Heaven's Fall: A Paranormal High School Bully Romance (Pandorax Academy Book 1)

by Ember Hollis

  “And you didn’t see anything?” I asked. “Or hear anything?”

  “I might have heard some hoof beats,” she replies. “I thought it was weird, since deer are normally quiet, and I was quite far from the unicorn pasture.

  “Well, there might be an explanation for that.” I explain what happened in her absence, about how I’d gotten my powers, saved a unicorn, lost it, and then stopped Bianca from becoming a Nightmare. I left out the part about Bane, the girls, and what had happened with Knox and Malek, since I wasn’t feeling quite ready yet to talk about it.

  “So you’re saying it could have been a Nightmare?” Sibyl asks. “I didn’t really get any bad memories when it got near me, though. The feeling I got was from something external, it didn’t feel like any of my own horrors or troubles, so it doesn’t really match up.”

  “Well, maybe everyone reacts differently,” I say, recalling what the Darkness I took from Bianca had done for me.

  Somehow, it had allowed me to sense something when I’d touched Knox and Malek. I’d been thinking about what it had all meant for the past few days, and no matter how I look at it, I keep arriving at the same conclusions.

  Whatever I’d sensed hadn’t matched what I’d been feeling at the time either. In fact, I’d distinctly felt as if I’d gotten under their skins and been given a glimpse into their minds. And their reactions also supported my theory. Both Knox and Malek had been more than just angry, they’d also been disturbed by what I’d done.

  Perhaps, as a Whisperer, whenever I take in Darkness from a unicorn and direct it at someone else, I get to see other people’s troubles, and not my own.

  I consider asking Sibyl what she thinks, but when I turn to her, she’s already asleep, slumped over at the foot of her bed and snoring lightly.

  Oh well, it isn’t as if she’d know that much about it. This matter of Nightmares and the effects of their power on people sounds more like something I should discuss with Amelie or Chiros. If only I can bring myself to talk about why I’m interested in such questions.

  With a sigh, I bring a blanket over to cover Sibyl, then set the new set of blue sunglasses that Madam Wilkins had made for her on her nose, over her blindfold. With any luck, she’ll find it before she turns me to stone.

  Which might not be all that bad, if it means I get a break from being me, I decide, thinking nervously about what’s on my scheduled for tomorrow.

  Chapter 28: Heaven

  The next day is Saturday, so there are no classes at the academy and everyone gets a day off to do what they want. Most of the students either sleep in till late or wake up early to catch the funicular train down for a day at Themis.

  Since I already made plans with Noah, I force myself to get up before dawn and get dressed. Aside from having to check up on Bianca and the other unicorns, I want to sneak down to the cafeteria before anyone else is up so I can grab enough for breakfast and lunch without anyone spitting on my jeans and T-shirt.

  It feels good to not be in uniform, and I revel in the freedom of not wearing a skirt. While I did manage to get new sets of uniforms after that night, the memory of my clothes being ripped to pieces and what happened next keeps assaulting me whenever I put my uniform on. I feel so much more secure in my thick jeans and old shirt. Still, I hurry through the castle, then make my way to the unicorn stables before the rest of the school is up.

  Bianca is doing well, but there’s still a little stain on her rump. There’s not much of it, and since it didn’t disappear like Amelie said it would, I decide to take it into myself in case it gets worse.

  This time, the spell leaves me with a slight ache behind my eyes. I swallow one of Madam Kahili’s pills which works to numb the feeling, and barely notice the pain while I go about checking on the other unicorns. Something has made them skittish again, but I don’t see any new signs of Darkness on them, and the Onyx River by their pasture is still crystal clear. I leave a note on the duty chart to let Chiros know I’ve already come and gone, then head to the funicular station near the castle.

  Since it’s still early, I expect to have to wait till Noah arrives, if he even comes at all, but I’m pleasantly surprised to find that he’s already there, with a picnic basket to boot.

  “Good morning,” I say shyly, half glad and half terrified that he actually showed up. I don’t know how close Noah’s room is to Malek’s but he can’t have missed what happened to me over the past few days.

  “Good morning,” he replies with a grin. It’s the same easy smile he had for me the last time we met, and I almost laugh out loud in relief when I see it.

  “How are you?” He looks me up and down with concern in his eyes. “I heard about what happened. I didn’t see it since I’ve been out on patrol every night since Tuesday when that thing with you and that unicorn occurred, but my dick of a roommate witnessed it first hand and told me what happened.”

  I guess I should have known Noah would just dive right into it. “I’ve been better,” I admit, “But nothing really bad actually happened to me, aside from everyone treating me as if it did.”

  I hope that’s enough to allay any suspicions he might have about what really happened between Malek and me in his room. Noah does indeed look a little relieved to hear it, which in turn makes me relieved.

  “That’s good,” he says. “I thought it was all nonsense anyway. The kids up here are savage, and that’s saying something, coming from someone who likes his meat raw and kicking.”

  He shakes the picnic basket roughly then pretends to listen, as if whatever he packed for lunch might be thrashing around in it. I can’t help bursting out into laughter, though its actually part relief. Noah joins me, and for a moment, everything feels normal and wonderful again.

  “Ready for your first trip to Themis?” he asks, gesturing to the car that’s climbing up to us.

  “Oh, I can’t wait to go,” I confess. I’d love nothing more than to spend some time away from Pandorax.

  We take the car all the way down the mountain. The view is fantastic, and though I hate living at Pandorax now, the sight of the castle wreathed in mist as we descend is breathtaking, and the valley below is equally beautiful.

  I gasp as it comes fully into view, admiring the quaint half-timbered houses with wild grass growing on their roofs and the curving, cobblestoned streets. It’s like a medieval European town, except that here and there are touches of something foreign and out of place. Like the multi-colored smoke drifting out of a baker’s chimney, and the gargoyles that fly like birds around what looks like a towering, pentagonal church spire.

  “Why the long face?” Noah asks, coming up to join me at the front glass wall of the car.

  “Just thinking of how beautiful the view is from up high. I miss my wings,” I admit. This is the kind of view I’d want to see if I had a choice to re-do my first flight. Not a terrifying plummet to the death.

  “Hey, you’ll get there,” Noah tells me. He squeezes my shoulder. “You’ll see.”

  I smile at him. Here’s another person who believes in me. Though the last few days have been among the most challenging of my life, I suddenly feel incredibly lucky. It’s hard making friends while moving around constantly and having a Mom who really doesn’t know the definition of the word ‘slut’ (or doesn’t care), but somehow, I feel like I managed to make a real friend in Noah, right here in this weird, horrible, terrifying academy. “Thanks.”

  “Not a problem. Now, shall we?” He sweeps out a hand as the car slides to a stop. I giggle and move forwards, stepping out onto a cobblestoned street. It winds ahead of us, twisting and turning with no discernible pattern through the slightly crooked houses ahead.

  “Now, before we let our hair down and run wild, there’s several things you need to know about staying safe in Themis,” Noah says, taking the lead as we walk down the street.

  “I don’t normally tell everyone the whole list, considering it’s a little disturbing for newcomers to know, but I think you’re in a unique
position here at the academy, of needing to know all there is to know about the many shitty ways someone can make your life miserable, or even end it down here in Themis.”

  I stare at him. “What?”

  “I’m serious,” he says somberly. “This isn’t Pandorax Academy, it’s a real life magical community. The Dome’s magic will protect you in that it will let the powers that be,” he jerks his head towards the school, “know when you’re near death, but there’s precious little they can do at this distance, or to help you, should you stumble into a magical contract that the Dome’s magic cannot counter. Plus, there are rumors that the Dome’s magic is patchy in some areas in Themis, so I wouldn’t wholly rely on it to protect you anyway.”

  “Okay, slow down,” I say, my nerves already beginning to jangle.

  “Too much guidebook, not enough story?” he asks sheepishly.

  “Too much doom and gloom,” I say. “I thought this was just a weekend excursion. You’re freaking me out.”

  “Sorry. I’ll try to make this a little less scary. But you know, it actually is,” Noah smiles wryly at me. “And you need to know all of it before we go any further, especially since some of the students who are out to get you might also be here.”

  I sigh and just wave for him to continue. “Okay, okay, bring it on.”

  “Right.” Noah spreads his hands out to indicate the village. “We’ve always had the option of coming down to Themis on the weekends to buy anything we need or to enjoy ourselves, so there’s a lot of mishaps that have happened here throughout the years. That’s where all these warnings are coming from, okay? They’re not official rules, but they stem from real life cautionary tales that are meant to help you not end up like the poor sod who made the original mistake.”

  I nod, and Noah holds up a finger.

  “Number One: Don’t play any games in the fairy casinos or underground rings unless you’re ready to gamble everything you have, including your soul. Number Two: Any deal that seems too good to be true, is too good to be true. Don’t even accept a free pasty, unless you know what’s in it, otherwise you might be the next tasty morsel being stuffed into a hot pocket. Number Three: Don’t sleep with any Themis residents. The contraceptive magic the Dome provides doesn’t work with them, and in the magical world, gender doesn’t matter when it comes to pregnancy, or having an eternal ‘Upon death will you not part’ claim to your soul. There’s been too many hell brides and grooms taken from Pandorax by those who enjoy finding the next ‘pretty little thing’.”

  My eyes are as round as dinner plates by now, but Noah’s not done.

  “Which brings me to Number Four: I know I said this is a neutral zone for angels and demons, but the fact of the matter is, one of those two isn’t really good at following rules. If you sense anything truly bad, the best thing you can do is to get out of here like a bat out of hell, so be aware and on your guard at all times.”

  “Now, on to the big whopper, Number Five: The Dome has shitty reception out here. You may disregard Numbers One to Four and still live to tell the tale if you’re lucky enough and someone finds you before you screw yourself over. But if you happen to be in a Thin Spot, where the Dome has broken down or isn’t working for some reason or other, you’re totally on your own.”

  I gulp when Noah looks meaningfully at me. “Now, I have no hard evidence about where the exact locations of these Thin Spots are or even if they really exist, but some students up at Pandorax come from very old supernatural families and they sometimes gossip. It took me months to find out all the rumors, even with school guide privileges, but I have a feeling that you don’t have the same luxury as I did, especially if the Four and everyone else on their side are out to get you.”

  Noah brings me to a nearby map of the village, then points all the potential spots out, making me repeat after him so I memorize them all. Some of the locations, like a spot in the middle of a nearby meadow, seem totally random, while others, like the the Old Sanatorium for Weres that’s now a museum, appear more sinister and appropriate.

  “All right,” he claps his hands once I’ve repeated the list twice without any mistakes. “I believe we’re done!”

  “Phew,” I say, shaking my head. “I almost feel like heading back now.”

  “Hang on,” Noah laughs, dropping his tour guide tone. “That was all necessary, but now that you know, don’t let it ruin your enjoyment of Themis! It’s actually a really nice place. Come on, let me take you to my favorite establishment. You just need a stiff drink, then you’ll be all right.”

  Noah takes me by the hand and leads me to what looks like a tavern, with boxes of red, white and purple flowers under its windows. At first I’m a little hesitant, then I catch sight of the wooden plaque above the door. It’s an old painting of a headless man in a green cape astride a white horse, with his arm raised to hold up a lamp, and the name below it reads, “The Headless Horseman.”

  “Huh, that’s a good sign, maybe just one drink then,” I grin, allowing Noah to pull me in.

  Chapter 29: Heaven

  The Headless Horseman is as charming on the inside as it is on the outside. It looks cramped upon first perusal, but then as you wind your way in through its narrow aisles and irregularly shaped tables, you eventually discover that it’s like a rabbit warren inside, with twists and turns, multiple levels, and several unexpected dead ends and escape entrances.

  Noah deposits me at a secluded table near a cul-de-sac, then goes back to the bar to order drinks for us.

  I look around while I babysit the table, wondering if I’ll see anyone I know from school. The thought is nerve-wracking, since they’re unlikely to be friendly, and I make sure to keep myself concealed behind the picnic basket that Noah’s left with me.

  Sure enough, it’s not long before I hear the tinkle of laughter and look behind me to see Christian, lounging in a nearby corner with a pretty girl on each of his knees. Neither of them look familiar and I almost breathe a sigh of relief. Then, as if my looking has alerted him to my presence, Christian glances up and catches my gaze.

  A spike of nerves flares through me, and I lean back quickly, hoping that the shadow from the basket hid my face. But when I hear Christian approaching, I know it’s too late.

  “Ahh,” he sighs, as he settles next to me on the bench. “I knew today was going to be a good day. What are you doing here at my establishment, little lamb? Haven’t you been roasted enough?”

  “Your establishment?” I blurt out.

  “Belonged to one of my ancestors who lost his head after he slept with a Nephilim’s son.” He sees me frowning at him and smirks. “Oh, little lamb, your kind and my kind have a long and convoluted history together. Speaking of which, why don’t we indulge in a little uh… history in the making, hmm?”

  He leans forward and presses his lips to mine. The scent of his musk washes over me, and I can’t help my eyes falling slightly close. Christian’s are still open, and I glimpse him watching me intently, even as he swiftly deepens the kiss, slipping his tongue into my mouth to stroke it along my own.

  What… why… he’s up to something!

  Quickly, before my control is swept away by his irresistible passion, I send out a thread of Dark energy. It’s lucky I decided to drain it from Bianca, since now I can use it to defend myself against Christian. But there’s so little of it compared to the last time, that all I sense when I mold it into a tendril to probe against his cheek, is a faint echo of something.

  See who gets it first… how dare he… I’m the one…

  And then it’s gone.

  The spark of Darkness fades in me, and Christian draws back, a frown on his face. “Did you do something?”

  “I need to go,” I say, then grab the picnic basket and dart from the room, intending to find Noah.

  In my eagerness to get away from Christian, I don’t look at where I’m going, and find myself slamming into someone. I look up and lock eyes with Bane. He’s surprised too, but I recover more quickly
as a seed of mischief takes root in my mind.

  There’s nothing left of Bianca’s Darkness in me, but I don’t need it. I already read Bane and figured out what his problem is with me. Or rather, his weakness.

  Seeing from the corners of my eyes that Christian has followed me into the hallway, I don’t waste any time. Like a starfish, I plaster myself onto Bane, pressing my whole body against him. He’s stunned yet again, and I take my chance to raise myself onto my toes and plant my lips on his, moving them as sensuously as I know how, while I push my hips into his.

  There’s a strange thrill that always comes whenever I seduce a man who I know wants me. That thrill is amplified almost a hundred fold now, as I feel Bane’s stiffness reluctantly melt away while Christian begins to boil as he watches us from behind.

  I know its dangerous, taunting them both, but I can’t resist the opportunity to rile them up, especially when they’ve both done more than enough to make my life miserable.

  So I kiss Bane as deeply and passionately as I’ve ever kissed anyone, rubbing myself all over him like a cat in heat.

  Then, when I sense his anger begin to overflow and his hands moving up to grab me, I peel myself away and slip out of his reach.

  “Do you know, I prefer the way you kiss compared to Christian? He’s got his tricks, but you’ve got just the right amount of intensity. You should just admit it, I can totally tell how much you want me,” I whisper loudly to the silver-haired beauty. Seeing his eyes blaze even hotter at my words, I break into a run.

  When I look over my shoulder, I catch a delicious glimpse of both Horsemen staring at me. Christian is red in the face from jilted indignation and envy, while Bane glares so intently at me, I can almost hear the cogs in his head turning as he plans how best to kill me.

  It’s a dangerous thing I’ve done, I know, and I’ll probably suffer terribly for it, but for now, my heart is singing from how I’ve succeeded in taunting them both. Talk about two birds with one stone, I’ve just one-upped two Horsemen with one kiss!