Shadowborn Academy: Year One (Dark Fae Academy Series Book 1)

by G. Bailey

  “Sage found some good books on giants. Turns out, there’s a world where giants live and sometimes portals open in the forest,” I tell him, trying to break the silence. I was actually super shocked to learn the fairytale Jack and the Beanstalk is based on real events in the Enchanted Forest.

  Only Jack was fae…and the giants ate him.

  “And we need to find a beanstalk. Yeah, I figured that out,” Jonah adds, sounding bored.

  Thanks for letting your team know, dude.

  “Right, well, we have also found five spells that are effective against giants for when we find them,” I say, leaving out that I have practised them all and found them easy.

  “Actually, I’ve only found three spells, maybe you could share your list,” he suggests as we slip out from the academy, the cold air making my cheeks burn. I’ve never gone this way before. It feels like another secret passageway, one I make sure not to forget, as we cross the private courtyard.

  “Yeah, that wouldn’t be an issue,” I reply and for a second I think we could be friends, but then he has to talk again.

  “Considering I’m the only experienced one in our team, I need to know them in case we have to use them,” he states matter-of-factly.

  Cocky shit.

  “I’m surprised you know the meaning of the word team.”

  He huffs, waving a dismissive hand. “I didn’t choose to have you three following me.”

  “We only follow you because you keep running away, asshole,” I snap, pushing him on the shoulder.

  “Oh, the nicknames…again,” Jonah groans. “Will you ever come up with a better comeback?”

  “Right, whatever you need, forget it,” I say, stopping in my tracks and turning around.

  I only get two steps before Jonah is grabbing my arms, spinning me around and holding me close all in one impossibly quick move. I hate that I’m not scared of him, and instead I like being held in his arms. I like how his hard body is warm and somehow fits perfectly against mine. I like that I can feel his heart beating so fast, like a bird pounding at its cage, and damn does he smell amazing. He just needs to threaten me or tell me he hates me or something before I lose my goddamn mind.

  “I will tell the headmaster—”

  Thank fuck. I try to push away, but his iron-tight grip is like a vice around me. “Then do it. I don’t let people threaten and blackmail me. I chose to use Necromancy and I will pay the price for it if you want me to.”

  “You’d really risk it,” he enquires, raising an eyebrow, “knowing they will kick you out? And then what are you going to do?”

  “I’d at least have my morals. I can figure the rest out,” I answer, and to my surprise, he laughs. A throaty, deep laugh that does things to my body I’m not proud of.

  Shh, this guy is not sexy.

  He’s the devil in disguise.

  “Vina, I need your help, please?” he asks in barely a whisper.

  I’m so surprised by his politeness and desperation that I can only nod.

  He lets me go, running his hands through his hair as he walks away. I quickly catch up with him and we reach a door that I assume goes to one of the many towers of this academy. I’ve definitely never been this way before. I follow Jonah through the door and the stairs go down instead of up like the rest. It’s lit up by sconces that float near the walls and soft blue lights from below.

  “Where are we going?” I ask him.

  “At the bottom of the academy, there are secret tunnels. The top of the tunnels somehow capture moonlight and the crystals reflect it. Years ago, all necromancy students used to be taught down there,” he explains to me, and it seems like his good mood is still around. He sounds hopeful…and I hope I don’t fuck up whatever he wants me to do.

  “Why was necromancy banned?” I question, carefully climbing down the stairs with him.

  I’ve asked Sage this before but even she didn’t know, and no books or lessons have spoken a word about it. The odd keeper I dared ask as a child told me jack shit and Pitch only helps me control the power, not give me any answers on how it came to be.

  “Because only the light fae can teach it,” Jonah informs me, his attention rooted on the sapphire light emanating from below. “And even though Shadowborn Academy is a neutral place, the light fae king will not allow his teachers here because of the current war. The Sans Enfant War, as the fae call it.”

  I’m no expert, but Sans Enfant sounds French and I’m sure Enfant means child. I don’t know what Sans means. Pitch is silent in my mind, like he always is when anyone talks about the fae, and it’s annoying because he can speak French. It’s how I know all the bad French words and so does Sage. I know about this current war from my history lessons with the sexy silver fox, Professor Mune. He explained the war started about eighteen years ago and it’s a big secret in the fae world regarding the actual reason. All anyone knows is that the King Ulric of Helios and Queen Narah of Zorya called for the war on the same night. The title for the war came from the cruelties that have been done in the last eighteen years, including wiping out two villages full of fae children, leaving only the adult fae alive.

  The two kingdoms never speak now, and even though the war isn’t overly active anymore, many fae lose their lives on the border when stopping other fae from crossing. Shadowborns aren’t considered an issue, so we may go where we like. The same for magics. But if you’re a Dark Fae trying to sneak into Helios? Good luck.

  “I wish I had a teacher, to be honest. I’ve been doing this magic since I turned, but it’s all by accident most of the time. I’ve taught myself along the way,” I explain to Jonah, lying a little since Pitch taught me some things and so did Ambrose in the dreamworld.

  “I can do it as well, but not like you. I once bought back a fly and thought I was cool shit for doing it but the fly died the next day.”

  I squint at the back of his head. I’ve never met anyone that can do what I can, except for Pitch and Ambrose. But even though I want to believe otherwise, I’m not sure either of them are real.

  “Some things are not meant to come back and some wish only to go back to the dead. I sense it, you know?” I say, feeling his full attention on me as we come to a halt.

  A small stone room with an archway flooding blue light into our eyes sits at the bottom of the steps, making it impossible to see into the room.

  “And Echo wanted to come back, his spirit or soul, or whatever we are truly made of,” I add, smiling a little. “He wants to be here and fight for his life.”

  “So does my sister,” I hear Jonah say as I step into the blue light first, blinking a few times to adjust to the light.

  The vast cavern is unbelievably huge. There are dozens of tunnels going off in all manner of directions, but that’s not what’s so special about it. The millions of crystals embedded in the rocks, shining like glittering diamonds, make this place breathtaking. It almost feels otherworldly.

  “Is your sister dead?” I softly ask.

  Jonah looks at me in silence for a moment, before answering quietly, “I suspect so. She disappeared last year and no one has heard from her since. It’s not like she would have run away because that wasn’t like her. No, something is wrong. I wasn’t going to come to Shadowborn Academy before she disappeared. I was training to be a keeper. My sister called me every day for updates, and she really loved this place. Thrived here. I know she wouldn’t have willingly left.”

  He starts to lead the way into one of the glittering tunnels.

  I follow him closely, stating, “I’ve never heard of anyone bypassing Shadowborn Academy before. And I’m sorry your sister disappeared.”

  “I did advanced courses under the supervision of a High Warden as I grew up. I’ve already passed everything here except the tryouts.”

  My eyes widen. Now that’s impressive. I knew Jonah had some serious skills but to pass every test here at the academy as a kid? He must be crazy talented.

  “That’s why you are so keen to pass them?” I qu
estion, rubbing my cold arms.

  “Yeah, and because the last conversation I had with my sister was about the tryouts she was doing. She desperately wanted to win and I don’t know… Maybe I want to do it for her?” He shakes his head, chuckling. “She would kick my ass for trying to win them when she wanted to.”

  “You’re actually a good guy underneath the layers of asshat you put on,” I say with a smile.

  “We should get on with the spell,” he snaps, his eyes turning cold once more, and I sigh.

  Nice Jonah lasted all of five minutes.

  After choosing a beam of moonlight from one of the crystals, Jonah helps me set up the herbs and light a small fire. I don’t question how he knows what stuff we need now I know he is a smarty pants. I draw the symbol in the air and then pause, looking to Jonah who stands a good distance away.

  “What is your sister’s name?” I ask, seeing a reflection of me in his eyes. The purple and silver dark magic glow around me and it really makes me feel like some kind of goddess.

  His voice is gruff as he answers, “Jane Elisa Vincent.”

  I nod and begin the spell:

  “I call upon the spirits to help me find the lost.

  Jane Elisa Vincent, come back to us.

  The mortal world calls,

  The mortal world pleads,

  I pay a price, in pain and blood,

  For her return.”

  I hold my hand over the fire, waiting for the pain that never comes as the fire goes out. The second the spell leaves my lips, an echoing silence drifts through the cavern as the flames disappear and the magic just stops.

  “There is no one there to answer or she doesn’t want to come back, Jonah. I’m sorry,” I whisper, though the cave echoes my voice anyway.

  “Jane would want to come back so that means only one thing,” he muses, looking happy.

  “Which is?”

  “My sister is alive, and whoever has taken her is going to die.”

  It’s been two months since I tried to summon Jane Vincent, and another three students have gone missing. Including the slug-boys, that makes eight in total since I came to this academy, and the wall had already been covered in them.

  Why haven’t any of the missing students been found yet?

  I stare up at the latest poster on the cafeteria wall. The blood drains from my face when I see who the unlucky victim is. She’s the girl I saw leaving Greyhorn’s office that day, all shaken and as white as a ghost. I wonder if the previous girl was her friend and she went out to look for her? I would’ve done the same if I found Sage’s poster on this wall.

  With so many students going missing, I’m beginning to think Jonah could be right. Maybe Jane is alive and someone took her.

  “Why isn’t the academy doing anything about this?” I say, more to myself than anything.

  Zander wraps an arm around me, a protective thing he’s started doing these past few weeks; not that I’m complaining. “They are behind the scenes. Haven’t you noticed four more Shadow Wardens have been hanging around here?”

  I nod. I had been surprised when I saw them hanging out in the common area. At first, I thought it was the guys I turned into slugs, but they weren’t juniors and they actually seemed like decent people. One of them even helped me when I dropped my bag on the floor and scattered all my books.

  It’s just past dinner and everyone is leaving the cafeteria to hang out.

  I don’t bother lowering my voice when I say to Zander, “If the tattoos on our necks are trackers, why can’t the professors just, like, track them?”

  “It’s not that easy,” Zander explains, steering me away from the depressing wall. “I taught you how to block out the tracker. If they have been captured, their captors could quite easily do the same. Or they could…”

  He doesn’t finish, but I wince at the thought of all their heads being chopped off.

  “Who would do such a thing…?” I mumble, rubbing my arms even though I’m not cold.

  Zander rubs my arm, too, and brings me in close, his peppermint scent wrapping around me. “Don’t worry, my lady. I’ll protect you.”

  I snort at that. “I’m not worried about me going missing. I’m worried about my loved ones.” I tilt my head up at him as he steers us back towards the common area. “How is Echo? His nose looked a little swollen when I saw him yesterday.”

  “Well, that’s what he gets for flying into my window. And why did you suddenly ask about Echo? Am I not loved?”

  I playfully shove him. “You’re an ass, Zander, you know that?”

  His hand moves away from my arm and to the small of my back. It feels so good, and I’m relieved Pitch isn’t with me right now. He went into the shadows of the forest to do some digging for my tryouts class tomorrow. I don’t think of it as cheating. More like covering all my bases.

  Plus, we’re starting to get desperate now. With autumn descended upon us, I’m worried that the leaves will hide our clue even more, just like the tale about the carpenter and the imp.

  We walk through the common area and climb the stairs to the dormitories. At the top of them, Headmaster Greyhorn stands in the doorway, his imposing shadow towering over us. Zander lets me go upon seeing him. I don’t know what’s coming over me but I’ve got to ask.

  “Sir, have any of the students been found yet?”

  Greyhorn stays perfectly rooted to the spot and looks down his hooked nose at me. “If they had been, Charles, I am certain you would be the first to know.” Turning his attention to Zander, he snarls, “Haven’t you got work to be doing, Sabhain?”

  Zander doesn’t so much as move. “It’s my day off, sir.”

  “I see.” Greyhorn clicks his tongue and then glides past us, his black cloak billowing around him like the wings of a bat. “Then you won’t mind stopping by my office to help me with something.”

  It’s not a question, but an order.

  We both move to the side, allowing Greyhorn the full stairway like the god he thinks he is. He casts me a veiled glance as he marches by, his shrewd eyes cold and calculating, and then he climbs down the stairs with long, heavy strides.

  “I wish I knew why he hates me so much,” I whisper to Zander, sliding into the common area.

  “The headmaster is…a peculiar man.”

  “That’s one way to put it.”

  Zander’s hand finds purchase on my back again. When I turn to look at him, there’s something different in his expression, something dark.

  “Are you okay?”

  As soon as I utter those words, his face changes, and he puts on a smile I know he doesn’t feel inside.

  “Of course, my lady. Just looks like I’ll be…busy tonight. Aren’t I lucky?”

  He sounds anything but pleased about the prospect.

  “Maybe afterwards, I can see Echo?” I suggest, leaning against the girl’s dormitory door.

  Zander salutes me and then turns around, disappearing down the stairs.

  Grinning to myself, I push into the dorms and walk down to my room. Even from several feet away, I can see that the door is slightly ajar, releasing just a tiny sliver of light. I frown and reach for the handle. Okay, weird. It’s been left open and it’s unlocked. Sage never leaves the door open, and she always locks it when she’s inside.

  Carefully, I slide open the door open and creep into my room. The clothes I left folded on the foot of my bed are now discarded over the floor. My bedsheets are thrown back, my pillows messed up, the books on my nightstand—the ones I’ve been reading every night, including the Fae book—are all opened.

  I hear the shower go on in the bathroom, and I lift my fists, ready to attack.

  The door swings open and Sage appears in a bathrobe, her hair wrapped up in a towel. I know instantly this wasn’t Sage. Since we were young, we’ve always respected each other’s privacy, and Sage is more of a clean freak than I am. Quite a few times I’ve returned to our room and she’s cleaned it rather obsessively.

  “Someo
ne’s been fucking around in our room,” I tell her, grabbing my clothes off the floor and tossing them back onto my bed.

  Sage lifts up her hands. “We haven’t been getting freaky in here, I swear, and I locked the door before I went in for a shower. You know I always do.”

  “I know.” I stand beside my bed, shaking with anger. “But someone has been in here, Sage. Look at all my books.” I lift the nearest one, the book about faes, and show her the crumpled up page where someone threw it onto the table. “This is completely barbaric! I mean, who’d dump a book like this?”

  She comes over and squints her eyes at me. “You’re right. That isn’t like you at all. Or me, for that matter. Who do you think it could’ve been?”

  “Greyhorn.”

  The word leaves my lips before I can even register it.

  “The headmaster?” Sage says incredulously. “What makes you think it was him.”

  “There’s just something about him,” I tell her. “The way he looks at me. He gave me this book. And he was outside the girl’s dorms just before I came in here.”

  My best friend starts to rearrange my bedding and I help her. Once the room is back to normal, and Sage’s OCD can settle, she turns to me.

  “Buzzie, I love you and all, but how do you think it was him? Do you have proof?”

  I groan, looking up at our ceiling. “No. Not yet.”

  “Remember what happened when you thought Keeper Rose was plotting to turn us into imps?”

  “She kept telling us to wear our shoes on the wrong feet,” I argue, inwardly cringing at how stupid that sounds all these years later. “Everyone knows to turn someone into an imp, you need to switch their feet over.”

  Sage gives me a stupid look. “Uh-huh. I mean, it did turn out that one of the boys just hexed her so she’d constantly get her left and right mixed up. There wasn’t anything nefarious about it.”

  “I just know this time, Sage… I know that he’s gotta have something to do with this. I get some serious psychopathic vibes from him.”