Shifters and Secrets: GRIMM Academy Book 1

by R L Medina

  Shiloh winced. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have asked that… it’s just…” Her tear-filled eyes met mine. “My dad has been battling cancer for as long as I can remember.”

  She paused, her bottom lip wavering. It hurt to see her so broken.

  I swallowed the lump in my throat and placed a hand over hers. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”

  Guilt filled me. I was too wrapped in my own problems that I’d never even bothered to ask her about her family or past.

  She swiped at her tears, her makeup faring little better than mine. “The doctors all say he doesn’t have much time, but my stepmom won’t let me come home. She doesn’t want me to see him like this. I still call him, but I’m scared.”

  Her head dipped, her feet splashing the water. “What if he doesn’t make it until I get home? What if I never get to say goodbye?”

  An ache filled me. I knew exactly how she felt, but unlike her, I didn’t have time to prepare for my father’s death. It came so fast and so suddenly.

  Tears blurred my vision, making the lights around the pool look like a watercolor painting.

  She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m bringing this up now.”

  A cool breeze swept over us, giving me goosebumps. I stuck my hand in the pool. The water was warm, but the air was growing chilly.

  “It’s okay.” I shrugged.

  I tossed her question around in my head and stared out at the smooth surface of the water.

  “I… I don’t know, Shiloh. I don’t know if the pain ever goes away. Some days it feels like he’s still here. Only a phone call away. And others… it’s like this deep, dark hole inside me now, and if I just keep ignoring it, I can numb the pain.”

  I choked up, unable to control my emotions. Her other hand came up and grabbed mine. Our eyes met and the shared grief I saw written there ripped down my wall. She threw her arms around me, and I returned the hug, letting the tears spill out.

  The smell of alcohol and her flowery perfume surrounded me as the tulle of her dress made me itch.

  “Who is that?” someone’s voice interrupted.

  I released her and turned to see what everyone was pointing at. A figure stood outside on the balcony, peering down at us. In the dark it was too hard to make out the face, but I knew who it was.

  Grayson. What was he doing? Spying on me?

  “Oh my god. Rose! There you are,” Monica called. Her words were slurred as she stumbled outside toward us. Sofia came up beside her, helping her walk, but she wasn’t walking much straighter.

  The drunk helping the drunk.

  Shiloh and I exchanged glances, our earlier conversation returning to us as we watched them make their way over.

  I bit back a smile. “What is it?”

  Her eyes were wide, and her breath reeked of beer. “It’s Javi! He… he—” Her nose wrinkled.

  “He’s gone!” Sofia finished her sentence.

  Fear slammed into me. “What do you mean gone?”

  19

  A vision of him laying sprawled on the ground came to mind. Alcohol poisoning? Overdose? An accident? A million scenarios played out in the span of that minute.

  Monica shook her head. “To the prison. Brady dared him to go and he did it!”

  The other girl nodded emphatically. “The guy’s got balls.”

  Monica smirked. “Yeah. Big ones.”

  I made a face. Gross.

  Shiloh scowled at them. “You didn’t try to stop him? Where is he now?” she demanded, her voice catching everyone’s attention.

  I rose to my feet, water splashing up as Shiloh followed and slipped on her shoes. My heart raced as we followed tweedle drunk and tweedle drunker back inside. The people outside watched us, their curiosity piqued. They didn’t even try to whisper as they started talking about Javi.

  I glanced up at the balcony just in time to see the figure disappear back inside.

  Monica led us through the packed room as the party raged on. Music blared and bodies moved to the rhythm. Shiloh pressed closer to me, her brows knitted together.

  We elbowed our way to the center of the room where everyone stood around a door. I reeled back in surprise. The door was unattached to anything. It just stood there on its own.

  “A portal.” Shiloh paled.

  My heart sped up. A portal to where?

  “What did you do, Brady?” Grayson’s voice broke through the noise.

  I turned to see him enter the room, a stormy look on his face. My stomach flip-flopped at the sight of him. I pushed away the feeling, not ready to handle what it meant.

  Brady nursed another drink. How many was that now?

  He stiffened as Grayson walked up. “He took the dare.”

  I whipped toward him. “What does that mean? What dare?”

  He smirked. “Sneak into the prison without getting caught by the guards.”

  Grayson swore. “Brady, you idiot.”

  Brady scowled. “I didn’t force him. Blame his chauvinistic ego. Not to mention all the alcohol.”

  I bit back a groan. What did my cousin get himself into now?

  Shiloh huffed. “If he gets caught, they’ll expel him.”

  My eyebrow arched at her concern. Was she starting to feel something for my cousin? She flushed and averted her gaze.

  “It’s worse than that.” Grayson turned to Brady. “You forgot one important detail.”

  Brady scoffed. “And what is that?”

  “It’s the Morti Par.”

  Murmurs echoed around us.

  Brady laughed. “That’s next week. You know. Hallow’s Eve. Dumbass.”

  Grayson gave him a vicious smile. “Don’t you remember your dad’s meeting? The council moved it up this year.”

  Brady fell silent, his face sobering.

  I glanced around at the serious stares, my nerves growing. Shiloh’s hand covered her mouth, fear shining in her eyes.

  “What is Morti Par?” I asked.

  Grayson met my eyes. “The guards let the prisoners fight each other.”

  “To the death. It’s a deathmatch,” Shiloh added.

  My eyes bulged. “What? Why?” I shook my head. “Never mind. I don’t care. Why would my cousin go there?”

  Brady cleared his throat. “It’s the classic tale of peer pressure. Teens nowadays—”

  I whipped toward him. “Shut up.”

  His eyes narrowed.

  Ignoring him, I turned to Grayson. “What are we going to do?”

  He stood scowling, his arms folded over his chest. “We’re going to get him out.”

  Murmurs exploded in the room. A mixed combination of excitement and mockery.

  “And Brady’s going to take us there.”

  More voices rose.

  Brady’s smile vanished. “Um. Hell. No.”

  Grayson’s eyes turned stormy. “Get your ass over here, Brady.”

  Brady’s chin lifted. “You want to go and get yourselves caught by the prisoners, be my guest. I’m not a suicidal idiot. I like my sweet billionaire life, thanks.”

  Grayson laughed, a short harsh sound. “Who’s the idiot that forgot about Morti Par and sent a student to his death?”

  Shiloh’s face went pale. My own probably matched hers. I didn’t fully understand what was going on, but I knew Javi was in trouble and he needed me.

  A muscle in Brady’s jaw twitched. “You got something you want to prove, Gray? You want my dad to think of you as the son he wishes he had? Give it up. You’re just a nobody orphan that no one wanted.”

  Grayson advanced on him but stopped just in front of his face, his fists clenched by his sides. The rage I saw was frightening. They’d pushed him too hard and for too long.

  Brady sneered. “Go ahead. Hit me.”

  “Enough. Stop being assholes and get me through the portal. I’m getting my cousin back.”

  They stared at me as if I’d grown another head.

&
nbsp; “You’re not going.” Grayson’s voice was flat.

  Anger rushed through me. Who the hell did he think he was to tell me what to do? I glared at him, but I could see he wasn’t going to budge from his decision. Stubborn ass.

  There were a million things I could have said and wanted to, but an argument was pointless so I did what he wouldn’t expect.

  I ran.

  Straight for the portal, clenching my eyes shut as I did. Something slammed into me and a pop sounded in my ears. Dizziness washed over me, and it took a minute to get my bearings.

  When I opened my eyes, I was face to face with Grayson—and he looked pissed.

  “What do you think—”

  Brady appeared beside us before he could finish.

  Grayson’s head snapped toward him. “You came?”

  Brady sniffed. “That’s what she said.”

  Ignoring his remark, Grayson straightened. “I didn’t think you would.”

  “That’s what—”

  “Shut up. We have to find Javi,” I interrupted.

  Brady turned to me. “And we will.” He held a finger up in my face. “Without your attitude. Thanks.”

  I scoffed. My attitude? It was his fault Javi had even left the party.

  Grayson frowned at me. “You shouldn’t have jumped in like that. A portal is serious magic. You could have been hurt.”

  “Okay. Well, I’m not. So, can we argue about this later?”

  His eyes narrowed. “Stick close to us and don’t try anything… stupid.”

  “Too late for that,” Brady muttered.

  Choosing to ignore him, I glanced around. Moonlight poured in from a high glass ceiling. Glass for a prison? That seemed kind of stupid. It was probably magic glass. I shivered. It gave the impression of a cage which I guess, essentially was what a prison was supposed to be.

  “Here. Unlike you two idiots, I actually came prepared.” Brady rustled something.

  Two lights flashed on, making me jump.

  “What is that?”

  He shone the light on my face, making me wince. “Flashlight.”

  I glanced away, cheeks burning.

  “And guns.” He handed one to Grayson.

  Fear snaked up my spine. Guns?

  “For me and Gray. Don’t know you, but I heard your weapon skills suck so no offense, I didn’t bring you one.”

  No offense. Right.

  I glared at him through the dark.

  “Thank you. That was… smart of you,” Grayson grunted.

  Brady swiveled his light toward him. “You don’t need to sound so surprised. I’m not completely useless.” He turned to me. “Your friend wanted to come too, but I didn’t wait for her. By the time she got out of that dress and grabbed her gear, your cousin would probably be—”

  “Brady,” Grayson interrupted.

  “Passed out drunk. What did you think I was going to say, Gray?”

  His voice bounced off the metal bars and white walls. I shone my light across the room and moved closer to the guys. The cells were empty, but still creepy with the shadows stretching toward us. I couldn’t feel any strangeness, but this was a prison for supernatural beings. There had to be some bad mojo going on there. A faint smell of lemon and bleach followed us, a sign someone had been in there to clean not so long ago. Funny, I’d never pictured a prison smelling so… fresh.

  “Where are all the prisoners?”

  “This must be the overflow section,” Grayson replied.

  “It’s freezing in here,” I mumbled, rubbing my arms.

  Grayson turned to me. “You didn’t have to come. Brady and I could have handled it.”

  “He’s my cousin. He’d do the same for me.”

  “Yes, but he’s well-trained. You… lack experience.”

  I bristled. “Oh, like you have done this before? Please. Experience.”

  Brady chuckled. “Hate to interrupt this little lover’s quarrel, but what exactly is the plan here, Gray? Walk the whole place and hope we stumble upon him?”

  “No. We need something of his to link us. Track him.”

  They turned to me.

  I spread out my arms. “Don’t look at me. I don’t have anything of his.”

  “But you’re related.” Brady shone his light on me.

  “So?”

  “We need a strand of your hair. It might be strong enough to link us to him.” Grayson held up a palm.

  “Isn’t that… using magic unlawfully?” My eyebrow arched at him.

  He huffed. “No. Not when we’re protecting a fellow GRIMM.”

  I shrugged and pulled a hair to give him. The line between acceptable magic and forbidden was blurred. As an outsider, I could see the flaws in their system, but no one else seemed to see it or maybe they just didn’t want to.

  Grayson held the hair up and chanted something, his voice echoing around us. He stood, eyes closed as we watched.

  “That way.” He indicated straight ahead.

  Brady scoffed. “Are you sure you did it right?”

  Grayson ignored him and led us forward. I followed close on his heels, gripping my flashlight tightly. The sooner we got Javi and got out, the better.

  We made it to a closed metal door and my heart sank. Were we locked in? Brady stepped up and placed a hand on the scanner. The door opened instantly.

  He grinned at us. “Aren’t you two lucky I came along?”

  I snorted. “Why did they give you access?”

  “Um. Because I’m the headmaster’s only son. Duh.”

  Grayson stiffened and glanced away. I realized then, I didn’t know much about him except for him being an orphan and the headmaster’s ward. There on scholarship, but still expected to do his bidding. When did he become an orphan and how? Had he hoped to be adopted by the headmaster only to find the man preferred him as an employee rather than a son?

  “This way,” he grunted, leading us forward.

  The room widened to reveal an empty desk and lobby area. Grayson held up the hair again and pointed toward the left. Another locked door. Brady did his part and let us through. The hallway grew narrower, cells on each side. All of them were empty.

  “Is anyone else freaking out about all the empty cells? Where is everyone?”

  “Look.” Grayson shone his light against the wall. The hall split into two and in the middle, dark words were written against the white wall.

  A promise made in blood cannot be undone.

  “What the hell does that mean?” I asked.

  I held my flashlight closer. Blood. The words were written with actual blood. Nausea rolled inside me. Javi.

  “Is this where it led you? Here?” I turned to Grayson.

  He held up the hair once more and shook his head. “No. The link is weakening though. It could be because magic is suppressed here or…”

  “Or what?”

  “Your cousin is dead,” Brady finished.

  Grayson scowled at him. “We don’t know that. Just let me try it again.”

  He turned his back toward us and started chanting. Brady slunk down beside him, sitting crisscrossed on the ground. I turned back to the words, using my light to inspect them.

  The hairs on my neck bristled. A promise made in blood… it was a phrase I knew I’d seen before in one of my textbooks, but I couldn’t remember what it referenced. In the supernatural world, blood and promises were pretty much on every page of the schoolbooks.

  An invisible tug pulled me toward the hall, away from the words and the others. I shone my flashlight down the path. My heart raced. Was it Javi?

  Nothing but darkness stretched before me. My instincts were telling me to get away, but my curiosity grew. Something was telling me to go that way. I gripped my light tighter and followed it. A voice in the back of my head told me to stop and wait for the guys, but I didn’t listen.

  I kept going.

  My light bounced around, revealing a narrower hall. I brushed my hand against the smooth, stone wall, heart leapin
g into my throat. When did the walls changed to stone? Shivers ran up my back. A strange smell hit my nose, making me stop in my tracks.

  Blood.

  No. Javi.

  “Javi? Are you in here?” My voice shook.

  I ignored the pounding in my ears and pushed myself forward. Prison cells stood on each side of me. I squinted against the dark, fighting the panic that was spreading through me.

  My flashlight went out. An icy fear filled me. I shook it and slammed it in my hand, trying to get it back on. Giving up, I clenched my eyes shut and reopened them, trying to adjust to the dark.

  Moonlight streamed in, lighting up the back cells.

  Empty.

  I swallowed my fear and moved forward. “Javi?”

  “Are you lost?”

  I jumped at the voice. There. A shadowy form in one of the cells. My heart slammed against my ribs. I should have turned and run, but my legs propelled me forward, some hidden desire to discover what was behind the metal bars.

  He laughed. The moonlight gleamed in his dark eyes and his smile revealed his very real, very sharp fangs.

  Fear shot through my veins. This was no Halloween vamp with fake blood and stupid, black cape. No. This was real. And it was freaking the hell out of me.

  He leaned closer, peering at me through the bars. I shuddered. Thank God for the metal keeping him caged. I could sense his… strangeness, something deep seated in me, telling me to get my ass out of there.

  “Come closer,” he hissed. His words were accented, but clear.

  Hell to the no.

  Alarm filled me as I realized I’d taken a step toward him.

  “Stop. Whatever you’re doing. Just stop. The guards are right out there.”

  He laughed again. “No. They’re not. You are alone.”

  My heart slammed against my chest. Why weren’t my legs working to run away?

  “It’s the compulsion ring. Whoever put it on you didn’t expect you to meet a vampire, no?”

  Chills crawled over my skin.

  “It’s not a ring.”

  “Bracelet. Ring. All the same.” His fangs glistened in the moonlight. “Am I your first?”

  My eyes bulged. “What?”

  He chuckled. “First vampire.”

  A shudder ran down my spine. My body remained frozen, but my mind was screaming, begging for me to run.