Ebony's Legacy: Year One: Paranormal Academy Romance (Legacy Academy Book 5)

by M Guida

  She gave me a small smile. “I’m Artemis from Goody Academy. Are you nervous?”

  I nodded. “Ebony. Yes. You?”

  “My nerves are on edge, definitely.”

  Professor Hobbs the librarian came inside. She smiled. “Ebony, Artemis, it’s your turn.”

  Artemis winked. “Good luck to you.”

  “You, too.”

  We both followed Professor Hobbs out of the girls’ locker room and into the arena, where Anton was waiting for us. Cheers and yells erupted from the spectators in the arena. My heart thundered even louder than the crowd. I couldn’t help but smile. I saw Gunnar, Rusty, Cadye, and Armond all in the winners’ circle, together with other students I didn’t know. I was proud of my Sentinels. Then mine and Gunnar’s eyes locked and that hunger surged inside me. I blinked and looked away, my whole body shaking.

  Anton stood on a platform with two men and two women behind him that had to be the judges. He raised his arms. “Ladies and Gentlemen, please hold your applause. Transmutation is the final game today and it will be between Ebony Erickson from Legacy Academy and Artemis Black from Goody Academy. Like in the other challenges, the contestants will receive a score from one to ten from each judge. A perfect score would be forty.”

  The noise of the crowd died down to a murmur, but the blood thumping between my temples roared louder than a waterfall.

  Artemis and I approached the center of the arena where there were two platforms—one marked E and the other A.

  Anton stretched out his arm. “Competitors, if you would each stand on you designated box, please."

  Artemis and I took our places.

  “Very good,” Anton said. “Now as the representative from the visiting academy, Artemis will perform her transmutation first. The rules of the game state you must remain in your form for at least fifteen minutes or face disqualification. Do you each understand?”

  We both nodded in agreement.

  “Artemis, you may begin.”

  Artemis bowed slightly and put her palms facing each other but not touching. She closed her eyes and spoke. “Portecto.”

  Red streams of light jetted between her palms and shot into the air.

  Swish Swish Swish

  The lights swirled around Artemis’ body faster and faster until she was a spinning red tornado. The tornado rose up off the platform and lowered to the ground again before doing a zig zag dance up and down the arena and then coming back toward the platform. Red and orange sparks burst into the air like a fireworks display. Finally, the tornado twirled up onto the platform and remained there, a spinning vortex.

  I had to admit, it was stunning.

  “Time.” Anton’s voice boomed across the field.

  The light stopped twirling, then disappeared entirely. Artemis stood calmly on the platform, smiling, her face a little flushed. I was surprised she wasn’t dizzy or puking from all that spinning.

  Anton clapped his hands. “Well done, Artemis.”

  The crowd cheered and clapped. The whistles and trampling of feet in the stands were louder than an airplane.

  Clearly pleased with her performance, Artemis jumped up and down. I would have been, too. I didn’t know if my fog would be good enough to top that.

  Anton raised his arms and the crowd fell completely silent. “Judges, please hold up your scores.”

  The judges raised their cards—nine, ten, ten, ten.

  Oh, crap.

  “Yes, yes, Artemis Black has performed exceptionally well with a score of thirty-nine,” Anton said. “Now, it is time for Ebony Erickson to perform. Ebony, proceed.”

  I took a deep breath and closed my eyes once again.

  Please, help.

  Those same red eyes appeared and the creature winked, making me gasp inside, but then the same cool sensations glided over my skin. My body became as light as a feather and I was fog again.

  SHOOOM SHOOOM SHOOOM

  Adrenaline whizzed through me, propelling me like a rocket. I swished across the field, making a crisscross pattern and intertwining between people in the arena, but I stayed clear of Gunnar.

  I sped past Dr. Greenwood who sat with the other teachers looking calm and collected. In my fog form, I could actually feel the evil radiating from him. I was sure if I had been in my usual form the stench would have made me choke.

  “Time,” Anton called out.

  Breathless, I landed on the platform and changed back into me. The cheers and clapping from the crowd made me smile. I stole a glance at Gunnar and he gave me a wink, bringing on that hunger again. Why did this keep happening?

  I waited in anticipation for the judges. They finally raised their scores—eight, nine, ten, ten. I was heartbroken.

  Anton clapped his hands. “Ebony also did well with a score of thirty-seven.”

  Disappointment lodged in my throat and I blinked back tears, but I smiled bravely and shook Artemis’ hand. “You were great and the fireworks were amazing, congratulations.”

  She gave me a big hug. “Thank you. So, were you. The fog was so pretty.”

  “Tomorrow will be the weapon competition,” Anton said, his voice strong and firm. He was like a different person today. “Let’s hear it for all of our contestants. Contestants, please rise.”

  The sound was like an earthquake. I made myself smile and bowed like Artemis and the others, burying my misery. Tomorrow would be another day.

  Gunnar and the others came toward me from the winners’ circle. I swear I could smell Gunnar’s scent and hear his heart beat. The hunger inside me raged, and I simply couldn’t be near him.

  Something was terribly wrong with me. Costin had unleashed a monster.

  I ran toward the girls’ locker room and waited for several minutes, panting. When I opened the door, they were all there—Raven, Lucien, Mom and Dad. I rushed into Mom’s arms and buried my face, needing to feel her. Tears slid down my face.

  “Honey, it’s okay.” Mom hugged me. “You were marvelous.”

  I slowly released her, unable to tell her I wasn’t upset because I didn’t win. That was childish. Artemis had deserved the victory, no question. No, I was changing, I could feel it. What if I was turning evil?

  I wiped the wetness off my cheeks.

  “You should have won,” Lucien said, as he gave me a playful punch in the arm.

  Raven clasped my hand. “Don’t worry. We’re in this together.” She bumped my shoulder with hers. “We’re proud of you no matter whether you win or not.” If only that was true. Would she be saying that when the monster within me finally won the battle? Because I was definitely losing.

  “There’s always tomorrow,” Dad said. “Nothing to cry about.”

  “I know.” But what if I was worse tomorrow? What if I finally gave into my urges and attacked Gunnar?

  I could barely sleep again with all the worry. The hunger was getting steadily worse and when I closed my eyes, all I could see was that shapeless thing staring at me. I hated my dragon, I hated her.

  Raven didn’t go through this. Why was my dragon so bloodthirsty?

  Once again, sleep didn’t come until well after midnight and Anton knocked on my door way too early. I dragged myself into the shower and got ready for the second day of the games. Right now, I needed Dr. Greenwood, the real one, Not Dr. Evil. Where were he and Evan?

  Anton had feast of carbs again with the same delicious food. I devoured a plate of chicken fried steak and gravy, eggs, and hash browns, hoping to smother my hunger for blood, but no matter how much I ate, it was still there. The only good thing was that Costin was eating breakfast with Rose’s family. Thank God for small favors.

  I had Armageddon strapped to my hips for the weapon competition today. It gave me some comfort.

  My family escorted me to the arena, wishing me all kinds of luck.

  In the girls’ locker room, I ran into Rose who gave me a big hug. “You did really good yesterday."

  “Thanks.”

  “Did you know that you
and I are competing against each other?”

  I groaned. “Oh, no.”

  She laughed. “Don’t worry. I’ll go easy on you.”

  Instead of going last, today I was part of the first pair up. When Rose beat me, at I least I could sit my family all day.

  Blood. I need blood. Feed me.

  The creature whispered the words inside my head, spiking my hunger. My throat turned dry as a desert and my whole body shook uncontrollably.

  It was getting worse. I needed to tell someone. But who could I trust?

  The door opened and Professor Hobbs entered. “The Academy Games have started for the day. Ebony and Rose, come with me.”

  Rose and I followed Professor Hobbs out onto the field to the cheering crowd. It was a crisp morning and there was still a slight chill in the air. Anton stood on the platform with a big smile on his face and the judges sat behind him. Ever since Costin had come, Anton seemed like a new man, the same old Headmaster we all knew and loved.

  Meanwhile Dr. Greenwood and Evan had done a double disappearing act. Had Costin triggered something there too? What was it with this guy?

  Professor Hobbs smiled. “Good luck, girls.” She headed back to her seat next to the girls’ locker room.

  The platforms that Artemis and I had stood on yesterday were gone. Instead, Rose and I took to the middle of the field, facing each other.

  I hated that I was competing against my new friend. I just wanted to get this over with.

  Anton raised his arms and the crowd quieted down. “Ladies and Gentlemen, good morning. I want to introduce our first two competitors in the sword competition—Rose Allen from Red Rose Academy and Ebony Erickson from Legacy Academy.”

  The crowd clapped and stomped their feet. Rose drew her sword and I did as well. The minute I clutched the hilt, power surged through me as if I had just taken an adrenaline shot.

  Her eyes widened. “Oh, my god. That’s the Armageddon sword. How did you come by that? You’re a dragon. That’s a vampire sword.”

  “I don’t know. The sword chose me.”

  Fear flickered in her eyes and her face turned grim.

  Anton clapped his hands. “Ladies, you may begin.”

  Rose lunged forward first, thrusting with the point of her blade, putting me on the defensive.

  Clank Clank Clank

  Metal met metal, sending blue sparks into the crisp morning sky. Rose came at me again and again, striking and thrusting with a series of parries and ripostes that forced me to be on my toes. I met her fierce offense, guarding and blocking as she pushed me down the field.

  Steel clashed against steel and she smiled as if she had won. But then I was able to turn the tables on her. I thrust and parried and held my ground, then inched forward, locking her sword with mine, forcing the points of the swords down to the ground.

  Beads of sweat broke out across Rose’s forehead and the triumphant look in her eyes faded. Power surged through me all the way from where my fingers gripped the hilt of the sword right down to my toes.

  We can do this, the creature whispered.

  It was as if something inside me took over. I flicked my wrist to break the guard and in a small circle I feinted to the left, but when Rose went to block the supposed attack from the left I struck from the right. I hit the underneath of her blade hard, sending it flying into the air, disarming her.

  “And Ebony wins,” Anton announced.

  Rose picked up her sword. Disappointment was in her eyes, but she managed a small smile. “You’re…good, Ebony. Damn good. Congratulations.”

  She was panting as hard as I was. She glanced at my sword and gestured with her hand. “The Armageddon sword is only supposed to respond to vampires.”

  “I know.”

  Professor Hobbs came over to us. “This way, Ebony.” She escorted me to the winners’ circle while Rose left to go join her family in the stands.

  “You did well,” Professor Hobbs said. “The Armageddon sword serves you admirably.”

  “Thank you,” I said as I sheathed my weapon and then sat down on the first chair.

  Anton stretched out his arms. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I’d like to announce our next two contestants in the sword competition—Valentin Dragan from Red Rose Academy and Gunnar Khan from Legacy Academy.”

  Professor Elfiel, our Demonology professor, escorted Gunnar and Valentin from the boys’ locker room. I could see why Rose was obsessing over him. He was darkness to Gunnar’s lightness. He had long hair, almost black, that flared over his broad, naked shoulders. Dark eyelashes framed his brown eyes, so long that it almost looked as if he had put on eyeliner. His muscles bulged. He was damn handsome like make-me-go-into-heat handsome.

  But he still didn’t turn my head like Gunnar. He was shirtless like Valentin and with every slight movement, his muscles bulged and he sent my heart racing. Unlike Valentin, he had pulled his long white hair into a queue that emphasized his bright blue eyes. I melted whenever I looked at him.

  My hunger exploded inside me.

  Blood Blood Blood

  My dragon was practically screaming in my ears. I panted hard and my whole body broke out in a hot sweat.

  Gunnar gave me a beautiful smile but it only intensified my hunger, making me want to lunge at him, and I gripped the edge of my seat with both hands to make sure I stayed where I was.

  I sucked in air rapidly as if my lungs were starved. I wasn’t safe. He wasn’t safe. This wasn’t safe.

  Lose, please lose, Gunnar.

  Anton clapped his hands. “Valentin and Gunnar, you may proceed.”

  In a flash of an eye, Valentin and Gunnar unsheathed their swords and a blur of cold steel clanked together, their weapons sliding their full length in a rainbow of sparks. I held my breath, praying Valentin would defeat Gunnar. It was the only way he would be safe. He couldn’t come over to the winner circle. He couldn’t sit next to me.

  With each thrust he made, I could hear the blood gushing through him. Why was it only his I heard?

  I bit my lip and my knuckles turned white as I clung to the lip of my chair.

  But unfortunately, Gunnar was a magnificent swordsman. Sunlight glistened off his muscles as he and Valentin danced around each other in a dance of power and muscles. Two gods battling for control. He forced Valentin to be on the defensive with every parry and ripostes until with one final side-step, he disarmed Valentin.

  Shitshitshitshitshit

  Anton put up his arms. “And the winner is Gunnar Khan.”

  One section roared and cheered. I knew it was the Sentinels and the rest of the Havenwood crew.

  Gunnar and Valentin shook hands. Professor Elfiel escorted Gunnar toward the winners’ circle. I inhaled his masculine scent and shit, I could smelled something metallic.

  Fuck, it was blood. His blood.

  An undeniable jolt of hunger burst through me, tensing my shoulders, tightening my throat, and then a shot of adrenaline such that I had never experienced before exploded in me. The closer he got, the more I went nuclear. Finally, I lost control.

  Claim him now.

  I jumped out of my chair and flung myself into his arms. He hugged me and spun me around. I didn’t care that my father was there, watching. All rules were broken. All hell broke loose.

  Strange new incisors lengthened as I tilted my head back. It was like something else took over. I sank my fangs into his throat and sucked and sucked and sucked. Sweet blood rushed through me and I thought I would never have my fill.

  The formless creature in my mind's eye took shape and coalesced into a giant, red-eyed bat.

  Gunnar cried out, but still I clung to him.

  He’s ours. Now and forever.

  Chapter 33

  Everything happened so fast I couldn’t comprehend what was happening. Strong hands ripped me away from Gunnar and someone lifted me into their arms. I fought back, reaching frantically for Gunnar. Hades peeled off from his chest and growled. Gunnar’s eyes fluttered shut. His spicy b
lood surged through me, satisfying my lust.

  My dad, Mom, Raven, and Lucien landed on the field. The gasps and murmurs in the arena snapped me out of my blood lust. Anton held Gunnar, who had gone limp.

  Dad shifted back and hissed at Gunnar. “Damn you, Dark Demon, what have you done to my daughter?”

  I opened my eyes and found myself staring up at Costin. He glared at my dad. “Don’t be a fool, Vincent. He didn't do anything. Ebony’s not a bronze dragon. She’s a vampire. That's all.”

  Dad’s face paled. “What? That's all? That’s not possible.”

  Gunnar swayed and collapsed, but Anton clasped his arm, steadying him.

  Dad shook his head vehemently. “No, he made her a vampire. Ebony’s a dragon, like the rest of her family.”

  “Calm down, Vincent. Dark Demons can’t make vampires. You know that.” Gunnar’s eyes fluttered shut and collapsed, and Anton scooped him up into his arms. “Let's go. He’s hurt."

  I burst into tears and my heart shattered into a million pieces.

  God, what had I done? Had I just killed Gunnar? If I had, nothing would matter. Not finding Greenwood. Nothing.

  “Shhhh,” Costin said as he held me close to his chest and stroked my hair. “He’s not dead, I swear.”

  The next thing I knew I was out of the arena and back at Anton’s quarters. Costin sat me down on a couch. People rushed in and out and I couldn’t keep track of who was even here.

  Panic gripped me, squeezing my heart and lungs tighter and tighter and tighter. I moaned as I rocked back and forth on the couch. “I killed him…I killed him…I killed him.”

  Hades swooped into the living room and landed next to me, snuggling as if to say everything is all right.

  Costin clasped my cheeks. “Ebony. Look at me. You didn’t kill him.” His calming voice was like a blanket smothering the fire of my panic, allowing me to inhale and exhale, and slowing down my heartbeat.

  His eyes turned red and the same tingling sensations rolled over my flesh. My fangs retracted and the bloodlust faded away.