Montrose Paranormal Academy, Book 1: The Nexis Secret: A Young Adult Urban Fantasy Academy Novel

by Barbara Hartzler

  The sense of peace left me as goosebumps rippled all over my body.

  Bryan’s eyes landed on me, his fingers encircling my singed wrist. I winced.

  “Oh, I see,” the piper’s eyes widened. “You’ll have to hide out in the Marriott until the coast is clear. Get back to Montrose before they catch you. It’s the only safe place left.”

  Bryan nodded at him and grabbed my arm.

  “Get out of here, or I’ll clobber you with my pipes.” He hoisted up his bag, make a big show of it.

  “Funny, no accent now,” I whispered to Bryan as we walked away. The boys and Brooke straggled behind.

  “Heard that.” He picked up the pace and ran after us. In an instant it turned into a foot race. Six teenagers versus one kilted man, with bagpipes flailing on his back. Probably looked like a comic book scene to anyone else on the street, hopefully even the Watchers.

  “Quick, in here.” Tony pulled Brooke into the revolving door of the Marriott.

  Bryan and I smushed into the next section, Laura and Lenny right behind us.

  “Man, that guy sure knows how to waddle.” Lenny did a jig around the room like a puppet trying to dance.

  Laura let out her siren giggle, and I couldn’t help totally cracking up. Our laughter hit the marble-encased foyer and bounced right back at us. A few guests stopped and stared.

  “Shush.” Laura sucked in air to stifle her giggles.

  “You started it.” I gasped. “Man, that was loud. Everything echoes off of marble.”

  “Hey, guys, I’ve got an idea.” Lenny’s face perked up for the first time tonight.

  “Great, not another one of his ideas.” I followed the twins over to the bank of elevators. When I turned to Lenny, the smile on his face said it all.

  “I’ve got a plan to pass the time and make sure our girl here gets properly initiated. Who’s in?”

  Chapter 18

  Soft music trilled through the otherwise silent lobby. Laura’s neck craned up and down the glass-encased elevators as she eyed Lenny. “Elevator tag, really?”

  Walkie talkie static crackled outside as a black-clad team raced past the hotel lobby.

  He lowered his voice. “It’s only a matter of time before the Watchers search this place. What better way to lie low and pretend like we’re normal teenagers, right? Might as well have some fun. We’ll do brother-sister teams, Tony and Lucy can team up.”

  “You’re so immature.” But Laura smiled back at her brother, not fooling anybody. “You’re on, but let’s make it interesting.”

  He scratched his unmarred chin. “Losers have to buy the winners’ subway ride back to school.”

  “Not interesting enough.” Tony’s sneakers squeaked across the marble. “How about the subway ride, plus loser buys the water bottle to throw at the bagpipe guy?”

  “Water bottle? Huh?” I turned to Bryan for answers.

  He leaned in close. “It’s an all clear signal. If he throws it back, we’re all clear.”

  “Weird.” I mumbled under my breath.

  “You better get used to stuff like this if you’re going to join the Guardians.” Brooke tilted her head at me, her blonde hair falling over her glasses. “Everyone ready?”

  Heads bobbed and everyone moved closer to the elevator bank.

  Bryan cleared his throat. “We’ll take the right side. Tony, you take the middle. Laura and Lenny, you’re on the left. All three teams must ride to the top floor, then run down the hall to the next set of elevators. Whoever makes it down first, wins. Racers ready?”

  “So official.” Tony saluted her, sauntering to my side.

  Brooke, Tony, and Lenny poised their hands over the buttons.

  “Go.” They pressed their buttons simultaneously ... and we all waited.

  Laura checked her watch. “So this is what elevator tag is like.”

  Then the bell dinged, and the doors opened for Tony and me. We waved at the real siblings as Tony sang out, “Hey, hey, goodbye.”

  “You’re such a goof.” I shoved him in the shoulder just like I would do to my brother. My heart lurched at the thought.

  Passengers shot us puzzled stares as they exited. If I wasn’t so amped up, I might’ve been more self-conscious. But a nervous energy zipped through me, like something good was about to happen for a change. We scurried on and Tony hit the door-close button.

  He grinned. “I can’t believe I’m acting like a middle schooler.”

  “Me, either.” I cracked up, then my smile faded. “Did you already know that bagpipe guy was some kind of Guardian lookout?”

  “Sure. He’s more like an informant, really, between sectors. A middle man. We tell him stuff. He tells us stuff.” He pressed his nose to the elevator glass, looking out at the courtyard as if that were a normal everyday comment. “They’re only a couple of floors behind us.”

  The car jerked to a stop on the fifth floor.

  “What do you mean, sectors?” I tried to make my question light and breezy, like I was just a curious initiate. But I knew better than anyone that every bit of information could be potentially useful.

  “There are Guardian groups all over this area. It’s a big city. We have to stay in contact.” He shot me an enough-with-the-questions expression.

  “Fine, I’ll take what I can get.” I guess my questions weren’t so subtle. Glancing out the glass front, my breath caught in my throat. “They’re about to catch up.”

  Who was I to question the Guardian system? After the church, that awful man with his branding iron, that terrible fire—I’d survived. It felt good to be alive, unmarred. Mostly. Thanks to my Guardians and their informants like the bagpipe man, we might actually stay that way. I couldn’t imagine what would’ve happened if I’d attempted this visit by myself.

  Suddenly Brooke and Bryan’s elevator shot ahead, while ours stopped.

  “Man, they’re passing us.” He was just as into this game as I was, maybe more so. The Coopers waved, Bryan shooting finger pistols at us while Brooke stuck out her tongue.

  “How mature.”

  “Going up?” A fortyish man asked when the door dinged open.

  “Yes.” I frowned, batting my eyelashes at him. Wow, my competitive side would do anything for this win.

  The man gave us a slight nod. “I see. I’ll catch the next one.”

  “Thank you, sir.” Tony jabbed the button, and we were off again. Still anyone’s game. I spotted Brooke and Bryan’s car stopping below us.

  “What’s up now?” I cheered and high-fived him. As we passed the Cooper car, I pressed my hands to my lips, blowing kisses at the glass.

  “Don’t be such a baby, sis.” Tony rolled his eyes, but his ridiculous said it all.

  I grinned back at him. “Who cares as long as we win?” At the top floor, the elevator dinged, and the doors opened. Cold air blasted my face as we raced down the hallway.

  “Which way?” Tony’s dark head swung around in all directions.

  “This way, come on.” I yanked his arm, veering from one hall to the next set of elevators. Across the open courtyard, a bell dinged. “No way.”

  The Coopers stepped out of their elevator.

  “Faster. They’re coming.” Tony bellowed behind me.

  My jog shifted into a sprint. When I reached the other elevators, I banged on the button, hard. My flats didn’t stop fast enough, and I flailed about like a pinwheel, almost smacking my head against the wall.

  “Great, they’re catching up.” I panted out ragged breaths.

  “Come on, stupid elevator.” He kicked the door.

  The Coopers buzzed down the hall, Bryan towing Brooke behind him. He practically strutted up to us and pressed his button.

  “So, you thought you could beat us?” Brooke squinted at Tony as she approached.

  “Game’s not over yet.” Tony countered, crossing his arms over his chest.

  “We’ll see who has the last laugh.” Brooke nodded at Bryan. They grinned at each other like foo
ls. Odd, I never smiled at my brother like that unless we were about to pull something big.

  Then the elevator dinged, and the doors burst open. That’s when Bryan snatched my hand and yanked me to his side.

  “Hey, what are you doing?” I whirled around to see an evil grin on his lips.

  “Lucy.” Tony’s hand stretched toward me, but Brooke side-tackled him and they crashed into the elevator. The doors shut behind them, Brooke’s muffled giggle seeping between the crack.

  I stuck my hands on my hips, puffing out my bottom lip. “That was a dirty trick.”

  “Sorry, Brooke’s idea.” That evil grin said otherwise.

  “Sure it was.” When the next elevator opened, he nudged me inside. I stared up at him, hand stuck in his grip, familiar tingles sizzling up my arm.

  “I didn’t say it was a bad idea. I did give up a chance at winning.” The smile softened, spreading to his eyes now.

  “And you stole my chance.” My heart fluttered in the cage of my chest. Quick, say something. I blurted out the first thing on my mind. “You’re still holding my hand.”

  “So I am.” He inhaled a deep breath, staring back at me. Something flickered in his eyes. All of a sudden, he bent down. “Lucy, I—”

  As he inched closer, my heart drummed faster, his minty breath filling the car. His mouth lightly brushed my lips, and I closed my eyes. His arms slid around my waist, pulling me closer. His lips pressed into mine, firmer this time.

  Then he pulled away, one hand stroking my cheek, his blue eyes larger than ever as they searched my face. I gazed back at him, but he didn’t move. He just stood there, frozen like an exquisite statue. That’s it, after weeks of build up?

  “I don’t think so.” I arched on my toes, pulling him back to my lips.

  “Much better,” I murmured against his mouth, relaxing into his arms. This is how kissing was supposed to be, no expectations, just chemistry.

  Suddenly the elevator alarm sounded, shattering the best moment of the night. The car halted, mid-air. I jumped back, bumping into the metal rail between me and the glass. Bryan’s hand rested on the red stop button.

  “I knew it. I can’t believe this.” His eyes widened, then narrowed into a glare. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Tell you what?” I angled my head to stare past him through the glass window of the car. Hanging in the middle of nowhere, uncertainty thundered in my ears.

  He cocked his head at me, blue eyes drilling deep. “Why didn’t you tell me about the visions?”

  My heart almost stopped. How did he know I had visions? My eyes darted around the small space. It closed in on me, I couldn’t escape. I blinked hard, but his eyes still bored into me. The air clogged in my throat like I could hyperventilate any second.

  I spewed out the first coherent words. “I don’t know, it’s pretty crazy. How could you know about my visions?”

  “Hey, Angel. I know you’re not crazy.” He reached for me, wrapping me up in his arms again. With one hand, he nestled my head into his shoulder. It felt good to rest there. “Those things you see are pretty scary.”

  “No kidding.” I lifted my head, watching that strong profile. “But how do you know what I’ve seen?”

  Those blue eyes seared into me. I could’ve melted into the floor. “Just now, when I kissed you, I saw some pretty strange things.” His fingers toyed with my hair, like it was no big deal.

  All the air blasted from my lungs. Relief flooded my body, as if a heavy load magically lifted off my shoulders. Finally, someone who could help me understand my scary visions.

  I collapsed into him, letting his strong arms hold me up. “You really saw something when you kissed me, or when I kissed you?”

  Laughter rumbled in his chest. He planted a kiss on the top of my head. “I wasn’t expecting that last one, but I saw something both times.”

  “Really? What did you see?”

  “First, I saw that man with the golden eyes, in a hospital surrounded by white light. He made you feel better. Then I saw that shadow snake slithering up Will’s shirt. Gave me the creeps.” A shudder racked his body. “Now I wish you would’ve listened to me and stayed away from him.”

  “Wow, I almost forgot about the man in the hospital. He felt so real.” My mind flew back to those horrible days after the accident—the hospital, the recovery, all of it. Bryan saw the whole thing, or at least part of it. Somehow that felt more intimate than kissing, like he could see into my soul.

  “You have quite a gift,” he whispered into my hair. “I’m not sure how I could see what you’ve seen. I’m shocked, in a good way.”

  “This is so weird.” I nuzzled into his shoulder and closed my eyes. Finally I could breathe easy, now that someone else knew exactly what I’d been going through. “Funny how you saw two random visions.”

  Bryan stepped back, tilting my chin up. When my eyes fluttered open, dazzling blue filled my sight.

  “What do you mean, random? How many visions have you seen?” His eyes weren’t angry, just searching.

  “I don’t know.” I broke his gaze. Could I be honest with him? After all we’d been through, he might be the only person I could trust. “Maybe five or six actual visions. Sometimes I just see shadows or light around people.”

  “Oh, really?” He pushed the stop button again. The elevator rumbled back to life. “Anything around me?”

  “Definitely a light.” I smiled up at him. The vision of the fight came back to me. “When Jake showed up at Hard Rock, I saw a man of light. It was so cool. My guy totally punched out Jake’s shadow. It was awesome.”

  “What? You saw an angel fighting a demon?” His hands moved to my shoulders. “Are you sure?”

  I tried to shrug, but his hands weighed down on me. “Yeah, I think so. It’s not like they tell me what side they’re on. It’s usually obvious. When I thought he was an angel, he nodded at me like I was right on. That was the first time I saw anything remotely human, except for that Noah vision.”

  “Noah vision?” Suddenly his face fell, arms drooping to his sides. He paced back and forth, then turned to face me. “This is so much bigger than I thought.”

  The elevator dinged, and we split apart.

  “Stupid bell.” With my fingers, I combed away the tangles in my hair. What did he mean? What’s so important about the Noah vision? I shouldn’t have mentioned it, but I thought he could handle it.

  Bryan’s eyes lingered on me. He swiped his palm across his lips before the doors opened. Good call. My berry lip gloss all over his face would be a dead giveaway.

  The doors opened on Brooke and Tony strutting around the elevator lobby. Even Laura and Lenny had beat us to the lobby, and Laura was rolling her eyes at Tony.

  He crossed his biceps over his chest, glaring at us. “Where were you guys? You weren’t that far behind.”

  “There you are. We won!” Brooke danced around and high-fived Tony. “You know what they say, all’s fair in love and elevator tag.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “Why are you acting weird?”

  I bit my lip, peeking sideways at Bryan. Maybe we should just tell them the truth, that we were making out and Bryan saw my visions, but don’t worry. I’m really not that crazy. Nope, still sounded crazy.

  Bryan threw up his hands, nodding at me. “We were just trying to catch you, but it didn’t work.”

  I lifted my hands, too. “Yeah, too bad. We lose.” Admitting defeat was about right after what happened up there.

  “Okay, I get it.” Tony’s head bobbed back and forth between us with a gleam in his eyes like he knew the truth. What, did my bright red lips give it away? “You don’t want to pay for the subway, but I say you still have to buy that water and throw it—”

  “You mean toss it gently.” Brooke stared him down. “It’s not a baseball game. No one needs to get injured.”

  He turned toward her. “Fine, toss it to the bagpipe guy.”

  “Deal.” Bryan pumped Tony’s hand, nodding his all-knowing nod
. “Now let’s go find some bottled water.”

  “Meet you in the lobby.” Brooke grabbed Laura’s arm and walked off with Lenny. She turned, tossing her head long enough to wink at me. Great, now my cheeks burned bright. That girl was good, not to mention subtle.

  Bryan led me down a dimly lit hall to a bank of vending machines set back into an alcove. Only the machines gave off any light, almost mood lighting.

  He glanced around before he opened his mouth. “Listen, I’m sorry about what happened back there.”

  I banged my head back against the Pepsi machine. Anything not to look him in the eye right now. “I’m not sorry. If anyone has to know what I’m going through, I’m glad it’s you. As long as you don’t think I’m crazy.”

  Those eyes locked on me, covered in shadows. Machines buzzed, but he didn’t say a word. Anger welled up inside me, balled up my fists.

  “You know what? I don’t care if you do, at least it’s out there now.” I couldn’t read his expression in the dark, and it drove me nuts.

  “Of course you’re not crazy.” He reached across me to feed a dollar bill into the machine, trapping me against it. When he pressed the water button, his hand grazed my cheek. I searched for something in his eyes, hoping they’d tell me what he was thinking. They flickered and suddenly his hand moved behind my head as his lips melted into mine again.

  All of my inner turmoil melted away, and I wrapped my hands around his neck. His arms encircled me, pressing me up against the vending machine. He tasted sweet and minty, his lips soft, his breath hot on my cheeks.

  Then he inhaled deeply and pulled away. I rested my hand on his chest. “What did you see?”

  He exhaled a low whistle. “You were right about the Noah vision. That was definitely him. Because it was meant for you, that makes this so much more complicated. It looks like your gifts have come early.”

  “What?” I reached for his hand, but he stepped back. Cold air filled the gap between us. “I don’t understand.”

  “I should’ve figured this out sooner, with the ring and the other strange things.” He wouldn’t meet my eyes. “I wish I could explain it all now. As a Guardian, I’m just a protector. My job is to stop people from being duped by Nexis. But your destiny is so much bigger than mine. If you were only the predecessor to the Seer or a gifted firstborn, we might’ve stood a chance. Now that I know who you are for sure, I can’t risk being a distraction to you. The world would suffer for my selfishness.”