Blessed: Academy of the Seraph

by Brandi Elledge

  Remy jumped up on her desk and started disco dancing while ironically singing “Staying Alive.” It took everything I had not to laugh. I was biting the inside of my cheek so hard I tasted blood.

  Mrs. Fields pushed the button on the intercom, calling for Mr. Habb. How the moral philosophy teacher would be helpful was beyond me.

  Remy shrieked, “Eek! That’s the po-po for ghosts. She’s on to me. Gotta run, babe.” She flew through the wall to the outside of the school while Mrs. Fields continued to turn in a circle.

  When nothing happened for a few minutes, Mrs. Fields began to straighten up her desk with shaky hands. “Don’t think that a ghost will get you out of your work.” Her voice caught, and her eyes continually shifted all around the room. Obviously, ghosts were her Achilles’ heel.

  “Pair up, students, and get to work.”

  There was a ton of grumbles, but everyone started moving their chairs.

  I dropped my head and concentrated on the assigned twenty-one questions before me. We were to identify the fifteen archangels by the descriptions of their personalities. I would be without a partner, so it’d take me twice as long. Might as well go ahead and get started.

  There was a loud grunt as a desk screeched on the floor as it scooted closer to mine.

  “What are these desks made of?”

  I looked up in time to see a scrawny kid who had to be six feet tall plopping down in her seat that was now freakishly close to mine. She pushed back her mop of curls before she propped her chin on her hands and began to stare at me.

  Um … “What are you doing?”

  She stacked her workbook and papers on her desk, making her unruly, bright orange hair fall in her face. Pushing it back into place, she said, “You needed a partner, and I needed a partner, so …” She trailed off.

  I smiled. “So, you thought you would throw in your lot with mine?”

  “Something like that. I’m Hannah, by the way. My parents took one look at my hair and named me after Archangel Haniel.” Her orange curls bounced as she moved in her seat. Her blue eyes were bright in her pale face. “So, Mrs. Fields? Can we talk about how she was purposefully trying to embarrass you? Which makes me wonder why. I mean, she doesn’t really like anyone, but she loathes you. I cannot stand her, and since she can’t stand you …” She gave a little shrug. “Jokes on her, though. Look over my shoulder and see what we’ve done.”

  Three girls were arguing with who should be partners.

  “One of us was bound to be the odd man out. Kids think I’m eccentric because, let’s face it, weird is too harsh a word, and I deserve better, and you’re a newbie, so everyone will shy away from you at first. At least until after orientation.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Why is that?”

  “There are two categories that you can fall into. The fully blessed or a demi, and then there are sub-categories in each of those two. We all get rated. If your blessing is minimal, people will ignore you. If you’re a high-level demi or a powerful fully blessed, you are automatically part of the cool crowd. Everyone loves a warrior.” She rolled her eyes while making a gagging motion with her index finger stuck in her mouth.

  “So, I’ll find out all that at orientation?”

  “Basically.”

  “So, what are you?”

  “Fully blessed. A darken got his hands on me last year.” The girl looked embarrassed for a brief second. “I’m only seventeen. I don’t think anyone under eighteen has their powers yet, at least not that I’m aware of, but I still know what I’m capable of. They told me my level of power will be a two. So, when my powers do come to me, I won’t be awe-inspiring. Half the damn demis in this place are already more powerful than I’ll ever become.”

  Interesting. I had dogs talking to me, trees trying to grope me, and I was actively communicating with my dead roomie. What did that mean?

  “So, we find out what power level we are at the ceremony?”

  “Yeah.”

  Mr. Habb had finally arrived and was talking with Mrs. Fields about the possible ghost, though she did manage to stop mid-conversation to shoot us a glare. “You ladies better be working on the assignment that I gave you and nothing else.”

  I made a great show of reading the worksheet in front of me while, out of the side of my mouth, I said, “We better work.”

  “Yep, I can feel her eyes on us.” She snickered. “Man, she hates you.”

  I scribbled down an answer. “How do you know it’s not you?”

  “She would have to notice me to not like me, and I personally think that would be a step up from being invisible.” She pointed to the first question that I had answered on my paper. “That one is wrong.”

  Huh?

  “Which angel is always calm and sympathetic and forgiving? The answer is Zadkiel.”

  I sighed as I erased my answer. How would knowing the angels’ personalities help me in real life? And shouldn’t all angels be calm, sympathetic, and forgiving?

  Hannah chuckled as I aggressively wrote the correct answer. “You’ll learn it eventually.”

  “And if I don’t?”

  “Then you won’t pass the class.” She was quickly filling out her worksheet. “Your first day here was crazy, huh? I was out in the hall when Marlie-Beth and Angelina were being their natural sweet selves.”

  Putting my long hair in a ponytail to give my hands something to do, I said, “Yeah, well, I think everyone probably saw that confrontation.”

  “You know what I also witnessed? That newbie that is so freaking hot come to your rescue. So, are you two an item now?”

  I laughed. “No. Trev is just my friend, even though I tried to convince him that, by being my friend, it’ll make it harder in the long run. You know, when we have to decide which academy we will be staying at.”

  “Well, don’t worry about warning me. I’m pretty sure that I’m getting kicked out at the end of the year. My powers are too low.”

  “You want to stay here?”

  “I do. There is a few here at the academy who are horrible, but for the most part, we’re like a little family. Besides, the commander is fair and also the hottest male I’ve ever seen in my life.”

  We both laughed, causing Mrs. Fields to come over to our desks.

  “Is there something funny about the archangels?”

  “No, ma’am,” I said, shaking my head.

  For the rest of the period, we didn’t talk.

  After Hannah did her work, she switched her paper with mine so I could have her answers. I gave her a fist bump before I looked down at the correct answers and began to copy.

  Why was it so important to learn about the angels in my dreams? What did they have to do with the academy? Other than, at some point, they touched humans and made demis. Why did I have powers before I was eighteen? The questions just kept adding up. Nothing made sense, and my fear of the unknown grew every minute I was in this place.

  Dread curled around me like a fist.

  The rest of the day flew by. Hand-to-hand combat was fun, and without the commander showing up, I was allowed to partner with Trev. He wasn’t lying when he said that he was an amazing fighter. He was almost as good as the commander. However, he wasn’t as intense and was gentler in the way he sparred with me.

  Trev came up behind me. “You need to learn how to get out of a chokehold.” He pressed his body against mine, and my stomach fluttered. “When you feel my hand come across your chest, I want you to immediately drop your chin.”

  I did as he asked, lowering my chin, just as his other hand came up to clasp his hand that was under my neck.

  “Good. Now give a step to the side as you grab my wrist. I want your left hand to shoot down to the groin but don’t actually hit the jewels, beautiful.”

  I gave a nervous laugh as I moved slowly. “Now what?”

  “Now, you’ve made me double over. You’re going to take that same arm and drive your elbow into my nose.”

  We repeated the steps over and o
ver until I was moving a little quicker. Mr. Montgomery stopped by and praised us before he moved on to the next group. By the time the bell rang, I felt confident I could get out of a chokehold.

  When lunch time came around, Hannah and Trev sat with me at a picnic table outside. Remy was there, too, trying to guess if Trev went commando, but I didn’t tell anyone that. I was making friends, so I didn’t want to weird them out right away. I would wait to tell them that I could see the dead.

  The rest of the day flew by pretty fast. My weapons training class wasn’t going great, but I hadn’t hurt myself yet, so that was a positive. We were all still in the process of trying out different types of weapons. The bow wasn’t my friend yet, but I had hopes I’d get better.

  I was totally slaying cardio training; up to running three miles, which was amazing, in my opinion, considering I had never run a mile before the academy.

  After training, I did a quick lay of the land to see that, unfortunately, the whole academy had wards surrounding it to keep other beings out and to keep us in. If I had to escape this place, it was going to be tricky. In the meantime, I would learn everything I could about the people in charge of the academy, including the commander himself. Knowing the academy leaders better would help me to avoid them if I had to escape. I had asked Remy earlier if the commander had a way of tracking someone if they left the academy, but she was no help. She laughed for a solid five minutes.

  I tabled my future worries for the time being and had just gotten out of the shower. I was trying to decide what to wear for orientation tonight. My choices were slim—something out of my duffel bag or a school uniform. Every outfit I owned had been given to me and was secondhand. Most had tears or holes, and every piece I laid out on the bed, Remy winced at. It looked like I would be wearing pleather and a T-shirt.

  I grabbed a uniform and was about to head to the bathroom when Remy pretended to faint.

  “What?” I said. “This is all I have?”

  Remy daintily scooped her hair over to one side. “Baby, that’s the saddest thing I’ve ever heard. I’m currently more depressed now than when I found out I was dead. You can’t wear that. Everyone will be dressed up in their finest.”

  But this was my finest.

  I sighed as I plopped down on my bed.

  Remy stood up and gave me air kisses. “Listen to your bestie. Go, do your hair and makeup. Let me worry about the clothing.”

  I sighed but did as she asked.

  Thirty minutes before the orientation started, there was a hard knock on my door. I answered it, still wearing my robe, even though I knew who was on the other side.

  The commander stood there briefly in shock before he closed his mouth. “Um, may I come in?”

  “Sure, why not?”

  He carried a black garment bag in his hands that gently laid across my bed before turning to me. “I had an unexpected visitor today. I believe it was your friend Remy.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Someone broke into my personal quarters and wrote in pink lipstick on the mirror.”

  “What did it say?”

  He grimaced. “It started out with something inappropriate about my physique and ended with an idle threat.”

  I smiled. My ghost was one of a kind. She could hit on you, and then make a threat and literally give zero shits. I loved her.

  I looked at the garment bag. “So, you were forced to come up with something?”

  The commander shrugged. “Actually, I’m embarrassed that I didn’t think of it sooner. Most kids are ecstatic to come to the academy. Their parents send them off with cookies and a credit card. You wouldn’t believe the shipments Richard has to pick up every week.”

  I held my hands out to the sides. “Sorry, no parents or credit cards.”

  “Yeah, I know. That’s why I should’ve thought of it sooner.”

  Great, he pitied me for my sad life.

  I unzipped the bag, revealing a fiery red dress with a back that laced up like a corset. I ran my hand over the beads. “It’s beautiful.” And according to the tag, it would fit me. “How did you know my size?”

  His green eyes were molded to my body, reminding me that I stood there in just a robe. “Lucky guess.”

  “How did you get it so fast?”

  He sported a cocky grin. “I have wings.”

  My eyes bulged. “When will I get mine?”

  He laughed. “Only the fully blessed get wings, and it’s after your birthday.” His brows came together. “Well, usually, but nothing about you is textbook.” I watched his eyes travel to my naked legs again. He cleared his throat. “I’ll let you get dressed.”

  As he walked toward the door, I picked up the bottom of the dress, feeling the material between my hands. I had never had anything so fancy.

  Before he closed the door behind him, I said, “Thank you for this.”

  He gave me a nod. “My pleasure.”

  The way he said that word had heat surging through me.

  He briefly narrowed his eyes on my lips before he quickly left, taking all the oxygen in the room with him. I didn’t understand my reaction to him, but I had to admit that there was a deep attraction that I couldn’t explain.

  Twenty-five minutes later, I was wearing the red gown that fit me like a glove on top before slightly flaring out at the hips. The dress shimmered in the light of the gymnasium where the orientation would be held as my heels clicked on the floor.

  Taking in my surroundings, I saw a raised platform at the back of the gym, with chairs placed in a semi-circle so that everyone could face the stage, a path through the middle.

  I ran a hand down the nicest thing I’d ever owned once again, thankful that Remy and the commander had come up with something for me to wear since everyone I passed was in evening attire.

  The gymnasium was crowded, so I skirted to the edges in search of finding my friend, Hannah, which wasn’t hard, considering she was as tall as a skyscraper, and her orange hair was like a torch—visible from a mile away.

  Before I could make my way over to her, I felt a hand lightly touch my elbow. Coming out of the shadows was the commander.

  He gave me an appraising look before his lips slightly tilted up. “You’re not thinking of running, are you?”

  “No, just thought it would be easier to go around the mass of bodies.” His hand was still on my arm, and I did my best to act unaffected.

  He took me in slowly from my head to my toes, making the familiar heat in my belly rise like a tidal wave. “You look stunning.”

  The salvia dried in my mouth.

  “I’ll let you get to your friends, but just remember that tonight is just determining a piece of who you are.” He let go of my arm, and then I watched as he cut through the middle of the crowd without any issue. They just naturally parted for him, as if everyone knew they should get out of the way without qualm for something so magnificent. I didn’t blame them. Power seemed to radiate from him with every stride he took.

  I caught sight of Hannah again and made my way over to her.

  Her mouth dropped open when she saw me. “Wow. Looking good, friend.”

  “Thanks.”

  Trev came up behind me, sending tingles down my spine as he whispered in my ear, “Hey, beautiful.”

  “Hey,” I said way more huskily than I intended. It should be illegal to have this many gorgeous men under one roof.

  Remy floated over to our group. “Damn, girl. The commando commander did good. Are you wearing a bra?”

  “What is it with you and undergarments?”

  Trev stepped to the side as his eyebrows drew together. “Um … Are you talking to me? ’Cause, if so, this conversation is heading in a great direction.”

  Remy started dying with laughter.

  I waved a hand. “No, no. Just talking to myself. They say you do that when stressed, and these heels have ramped up my anxiety. I don’t know if I’m going to wobble or fall. Should we go sit?”

  Hanna
h said, “Newbies have to sit in the front row, but I’ll catch up with you afterward.”

  Trev bowed at me before he extended his elbow. “Shall I escort you?”

  I laughed at his theatrics. “Why, of course, kind sir.”

  We took the first couple of chairs that we came to, and as soon as we sat down, the gym lights dimmed. My knee bounced up and down as I let my nerves get the best of me. I didn’t know what to expect, but I had a feeling that, after tonight, my life was going to be changed. I had learned a long time ago to trust my gut.

  An older woman came out onto the stage and sat in one of the two chairs on the platform. Her gray hair was beautifully braided over one shoulder. Then the commander walked to the center of the platform, and immediately everyone in the audience quietened.

  “We recently found four more blessed students,” he addressed all the students at the academy. “Today, we will officially welcome them. If they are demis, we will find out what line they come from, along with their power level. If they are fully blessed, we will announce them as so.” His eyes landed on me briefly before he continued, “The first one on our list is Angie McBeth.”

  Angie, a girl with long legs and short blonde hair, hopped up onto the stage in excitement. She sat in the vacant chair, as the older woman shuffled a deck.

  Trev leaned in close to me, his hot breath tickling my ear. “The old woman already knows what we’re capable of. She is just doing all this for show.”

  I turned to him. “You think so?”

  “Yeah, the commander gets off with the whole hoopla of everything.”

  I faced forward again to find the commander’s face set in stone. He didn’t need words. The way he was glaring at Trev, it was apparent that, if Trev gave him an excuse for an ass-whooping, the commander would jump on it.

  “I think he heard you,” I murmured.

  “Maybe. Or maybe it’s because”—he leaned in really close this time, his bottom lip touching my earlobe—“I’m the one sitting next to you.”

  I looked back at the commander. Now he was focused on the girl on stage, but his body language was still taut. His jaw was clenched so hard that it was a wonder he didn’t break his teeth.