Darkwells Academy: Written in blood: An academy paranormal/urban fantasy romance

by Abby James

  “Every opportunity too good to pass up usually is.”

  I inhaled through another stab to my thigh. I needed to tell Luca about this. It was there on my tongue. He was staring down at me, asking a question with his eyes. He could probably see the grimace on my face. Why couldn’t the words come out? I thought of speaking them, what I would say, but my throat thickened up, choking me every time I got close.

  “I’m sorry.” God dammit that was not what I wanted to say.

  “Most people in the supe world are not worthy of trust.”

  Luca thought I was still thinking of our argument from before, but I’d forgotten about that. All I could think about was the mark and the pain it gave me. What, how and who? “It sounds really lonely.”

  Luca backed away from me. “McGilus doesn’t trust half the people on faculty. He puts up with them because the council have appointed them, but he keeps most things to himself, including everything relating to you. We suspect there are traitors amongst the teachers and likely enemies on the council.”

  “You trust each other at least.”

  Seeming to ignore what I said, he continued. “Factions still favor each other. They keep close to their own kind and find it hard to trust anyone who does not belong.”

  “But things are better since the formation of Darkwells and all the academies, right?”

  “This is a facade, Samara. The peace is as real as the rip in reality created to hide this place. Beyond Darkwells’ boarders, factions band together and the council laws become more restrictive in the guise of protecting all, when really it is to gain absolute power and repress opposition.

  “We have a special gift, for some a gift that brings great power. It is hard to feel diminished of power once it is gained, to some it is like a death, and they would do anything to hold on to it, and even more to increase what they already have. Don’t you see how important it is to prevent these sorts of people from learning how to expand their ability.”

  “You’re right, I’m sorry. How bad of a mess is it out there?”

  “Everyone is afraid of a return to the Cruces war, but the more the years go by the farther the war slips into history. Far enough and it stops being a significant reminder of what could happen. Only the vampires remember what it was like, but they have a habit of distancing themselves from the rest of the supe world. They see themselves as a faction separate to everyone else and not a part of the supernatural world. I’m sure they wouldn’t care overly if the rest of the factions descended on each other in another war. Just as long as they left enough wissend for them to feed on.

  “And the fae are no better. They may seem harmless, lost in their world of desire and gluttony. Many have been foolish enough to believe the fae are simpletons, consumed with their beauty and need to be desired by all, but I can assure you the fae are anything but simpletons. They are manipulative and cunning and will do anything to protect their own and their realm. They believe the laws that govern the supe world do not pertain to them, that they are superior to all supes.”

  I leaned back on one of the desks, shoulders slumped. Now Luca was no longer attacking me with his energy bolts the pain in my thigh eased, leaving me drained. Luca’s lecture didn’t make me feel any better. “You’re right, I do not know anything about this world. I don’t even know anything about myself.”

  “I have something for you.” He dove his hand into his pocket and pulled out a present, wrapped in red paper.

  “You got me a present?”

  Our argument was forgotten. At least by me. “Yours is in my bedroom. You left—” I was going to say without saying good-bye, but that sounded whiny.

  “Open it when you get back to your room.”

  “Does that mean this training session is over?”

  “This one, maybe, but you haven’t even begun.”

  19

  I lay on my bed staring at the present Luca had given me. A stone, and rather bland looking. It was too big to put into a necklace or bracelet, nor was it pretty enough to be a simple gift as it was. I held a black ugly looking lump of rock.

  I could not have ripped the paper off any faster than I did when I first returned to my room. All my tingles had faded when I found the ugly piece of rock. It was the thought that counted. And Luca had cared enough to get me something.

  I sat up when pounding feet headed straight for my door. Amy burst through dragging her suitcase behind her. I leaped off the bed, placing the rock on my bedside table. “You’re back.”

  “Did you miss me?”

  We hugged, and it was like home had returned.

  “Was it super boring without me?” Dropping the handle on her suitcase, she slumped down on my bed.

  I sat next to her. “Darkwells echoed with loneliness. Did you have a good Christmas?”

  “Well, aunt Esma, that’s mum’s sister, has a new boyfriend. Mom hates him and I’d have to agree. He’s a dick like you’d never believe. Mum reckons he’s in it for her money. Dad was grumpy as all shit because mum has him on a diet. Do you think I have gained any weight since I’ve been away? God I ate so much.”

  “On you, no one would notice. Your body turns everything into boobs and curves. Oh, and thanks for the present. It’s gorgeous.”

  She shrugged and lay back on the bed. “So what did you do?”

  “Not a lot. I spent some time in the library with Jonas. I missed the Christmas feast because I was being punished by Luca for going into the fae realm.”

  Amy was off the bed like she’d been stung.

  “Holy shit. You’re joking right. It’s not even April and you’re shitting me.”

  I shook my head.

  “You went to the fae realm. But only people invited can cross.”

  “Emrol invited me.”

  Amy’s jaw hung wide, wide enough you could use it as a shovel to scoop up snow.

  “But, Samara. If a fae—”

  “Invites you to the fae realm you are their slave. Yeah, Luca told me about that before. But I’m here and not a slave. Emrol assured me it would not happen in this case.”

  “You sure have made an impression on him. He hasn’t even taken the Marcel sisters back. Not that Emrol treats them as anything special. But you, I cannot believe he did that. Why?”

  “He’s trying to weasel the truth of my ability out of me. I’m nothing more than a curiosity to him.”

  “You met the queen? What’s she like?”

  “Stunning and looks about twenty-five.”

  “Figured as much. I thought Luca went to Prague. How did he know you were there?”

  “He came back on Christmas day.”

  She quirked an eyebrow. “Did he say why he came back early?”

  “He felt I would get into too much trouble left on my own for too long.”

  “Big brother concerned or lover concerned?”

  “Honestly, I don’t know for sure. He was furious when he learned where I was. I hope never to see him that furious again. At first I thought it was because he was jealous. I wanted him to be furious because of that. But now I wonder if it was more a brotherly thing than a lover thing. He focused on what I could have revealed by being there. But why be so furious I had crossed into the fae realm unless it was jealousy?”

  “Maybe he couldn’t believe you were stupid and naive enough to put yourself at the mercy of the fae.”

  I smacked her arm. “Did you know they have orgies at Christmas? To them Christmas is all about free love.”

  “Don’t tell me you joined in?”

  “No. But I was nearly tricked into it. The fae are only fertile at that time of year, and they make the most of it, believe me.”

  “What did you do, sit there and watch?”

  “Luca arrived before they really got started. They have a feast, but I’m sure it’s on each other rather than food.”

  Amy burst out laughing, dragging me along with her.

  “Their head is the only place they have hair.”

  “
Whoa, you did get personal. It would save a lot on waxing.””

  “It’s not hard to see, their clothes are practically see through.”

  She reclined back onto my bed again, stretching her arms out above her head.

  “Have you seen Duncan yet?”

  “Not yet. I only just got back. It wouldn’t pay to rush off to his house before I’ve even returned my suitcase to my room. He doesn’t need to know I’m that desperate to see him.”

  “But you are.”

  “Of course. I’ve thought about him the whole time I’ve been away. Look what he got me.”

  She leaped up and dragged her suitcase across to the bed. Everything inside spilled out once she undid the zip as it had all been stuffed in. “Almost missed the bus,” she said by way of explanation. Out came a small olive green leather box.

  “Is that a—”

  “Keep your knickers on, it’s not what you think. Not quite anyhow.”

  It was a ring, but not the ring, which of course it wouldn’t be given they had started dating less than a month ago.

  “Oh wow, it’s a—” Ugly thing. I didn’t know my jewels but I’d never seen that sort of precious stone before.

  “He’s enchanted it to be that color. You can’t get that many colors in a natural stone.”

  “Why aren’t you wearing it?”

  “I hate it.”

  “Oh dear, really?”

  “It was so sweet of him. The original jewel must’ve cost him a fortune, not that he can’t afford it, but then he went and did that. Now it looks like a child has thrown paint at it.” She closed the box. “He’s a dream and all, but god he has terrible taste. He has no idea of fashion.”

  “When you’re rich you don’t need to bother about something as trivial as that. People fawn over you just for turning up. As long as he’s good to you, what does it matter how he dresses?”

  “He’s doting. That’s for sure.”

  “You better put the ring on before you see him.”

  She leveled her eyes on me as she pulled the ring out of the box, then shoved it on her finger. She held up her hand so we could see how ghastly it looked. “God, it doesn’t suit my style.”

  “It fits perfectly. At least he thought ahead enough to get your ring size.”

  “It was enchanted to resize once on my finger.”

  “Handy to have that ability.”

  She threw the box back in her opened case, then turned to me, folding one leg up onto the bed. “Do you remember tomorrow night is New Years and the Draak party?”

  I nodded.

  She rolled her eyes. “Duncan won’t be there, of course, some sudden mission or something. Honestly, this whole secret business is going to wear thin, fast.” She waved the bother away. “Every year they have a theme. And this year, or so I heard from one of the Draak guys on the return bus, it’s a ritual.”

  “What sort of ritual?”

  “He kept mysterious about that part of it. But apparently some of Draak have been researching what the ancients on this sight used to practice. They found one that was pretty freaky he reckons, and they are going to imitate it with some of their own improvisations.”

  “Will it be safe?”

  “As safe as any Draak party can be.”

  “Only marginally safe then.”

  “It’s the way we like it.”

  Once again she dove into her bag, shifting aside unfolded clothes and pulled out a winter jumpsuit, holding it up against her body. “Ta-da.”

  After my silence, she said. “So what do you think? Mum bought it for me. I was so surprised she gave me something so gorgeous. She usually has shit taste in clothes.”

  “You’ll look amazing in it.”

  “Shame Duncan won’t get to see it on me first. Now all we need to think about is you.”

  “I’m happy with my thick jacket and jeans.”

  “No way, girl. You talked me down from outfitting you last time. That’s not going to happen again.”

  I pressed my lips together, seeing there was no point in arguing about it. But Amy forgot the discussion as she was staring at my bedside table. “What is that?”

  I followed her gaze to the ugly lump of rock Luca had given me as a present. “I don’t know.” I headed over and picked it up. “Luca gave it to me for Christmas.”

  “He gave you a present,” she shrieked. “Girl, and you say you don’t know why he came back to Darkwells on Christmas day. Love, honey, that’s what brought him back.”

  I snorted a sarcastic laugh. “Sure.”

  “Unfortunately his taste seems worse than Duncan’s. That’s ugly and it’s not even in a piece of jewelry. It’s just a lump of rock.”

  She took it from my hand and the center of the rock burst to life, glowing a fragile green. “Looks like he’s copied Duncan and done some enchanting of his own.”

  She held it up and we both peered in closer.

  “Weird, it doesn’t do that for me when I hold it.”

  She held the rock out for me to take. The moment it was in my hands the glow disappeared.

  “Looks like the mighty Luca is not as effective in his sorcery as we all think. What’s the point if the gift won’t glow for the one it was intended for?”

  “That’s really weird. Hold it again.”

  When it glowed the rock looked prettier, as it was doing now in Amy’s hand. “The glow is triggered by your ability.”

  She handed it back to me. “So why give it to someone who has no ability of her own?”

  “Yeah, that’s weird. Unless it’s a reminder to me of how much I need to practice on developing and controlling my ability.”

  “I’m sure it’s more romantic than that.” She crouched and gathered everything that had spewed out of her suitcase. “Give me half an hour to shower, and then I need some eats.”

  She clambered out of my room with her large suitcase, which she’d managed to fill for her few days back home.

  I slumped down onto my bed and looked at the stone. The glow was on its dying embers and soon it disappeared altogether leaving a black unimpressive rock.

  20

  The moon was only a fingernail but enough to cast a glow over the snow covered ground, turning the night from black to gray. The rotunda rose up ahead, its domed roof a ceiling of white, a beacon to everyone as they made their way down to the Draak party.

  By the time we reached the rotunda most of the students were milling around in their faction groups waiting for the main event. We were perhaps one of the few left to arrive because Amy was having a bad hair day even though I pointed out to her the party was outside in the dark so no-one was likely to notice her hair, or outfit for that matter. She looked fabulous, as I had suspected, in the slim fitting jumpsuit, which highlighted her curvaceous body.

  “God I hope we don’t have to stand around too long before this thing starts,” she mumbled.

  “Guys, over here.” Lorna yelled out to us from across the path.

  Amy grabbed my hand and dragged me over, something she had a habit of doing.

  “You guys took your time.”

  “You can blame me,” Amy said.

  “Wow, Samara, you look nice,” Lorna said. I’d warn my denims, but Amy insisted I wore one of her trench coats that reached just below my ass. She’d also insisted on styling my hair.

  “The witches’ brew is ready. It’s around the back of the rotunda. There’s a line so we should join now.”

  “I think I’ll opt out of this one. I was left with too many vivid dreams after the last time, embarrassing vivid dreams.”

  “No way, girl,” Amy said. “You can’t experience a Draak party without the witches’ brew.”

  “I experienced enough love for the whole academy at the party to last me the rest of my days at Darkwells.”

  “This is different. You don’t think they would do the same brew for every single party, do you? Each brew is made specifically for the party in mind and you will ruin the experi
ence of the night if you don’t take the brew.”

  “I think I can get enough of an idea of what is going on without a sip.”

  “Samara, don’t you dare be a party pooper.”

  She wouldn’t let go of my hand, instead yanked me forward around the back of the rotunda. Lorna was right in saying there was a growing line for the stuff. Up the front, lanterns on stilts cast an eerie blue light, which shone down on a large table, where vast cauldrons spat and hissed a frothy blue liquid.

  “We’re going to be chipping each other out of our ice statues by the time we make it to the front,” I said.

  “Just you wait and see, honey. This is the magic of the night.” Amy took me by the shoulders and turned me back to the front of the line.

  I had to peer around the long line of students to see what she meant. A bobbing glow of light wove in a shimmering swirl of flowing mist through the line of people. Transfixed, I watched as the swirl of blue light trailed from person to person, leaving shimmering glitter that twinkled up into the night sky and turned to a palate of miniature stars. They twinkled bright for a few seconds more before they puffed out of sight, igniting a chorus of gasps.

  “Grab one,” Amy said as the trail of blue light swept passed us and on its way. I pushed my hand through the light before it turned to shimmering sparkles and a glass appeared in my palm. Just like the Draak party of months ago, mist frothed over the edge and onto my hand, but it was cold to the touch. The cold penetrated through my skin down to my bone. I nearly dropped my drink when I saw the blue flickering and throbbing under my skin, turning the tracks of my veins blue. The trail soon disappeared under my jacket, but I could feel the cold in my veins move up my arm.

  “Hey, is this suppose to happen?”

  “Yeah, isn’t it great,” Amy said, not looking at me. She knocked back her drink in one long gulp, her face glowing blue with the reflection of the liquid. It wasn’t a small glass and had been filled to the rim, so it was amazing she managed to swallow it in one. Once done she threw the glass up into the air and it turned to shimmering sparkles, which then puffed out.