by R L Medina
Javi led me out of the building and raced for the classroom building. We weren’t the only ones. It seemed the whole school had devolved into chaos. The students swarmed all over the campus, but not a single professor was in sight.
“So, what are we supposed to do exactly?” I asked as my cousin swiped his card against the reader.
He held the door open for me. “We corner them and subdue. Air trap.”
I fell into step beside him as he led me through the hall to the library. “Air trap? I don’t know how to do that.”
“I know. I’ll do it. You just… watch, I guess.”
His eyes flashed with excitement and determination. We made it to the giant library, but there were no pixies in sight. Or at least that I could find.
Javi motioned to the back. “Check over there. I’m going to take this side.”
I gaped at him. “What am I looking for?”
“You’ll notice a strange ripple in the air. Like an invisible… I don’t know. Like something is off. Keep watching it and ignore the instinct to look away. Call me and I’ll come and get it. Don’t let it get away.”
With that, he took off to the other side, leaving me speechless and just as confused as before. I groaned and turned to investigate the back rows. My shoes slapped loudly against the wooden floor.
A strange ripple. What the hell did that mean?
I sighed and traced my finger along the book spines. My eyes landed on a giant tomb at the end of the row.
Luna Negra. My mom’s old coven? I frowned and pulled the massive black book out.
The pages were so thin, I worried they would rip as I flipped through it. I squinted at the tiny black script. How did they even read that?
An old photograph caught my eye. It was black and white, and the caption was too faded to read, but it looked like the photographer tried to take a candid shot. A woman in a long dark dress was standing outside, holding a basket full of what looked like decapitated rabbit heads. It was a shot of her from behind, but she was glancing back, facing the camera. Her unsmiling face and dark eyes were startling. Even from the photo, I could tell, this woman was not someone to mess with.
Creepy.
“Check over there,” a voice made me jump.
“I don’t take orders from you, Gray,” another voice drawled.
I snapped the book shut and looked up to find Brady coming toward me. His dark eyebrow lifted as he spotted me.
He glanced at the book in my hands. “You’re supposed to be looking for pixies, sweetie. Not witches.” His lip quirked into a smirk.
I frowned. “Don’t call me sweetie.”
Brady chuckled. “So feisty. You and your cousin have that in common, huh? Looks better on him though, I think.”
I shoved the book back in place and turned to face him. “Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for his charm too. Sorry, but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t feel the same.”
He snorted. “Oh. I know. Your cousin is about as straight as they come. But can’t fault a guy for looking.”
“Can we not talk about my cousin’s looks?” I made a face.
Brady shrugged. “You got a thing for coven history?” He nodded toward the book.
“Just bored. Have you found any pixies?”
“Nah. I’m sure Gray and your cousin will catch enough between them to win for our house.”
My eyebrow arched. “You’re in dragon too?”
He gave me a flat look. “I’m the house president. Of course, I stepped down this year. Too much pressure, not enough pleasure. It’s between Gray and your cousin now. Secretly, I wouldn’t mind a woman’s hand at the wheel.” His brown eyes gleamed with humor. “Would you run? Against your cousin?”
I snorted. “No.”
He shrugged a shoulder and leaned against the bookshelves, eyeing me. Trying to read me? Though his face portrayed perpetual boredom, there was something in his gaze that caught my attention. I wasn’t sure what to call it exactly; a hunger or craving for trouble? Something told me this boy didn’t want to be a soldier any more than I did.
“Did you find one?” Grayson’s voice interrupted my thoughts.
He marched toward us, eyes darting from me to Brady.
“What are you guys doing just standing there? We’re almost out of time,” he huffed.
Brady sighed. “Oh, rats. What a shame. I was so hoping for that tacky dragon statue for our house.”
“I thought we were competing for house points,” I said.
Grayson’s brow furrowed as he stood in front of us. “House points and dragon trophy.”
“Hey. We got this area covered, Chapman. Move along,” Javi cut in.
I turned to watch him thunder toward us, anger flashing on his face. Here it goes.
Grayson stiffened. “We’re in the same house, you idiot. We’re supposed to be working as a team.”
Javi advanced on him, lip curling. “We don’t need your help. My cousin and I can handle it.” His glare slid to Brady.
Brady just smirked. “Oooh. I love it when you get angry, Javi. Gives me goosebumps... all over.”
Javi’s ears reddened. “Just go. We’re running out of time.”
Grayson stared him down, looking just as intimidating and unrelentless as my hulk of a cousin. I rolled my eyes. Is this what their rivalry was all about? Who was going to be house president? I almost wanted to run and win just to avoid the whole alpha vibe they were putting off, but I had other things to focus on. Like surviving the school long enough to make a solid plan of escape.
“Javi, there’s nothing here, anyway. We might as well go back.” I broke the silent tension.
Javi glanced in my direction. “Yeah. Good idea. Let’s go. I already caught all the pixies in the library, anyway.” He threw a wolfish grin at Grayson and Brady.
I walked past them, meeting Grayson’s blue-gray eyes briefly before looking away. Why did all the hot guys have to be so hot tempered?
Ignoring my racing heart, I followed Javi out of the library. A loud buzzer echoed in the hallway outside. I winced and covered my ears.
“What the?”
The buzzer stopped.
“Time’s up,” Javi explained.
“Who won?”
He shrugged. “We’ll find out soon.”
“Where are the pixies you caught?”
“They disappear once you disengage them, and then they get tallied by the professors.”
His phone buzzed. He pulled it out and swore. “House Phoenix.”
I couldn’t care less, but it was obvious he took it sorely. Biting my tongue, I followed in silence as we headed for our dorm. Javi was unnaturally quiet, the loss still weighing on him.
“Brady told me about the president thing. You and Gray… Grayson,” I corrected.
His eyes snapped to mine. “Yeah. So?”
“So, if you need help like campaigning or whatever, I can help you. I wouldn’t mind seeing that asshole lose to you.”
A small smile spread on his face. “Thanks.”
We walked the rest of the way in silence. Outside the dorm building, we ran into Shiloh and my cousin’s bad mood evaporated instantly. He was all back to smiles and jokes. I half listened to their conversation as we walked, my mind on other things.
Who was that creepy woman in the photograph? I shuddered as I pictured the poor rabbits. Was that the kind of thing my mom did in that coven?
By the time we made it to our room, Javi and Shiloh made plans to take a dip in the pool which I automatically was included in. Javi left us to get ready and Shiloh gave up trying to engage me after a couple of failed attempts.
I put on my swimsuit and packed up my tablet, mind still racing. At least I could try to get started on the homework. Maybe there would be something important in the lessons.
There was so much I still didn’t know and if I was going to make it on my own, I needed to know how to shield myself from the coven.
After only twenty minutes of pouring over
articles, videos, and lessons, I gave up and joined the crowded pool. A part of me felt guilty for not trying harder to figure out the past, but after the stress of the past days, it felt good to do something so… normal.
We spent almost two hours hanging at the pool until Javi told me we needed to start getting ready for Mass. It was a startling, yet not surprising, revelation. They kept springing things at me left and right, but I should have guessed my tía would drag us all to church—bracelet and all.
I showered down the hall since it wasn’t my scheduled time and when I returned to my room, I realized I hadn’t packed anything appropriate for a Catholic Mass. The idea of stepping into a church similar to back home made my stomach churn. Memories of Papi’s vigil replayed in my mind.
“Are you okay?” Shiloh’s voice interrupted.
Pushing the dark images away, I turned to her. “Yeah. Fine. Thanks. I just don’t have anything here to wear for church.”
She tapped her lip with a finger. “I might have something. Here.”
I watched as she walked over and rustled through her side of the closet. Bright colorful fabric and artsy designs flashed by as she went through her clothes. So completely opposite of my dark wardrobe it was almost comical.
“Here. I think this would work?” She held up a long, flowy red skirt and cream-colored blouse.
“Thanks.” I nodded, taking the clothes from her.
When Javi came to get me, I was ready. As ready as I could ever be. I knew there was no point in resisting, not when the bracelet would force me anyway.
Javi waited outside the dorm with me as the driver pulled up. I forced down the wave of nausea threatening to rise and steeled myself. The very idea of walking into Mass was making me tremble.
“I don’t think I can do this.” The words escaped me as the driver held the door open for me.
Tía Teresa and the twins were already seated inside. They didn’t hear my confession, but Javi did. His brows furrowed in concern.
“I’m not ready. I can’t.”
Javi motioned for the driver to wait and stepped in front of me. “Okay. It’s okay. You can stay here. I’ll tell my mom.”
A sigh of relief escaped me. “Thank you. What about?” I held up my wrist.
He frowned. “Don’t worry about my dad. He won’t care if you miss Mass.”
The weight lifted from my chest. I threw my arms around Javi and hugged him, relief flooding me.
I didn’t have to go.
The window rolled down behind us and my tía called, “Javi? Rosa? Vamos. We will be late.”
Javi released me and gave me a nod of understanding. I wrapped my arms around myself and watched as they took off without me. I stood on the sidewalk and glanced up at the cloudless sky.
“I’m sorry, Papi. I can’t do it… not yet,” I whispered to the air.
The car disappeared and I turned to go back inside when my eyes met a still figure. Tío. He stood across the street outside of the office building. I couldn’t get a good look at him from the distance, but I had a feeling he would be at my door in an instant.
I tried to leave, but my legs were frozen. My eyes shot back to Tío’s. He held me there as he walked over, taking his sweet time.
My hands curled into fists, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get my legs to move. I couldn’t get any sound out either, but in my head, I was screaming every obscenity I could think of—both Spanish and English.
Just a little closer and I could punch that smug smirk right off his face.
“Why aren’t you going to Mass?” he demanded as he walked up to me.
I glared at him. “Why aren’t you?”
My eyebrows shot up. He released the hold on my mouth. I grinned, ready to let him have it.
“I’m working on your father’s case. We’ve caught wind of more shifter activity in the outer Sonoma territory. If we follow that trail, it could lead us to your father’s killer.”
His words were like a blow to my gut, wiping the snark right out of me. Manny.
Tío glanced at the empty street and sighed. “We can continue this conversation elsewhere. Or another time. I have much to do.”
I swept a hand over my legs. “Can’t go anywhere until you release me.”
“If I could trust you not to run off, I wouldn’t have to compel you. It’s tiring, you know. To keep this bond going.”
I scoffed. “Tiring? Are you serious? So sorry chaining your niece and mind controlling her is so taxing for you. I’m just as tired of this stupid bond so why don’t you do us both a favor and end it.”
His eyes turned murderous. “You’re lucky no one can hear us right now, Rose. If you ever want a chance to be free again, do your part and do what you’re told. I can’t keep you safe if you won’t listen.”
Fury lit inside me. I wanted to scream at him, strike him, but my body was paralyzed once more. Instead, I fumed, glaring as he started walking away from me and back to the office building.
The bastard.
I couldn’t ask him any more about Manny or call him any of the names I wanted to. It wasn’t until he was out of sight that he released me. Still fuming, I blinked back the angry tears.
Do my part and do what I was told? I don’t think so.
Before I realized what I was doing, I had made it past Phoenix House and was passing the upperclassmen dorms and their class building. Across the street, the gardens and guardhouse stretched before me.
My heart pounded in my ears. What was I doing? Was I really about to leave? Just like that with nothing but the clothes, which weren’t even mine, on my back?
It was stupid. I needed to go back and get my stuff, but my anger and fear drove me forward. Tío’s words repeated in my head.
Do what you’re told. Do what you’re told.
No. I had to leave. Get out. If I didn’t, I’d be forced to be a pawn in his sick mind games.
I was done.
15
The guardhouse was smaller than the student dorms, but still bigger than the average size house. Stark white stucco and tan tiled roof made it look more inviting, and homey than it was. Although the guards patrolled the campus, they mostly kept to themselves and didn’t make any problems for us.
Now, I was about to become a problem for them.
Squaring my shoulders back, I scanned the gatehouse. No cars were coming in or going out so the guards on duty were inside, watching the cameras. I glanced at my bracelet. I’d gotten that far. Would it stop me now?
Just act casual.
I walked up the side door of the gate and tried to do just that. My heart pounded against my ribcage. One of the guards stepped out of the guardhouse and waved to me. I waved back and dug my hand into my skirt pocket to pull out my student ID to scan. I held my breath as I waited.
Green light.
It worked. I waved to the guard again and pushed the door open. I was out.
I was free.
The door slammed behind me, startling me into action. It was time to go, but where? I could hardly believe my luck that the cursed bracelet let me get that far. Maybe my tío, assuming I’d be going to Mass, forgot to restrict my movements.
A smile spread on my face as I started walking along the sandy road that would lead me to the main road and to freedom. The sky was darkening and the air growing chillier, making me regret leaving my jacket behind.
Cars whizzed by in the distance. I was getting closer. Yet I still didn’t have a solid plan. Where would I go? What happened when my tío suddenly remembered to restrict my movement? Would the bracelet force me back? Dismissing my doubts, I continued.
Salty sea air stirred around me as I paused before the main road. Left would take me back toward Javi’s house and straight across would lead me to the beach shack. I turned to go right.
My body froze. No.
I tried to take a step, but my legs wouldn’t move. I tried left. It worked that time. A shaky breath escaped me. If I kept walking that way, I had n
o doubt, I’d find myself back at the mansion—trapped with my tío.
Hot tears pricked my eyes. Idiot. Did I really think it would be that easy?
Anger swirled inside me. I couldn’t go anywhere until I figured out a way to destroy the bracelet.
I yanked at the thin metal, but it didn’t budge. Still angry, I didn’t feel like returning to the dorm. The blue ocean line in the distance caught my eye. Beach it was then.
More cars drove by as I waited. A cool breeze swept over me, making me shiver, but I refused to go back. Not yet.
I pulled up my long skirt, looked both ways, and stepped out onto the road. So, I was allowed to wander the beach at least. Pushing down the dark emotions threatening to rise I took off my shoes and made my way toward the water.
The sand was colder than I’d thought, but so soft against my skin. My eyes swept across the endless beach and crystal blue waves crashing against the shore. It was beautiful. I’d been to Newport Beach before for summer break with friends, but that was nothing like Malibu. No wonder the rich and famous swarmed here. It was paradise.
A cold paradise with the waning sun, but as I stared out at the ocean a sense of calm filled me. As if Papi was sending me a sign. Telling me to hold on.
I sighed and rubbed my arms. I’m trying.
My stomach rumbled, reminding me I’d skipped dinner. I glanced back at the shack.
Fried shrimp sounded amazing, but would Gloria accept my student ID for payment? I’d yet to use it to pay for anything, but tía put more than enough money on it. I snorted. Did I really try to escape with no money? Not my smartest move.
I headed toward the shack, my shoes still in my hand. Night was coming and sitting in a warm restaurant was sounding more and more appealing.
The shack could have been packed full or completely empty, either way I couldn’t tell. I squinted, trying to pick out a strange ripple or something out of the ordinary. Did the invisible wards work differently than glamour?
Shrugging it off, I went up to the shack and tried to mimic Javi. I tried the door handle. It didn’t budge. I flushed.