The Vampire Hunter's Academy: The Darkness

by Delizhia Jenkins

  “I can hear you two you know,” Archer frowned. “And she won’t. Too dangerous. The instant she steps outside of The Academy, he will call her. They already have a mind lock.”

  “But-“ Sanaya started to argue but was instantly cut off by Archer’s hard stare from the rearview mirror.

  “No. End. Of. Discussion. And I am cancelling all scheduled field tests until further notice. You will spar with experienced Guardians until then.”

  Sanaya exhaled sharply and slumped back into her seat. She was huntress for crying out loud! This was her destiny and what she was being trained to do. She should be the one to hunt the master vampire and put him out of his misery.

  “We will talk more later,” Eve whispered gently patting her hand.

  Sanaya simply nodded. What else was there for them to talk about?

  “Oh and one more thing Sanaya,” Archer declared firmly, his eyes still focused on the road.

  “Yes?”

  “Until this master is put down for good, you will be under twenty four hour guard beginning the moment your foot touches the pavement at The Academy. I would explain to you the necessity of such extreme precautions but I take it you would rather hear it from Eve.”

  Sanaya’s eyes widened as she glanced at Eve who looked away quickly. So it was going to be that kind of conversation best explained by another female. Great. They drove the rest of the way in silence and as soon as Archer pulled into the parking lot, she was once again surrounded by the team of Guardians.

  Great…even better. Now the whole school is going to think I am under some special privilege just for being born, she thought to herself. Fuck my life.

  Just as Sanaya predicted, students and senior staff stopped in their tracks to observe the obvious parade of Guardians escorting her to her room. She cringed as she felt the curious, and the few hateful stares of her peers; her stomach did backflips as she listened in on the whispers and private thoughts that revealed some of the onlookers true feelings.

  Who does she think she is?

  What did the freak do this time?

  Attention whore!

  Full Guardian escort? Does that mean it is time?

  I don’t see what the big deal is…she isn’t special…

  Sanaya lowered her head and tried to tune out the myriad of thoughts, feeling like she was being mentally and emotionally stoned. When she finally made it to her room, she requested-better yet-demanded at least five minutes of privacy with Eve swearing to her that she would return so they could talk. Of course, she knew she would only be granted privacy within the space of her room. At least three Guardians were outside of her door keeping watch. Tossing her hoodie on her messy bed, she went straight for the tiny compartment of a shower and cut the water on as hot as she could physically stand it. She checked her phone once again, not expecting any other calls or messages from anyone other than Maya, and just as she expected, word must have traveled fast because Maya’s number popped up on the screen as soon as she unlocked her phone.

  Sanaya inhaled deeply before answering. “Yeah?”

  “Uh weren’t you supposed to call me?” Maya snapped, her normally calm voice climbing a few notches higher.

  “I just got in Maya, like literally.” Sanaya collapsed on the bed and closed her eyes.

  “Well, apparently your entrance caused a big stir. Full Guardian escort? What the hell happened Sanaya?”

  “It’s a long story-“

  “I don’t want to hear that crap,” Maya quipped. “Spill it.”

  “Did you sleep at all last night?” Sanaya asked with a chuckle.

  “Hell no! I was up all night worrying about you.” Maya’s tone suddenly shifted from agitated to concerned. “What happened?”

  Sanaya quickly gave her friend a quick rundown of the night’s events, and when she touched on the subject of the master vampire, Maya’s gasp felt like it sucked what little life she had in her, out of her.

  “You mind locked with a master vampire? Do you know how dangerous that is? He could trail you for the rest of your life until someone puts him down-“

  “So that explains the presidential entourage,” Sanaya released a sigh.

  “Yeah, and that means that the school is going to be locked down for a while...” Maya paused before speaking. “Are you alright?”

  “Oh now you asked,” Sanaya teased, but quickly changed her tone when Maya didn’t laugh. “I guess I’m alright. I am exhausted though.”

  “Not coming to class?”

  “Nah…Archer said he will waive the first two so I can get some rest.”

  “Ok, well I will give you my notes,and Sanaya?”

  “Huh?”

  “How did it feel to actually kill one those fuckers?”

  Sanaya smiled and paused as she thought about it. “Good…it felt good.”

  She could almost hear Maya smiling. “Good. You know Elizabeth is going to turn green with hate.”

  “As long as she doesn’t try me like she did last night, I don’t care what color she turns.”

  Maya snickered. “Well, cool I guess I will see you later?”

  Sanaya yawned. “Yup. You know the drill. Text me later YaYa.”

  “Alright ‘naya.”

  The two disconnected and Sanaya jumped up and went straight to the shower. She hoped that whatever Eve had to discuss with her was done quickly, because her entire body felt like she’d been used as a punching bag and then dumped off of a cliff.

  Chapter Six

  Sanaya felt the suffocating weight of darkness wash over her, triggering every natural fighting instinct she possessed into overdrive. Running as fast as her legs could carry her, she suddenly felt sluggish, as if her ankles had become anvils, nearly succumbing to the burn travelling from her calf muscles all the way up to her thighs. She sucked in another deep breath and felt the sting of the icy air penetrate her lungs. Coughing, stumbling, and blind in the absolute darkness, she flinched as a she felt the gentle and all too personal caress of invisible hands run down her spine. She stopped to focus her senses on the possible threat that lurked in the pitch blackness which surrounded her. Patting her left pocket for her small bowie knife, she cursed when she realized it was not in her possession.

  “Damn it!”

  Another gentle caress brushed against her rear end and she spun around to face the offender. When she found no one she turned around again.

  “My you are a delicacy,” came the deep velvety baritone and eerily seductive voice from the nothingness. “Not what I expected.”

  “Who are you?!” She demanded, struggling to keep her tone calm and even. “What do you want?”

  “The question is not what I want. Although…”

  A warm hand ran down her exposed arm, sending gentle ripples of pleasure into her system. She gasped and wiped away a bead of sweat. “DO NOT TOUCH ME!”

  The voice chuckled, indicating to her that the entity had to be at least two feet to her right. She spun around, hoping to face off with the intruder.

  “The question has always been…what do you want? Slayer…”

  “I promise you,” Sanaya seethed, tightening her fists. “I will cut out your heart and watch you burn in the sunlight!”

  “We shall see about that,” the voice challenged. “But there are other things I would prefer doing.”

  Suddenly she was naked and she covered herself as best she could, trembling at the knowledge of what potentially could happen next.

  “Ah…” The entity inhaled deeply. “You smell absolutely intoxicating…come to me slayer…”

  “No,” Sanaya whimpered as her body is flooded with pleasure. “No, don’t do this...”

  “Come to me,” the voice demanded. “I cannot have you like this.”

  “Sanaya… Sanaya…” Sanaya raised her head in the darkness listening to the urgent call of her name and realized she had been asleep.

  “Sanaya! Sanaya wake up!”

  “No! Come to me tonight Slayer! Come to-“<
br />
  Sanaya shot up in her bed, breathing heavily and soaked with sweat. Eve jumped back to give her some space as Maya looked down on her friend with concern. Wiping her face, she pushed her hair back and leaned against the headboard and waited for her vision to focus.

  “Sanaya are you alright?” Eve questioned. Her blue eyes wide with worry and her crossbow fully loaded at her hip.

  “How long have I been out?” Sanaya asked clearing her throat.

  “I called you like a million times, “ Maya said marching closer to the bed. “You wouldn’t answer. Eve tried calling you, and even tried knocking on the door. When you still didn’t answer, she went to get the master key from Archer and-“

  Eve placed her cool hand on Sanaya’s forehead, feeling for her temperature. “You are burning up.”

  She then, stepped away and ran outside of the room where Sanaya sensed Archer awaiting. Sanaya groaned.

  “Like for real girl, are you good?” Maya asked taking a seat at the edge of the bed.

  “I don’t know Maya. I think that master is going to try to come for me, but the scary part is: I don’t think I can fight him.”

  Eve and Maya exchanged worried looks, with Eve returning her attention to Sanaya.

  “He is attempting a seduction,” Eve stated evenly. “He cannot breach campus grounds so he is trying to draw you to him.”

  “What am I going to do? Is he going to like…haunt me in my dreams?” Sanaya asked covering her face with her hands.

  “Yes. But I know something that can remedy that until he is killed.” Eve began to pace. “Thank God for the sun... we have some time to put together something.” She stopped pacing to reply to the text notification buzz that went off. “I have to go. I will be back in an hour when the sun sets. You two stick together.” Eve nodded at Maya who stared at her best friend, worry written all over her pretty face. “And you Maya…keep an eye on Sanaya. She is going to feel things her body is not ready to handle and even though she will be under heavy guard, you might be the only one capable of talking some sense into her.”

  Maya nodded as Eve hurriedly rushed out of the door.

  Walking to the cafeteria with three highly armed Guardians would have been a nightmare had it not been for Maya distracting her from the curious glances, and gossipy whispers of their peers. Sanaya spotted Elizabeth in her usual spot; seated smack dab in the middle of the dining hall surrounded by her mindless groupies and her goofball boyfriend, Brent. Sanaya smiled in her direction when their eyes met, fury blazing in Van Helsing’s descendant’s emerald green eyes. Sanaya chuckled as she grabbed a plate, nudging Maya to glance at the table where Elizabeth sat to witness the collective glares from the group of the Academy’s most popular students.

  “Girl she is pissed off,” Maya snickered piling her plate with Spaghetti.

  “I know. She is so mad the strands of her hair are levitating,” Sanaya whispered.

  The three Guardians that escorted them, hung back near the entrance and exit doors, surveying the room.

  The two located a table several feet away from where Elizabeth sat, completely disregarding her hard stare.

  “I think there is something mentally wrong with her,” Sanaya quipped, taking in a mouthful of spaghetti. “She will not quit staring.”

  They ate in companionable silence, Sanaya lost in her thoughts of last night’s action and the end result. The memory of her father coming home as the entity she was destined to hunt darkened her mood. Since her arrival to The Academy, she had not grieved much for either of her parents. Neither of her parents acted like they even wanted to be parents for as long as she could remember. Of course there were glimpses of Patrice acting like a mother, but those moments came far and few between. It was more of an obligation, on Patrice’s part and an inconvenience for Roland. But still, her heart ached at the fact that she did not possess the same luxury other students had: a home to return to during the summer and winter months to celebrate mile stones and holidays. What sobered her reality was the fact that Maya sat across from her and as far as she knew, Yaya is her family.

  As she scraped the last of her spaghetti into her mouth, she sensed the presence of someone new enter the building, flanked by two more Guardians. She turned around to see who the new guy happened to be, and the instant her eyes laid on him, there seemed to be a rippling effect in the room. The kid had to be almost six feet tall, his black ripped shirt exposing multiple tattoos trailing the hardened biceps on the even dark tanned skin that called out to every female in the room to touch. Dark eyes scanned the room with scrutiny before concentrating on the task at hand: grabbing a plate. Full lips to match with a broad nose and straight black hair cut to a short carefully gelled hair style indicating his rebellious nature and the competing racial duality which added to his already attractive allure. Sanaya glanced at Maya, who was clearly in the same trance as every other female in the room.

  Who is that? Maya mentally drooled, still staring at the obvious new kid on the block.

  I don’t know… Sanaya turned to steal a quick look in his direction. But that is six feet of fineness and pure trouble.

  I don’t mind trouble… Maya gushed. Where the hell did the Vatican find him?

  Sanaya shrugged. I don’t know, but look check it out. She tilted her head in Elizabeth’s direction. We aren’t the only ones who caught his attention. Betcha ten bucks Elizabeth is going to swoop in like a vulture and sink her talons in him.

  Maya rolled her eyes. Which means Bradley is about to be on the outskirts…

  Yup… The sad reality made Sanaya turn around and finish her meal, with Maya simply picking at what was left of her meatballs.

  Soon, a sudden shift in the atmosphere made Sanaya look up once again, when she felt the presence of the handsome stranger approaching her from behind. Seeing him up close made her heart flutter and she could sense Maya on the brink of going into a cardiac arrest. A familiar Guardian, a seer specializing in past and future events, plus a specially trained martial artist, stood next to him with her arms folded and a slight grin. She already knew what was up.

  “Excuse me,” the stranger began politely. His voice alone sent chills down Sanaya’s spine. “Can I sit here? Every table is full and-“

  “Yeah, sure…” Sanaya stammered, clearing her throat. “Go ahead.”

  “Cool.” He took a seat next to her, accidently brushing her arm with his. “My bad…my name is Trent.” He extended his hand for her to shake which she nervously accepted.

  God his hand is warm, she thought to herself. She could hear Maya mentally shrieking in excitement. “My name is Sanaya, and this is my best friend Maya.”

  He reached across the table to shake Maya’s hand before relaxing in his seat.

  “Dinner will end in about twenty minutes,” Tia interjected checking her watch. “So make it quick. We still have to get you settled in. I will be outside.” The Guardian disappeared quickly through the double doors leaving the trio alone at the table.

  “How did you end up here?” Maya wasted no time when trying to get to know someone, and for once Sanaya was grateful for her assertiveness.

  “Well,” Trent began after taking a bite of his garlic bread. “I was in the system for a while…”

  “Foster system?” Maya pressed.

  “Yeah, that and juvie. Nobody gets me and never did…I saw shit nobody else saw, fought back and then got into some trouble behind it.” He took another bite. “Anyways, I was facing time for a crime I didn’t commit when the guardians came and schooled me on what I am. They did something to wrangle me out of the juvie system and brought me from the states here.”

  “Well, welcome!” Maya chirped.

  “Thanks,” Trent replied with gratitude. “How did you guys end up here? And who is that blonde that keeps staring at me?”

  Maya and Sanaya shared a look. “That would be Elizabeth, and the longer you stay the more you will get to know her.” Sanaya mumbled, not feeling like going into details about
Elizabeth’s antics.

  “I was brought here because my mother was the leader of a strong Voodoo coven,” Maya replied sadly. “But all of us possess gifts that the Vatican values, which is the main reason all of us are here.”

  “So I was told,” Trent added. He glanced over at Sanaya. “Aren’t you like the slayers of all slayers or somethin’?”

  When she didn’t immediately answer, he continued. “On the way here, one of the guardians told me all about you. Said you are like the first in over a thousand years. I thought with a title like that over ya head, you would be the most popular one up in here.”

  “Well, popularity is not something I care for and if that is what you are seeking, then you need to sit with the crazy blonde and her crew.” Sanaya grumbled, not looking at him.

  He glanced over at Elizabeth who met his gaze with a smile. He ignored it. “Nah, I’m cool. I’m more of a low key person myself. ” When he was finished, he pushed his plate to the side of the table. Students were already leaving, and Sanaya knew it was a matter of minutes before her escorts came.

  “So, where can I find yall?” He said finally, offering them a warm, perfect smile. “I mean, it ain’t fun being new and not knowing anything.”

  “Maya and I typically hang in the courtyard between classes.” Sanaya offered.

  “You got a phone yet?” Maya asked, pulling out her phone.

  “Yeah. They gave it to me as soon as I got here.” The three of them exchanged numbers before the Guardian, Tia, returned to retrieve Trent.

  “Alright young man, time’s up.” She said checking her watch. “Sanaya, Eve is outside waiting for you.”

  “Ok.” Sanaya grabbed her plate and stepped away from the table.

  “I’mma check yall out later,” Trent replied offering them a smile. He then mentally nudged Sanaya, demonstrating his own telepathic abilities. She gazed at him, eyes wide with surprise.

  See you later, Slayer. His smile caused her to look away, masking a huge grin that threatened to expose itself.

  He trotted off behind Tia, disappearing behind the double doors that connected to another section of the building.