by Eva Brandt
I had no idea what had made them approach me tonight, but whatever it was couldn’t be good. Callum’s smile could’ve felled angels. “Alyssa,” he greeted me with a warmth I didn’t trust for a moment. “I hope you’re having fun tonight.”
“I am, thank you,” I replied.
“Well, it doesn’t look like it,” Mikael pointed out. From her place around his neck, TB nodded her serpentine head. “You’ve barely touched your food and your drink.”
“Is there anything wrong with the refreshments?” Stefan inquired. “Is the feast not to your liking?”
The feast was fine. The problem was with me. But I couldn’t say that, so instead, I stayed silent.
Callum was not discouraged. “Come now, little mortal,” he said. “Drink. Or is alcohol against your… morality?”
The latter word sounded like both an insult and a caress when coming from Callum’s stupidly beautiful mouth. I didn’t know how he managed it. Probably another of his incubus superpowers. Talents. What-the-fuck ever. I didn’t really care about being politically correct with an incubus right now.
Anyone else might’ve been tempted. I knew better. One sip of that drink and I’d collapse in a seizing pile of limbs and misery to the floor. I had no desire to let anyone at the academy know about my condition.
“Well?” Mikael drawled, his eyes lighting up with demonic fire. “Are you really not going to take us up on our invitation?”
Defiance surged inside me. There was only one rule I had to follow while at The Academy of the Devil. I couldn’t afford to be weak. When in doubt, fight back. “Thank you, but no,” I answered coldly. “Alcohol is for the weak.”
Mikael’s mouth dropped open in shock. Stefan went rigid. Callum took a step back, as if I’d physically hit him.
Their reaction would’ve been satisfying had I not realized I’d just insulted ninety-nine percent of the school.
Oh shit.
I hadn’t intended to do it. By now, I’d had it drilled into my head that weakness was a no-no here, and every single one of these students had been drinking tonight.
I had no real problem with alcohol, as long as it was done in moderation. It was just a classic moment of open mouth, insert foot. I immediately wanted to take it back, but it was much too late and if I tried, I’d just make it worse.
But maybe some kind of deity was watching over me, because instead of being offended, the other students seemed to found my comment hilarious. Stefan started to laugh first. “Oh, touché. Nice one, little human. I can’t argue with you there. Personally, I prefer to get drunk on other things.”
Without bothering to ask for permission, he unceremoniously picked Darling up and slid into the place she’d once occupied. “How do you feel about helping me with that?”
Befuddled by this behavior, I didn’t reply. Mikael didn’t react well to it, though. TB let out a threatening hiss, while her companion’s hands began to glow with malicious power. “I advise you to move away from Alyssa, or else.”
“Or else what?” Stefan drawled, his eyes glinting darkly. “Do you think I’m afraid of you?
“You should be. I’ve had quite enough of your bestial behavior.”
“Stefan, we talked about this,” Callum said. “I told you I wanted you to keep your distance from her.”
“And yet, here I am, disobeying. You’d think that I have my own mind and ability for rational thought. Imagine that.”
He turned toward me, and even if he made no attempt to touch me, I could still somehow feel his heat. “You know, Alyssa, I’ve never had a problem with those two thinking they’re better than everyone. But lately, I think that’s changed. Lately, I find myself with the desire to rip their faces off. What do you think about that?”
“I think that if you do that, it won’t be just because of me,” I replied honestly. “We don’t know one another well enough for me to change your outlook on life. And you are, after all, the head of The House of Wrath.”
Stefan chuckled and got up. “You’re not wrong, although you’re not right either. You shouldn’t underestimate the effect you have on people. It’ll undoubtedly end in blood.”
I didn’t like the sound of that. “Stefan…”
His breath caught, as if just by saying his name, I’d cast a spell on him. “Yes,” he murmured. “Blood, death, and fire, just for you.”
No, no, no. That was exactly what I’d wanted to avoid. But silence had already fallen in the hall and people were moving away, wary of what was going on. With the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a few teachers observing the incident with interest.
I knew better than to think they would interfere, and I’d never hated the true nature of this academy more. “Come on, guys,” I tried to tell Stefan and the others. “You’re all friends. You don’t really want to do this.”
“Oh, but we do, Alyssa,” Callum said. “In fact, I should’ve probably done this sooner.”
“I can’t say I disagree, Callum,” Mikael added. “You should be better at controlling your pet.”
“Ouch,” I heard Gemma murmur behind me. “That’s a low blow.”
“This won’t end well.” Yolanda made her way to my side and grabbed my arm, trying to pull me away. “Come on, Alyssa. We need to get out of here.”
I had no idea what was going on, where this had all come from, but the hostility kept escalating, and I felt horrible about it. “I’m not going anywhere,” I told my roommate. “This is crazy. Surely, you have to see that.”
Yolanda didn’t get the chance to reply. Stefan’s magic started to swell, tongues of flame now dancing over his skin. “No one can control me,” he snarled. “Not him, and especially not you. Cambion.”
He said the latter word as if it was an insult and the air in the room seemed to freeze. I’d thought Mikael’s shock at being called weak had been bad, but this… This was on a whole new level entirely.
Was it really that insulting to be called a cambion, a half-human, half-incubus? It must’ve been, because all color drained from Mikael’s face and for a few seconds, he looked like he was going to fall over. If he didn’t, it must’ve only been because Callum reached for his arm and steadied him. And then, things got even worse, when TB let out an infuriated hiss and launched herself at Stefan.
I didn’t think. I reacted on instinct, catching the familiar mid-flight.
I couldn’t have said how I moved fast enough to intercept her, but before I knew it, she was in my arms, cradled against my chest, and everyone was staring at me. “Sorry,” I said, “but I don’t think it’s a good idea for TB to get involved in this. No offense, TB, but I don’t want you to get hurt.
“I know it’s rude of me to touch your familiar, Mikael, and I apologize for that, but some things are just more important than others. I suggest that you take this outside, where no one else can get hurt.”
My words snapped Mikael out of his trance. “Would you look at that?” he asked, the blue of his eyes colder and fiercer than ever. “It would appear our beautiful Sacrifice has issued a challenge.”
I really hadn’t. In fact, I thought that sounded like a horrible idea. But my opinion didn’t count, and the three demons seemed intent on engaging in this ridiculous dick measuring contest.
And so it was that everyone trailed out of the grand hall and reconvened in the courtyard. Normally, the architecture of the academy was too convoluted and labyrinthine to allow all of us to be in one place together at the same time, but the school’s demonic spirits must’ve been watching the whole scene as well. The courtyard adjusted to our presence, creating a space that almost looked like a gladiatorial arena.
All the teachers were present, even some I didn’t know. They were a good distance away from me, but I could’ve sworn Lilith had brought popcorn and was sharing it with Ammit. The disgruntled professor Faust, whom I’d only spotted once so far, just glared, while the tall demon by his side stretched out his wings and watched the scene with keen eyes.
Th
at had to be Mephistopheles, the school dean. This was not the way I’d thought I’d meet him. There was something familiar about him, something that drew my eye, but I couldn’t for the life of me put my finger on it, especially when I was still upset about this whole useless fight.
Lena and Yolanda didn’t agree with my assessment. “This is so exciting,” Lena whispered. “I wonder who will win.”
“It’ll be Mikael, of course,” Yolanda replied. “He won’t let Stefan get away with that comment.”
In my arms, TB hissed in approval. Mikael had left his beloved familiar with me, and I petted her head in what was probably a useless attempt to comfort her.
“This argument has nothing to do with Stefan’s big mouth,” Gemma said. As she joined us, she brushed her arm against mine. “You realize what this is all about, don’t you? They’re fighting for you. For the right to claim you.”
Yes, I’d understood that much, but I still couldn’t grasp their logic and why they thought it was important. “It would’ve been much simpler if they’d just asked. Men.” Of course, if they’d done that, I would’ve said no, but that was beside the point.
“Demons,” Gemma corrected me. “You have to remember, Alyssa, that this isn’t like the human world. Believe it or not, what they’re doing is completely normal for us. And really, are you that surprised? How else are they supposed to impress you?”
Not being an utter asshole would’ve impressed me, but maybe that was just too much to ask for. I felt a headache coming in and forced myself to calm down. “None of them are going to die, right?” I asked Gemma.
“No, of course not. The professors would stop it if it became potentially lethal.”
“Okay then.” I sat on the ground with my legs crossed, smiling slightly when Shiro lay down next to me. “Let’s see what they have for us.”
If my tentative friends were surprised by my change in approach, they didn’t show it. Yolanda and Lena sat next to me. Darling popped up out of nowhere, leaning against Gemma’s shoulder. And we watched.
* * *
There was something beautiful about demons when they fought. I meant that in the most literal sense. While I’d always had my doubts about the moral qualities of the three men, I’d been well aware that they were objectively gorgeous.
And then, they had to go and get naked, and suddenly, things were heating up far more.
Granted, they only took their shirts off, something which I was both grateful and a little resentful for. Even so, I was shallow enough to admit that seeing all those rippling abs and well-formed pectorals made my mouth water a little.
I might be angry and frustrated about this whole thing, but I had needs damn it, and I couldn’t exactly touch myself in a place where even a room could be watching.
As expected, Gemma displayed no such embarrassment. She lifted the bottom of her gown and reached underneath, presumably for her clit. “Oh,” she whispered, still staring at the men. “We should’ve invited you to the academy sooner, Alyssa. It’s really getting interesting now.”
I decided to ignore her, because it had become obvious this was absolutely necessary if I wanted to preserve a modicum of sanity. Besides, Stefan, Callum, and Mikael were far more appealing to watch.
In front of us, the three young men were facing one another, their bodies tense with barely restrained violence. I expected Stefan to attack first. He was the head of The House of Wrath and, as such, more temperamental than the others. I must’ve underestimated the effects of the earlier incident, because it was Mikael who initiated the battle.
I blinked, and all of a sudden, he was moving. His magic curled around him in a dazzling display that reminded me of an avalanche of onyx daggers. They glinted in the dull sunlight like black diamonds, and as they flew through the air, toward their target, I couldn’t help but think they were as beautiful and lethal as their creator.
My admiration for the weaponry promptly vanished when Stefan didn’t bother avoiding the attack. I flinched when three of the blades hit his chest. But I needn’t have worried. Three seconds after they made contact with him, the daggers melted. A flicker of pain swept over Mikael’s face and, in my arms, TB hissed in displeasure. Her body tensed, as if she wanted to leap into action once again. She didn’t escape my hold, but it was a close call.
“The weapons are extensions of Mikael’s body,” Gemma explained. “It hurts him when one of them is destroyed like that.”
She didn’t sound very concerned. If anything, she was even more aroused. Then again, what else was new? She was a vampire. It might be a bit judgmental of me, but I still thought it was natural for her to experience arousal when others felt pain.
Maybe I was exaggerating, because that brief blow wasn’t enough to do real harm to Mikael. Most people hadn’t even noticed or paid attention to the pain Mikael must’ve experienced. So naturally, neither Mikael nor Stefan gave up. “I think it’s time we up the stakes,” Stefan said. “Wouldn’t you agree?”
“By all means, animal,” Mikael replied. “I’m game if you are.”
In response Stefan melted into his shifted form. It wasn’t like before, on the beach. The process wasn’t gradual. Instead, it happened instantaneously. I blinked, and a massive wolf was standing where Stefan had been until a few seconds ago.
It wasn’t the first time I’d seen him shift, but I still gaped in shock. By my side, Yolanda flinched. “Yikes. That must’ve hurt. What in Satan’s name is he doing?”
“Well, he’s a hell-hound. He’s not exactly known for thinking straight.”
I hadn’t gotten the chance to read up on shape-shifters since my arrival at the academy, but logic stated that changing forms like that would at least be uncomfortable. Stefan’s skeleton had to completely transform, and each individual muscle had to adapt to his new shape. For that reason, it had made sense that he’d experience the shift gradually.
But maybe he’d reached a point where pain no longer mattered for him, because he embraced it and let out a loud howl that echoed against the walls of the academy. It held so much fury I was surprised he hadn’t already become Satan, the notorious avatar of this sin. The windows of every building shattered. The ground beneath my feet started to shake.
Shiro whined in distress, tugging on the fabric of my gown. “It’s okay,” I told him, not really paying attention. “It’s safe here.”
It would’ve been impossible for me to listen to Shiro now, when the battle was getting heated. As I watched, Mikael and Stefan lunged at one another, and their bodies collided with a sharp crack. Stefan was bigger and his bulk allowed him to fall on top. But his success didn’t last because the moment he tried to pin Mikael down to the ground, Mikael fought back. Claws emerged from his fingertips, and he raked the sharp tips over Stefan’s side, drawing blood. Stefan was undeterred. His massive paws emitted a heat I could sense even from the distance, and his claws were already digging into Mikael’s thighs.
Weirdly, Mikael took this in stride. He showed no further signs of experiencing pain. His eyes started glowing with an unholy light, and it surged through his body, into the flesh Stefan had torn and the blood he’d spilled. The magic took hold of Stefan like an insidious poison, wrapping itself around his paws and crawling up his body.
Stefan jerked against Mikael and tried to free himself, but Mikael refused to release him. Stefan’s paws began to change colors, as if affected by a strange form of gangrene.
Seeing that he could not withdraw, Stefan returned to his first option. He buried his fangs in Mikael’s throat, trying to tear into his jugular.
The scent of blood and scorched flesh filled the air as the duo fought, engaged in a battle of magic, strength, and resilience. As I watched them, I began to have my doubts they were actually going to survive this. The teachers had yet to intervene, even if this was getting more and more serious. I’d never wanted this, damn it.
Callum chose this exact moment to step into the battle. His magic was different from Mikael’s. He
was a full incubus, so his power was hotter, more sexual, less sharp. It flowed over the whole courtyard like an intoxicating perfume, and despite my fear for Stefan and Mikael, my body instantly responded to it, to the call of his power.
I bit the inside of my cheek so hard I tasted blood, reminding myself I was in public and it wasn’t acceptable to lose control. A lot of demons could sense arousal, and I had no desire to make a spectacle of myself. The pain failed to assist me. Much to my shock, I noticed I was the only one who had such a powerful reaction to Callum.
Granted, Gemma was still masturbating, but she didn’t seem as affected as she’d been that first day we’d met. If she’d been in my situation, she’d have undoubtedly come by now. Then why did I feel it? Was it something Callum was doing on purpose? It seemed odd that he’d choose such an approach, now of all times. Besides, I hadn’t made a secret of the fact that I despised such blatant manipulation.
What exactly are you up to, Callum? What are you trying to do?
I didn’t say the words out loud, but Callum must’ve heard me anyway. His eyes shot toward me, bright, deep, angry, but determined.
That was when I understood. This wasn’t just a display of their strength. They were deliberately causing themselves pain in a weird way of making it up to me. I’d repeatedly told each of them that I was angry over their insulting comments, and that was still true. This was an apology, since the stubborn bastards couldn’t bring themselves to say the words.
Why did living here have to be so convoluted? Did they not realize that this changed nothing, that I’d hardly be able to accept dating a guy who despised my whole species? Had they even realized they were wrong about humans?
I doubted that very much and, all of a sudden, I felt tired and exasperated with the whole thing.
I wanted nothing more than to get up and leave. But that would’ve looked really bad and those three idiots had put some effort into organizing this little debacle. Also, no matter how it had started, the fight between Mikael and Stefan looked genuine now. If I just fled, I’d start stressing over the damage they’d stupidly done to one another.