. And just so you know, Shiloh knows about what happened at lunch.”

  He flinched. I walked back toward my side of the room and waved him in. He shut the door behind him and stalked over.

  “What did she say?”

  I stared at him. Did he regret his actions or was he just upset Shiloh knew what he’d done?

  “What do you think, Javi? That little stunt you pulled was petty and douchey.”

  He glanced away. “It wasn’t my idea.”

  I scoffed. “So? You went along with it.”

  His body stiffened. “He deserves it. He thinks he’s so much better than everyone just because the headmaster gave him a scholarship here.”

  “He did?” I frowned.

  Was that why he was chosen as the headmaster’s assistant? No wonder there was always tension between him and Brady. It was no secret father and son didn’t exactly bond well.

  “You need to get over yourself, Javi. Stop worrying about Grayson and start showing Shiloh the kind of guy you really are.”

  His shoulders slumped. “Yeah. I guess you’re right.”

  I lifted my chin. “Of course I am.”

  “Do you want me to talk to my dad about the mark? See if he can make it disappear?”

  “Disappear? What do you mean?”

  “He didn’t tell you what it did?”

  I shook my head no, apprehension growing.

  Javi frowned. “For sleeping in class, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  He grabbed my hand and turned it over, wrist up. “Look.”

  A strange black symbol was drawn onto my skin. My eyes bulged. I touched it, finding the ink or whatever was used didn’t come off.

  “What the hell?”

  “It’s an enchantment mark. It will disappear usually within five to seven days, but while it’s there, you won’t be able to fall asleep.”

  My jaw dropped. “What? What do you mean I won’t be able to sleep? I’m going to be awake for a week? They can’t do that! That’s like torture, Javi.”

  Anger rose inside me. Headmaster Rutherford was so calm, so casual when he doled out the punishment.

  “This is some bullshit.” I threw myself down on the bed and covered my face with my hands.

  The bed sagged as Javi sunk down beside me. “Don’t worry. I’ll get my dad to get rid of it. I have something that will cheer you up.”

  I peeked at him through my fingers and groaned. “I don’t want to do fight training right now.”

  He grinned. “No. Not that. There’s a party. Tonight. Exclusive. A Halloween party.” His face lit up with excitement.

  My lip curled. “It’s not even Halloween.”

  “It’s a pre-Halloween party.”

  “Yeah. No thanks. Not really in the party mood. Besides, I have studying to do. And I have to meet Professor Cassiano tomorrow at five!”

  Javi picked up one of my discarded books and flipped it open. “Physics? You’d pick physics over a Malibu party?” His dark eyebrows wriggled.

  I groaned again. Studying was the last thing I wanted to do.

  “Where is it?”

  His grin widened. �
��The headmaster’s house.”

  “The headmaster is throwing a party?”

  He rolled his eyes at me. “Yeah. Please. No. Brady is throwing it. It’s a secret party only the most popular kids like us are invited.”

  I gave him a flat look. “I wasn’t invited.”

  He scoffed. “You’re invited by association.”

  “The headmaster’s house? Will your dad let me go? I’m grounded here, remember?”

  Javi swore. “I think I can get someone to help me with that. We’ll project ourselves here and no one will even know we’ve left.”

  Not knowing or caring what he was talking about, I didn’t respond, but the idea was growing on me. Payback time. And what if I could sneak away from Javi while we were there?

  A grin spread on my face. “Let’s do it. Let’s trash his house.”

  Javi smiled. “I’ll come and get you tonight.”

  He started to walk out the door but paused and turned back to me. “Oh. Another thing. Can you please convince Shiloh to come too?”

  I arched my brow at him. “That’s why you invited me? To convince your crush to come along?”

  He flushed. “No. I want both of you there. Promise.”

  “Mmhm.”

  “Just try to convince her to come too, please?”

  I grunted. “Look, I’ll invite her, but I’m not gonna push her into coming if she doesn’t want to.”

  He sighed. “Fine. See you later.”

  “What about family dinner?” I called out.

  “We’re staying in to get some extra studying done.” He winked at me.

  “Fine by me.”

  Shutting the door behind him, I glanced at the clock. It was almost my time for the bathroom. I could get showered, grab food, and still have time to get a little studying done before the party.

  Just as I knocked on the bathroom to tell Ashley to hurry it up, Shiloh came back with a giant basket of neatly folded clothes.

  “Do you already have plans for dinner?” she asked as she set her basket on her bed. “I was thinking Gloria’s again?”

  I smiled at her. “Actually, I was thinking a quick dinner on campus.”

  “Oh. Okay…” Uncertainty echoed in her voice.

  “That way we have more time to study and then… there’s a party at the headmaster’s tonight. A secret pre-Halloween party, I guess. Brady is throwing it. Do you want to come?”

  Her eyes widened in surprise. She bit her lip, and I could see the indecision written on her face. Just as I was about to give up on her, she surprised me with a yes.

  “You’re sure?”

  A gleam shone in her eye as she nodded. “Yes. But do you know if it’s a costume party? I don’t have a costume.” She frowned.

  I shrugged. “I can check with Javi, but I’m not dressing up.”

  The bathroom door opened, and Ashley eyed us. “What are you guys talking about?”

  My eyes met Shiloh’s. I tried to nonchalantly shake my head. The party was supposed to be secret.

  “Halloween.” Shiloh smiled. “Are you dressing up for Halloween?”

  Ashley folded her arms across her chest. “I’m a harpy and Tamara is a siren.”

  My lips quirked as I fought back the snarky remark on the tip of my tongue. A harpy was perfect for her.

  Shiloh, ever the diplomatic one, nodded. “I’m sure you guys will look great!”

  Ashley’s eyes narrowed in suspicion before tossing her hair back. “Seth and Matt are taking us out.”

  I glanced at Shiloh. Were we supposed to be jealous about that? I didn’t even know who she was talking about. She continued to stand there, chin up as if giving us the honor of being in her presence.

  “Congrats. Do you mind vacating the bathroom now? I want to wash this stink off me.” I stood and walked over to her.

  Her brows furrowed. “Gross.”

  “Yeah, well you don’t exactly smell like a flower after your training either.”

  I tapped my fingers on the written schedule. “My turn.”

  She turned away in a huff, grabbing the rest of her things. I wasted no time in shutting the door and the adjoining one to their room before stripping down and hopping in the shower. Excitement bubbled inside me at the thought of the party. I needed this distraction after such a craptastic day. It had been a long time since I’d had any fun. A familiar ache twisted my stomach. With Papi gone it felt a little wrong, but I knew he would have wanted me to make the most of my senior year. Even if this wasn’t the path he wanted for me.

  An hour later, we were back in our rooms with our dinner, pouring over homework. The time ticked by and as tired as I’d been earlier, the closer the party came, the more awake and excited I grew.

  I stared down at the old textbook, rereading the same passage. It was part of my assigned reading, but also happened to be the information I’d needed about firstborn pledges.

  “A witch may be exempt from pledging their firstborn if he or she is cursed or a familial curse is evidenced by the supreme council.” I read the words aloud again, trying to make sense.

  “So, if someone is cursed, they can’t make the pledge?” I glanced up at Shiloh.

  She tore her eyes away from her own book and looked at me. “That’s right.”

  “But what if someone has already made the pledge? Is there still a way to get out of it?”

  Her forehead wrinkled. “A way out of the pledge?”

  I nodded.

  She sat up and pushed her hair behind her shoulder. “Well, there are two ways I know of. Suspension between the realms or the final death.”

  Seeing my confusion, she cleared her throat. “If a witch is suspended in time or trapped between the worlds, they wouldn’t be required to fulfill the pledge and well, in final death, the witch would be completely gone. Their essence void.”

  My heart sank. Those were my choices? I slammed the book closed, anger flaring to life.

  Shiloh gave me a curious look.

  “What about Gloria? She’s a witch, but she’s not in any coven.”

  “Not every witch has a coven. But all the ones that are pledged do.”

  “So, it’s kind of like the GRIMMs. You don’t have a choice but to do their bidding.”

  Shiloh swung her legs around and slid to the floor. “It’s similar, yes. But the witches practice magic and the GRIMMS are not supposed to use their conduits for anything besides their work. Protecting ordinaires and concealing magic.”

  I snorted. “We’re learning how to use magic to stop magic.”

  “In a way, yes. In the past though, there were GRIMMs who went too far and strayed off the path. Wizards, they called them.”

  My eyes snapped to hers. “Wait, so the GRIMMs were wizards?”

  “The ones that made their own laws about magic. They got too wrapped up in what they could do with it and forgot our main objective.”

  “To protect the ordinaire and conceal magic. And police the extraordinaire?” I asked.

  “Exactly.”

  Her words rattled me, bringing so many more questions. If my mom disagreed with the GRIMMs, why didn’t she become a wizard instead of a witch? Was there even a difference and why Luna Negra? From all the research I’d done, I’d found their lists of horrific acts long and gruesome. The answers I needed wouldn’t be found in the school, I’d already tried to look up my mom, but as Javi told me, she’d been erased completely from the records.

  If no one remembered her, why was I forced to pretend I wasn’t her daughter?

  “You about done? I think I’m going to start getting ready,” Shiloh interrupted my thoughts.

  I stood up and stretched. “Yeah. Let’s finish later.”

  We put our books and notes away and headed for the closet. I pushed the questions and Grayson’s infuriating face out of my mind. Time to forget about it all.

  In record time, Shiloh managed to turn herself into a gorgeous lifelike doll with flawless makeup and a pretty ballgown. Her raven
hair hung in big locks around her face.

  Javi was going to flip out.

  I stared at myself in the mirror. Black fishnet stockings and black denim, cut-off shorts with a plain, graphic, red and black tee. My cropped jacket, heavy makeup, and combat boots finished the look.

  It was nearly ten when Javi came to get us. He stepped in, his jaw dropping when he spotted Shiloh. Literally dropped.

  Her cheeks reddened underneath the subtle blush she’d applied. I couldn’t help but smirk at the pleased smile tugging her lips.

  “Doesn’t she look great?” I prodded my idiot cousin.

  He nodded emphatically, eyes still on her. “Yeah. Wow. Shiloh, you look amazing. Are you supposed to be a princess?”

  I rolled my eyes. Of course, that was what he fantasized. Typical.

  “No. I’m a doll.”

  There was that uncertainty in her eyes again. I frowned. Whoever hurt her in the past had done a number on her self-esteem. I felt a fierce sense of protection for her.

  “What are you supposed to be?” I interrupted, waving a hand down his expensive business suit.

  Javi grinned. “Bruce Wayne.”

  My eyebrow arched.

  “You know… Batman?” He gave me an exasperated sigh.

  “I know who Bruce Wayne is…”

  His lip curled. “And what are you supposed to be?”

  “Didn’t feel like dressing up this year. How are we getting to this party?”

  “Boat.”

  “A boat?”

  He nodded. “Tyler has a boat. The headmaster’s house is on an island. Not too far from here. Rhys, Monica, and Sofia are coming with us too. They’re waiting for us at the dock.”

  Great. His jerk friends. Shiloh hesitated. Before she could talk herself out of it, I looped my arm in hers and led her toward the door.

  “Let’s go,” I ordered Javi.

  I turned to her. “We’re gonna have fun. Don’t worry about the others. If they’re being asses, we’ll go do our own thing.”

  She smiled. “Sounds good.”

  Javi brought up the rear. “I’m included in that too, right?”

  I rolled my eyes. “As an ass? Sure, Javi.”

  He scowled.

  We headed for the elevator, catching curious stares in the hall. Javi flashed them a smile while Shiloh and I ignored them.