The stupid talent show started, with several people doing what I assumed they thought were their talents. Awful singing, even worse dancing...
But wait, why was I being so mean? I wasn't that person, even if I'd pretended to be to hang out with Kristi and the Sparkles. Though the problem was really just Kristi, the other two didn't have a mean bone in their bodies from what I'd seen. They just followed where the Queen Bitch led.
"And now, what you've all been waiting for!" one of the teachers said. I didn't recognize them, so they must not be one of the ones that took my classes. "The Sparkles, singing Over And Over, the latest track by Freaky Sue!"
I'd never heard of this song before we began practicing, but Sadie had assured me it was a popular one.
Faint clapping came from the gathered students. This clearly wasn't what they'd all been waiting for. And we were going to subject them to it anyway.
A sick feeling churned in my gut, but I ignored it as I trailed onto the stage behind the others. The music blared, and without meaning to, I recited the dance moves in my head along with when I had to do each charm. I'd have thought this would be a good thing, but it only turned out to confuse me. My thoughts moved faster than the music. Like the beat had been slowed.
Sadie, or the identical woman in front of me I thought was Sadie, jerked her head to the left.
I gave her the tiniest of nods and shuffled that way. I had to get this right.
Glitter fell from my arm as I waved it to the left and over my head. I tried not to roll my eyes. This was stupid.
We marched around in a circle, mouthing the words and sending a stream of bubbles through the air and out into the crowd. Did Kristi seriously think our fellow students liked this? Because I could assure them that they did not. At least they couldn't tell which one was me.
I felt for Francis in the back of my mind, but he was farther away than I expected him to be. Had his game run over? I knew they'd been playing a different academy, but they should be back by now. Maybe they'd gone into overtime. Yes, that had to be it. He didn't feel any farther away than the lacrosse field. I wished I could've been there watching instead of doing this stupid dance.
My attention slipped from the routine to worrying about Francis and the others. At that moment, I realized I wanted to bond to Brooks and Jayse if it meant I could feel they were safe. I'd talk to them about it as soon as we were alone again.
I stumbled but caught myself seconds before I fell. Real-Kristi glared at me. I assumed it was her, the other two knew how bad I was at the dance and wouldn't have thought twice about me stumbling.
The flow into the next move came into my mind, and I thrust my right arm out.
My eyes widened as my knuckles hit soft flesh. Gasps and laughter came from the students watching and horror sunk in even as the music carried on playing.
No one was dancing anymore. Sadie and Madison had let their glamours slip and took a step back, not wanting to get in the way of Kristi and her wrath.
I didn't blame them. I'd have done the same in their situation.
The whole academy sucked in a breath.
"How dare you?" Kristi demanded. Her glamour slipped away and revealed her pretty but imperfect—and seething—face.
"I'm sorry, I..."
"I have taken you under my wing and made you something to be admired at this academy. Do you think you'd be anything without me?" Her voice dripped venom, and I tried not to let it get to me. She was like this with everyone. I hadn't done anything wrong other than slip during our routine.
Squaring my shoulders, I tried to reason with her, but I didn't know why. Being kicked from the Sparkles might've been my easiest way out. "I didn't have enough time to practice. It was an accident, I—"
"Save it, Tallulah, I don't want to hear any more of your excuses." She turned away from me and turned to walk away.
Despite myself, I reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her back to make her understand, or something like that. I wasn't completely sure what I planned to do. Or why.
Instead of responding in kind, or jerking away, she spun around and flung a hex at me.
Startled, I raised my hands and created a shield out of thin air. If she was going to attack me, then she was about to learn a very big lesson in who had stronger magic.
Kristi let up her hex attack before flinging several bolts of jet black magic my way. I caught them in tiny nets that sparkled green.
Uh-oh, was everyone about to discover that I was a Greenie? I still had no clue why earth magic was so frowned upon, but I didn't think it'd be a good thing for my whole class to discover it. Then again, Brooks was popular, and he had the same magic I did. No doubt it would be different for guys than it was for girls. That always seemed to be the way.
Kristi's next attack was less localized, and parts of it flew towards Madison and Sadie. I threw up a barrier between them and the attack. I knew Sadie was powerful enough to defend them herself, and Madison wasn't exactly helpless either, but if I did it, then neither of them would get into trouble with Kristi later.
I might be ruining my popularity, but I certainly wasn't going to ruin theirs too.
"What is your problem?" I shouted.
"You," she snarled.
Gathering more magic and power, I widened my shield and net. "I don't understand. Why are you so vile? So angry?"
Instead of answering, she flung more magic at me. With each bit I caught in my defensive web, a sense about her magical talents sharpened. But it didn't make sense. The magic she fired at me was sticky. And it smelled foul, though I suspected no one else was close enough to smell it. I'd never seen anything like it before.
Though it made sense. This was a girl who wanted to use an evil book to control the people around her. She wasn't exactly the sanest witch in the coven.
I threw a look at the teacher who was supposed to be supervising the talent show, but he shrugged, looking sheepish.
Great. The teachers were just as scared of Kristi as everyone else was. They probably went through this in school with her mom.
Nothing to do that didn't involve actively trying to hurt her, I threw my web. It took her by surprise, probably because of the sheer size of it.
The glittering green wrapped itself completely around her. Kristi's face was angry before, but it contorted mask of crazed rage.
I closed the distance between us, scared and wanting nothing more than to run away. But I couldn't. I had to face her. She was going to be the bane of my existence if I didn't.
"Why?" I asked.
"Stay away from me, Greenie," she snarled.
"With pleasure," I responded, even though it wouldn't get me any of the answers I wanted.
"Everyone knows what you are now," she pointed out. "Don't think you're going to continue being little miss popular."
"That's fine." I turned my back on her but didn't let up the cage of magic. I wouldn't be doing that until I was out of the room and out of firing range. It was up to everyone else in the room if they had the good sense to do the same. From the looks on their faces, I'd say they weren't going to take the safest option.
The fools.
"You can't sit with us!" Kristi shouted.
I held up my hand in acknowledgment and walked out the door, secure in the knowledge that everyone knew what I was, but at least I could hold my head high. She'd shown her true colors too.
Once I was certain I was out of the danger zone, I let the green cage around her go. Her shouts reached me out in the gym lobby, but I had more important things to do than worry about what she said.
Like, find Francis. Extended defensive magic left me drained, and I needed to recharge.
Which meant one thing.
Blood.
Chapter Eight
The team walked toward me from the Lacrosse field, giant grins on their faces as they crossed the small gravel area separating the main part of the castle from the area converted for outdoor sports. The school hadn't been built with sports
teams in mind, but as time went on, the students wanted it.
"We won!" Jayse yelled.
The gravel wouldn't have been friendly to my high heels, so I waited on the solid concrete outside the gym and lifted my arms, plastering a fake smile on my face. "Yay," I called, trying to inject as much happiness as possible.
Brooks’ gaze lingered on my body. "You look hot but uncomfortable." Jayse nodded earnestly.
"What's wrong?" Francis asked the minute he was in range. They'd showered and changed at the locker rooms, judging by their wet hair and not-sweaty clothes.
"I've been worried." He looked around then pulled me to the side. Jayse and Brooks followed. "I filled them in. You were embarrassed, then angry, then furious, and then so sad. What the hell happened at that talent show?"
I burst into tears. What was my deal? I wasn't much of a crier. Before the academy, the Sparkles, and Estelle's crazy revenge scheme, I'd been a rational, level-headed hybrid. My upbringing wasn't conventional by anyone's definition, but it had helped me become confident and self-sufficient. How could I get myself back to that person?
Francis wrapped his arms around me while Jayse and Brooks touched me wherever they could reach. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "I'm going through some stuff." Looking into Francis' eyes, I bit my lip before continuing. "I need blood. Please. I'm so sorry to ask."
He clutched me tighter. "You don't ever need to apologize. That's part of our bond, providing blood to each other."
"I know," I said as he turned me in his arms. We moved toward the dorms, Brooks and Jayse staying close. "I read it in a library book, but it still feels so strange to ask."
"Do you want us to go find something else to do?" Brooks asked from behind me. "We can."
"No." I looked up at Francis to make sure he felt the same way. "I'm okay with you both joining us."
"Me, too," he added, squeezing my shoulders. Jayse took my left hand and Brooks put a hand on my back.
Their presence went a long way toward making me feel better. At least I had them by my side.
They took me to their room, which both excited and comforted me.
"Come on. My bed is over here." Their dorm looked just like ours. They had human sports teams posters tacked up, as well as banners for the school's lacrosse team and a team I didn't recognize. Otherwise, it was nearly identical. Same curtains, same bedspreads.
"Is the blood exchange always sexual," I asked, feeling shy.
"I don't think so." He sat on the bed and motioned for me to join him. Slipping off my shoes, my feet tingled in relief to be out of the ridiculous heels.
It wasn't easy, climbing onto the bed without flashing Brooks and Jayse behind me, but I managed. Once I was safely tucked into Francis' side, I looked at my other two, uh. Boyfriends? Potential mates?
I looked at Brooks and Jayse.
Francis spoke, breaking the awkward stare. "The blood exchange can be sweet and uplifting. Comfort. That's what I read."
Giggling, I moved my gaze to him. "You read up on it, too?" I hadn't seen anything in the book I'd read about whether or not it was an orgasm-inducing experience every time or not.
"I think it mainly heightens emotions, so if you go into it with feelings of comfort and healing, that's where you'll go."
I nodded.
Brooks stepped closer. "I may be able to help. You'll need to recharge your witch side, too, and soon. I can help you until we can get out to our special place."
He winked at me as if it was a big secret.
"Are they not allowed there?" I asked.
He shrugged. "No idea. I've never gone out there with anyone else. Besides you."
"Then how did you know about it?" I asked.
"The trees showed me."
Francis scooted over to make room for Brooks, and I found myself thankful the school provided full-sized beds. Jayse looked lost, standing beside the bed. There wasn't nearly enough room for him to lay beside us.
Sitting upright, I tapped my hand on the foot of the bed. "Come on. We'll squeeze together."
He splayed out at the foot of the bed, turning toward us. He couldn't feed me blood or trickle magic to me, but his presence made me feel safe and secure. Francis, Brooks, and I were fully capable of fighting or defending, but Jayse's size and speed gave me a sense of peace the other two weren't quite as good at. Each of them did something for me, gave me something. I hoped I could return the same gifts to them.
"Come on," Francis said. Brooks slid his arm around me and pulled me close as Francis held out his wrist.
I looked at Francis and then his arm, the sound and feel of his blood pulsing through his veins suddenly the only thing in the room.
With a shuddering breath, my fangs elongated and I bit slowly into Francis' arm.
His blood filled my mouth as Brooks funneled the first bit of his magic into me.
Francis was right. I didn't get turned on, but the combined rush of blood and magic hit me hard, like the time I'd gone to a witch doctor with a broken arm in South America. My parents had freaked when they found out.
He'd fixed my arm, but also gave me the highest buzz I'd ever had. Not that I'd had a lot of them.
My body recharged, as did my magic. I didn't want to be greedy, so I pulled my fangs out of his wrist and licked the wound after half a minute or so.
Still hungry, I sat back against Brooks. Frances clasped my hand. "How is this going to work?" I asked, basking in their comfort.
My stomach growled, interrupting Jayse, who had been about to reply to me. His brow furrowed in concern. "Are you still hungry?"
I nodded with a grimace.
"For food or blood?"
"Blood."
"Here," Francis said and held out his arm. "Have some more."
"Can I?" Jayse asked. "I'd be happy to lend a vein, so to speak."
I looked at Francis. "Is that okay?"
He gave me a confused shrug. "Why wouldn't it be?"
"I don't know, this is all so new and odd for me. I don't want to make the wrong move."
Brooks shifted under me. "Lou, as long as you don't do anything to intentionally hurt us, I think we'll be okay with most things."
"I wouldn't," I exclaimed and sat up to look at him. "I'd never hurt you on purpose."
"Then come here," Jayse said, opening his arms. He took my hand, and I duck walked down the bed. Laying down next to him, I felt like he'd squash me if I let him lay over me, but he adjusted so I was half on top of him and half on the bed.
"Where do you want me to bite you?" I asked. "I've never bitten anyone other than Frances before."
"Whatever feels right."
A vein in his neck called to me, and I stared at it. Slowly lowering my head, my fangs elongated again just in time to sink into his skin, buttery soft and rich. His blood flowed into my mouth faster than Francis' had. Maybe vampire blood was thicker, or our hearts beat slower. I gulped it down, making more noise than before, but enjoying myself. It didn't rejuvenate me instantly like Francis' blood, but it was akin to eating a delicious meal. Filling and enjoyable.
When I had my fill, I pulled my teeth out and licked his neck, closing the wound. "Thank you," I whispered.
"My pleasure."
We sat on the bed long into the night, talking about our likes and dislikes, hopes for the future, and childhoods. I fell asleep surrounded by my bonded mate, and two men I hoped to find a way to bond. They soothed the burn of a difficult day.
Hopefully, they'd be able to help me get through the rest of the school year on Kristi's bad side.
Chapter Nine
The cheerleaders did their thing on the side of the pitch, but I'd easily decided that enough was enough. The patience to wait for my guys beside their preppy shouts and energy wasn't in my forte tonight. I didn't even know where they got it from, especially when they weren't part of Kristi's inner circle. I'd have thought they wouldn't want to draw attention to themselves.
Ignoring the noise, I headed back towards the bus
stand. The only reason I'd come on the trip was so I could cheer on my guys as they played. And won, as it turned out, hence the excitement of the cheerleaders.
The crowd had buried them in their excitement. I couldn't have maneuvered through the overexcited crowd to them on the field even if I'd used a spell. They'd have to do the after-game locker room stuff, whatever that was.
As I walked around the bleachers toward the locker rooms and busses, I checked all around for other students. Most people were fine with me, but a few had been giving me a wide berth since my showdown with Kristi. I wasn't sure if it was because I was now on her bad side, they'd been frightened by my power, or they were just shunning me because I was a Greenie. From my experience at the academy, any combination of the three could be valid reasons for the way people had acted all week.
Satisfied no one was back here yet, I made my way to the visitor locker room entrance and the spot the team bus had unloaded. I'd been allowed to ride on the bus with my guys at Francis' insistence. Nobody liked arguing with him, except for me.
The bus wasn't there. The coach had specifically asked the bus driver to wait here, but it wasn't anywhere to be seen. I rolled my eyes. No doubt the driver had gone somewhere more interesting than an academy game to wait.
"Did you do it?" a familiar voice asked. I couldn't place the owner of it, nor could I tell where it came from.
"You know I did," Kristi responded, and I imagined her flipping her hair over her shoulder. It was a classic Kristi move.
"Then why hasn't..."
I scuffed my foot on the concrete as I looked around for the people that belonged to the voices, sending a few pebbles scattering along the ground.
The person who'd spoken didn't say any more, and I knew I'd ruined any chance of me discovering juicy secrets.
Should I announce myself? Kristi certainly wasn't a friend of mine anymore, if she ever had been. She'd been shunning me hardcore in the week since our showdown.
But the other person? The familiarity in their voice made me want to trust them, even if I knew I shouldn't.
Magical Mistake (Magic And Metaphysics Academy Book 2) Page 6