"Is that it?" Asher pointed ahead.
I scanned the path before us and caught sight of the row of stones that once stood strong as a border to the horse stables.
"Yup, that's it."
My step quickened, and the others followed in eager anticipation.
Moving along the edge of the crumbled, moss-covered stonewall, I kept my eyes ahead, searching for the brightness of the clearing.
"That must be it," Asher called out, pointing to an opening in the trees.
His enthusiasm made me smile.
"Just make sure there are no hungry coyotes or bobcats chillin' over there, just waiting for their dinner to waltz in," Clayton called from the back.
I rolled my eyes and kept my mouth shut.
As we emerged from the shadows of the trees, we entered the clearing filled with long grass, creating a thick carpet beneath our feet.
"Whoa, that's cool," Asher gushed as we stared at the estate stables’ old, broken remains.
The roof had fallen in, but the stone walls remained intact. Openings for windows held their shape all around the sides, but the wooden shutters were long gone. A large opening at the front welcomed us closer to explore.
We moved through the wide doorway, imagining horses passing in and out.
"Look, some of the fixtures are still in place," I said, pointing to a rusted lantern at the side of the entryway. "And you can see the individual stalls..."
I paused for a moment as my attention landed on Hattie.
Her face had turned sheet-white, and she stood frozen in her spot. Her hands trembled as her eyes burst wide, searching in every direction. As her breath panted in and out, I darted over.
"Hattie, are you okay?" I reached for her shoulder and shook it.
Her lack of response scared me. It was like she was in a trance.
Clayton peered out from one of the stalls, lost in the curiosity of the place. As soon as he saw Hattie's condition, he bolted over.
"What is it?" he asked. "What's wrong with her?"
Asher watched through worried eyes, staying back at a safe distance.
"I don't know," I said. "Let's get her back to the house."
As I reached for her arm to guide her out of the stable ruins, she yanked it away from me. Her eyes twitched and shifted in every direction like she was having a mini-seizure.
"Hattie." I shook her arm. "Snap out of it."
With a jolt, she turned her tearful gaze and held my eyes with frightened urgency.
"I don't understand," she said. "What happened to it? Why is it all gone?"
Hattie yanked her arm out of my grip and stepped back. She shot her crazed eyes from Clayton to me, as if she were afraid of us.
"It's okay." I lifted my hands to calm her. "We'll take you back to the house now."
She ran her fingers into her hair and pulled it back from her face.
"Where's Bonney?" she whispered, searching all around. "Bonney!" she called out.
Clayton stared at me with wide eyes. His jaw fell open as he shrugged, mouthing, "What the hell?"
I shook my head back at him in equal confusion.
"Bonney!" Hattie screamed.
She tore through each stall in a burst of energy, searching the crumbling foundation for something recognizable.
Stepping back, we gave her space to check every inch of the stables.
I knew I'd have to calm her down before having a chance at getting her back to the house. Her volatile state proved she was a flight risk, though.
"Don't let her out of here," I whispered to Clayton. "I'm scared she'll bolt."
He nodded and moved to the wide entryway, blocking it with his wide stance.
Asher moved closer to me as we watched Hattie scour the area in panicked chaos.
"What's wrong with her?" he muttered.
"I'm not sure, Asher. But I think it's part of her transition to the academy. Like the collision of two lives, the one before Hazeldene and the one now."
He continued to stare wide-eyed at Hattie as her hysteria grew.
"Bonney!" she blasted in terror.
"Who the hell is Bonney?" Asher spat, pressing his hands over his ears to block her shrieks.
Panting in exhaustion, Hattie slowed her search and dropped her hands to her knees.
I stepped close to her, approaching with caution.
"Hattie," I whispered. "It's okay. You're safe. We're going to take you back to the house now."
She lifted her gaze as heavy tears fell from her eyes.
"I'm so confused," she whimpered. "My pony's lost. She should be here."
I shot my nervous gaze to Clayton, and just as our eyes met, Hattie bolted.
She shot right past Clayton as his arms swung, catching only air.
"Shit," he spat, spinning on his heels.
He flew after her, running with speed I'd never seen before.
She'd already disappeared into the woods as he sped after her.
Asher and I ran in the same direction, losing ground with every step we took. Keeping my eyes fixed on the blurred purple of Clayton's jacket, I struggled to hold him in my view.
Then Hattie's voice pierced through my soul as she let out a blood-curdling scream.
"Oh my god," I breathed. "Clayton! Where is she?" I blasted.
I stopped, motionless, listening for any other sound.
Asher panted next to me with shaking breaths.
"Over here!" Clayton called to us.
My held breath released in a whoosh, and we followed the sound of his voice.
As Asher and I pushed through the overgrowth of tangled branches, the purple of Clayton's jacket came into view.
He stood from a crouched position, and I watched as he lifted Hattie's limp body.
"Hattie!" I screamed.
"She's okay," he said. "She's just overwhelmed."
Clayton carried her in his arms and brought her over to us.
Worry covered his face as he looked to me for answers.
"Let's get her back to the house," I said.
He nodded and followed, but the shake in his limbs couldn't be missed. Something had terrified him.
I stared into his face, studying his pained expression. Clayton glanced at Asher as the boy stumbled through the trail ahead of us. He then shook his head at me, as if to say, "Not now. We'll talk back at the house."
I nodded and focused on getting us back to the manicured lawns of the estate.
How could our little field trip have taken such a bad turn? It made no sense.
Something about the stables had triggered Hattie to the point of passing out. We'd need help to get her calm again.
Just as the thought crossed my mind, we stepped out of the woods’ shadows into the brightness of day. And then, like walking into a wall, we bumped right into Ms. Harrison.
Her frown froze the blood in my veins as she stood with her arms crossed.
"I felt a disturbance," she said. Then her eyes glanced beyond me and landed on Clayton. She gasped as she saw Hattie in his arms. "What happened? Is she alright?"
She rushed over and placed a hand on Hattie's head. Her eyes closed as she absorbed the energy that came off her.
"Something caused disturbing flashbacks for her," Ms. Harrison murmured with her eyes still closed. "But then she was overcome with terror." She opened her eyes and shot her gaze between Clayton and me, searching for answers. "What did she see?"
"It was the stable ruins," I spat. "We were exploring, and then she had some kind of episode."
Ms. Harrison kept her hand on Hattie's head.
"Is that all?" her eyes narrowed on me.
I pulled back slightly, wondering what she was alluding to. I shot a glance at Clayton, and he quickly dropped his gaze to the ground.
His avoidance unnerved me.
"Um." I swallowed hard. "I'm not sure. Everything happened so fast. We just need to get her inside."
Ms. Harrison nodded. "Okay, come along. We'll take her to the in
firmary."
Moving across the sprawling lawn, we made our way back to the manor. I fell back with Asher, making sure he was okay. His light step and bright energy proved he was unshaken by the events, and I was glad.
I shifted my attention to Clayton and watched as he carried Hattie with little effort. His strength and athleticism had been something I'd never noticed before, and now, I couldn't pull my eyes away from him.
And he hadn't hesitated, for even a moment, when he chased after her. He'd saved her from any further harm, and I was grateful to him for that.
A strange tingle fluttered in my stomach as I watched him moving across the lawn.
I stopped short in my tracks and shook my head to clear the wandering thoughts.
What the hell was wrong with me?
There was no way I could find Clayton attractive. He was an arrogant asshole—full of himself, annoying as hell.
But then my eyes trailed after him again.
He had been cautious, but still willing to go on the adventure. He was judgmental but didn't want to miss any of it. And then, when he was needed, he was swift and effective.
I pulled my lower lip in and licked it.
Oh, hell no.
I bit my lip instead until I tasted blood.
There was no way I was going to allow myself to fall for Clayton Xavier James, III.
Ms. Harrison shooed us away from the infirmary as Graney Greta, Hazeldene's top nurse, took Hattie to a white-sheeted bed.
"She's in good hands now," Ms. Harrison said. "I'll let you know when she wakes. Get yourselves something to eat now. And from here forward, let's keep the new recruits closer to the manor. Just until they know their way around."
Clayton shot a glare at me, and I pulled away from it as quickly as possible.
He wasn't used to receiving any form of correction from the Higher Order, and I was sure this would make him fume.
And it was just as well.
I needed him to keep his distance at this point. He'd made me lose focus for a second, and I loathed myself for it.
Now I just needed time to think.
Asher had joined the other young students in a practice session of empathic skills on the front lawn, looking a lot like a meditation circle, and I felt bad at first. He had wanted to stay with us. His sense of adventure had been piqued, and now he had to be on his best behavior with his class. It made me chuckle, reminding me of my early days here.
As Clayton and I left the infirmary, we moved through the circular-vaulted drawing room in silence. It was as if we were unsure about what we should do next as mentors, but I had my plan. While our mentees were engaged in other activities, I was going to find Noah and Piper to tell them everything.
"You need to be careful," Clayton said out of nowhere.
I slowed in my tracks as my heart rate intensified.
He did not just try to correct my behavior.
If he thought taking a walk in the woods was a violation of some kind, and that it was my fault that Hattie got hurt, I'd have to give him a piece of my mind. If he even dared say "I told you so"...
"I don't need a lecture," I snapped, crossing my arms, turning my gaze away from him.
He stepped in front of me, stopping me short.
"No, you don't understand." He shook his head as if trying to collect himself. "There was something out there. Hattie saw it, too."
"What?" I spat, confused by the sudden shift.
"I'm not sure what it was exactly," he continued. "But it was in a long black cloak, moving through the woods like it was hunting."
My breath stopped, and I tried to swallow.
"It could have been anyone," I said. "Someone taking a walk or something."
He exhaled as if preparing his next words.
"Shaye, it called out to Hattie in a strange, haunting voice."
"Okay, that's weird." My eyebrows pulled together.
Clayton squeezed the bridge of his nose, and then looked me straight in the eye.
"It was like it was searching for something. I sensed danger." He stepped closer to me and lifted a hand as if to touch my arm. "Shaye, it said your name, too."
The worry in his eyes sent fear through me. He'd seen something unusual in the woods, and it sounded like the hag from my nightmare.
Nervous energy coursed through my veins as I wished his story to be untrue.
And why had he kept that part from Ms. Harrison? Was he trying to protect me in some way? He knew I already had a shaky reputation.
As I took a deep breath to respond, my attention shattered into a million pieces as the drawing room’s double doors smashed open.
"Where have you been?" Josie's voice blew through me like a typhoon, causing my head to spin.
Lauren followed her as they barreled toward Clayton.
Then Josie stopped in her tracks and looked from him to me.
"Oh, sorry. Are we interrupting something?" she snarked.
Clayton took a step back from me as if by instinct and cleared his throat.
"Don't get too cozy with the competition," Lauren teased.
"Though you wouldn't have much to worry about in that department," Josie added dryly.
Clayton remained speechless from the unexpected roast, and I shook my head in disappointment of his silence. I guess I couldn't say I was surprised that he didn't defend me. It would make him look bad to his cronies.
Without hesitation, I breezed past Josie and Lauren and left the drawing room far behind me.
Jumping the steps of the great staircase in the foyer, three at a time, I raced toward the third floor to find Noah and Piper. I pulled myself along the intricately carved railing, practically taking flight. I desperately needed a reality check more than ever, and my best friends were the ones to provide it.
Everything had shifted in such a short amount of time, I didn't even know where to begin.
First, it was the upset of getting stuck mentoring with Clayton, but then I'd have to explain that it really wasn't that bad. Maybe I'd save that point for later, since he'd just betrayed me in the drawing room. Then there was the strange connection I felt with Hattie. And now, there was something of substance to it—the freakish hag-bitch in the black cloak. I shuddered at the thought of her searching the grounds of the academy, outside of my dreams.
And just as I thought my life couldn't become more disrupted, my feet screeched to a halt at the top of the staircase. Looking back down toward the front doors, I stared as an unexpected person walked through them.
Miss Rosco, from the Town Administrator's office, waltzed in as if she owned the place.
Miss Laney Rosco.
And her intentions around here were never good.
Chapter 4
I tucked in behind the marble statue at the top of the sprawling staircase and spied on the new visitor to Hazeldene. Every sense and nerve in my body tingled with warning alarm. There was something about Miss Rosco that was dangerous.
It was more than the fact that she was the Town Administrator's assistant, gathering evaluative data on the academy. It was the sick feeling she created in my gut whenever she was near, like she had a sinister agenda against Hazeldene, or worse, me.
Just as I had the thought, her eyes lifted to mine, and she held my gaze with a steely stare. My breath caught in my throat as I stared back. My flight response triggered me to walk away, but I resisted and studied the depths of her glare.
She held anger and vengeance within her soul.
I used every ounce of my clairvoyant ability to read her, but she fought back, blocking access as best as possible.
But although we were at a stand-off, I had the upper hand. My skills were sharp against non-supernaturals, but the only problem was, she had a strong defense. It was as if she knew what we were capable of at the academy, and she'd developed a shield against us.
But no matter her efforts, I still picked up on enough of her energy to know one thing.
She was afraid of something.
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Her eyebrows twitched as if she'd realized I'd figured something out about her, and as her eyes narrowed, our attention snapped away to Ms. Harrison.
Her shoes clomped across the tiles of the foyer as she greeted Miss Rosco.
"Well, Laney, what a pleasant surprise," she said with a hint of sarcasm. "What brings you to Hazeldene so unexpectedly?"
"Ms. Harrison," Laney retorted. "An unscheduled observation is in order. I'm to evaluate the enrollment process of the new recruits."
"Unscheduled observation?" Ms. Harrison replied. "I've heard of no such thing."
"It's new protocol." She handed some papers over. "You can see it all here. We require data-driven measures to ensure the students here are obtaining a proper education. Otherwise, you'll lose accreditation of your charter school status and will have to be shut down."
Ms. Harrison pulled her heels together with a crack and stood taller. "Not today, Miss Rosco. I'll review the new expectations, and once I've communicated my questions with the administrator, you may then return."
"But I have strict orders..."
"I don't give a hoot about your orders. You will not step foot..."
Ms. Harrison's voice smothered under the shocking squeals of Josie and Lauren.
"Laney!" they gushed. "We haven't seen you in forever."
Laney smirked and acted like Ms. Harrison no longer existed as she hugged the girls.
The more they smothered Laney, the angrier I grew. It was so disrespectful to Ms. Harrison for starters. But their dramatic demonstration of sublime friendship was nauseating. It was more like blatant ass-kissing to a queen queen-bee.
Ms. Harrison glanced up the staircase and caught my gaze. She rolled her eyes and shook her head in disgust. I nodded back, letting her know I'd witnessed the whole thing, though it was clear she already knew that.
With a spin, she turned her back on the girls and headed toward the kitchen. She then stopped, looked over her shoulder, and stated, "I expect you to be gone, Laney, in thirty seconds. Don't make me have to remove you myself."
Laney ignored her and continued cackling with the girls. They huddled by the double-door entryway in a whirl of hushed whispers. Laney held their attention like tame puppies as she sputtered to them.
Mystic Coven: Fire Festival (Supernatural Academy Graduates Book 1) Page 4