A Familiar Magic, page 11
Nothing will get to him through me. Nothing.
I made the silent vow over and over while I waited for the next monster to reveal itself. It took a moment for my brain to process what I was seeing but when it did, my shoulders slumped with relief.
“Fuck yes.” A small group of guards stormed out of the small tunnel. They must’ve thought it was Christmas morning with the way I smiled at them. “I’m sure as hell glad to see you guys,” I called out as they got closer.
A few of them smiled back but no one said anything as they split down the middle to reveal a lone figure dressed in the standard combat black.
“How did I know I’d find you by his side?”
Asiel. It took all my muscle control to keep the sneer off my face as he smirked at me. A single jerk of his chin sent a few guards forward to pick up their frozen prince. Asiel’s lips twisted in a cruel smile and I felt his eyes on me as I moved to assist them.
The guard closest to me smiled, his eyes shining with respect as be brushed away my attempts. “We’ve got it from here, moitié.”
Moitié, or half; the old term for a witch’s familiar. Bonded pairs were considered two halves of a whole; they moved, breathed, and fought as one. It was an honor to be recognized as such, even though I wasn’t Auden’s partner. Moisture stung my eyes at the compliment, but I had no chance to thank him. Ever the impatient douche, Asiel hurried us along and barked orders to get his brother to the infirmary. He didn’t have to tell me twice; I didn’t want to spend another second in this arena of death. For a fleeting moment, I wondered who would have the responsibility of cleaning up the remaining demon bodies. Asiel’s dark shadow scattered those thoughts in the space of a single breath.
They carried Auden back through the tunnels, but his older brother didn’t look in a hurry to follow him. His onyx hair was slicked back out of his face, showcasing his sharp cheekbones and narrow eyes.
“You should be inside with the other students, but you’ve never been one to follow the rules, have you?”
I didn’t reply. Was he honestly upset that he found me standing guard over his brother? Who was I kidding—of course he was. I could lose an eyelash and it would be an afront to him if I hadn’t bowed and asked his permission first.
“You better be careful, Kaya. That rebellious streak of yours won’t be tolerated like it was when we were younger.” He stepped closer, until his cloying aftershave clogged all my senses. My nose wrinkled in disgust. “One wrong move and I can convince my father to revoke your probation like…that.” He punctuated the word with a lunge, and I tripped over my own feet trying to scuttle back.
His laugh rang across the now deserted arena as he leered over me. I kept my knees bent, ready to strike if needed, but remained on the ground. My hands stung from the new scrapes.
“No one said anything about probation,” I growled through clenched teeth. My jaw ached with how hard I had it locked.
“It was implied,” Asiel laughed again, and waved at a guard I hadn’t noticed standing against the far wall. “Make sure she gets back to the dorms. We wouldn’t want something to happen to my little brother’s…friend on her way back.”
He stepped away, just barely, to allow me the room to stand. He was still far too close for comfort though and I didn’t drag my feet moving to the exit. I felt those dark eyes on me until we turned the corner but couldn’t relax even when we were out of sight. The guard was silent as we moved across the barren campus, like two wraths gliding over a graveyard of battle. And that’s exactly what the campus had become. There was so much damage. Broken statues and benches, crumbling walls and shattered windows. Small fountains lay overturned and in pieces. Even the trees hadn’t escaped unscathed.
Branches littered the walkways and bathed in drying pools of blood. An ungodly amount of them. This was carnage. This was destruction. But there wasn’t a body to be found. Even as my sneakers left bloody tracks on the sidewalk, I couldn’t find the source they led back to. I didn’t even see a demon and there was enough black ichor and rancid sludge mixed with the ruby red to tell me plenty more than the Raka had made it through the barrier. Where were all the bodies? Why were they cleaned up and carted away but the aftereffects of their decay left for all to see? Not that there was anyone out here to see it.
My silent companion and I were the only souls moving about. As the guard led me past the gym and courtyard, through the training grounds and toward the empty girl’s dorm, I followed blindly; too tired, too mentally drained to put up any fight over the insanity of it all. Demons absolutely demolished the community. I shuddered to think about what the residential side looked like. Gutted homes and broken families wasn’t a picture I wanted to fall asleep with tonight. The imposing structure of the girl’s dorm rose sharply before us. I’d never once thought of it as a tomb, but that’s what it resembled tonight. The windows were shuttered and barred with no light squeezing under the cracks to welcome me inside. It was cold and deathly quiet.
The somber atmosphere fractured as the door slammed open under the guard’s assault and I was pushed inside. The House Matron wasn’t at her desk and no students lingered on the couches or near the game tables. Where the hell was everyone? A pit grew at the bottom of my stomach like a black hole. Worry and anxiety warred with one another for control. None of this seemed right. And yet, the guard pushed on, half dragging me now up the chipped wooden stairs and still not saying a word.
“What’s going on?” I finally asked, my whisper as loud as a shout in the deserted hall. “Where is everyone?”
We came to a stop in front of a solid brass door with a twenty-two hung in front and I recognized the number from my class schedule. The guard did exactly as Asiel asked and delivered me to my room. I turned around to thank him and hopefully get an answer to my questions, but he was already gone. I watched his back disappear down the stairs with nary a sound. Asshole. Inside, I was greeted by an ordinary room, the layout and furnishings no different than the room I’d grown up in. The bed was tucked away in the corner, across from a sturdy dresser that bordered the door to the bathroom. A tiny nightstand sat beside the bed and a desk completed the furniture. A small window nestled between the bed and dresser, and…that was it. A basic dorm. There were no personal touches and the only clothing I knew I’d find in the drawers would be more training uniforms. I’d have to make a trip to my father’s house to grab some things from my old room. I wouldn’t fit in any of the clothes in that closet, but a colorful comforter and some pillows could help liven up the place.
The thought of having to see my father, to speak with him for the first time in four years almost drained what little energy I had left. Maybe I could time it while he was away in a meeting. A girl could hope, and the universe owed me a big ass favor by now. I didn’t bother turning on a light as I moved into the adjacent bathroom. The small plug-in near the sink cast enough of a glow for me to get a decent look at my reflection and I cringed. By all that is holy, I looked like shit. I was beyond dirty. I was downright disgusting. Leftover practice potion, grime, blood, and who knew what other bodily fluids caked every visible inch of my skin and each fiber that made up my clothes.
There might have been one teensy little spot that wasn’t as gross by my left boob and wasn’t that just random as hell. The bandage around my arm was useless and more saturated in demon blood than my own. Possibly. I stripped down and threw everything in the trash. Not even bothering for the water to warm, I jumped under the spray and vigorously scrubbed until I could see my own clean skin underneath. Some of my stitches were torn and fresh blood oozed with every lift of my arm, but I didn’t leave that shower until every speck of dirt was gone. The bottom of the tub would stain from this much filth, but I was past the point of caring. When I finally stepped out and donned a fresh towel, I forced myself to take stock of my injuries. There were definitely some new bruises and gashes; nothing a little hydrogen peroxide couldn’t take care of.
By the way the stitches in my shoulder were torn, I knew it was going to scar. Surprisingly, the knowledge didn’t bother me. A quick peek under the sink revealed the standard first-aid kit that came with each room. A little antibiotic ointment and some fresh gauze and I was as good as new. Not a minute too soon either, because my eyes closed the second my head hit the pillow. Asiel’s sick smile and rivers of demon blood followed me into oblivion.
chapter eleven
I awoke to thunder. The rumbling assault battered my senses even through the pillow I squeezed around my head and my cheek felt glued to the sheet via a puddle of drool. I felt like ass. Ass that got hit by a Tonka Truck, dragged for miles through fields of sharp objects, and left to rot. I rolled over, throwing the pillow off my head and pissing off my torn stitches in the process. The thunder outside was joined by a shrill screech that punctured my eardrums too consistently to be natural. I bolted upright and ignored the protests from the rest of my body. That was the bell. Had they forgotten to turn it off? Because there was no way we were expected to go to classes today. Right?
The barrage of footsteps and mindless conversation outside my door told me otherwise. I groaned and took my time standing. No dizziness blackened my vision and I saw that as a good sign. Flashes from the night before seemed less traumatic in the light of day, but I still thought it strange to let the vulnerable population resume daily activities less than twenty-four hours after a massive demon attack. Asiel’s threat of probation was the only thing that had me reaching for a clean uniform, despite how much it hurt to put it on. As I moved to the bathroom to brush the nasty off my teeth, I made a mental list of what needed to be accomplished today: find out what happened to Auden, reach out to my father to plan a visit to my childhood home, and find out what the hell has been going on in this place since I’ve been gone. I knew exactly where to learn the info on the latter.
The cafeteria was as full and raucous as I remembered. Like most teenagers of any species, my classmates didn’t find it too difficult to brush off the horrors of the previous day and instead focused on what truly mattered; copulating. My nose scrunched in disgust as I moved past a couple practically fornicating in the hall. The volume as I stepped through the doors was enough to bring back the headache I was just starting to lose. With teeth clenched, I got in line for breakfast and allowed my gaze to roam. More eyes were on me than not, but I ignored them. I grabbed my tray, laden down with I didn’t even know what, and searched the crowded tables for somewhere to sit. When I spotted a moppy nest of brown curls, I smiled. The room seemed to suffocate itself as I sat my tray before the boy with shocked green eyes. Surely, he remembered me from yesterday.
Quiet conversations steadily resumed around us, but Bast watched me with a wary eye. A small purple bag landed on the table between us, smaller than my carton of OJ, but I knew what it was without having to touch it. A hex bag. Usually stuffed with chicken bones, an unbroken spider egg, and some kind of plant or herb, they were used to ward off evil and there were many many variations. Some deadly. Bast sighed and swatted it to the floor before returning to his hunched position over what looked like homework. A less than subtle glance over my shoulder told me where the bag came from as a table of mainly shifters and a few witches dissolved into fits of laughter. Nice to see they encouraged comradery in this place.
“Aren’t you going to ask?” I looked at Bast and got a face full of frustration and defiance. Rather than feed his growing anger, I shrugged and kept eating. “It’s their less than intelligent way of accusing me of being a demon.”
I snorted and took a sip of my orange juice. “Cause that little bag will work.”
Bast stared at me with an adorable head tilt, like there was something about me he couldn’t figure out. “I could be, a demon that is, for all you know. Wouldn’t you rather sit with your friends and not risk it?”
It sounded like a challenge the way he asked. Like he expected me to be like everyone else— to be like those idiots at the other table. Too bad I was nothing like anyone else sitting in this room. Once upon a time, maybe. Back when there was nothing else to do around here but train and give in to the drama. I’ve seen what life has to offer outside these walls and it was a sobering experience. One the other students should be painfully aware of given the events of yesterday. Life was way too short to worry about petty squabbles and maintaining your spot within the popular hierarchy. Bast seemed like he understood that, so I’d take my chances with him. After telling him a much shorter and less revealing version of that, he still appeared skeptical.
“But I could be. I could be a Shapeshifter playing spy right under your nose.”
Jesus, was this kid trying to convince me? If he was a demon, I would eat my own socks. There was just no way.
My eyes narrowed as I set my face in a stern frown. “Demons don’t usually try to convince people that they’re demons. I’m not worried.” Bast stared at me again, mouth slightly open. “Besides,” I continued. “Even if you were, I’d probably still sit next to you. I’ve never been one to give a flying fuck about people’s expectations of me.”
Bast laughed this time, his eyes softening to the kind gaze I recognized. Movement behind me brought a flicker of worry back to them, and the smirk slipped from his face. “Now’s your chance to prove it.”
The large presence behind me wasn’t threatening—it was more annoying than anything. I turned in my chair and greeted the newcomer with a half-smile, one that was polite but hopefully didn’t offer an invitation. The boy was a shifter too, a lion if his coloring was anything to go by. His golden hair was streaked with different shades of yellows and browns and very flattering against the backdrop of his tanned skin and caramel eyes. He smiled wide, showing pristine canines that were only slightly sharper than a human’s.
“Hey there,” he greeted, completely ignoring Bast.
I glanced over to see his reaction at being intentionally disregarded, but he didn’t seem to mind. He watched us with rapt attention. When I caught his eye, he rose a single brow and dropped a shoulder in a shrug. I turned back to the meathead beside me, only to catch him checking me out. Gross. Why were my boobs the first thing guys wanted to introduce themselves too? Properly annoyed now, I crossed my arms and waited for his eyes to move back to my face.
“Listen—”
“Lincoln,” he supplied with another smile.
“Lincoln… Pressley?” I asked, surprised and honestly a little impressed. “The scrawny kid who almost couldn’t finish the obstacles in age twelve?”
His cheeks bloomed at my obvious shock—Bast’s snort didn’t help—but he recovered quickly. Moving closer, he set a hand next to my tray and leaned a little too far into my personal space.
“A lot’s changed since we were kids, Kaya. I’m at the top of our class now, guaranteed to be one of the first Chosen.”
His words about being chosen nagged at the edge of my thoughts but I pushed them aside, and then him. His scent still smothered our end of the table and my nostrils flared.
“I can see that,” I replied. “Obviously.”
“Why don’t you join us over at my table and we can catch up?” He gestured behind him at the table of idiots I’d pegged as the ones who threw the hex bag.
“Is Bast invited?” I asked, my voice sickly sweet. “I wouldn’t want to ditch my new friend on my first day back.”
A cloud seemed to move across his face, tightening his features until his eyes lost their glow and his grin slipped. He slowly shook his head.
“Life will be easier for you this year if you befriend your own kind.” His response landed with a bite that wasn’t felt by me. Bast visibly flinched and if possible, hunched lower in his seat.
Lincoln spoke loud enough to be heard over the usual clamor of the cafeteria and now all eyes were on our little exchange. He didn’t notice the attention, too focused on making Bast cower before him. I could feel the smaller boy’s shaking from this side of the table, and well, bullying never sat well with me. The growl started deep in my chest and grew until it punctured whatever dominance game Lincoln was playing. His wide eyes mirrored my own. It was the first time my inner cat acted without a conscious intent on my part, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. All familiars shifted into some breed of feline, be it a lion, cougar, lynx, or even a house cat. Some breeds got along easier in groups, while others were more solitary. Both had issues with dominance. It was how we worked out our hierarchy and place amongst our people. Apparently, my inner feline saw Lincoln as nothing more than a Tom Cat needing to be put in his place. Only he wasn’t backing down.
Still functioning off pure instinct, I lunged, throwing myself between him and Bast with a snarl. The move had me half sitting on the table with my ass almost in my breakfast, but I blocked Bast from view. Pretty Boy Lincoln, now forever dubbed douche bag, looked at me in shock, even as his own cat responded to my challenge with a growl of his own. Nobody moved. Every muscle in my body pulled taught, my claws stung beneath my nailbeds, begging for release.
I could tell Lincoln was in a similar state as he stared at me, his eyes hardening with every second I didn’t back down. A fight between us could go either way right now, with how beat up I already was, but I’d give as good as I got. Unless he shifted. Then I was fucked.
“You’re making a mistake. There’s a lot that’s changed since you’ve been gone.” His breath tickled the hair by my forehead he was so close. “I’ll give you one more chance.”
My smile was savage, practically daring him to do something. “I’m perfectly fine here, Lincoln. So why don’t you run along now before you do something that will force me to show you exactly what hasn’t changed since I’ve been gone.” I stepped into him, forcing his chin back if he didn’t want to bash it against my head. “You’re still that scrawny kid from age twelve. Don’t make me kick your ass and prove it.”
