“Talk about hitting the ground running,” Lough murmured. “This is going to be terrible.”
We were all a little shell-shocked as we got up and walked outside. I had expected Zervos to lecture us as usual, but instead he was taking us outside into the winter night, where a biting cold assaulted us. This was going to suck. We were headed towards the outer reaches of Public, where the demons waited just beyond the barrier.
“Now, our primary objective is to learn how to survive in a real-time environment,” Zervos bit out as we walked.
“Excuse me, but will Ms. Rollins be going through the force field?” Camilla’s singsong voice grated on my ears.
“No one goes through the force field, even if they are able. That is not the point of the exercise,” Zervos gritted out. “It would put us all at paramount risk and is unacceptable under any circumstances.”
“I cannot believe the Committee approved this idea,” Sip muttered. I nodded, but a part of me, a pretty big part, was looking forward to fighting. “And we can’t even blame it on the pixies, because the pixie representative on the Committee, Oliva, isn’t even here yet.”
“Now, under no circumstances are you to go near the wall,” said Zervos, talking over Sip. “We are here mere to learn fighting tactics.”
When we got to the large field, I realized that we were close to the pond and the tree line. I also realized that most of the school was there.
Lisabelle’s uncle Risper was standing in the midst of it all, yelling orders. He looked every bit the bounty hunting Committee member.
“We’re all going to learn how to fight,” he bellowed. “This is a school-wide class and everyone will participate. You will learn how to defend yourselves or you will die trying. In order to do that you will be working in teams of four, with each team member representing a different dorm. This is to promote acceptance and intercooperation yada yada yada. There might still be divisions among paranormals, but here those divisions will be left at the door.”
“Wait, we have to work with Airlee students?” Camilla sputtered. “Ew.”
Risper’s eyes landed on her like the glare of headlights. “You do. And that will be the last complaint I hear from you. Or else.” His voice had gone soft and threatening. Sometimes not yelling is more scary than the loudest scream.
Camilla shut up.
Lisabelle looked around at everyone. “It’s like my worst fear come to life,” she muttered.
“’N SYNC reunion?” Sip asked.
I was only half listening to their banter, because suddenly I was tempted to run away to the pond, wanting to know what special power it might hold, wanting to know if I would meet my mother again.
But obviously I couldn’t. Risper was still talking, and I had to force myself to listen.
“I am going to split you into teams, and those teams will be yours for the semester. Each team will be competing against all the other teams on campus. At each Tactical, different challenges will be posed and winners will result. At the end of the semester there will be a team with the most wins and a team with the most losses. At that point I will devise suitable rewards and punishments. Under NO circumstances are any of you to hurt others, and you will be very closely supervised in this regard. Professor Zervos has agreed to act as referee. I and Professor Erikson will also always be on hand. Tactical is not a 24/7 game. Only at sanctioned times and under controlled circumstances are you allowed to engage in Tactical. I will not have mayhem and battles around my campus this semester.
“These rules are strict, because we have enough fears in the paranormal world at the moment. I do not want anyone to be constantly in fear of attack by fellow students.”
“Easy for him to say,” Lisabelle muttered. “Has he seen how the pixies feel about you?”
I tried not to grin. She had a point. Camilla and Kia hated me, and of course they were both standing with Cale, who was busy pretending I wasn’t there. Sometimes he did that when Camilla was around. I knew she had little fits at him if he talked to me.
“This is fantastic,” said Sip. “I really wanted to work on my werewolf moves, and now I have an excuse. Lisabelle, I hope we aren’t on the same team. Then we can battle each other.”
Lisabelle snorted. “Good luck.”
“Alright,” cried Risper, “gather ‘round.”
Lots of feet crunched on snow as we all moved nearer to Risper.
“It’s cold isn’t it?” he asked, grinning. Now that I was near him I saw that he was standing in front of a massive pile of wood. In a matter of seconds he had turned around and lit it, setting a huge blaze tearing into the pools of black sky.
Gasps went up from the crowd of students as heat trickled towards them and made being outside more bearable. I was transfixed by the flames, lost in enjoyment of the way they jumped and sparked around the wood, consuming it. They reminded me of the masks in the Museum. I was sure that at least one of those masks could be used to manipulate fire, and I hardly dared to imagine what a powerful mask that must be.
“Alright now,” said Risper, pacing back and forth in his all-black ensemble and looking especially menacing, “let’s begin.”
The process of splitting the students into teams of four took a long time. There were probably simpler ways to do it, but I got the idea that Risper wanted to see everyone’s reaction as the groups were formed. I couldn’t decide if that information would somehow help him with running the school over the next few months, or he just enjoyed creating havoc. Glancing at Lisabelle, and knowing they were closely related, I decided it was probably more of the latter than the former.
He started to rattle off names, and for a while I tuned him out. My mind drifted back to the Museum, the incredible elemental masks I had seen there, and the dangers that such powerful items could pose. The first few teams didn’t have anyone on them that I really knew except for Jordan Lawrence, a pixie who had Started with us. Then Risper started naming another group of four and I heard, “Sip Quest, Tat Devon, Nat Greg, and Kevin Donalds.” Tat was a vampire, Nat was a fallen angel and a good friend of Keller, and Kevin was a senior pixie. Sip put her chin up and walked towards her group.
“Lisabelle Verlans, Trafton Rooks, Cale Humphrey, Betsy Butter.” Trafton gave Lisabelle a wide smile as they joined their team, while Cale looked nervous and Betsy, a junior fallen angel, looked bored.
“Lough Typer, Camilla Van Rothson, Evan Drapper, and Marcus Pelletier.” Camilla looked like she wanted to punch someone. Obviously she wouldn’t want to be anywhere near Lough, because he was friends with me. Evan looked angry that he wasn’t paired with Lanca, and Marcus, Keller’s other good friend, looked high on life. That would make an interesting crew.
“Princess Lanca, Lealand Babson, Keller Erikson, Charlotte Rollins.”
My reaction was instantaneous and mixed.
YES!
No.
YESSSSS.
Oh. Freaking. NO.
I felt hot and cold all at once. Fate had a wry sense of humor, and so did Lisabelle’s uncle. Of that I was certain.
The four of us moved together, Lanca looking especially pale but bemused, Lealand, the pickpocket, or so I thought of him, looking politely interested, and Keller unreadable as usual. I felt like my confusion and awkwardness must be evident in my face. Just once I wished I could maintain a poker face and not give everything away before I even opened my mouth. That would have been nice.
“So, we’re a team,” said Lealand when the four of us came together. “I guess I’m the odd guy out, having just transferred. It looks like you already know each other.”
My face burned hotter.
“Hey,” Keller said, watching me closely. The flames playing over his sharp features made the definition of his cheekbones all the more visible. He really was the most attractive guy on campus.
I stared at him until Lanca elbowed me. “Hi,” I said, confused. In the background I could see Professor Erikson, and she did not look happy. It was the first time I
had had occasion to wonder whether she approved of Keller and me as . . . anything. Not that he and I had had a chance to talk about it since The Kiss. It was something I’d have to ask Sip about later, since she knew a lot about paranormal politics that I had never heard.
As Risper continued to separate other players into teams Lealand said, “So, we better decide on a place to meet and strategize.”
Lanca nodded. “Let’s wait and see what directions he gives us. If tonight doesn’t count as an official Tactical, the first one will probably be soon.”
Once Risper had finished dividing us up he said, “As far as the first competition goes, it will be here. There will be perimeters set up, and you will be directed as to how to proceed when the competition starts. For preparation, I want everyone to learn a defensive move. Dismissed.”
I frowned. “What does he mean by ‘move’?’’
Lanca was watching Risper with the oddest look on her face. “It sounds like we’ll be physically attacked by . . . something . . . and he wants us to be able to protect ourselves.”
“You should be able to help with that, shouldn’t you?” Lealand asked Keller, his eyes on the fallen angel’s face.
Keller nodded. “We spend a lot of time learning fighting techniques when we’re younger,” he explained to Lanca and me. Lanca nodded as if she had heard it before, but it just made it all the more clear to me that I knew very little about Keller or his life. I didn’t like that realization, not one little bit.
“So, let’s meet tomorrow in the library after classes,” said Lealand.
“Sounds good,” said Lanca.
“Keller?” Professor Erikson came striding over. She still wore all white, in a way that seemed to make it some sort of status symbol: yet another paranormal thing I knew nothing about. “If you’re finished here, it would be nice if we could continue our discussion?” Keller’s eyes flicked to me before he followed his aunt away.
“Well,” said Lealand, “I’m glad to meet both of you, anyway.” He gave me a bright smile, and now that I was close to him I could see that he had dark brown eyes framed by long lashes. The closer I was, the more good looking he was.
“Lanca?” he said, “I wonder if I might have a word with you about the vampire regions of the arctic.”
“Huh?” I spluttered before Lanca could answer. She laughed, a nice sound given how tired she looked. “Of course, Lealand. It’s my understanding that your father used to work in the region? I would love to discuss it. Walk with me.” And linking her arm with his she led him away.
I watched them trail into the night. There couldn’t be anything between them, surely. Lealand was good looking, but he was a pixie, and I knew enough to know that it just would not do for a vampire princess to take up with a pixie. Still, Lealand looked very happy to be walking with her, and he was very charming. Hmmm, I thought vaguely. Why was Lealand seeking time out with the vampire princess?
“Well, this is about as bad as it could be,” said Lough glumly as he appeared at my side. I gave him a pat on the shoulder for comfort.
“I’m sorry you’re stuck with you know who,” I said, meaning every word. Camilla delighted in making Lough miserable. He was an easy target.
Lisabelle came striding over. “Shall we take bets on whether Lough survives until May?”
“I’ll survive,” Lough retorted, irritated enough so that he responded directly to the love of his life for once. “I’ll survive and thrive, and if Camilla gets in my way I’ll give her bad dreams like you wouldn’t believe.”
“Yeah, like Daddy cutting up her credit card,” said Lisabelle. “Oh the horror!”
They smiled at each other for a moment, just until Lough started to turn bright red and Lisabelle remembered that smiling wasn’t part of her personality.
“Soooooo,” said Sip, bouncing up in front of us and grinning broadly. “How about that Trafton, Lisabelle?” Sip obviously thought the fact that Lisabelle was stuck with a good looking guy who liked her and was miserable was hilarious.
Just then Trafton walked up to the four of us. “I can see that this is a little gang on campus,” said Trafton. “How can I join?”
“Dial 1-800 not on your life and see how that works for you,” said Lisabelle.
Trafton smiled at her. “I know that behind that harsh exterior you have a kind and gentle soul.”
“No,” said Lisabelle, “I really don’t. I’m pretty much always this unpleasant, with the desired result of being left alone. WHY am I not being left alone?”
Then Trafton did the unthinkable. He leaned towards her and smiled. Instead of socking him, Lisabelle simply stood her ground.
“I like sarcastic and I want to make friends with the most powerful young paranormal darkness mage. Seems like it could only be for the good. Besides, maybe you aren’t as good as you think you are at mean,” he said, and still grinning, he walked away.
Next to me Lough was plenty angry, but he knew better than to challenge Trafton. As the only two dream givers on campus they would have to spend lots of time together and work together. And besides, Trafton could obviously kick his ass.
“What are you so chipper about this time?” Lisabelle asked. Sip was virtually dancing with excitement.
“Trafton has a crush on you,” she said, smiling her brightest smile as we walked away from the dying embers of the bonfire.
“He probably just thinks I have nice legs or something,” said Lisabelle. Since my darkness mage friend was tall and gorgeous, he probably did think she had nice legs. But equally obviously, that probably wasn’t all of it.
“Well, we know it’s not your personality that drew him in,” Sip agreed. Lough coughed.
“I’m heading to Astra,” I said, not looking forward to the lonely walk.
“You going to be alright?” the three voices of my friends chorused.
“Yeah,” I said, waving goodnight.
I trudged through the snow, which had dead grass poking out in various places. Even though it was wintry cold, I couldn’t remember the last time it had actually snowed. I could only see a few lights on in Astra, but since it was just Mrs. Swan and I living there, that made sense.
The front door opened for me, and there, framed by the light in the background, was a stern-looking Mrs. Swan.
“It’s ridiculous having you children outside where the demons can see you at all hours of the night. They’re probably going crazy along the barrier,” she scoffed, taking one look at my pale face and tired eyes and handing me a cup of hot chocolate. Yum.
I lifted my shoulders in a shrug. “I guess,” I said, “but it’s necessary. We’re going to get stronger, and since we’re in college I’m pretty sure we’re young adults.”
“Nonsense,” she said. “You’re children as long as you don’t do your laundry more than three times a school year.”
I grinned, thinking of Lough’s struggles with the washing machine. One day I had found him alone in the laundry room, actually trying to reason with the inanimate object and threatening to give it bad dreams. I was pretty sure that had been a low point for him in his freshman paranormal college experience. Being Lough, though, of course he had just laughed it off.
Mrs. Swan, watching me closely, said, “I’ll walk you to your room. How was your first day?”
I took a sip of the hot chocolate. It was like warm heaven gliding down my throat. “It was good,” I said. “The Museum is incredible.”
She nodded. “Yes, Dacer has worked very hard to make it something everyone would marvel at. I do believe he has succeeded.”
Outside my door I paused. “You seem to know a lot about what’s going on here,” I ventured carefully. I wasn’t under any delusions that Mrs. Swan would share privileged information with me, but I was worried about Lanca.
Mrs. Swan didn’t move a muscle.
“I was wondering about Lanca . . . she seems tired.”
Mrs. Swan’s fine eyebrows rose. “I’m sure it’s just the stress of being a
senior. There’s a lot of pressure on a vampire princess.”
I nodded, mulling that over, then said goodnight to Mrs. Swan and headed into my room. She had implied that Lanca was fine, but something in her face told me that she didn’t entirely believe it.
Well, good. Because I didn’t entirely believe it either.
Chapter Thirteen
The next morning I stumbled blearily down to breakfast. All the classes I hadn’t had the day before I was having today, and I wasn’t looking forward to it. I felt sure that Camilla and Kia would be in all of them.
Before I could get my hands on some cereal and a banana there was a knock at the front door. I tried to beat Mrs. Swan to answer it, but she seemed to have the ability to magically appear in front of me whenever she wanted.
“Good morning,” she said as she opened the door, but my view of the visitor was still blocked.
“Morning,” said Cale as Mrs. Swan let him in. I gasped and darted around a corner. I was still in my bathrobe!
“Charlotte, this is college, you used to live in a dorm full of people. Come out,” Mrs. Swan called sternly. Obviously she wasn’t going to let me keep my dignity.
“Yeah, but they weren’t guys I used to be in love with who were now dating the spawn of all that is evil,” I muttered.
Then I appeared from around the corner and tried to smile brightly, saying, “Hi Cale.”
“Hey,” he said, smiling. His red hair was its usual tousled self and his blue eyes shone out at me. “I was wondering if I might have a word?”
“Why don’t you go into one of the studies?” Mrs. Swan suggested. “I have plenty to do.”
With a start I realized that Mrs. Swan was already dressed for the day.
“Interesting arrangement you have here,” said Cale as we headed into one of the sitting rooms. The first one we came to was for earth, and I figured it would do. No one could possibly expect me to go far on an empty stomach anyway.
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