Dread Delight: Rosewood Academy for Witches and Mages (Darkly Sweet Book 2)

by Juliann Whicker

  He studied me. “That’s the kind of thing people say when they need a hug. If you don’t want my disgusting boy scent all over you, you’d better go find Drake to cry on or something.”

  I rolled my eyes. “He’s busy. Also, all week he’s been a little bit weird.”

  “Weird? Isn’t he always weird”

  “He’s been really soft. Like last Tuesday when we were in his car, you know, the regular kissing schedule, he was so soft.”

  Zach’s face went kind of still. “I really don’t want to hear about you kissing Drake.”

  “Why not? Pitch told me all about kissing you. No, telling is the wrong word. She showed me, gave me a very thorough demonstration. Why shouldn’t you hear about Drake? I have to listen to you go on and on about Pitch, and deal with her slicing my eyeball, a good inch deep right through the center of my retina. Do you have any idea how disgusting it is to clean out eyeball wounds? You can listen to me talk about Drake.”

  “Pitch kissed you?”

  I wrinkled my nose. “Does that sound exciting? We are done talking about Pitch. We’re talking about Drake. Anyway, he was just so soft, holding me so gently like I was cotton candy that might melt away in his fingers, and he kept his black ribbons in his hair. I had to untie them for him while he kissed my throat, said it would keep me from fainting.” I sighed at the memory of his breath against my skin, his lips finally brushing mine as the ribbons were forgotten. “Every time I’ve seen him all week he just looked kind of sweet and sighing, not wolfish at all. I can’t bear it. It makes my heart want to explode or crumple into a million pieces.”

  “Pitch kissed you?”

  I pushed his face away with my palm. “Macaroons and cupcakes, you’re so selfish. Do you think I want to listen to you wax eloquent about my nightmare? No, I don’t.”

  “Fine. Tell me all about Drake, his voice, his touch, his amazing all over awesomeness, but the whole time I’m wondering how you got to be so stupid, because I know Drake and I know that soft is not any part of him.”

  I stiffened. “And you know that because you’re a girl who is sort of cute and quirky that he seems to somewhat like? Yeah, I’m stupid, but if you look at Drake vs. Pitch, I’d have to say that Pitch is the far stupider choice.” I slid off his bed to my feet. My head felt practically fine after that noxious slime Zach had given me.

  “Since Pitch is probably going to hurt you for all of this,” Zach said, gesturing to himself where he still sprawled on his bed. “Do you want me to come back to being your dance partner?”

  I hesitated. Dancing with Ian wasn’t fun, but it was extremely illuminating. He was good. Better than good. Also revolting, but revolting was better than whatever I was with Zach. “No. You can sit and watch us like a good little chaperone. I’d rather have Ian’s slimy hands all over me than yours.”

  He scowled and sat up, leaning over his knees while he glared at me. “Thanks.”

  I shrugged. “You’re welcome. Now I’m going to bathe three times, wax, triple lotion and make certain I smell nothing like you. Bye.”

  “You can do all that, but you know what I’m going to do? I’m going to go spar with Drake. And I’m going to smell so much like an adorably drunk Penny Lane that he’s going to rip me apart so badly that you’ll feel sorry for me.”

  I whirled around to stare at him. “What? Why would you do that?”

  He cocked his head while he studied me. “Justice. If my girlfriend is going to rip you apart for being with me, it’s only fair that your boyfriend does the same to me.”

  I shook my head. “That sounds more like equality than justice. Stupid equality, like men and women having urinals in their bathrooms just in case.”

  He grinned. “You didn’t say that Pitch isn’t my girlfriend.”

  I laughed and crossed my arms over my chest. “Yeah, because it’s apparent that she’s as much your girlfriend as Drake’s mine.”

  “Boyfriend.”

  “Either way is equally ludicrous.”

  “Just so, or should I say, justly so?”

  I almost smiled, but instead I turned and marched out of his room.

  What was Viney doing up at that hour? Apparently waiting for me to come out of Zach’s room.

  “Hey, Viney. I spent the night passed out from Hogsnass with Zach. He probably put black lipstick on me and pretended that I was Pitch. How was your night?”

  She blinked in surprise. Maybe I shouldn’t be so direct, but she wasn’t one of the people I felt the need to lie to about something as innocuous as getting drunk.

  “You should be more careful.”

  “I know. Sometimes I’m so tired of being careful, of worrying and trying that I just can’t care anymore. Do you ever feel like that? Not that we shouldn’t keep trying, but some days it’s hard.”

  She bit her bottom lip. “Is it Drake? He seems to be different lately.”

  “It’s the black ribbons, right? So weird. It’s freaking me out. Like the gingerbread house all over again. Maybe that’s what the drunk thing is, trying to push him away, or get him to push me away, or something.” I rubbed my forehead. The headache was coming back. Drinking was such a bad idea. I didn’t need to drink so it was one stupid thing I could not do. “Do you want to go work out or something? We’ve got some time before class starts.”

  She hesitated then nodded. There was something she wasn’t saying. She was another Poppy, someone else I was letting close enough to hurt me. And she would. Soon if my experience with Poppy was any indication. It was always nice to have something to look forward to.

  Time passed, those few weeks between Pitch’s surprise visit and the Winter Extravaganza, the student show that Drake had been working so ridiculously hard to make perfect. Maybe it was being so busy, maybe it was the way Drake looked at me that made me too happy, and happiness always goes quickly. The excitement, stress, and noise level built and built until it was finally the night of the show we’d all been working and stressing over. I’d put as much effort into my part as anyone, more than some if all the extra time in my room practicing was any indication. I was already the laughing stock of the school so any impression I made would be an improvement, but I couldn’t disappoint Drake. Doing a public performance with him was a big deal. Viney and every other girl I talked to told me all about it.

  I was in my costume with Viney backstage. She wore a very classical leotard with sparkles and tutu, waiting for her number before I went on with Drake.

  “Break a leg!” I grabbed her in a hug and kissed her cheek before I gave her thumbs up.

  She rolled her eyes then went out onstage.

  Wow. She may have been short, but the things she could do with those pointe shoes were incredible. She had a whole bevy of ballet dancers and they did all these elaborate patterns and designs. While beautiful, it wasn’t something I would ever be able to do. Which was fine. I made incredible lollipops and that’s what counted.

  “Hey, are you ready?”

  Drake grabbed my hand and I stared up at him, feeling weird with my hair out around me instead of tucked away, a flower wreath in my curls.

  I put my hands on his chest for a second before I remembered that people were watching and we were definitely not dating. I pulled away, heart pounding. “I’m nervous. I didn’t think I’d be nervous.”

  He grabbed me close to him, staring down into my eyes. “Penny Lane, you are Gretel. You can’t mess this up.”

  I shook my head. “I told you, I’m the witch. I suppose afterwards you can take me somewhere so I can gobble up all the tender morsels.”

  “Penny, Lane! Are you referring to me?”

  I blushed and gasped, stepping away from him. “Drake Huntsman, I’m shocked. There are rules. This isn’t Tuesday.”

  “But it is a Holiday in Pisa where they celebrate the creation of pizza. What would be better than pizza and tender morsels all night long?”

  I bit my lip as I stared up at him then sighed. “You really tempt me.”
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br />   He kissed my fingers. “That’s the idea. Come on dearest sister. Let’s dance.”

  Before I knew it, he pushed me stumbling out onto the stage feeling like a flamingo for a second, paralyzed by the sight of three thousand people in the auditorium staring at me, resident flamingo however beautiful my outfit was.

  I saw motion from the corner of my eye and looked up to see Zach on the other side of the stage motioning me emphatically, almost hitting another ballerina in the head. I felt like he was with me, like Poppy.

  Wind rushed around me, swirling my hair, and I spun with that, holding my arms precisely the way Ian had showed me, stretching out my foot just right in the wind. I got lost in that rushing breeze, caught, swirling, tangled up in doubts, fears, problems that had no solution until finally, I collapsed beneath a tree in a pile of leaves, a dramatic whoosh, with my arm stretched above me, making a beautiful line. Had I messed up? It was over too fast, my first part, and maybe it was a disaster, but no one yelled out how badly I sucked.

  I held very still while Drake came out with the grace of a dancer, the power of an athlete, and the stage presence of a superstar. The crowd came to life while he danced for them, so beautiful and perfect while my heart pounded and I saw only him. Finally, he fought/danced his way through the woods and storm and found me. The music was as tender as his eyes while he took my hand, raising it to fall again, then trying again, pulling me against him then spinning with me.

  The music wrapped around me like his arms, the rising orchestra coming to a fever pitch until I lifted my head, slid my hands up his neck and kissed him.

  The audience gasped and I felt Drake’s lips curl in a smile beneath mine before he pulled away. That hadn’t been in the choreography. Oops. We were supposed to be siblings. No kissing. I’d seriously messed up, but when I searched his dark eyes for anger, the sparkling green showed amusement and something else. Something that stirred before he took me in his arms and kissed me as deeply as he could without me fainting. He wanted to kiss me, even if I messed up, even if I made him look bad?

  My lips buzzed from that small contact. Since I’d already messed up, I could forget about the details and do what Ian had brutally trained my body to do, but also have just a little bit of fun. I threw my head back and did my best, playing the part of the sweet sister who may be a bit coy, and we did our lifts perfectly, gracefully, smoothly, one movement to the next without any hesitation or fumbling. I laughed as he leapt with me, our footwork in perfect time until the end where we stood, arms around each other in a brotherly embrace. I beamed at him, as we walked, together, out of the woods.

  Once the curtains whooshed closed, the audience roared with applause that I could feel through the floor while Drake turned and picked me up, spinning me in the air, but in the armpit lift, the one that I was ticklish about. I started giggling and wriggling until he put me down, smoothing his hands over my hair before he pulled me close and kissed me. We were standing like that when the curtains opened again for an encore, because people kept clapping, and when they saw us kissing started whistling and going completely mad.

  I pulled away from him blushing, but he held my waist, his hand strong, smiling confidently at the crowd before he bowed and waved then down came the curtains again, and this time he pulled me close, not a ticklish hold and instead growled in my ear, “Penny Lane, what kind of performance was that? Inspired, is what it was. That’s what Hansel and Gretel always needed: incest.”

  I elbowed his ribs, but he only grinned at me, tightening his hold. “I messed up.”

  He shook his head and frowned sternly. “Kissing me could never be a mistake.”

  “But it’s not Tuesday.”

  He looked like he was going to say something, or kiss me again, but then Viney came up with a small smile. She looked so weird smiling, like a doll that had it painted on.

  “You guys were great. Penny, you didn’t suck.”

  “They were amazing!” Zach grabbed both of us and grinned madly, then kissed Drake, both cheeks like some European.

  “What are you doing? This is not make-out time,” Drake growled.

  “You did say that kissing you was never a mistake,” I pointed out.

  Zach grinned at me and wiggled his eyebrows. “He tastes like you.”

  I scowled at him. “And you know that how?”

  “Penny, you danced beautifully.” Ian’s voice was like liquid gold, his smile as appealing as the rest of him. In spite of how attractive he was, I smiled at him, full of good will. He’d made me look good.

  “Thank you.”

  “Come on,” Viney said, grabbing my arm and dragging me away from Drake. “We need to get changed, unless you want to wear that tutu to the after-party.”

  Drake glanced at Viney, frowned then relaxed his grip on me and let her pull me away from him. “That’s right. I’ll see both of you afterwards. You probably don’t want to see Witley’s performance. I know that I don’t.”

  Zach frowned at Drake while Ian looked amused.

  “Why not? Isn’t she great?”

  They turned to look at me like I’d sprouted another head. Ian gave Drake another glance before he smiled at me indulgently. “That’s right, she’s a very talented performer, but seeing her with Drake might not please you.”

  I lifted my chin and tried not to blush at the insinuation that Drake was mine and I couldn’t handle him with another girl, even if he was only accompanying her. “I wouldn’t be watching her, but Drake. We’re friends. I watched Zach and his guitar duel, which was awesome, the chess performance that was so strange but I loved it, and now I want to see Drake accompany Wit.”

  “Accompany?” Ian frowned. “I see. Well, I have no part in this. Like I said, well done. I’ll see you at the party later.” He turned and disappeared into the shadows of the stage while Zach stayed, scowling at Drake.

  Viney shifted uneasily. Finally she glared at Zach and grabbed my arm. “Come on, Zach. If you help, we should be able to change before the performance. That way we can watch from the audience.”

  “Right,” Zach muttered and turned, heading out while I held back, staring at Drake. I wasn’t quite finished with our moment of triumph. He stared back, his eyes dark and full of promise. He hadn’t finished either.

  “Come on!” Viney yanked me away from him, through the remaining students who stood waiting for the final few shows.

  I was high on the applause and the look in his eyes as Viney dragged me to the dressing room. Zach probably shouldn’t be in our dressing room, but there was a changing screen I could use, and someone had to help me with the laces that went up the back of my dress.

  “Zach, help with my laces.”

  “No, Zach. I want you to take off my shoes while I wash my face.” Viney nodded at him decisively. He rolled his eyes then dropped down to pull out the ends of her laces. It reminded me of the ball, her pulling me away from Zach to claim him as hers, all for some diabolical plot I still didn’t understand. Had she really been trying to save me from them, or was she doing it on command for Drake?

  I bent down to help with Viney’s other shoe, but she pulled away with her nose in the air. “You don’t know how to take care of point shoes.”

  “And Zach does?”

  It was infuriating. Viney took forever with her makeup, and kept yelling at Zach that he was doing everything wrong, and the whole time, I waited for him to unlace my dress, then when her shoes were finally off, she grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

  “Men are so useless,” she said, turning to me with a sigh. “Let me do your laces. That way Zach won’t be leering all over you.”

  “You’re mistaking him for Ian,” I said, turning and waiting for her to finish. She was so slow. Instead of yanking it off, she took time with every single eyelet. Finally, I could wriggle out of it, and I did so behind the screen where I’d left my cute outfit. I changed in record time. When I came out, Viney was in her black jeans and b
lack sweater, applying layers of dark makeup around her eyes.

  I washed the theater makeup off and hurried with my own makeup. I didn’t have ages of time, but when I asked her, Viney assured me that we had plenty. Finally, we were ready. We left the dressing room, and Viney headed out towards the halls instead of to the stage where everyone else clustered to watch the show.

  “Hurry,” she called, and I followed her, down the hall, up the stairs, so we could sit in the balcony section where they had the best acoustics and we could really see the performers. When we got to the solid oak doors that led to the balcony, the usher standing outside, a mage in a black suit and tie, stepped in our way.

  “No one enters during the show.”

  I stared at him. “Please? We really want to see this last performance.”

  He frowned at me and shook his head. He looked familiar. Was he one of the guys I’d seen undress in the locker room? How embarrassing. I blushed while Viney fumed.

  “Get out of the way. Do you know who I am?” Viney towered to her full height, which was very short.

  The mage stood his ground. “First of all, yes, you’re Vineldra Pinhouse. Secondly, I can’t open the doors. Do you know who is on the other side? This is where the most important of the most important have their seats. Interrupting them could cause some student to lose a future position.”

  Viney turned to me, her scowl shifting to discomfort. “Maybe if we hurry back we can make it.”

  I heard music begin, the sound drifting through the doors, a woman’s voice like honey and angels then a man joining her, everything soulful and rich in his voice, even through the thick wood.

  That voice. I knew that voice. I glanced at the door mage then at Viney. She must have known that they didn’t open the doors in the middle of the performance. She wasn’t a newcomer here. She didn’t want me to see Drake. I didn’t care why.

  I beamed at Viney. “That’s a great idea! Let’s go!”

  We rushed back to the stage then when we were almost there, I hesitated. “Actually, Viney, I need to use the toilet. Do you mind if I go in while you watch the ending? I’m sure Drake is fabulous, but we tried.”