“I can see that,” said Clara as Moldark approached. “Hi, Moldark.”
“Hey,” said Moldark dismissively. “Ready for round two?” he smirked at me.
“I will,” I tried assuring Clara, as she walked off in a huff.
“You will what?” Moldark raised an eyebrow, standing up close, right next to me.
“Nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
“Okay, let’s go again,” he said.
This time, I closed my eyes and tried something different. I used my magic instead of my vampire instincts, to sense Moldark. We both watched each other, completely still. And then, as I let everything fall away, I moved towards him. He didn’t disappear but instead rushed to tackle me to the ground. We sparred and I was able to lock my heel with his and get him on the ground. With one swift move, I held him down. Natalie and Valenthia cheered from the other side of the space and their voices echoed off the rocky walls.
“I have a question for you,” said Moldark, from underneath me, seemingly unbothered that I’d finally won this round.
“What?” I asked. Typical, even when I’d managed to pin him into the cold, hard ground, somehow, he still came off as cool and I was the one that sounded unsure.
“Now that we’re even in skill level, how about we hit a blood bar after class and compare notes on our strengths and weaknesses?”
I heard a loud sigh across from us and saw Clara watching me. Natalie, her sparring partner, empathized by giving a general shrug and smile. She had continued to listen even after I thought she’d gone. I had to give it to myself, I had an unparalleled ability to piss people of, despite consciously doing very little.
“I’m busy after class,” I murmured, getting off of Moldark and pulling myself up.
“What are you doing?” asked Moldark, with a grin.
“I’m studying with Nat and Val.”
“Tomorrow then.”
“I’ll see,” I replied, becoming conscious that Clara hadn’t been the only one who’d been listening to our conversation. Vamps. Why did I always forget that they could tune in over distances and through lots of background noise – and often did? Valenthia’s eyebrows lifted across her forehead and she winked at me, her one open eye, glowed like a garnet in the darkness.
“Miss. Quartz, a word!” came Duquette’s brusque voice, adding to my self-consciousness. She dismissed the class, indicating the lesson was over.
“Coming,” I called, making my way over to her.
“Stay behind a moment, please,” sang Duquette, not looking at me but scrutinizing my classmates as they left. “Mr. Taylor, I want better form from you next time,” she said to Darius as he walked past. He nodded. “Good job, Miss. Summers,” she said as Natalie smiled, “Miss. Rhain, during the first few lessons, you gave me the impression that you possessed potential. Today has successfully defeated that notion and unless you drastically improve, I fear for your longevity.”
“I’ll try harder, professor,” said Clara, staring hard at me.
“I’m sure you know what this is about,” Duquette said to me, after the last student was gone. Her voice was silky, smooth and dangerous. Her face as always, was unreadable. My blooming prickled in warning as I met her gaze, feigning ignorance. “The task you were assigned has yet to be completed.”
I took a deep breath, to disperse the impact of what she’d said. What would never be done. I felt like my magic had pooled in my chest and if I reacted too quickly, something would release and I’d end up knocking Duquette across the room. That really wouldn’t go down well when paired with what I had to say about my incomplete task. “If you’re talking about turning my best friend, I can’t do it,” I said.
“You mean, you won’t,” replied Duquette. Her voice was the same but her usually icy, cool eyes flickered red as she stared into me.
“No, I literally mean, I can’t find her,” I said.
“Bullshit,” stated Duquette, “what do you take us for? The two of you live in each other’s pockets. I bet you talk to her everyday.”
“I don’t. Not since I was forsaken,” I insisted, “and you were there. I’m not allowed to so much as contact any Crystal Witch again.”
“And being the innocent, sweet, little faery witch you are – or once were – of course you’ve done exactly as you were told,” mocked Duquette in her sing-song voice.
“I don’t have a choice,” I said, “the Grand High Witch was clear. If I disobey her orders, the S.L.A. will probably throw me in some supernatural prison – they’d love that, I am part Sanguine, remember?” I stared back at her.
“Okay, sure. But St. Erzsebet’s Academy has been nothing but kind to you and welcomed you. If those idiots at the light alliance did attempt to take you, no doubt our principal would ensure that you’re protected as our own.
“Instead, being the insolent, and endlessly stupid little girl you are, you choose to defy him and every other vampire. And for what? A bunch of witches who turned their backs on you? I’m warning you, Katrina Quartz, you’ve chosen the wrong side to party with,” said Duquette and streamed away.
Chapter 19
“You should definitely go!” Natalie squealed, almost deafening me as the three of us sat sprawled on my bed, “I would if I was in your position!”
“My ear!” I said throwing my pillow at her. She took it and held it in her lap, hugging it.
“Sorry but this is Moldark Whitlock we’re talking about!”
“Val? Can you help me out?” I said looking to Valenthia who was immersed in studying her Dark Magic book that Varga had handed out in the first lesson.
“I’m kinda with Nat on this one,” said Valenthia, marking the page she was on and closing the book, “he’s smoking hot and he’s one of the most popular guys in our whole school. I’ve even seen fourth years checking him out.
“I have a boyfriend!” I protested.
“Yes, but you don’t even know if you’ll ever see him again,” said Valenthia, “and don’t forget what I told you about my experience with being long-distance – which is what you are. In fact, you’re worse because he’s in the same city and yet there’s a huge and supernatural distance between you two!”
“Nothing against Ulric,” said Natalie, “but it’s not like you’re cheating on him. Just go and meet up with Moldark and see how it goes?”
“But even if I was interested in Moldark – which I’m not because I’m not even single,” I said, “what sucks is I can’t even come clean and tell him that I’m dating Ulric because I’m pretty sure he’d go and rat Ulric out.”
“Don’t you see? That’s exactly why you can’t keep avoiding meeting up with Moldark,” said Natalie.
“I’m confused,” I said.
“He thinks Ulric is off the scene. So does everyone else. If you play it too cool, people might twig that there’s a reason – like you have a fugitive boyfriend hidden away somewhere.”
“Or mind-blowingly, that I’m just not into Moldark because he’s not the gift to women that Clara and apparently, you two, think he is,” I rolled my eyes and went over to the fridge, getting each of us a bottle of blood.
“Why don’t you just go? It might help to have him on side,” persisted Valenthia, burying herself back into the book as she swigged from her bottle of blood.
“Are you finding anything interesting?” I asked.
“I think so. Even though it’s Dark Magic one-o-one, this book has some symbols that are the same as the ones in the book belonging to the charm you got from the library. If I can figure it out, we should try programming the charm – like putting a spell on it!”
“Can we?” I said, “I’m already in enough trouble as it is. I pretty much think Duquette will stake me at an assembly with the whole school present if we start working magic on a charm that I stole from Tempus Fugit.”
“Yeah, we should be careful,” agreed Natalie, “so when is this non-date with Moldark happening?”
“Tomorrow night,” I said regr
etting it as both my friends faces beamed. I already felt like I was betraying Ulric and I was only going because I knew, being paired up with him in Duquette’s class, Moldark would keep bugging me otherwise. And as annoying as it was, Natalie was right. If I kept saying no to one blood bar date with my classmate who also happened to be hottest guy in the school, it would arouse suspicion even if there was nothing to be suspicious of. Let alone in my case, where there was.
“Hey! What are you doing?” asked Valenthia as I grabbed the remaining bottles of blood from our fridge and stuffed them into my bag.
“I’m taking them for the grunch,” I said “and they’re not even from your fridge.”
“I think what Val means is, don’t you think that’s too many, too soon?” said Natalie, “the humans who restock our fridge while we’re at class might report it to Madame le Boursier if our fridge goes from almost always stocked last semester to empty everyday now.”
“And should we really be feeding it so much?” added Valenthia.
“Him. His name’s Rugrem,” I said annoyed, “someone has to feed him or he’ll starve down there.”
“Should we really be interfering though?” pressed Valenthia, “I mean, not that I have anything against it – him – but we’re already in pretty deep with the whole stealing the charm and not to mention your leaving and returning.” She looked at Natalie, who looked at her lap.
“Don’t worry, if we get caught, I’ll take the fall for all of it, happy?” I replied, turning to walk out of the room.
“That’s not it! You really think that’s why I’m saying this?” Valenthia was equally frustrated with me. “It’s about my visions,” she sighed, “I’m scared for you. I want you to be safe and I think visiting the grunch again and again is a really good way to get caught out. There’s no way that those dungeons aren’t being watched.”
“I’ll be okay,” I said as I walked out.
***
“How are you?” I asked as I saw Rugrem, still chained up like I’d left him.
“I’m still alive,” he replied. “And you came. I didn’t think you would.” He came close to the bars, towering above me.
“You shouldn’t be in here,” I said. I was getting fed up of the powerful supes pushing around other defenseless beings. As I took a closer look, I saw that he was more wounded than he’d been the day before. “How did that happen?” I asked.
“Le Boursier comes here to check me,” he said looking away, like he was ashamed of what had happened to him, “she brings the meanest Black Banes with her.”
“Who?” I asked.
“They’re different ones each time. All werewolves who side with her. She promises them dominion over vampires. Of course, she can’t give it to them. She’s deluded. A rogue vampire who herself has been treated like an inferior vampire. But everyone wants a chance to rule over those that rule over them.”
“Do you know a werewolf called Kane?” I asked, “He’s very tall. Has red hair.”
“He’s the alpha of the fledgling Black Banes that study here. No, he’s not on board with le Boursier,” said Rugrem.
“I’m going to try and get you out – I just don’t know how yet.” I handed him the bottles of blood, which he took gratefully. I craved one myself but every drop I’d managed to siphon was invaluable to him. I could always get more later. Rugrem opened one up and downed it gratefully. “And in the mean time at least you’ll be strong enough to kick their ass,” I said, hoping he wouldn’t have to.
“Thank you,” said Rugrem, “no one’s ever shown me kindness before.”
“We can help each other,” I said.
“What can I do for you?” asked the grunch, thoughtfully.
“Do you know where the Dark Spark is?”
“How do you know about that?” Rugrem tensed up.
“I snuck into Tempus Fugit,” I said truthfully, though I held back the part about Superno and Professor Frewin.
“I am impressed. It must be because you have witching magic in you. No one can get inside without being shown how.” He opened a second bottle of blood, making me wish I’d brought more, regardless of what Valenthia had said about our fridge being too empty. Next time I’d hit up the common area of our dorm too. There wouldn’t be a next time, I needed to get Rugrem out before he was bludgeoned to death by disgruntled Black Banes. “The Dark Spark hasn’t been kept in one place since the vampires came out about their existence,” said Rugrem, finishing off the second bottle. I reached out my hand so he could pass the empty ones back to me. He could not afford to be found with them.
“It’s moved around?”
“Yes. By order of the Sanguine Guild of Europe.”
“The name’s familiar,” I said, realizing that Devin had mentioned it in class when talking about Bathory.
“They’re meant to be neutral – not like the Dark Legion – they make decisions linked to everything vampire-related. But it’s common knowledge, at least amongst grunches that the Sanguine Guild is full of vamps that are also members of the Dark Legion.”
“It doesn’t surprise me,” I replied. “Who moves it – the Dark Spark? And to where?” I didn’t want to reveal that I knew the necklace couldn’t be touched by vampires, because that would definitely raise questions.
“They don’t trust werewolves, they’re too strong,” said Rugrem, “and vampires are out because the thing is cursed. Any vampire that touches it, will meet their end.”
“Then who?” I asked.
“Human mules. They compel them mostly, although there are a growing number that worship the Dark Legion enough to do it voluntarily too.”
This was exactly what Pearl had been looking for. I felt for my crystal in my bag and immediately sent the message. In spite of what I thought about Pearl, the S.L.A. needed to know this if they stood a chance against the Dark Legion. It was bad if humans were in on it too, even if some of them were being compelled – which in itself was bad. I wanted to talk to Safi there and then but knew it wasn’t the time or the place.
I also tagged on an additional message, letting Pearl know that the information was reliable and given to me by a grunch whose life was in danger and needed help escaping St. Erzsebet’s. It was just like Pearl to make sure communication remained a one-way street. I could send her as many messages as I liked and she hadn’t even put enough magic into the crystal that she could acknowledge that my messages were being received. The only way I knew that my updates had been satisfactory so far, was that I hadn’t been summoned by her in any way that conveyed otherwise.
Summoning my magic, I made another attempt to break Rugrem out from behind the thick bars of the small cell. I was thoroughly frustrated when, once again, nothing happened.
“Maybe my magic will work better if I can just touch them,” I said gesturing at the bars. It was a long shot. Whenever my magic had worked before, it hadn’t required me to touch the object I was trying to work on.
“Don’t do it, le Boursier will immediately be alerted to your presence here,” urged Rugrem.
“There’s something I don’t understand,” I said taking a step back and surveying the bars that were immune to my powers, “I snuck into Tempus Fugit a few days ago, the same night my friends found you down here.”
“Okay?” said Rugrem.
“There was no one guarding the place.”
“There should have been,” Rugrem shifted uncomfortably “there are many grunches inside Tempus Fugit. Maybe they kept themselves hidden?”
“Oh,” I said, not quite ready to volunteer information about myself that he didn’t need to know – like I was the one who’d been invisible. “There really wasn’t anyone there,” I continued, “I got as far as the Vol.”
“Then what did you do?” asked Rugrem, pensively.
“I watched Professor Varga coming out of the fireplace and I blacked out. When I came to, I’d been in my bed for a whole day,” I admitted.
“Tempus Fugit doesn’t follow the natural laws
of time and space. It is outside of time. It is a place of illusions. So, it’s very possible that many of my kind were hidden, or dispersed in a way that the place looked deserted.”
“Wait,” I said, cutting Rugrem off.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I’m sorry, I have to go,” I suddenly felt a strong urge to go outside Bloodline Academy. I had never felt anything quite like it. It wasn’t anguish or worry like I’d picked up from Ulric before or the telepathic messages that Safi sent. It was different.
Was it possible that Pearl was trying to reach me, having received my message? I streamed out of the tunnels and to ground-level. I saw le Boursier too late. She eyed me up with a look that couldn’t have been mistaken for anything other than spite. And of course, suspicion. After what I’d found out about her, she could go stuff herself.
“Why are you streaming in the hallway, Miss. Quartz?” she said, holding one arm out to stop me.
“I’m late, I need to meet my friends,” I said. Why the hell are you trying to kill me? I thought, staring back at her.
“Let me have a wild guess, Miss. Summers and Miss. Lauden – no doubt in the library?” said le Boursier. Her eyes sparked red.
“Nope, anyway, gotta dash,” I said, feeling my face burn as I hoped it wasn’t her daily time to taunt and torture Rugrem. I almost confronted her about her own plans but thought better of it. If I wanted to expose her, it would be better done to Nadasdy or even one of the profs. But I needed evidence before going to them if I wanted them to believe that their head of security had gone rogue. The pull was becoming even stronger as I left the academy and found myself in the courtyard to follow its’ source. I hoped it wouldn’t turn out to be a trap and get me killed.
Chapter 20
I opened the gate and walked out onto Chartres Street. Walking away from the academy, I wondered if I should have told Valenthia or Natalie that I was leaving. But the feeling was so strong from the moment it had made itself known to me that I couldn’t have gone to them first. It was like an itch that just had to be scratched. I tried sensing the environment around me to get a clue of who or what was giving off the signal for me, like a beacon in the night.
Dark Spark: A Young Adult Urban Fantasy Novel (Bloodline Academy Book 2) Page 18