by Erin R Flynn
10-12
Coach Khan
Lunch
12:15-1:15
History of Witches & Vampires
1:30-3
Professor Campbell
Tuesdays and Thursdays were other classes.
Runes 101
8-9:30
Dr. Craftsman
English 101 – Fact vs Fiction
9:45-10:45
Professor Nelson
Debate 101
11-12
Instructor Tate
Lunch
12:15-1:15
Geometry 101
1:30-3
Professor Richardson
Of course I had a class with Dr. Craftsman. Of course I did. But it actually wasn’t what I was concerned about most. I worried my lower lip and knew I needed to tell Darby, but I couldn’t seem to make the words work yet.
“Well, I should be good with physical training and I can read,” I joked, my voice not hiding how nervous I was.
“I know it’s boring to take geometry when you did in high school, but it’s about spell circles and magic related, I promise. Same when you have physics, as that goes into portals and a bunch of other magical practices like figuring areas to unleash powers so you don’t burn everything to the ground.”
“Yeah, good, practical,” I muttered.
“You’re ridiculously nervous when you didn’t even bat an eyelash going up against Blake Ward. And her family is huge in the community, like elder seat on the vampire council huge.”
“I didn’t know that or groups had councils,” I confessed, giving him a worried look. “Can I, um, like, hire you? I don’t think it’s fair you got forced to do this when I’m this far behind.”
“‘Accepting payment for work required of scholarship students is equivalent to cheating and grounds for immediate expulsion,’” he quoted.
Damn. I sighed, glancing around and deciding to leave it for now as we had so many people around us. He seemed to get the hint and we finished breakfast in silence.
He showed me around but more importantly, took me past all of my classes. When we reached the sports center physical training was going to be held at, I could tell he hit his patience limit.
“I ran away when I was fifteen from a bad foster home,” I confessed quietly. “I was a sophomore. I never got my GED. Can I hire you to help me with that?”
“I doubt it,” he said after several beats. “You’re still a student and need the help.” He sighed when I winced. “I’ll help you, Tamsin. Just don’t fuck with me, okay? I don’t actually mind helping if people are willing to or trying to work. People need tutoring or extra help. I have. Fine, but be willing to work for it is all I ask.”
“I know I want to get my GED,” I sighed, gesturing around the gym but meaning the college in general. “The rest of this… I don’t know, Darby. It sounds like a chance for something better, to at least learn and control my powers—shit.”
I glanced around and found a drinking fountain, glad I had the same bag as yesterday so I had the pills from Dr. Salzman with me. I hurried to pop two in my mouth and drink them down, thinking that was close enough given I’d eaten less than twenty minutes ago and I’d eaten a lot.
“The vaccine reversers?” he asked.
I nodded. “I didn’t get one I was supposed to as a human but yeah, not used to taking pills.”
“We don’t really get sick,” he muttered, giving me a curious look.
“I promised to stick with this for the semester and do the best I can. Beyond that—there’s more to this that you don’t know and I don’t know I trust everyone here or all of this yet. It’s a lot to process in less than a day. But I will promise to not be lazy or fuck around with you like that bitch, okay?”
“I’ll take it,” he accepted, holding out his hand to me. We quickly shook and he turned to continue the tour. “Not that I actually have a choice.”
Well, shit, and here I’d thought we were getting somewhere.
We finished the rest of the tour and it was really starting to sink in that this was going to be my life. That brought a fresh wave of panic that made the huge campus feel stifling.
I thanked Darby when we were done and he gave me a quick look like he might say something he thought he shouldn’t.
“Thank me by reading the first chapters for your classes so you’re ready for the first day,” he replied before turning and leaving.
Yeah, great… Where the fuck did I get my books from? I shook my head, already having made a decision earlier in the shower to call Claudia, the associate of the attorney.
I sat on my bed and glanced down at the naked mattress. I had a lot to do so in typical me fashion I switched areas when one upset me until I could calm down.
Claudia answered first ring and was great. She wasn’t shocked at all when I asked if any of the twenty estates had houses close to the school.
One did, as their family had been a founder of the school and generations of their family had gone to Artemis.
I frowned. I might need to tell her I didn’t want the backstories. It made me feel pretty shitty that I was taking their stuff and money. Then again, maybe there was a better way to do something with it?
It was an hour away, and a ride on my baby like that was exactly what I needed.
I grabbed my leather jacket and stuffed what I needed in it before heading to forward my laundry. Then I about sprinted to the faculty parking garage—which I’d found on the map first—to find my bike.
Making sure I was wearing my riding sunglasses, I jumped on my bike and took off. The engine echoing off the concrete started easing the panic but I knew my emotions wouldn’t have a chance to clear until I was off campus.
I drove past the guard station, waving when they waved at me, absolutely knowing they were waving for me to stop but playing it off.
No way I was stopping so someone could tell me I couldn’t leave or needed more bullshit to get air. Whatever, I was meeting my attorney and going to a magically protected estate. I was completely safe.
And if I wasn’t, they would have a hell of a time catching me on my bike. I shifted gears and really pushed the speed, tension slowly leaking out of me the further I got from that place.
Halfway to the address Claudia had given me, I saw a sign for a gas station and decided to stop. One thing I learned long ago was if I didn’t know where I was going and there might be issues—make sure the tank was full.
Great escapes were ruined by lack of fuel.
The place was easy enough to find since it was only a few turns off the highway that I’d memorized from Google. I stopped at the front gate and let out a whistle as I cut the engine.
The place was a mansion. Like seriously an estate in the way people talk about the Hamptons or parts of California.
What if they’re all like this?
That sounded exciting but mostly terrifying. How the fuck would I handle all of this? Yes, money was great, but there were also issues that came with it and more.
As if knowing I was freaking out, my phone rang with my best friend’s name popping up. I quickly answered as I hopped off my bike, needing to pace.
“Hey, Mel, I was just thinking of you,” I greeted.
“Of course, because I’m awesome,” she teased me, a thread of worry in her tone. “So I got a call from Faith saying ten of them want out, and I found that shocking given I didn’t hear from you that you were done in Illinois.”
“Yeah, about that, I hit a few snags and—”
“Yes, apparently you were working with the FBI or the CIA or whatever, but we both know the CIA doesn’t work in the country like that and you would tell the FBI to suck your tits, so nice way to freak me out,” she lectured in one long breath.
“I let them think that as it was easier,” I admitted, my heart stalling as I realized I didn’t have a cover for Mel. I hadn’t gotten to that part as she would know if I was talking bullshit.
“Tamsin Vale, I’m waiti
ng,” she demanded.
“Right, sorry,” I chuckled nervously. “So something weird happened and I’m not sure I get it all yet but I hit the radar of someone and I know it’s sort of cliché but he offered me a scholarship to a college.”
“Oh? What college?” she purred.
Again, I didn’t have anything ready so I bit my lip and went with the truth.
“Artemis University, it’s in Kansas, super swank so I’m wondering if I’ll have to sell my firstborn, you know?”
She didn’t answer and I worried the call disconnected but no, surprisingly the connection was great way out where I was.
“Mel?”
“How the fuck did you get on Artemis’s radar, Tams?”
Right, I had a whole other question. “How do you know about Artemis?”
She snorted. “I might not have been born into those circles but everyone knows the elites and bigwigs. I’m a dragon, after—”
“What?” I gasped, tingling starting in my fingers as I slowly found myself sinking to the ground. “What are you talking about, Mel? You’re fucking with me, right?”
She was quiet another moment. “You didn’t know I was a dragon? What did you think I was?”
“Human,” I about squeaked, knowing she wouldn’t judge me for it when I was spinning out.
“Oh, babe, you didn’t know you weren’t human, did you?” she whispered in horror.
“No.”
“Shit, shit, fuck, Tams, I’m so fucking sorry. I thought you knew and we didn’t talk about it because… Well, the only time we would have, others were around. I didn’t think about it again and it wasn’t something that ever—shit, Tams, I’m so fucking sorry. Crap, you have to be freaking the fuck out.”
“Yeah, mostly, totally actually,” I chuckled darkly. “A dragon, huh? That’s sick.”
“Yeah, it is, but you’re not a dragon,” she hedged.
“Um, yeah, there’s a problem there too so I would tell you, but I’m not sure as your friend I should.”
She let out a small gasp. “I thought so.”
“You thought what?” I pushed, not wanting any more misunderstandings between us.
“That you were a lot like the girl who used to babysit me that had to go home about twenty years ago,” she muttered softly. “But I was six or seven at the time so yeah, the memory was a bit hazy. It’s the only thing I can think of that would be a problem.”
“Yeah, it’s like that,” I admitted. “Lots of problems and freaking the fuck out.”
“I’m so sorry. What can I do?”
I sighed, looking over at the mansion that was now mine. “Want an upgrade to the house?”
“Um, how?”
“Apparently everyone who left put their estates in trust and guess who gets it for being the only one left?”
“Fuck. Me. Dead,” she hissed.
“Yup! Oh, and I’m now enrolled at one of the best colleges in the world and I have only a 9th grade education. It’s going to be great.”
“But you’re smart, Tams. You’re really fucking smart. You get a bit of help and you’ll be golden.”
“I’m drowning, Mel,” I confessed, about two seconds from breaking now that I was reeling again after the past twenty-four hours I’d had.
“No, no drowning. I won’t fucking allow it, babe. I’m coming to you.”
“Can you?”
“They can fucking try to stop me,” she growled. “I’ll fucking eat those bratty bitches. We got this. You’ve saved too many of us to deserve anything but happiness. We’re going to make this chance into something awesome, I promise. You trust me, right?”
“Of course.”
“Good, I’ll help you navigate that place and being one of us. I swear it.”
“Thanks, Mel,” I rasped, wiping under my eyes.
“Babe, you saved my life. I owe you so much more than something I would do just for shits and giggles, because you will shake up those prisses and elites in a way they need.”
I chuckled, needing the laugh as I turned my face up towards the sun. “Hey, does that change your story?”
“No, not at all. Just what my parents were trying to force me into was a mating with a guy whose family was up the food chain from us. I was still an idiot. What we are is great but sometimes the highs are too high and lows are too low. I hit too many of those low patches in a row, and unlike you who had a valid reason to run from everything, I didn’t act the adult I thought I was.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. My life is still infinitely better now even with what I went through. I have a gorgeous sister named Tamsin instead of shitty in-laws who looked at me like I was trash.”
“That might be the first time someone actually put me in the asset category,” I teased.
She burst out laughing and I felt myself get lighter too.
“Can I really do this? No bullshit.”
Her response was instant and helped my confidence. “Yeah, you were fabulous and badass in one feisty hot package and that was before you knew what you were. You got this. If not, we’ll do what we do best.”
“Kick ass and take some names?”
“You’re fucking right that’s us.”
We talked a bit more and I was grateful she talked me away from the ledge. She promised to text me with her flight information and we’d go from there. I doubted they’d let her stay at school for more than a day visit, but maybe she could stay here and I could spend the weekends here with her.
I was starting to like this house a whole lot more. It wasn’t so much a weight pulling me down as maybe a life preserver when I needed it.
A startled yelp slipped out of my mouth when a portal opened by the brick wall attached to the gate. A gorgeous blonde stepped out and beamed when she saw me.
“Tamsin?”
I nodded. “Claudia?”
“Yes, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” she greeted, extending her hand to me. She gave me a firm, quick shake before opening the folders she was holding.
“Is there a way we can enter but not take down the protective magic Mr. Geiger was talking about?”
“Yes, actually, and that was his recommendation after thinking about your situation. It’s quite simple as it’s fairy magic so you may pass but no one else can. To allow them to pass you have to be physically touching them as you cross the protective barrier. After that, the magic will recognize them as safe and will be allowed entry.”
“The catch?” There was always a catch.
She nodded. “Very wise for you to understand that’s how magic works already when you just learned of us. The catch is once invited, they can invite others. It sounds great when you invite me and then I could invite contractors to fix what was needed while you’re at school—”
“But from there things can snowball quickly,” I sighed. “Can anyone be forced?”
“My understanding is yes,” she hedged. “Not you, but any you’ve invited could be ‘pushed’ back through the barrier with someone touching them. The fae magic reads you differently though.” She gave me a curious look. “Did you have someone specific in mind you’re worried people would use as a way in?”
I nodded. “My best friend is a dragon, it seems. She thought I knew. We were around humans when it would have been the time to talk about it so she thought I knew. She knows about Artemis and is coming to make sure I don’t drown in elites and snobby bitches.”
“Your first day didn’t go well, I take it?” she asked gently.
I swallowed loudly. “I don’t know. It’s a bit too much. I’m pretty good at not getting into a fight I don’t know that I’ll win and I find myself unsure I’ll win this one.”
“As your attorney I should point out that there are other schools besides Artemis, ones that would happily accept you and be what you needed.”
I glanced at her, knowing there was more to say. “And your personal advice?”
She licked her perfectly colored lips. “If you back
down now that you got an invite at the top, you won’t get it again and it will follow you for life in this world. Sad, but true. It’s not like the human world where they are more understanding if you take a step back and choose a different path even if you only took a few steps on this one. Our world is fairly cutthroat.”
“Thanks for the honesty. I need that. Please be open with me.”
She nodded. “As long as it’s not around the partners. I’ll make sure to discuss things with you in private. Not Mr. Geiger, but some of them…”
“Are less than thrilled someone like me got the keys to the kingdom and is even a client?”
She didn’t answer verbally but her eyes said I hit the nail on the head.
“They have to keep quiet what I am, right?”
“Yes, and believe me that they take that very seriously. It would destroy the firm if any leaked secrets of a client.”
Good, that was reassuring.
“I took the liberty of looking over your semester calendar and flagged a few things I thought we should discuss. First is the welcome gathering Friday night. All freshmen are required to be there but also any athletes or people involved in the school, so it tends to be a large gathering.”
I blew a raspberry. “I’d bet this house you’re not going to tell me it’s a casual cookout or something actually fun, right?”
“Very astute of you. Yes, it’s a ball so you’ll need acceptable attire.”
I nodded towards the house. “I’d bet there’s a few gowns in there.”
“Right, assuming sizes and whatnot.”
“Right.” I glanced at her again. “Any advice on what to do with all the stuff in there? I mean, they weren’t my family but I’d feel horrible to erase their family history.”
“Yes, that would be crass,” she agreed. “I’ll think on that. They were a well-respected family and widely known in the community. Fiercely loyal. It was why they were one of the firsts to return to Faerie to defend the light fairy queen when the dark queen waged war. It was a shock to many when it was reported they perished.”
“Why did she start the war?”
She frowned. “Officially? I don’t know. I’m not sure most of the fairies knew. The courts were a bit like the Middle East and what started it all depended on history long before those alive and who was giving the answer.”