by M Guida
Worry flared in her green eyes. “What happened after you froze Professor Tuamma? What did Anton do?”
“He didn’t sentence her to the Hollows, if that’s what you’re wondering,” Lucien said. “But she can’t go back to Dragon Magick.”
“How is she supposed to pass her class?”
Lucien didn’t seem the slightest put out. “Both Anton and Bo are going to teach her.”
Bo scowled. “Anton didn’t say that.”
The tension between them had just gone from a Mach one to a Mach five. Not good.
“He said it when you weren’t there,” I mumbled.
Bo clamped his jaw tight, and a vein throbbed down his cheek. Nope, he didn’t believe me or Lucien. I hated lying to him; I was a terrible liar.
“Wow, studying with Anton,” Mina said. “You know I heard your dad used to do that with him.”
I did a double-take. “He did? I thought he just broke into his quarters, looking for stuff.”
“Prophesies,” Lucien said. “My dad went to school with him, too.”
Mina nodded. “Yeah. My dad told me before he left. He went to school with your parents, and he remembers your dad always getting into trouble for breaking into Anton’s office, so I guess Anton got tired of it and just invited him.”
“My dad said he collects students.” Bo put two fingers on each hand and clicked them after the word collects.
I frowned. “What does that mean?”
“He has his favorites, or the ones he worries about. He keeps them close.”
“Great,” I mumbled.
But I couldn’t blame him. I had frozen a teacher, not on purpose, and out of all teachers, it had to be Professor Tuamma––the one who was out to get me.
I still didn’t understand why she had turned on me. Something was terribly wrong, but I couldn’t figure out what. I had a feeling Anton knew, but his lips were clenched tighter than an unopened jar of pickles.
Advanced Potions was much easier than Dragon Magick. I didn’t freeze anyone, and my incantation of making a sleeping drought had worked. The little gray rabbit in the cage was sleeping peacefully on its side.
“You have a knack for potions, Raven.” Professor Griffith’s glasses were on the edge of his nose, and he had his hands behind his back. His kind words and warmth in his eyes made me smile. He always reminded me of a grandfather and was complimentary to me.
Unlike Professor Tuamma who wanted my head on her wall.
I smiled. “Thank you, Professor.”
“You’re welcome.” He frowned. “Dante, what are you doing? That does not smell like lavender.” He wandered off to inspect whatever Dante was brewing. Green smoke rose from his cauldron, and his rabbit darted around in its cage.
I wrinkled my nose. Whatever it was, it didn’t smell like a sleeping potion. More like a nausea potion.
Lucien came over. “I agree with the Professor. You seem to excel in potions.”
“Figures. The one magic I can do well isn’t part of the dragon trials.”
He gave me a small smile. “You’ll pass this year, Raven.”
I didn’t answer. Instead, I opened the cage door and pet the cute little bunny that didn’t have to worry about failing out of school.
I slowly stopped petting the bunny, thinking of Mom being locked up somewhere. The rabbits at the Academy weren’t tested on and got to play out in the courtyard without fear of predators. The wolf shifters left them alone under strict orders of Anton. However, if one of them wandered outdoors, it was fair game.
I closed the door and sat on my chair. Lucien had wandered back to his science table. Only a few minutes for class to end, and I’d have demonology next. The Royals had their management class, so I’d get to be in class with Vivian and the others. I didn’t want to face her or the other dragon shifters after what happened in class earlier, but I didn’t have much choice.
Class ended, and it was time for me to face the music.
Bo walked me out of class. “You have demonology next?”
“Yeah.”
He was unusually quiet as he walked with me down the hall. Demonology was right across from his.
“Bo, are you okay?”
He shrugged. “I just keep thinking about what happened earlier.”
I stiffened. “I didn’t mean to freeze Professor Tuamma.”
He gave me a small smile. “I wasn’t talking about that. I meant in Anton’s quarters.”
My stomach knotted. I really didn’t want to lie to him. “Meaning?”
“I don’t see how Lucien could have gotten there so fast. Class had just ended. How could he have known?”
I fiddled with my locket around my neck. “I don’t know.”
“I keep wondering if Anton already knew you possessed that ability. When he came into class, he didn’t seem surprised at all, especially when everyone else was freaking out.”
I stopped. “Were you freaked out?”
He ran his hand through his hair. “I’m not going to lie to you, Raven. Yeah, I was. I’ve never seen a dragon do that before.”
“I’m not going to hurt you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
He dropped his arm. “I’m not afraid of you.” He leaned against a wall. “I just don’t know what to expect from you.” He looked down the hall. “Especially when it comes to Lucien.”
I followed his gaze. Lucien had his harem of girls hovering around him, but he didn’t seem interested. Maybe that was why girls were so attracted to him.
Without another word, Bo left for his classroom.
I frowned. “Bo.”
But he didn’t turn around.
“He doesn’t like freaks.” Vivian’s cruel voice made me want to punch her.
But I smiled sweetly. “Hello, Vivian.” I thought about breathing on her, but that would land me in a heap of trouble.
I slid past her and went into demonology class. Poppy pointed to an empty chair between her and Katona, and I smiled. At least they didn’t look at me as if I was Darth Vader.
“Hey,” Katona said. “How are you doing?”
Heat burned my cheeks. “You heard?”
“I think by now the whole academy has heard.” Poppy patted the top of my desk. “Don’t sweat it. We and the Royals have your back.”
I smiled weakly, but instead of making me feel better, a bowling ball of dread dropped onto my shoulders. Once again, I was the freak of the week.
Luckily, Professor Gorwin Elfiel entered the classroom. His long blond hair was pulled back into a manbun, and wariness filled his sparkling blue eyes when our eyes met. Crap, were all the professors scared of me?
That wasn’t good.
What if the professors banded together and demanded Anton do something about me? I rubbed my neck. I could feel a noose circling my throat and steel handcuffs tightening around my wrists.
“Welcome to Demonology, second years,” Professor Elfiel said. “This year, we will be studying the different powers of the Dark Demons. The first one we will be discussing is the doppelgänger.” He gestured toward me. “We have learned that Ryker is creating more of them. So, second years you must be careful this year. Very careful. Especially when you leave the academy for any reason, we don’t want you to be captured by the Dark Demons and the doppelgänger come in your place.”
A shudder went down my spine. I remembered mine. She looked exactly like me, but evil poured out of her. If she got in here, there was no doubt she would kill everyone I loved.
Vivian raised her hand. “Professor, if one of them did get in here, how would we tell them apart?”
Professor Elfiel smiled. “We don’t know much about them, but we do have someone who faced hers.”
I sunk in my chair.
“Raven, would you like to answer?”
No, but that wasn’t an option.
Everybody stared at me as if I were a fish in a glass bowl. My body temperature just went nuclear, and all my clothes stuck to my smoldering
skin.
I cleared my throat. “Evil. That’s what I remember.”
The professor sat on a metal stool and crossed his legs. “Can you tell us more about this?”
“Not really. Everything happened really fast. Ari was there. And then… then there she was.”
“What can you tell us about her?”
I hadn’t realized I was going to get the third degree, but I tried to keep my voice from shaking.
“She had the same weapon as I did. The same clothes. But her eyes were different.”
Professor Elfiel frowned. “How so?”
“They were brown, but there was something else.”
“What?” he asked softly.
“They seemed soulless. Like there was only hate and anger.” My cracking voice faded away.
“Interesting,” the professor said. His eyes softened. “Thank you. I know this was probably hard for you thinking of that terrible night.”
I nodded and stared at my desk. A tear splashed onto my knuckle, followed by another, and then another.
Get it together. Be strong.
I thought of Lucien and took a deep breath. He wouldn’t fall apart and be a blithering idiot, but I wasn’t him.
“Please take out your demonology book and read chapter one.”
I took out my book, but the words on the page blurred.
Professor Elfiel put his hand gently on my shoulder. “Would you like to take a break? You look a little pale.”
I nodded. I braced my shoulders and tilted my head up high. Falling apart wasn’t an option.
Thankfully, the hall and girls’ bathroom were both empty, because I didn’t want to answer a million questions. Sunlight poured in from a window, and it should have felt warm. I could see my breath, and dread snaked through me.
I splashed water on my face and inhaled deeply.
“Just get it together.”
“Raven.”
I jumped, and my heart did a belly flop. “Oh, Professor Tuamma, I didn’t hear you come in.”
“No, you wouldn’t.” Her voice turned my blood to ice.
“I didn’t mean to freeze you, Professor.”
Professor Tuamma glared and lifted her chin. “I’m going to give you a hint of warning. Headmaster Anton will not always be around to save you. And if it’s the last thing I do, I’ll see you locked up at The Hollows.”
Fear pumped through my trembling body. “Why? You weren’t like this last year. What’s changed?”
“I have learned something about you that puts everyone here in danger.”
“Tell me. Am I’m going to go nuclear?”
“Let’s just say if you knew, you would unleash a terrible power.” She towered over me. “And don’t even think to use any loopholes to get through the dragon trails.” She snapped her fingers. “And when you fail––you will fail––off to the Hollows you will go.”
She left as silently as she entered––a ninja on a deathly mission. I would need two eyes in the back of my head.
I had another enemy, one that could keep me from passing the dragon trials. I’d have to perform every task perfectly, or Anton would be forced to lock me up.
Chapter 8
For the rest of demonology, I didn’t talk, not even to my friends. This was the first time I felt scared at Legacy Academy. I had a professor who was definitely out to get me. What if there were more?
I thought about leaving, but if I did, I would have the Dark Demons on my ass, and I didn’t have the powers to defend myself.
After class, Poppy nudged me. “Raven, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
Mina rolled her eyes. “You’re not fooling anybody. You don’t look good.”
What did she want me to say? My stomach was tighter than a drum.
Katona rubbed my arm. “Maybe you just need to eat something.”
I shrugged and hugged my backpack to my chest.
The Royals joined us.
I forced myself to smile. “Hi.”
Bo frowned. “What’s wrong?”
Lucien was walking with Demi, but he glanced over, and a scowl brewed across his face.
So much for my acting skills.
“Nothing. Why?”
Bo clasped my arm and gently led me from the group. “Raven, don’t lie to me. I can see it in your face. Tell me what’s going on.”
I almost told him, but Professor Tuamma headed toward us. I lowered my head. “Let’s just go.”
He followed my gaze and immediately wrapped his arm around my trembling shoulders. “Come on, let’s go. We’ll talk later.”
His strength gave me hope. As if on cue, the Royals were on all sides of me. To get to me, the professor would have to go through them.
We headed out of the building. The sun’s rays warmed the chill inside me. I took a deep breath.
Bo leaned closer. “She’s gone.”
“Good.”
He stopped and tilted my chin. “Tell me what happened.”
“No, tell us,” Xavier said. “Remember, we’re a team.”
Katona lifted her fist. “The Defenders.”
I don’t know if it was the sunlight or Bo’s warmth still radiating over my body or my friends’ loyalty, but I spilled the beans.
Bo swore under his breath. “She said that?”
Mina’s eyes widened. “I can’t believe she threatened you.”
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” Lucien said.
Bo glared. “No, we won’t let anything happen to her. We’re a team, remember?”
Lucien nodded, but I got the sense he thought there was an I in the word team.
We headed into the cafeteria. I inhaled the smell of fried chicken, French fries, and baking bread. Usually my mouth would be watering, but all I wanted was a diet soda.
I bypassed the food line and headed to get a drink, and Bo stopped in front of me.
“What are you doing?”
“I don’t feel like eating.”
“Raven, you’ve got a full day. You’ll never make it. You’ve got to eat something.”
I wanted to argue, but I thought of how strenuous practice would be with the Royals. The last thing I wanted to do was pass out.
I got behind him in line and took a chicken leg, mashed potatoes, and green beans. I couldn’t pass up homemade chocolate chip cookies. Mom always used to make me chocolate chip cookies when I had a bad day.
And today qualified.
Rather than a soda, I got a big glass of cold milk––perfect for dipping cookies.
I followed Bo to the Royal table. Vivian and Demi were already there and gave me a foul scowl, but I didn’t care. I needed Bo and the others right now.
“Don’t look now,” Mina said as she slid next to me. “But Professor Tuamma’s heading this way.”
A shiver went from the base of my neck all the way down to my tailbone.
Bo put his hand on my thigh and squeezed gently. I took a shaky breath and focused on my chicken, gravy, and mashed potatoes.
“Raven, I need to talk with you,” she said. “It’s important.”
Lucien got up and stood behind me. “She’s eating.”
“I can see that, but I need to discuss something with her.”
I put my spoon down, knowing I wouldn’t eat the rest of my food. What else could she possibly say to me? I thought she’d said enough.
Lucien put his hands on my shoulders. “Not without me.”
Professor Tuamma’s face paled, and she rubbed the back of her neck. “I guess it can wait. I’ll catch her later.”
“Like I said, not without me.” Lucien’s steel voice hinted at trouble.
She didn’t answer but nodded and left. Lucien was such a badass.
“What do you think she wanted?” Mina asked in a hush tone.
I shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Lucien sat back in his chair and laughed at something Rhys said as if nothing had happened. I, on the other hand, couldn’
t stop shaking.
Bo put his arm around me. “It’s okay, Raven. You’re safe.”
I nodded and shoved my plate. “I can’t eat anything.”
He rested his head on my shoulder. “Not even your chocolate chip cookies?”
Mom’s face flashed in front of mine, and my tasted buds jumped up and down. I gave in and nibbled on the cookie. Chocolate burst into my mouth, and hunger rolled over me like an angry wave.
I dipped the treat into the cold milk, and the warm memory of laughing with Mom chased away Professor Vader.
Bo grinned. “Told you it was good.”
“I’ll never argue with you about cookies again.”
He laughed, brightness chasing away darkness.
A half an hour later, I had scraped my plate clean, and I felt ten times better. The mashed potatoes had been creamy and the gravy sinful. The friend chicken had been crispy and delicious.
We all headed out of the cafeteria. I was sandwiched between Bo and Lucien, and I had no doubt they’d done this on purpose. We headed for our next class, Magick Intuition, and I couldn’t figure out how this was different than Dragon Magick, but as long as Professor Tuamma wasn’t teaching it, I’d be cool.
We entered the classroom, and I felt like hot water had been thrown over me. Professor Tuamma stood at the front of the class.
Bo clutched my shaking hand, and he led me to the back of the class. Lucien sat on the other side of me and Rhys, Xavier, and Dante sat in front of me.
“Good morning. I’ll…” She stopped. “Headmaster Anton, what brings you here?”
“I need to speak with you, Professor.” Anton’s tone was less than happy.
“Excuse me,” she said.
They stepped out of the classroom, and Anton shut the door.
Bo leaned across me. “Lucien, what do you think that’s about?”
Lucien shook his head. “I have no idea.”
“What? You can’t be serious.” Professor Tuamma’s loud voice echoed into the classroom.
I held my breath.
We all looked at each other, but no one said anything. A pin could have fallen, and it would have sounded like a bomb.
The door opened, and Anton walked inside followed by a woman with long blonde hair and gold eyes.
“That’s Professor Soto,” Bo whispered. “She teaches the Dark Arts for fourth years. What’s she doing here?”