“Yes, but it is so irritating and frustrating that of all the things Archer has to worry about, my sex life—or lack thereof—is at the top of his list.” Sanaya sighed. “This place is suffocating me.”
“I feel you, ma, but you know that ain’t enough to send me running in the other direction,” King said taking her hand. “And you see? They let us go on our own with no escort to the dining hall. I think they just don’t want you to end up being another statistic when you have so much potential. I saw it a lot back home, and I’m surprised that I was fortunate enough not to endure the label of being a ‘baby daddy.’ Being chased from sunup to sundown by some chick for child support is not my idea of a good time. If that were the case, things would have been different for me and I would have never had the opportunity to meet and fall in love with you.”
Sanaya stopped walking and stared at King, her brown eyes searching his. “What did you say?”
“You heard me, girl,” he teased. “With those supersonic ears you have, you know what I said. I love you, and I think I fell in love the first time I heard your voice in my head.” He pulled her in, pressing her body close to his, resting her head on his chest. “And then when I saw you fight for the first time, I knew I was in deep. You faced off with that vampire, muscles tense, no fear, just pure gangsta at its finest. I remember thinking to myself, how could all this fineness, all this intelligence, all this heart be wrapped up in one body? And how could she not be made just for me?”
“You stopped my heart the first time I met you, King,” she said inhaling his raw, clean scent. “I love you, too.”
“And you restarted my heart.” He gave her a quick peck on the head. “Baby girl, I already told you this, but I will wait for you. The time isn’t right for us to go that route. You still have to make it through your transition. Vampires need to be turned to ash and all of that stuff. I’m cool if you’re cool.”
Sanaya’s heart swelled from unspent emotion and adoration for this man, her knight, her rock, her everything. “What was your first time like?” She cursed herself the instant the question left her lips.
King smiled, kissed her again, and shrugged. “It wasn’t anything like how I intend for yours to be. It was over before it started, and the girl just got up and left like it was nothing.” He checked his cell for the time. “Now let’s go eat before they close the hall. I’m starving. I wonder if they gon’ serve that pizza I like.”
Sanaya laughed. “That was some good pizza.” Wrapping her arms around his neck, she wished that the world could be rid of vampires and all things evil. All she wanted to do was spend the rest of her life in his arms and plan out their future together.
“I’ll race you,” King said.
Stunned, Sanaya watched him take off full speed in the direction of the cafeteria. “Wait a minute! That’s cheating!” She laughed as she took off after him and closed quickly on his heels.
It had been quite some time since Sanaya felt this happy and free. She could only hope that time would slow down enough for them to enjoy these moments as if they could last forever.
As expected, the dining hall was noisy, filled with the usual banter and laughter from The Academy’s students releasing the pent-up tension of the day’s workload. Sanaya and King strolled in arm-in-arm looking like the happy, teenage couple that they were. The student body had dubbed them “The Academy’s King and Queen,” the girls eyeing King with hopeful desire and the guys wishing they could take his place. King, wanting to show off, balanced both his tray and Sanaya’s as she located their group, which now included three newest additions: Daniel, Maria, and Tony. Sanaya reached to pull out King’s chair, and he playfully zapped her with a tactical charge and pulled the chair out for her while still balancing their trays. Sucking her teeth, she offered him a frown, but as soon as he set down their trays, he bowed, urging her to sit and making her laugh even though it was obvious she did not want to.
“That’s what I’m talkin’ bout!” Bullet leaned over the table and gave King a pound with his fist. “Show her who’s boss but still treat her like a lady.”
While others laughed, Sanaya folded her arms. “I got your boss, Bullet.”
Maya nudged her gently, giggling frantically with the other girls. “But it was funny!”
King pecked her cheek and sat next to her.
“Yo, mi amigos,” Daniel said with a mouth full of food. “This place is dope.”
“We cannot thank you enough, Sanaya,” Maria said, looking at the different faces that surrounded her.
“Don’t thank me,” Sanaya said. “You guys were awesome. Y’all have just been out there on those streets straight guerrilla with it?”
“Pretty much,” Tony said with a shrug. “That’s how it is for a lot of us.”
“But you give us hope,” Maria continued. “All of you.”
“Yeah, Tony and I were thinking that as soon as we finish our training here, we should start our own Guardian team to replenish what was lost,” Daniel said. “And also build a refuge for those who cannot travel all the way to Vatican City for help.”
“That’s a great idea, Danny,” Maya said, instantly capturing the attention of the members of the table—including Trent’s.
“Yeah?” Daniel asked, a slow grin creeping up on his face.
“Yeah,” Maya said. “There is a big need for more Guardians on the streets considering a whole squad was lost in Louisiana.”
Bullet sighed. “She had to go there.” He pushed away his tray. “And I was enjoying my lunch.”
“What did I say?” Maya asked.
“It’s bad enough it’s all over every news channel,” Bullet said. “I was hoping to eat my lunch with my team in peace.”
“C’mon, Bullet,” Sanaya said. “We’re all thinking about what’s happening. So Maya put it out there. So what? Eat.” She turned to Danny. “Tell me more of your plans.”
“We really want to start our own team and build a compound,” Daniel said. “And I would love to have you as a member of my team, Maya.”
Maya blushed as a collective whoo erupted from the table.
“Aw, man, playa, that’s how you do it!” King laughed.
“Go, Maya,” Sanaya said with a smile.
Maria chuckled as she shook her head. “Excuse my brother, you guys. He is a serious flirt.”
Daniel leaned back, smiled, and opened his arms. “What can I say? Maya is gorgeous, but she be actin’ funny ‘cuz her best friend is the Slayer.”
Another round of laughter and teasing filtered into the air, all of them doubled over with hysteria. It had been so long since any of them could unwind, and by the time dinner was over, all of them were exhausted from laughing. When the group parted ways, King kissed Sanaya good night, and Sanaya saw Maya exchanging numbers with Daniel.
She is so going to invade my space tonight about the newbie recruit, Sanaya thought.
Sanaya also noticed Trent’s sad expression. She was definitely going to reach out to him, too, if for no other reason than to maintain team morale.
“All right, boo, I will see you later,” King whispered in her ear.
Slightly dazed from his kiss and his overall presence, a hint of silver flickered in her irises when she gazed at him with dreamy eyes. “Call me when you get out of the shower.”
“Oh my God, ‘Naya, don’t talk to me like that with the silver in your eyes, ma. I’m serious. After what almost happened today? I gotta go.” He gave her a quick peck on the forehead and darted away from her. She giggled as he almost ran smack into Trent, who was just down the hall watching Maya bid Daniel good night.
Yeah, this is about to become really awkward soon, Sanaya thought.
She watched King nearly elbow Trent out of the way as Maya sashayed away from Danny paying no mind to Trent. Sanaya shook her head, pushed open the door to their dorm, and made her way inside with Maya, Charlie, and Lisa behind her.
As soon as the door was closed, the girls squealed around Maya
, desperate to learn the scoop on Danny.
“Oh my gosh, Maya, you are so lucky!” Lisa chimed, collapsing on the couch. “Danny is so freakin’ cute!”
“You tagged a good one, Yaya.” Sanaya laughed, sitting next to Lisa. “He is fiiiiiine!”
“I’m telling King!” Maya teased, poking Sanaya in the ribs. “Oh my God, you guys, I think I have a crush.”
“He is a hunk, Maya,” Charlie added. “Where is he from again?”
“Los Angeles,” Maya replied with a grin.
“We need to take a trip out there ASAP,” Charlie said, focusing her attention on Sanaya. “And you said he can control fire. too?”
“Like a flamethrower,” Sanaya said. “Dude was awesome. I have never seen a Guardian who can manipulate the elements.”
“So, Maya,” Charlie said, “what’s up with you two? Do you like him?”
Maya covered her face to hide the all too glorious smile that threatened to reveal her true feelings. “Nothing is up. We just traded numbers, and that …” She sighed and examined her fingers. “That was it.”
“You do like him!” Charlie shouted.
Maya nodded. “Yes I do. Oh my God, guys, I’m in like!”
The group squealed, followed by a round of laughter and high fives.
“Maya and Danny …” Charlie sang.
“Sitting in the tree ...” Sanaya and Lisa added.
“Oh whatever,” Maya said. “It ain’t that far yet.”
“She said ‘yet’!” Charlie teased.
“Oh for the love of …” Maya sighed. “I just met the boy.”
The girls continued to tease Maya until her face flushed a fuchsia red and she disappeared into the room she shared with Sanaya. Naturally, Sanaya followed her to find her plopped on her bed smiling from ear to ear.
“So I take it Trent is a thing of the past?” Sanaya asked with a grin.
“Yes ... no ...” Maya giggled. “I don’t know! Everything is happening so fast and ... I thought I was over him, ya know? He did ditch me at first for you and then Elizabeth. And now, Daniel seems to like me, and he is sooooo fine, girl. I don’t know what to do.”
“Well, you don’t have to make a decision now, Yaya. Just have fun and see where it goes.”
“You’re right. But do you think Danny will still like me when he finds out what I’m capable of?”
Sanaya brushed her friend’s hair back gently. “I think he will think you two are the perfect match made in hell.”
Maya snorted and then burst into laughter. “Right? He throws fire, and I summon and control demons.”
“The perfect fit.”
The two laughed until both of their phones rang simultaneously, and Sanaya smiled as her friend excitedly answered the phone. It had been quite some time since she had witnessed her BFF’s face light up, and if Danny turned out to be a jerk, Sanaya was going to personally kick his ass.
Chapter Fifteen
Petronius and Alex looked on from a distance at the carnage left behind at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Most of the injured humans had been taken away to local hospitals, while the dead were still being examined by the forensics teams under bright lights. Dawn was soon approaching, and there was still work that needed to be done for the Dark Lord. They needed to find Cain as quickly as possible, but with the recent raids from The Council and angelic intervention taking place all around the globe, the search for Adam’s son had proven to be a bit taxing. The bloodbath that lay before them, however, filled their dark hearts with hope. Selene, their only link to Cain, was alive and obviously well. But where was her lair?
Petronius inhaled slowly, savoring the blood-tainted air that triggered his own need to feed. His incisors lengthened when he tasted the vague, yet familiar scent of an entity that mysteriously disappeared and had not returned for months. “Do you not find it odd that our dear ally Daemon has not been seen in quite the while?”
“Daemon has apparently been busy.” Alex’s eyes focused like a hawk’s on a young, female detective who had recently arrived on the scene and was approaching one of the many dead bodies. Her red hair flowed past her shoulders, with streaks of copper and gold bringing light to the shadows. “Perhaps with Selene?”
When Petronius’ growl permeated the airwaves, the forensic team looked up and surveyed the darkness. “Do you smell it?”
“I do,” Alex said. “I love the smell of human fear.”
“Yes,” Petronius said. “It only improves with age, doesn’t it? Like fine wine.”
“It does,” Alex said.
“Daemon, Daemon, you clever vampire,” Petronius said coolly. “Indeed we have underestimated him.”
“Indeed,” Alex said.
“If we find Daemon …”
“We find Selene,” Alex said. “The sun will rise soon, Petronius. We must take shelter.”
“It will, indeed.” Petronius frowned. “You want the redhead, yes?”
“Yes,” Alex said.
Petronius nodded at her. “She knows we’re here. I do not believe you should tangle with that one. She is a white witch from a formidable bloodline. She will not be an easy conquest, Alex.”
“But her blood calls me in a way I have not heard in a long time,” Alex said, licking his lips. “And I will conquer her.”
Petronius shrugged. “I need you alive and well to find Daemon.”
“I will be.”
Petronius sighed. “But she is not worth the risk. And need I remind you that white witches are almost as bad as Slayers are. She can sense us, and rest assured she will be back with her coven to hunt and put down protection spells to keep us away.”
“Fine,” Alex grumbled. “What will we do about Daemon and Selene?”
“Meet me at my lair tomorrow night.”
Alex nodded. “Tomorrow night then, but until then, I must feed. Her blood is driving me insane.”
Petronius chuckled. “Her blood does remind me of the call of the siren. Very well, feed and feed well.” Petronius disappeared into the night, shape-shifting into a large bat, and took flight.
Alex followed suit, but instead of a bat, he took the form of a wolf and dashed off into the swamp.
After the sun had made its way across the sky, Sanaya sat in Professor Grizoni’s class, ready to receive training from The Council and not Archer. She was not sure how to feel or what to think about that. She made sure not to be on the phone with King all night because she had no idea what the former Slayers would throw her way. Maya, on the other hand, could barely open her eyes after staying on the phone all night with Danny. Sanaya tried to tell Maya subtly to save those all -night conversations for the weekends, as she had learned to do with King, but it was clear that Maya and Danny were way into each other, so Maya would have to bite the bullet.
Class ended with Professor Grizoni assigning their homework: they were to outline their future research paper on the history of Lycans. Sanaya groaned. Her entire being revolved around the supernatural. As she tossed her pen and notebook into her backpack, Professor Grizoni nodded in her direction but did not pull her to the side, which she appreciated. She had no time for conspiracy talk, but she was grateful she had someone she could go to other than Archer if a problem arose. Trent saw her, and she could sense that he wanted to speak with her. He had heard the whisper in his thoughts concerning Maya, and Sanaya knew this conversation was about to become uncomfortable.
They walked side by side out of the classroom and into the busy hallway. Pulling her braids back into a high bun, she asked, “What’s up?”
Trent had taken his cornrows down and allowed the dark, long waves of his mane to hang loosely against his shoulders. Despite his previous behavior as an A-1 asshole, Trent was handsome and stood a little over six feet tall. The training sessions had definitely left some awesome results. As fine as Trent was, and as arrogant as he could be, Sanaya wondered why he did not have his own harem following his every move. Next to King, Trent was the most sought after bachelor
by both students and staff—because he was nineteen. Sanaya supposed she was about to find out.
“Nothing’s up.” Trent shrugged. “I just wanted to know what was up with Maya.”
“That is a whole lot of nothing,” Sanaya said. “Why don’t you ask her yourself?”
“C’mon, ‘Naya,” he pleaded.
“What? Trent, not to be rude or anything, but you did kind of diss my girl ... Just saying.”
“How many ways can I apologize?” Trent asked.
Sanaya felt his sincerity, and without pushing too hard, she probed the outskirts of his mind and found the truth quite easily. Trent really did have a thing for Maya but lacked the courage to tell her. Another complication.
She sighed. “Talk to her, Trent. That is all I can tell you.” Sanaya turned to leave.
“But what’s up with this Danny guy?”
The sudden change in Trent’s tone made her pause. Yup, this was definitely a complication. “That’s why I said talk to her.” She gave his shoulder a gentle pat.
He lowered his head. “You don’t like me either, huh?”
“Trent, the past is in the past with me. I can’t speak for everyone else, but you and I are cool.” She smiled, which seemed to cheer him up a little. “Sit with us at lunch, okay?”
She left him standing in the hall and continued to her next class. She released a silent prayer that no drama jumped off while The Council was present. As soon as she saw Maya, they were going to have a talk.
As always, after their second class Maya met Sanaya in the courtyard underneath the Willow tree. King had yet to arrive, and Sanaya figured they had more than enough time for some girl talk. Unfortunately, as Maya approached, Danny was beside her and the two looked very much like the happy couple Sanaya knew they’d be.
“Hey, girl,” Maya chirped as she approached.
“Hey, Maya,” Sanaya replied with a grin. “I see you are doing well.”
“Well, you know,” Danny said. “She got the right one by her side now, so she will always be all right.”
The Vampire Hunters Academy: The Shadows Page 10