“We need to go to class,” I said.
Kayla looked at me, as if I were insane. “You want to go to class while all of this is going on? Na-ah. We need to be spending our time trying to find a way to stop anyone else from disappearing.”
“We need to find out what this ‘other eyes’ means, and I think my Dark history teacher can help us.”
“And you think he’s not going to have a problem letting a Light into the class?”
“I don’t give a shit what any of them think. Whatever is going on is bigger than the factions.”
As predicted, the entire room of Darks, Vampires, and Lycans snapped their eyes to Kayla when we entered the class.
Reagan’s friend, Charlie, stood from her desk and waved her finger at us. “Where do you think you’re going, Leach?”
“Shut up and sit down,” I said to her, pulling Kayla farther into the room. “If you have a problem with her, then you can take it up with me.”
“And we all know who’ll win that one,” Kayla added with a smirk.
I was half expecting her to poke her tongue out at the wolf, but Kayla held onto her dignity—this time.
Pulling out the chair from the table at the front of the room, I paused, realizing I didn’t want a group of Darks behind us, even though I wanted to be as close to the teacher as possible.
I leaned in closer to Kayla. “We should sit at the back.”
Of course there weren’t any seats left on the back row, but there were two seats in front of Thomas. And I trusted him to not try and kill my sister.
“Tell me if someone tries to kill her,” I joked to Thomas, as I took a seat.
Kayla’s face paled. “You think they’ll kill me just for being a Light??”
“Don’t try and pretend you Leaches wouldn’t do the same,” Charlie called out.
“Shut it,” I snapped, my little buddy crawling up my neck and resting just below my jaw.
Everyone stared, their eyes glued to me, or more so the familiar I was paired with.
Thomas leaned forward. “You have a Hellhound on your neck.”
Ignoring the others, I turned to him. “Yep.”
He shook his head in disbelief. “Do you realize how rare those are?”
I nodded. “Nova told me they’re almost unseen.”
Thomas furrowed his brow. “Who’s Nova?”
A sigh escaped my mouth as I remembered she’d been forgotten. “I’ll tell you about her later,” I said quickly, as Seth entered the class.
He strode across the room and dumped his bag on his desk before turning to the class. He opened his mouth to say something when his gaze fell on Kayla. “I see we have a guest today.”
“Uh, yeah,” I said, realizing I had no idea what I was going to say. “We need to stick together today. Didn’t Bishop tell you?” I felt guilty for lying to him, but there was no way I was going to tell him the truth with a bunch of Darks, Vamps, and Lycans sitting around, wanting any excuse to hate me even more.
“No,” he drawled. “But I’m sure he meant to.” He clapped his hands together. “Can anyone tell me about the origins of the relationship between the Darks and their Familiars?”
And just like that, he carried on with the lesson, acting as if Kayla was a regular student.
Kayla, on the other, hand was anything but. She was like me on my first day, not understanding, not fully believing, but keeping her mind open to all the possibilities. After all, there were usually three sides to a story, maybe even five, considering there were four factions in the war between our grandparents’ generation.
I’d already told Kayla most of what I’d learned, but she was still hung up on some parts of it. I didn’t blame her; I was hung up on parts as well.
When the class ended, Kayla and I stuck around to talk to Seth.
He closed the door behind the last student and walked back to his desk, standing in front of it. “Are you both going to tell me the real reason you brought a Light into this class?”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “It’s just that with everything that’s going on here, there’s no way I’m going to leave Kayla alone for a second, and I really need to speak with you about something.”
“It’s okay,” he said, leaning back against his desk. “I just can’t help you if I don’t know the truth.”
I sighed with relief, grateful he wasn’t going to bust our asses. “Thank you.” I pulled my hair up into a ponytail, trying to give myself time to think. “Has Bishop told you about the missing people?”
“He has touched on it, which is why I didn’t say anything about Kayla sitting in on today’s class.”
“Thanks,” Kayla said. “You have no idea how scary this is. I mean, one minute you’re here, then the next you’re gone. Poof.” She did a little explosion with her hand for emphasis.
“So I’ve heard.”
“Well,” I said. “I was wondering what you know about Shadow Walkers.”
“Like in their abilities?”
I nodded. “And their differences, particularly their sight. And why I can remember those who everyone else has forgotten.”
Getting more comfortable, he sat on the edge of his desk. “The original Shadow Walker was able to cross the lines of this realm and the others. He was able to not only tap into the abilities of the other factions, but to use them in ways that no one else could. Which is why you were able to stick to the ceiling that day in gym class. You are an animal, a Witch, a Demon, and a wolf. You can morph into creatures that aren’t tied to this world. Creatures that live in the Demon world.”
“And what about my eyes?”
He drew his brows together. “What about your eyes?”
I wasn’t sure if I should tell him—trust him—but time was running out, and there were no other resources to find out the information I needed.
Here goes nothing. “I received a message this morning that I need to use my other eyes, and I don’t know what that means.”
Seth stilled then swallowed hard. “The message is referring to your Demon eyes that allow you to see things that aren’t visible to our eyes.”
“I have Demon eyes?” I murmured. Of course I had Demon eyes.
“Yes, you do. Or you should.”
“How do I access my Demon eyes?”
“That I don’t know,” he said. “There isn’t a Shadow Walker manual, which under the current circumstances would’ve been helpful.” He stood. “Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful.”
Pushing my chair out, I stood, too. “It’s okay. It was worth a shot.”
Kayla stood and grabbed our bags off the floor. “At least we now know about her Demon eyes. Now, all she needs to do is practice getting them out.”
“If there’s anything else I can help you with, let me know,” Seth said, gathering his papers on the desk.
“Will do,” I replied. “And thanks again for letting Kayla be here today.”
“Not a problem. More Lights should know the truth.” He chuckled. “Maybe one day they’ll be open to it.”
36
When lunch rolled around, Kayla and I went into the cafeteria and rounded up what little friends we had, knowing that it was going to be a push to get anyone else to join our crusade. But someone had to know things about me—or the disappearances.
I had to start small and go from there.
We sat under the old cherry blossom tree, what remained of the black flowers a stark reminder of how much had changed since we all first arrived. Thomas sat on the other side of the table next to Kayla, who was in front of me. I’d somehow managed to get Reagan’s friend Charlie to join us, but she was sitting at the far end of table, as if just being close to us would give her warts.
“What’s going on?” Thomas sucked on the straw of his milkshake, as he eyed off Charlie, probably wondering why I would ask her to join us when we obviously hated each other.
I sat up straight, trying to give myself an assertive edge that I felt I lacked. “What I’m about
to tell you is going to sound completely nuts and—”
Charlie raised a brow, as she unwrapped a granola bar. “Why’s that not surprising?”
Trying to refrain from saying something I might regret, I glared at her. “As I was saying, this is going to sound crazy, but I need you all to listen and try to believe what I’m saying. Or at least give me the benefit of the doubt because if you don’t, then it could be you next.”
“Are you threatening us?” Charlie asked, jerking back, hand over heart like the drama queen she was.
I sighed. “No, I’m not threatening you. But there is a threat against you and every single person at this school, so listen up.” I paused, waiting to see if she was going to say anything else. When she remained quiet, I continued, “You all know I’m a Shadow Walker, but what you don’t know is that I was used to let out a class D Demon.”
“What do you mean, you were used?” Charlie snapped. “I think it’s more likely that you let it out, so you can try to have a reunion with your Shadow Walker ancestors.”
Kayla thumped her hands on the table. “Listen here, you little Dark Witch. Zalia is trying to save your and your friend’s dumbasses, so the least you can do is cut her some slack.”
“I don’t have to listen to this.” Charlie stood.
“Sit,” I commanded through gritted teeth. And it was a command, not a request, and the fear in Charlie’s eyes had her planting her butt on the seat. “Thank you.”
“You were saying?” Thomas asked, trying to move on.
“Right,” I continued. “I woke up near this vault containing artifacts, and there was an open canister next to me. I don’t remember how I got there or opening the damn thing, but Bishop found me there and thinks someone here at Night Shade used me to release this Demon. At first there didn’t seem to be anything wrong—except for this tree producing charred flowers.” I pointed up above us. “But then people started to disappear, and the only one who can remember them is me.”
“How do we know you’re not insane and have all these little imaginary friends that have gone bye-bye?” Charlie asked.
“Because someone helped me get this familiar, and it’s the last thing he did before he disappeared.” I tugged down my top to expose the Hellhound nestled next to its poop.
Kayla snickered. “That poop is still there.”
I rolled my eyes. “Can we not focus on the poop?”
Charlie and Thomas looked at each other, causing an uneasy feeling to grow inside of me. “Familiars don’t shit on their hosts,” Thomas said.
My eyes flared with worry. “If this is not poo, then what the hell is it?”
Inspecting the poop-like thing under my skin, Thomas and Charlie leaned closer. “I don’t know what that is, but it’s not poop.”
“Great.” Just another thing that was wrong with me. I released my shirt, letting it fall back into place and hiding Karma and the blob. “Anyway, as I was saying, these people I remember are real. I never knew how Darks got their Familiars. Hunter recommended I get one to ground my fire after what happened with Reagan.” I paused, waiting for any recognition in Charlie’s eyes, but there was none. “Reagan was your best friend. And believe it or not, she hated me more than you do.”
Charlie snorted, blowing me off, as if I were some crazy lunatic.
I wished.
Then this would all be in my head, and no one would pay the price for my mistake.
“And Hunter is?” Thomas asked.
“He was brought in to help me learn to control my new abilities. He’s not much older than us, but he knows more about what I am and the abilities I possess than anyone else at this school.” I bit my lip, as heaviness set in on my chest. “Reagan was the first I noticed to go missing, then Leila, and Hunter. And just last night my old roommate, Nova, disappeared while walking back to our apartment with Kayla.”
“Say this is all true, how do we know you’re not responsible for their disappearance?” Charlie asked. “I mean, you have the greater demonic magic that none of us possess, and it would be an easy out for you to get rid of your enemy by blaming it on someone else.”
“No matter what you think of me, which I know is very little, there is no way that I would make someone disappear just to make my life easier. And if I did, then why would I get rid of Hunter and Nova, my two favorite people in this place?”
“Hey!” Kayla and Thomas said in unison.
I rolled my eyes. “Kayla, you’re my sister. I have to love you. And Thomas, you’re great and all, but you’re not Hunter. But you are my third favorite.” My gaze drifted to Charlie. “You’re probably my least.”
She gave me a thin smile. “The feeling is mutual, which is why I’m wondering why I have to be here.”
“Because even though we may not see eye to eye, we both have common goals and upbringings, and I need all the help I can get.” I reached into my bag to retrieve my water bottle but noticed a hardback book I most certainly hadn’t put in there. “What the…” I withdrew the book from my bag and placed it on the table then flipped through the pages.
Kayla sighed. “It’s blank as well.”
“What do you mean, as well?” Thomas asked.
I closed the book and held it against my lap. “Every single spell book and history book in the vault no longer has any words on it.”
“It’s not just the vault,” Kayla added. “It’s every spell book, including the ones on your shelf.”
I frowned, wondering why she’d gone looking through my books when she had absolutely no interest in reading. Maybe my love of the written word had finally rubbed off on her. I could only dream.
“Which is the reason I asked you both here,” I said, nervous energy buzzing under my skin, hoping they would give me the answers I so desperately needed. “I received a message this morning telling me to look with my other eyes, but I don’t know how to, and seeing as there are no manuals, I was hoping either of you might be able to help me because you both have different…”
I trailed off as the air around me began to get fuzzy, then glitched out like it had done just before the message appeared.
Scanning the area, I tried to figure out what was causing the disturbance in the atmosphere. Maybe another message was about to appear.
“Zalia!” Kayla’s panicked voice ripped through my heart.
I snapped my gaze in her direction as her hand began to glitch out, then a second later, her whole body.
Leaping onto the table, I made a grab for her, but my hand slipped straight through her, as if she were a ghost. “Kayla!” I scrambled over the table, trying to get to her, trying to protect her.
Fire ripped through me, coating my skin in a thin layer of flames, as I made a last ditch effort to grab her. But the moment my skin touched hers, she recoiled in pain. Then she disappeared.
I had her and then I lost her. Because of me. Because I couldn’t control myself.
I felt myself spiral out of control, slipping into despair, and I didn’t have time for it.
Thomas scooted out of my way as fire ripped from my skin, then imploded within me, being absorbed by Karma.
“What are you doing?” Thomas asked, panic rippling through his voice.
Tears running down my cheeks, I looked up at him. “She’s gone.”
“Who’s gone?”
I scrambled to my feet. “Kayla! She was sitting right here.” I grabbed his hands, needing to feel something real, to convince myself that I wasn’t living in some fantasy world and imagining everyone around me.
His warm hands gripped mine. “There’s no one sitting here but us.”
“She was here,” I said, pleading with him to believe me. “And she just disappeared, as if she were glitching out of this realm.” My gaze flicked to Charlie. “Please tell me you remember her.”
She stood and backed away. “You’re a freaking lunatic. Don’t ever talk to me again.” She raced off, leaving me alone with Thomas, who still held my hands.
“L
et her go,” he said in a soothing tone. “She was never going to believe you. But I do.”
That was music to my ears, my last saving grace. “Teach me how to use my other eyes.”
“I will.”
37
True to his word, Thomas sat beside me, in my bedroom, staring at the full-length mirror. He didn’t make me wait, nor did he try to talk me down.
I grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “You’re my new favorite person.”
“I better still be when we get everyone back.”
I chuckled. “You’re on par, but I’ll forever be in your debt if you can help me save them.”
“Having a Shadow Walker in my debt could be dangerous,” he said with a gleam in his eyes and smile in his voice. He squeezed my hand. “Now, look into the mirror and focus on the primal part of yourself. The part that you normally push down.”
“You mean the fire?”
Thomas shook his head. “I mean the Demon inside of you. Use your familiar to ground you, then draw on your primal instincts like this.” A second later, his eyes glowed the most brilliant amber color, showing his true identity of the wolf.
Letting go of his hand, I laced my fingers together and rested them on my lap, as I tried to follow Thomas’s instructions.
Thirty minutes and five hundred attempts later, I was still no closer.
“You’re holding back,” he said. “Focus on your Demon side.”
“I am,” I said. “I have been and it’s not working.”
“Then find what works for you. Your sister is depending on you, your friends are depending on you, and whoever this Hunter is, needs you.”
A mixture of sorrow, anger, hurt, and frustration filled my soul, turning the torrential fire into an agonising pit of rage, then my eyes flicked black.
“It’s working,” Thomas said with excitement. “Keep doing whatever it is you’re doing.”
And I did. I remembered everything about each of them, the love I felt for them, and the anger and fear I had not knowing where they were and if they were okay.
Night Shade Academy Page 18