Curse of Blood and Shadow

by J. M. Kearl

  With a shout, Benjamin threw a dagger and it sailed for my head. I flipped backward and it missed, barely. I stomped my foot and sent a shockwave through the ground knocking them all down, including Zyacus. He sprang up, grinning and then someone yelled, “There’s been an attack on the front gate!”

  Silence filled the arena for a moment then the people spectating ran for the exit. The four of us competing, waited until the Headmaster shouted, “The tournament is over. Please go to your rooms.”

  Forget that. Zyacus took my hand and spelled us to the front steps. Several other students had gathered and we watched as guards carried three people by their arms in magical green chains. Near the gate there laid five bodies on the ground.

  When the guards passed with the prisoners, a male hissed at me. I narrowed my eyes. Vampire. Normal people don’t go around hissing.

  Madison and Papa took up the rear and I fell into step beside them. “What happened?”

  “Ten vampires attacked,” Papa said, blood splattered across the side of his face. “We killed five and kept these so we could interrogate them. Two got away.”

  “Alright, back inside!” Professor Deg yelled.

  None of the bodies appeared to be Senica, could he have been one who got away? I desperately wanted to be there for the interrogations.

  “All students, to your dormitories!” Deg shouted

  Loud chatter echoed in the foyer and most everyone headed to the dorms. Zyacus must have had the same idea as I because he kept hold of my hand and we followed behind the guards with the blood drinkers. Madison slowed and turned to us. “What are you two doing?”

  “Joining you,” I said, hoping she’d allow it.

  There was a long pause before she said, “Keep quiet and let us do the talking.”

  After being restrained to the chairs, the interrogation began. First with guards delivering several blows to each of their bodies and faces. Madison stood with her arms folded, as if she’d done this a hundred times. A cut opened on one of the males’ foreheads and closed up within moments. They healed incredibly fast but they still felt pain; I knew by their cries.

  “Now,” Madison said, waving the guards off. “How many of you are there?”

  The female spit at Madison, but it fell at her feet.

  Madison nodded toward the guards and one cracked the vampire on the head with the hilt of a sword. She screamed and her skin split; blood leaked down into her eye, but this time the cut didn’t heal. Perhaps they grew weak after so much harm.

  “Will there be another attack?” Madison asked.

  Silence.

  “My, my,” Madison cooed. “We haven’t even cut out your tongues yet and you seem to have lost the ability to talk.”

  I tried to hold back my smile. I wondered what it said about me that I admired Madison for this.

  “Maybe a little magic will do the trick.” With a wave of her hand all three of them convulsed as if being hit over and over by lightning. Foam dripped from their mouths and they all groaned in pain but could not seem to scream. After a horrifying thirty seconds, she stopped the spell.

  The three of them heaved long breaths, gasping for air.

  “Where are your friends and how many do you have?” Madison asked again.

  Still, they kept silent. After being questioned, beaten, burned, jolted, and threatened within a breath of their lives, I thought they’d never crack. It wasn’t until Madison found a weakness that I had hope.

  Madison grabbed the female by her hair and wrenched her head back. “I will tie you onto the roof and laugh when the sun rises if one of you doesn’t tell me where the others are. Your boyfriends can watch as you wither into ash.”

  A young male finally choked out. “No, don’t!”

  “Ah,” Madison purred, her eyes glowing as if she enjoyed this. She probably did. “Is this your little girlfriend?”

  “If you let her go, I’ll tell you,” he said.

  “Shut up!” the female hissed. “Don’t you say a word.”

  Madison took out one of her swords and the young male thrashed in his chair, she laughed. “I can always just cut her head off now.”

  Zyacus leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Madison is… merciless, isn’t she?”

  I couldn’t tell if he admired that about her or was put off by it, but I nodded. I’d heard stories. I think Madison was the type of person most appreciated for her skills but she had a lot of inner demons.

  With the blade pressed against the female’s neck, Madison said, “Talk.”

  “They’re in a cave. Twenty miles west of here.”

  The female vampire glared at him. “I can’t believe you broke, you idiot. They’ll kill us anyway.”

  Madison smirked. “Yes, kill them. We got what we needed.”

  I knew they needed to die but they looked so human. In the fight outside the walls it was life or death but here, restrained to the chair, the vampires were helpless to defend themselves. I looked away as the guards closed in and followed her command.

  Papa, who’d stood beside us during the interrogation, leaned over to me. “Go to your rooms.”

  On our way, Zyacus was unusually quiet. I didn’t think he would be disturbed by what happened but perhaps he was. I felt a little ill myself. “Are you alright?”

  “Yes,” he said softly. “I’m puzzled by this attack. It’s almost like it was a test. Ten vampires to storm a place with a hundred guards and a thousand warrior students?”

  “Maybe they were desperate for blood.”

  He didn’t seem convinced. “Maybe.”

  Chapter 32

  Walking into our class the next day, Professor Tessam immediately called Zyacus and me to her. From the lack of her usual smile, I didn’t think it would be good. Had something happened overnight?

  Her silvery-gray eyes looked from a piece of paper on her desk, to us standing before her. “You two are being reassigned desk partners for the remainder of the year.”

  “Why?” Zyacus’s voice was calm and even but had an underlying edge. “Under whose direction? Yours?”

  Was it because of the fight in the dining hall that they wanted to separate us? My magic flared with my outrage. I thought sending Jennika away would end the problem.

  “Well, this is my classroom,” Tessam said and stood from her chair.

  Suspecting someone else had sent the order, I looked down at that paper again, but she stuffed it in the drawer before I could read anything. “Let me see that letter,” I demanded.

  Tessam shot me a surprised but stern look. “No.”

  Shoving my shoulders back, I clenched my fists. “I order you to give me that letter. Now.” I’d never used my authority as a princess on a professor but I guess I’d see how far my power went. She was Delhoon so she was my charge.

  The tension grew, I felt her magic wafting out like smoke, testing mine. She was probably wondering what the consequences would be if she didn’t follow my order. She broke our staring contest and opened the drawer. I snapped my fingers and it was in my hand before she could retrieve it. Zyacus leaned over my shoulder and I read:

  Professor Tessam,

  The Prince of Hesstia and the Princess of Delhoon need to be separated.

  Headmaster Jace

  That was it. That was all it said, and I couldn’t understand why the headmaster would care if Zyacus and I were together or not. Could he have gone to my parents? To the King and Queen of Hesstia? Would they even order this?

  I tossed the letter onto Professor Tessam’s desk and without even speaking to one another, both Zyacus and I walked out of the classroom.

  Once the hallways cleared, Zyacus turned to me. “You’d think the Headmaster would have better things to worry about with a vampire attack yesterday.”

  I was fuming. “I didn’t expect this at all,” I said, wondering who I wanted to go see first, the headmaster or Madison. She would probably know what this was about and she wouldn’t lie to me either. I couldn’t believe
it was all over the fight. They couldn’t separate us at mealtimes so why bother? Bindy might know too so I looked up and down the hall for her but didn’t find her.

  Zyacus took my hand and tugged. “Let’s show them we won’t be pushed around and skip classes together today.”

  I grinned. “Where to?”

  Bursting into the kitchen, I accidentally knocked a pot onto the floor and it clanged loudly, drawing attention.

  A couple of the cooks started yelling, “You two need to be in class!”

  “I’ll get the headmaster!”

  Pulling on my hand, we ran, laughing as they hurled threats at us and Zyacus threw open a door to the outside. A crisp chill blew my hair away from my face and a frost had settled on top of the magical cover of the herb garden. The cold reminded me it was winter formal tonight, timed to coincide with the winter solstice. I slammed the door shut and pressed my hand against it, spelling it to lock so the cooks couldn’t chase after us.

  Then Zyacus grabbed my shoulders, and spun me around to face him. When his lips pressed to mine, he pinned me against the stone of the academy. My insides sang with his boldness, my fingers clutched his shirt and I pulled him closer to me until his whole body was against mine.

  One of his arms wrapped around my lower back and his other rested against the academy wall. For the most part, we hadn’t been completely alone together since he’d first kissed me.

  When pounding on the door started, he pulled away. “Damn it,” he murmured against my lips. “They’ll get it open. Come on.”

  We took off running toward the cover of trees where no one would likely find us. This felt a lot like running from the pranks Legacy, Taz, and I pulled but even better. We crouched down behind a bush and I had to cover my mouth with my hand to keep from laughing as the two cooks stepped out. Their white aprons were stained, and with hands on their hips, they looked around.

  “Damn kids,” one said, shaking his head.

  The other waved a hand. “Oh well, it’s cold, let’s go back inside.”

  When the door shut behind them Zyacus and I laughed out loud. He stood first and held a hand out to me. I took it and we walked further into the trees. “That was fun,” Zyacus said. “I’ve never done that before.”

  “Never done what?” I asked. There were many times I’d run from teachers. Throwing snakes in the teachers’ lounge was just one.

  “Skipped class. I think you may be a bad influence, princess.”

  I shoved my shoulder into his side. “I think I’ll be good for you actually, Zyacus. I can’t believe you’ve never even skipped a class.” Then I remembered those days he missed and I’d worried it was because his not-girlfriend told him to stay away from me. “If that’s true, where were you for three days earlier in the year?”

  “I went home for my sister’s birthday.” He smiled, his eyes lingering on mine. “I’m glad you missed me.” Even if I’d pretended then that I didn’t care he was gone, I did.

  Zyacus stilled and pulled me to a halt. Voices. “Someone else is out here,” he whispered.

  We crept toward whoever they were and I spotted the high wrought iron fence. I hadn’t realized we were so close to the edge of the property. Peering from around a massive tree trunk and veiled by other surrounding shrubberies we spied. Outside the barrier were five people, and when I saw the red eyes of one, my whole body tensed.

  Zyacus looked at me, squeezing my hand.

  “I thought that little asshole said he could get us in.” The male who’d spoken shoved a hand through his long black hair.

  “Not now,” a crimson eyed female said. “We’re negotiating and choosing the day. If yesterday proved anything it’s that they’re prepared and we need help getting in.”

  “What does he want in exchange for free reign on blood? I can’t wait to taste all those magical children.”

  An older male, darker and scarier than the others, voice cut in. “You’re forgetting that many of these children are skilled warriors. When we go in, it will be with a force, and you’ll grab a blood-bag or two and go. As for what our contact wants,” the male chuckled. “Revenge. There are two, possibly three people here he wants us to kill. Although Senica has claimed one already.”

  The hair on my neck stood. Who could they be talking about? Who would want revenge? And I had a sick feeling that I was the one who Senica had claimed. I still hadn’t told Zyacus about the note he sent, mostly because I didn’t want him to try to hurt Kyan. I didn’t think he had anything to do with this.

  “Senica would be more useful if he knew the spell to get us through these wards.”

  “If they’re trained warriors, let’s go for the youngest ones.”

  The youngest ones?! Skin warming with rage, I wanted to fly over that fence and kill them all. Zyacus and I could probably do it. And Kyan had said Senica wouldn’t be a problem anymore, obviously he lied. Had I been fooled about his story of being innocent too? Was he just as bloodthirsty as these people? My ring said otherwise but could it have been wrong?

  “We left Collweya with the promise of easy blood,” a male said, sounding vexed. “It hasn’t been easy. We only get to pick a few off here and there.”

  “We’ll get it eventually. And we’ve already waited here for twenty-two minutes and the patrol will be here in three, we need to go,” the female said. And just like that they ran off in a blur of motion.

  Both Zyacus and I looked around for whoever their contact might be but I saw no one. “I bet it’s Kyan,” Zyacus said angrily as we started walking again. If the patrol was coming we didn’t want them to see us either.

  “Couldn’t he take his own revenge?”

  Finding my hand, Zyacus interlaced our fingers. “Notice how they said they wanted certain people killed. And you’re likely one of them. Why else would he and Senica lure you out to that party? And we know Senica wants you.”

  “But Kyan protected me from Senica and I haven’t even seen him around lately.”

  “Maybe to earn your trust so he could get you alone that night,” Zyacus said. “Kyan also wants you. I heard him say off-limits, though the reason why I originally thought could be way wrong.”

  I puzzled over this. It sounded logical. “Well, what have I done to anyone that they would want revenge? Especially Kyan, he’s from Collweya. We didn’t know each other until weeks ago.”

  Zyacus shrugged and snarled his top lip. “Maybe it’s revenge for something your parents did.”

  When I thought about that, he could be right. Both of them had killed countless people during the war. Maybe someone still harbored hard feelings. “But he said two, maybe three,” I mused. “What if they planned on killing you, me, and Aric. The royal children.”

  “That would make three of us,” Zyacus said and then looked down at our joined hands. “Maybe they got word Aric is gone and that’s why they said ‘maybe three’. But if they were going to succeed, you would have seen my death, and I won’t let them take you.”

  A single snowflake landed on my nose. I looked up at the gray sky. I didn’t think we’d get any of the white fluff here.

  “It’s freezing out here.” He tugged me close and wrapped his arms around my waist. “Let’s go to the barn to watch for this contact of theirs. We’ll have a good view out of the top window.”

  Stealthily, we snuck into the horse barn and climbed up to the upper level where there were horse blankets and bales of straw. Zyacus threw a few blankets down for us and peeked out the window. “If I see Kyan going to meet them I might cut his head off.”

  “If it’s him, I’ll help you,” I said, and I meant it. If he was the betrayer planning my death and the attack on the academy, I wouldn’t hesitate.

  Sitting in the window, I squealed as he pushed my hair aside and nuzzled his nose into my neck and his tongue trailed up my sensitive skin to my ear where he nipped my lobe.

  I shoved him lightly. “You are trouble, Zyacus. We’re supposed to be on the lookout.”

 
He chuckled and sat opposite of me, our knees touching.

  “So, Jennika. What’s the history? I’ve waited long enough to ask. I was hoping you’d have told me on your own volition by now.”

  He sighed. “Do we need to talk about her?”

  “You have to tell me what there is between you two. She tried to kick my ass in front of everyone, and literally burst into flames when she first saw us together.”

  Looking outside, he grew quiet. Then he groaned. “Her father and… mine want us to be married within two years of graduating from the academy. She wants us to be married. ‘It’s a strong match politically’ my father said.”

  I felt like someone punched me in the gut. “What?” I balked. “Are you betrothed to her?”

  Shaking his head, he looked me in the eyes. “I told my father I would choose my own wife and he is giving me that choice, so no, I’m not betrothed nor do I want to marry her.” He waved a hand at me. “Obviously or I wouldn’t be here with you.”

  “Have you kissed her?”

  He only hesitated for a moment. “Yes.”

  Oh, now I really hated her. “Have you done—other things with her?”

  “Define ‘other things’.”

  I shot him a warning look. “Zyacus,” I said, trying not to sound upset. If he had been intimate with her, and she believed they’d be married then she had every right to be angry.

  He chuckled and moved closer, wrapping me in his arms. “I’m playing with you. No, we’ve only ever kissed and even that was before we started here. I’m saving other things for someone else, someone I truly love.”

  That spoke volumes about the kind of man he was. He wasn’t flippant about his affections like I wrongly assumed. I dropped the conversation about her and while waiting for the blood drinkers to come back, I reached for a blanket to warm my numb fingers. I spotted a figure in the trees. “There,” I whispered. No features were discernible at this distance but it was someone with an all-black Delhoon uniform.