by R L Medina
“And classes end at lunch time, so you’ll be done earlier,” Shiloh interrupted my inward groan.
“And we have to wear the uniforms?”
“Not the one you wore today. The gym uniforms. The classes are mostly weapons or fighting related.”
“Well, at least those should be more comfortable.”
She smiled. “Definitely. You should talk to the headmaster about getting your orientation scheduled.”
I glanced back at my frozen laptop screen. “Mm. Yeah.”
Hours of learning school policy and rules. No thanks.
Shiloh turned back to her schoolwork, so I went back to my show though my mind was on other things. School on the weekends—I was officially in hell.
Something startled me awake. My heart hammered as if I’d been running and my body was coated with sweat. I blinked against the darkness, my mind screaming.
Where am I? Where am I? This isn’t my room.
I sat up and threw the thick covers off me. Something rustled on the other side. A shudder of fear ran up my spine. I wasn’t alone.
Moonlight streamed in, lighting a path in the middle of the room. My head spun as my thoughts tried to catch up.
I wasn’t home. GRIMM. I was at GRIMM. And Shiloh was the one tossing over in her bed in the dark across from me. Right.
And Papi was dead.
My throat closed up, tears threatening to spill out. I drew my knees to my chest and took a steadying breath. I didn’t want to wake up my roommate with my sniffling. Sorrow pierced me, my chest aching. Funny how physical the grief could be and how randomly it could hit you.
Swiping at my eyes, I steadied my breathing as best as I could. I didn’t know if it was a nightmare that woke me or the strange noises I wasn’t used to, but it would be hard to go back to sleep now. A flash of silver caught my eye. My bracelet.
I frowned and turned it over, was that source of my middle of the night wake up? Was my tío messing with me? My fists clenched the sheets.
If it was him, he had a lot of nerve. But what would be the point? To disrupt my sleep would only make me an even worse student.
I grabbed my phone off the nightstand and looked at the time. 3:00 a.m. Great. Three hours before I had to be in the gym.
Shaking off the heavy emotions, I laid back down and stared up at the ceiling, trying to keep the memories out.
When my alarm went off, I was still exhausted. Gathering all my willpower, I got up and started getting ready for the day. I tried to do it as quietly as I could so I didn’t wake Shiloh. Thankfully, the bathroom was open despite it not being my designated time. Before heading to the gym, I made a pitstop for the biggest coffee I could carry and tried to sip it as I went.
Professor Cassiano was waiting for me at the gym. This time, he wore athletic clothes similar to mine. Instead of making me swing a bunch of swords around, he ran me through drill after drill of running, pull ups which I barely managed to do, and various routines of footwork that I could only assume were meant to go with sword fighting.
I left the gym sweaty and in no mood for more classes. I didn’t plan ahead and bring extra clothes, so I went back to the dorm only to find that it wasn’t ‘my time’ to shower. Shiloh led me down the hall to a public bathroom with a shower where I contemplated skipping the next classes.
After a shower, quick change, and quick breakfast grab from the cafeteria, the freshman class I was supposed to be in was halfway over. The professor let me sign up online and dismissed me. I took the time to grab another coffee and relax before my next one.
My body was still sore from gym and lunch felt so far away. I studied the school map on my tablet, trying to focus. I needed to study the layout so that I could plan an escape, but my eyelids kept drooping.
A message in my inbox startled me awake. I opened it and blinked. It was a message from the professor of my next class. She was moving me to the online course and wanted me to turn in the first homework assignment by the end of the day.
I groaned. Homework. What would happen if I didn’t turn it in? I still hadn’t received a physical copy of the student handbook and I hadn’t bothered to download it to my tablet. Better to ask forgiveness than permission and all that. I kind of liked that I had a valid excuse for ignoring their policies.
It was almost time for my last class: 322 Hexes and Curses level 2. A junior class.
I made a face. I hadn’t even taken level one.
Closing my tablet, I made my way to the class. Unlike the freshman and sophomore classes, the teacher in the junior class was not going to let me leave. I tried to force myself to stay awake as she droned on and on about witchy stuff. It should have been interesting, given my mom was a witch, but I couldn’t concentrate on anything she said. By the time it was over, I needed another coffee.
My last class before lunch was a senior class with Javi and Shiloh. Class 405: Advanced Ambush Strategies.
When I arrived to class, I was surprised to find Grayson there as well. My body thrummed with anticipation, ready to go into fight mode. What would the jerk say today?
“Class is cancelled.” One of the boys shouted, holding up a hand to silence everyone.
“What? Why?” voices echoed.
He read off his tablet. “Check your school inbox. Professor Newman had an emergency come up. We’re free.”
Shiloh frowned. “An emergency? Did it say anything more? I hope he’s okay.”
The boy snorted, “Probably got too drunk last night. He wouldn’t be the only professor I’ve seen at Slasher’s.”
“And what were you doing at Slasher’s, Brady?” Grayson interrupted.
The boy stared back at him. “Recon.” He smirked. He tossed his longish brown-blonde hair out of his face.
Grayson grunted. “Right.”
“I don’t know about you all, but I’m going to call it an early day and get back to my… studies.”
With that he left the room with all the importance of a prince.
“That’s the headmaster’s son, Brady Rutherford,” Shiloh explained.
Grayson whipped toward us, his eyes narrowing on me.
I waved and smiled, making him blink in surprise.
Javi caught the interaction and frowned at me.
“Guess this means I can go back to the dorm?” I asked Shiloh.
She smiled. “Sure. There’s time before lunch.”
“Yeah! I forgot to tell you, I got your lunch changed to match mine. And Shiloh, you can eat with us, too,” Javi interrupted.
Shiloh’s face reddened as a few heads turned in her direction, voices murmuring. I shook my head at my cousin’s lack of subtlety.
Ignoring the stares, I smiled and motioned for him to lead us out. I glanced back to find Grayson still watching me.
Once back at the dorm, Shiloh excused herself, claiming she wanted to get a head start on the homework. Javi, unable to flirt with her, showed me around the rest of the house, chatting excitedly.
“Hey, Rose! Javi,” a voice called from one of the rooms.
We stopped as Molly flagged us down.
She smiled and turned to me. “Shiloh give you your room key?”
I nodded. “Oh, and I forgot to turn back my replacement ID card. I have a new one now, so I don’t need it.”
Molly shrugged. “Okay. You can just turn it in whenever. Here, I got your shirts ready.”
I glance at Javi in confusion, “What?”
She waved me into the room, and I followed her to a stack of white blouses. Grinning, she thrust the pile at me.
“But I already have a shirt.”
“Right. But you need these with the house emblem.”
Javi stood behind me and pointed at the small red dragon embroidered on the shirts. “House Dragon.”
“Oh. Okay. Thanks.”
Molly smiled. “Sure. Let me know if you need anything else.” She motioned us back out.
I took the shirts back to my dorm and changed into one at Javi’s
insistence that I follow the dress code, but I kept my jacket. After that, we wandered the hall and ended up in the game room. Not feeling in the mood to start a game, I paced, checking out the place.
“There’s a secret room downstairs, you know. Behind the books. You have to say the magic word and it will open.” Javi pointed to the second floor.
My eyebrow arched. “Magic word?”
He grinned. “Yeah. Why don’t you try it?”
“Sure.” I shrugged, not having anything better to do.
“Javi!” a girl gushed, calling his attention.
He gave me a guilty smile. “I’ll be down in a minute.”
I rolled my eyes as he abandoned me for the tall brunette. Not wanting to stand there awkwardly, I went down the stairs to check out the so-called secret room.
Passing the lounge area and board game shelf, I stopped at a dead end. A huge bookshelf with giant, old books stood against the wall. Was this the secret hideout? Part of me was curious to see what was hidden behind the books, but another part of me was wary of walking in on a heavy make out sesh… or worse.
I waved my hand over the shelf, trying to figure out how it opened. “Abracadabra.”
Nothing. There was no handle or knob. I pressed my ear against it to listen.
The door swung in, making me stumble forward.
“Oh.” I bumped into a solid body.
My eyes widened as I came face to face with Grayson.
“What are you doing in here?”
I bristled at his rudeness. “Trying to walk here, you mind?”
He folded his arms across his chest, the motion catching my eye as his muscles tensed. The guy worked out.
“This area is restricted. Only house members allowed.”
I pointed to the embroidered dragon on my shirt and flashed him a smile. “You were saying?”
The surprise on his face was satisfying, but not as satisfying as pushing past him. My body, the traitor that it was, thrummed as it brushed against him.
“Where are you going to stay? All the rooms are accounted for. The academy never lets students in this late.”
I turned to frown at him. This again? What the hell was his problem?
“Well they made an exception for me. So, get over it.”
He stiffened. I wasn’t sure if it was his usual tick or if I was just remarkably good at getting under his skin. Sometimes I had that effect on people.
“House Dragon doesn’t need any more members.”
Ignoring him, I walked toward the center of the room and plopped myself down in one of the armchairs. My eyes scanned the little alcove. No naked teens hiding behind the shelves, so that was a relief.
“This is nice. Cozy,” I murmured.
“This isn’t right. You’re breaking the rules just by being here.”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh, dear god. You must be mister popular, huh?”
His eyes narrowed. “I call out unfairness when I see it.”
My cheeks flamed as I shot to my feet. “What the hell is your problem? Look, I don’t want to be here anymore than you want me here. If it were up to me, I’d be long gone on a plane back to Sonoma. Instead I’m stuck here arguing with a prejudiced asshole.”
He advanced toward me. “I’m not prejudiced. I just don’t understand why you are getting special treatment. There’s a waitlist to get into this school and you just magically waltz in here with your ungrateful snobby air like you own the place. You think because you have money you can do whatever the hell you want.”
My mouth dropped open. His words left me raw and shaken. Is that what he thought of me? That I was some rich snob? A lick of anger curled in my chest. That wasn’t who I was.
Before I could articulate a response, he shook his head at me in disgust and stormed out. I watched him go, my heart pounding. My whole body was flushed with… well, I didn’t know what exactly, but I felt bruised. I’d never met someone who was just as good at verbal bashing as I was.
It was scathing and the irony of it made me smile. For someone who prided himself on being fair, he’d just judged me so severely and so inaccurately. I wanted to run out and find him so I could set the record straight, but something stopped me. I couldn’t give him that much power over me.
“Rose?” Javi’s voice broke through my thoughts.
“In here.”
He pushed the door open all the way and glanced around. “So, you found it. How did you get in?”
I shrugged. “Just opened.”
He frowned. “Well, are you done looking? Because I’m starving.”
I smirked at him. “You’re always starving, Javi, and yet I doubt you ever experienced that.”
He frowned. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. Let’s go.” I walked toward him.
Grayson’s words rang in my ears, making me burn. It shouldn’t matter what one jerk thought of me, but I couldn’t stop obsessing over it. Me, stuck up? It wasn’t true. I had to show him.
14
The cafeteria was noisy and crowded. For all the fancy food and expensive décor, the students were just as uncivilized as the kids at my old school. I looked around. Even among the filthy rich, they had their cliques. The popular rich and the unpopular rich. Shiloh waved at me from another table with people I didn’t know.
I waved back, a little disappointed she didn’t choose to sit with us.
As I gazed at the other tables, I contemplated where I would fit. I was accepted by default because of Javi, but after getting a good look at who his friends were, I knew right away that I didn’t belong. They were stuck up and materialistic. The kind of people that would talk shit about me as soon as my back was turned.
That was fine with me. I wasn’t there to make friends. My real friends back home were probably about ready to give up on me. Sorrow speared through me. What would Lana think when I never responded to her calls and texts? Would she keep trying? I didn’t even know what I’d say at this point if we did somehow manage to connect.
According to Javi, it was only a matter of time before my sight came in completely. How was I supposed to act normal when I started seeing monsters everywhere?
My gaze snagged on a familiar handsome face. Grayson. He sat at a small table with one other guy and girl. I watched them, curiously, wondering what they had in common. Were they the poorest kids in school?
“Watch this,” a brown-haired boy spoke from my table. He flashed me a wink as he held up a strange silver coin and tossed it in the direction of Grayson’s table.
I gasped as the coin disappeared into thin air. The reaction was immediate. All three drinks on their table tipped over, spilling liquid onto their plates and into their food.
“Tyler! A professor could catch you,” a girl hissed at him.
He laughed. The others at my table joined in. I turned at the sound of Javi’s deep laugh and frowned at him.
His shoulders shook as he tried to rein it in. When he met my eyes, he gave me a guilty smile. I looked back at the poor kids.
Grayson was staring at us, making my heart skip.
I flushed, feeling ashamed though I hadn’t done anything wrong. The other kids at his table hurried to clean up the mess. He continued staring us down, his face a mask of iciness.
“What’s his problem? Can’t take a joke,” a girl scoffed.
“Probably because he’s always got that stick up his ass.” Tyler smirked.
I rolled my eyes as the others snickered. Was it a prerequisite for every high school guy or some unwritten rule that you had to be an asshole?
Noticing my lack of appreciation for the stunt, Tyler turned to me. “What? He your friend or something?”
Every head whipped toward me.
Javi frowned. “Of course not. He’s an ass.”
My eyes slid to his. “Seems like an oversupply of those around here.”
A chorus of “Ooohs,” echoed around the table.
Tyler grinned at me. “You thought it wa
s cool, I know you did. I heard you gasp.”
I blinked. Was he for real? The creep thought I was impressed by his bullying?
Before I could retort, a loud horn blared. The table shook. I glanced at Javi.
“Ugh. Drill,” he explained.
Everyone stood, chairs scraping against the floor. I rose to my feet and glanced around. Every student was up, facing the middle of the room. I followed their gazes, wondering what the heck was about to happen.
The blare grew louder, and the lights went out. I gasped, the sound echoing in the silence.
Fear crept up my spine. I shifted closer to Javi, blinking against the dark. What were they doing? What kind of drill was this?
As quickly as they’d turned off, the lights came back on. I scanned the room. My heart pounded in my ears as I tried to make out what was happening.
A burly man stood in the center of the room. He waved a large, hairy arm in the air. “The pixies have been released. You have fifteen minutes to find and catch them all. The house with the most wins.”
My mouth dropped. What?
I threw a look at Javi. “Wins what?”
“House points,” he responded.
My eyebrow arched. “Like as in… ten points Gryffindor?”
Someone snickered.
Javi shook his head. “Come with me. Try not to mess me up.”
I glared at him as he led me out of the dining hall. The others stayed behind.
“What’s going on?”
He paused. “We don’t have a lot of time. Come on.”
“Not until you tell me what is going on.”
He sighed. “We have to catch the pixies and return them. Didn’t you see them? They’re not real. They’re figurines enchanted to look and act like real pixies. It’s kind of like a training drill. They can glamour themselves, so we have to look past the magic and find them.”
His words shook me. What. The. Hell? Pixies?
“Let’s go. We’ll cover the library. They love it in there.”
I hurried to catch up to him. All around us, students were breaking off into pairs and groups and spreading out. The professors stood, studying us and my eyes met Professor Cassiano’s. I suppressed a shudder and turned away. There was something about that man that made me feel like he could see right through me.