Bait

by Kasi Blake

Out of every room in the entire school, all one-hundred and twenty-six of them, the meditation room was Nick’s favorite. The walls were covered in thin black curtains with braided gold cords hanging down, waiting to be pulled so the material could slide back to reveal numerous weapons. Sometimes he took down a sword or dagger so he could practice his moves. In the center of the polished hardwood was a thing that looked like a cross between a huge silver cauldron and a fountain. Delicate metal branches shot up from the cauldron/fountain to the ceiling, and a magical flame burned inside of it, a fire that never died. It wasn’t a real fire. There wasn’t an ounce of warmth or heat, just a brilliant reddish-orange light.

  Then there was the issue of privacy. At this hour the students were in their dorms or in the cafeteria so he didn’t have to worry about being gawked at. Balancing on one foot, a blue yoga mat beneath him, Nick grabbed his other leg by the ankle and lifted it high in the air behind his head as he leaned forward in a pose known as the dancer’s pose. His other arm reached straight out, stretching his fingers as if trying to grab something precious. Under his breath he counted to thirty. Mind and body synchronized.

  “Exactly when did you lose your mind and where was I when it happened?” Mike’s booming voice bounced off the walls, startling Nick. His former lead guitarist wore a dark suit complete with a strangling tie.

  Nick wobbled but quickly recovered. “Where are you going dressed like that?”

  “To your funeral,” Mike said with a wry expression. “Van insisted the band be there when he buries Tyler. It’s going to be videotaped for the hungry masses so he doesn’t want anyone to get suspicious. I think your grave is going to be somewhere close by.” Mike made a face. “Hey, maybe he’ll set you up with a lakeside view.”

  Disturbed by the news, Nick said, “Go then. I have things to do.”

  Undeterred, Mike asked, “Like mentoring Van Helsing’s daughter? Are you insane?” He walked slow circles around Nick while speaking. “I couldn’t believe my ears when Tony told me you’d volunteered.”

  Mike placed a hand on Nick’s forehead.

  “What are you doing?” Nick asked.

  “Checking for a fever. You must be delirious.”

  A brick of tension landed on Nick’s shoulder. Yoga usually relaxed him, but it wasn’t going to work if Mike kept verbally pushing him. He let go of his ankle and performed a flawless headstand with hands flat on the mat. Unfortunately, Mike’s boots were in his line of sight. “No one else was going to agree to mentor her,” Nick mumbled.

  “Oh, so you were doing everyone a favor? Is that it?”

  “They would have sent her away.” Talking while upside-down was not an easy task. Nick pushed with his hands and started to walk around the room on his palms.

  “Good. Then you’d be free. Happy days are here again. The prophecy wouldn’t have a chance to come true.”

  “It isn’t going to come true because I’m not going to let it.” Nick grinned. “She’s pretty, but she is not irresistible.”

  “Try to remember that.”

  “You worry too much.”

  “And you don’t worry enough.”

  “If I ever feel myself starting to fall for her, I promise to give you a call. You can be like my sponsor in a drug abuse program.”

  Nick flipped all the way over to land on his feet, giving up on the yoga. He picked up a discarded black tee and pulled it over his head while Mike circled him. “You are playing a dangerous game there, bud.”

  “But you’ve got my back,” Nick said.

  “Always.” They bumped fists and Mike smiled. “Now tell me the real reason you decided to mentor this girl.”

  Nick could fool most people. Growing up under Van’s roof, he’d learned a great many skills including how to lie successfully. Friends for years, Mike knew him too well. The young man could always tell when Nick wasn’t giving him the whole truth so he let him have it. “It’s Van’s fault. He killed my music career, grounded the band, and demoted me to border guard. Not going to happen. Now he’s got two choices. Either he can bring Tyler back to life or watch me teach his precious baby girl how to hunt.”

  “Reckless idiot.” Mike rubbed the back of his neck. “Van Helsing is going to dismember you if you do anything to hurt his little girl... or to mess up her chance at becoming a great Warrior.”

  “It’s his choice. All he has to do is cave this one time and find her another mentor.”

  “But you aren’t going to train her, no matter what? You swear?”

  “I’m not going anywhere near that girl.”

  Nick bent at the waist until he could touch his toes. Numbers ticked off in his head in a last ditch effort to clear his mind. He took deep, slow breaths and tried to relax every muscle in his body.

  “I miss Jordan,” Mike said out of the blue.

  Nick considered the idea. Did he miss her? For years the three of them had been practically chained to each other. Jordan could be a pain in the ass, but she was loyal. “Yeah, I guess I miss her too.”

  “We could call her,” Mike suggested.

  “If she wanted to be here, she would be.”

  Nick crossed the room with quick strides and grabbed his list of classes. As part of his punishment, he was required to retake some courses before going on another hunt. He held the paper between his teeth while struggling into black sneakers. Hopping twice, he managed to get the second shoe on. Without another word to Mike he hurried into the hallway. Students stopped to openly gape at him like he was on exhibit at the zoo.

  Feeling a bit claustrophobic, Nick’s gaze traveled through the meditation room and slid to the window on the other side. They were on the fifth floor, but the urge to jump overwhelmed his senses. Having millions of eyes on him while on stage was one thing. Putting up with it while in his own skin was another. He couldn’t handle the scrutiny.

  Mike stepped into the hallway and pulled his jacket back to reveal a holstered gun. Addressing the crowd, he said, “You can keep staring or live long enough to graduate. Your choice.”

  A nervous flutter of voices moved through the crowd as they quickly dispersed.

  Nick nodded curtly at Mike, grateful for the intervention, but also embarrassed by his unusual reaction to the attention. He was supposed to be the guy in charge, the strong one everyone else turned to for help. What was wrong with him?