I hear the tick of the old fashioned, analog clock on the wall in my ears like a drum as I go through page after page, and yet, time doesn’t seem to be moving any faster. I just want to get out of here so I can go to Jake’s room and eat dessert while I watch him play one of his video games, though it is a little lame that such a thing could be classified as the height of my day. I was supposed to come back this semester and make an impression, and all I am doing is sitting in glorified detention and wishing I was back in my normal classrooms.
There is a window behind me that looks out at the staircase leading down here and the entry to the hallway, and my two desk mates are starting to whisper to each other and point. I try not to react because I know that this is going to get them in trouble, and I don’t want to be roped into this, but others begin to join in on the whispering.
I tune in, unable to concentrate on the work I am doing and catch words like “new student”, “hottie”, and “interesting”.
I really want to look behind me now, and I take the fact that several members of the class are now heading over to press their faces to the glass to see what’s going on as an invitation. Mrs. Rinne makes mention for them to sit down a few times but does nothing more, so she must not mind as long as no one is getting hurt.
I shove my way in so I can see what they are looking at and find myself confronted with the school’s security team, two teachers, the director of suspension, and what I can only guess is a new student being brought in for a trial. And I have to agree with them that he is a hottie even though the last thing I need to be thinking about is another guy.
When I look him up and down, I see that the uber goth, white blonde, model-like boy is chained up. Whatever he has done it must be bad, and I am curious as to why the school is taking in yet another case of someone that shouldn’t be allowed in here. I thought the Magistrate was more strict than this. You hear about them executing traitors and problematic witches all the time. There are never exceptions to the rules. But then again, they could just be good at keeping those things secret.
He turns his head this way and looks right at me, giving me a nod and a smirk. The witch that is standing next to me scoffs. “Uh-uh, no way. I call dibs, he is mine. You already have a teacher’s assistant. You don’t need a demon too.”
Looks like my reputation precedes me. “Wait…did you say a demon?”
“Yeah, can’t you feel it?” I shake my head. “Maybe it’s only a vampire thing.”
“Okay, class, please take a seat. I know it’s very exciting that Paranormal Hunter Academy is enrolling its first demon, but I am sure you will get to meet him soon enough.”
I go back to my seat in shock, wanting so badly just to go talk to Jake. Why was Paranormal Hunter Academy enrolling a demon?
I turn to look over my shoulder one more time and catch the demon looking at me again. If his eyes weren’t grey with flecks of purple instead of a brilliant blue, I would think he could be the demon that turned me. But I think that one was older.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t get this one to tell me why he is here.
***
“Psst.” I open one eye to look at him, Dru, the demon, with disdain. We are supposed to be meditating and letting go of all of our emotions so we can start the day with clarity and freedom from our burdens of life. At least, that is how Mrs. Rinne puts it. Instead, I keep getting bugged by the new student, the demon that was just introduced to all of us. He still has chains on him, but it doesn’t seem to be deterring him from his good mood or from trying to derail my good behavior. “Psst!”
It’s loud enough that Mrs. Rinne even gives him a look, and I quickly shut my eye, a smug smile spreading across my face. But the jingling of the chains next to me soon tells me he has changed positions so that he is right next to me on the yoga mat. I quickly check to make sure that Mrs. Rinne isn’t looking at me before doing a quick silence spell just around the two of us. She’ll never know since the room is supposed to be quiet anyway, and I am good at not having to move my mouth too much to say anything.
“What do you want?” I hiss at him through one side of my mouth, my eyes still closed and trying to focus on the exercise even though it’s hopeless. I swear I have something written on my forehead that keeps attracting all this boy drama. I am sure there are girls who think they would kill for this kind of attention, but it isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
“Did you just do magic in this classroom? Maybe you are a bad girl after all. I was wondering how you could even be in here. You seem like such a goody two shoes.” His voice is raspy and gravelly like he has just stepped out of some cheesy 80s movie. He is kind of dressed that way as well, topped off with a hat that looks like Ducky in Pretty in Pink would wear it proudly.
“Did you seriously just say goody two shoes?” I ask before doing the breathing pattern I hear Mrs. Rinne instruct. I am not getting caught talking to a demon and losing the chance to get out of here soon, especially now that I have a pest at my shoulder.
“What, is that not something people say?” I can feel him looking at me, trying to find a chink in the armor. Luckily for me, the incident with Adriel has me building it up more and more each day. I doubt he is going to find a way in. “So, what are you anyway? Your energy is strange.”
I open my eyes and look at him harshly before stretching, also part of our lengthy morning routine.
“What? Did I say something wrong?”
I huff, going into downward dog. I hate that we have to do all these silly things and look like fools because they think it will stop us from bursting with our emotions.
I choose to ignore him for the next hour as he continues to ask the same question a million different ways while also insulting me with anything superficial he can throw my way. Any attraction I initially had to him is gone, and thank goodness. I don’t need another boyfriend to worry about. I already don’t know how to keep the one I’ve got.
It’s when we are sitting down to lunch that he really starts to get to me, I have only traded one nuisance for another, and I almost want to do something to hurt him so that I can get expelled and never have to hear his voice again. I don’t know why it is me he has latched onto, and this is a clear demonstration to me of why a demon should not be allowed in this school.
“Don’t tell me you’re acting too good to talk to a demon. I’m not the one that got you into suspension like this, so there must be a reason you’re in here. I don’t see many pure witches in this room, so either you’re a rarity and must have done something really bad, or you’re more like me, in which case you have no right to judge that you’re above me. We both got into the same school, didn’t we?”
I slam my milk down onto the table. “Why is it so important to you to know these things? Isn’t there someone else you’d rather bother?”
“No way, someone else wouldn’t be as interesting as you. I can get a read on everyone else, no problem. I am a demon, remember? It’s making me a little nuts that you’re so different.” It’s the first thing he says that doesn’t make me want to reach over and wrap my hands around my neck to choke him. Not that it would hurt him at all. Demons are not that easy to kill. That’s why it takes three years here at least to learn it.
“Tell me something first,” I say with a grin. I might as well make this to my advantage. “I will answer a question for every question you answer of mine.”
“You clearly read too many books,” he scoffs, but I still have him where I want him.
“Don’t insult reading, It is a great pastime, especially for the intelligent. Now, tell me, why would a demon want to be at an academy that trains people to work for the Magistrate in their cause for ridding the Earth of beings just like you?”
He leans in as if he has a deep dark secret to tell me, but his smile has me thinking he is playing around. “Rumor has it they have some classes here not many know about, involving demon magic. Maybe I want to learn how to be a better demon.”
“No, I
am not buying it, You wouldn’t subject yourself to this kind of scrutiny and being chained up like that just to get better with demon magic. There are tons of demons you could find to help you with that.”
“Fine, I am here to complete a task. That’s all you’re getting out of me.” I narrow my eyes at him, but I believe him on this one. It seems to have made him angry that I got that out of him. “Now, tell me why you’re here.”
“At the academy or in suspension?” I ask him, trying not to laugh when he sighs. Two can play at this game, and I mentally thank Kagan for teaching me how with all his witty banter. But his is harmless whereas Dru’s is meant to catch me off guard and trick me into whatever trap he is setting. If his mission isn’t for the Magistrate or the academy, then he is going to be caught quick acting like this.
“The academy.” He sits up straight as if he is proud of himself for not going for what I expected – which was for him to want to know how I got suspended.
I debate whether or not it is okay to tell him, but technically, if he makes it into the school, he will be in the same classes as me, So, it wouldn’t be breaking the rule I was given to tell him. “A demon tricked me into drinking his blood at a party. I am here instead of dead under the condition become a model hunter.”
I didn’t expect the reaction I get. “Oh, you’re hot and you have something dark going on in there, but you’re no demon. I would smell it if you were.”
“That’s not possib -.”
“Class, please clean up from lunch and return to your seats.”
“This conversation isn’t over,” I tell him, frustrated that he would even say such a thing.
But why would he lie?
Chapter 18
I can’t get what Dru said out of my head as I make my way to my room at the end of the day, promising myself it will only be long enough to change and grab Jinx so I can go over to Jake’s room. I can’t think of a better way to de-stress from today than having chocolate with my bestie and relaxing in his room.
Outside my room, though, awaits someone I have been avoiding perhaps a little too long. I can’t blame him for forcing the issue, but I am not in the mood to fight with Kagan right now.
“You shouldn’t be here like this. I don’t want to fight,” I tell him, trying to push past him, but every way I step he steps in front of me. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Would you really do that, Riley, hurt me? Because I don’t think so. But I know that’s what you think. I’m not here to fight. You’ve just given me no other choice. You won’t answer a single message. If it’s over, you need to just tell me.”
“Why, so you can go be with someone who deserves you, like, maybe Katy Lawson?” I ask. That was an unfair jab, and I know it. I am hurting myself more than I am doing any damage to him. I don’t know why I keep doing this to myself.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Riley, there’s no one else. You’re too much of a whirlwind for me to ever replace. So, please, let’s just go to your room and talk.” He motions to the door, and I stare at it like I am worried the doorknob will be hot when I touch it.
“Is it true that she has scars, Kagan?” I ask him, pushing through the door, not caring if he follows me or not. In my anger and numbness, I go into my tiny closet and pull off my uniform. I am not wearing anything special underneath, and it probably covers as much if not more than a bathing suit anyway.
He is silent but stands there looking speechless. “Don’t tell me you haven’t seen her because I am sure you have,” I shoot at him as I find a long sleeve, black shirt and a pair of sweats; the perfect kind of clothes for vegging out with a bestie. I am not going to give Kagan any reason to want to stay in this room with me. He deserves better than this.
“Yes, she has scars, but I also know what she said to you. You haven’t even tried to use much of your powers yet. We don’t know their capacity. You were bound to get out of control in that situation.”
“Ugh! Why are you making excuses for my actions? None of them seems to bother you at all, but your father is someone important. Someone that isn’t just high society but all about doing what is right and good. You can’t keep coming up with reasons to forgive me for things that you shouldn’t be putting up with!” I scream at him, pinning up the side of my hair that still goes past my shoulder.
“I am not just putting up with you, Riley, and what we feel for each other has nothing to do with my dad or anyone else other than the two of us,” he says.
“That’s rich from the guy who thought he would get my attention by telling me who his father was.” I pick Jinx up and walk out the door, heading for the boys’ dorms down on the floor below where Jake’s room is. I can hear Kagan following me, his feet not even close to quiet as they thump on the carpet.
“Would you just stop and look at me for a minute?” he asks as I stand in front of Jake’s door. I pull Jinx up to one side, my other hand on my hip.
“Give me one good reason that I should keep listening to what you have to say,” I dare him.
“Fine. I wanted to make this special. I wanted there to be a date, flowers, a kiss, everything perfect, but you are making that impossible. But it wouldn’t be you if you didn’t.” He stops for a minute, and I tap my foot, having no idea where he is going with this. “I think I love you, Riley Graywood. And I don’t give a damn about who either of our parents are or what everyone whispering about you thinks.”
My eyes go wide as I process what he just said. I can’t even compute the fact that now I have had two people admit they were in love with me, though only Kagan has actually used the l word itself. Which is what really matters.
Without thinking, I close the distance between us and put my lips on his, Kagan’s hands tugging at my hips so that they jut into his. Jinx leaps down, meowing with discomfort as my arms ago around Kagan’s neck and tangle my hands in his hair. Our heads move from side to side, trying to find something comfortable, but we can’t keep our lips in one place. Then, his begins to roam my neck down to my collarbone, and my breathing picks up.
I let out a little moan, and the door flies open, Jinx leaping inside for safety as I pry myself begrudgingly off of my boyfriend’s lips.
“Woah,” Jake says, “ I didn’t mean to interrupt, but this is kind of my room.”
I look at Kagan and then can’t help but bust out laughing, practically spitting in Jake’s face as I push the door the whole way open and duck under his arm to get in.
“Goodnight, Kagan,” we both say in unison, and it just has me in titters all over again.
Jake shuts the door, but I can hear Kagan telling me goodnight through it.
“So, what was that about, and did it really need to happen outside my room?”
I just laugh and throw my head back, feeling on cloud nine. “He told me he loved me.”
***
“Now close your eyes,” Kagan instructs, and I do it even though my instinct is to laugh. Training has resumed with him thanks to him getting special permission, saying he was tutoring me. They trust him since he is practically staff. It seems to have slipped everyone’s mind that he is bias because we’re dating. But who is going to argue with this bit of freedom?
“Remember the first day when I taught you how to connect with someone and their magic, do you remember what I felt like?” Now, I am really going to giggle, because what I remember most is how he made me feel all tingly and like I wanted him to kiss me, but I know he means his magic. So, I push the silliness aside and search for it, reaching out. It is not an easy thing without touching. But I come across something faint I recognize.
“I think I found it.”
“Good, now, I want you to focus on that, your eyes still closed. Sense my magic and try to pick up my movements with your hearing, your sense of balance, and spatial reasoning.” God, he is so damn cute when he is in his teacher mode. It makes it even harder to concentrate like he wants.
We both decided to ditch the familiar lessons for now and make sure my p
sychic magic and ability to fight were up to par if not above average. I can keep working on my connection to Jinx with or without his help. What I need to do is give myself that competitive edge and also learn to understand my powers. That is where I am lacking.
His fist swings, and it brushes past my ear as I dodge just in time. I could only sense it when it got close to me, like in my personal space. “I don’t think I will be fighting blindfolded anytime soon,” I tell him not even knowing if he has moved or is still standing right on front of me. I suck at this.
“It’s not just about fighting if you’ve lost your sight, it’s about strengthening all your senses because it’s the only way you’ll beat them. Even with what you are, if you ever run into an original demon, they will always have the advantage.”
For the next few minutes I try to dodge his attacks that I can’t see coming, and eventually, I get better at it. I can sense him when he moves from one side of my body to another or when he moves far away. I can tell when he has an arm or leg that is approaching, though I don’t always block it properly because my equilibrium like this is off kilter. It’s strange not having my sight, but I know why he is doing this. I just have to stick with it, and it will come to me over time. I think I can be happy if this and my psychic magic becomes as strong as they were with my parents. They were able to defeat demons on a daily basis without the use of demon magic. That is just a bonus I have that I can take my time on, assuming the school doesn’t kick me out for not being the best at it.
Kagan makes a move I am not anticipating, and I know practice is almost done because his lips are on mine. You’d think our mouths would be tired from all the kissing we have done since making up a few days ago, but they just keep going back for more like it’s oxygen.
I smile with a sneaky thought against his lips as I take advantage of the moment, kicking out with my left leg suddenly so that it pins him down to the ground. I land on top of him and declare my victory. “Maybe it’s your senses that need some work,” I tease him, except, I am soon on my back, his leg having come over and flipped us in a split second.
Blood Witch (Paranormal Hunter Academy Book 1) Page 12