Nightworld Academy Box Set 1

by L. J. Swallow

  The witch. I drink. "You were there. You saw."

  He purses his lips then drops himself into a winged armchair that barely fits his frame. "Yeah, but have you seen the witch? Do you know what happened to her?"

  I blow air into my cheeks and sink down onto the nearby sofa. "Her name is Maeve. You told me not to go near her, remember?"

  "As if you’d keep away after that happened." He shakes his head in dismay. "You went to the infirmary with the rest of your do-gooder gang."

  I tense at his term for us. "Okay. Yeah. I worried about Maeve and wanted to see her."

  Glittering eyes on mine, Vince drinks and my heart thuds as he rubs his lips together and prepares to talk.

  "Did you find anything useful for us?"

  Us? "Such as?"

  "The visions. You told me she saw something under the school a few days back." Yeah and I wish I hadn’t. "Any more info?"

  "No." He cocks a brow. "That’s the truth. She hasn’t spoken to anybody yet."

  He scrunches his face up. "Hmm. Let me know if she tells you anything interesting."

  "Why?"

  He narrows his eyes. "I’m at the academy. If it’s something that affects the school, then it affects me. All of us."

  I rub my temples in confusion and ignore the flickering suspicion in my mind. "Are you saying you’re okay with me and Maeve seeing each other?"

  He laughs raucously. "Shit, no. Keep your hands off. I’m sure you can charm her into telling you what she saw."

  "I don’t need to," I retort. "Maeve’s a friend."

  "And you need to choose your friends more wisely." My head spins at his contradiction. "Ashley. You’re central to the academy. Gilgamesh kids look up to you. Now more than ever, we need to stick together. Look after our own."

  "We do stick together, but we also work with the other houses. The rugby team, for example—"

  "Yeah, when did witches join the team? In my day, the rugby team was shifters only. Vamps are out because they don’t have the build. Witches? Well... they don’t have the strength."

  "Reuben’s a witch. He’s our prop forward. Awesome player. As good as any shifter."

  Vince grunts. "If you say so."

  "Everybody has a chance to try out for the team, fair and square."

  With a sigh, Vince drains his bottle and sets it down. "But the world isn’t fair and square, is it?"

  "Nor is the human world. I’m a believer in working together."

  "Jesus, you’re naive, Ash. We’ll get screwed over eventually. Nobody gave a shit when I disappeared. If I’d been a high-ranking vamp or witch kid, they wouldn’t stop looking."

  "The Confederacy tried, Vince. The case was never closed because there wasn’t a..." I lick my dry lips. "Body."

  Without replying, Vince heads away for another beer.

  "We’re not high-ranking, are we, Vince?" I ask him when he returns. "We’re just a shifter family who live in a village."

  He rests against the wall. "Nobody gives a shit about shifters. Confederacy or Dominion. We’re barely represented on the council."

  "When did you become a political activist?" I ask with a light laugh.

  He scowls. "I’m telling it like it is. Maybe once you grow up, you’ll understand."

  Now it’s my turn to scowl at his talking down to me.

  "I need you to come with me tomorrow night, bro."

  "Where?"

  "One thing you Gilgamesh kids need is bonding. Learn about who you are and why our bonds can be as mentally strong as any witch or vamp. Learn how powerful we are."

  My scalp prickles. "Where?" I repeat.

  "I’ve chatted to a few Gilgamesh kids who want to come out with me and my mates. A few beers—back to nature like we should be."

  "Sitting around a campfire telling stories?" I say and laugh.

  He strides over and takes my beer before slamming it onto the table. "This isn’t a fucking joke, Ash. This is our future."

  I shrink back. "Okay, okay. Calm down."

  He huffs and straightens. "You need to step up to who you are, Ash. No screwing around with witches. No cosying up with vamps like that dumb Clive does. Only spend time around the other races if it helps."

  "Helps who?"

  "Us."

  Wow. Shifters take part in bonding events, official and unofficial, but Vince taking students from the academy to do this concerns me.

  "Did you get permission?" I ask.

  He chuckles. "For a boys' night out? Theodora won’t care. C’mon, Ash. A few beers. Lads night."

  I remember Vince’s ‘lad nights’ from before—the times he excluded his kid brother. Now he wants me involved, and I’m torn between protesting and giving in to my pride that he asked.

  I also know I don’t have a choice.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  MAEVE

  I only have a chance to tell a horrified Amelia the bare bones about my vision before my expected summons to speak to the headmistress. Telling the whole group will need to wait until later.

  The meeting takes place in Sofia's room—with Theodora as usual, but I'm surprised when Tobias is there too.

  Surprised, but not as unimpressed as Sofia appears. When he sits in one of her armchairs, she looks so horrified I swear she's about to tell him to get up.

  I'm exhausted after yesterday and little sleep last night, my muscles weak and brain muddled. If I weren't certain this is reality, I'd think I were back in one of my dreams.

  Explaining the visions exhausts me further and my temples throb as I'm scared one will begin again. I'm alone with the professors and wish at least one of my friends were here.

  "This concerns me greatly," says Theodora. She sets down the pen beside the paper where she’s outlined my predictions one by one.

  Sofia clears her throat. "This may be an unpopular opinion, but I need to speak."

  My heart thrums in my ears. There's a nervous hesitancy in her tone and she rubs her temples.

  "I don't believe these were visions."

  Her words slug me in the stomach. "What do you mean?"

  "The dust that Katherine used is often used to induce a dreamlike state. That’s what causes the confusion. I suspect that the Confusion Powder tapped into Maeve's subconscious. What she saw were her fears for the future."

  "No," I protest too loudly and look to Theodora. "I've seen the fire before, the day I was with Jamie."

  Sofia gives me a pitying smile. "But the hole beneath the school? I am of course a strong believer in divination and prophecy, but this sounded like your subconscious fear that your life is out of control. That you're being sucked into something. I think we’d know if a giant hole existed beneath the school."

  I turn to Tobias, desperate for his support but he remains silent, face inscrutable.

  "You fear that Katherine will hurt Amelia—suspicious because she's hurt her before," continues Sofia. "Vincent and Ash—I know you're frightened Ash will shift too soon, or that his anger will take over."

  "Yes, but—"

  "And Gabriella. Dominion. You fear them, naturally. They are a constant threat, and Gabriella is in your mind due to your closeness to Andrei."

  I stare at the tassled blue rug at my feet. I haven’t mentioned Andrei, as my vision of sex with a vampire didn’t seem relevant to the bigger picture. If what Sofia says is true, am I scared of this happening? Or is that part of the vision evidence that this wasn’t a bad dream?

  Theodora taps a long finger on her lips. "But there's a possibility the Confusion Powder caused Maeve to have a vision."

  Sofia shakes her head. "This was too jumbled. Too unclear."

  "Maybe that's what the powder did to me. Because I'm...different."

  Sofia smiles sweetly. "Surely you don't want any of what you saw to be true. Admit, these are fears that could be a hallucination."

  I hold my aching head in my hands. Sofia plants the seed of doubt, which grows until I question myself too. She could be right. I’ve never exp
erienced anything like this. I’ve never dreamed or had nightmares. I wouldn’t know what they were like.

  "This isn't an unusual reaction to Confusion Powder," says Theodora. "Please, ask Professor Turlington."

  "I intend to," replies Sofia.

  No. No. Why is she saying this? I again look to Tobias. He was there. In the fire. Surely that frightens him?

  And why the hell isn’t he standing up for me?

  "Perhaps you should work with Maeve on exploring these visions?" he suggests to Sofia.

  "Hallucinations," she corrects. "I feel we have more visions to decipher."

  "But the fire," I protest. "That’s the same as I saw with Jamie that day. And the woman—Andrei's mother. The Dominion could be planning an attack."

  "How? Through secret underground tunnels leading into the school?" Her condescending laugh prickles my scalp. "You saw a photograph of Gabriella, so she is planted in your mind."

  My throat thickens as I fight tears.

  "At least try," he says stiffly.

  Sofia sucks on her teeth. "We have a definite threat on Jamie's life. And, if we are to believe this hallucination, a possible attack on the school. You need to help her with the mind control. I need to help her with focusing on specific visions."

  "But the attack could be Katherine?" I suggest.

  Theodora coughs. "To be honest, the incident between Katherine and Amelia did sound like a cat fight."

  My mouth drops open. "Are you serious? Amelia wouldn't lower herself to this."

  I dip my head as her expression changes to distaste at my impudence.

  "Maeve. I wouldn't say this if I hadn't seen or heard this before. Yes, you have visions, but this..." She waves a hand.

  My breathing shallows further. I can't cope with this--with the confusion and denial. My chest shudders as I take a deep breath. Tears threaten and I clench my teeth.

  "What are the consequences for Katherine’s dangerous behaviour?" asks Tobias, and I squeeze my eyes closed in gratitude for his subject change.

  "She has been disqualified from the games and her house penalised," says Theodora.

  "What? Why hasn't she been reprimanded more severely?" he asks incredulously. "Because her family has money?"

  "No. She will be forced into detentions and refused free time, but there’s little we can do."

  "Are you serious? Expel her?" he suggests.

  The room drops into silence, and I peer at Sofia and Theodora.

  "Katherine has nowhere to go, Tobias," she says in a soft voice. "You know that."

  "She has parents," he retorts.

  "Who don't want to deal with their daughter. They are busy with Confederacy business and rarely in the country."

  Is she saying Katherine's parents don't care about her?

  Tobias makes an exasperated noise and stares out the window instead. "I refuse to have the girl in any more of my classes."

  "She's your student, Tobias," retorts Sofia.

  "As her house head and the professor of mental magic, I am banning Katherine from all further mental magic tuition. I suggest she's removed from potions class too." He turns his head. "Theodora?"

  Theodora rubs her temples. "Very well. I will arrange for Katherine to spend time in the library for your lessons. I'll ask Professor Turlington’s opinion on his class. That will be his decision."

  Sofia's face clouds and she stands. "I expect you've already told your friends what you've seen, Maeve. Please explain to them we believe you hallucinated."

  Theodora uncrosses her legs and stands. I'm thankful to see doubt flicker in her eyes—and hope Tobias holds the same.

  "I have preparations to make for class this evening. If you'll excuse me." Sofia walks to her door and yanks it open. "Maeve, we will work on your visions once you feel well again. But not these hallucinations."

  Gritting my teeth, I nod and walk stiffly through the door. The hallway is empty and I duck around a corner, unable to walk far, as I fight breaking down.

  A small bench located outside the administration office comes into view from behind my blurring eyes, and I slump onto the wood.

  Sofia's disbelief pulls me back to a childhood filled with confusion and panic, and I can hear the voice in my mind as clearly as if I were there today. "Mr. and Mrs. Foster, Maeve's hallucinations are worsening. We believe she'd benefit from a stay in hospital to run some tests."

  When I discovered the truth about my magic gifts, words like these from my past spewed doubt into my mind. From childhood, doctors diagnosed me with a disorder. Their words stopped me accepting who I was. Prevented me integrating into the academy.

  Now I’m hearing them again.

  How can Sofia say this to me? She knows how much I struggled accepting my visions, and she’s told me I’m hallucinating.

  Retreating into the frightened child told she was ill, I wrap my arms around my head to block out the sights and sounds around. For the first time ever, I wish I could revisit the vision and prove to myself I didn’t experience hallucinations brought on by a dangerous magical powder. A tear spills onto my arm and I clench my teeth to fight against the dam breaking and more pouring out.

  "Maeve." I startle as a large hand touches my leg and I peek through my arms. Tobias crouches in front of me, eyes filled with gentle concern. I gulp in air and stand, eager to get away from him. I can’t let anybody see me like this.

  "I would ask if you're alright, but clearly you're not." He produces a handkerchief from his pocket.

  I stare at the white cloth before a laugh bursts from me. "You're strange."

  "I’m aware you think I’m strange, Maeve. What in particular do you mean?"

  I take the handkerchief from him. "I never expected you to be a man who carries handkerchiefs to give to weeping girls."

  His mouth tugs up at one corner. "Indeed."

  The tears soak the corner as I dab my eyes. "You speak archaically sometimes, Tobias."

  "Well, I am over a hundred years old," he says with a wink.

  "And pretending you’re not."

  "I'm not the only one putting on an act." He cranes his neck to look back towards Theodora’s room. "Come to my study and talk to me about what happened." I widen my eyes. "Please. This isn't a demand, but a request."

  The Tobias close to me now has a gentler, less guarded manner than the one who triggers arguments between us. Should I be annoyed that him witnessing me breaking down is what closes that distance? Or should he be concerned that his defences have dropped too?

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  MAEVE

  We walk to Tobias’s classroom in silence, and as we do, he takes the edge off my distress, absorbing some of the energy. Deliberately or not? Tobias leads me into his study at the rear of the classroom, closes the door and rests against it.

  "I believe you," he says instantly, and I suck in a breath with relief.

  "Thank you." The words come out as a sob and I squeeze back tears, but another sob escapes my mouth.

  Tobias rubs his temples with both hands. "Maeve. You're more distressed than I've ever seen you. I can help. Will you let me touch you?"

  If Tobias weren't in front of the door, I'd bolt out. "No!"

  "To help, Maeve. I hate seeing you upset in this way, and I'm sure you hate it too. You're a girl who likes to be in control." He hesitates. "I want to absorb some of this energy. Stop you hurting."

  Why am I tempted? Because I want to rid myself of the painful emotions or because I want Tobias's touch?

  "Touch me where?" I blurt.

  "Just your cheek. I wouldn't touch you anywhere else."

  Images of Tobias touching me in places nowhere near my face spring into my mind, and he widens his eyes at me.

  Shit. Did he detect that? I shake the thoughts away.

  I take a deep breath and hope to hell I don't regret my next answer. "Okay."

  Tobias moves closer, but not near enough for our bodies to touch, then reaches between us. His fingers rest on my ri
ght cheek, his fingertips are warm but the touch is barely there.

  The warmth grows to a tingling heat and I’m overwhelmed with a new understanding of why Tobias holds back from me. The intensity from his lightest of touches eclipses any sensation from before.

  I'm held in place as I look back into his dilating pupils, locked into the exchange between us. Instead of my usual protest against him taking my energy, I close my eyes and allow him to draw away the emotional pain.

  The distress is replaced with calm, as if I've taken the numbing drugs from my childhood. But this doesn’t last. My body comes to life as the heavy sadness leaves, replaced by a yearning for Tobias as he twists the emotions into something as intense.

  Desire.

  This is wrong—the professor feeding on the student—but feels so good.

  I fold my hand around his fingers, holding them to my cheek, desperate for the contact to stay. Energy floods further and I'm floating in a new place, away from distress, away from anger. Where nobody can hurt me.

  "Please let go of my hand, Maeve."

  I open an eye and his expression holds a need as intense as mine. His fingers shake beneath my hand as the fight rages inside him. Tobias wants to stay locked in this moment as much as I do.

  He runs his other hand down my hair and my scalp tingles with a static charge. His eyes focus on the movement as he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. As he does, his fingertips brush my neck and my pulse races as I anticipate his next move.

  He cups the back of my head and strokes the nape of my neck, his breathing speeding to match mine. The world retreats. I’m not here. I’m not me. But I am, because every nerve tingles, as if fireworks exploded beneath my skin.

  I move my face closer, aching for him to close the final gap between us.

  The gap that's a chasm we teeter on the edge of.

  Tobias moistens his lips and takes a shuddery breath. "What are you doing?"

  "Nothing," I murmur. "You’re doing this."

  "Maeve. I’m not." His voice is throaty, but he doesn’t move. "Stop."

  He doesn’t want this? I blink out of my reverie as Tobias drops his hand and steps away before digging them into his pockets.