Bast was shaking his head before I finished. “Girl, you better start caring. Only class ranking is based off merit. The rest of the Choosing is a popularity contest.”

  “Again, I ask what the hell is the Choosing? And since when is there a ranking?”

  “How do you still not know what the Choosing is? According to our teachers, its literally what we should be striving for our entire lives.”

  I was only gone for four years, but that was apparently enough time for some major things to change. I could understand that, after all, I changed a lot myself. I had a feeling, though, that this wasn’t change for the better and Bast’s explanation only confirmed it. It all tied in with our low numbers and steadily declining population. This was the solution to ensuring only our best went after the demons and the rest built back our numbers. It didn’t make much sense. Wouldn’t you rather pass on the genes of your best fighters instead of those deemed not good enough? But what did I know?

  “You’re fucking with me!”

  “Shhh,” Bast winced as the students at the table next to us glared at him.

  I didn’t mean to draw any more negative attention his way, but I was floored; shocked. Literally there were no words.

  “Let me get this straight,” I said, lowering my voice this time. “At the end of the year, all the familiars and witches are ranked separately based off the last four years of our schooling. And then at the Choosing, the highest ranked witches get, what, the first pick of the litter? And then we’re chosen down the line like elementary kickball teams?”

  Bast frowned at the comparison. “Well, there’s a little more to it than that. The Council and Prince Asiel have to approve the pairing, but basically that’s how it works.”

  I didn’t think I could be more shocked, but I was wrong. “Asiel? Why does Asiel have any say in the pairings?”

  He looked at me like I’d lost some screws. “Maybe because he’s the Crown Prince?” He took a bite out of his chicken tender and waved it around, adding, “It was also his idea in the first place.”

  That shouldn’t have surprised me. The unfairness, the division of our society into a caste system, and the pure stupidity of it all screamed Asiel. Was our society really so bad off that we had to resort to this? It was a desecration to our traditions. A familiar chose the witch, that’s the way it’s always been. And there was no shame in it taking years to find the right partner. It was a life-long commitment and a great honor.

  “You haven’t been through the community yet, have you?” Bast’s green eyes lost its usual glow. “There are still some places that haven’t been rebuilt since that night.”

  “I feel like I’m missing a huge part of the story here,” I replied, but I had an inkling that I knew where this was headed.

  “You are,” Bast confirmed.

  The bell rang and the room filled with the sounds of chairs scraping and sneakers squeaking against the linoleum; effectively drowning out whatever he was about to say next. With a tilt of his head, Bast gestured for me to follow him. Our next class, Demonology, wasn’t a far walk from the cafeteria—only one flight of stairs to be exact— but it was my last class of the day since I couldn’t take part in the more physical classes that filled our afternoons.

  “Why don’t we hang out tonight?” I blurted right outside the classroom door.

  Students pushed past us with annoyed glares as we stood in their way, but Bast’s surprised face and my burning cheeks went unnoticed by anyone else but us.

  “Unless you don’t want to, I mean,” I shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal, but inside my heart was racing. I’d never had to actively try and make a friend before, and the one time I tried to step out of my comfort zone and into a social circle, I ended up with a demon on my ass and Auden’s cuffs around my wrists.

  “No, no.” Bast swallowed and then shot me a genuine smile. “I’d love to.”

  He mirrored my sigh of relief and we shared an awkward look of understanding before breaking into fits of laughter.

  “This door will close promptly in one minute, no matter who is standing in the doorway making that raucous.” Mr. Laveau stood behind his desk with a stern brow raised.

  The next hour flew by as we learned about Revenants. This was my favorite class by far, and not just because Mr. Laveau was a fair and knowledgeable instructor. The subject matter was one I was very interested in. In this class, filled with both races, we learned about the wide array of different demons, their class systems, powers, physical attributes, and most importantly, how to kill them. We then practiced the physical act later in the afternoon.

  “An adult’s wingspan can reach roughly two meters, far surpassing the average seize of our males, and are tipped with sharp barbs designed to pierce and slice.” Mr. Laveau pointed to the image of the Revenant taking up the front wall of the classroom. The tip of one wing projected all the way onto the ceiling and I shuddered at the thought of encountering one in person. “It’s hide appears smooth but is actually composed of thousands of tiny scales that overlap and protect it like a suit of armor. No man-made weapon we have can penetrate it. But some of our potions are effective and a familiar’s claws shred through its hide like scissors to paper.”

  The student beside me, a witch named Mason, raised his hand, his face frozen in a mask of disbelief.

  “So, you’re telling me that neither a sword nor a gun can kill it, but a familiar’s claws can?” He scoffed. “That doesn’t even make sense.”

  I, and every other feline shifter in that room, glared at him. I almost offered to demonstrate how sharp my claws could be, but Mr. Laveau beat me to it. As an older witch, he was around long before this new Choosing bullshit was established, but I still had no idea where he fell on his opinions of it. Was he for the near subjugation of half our society, or against it? The two tattoos behind his ear told me he was paired or had been at one point. He knew first-hand what that relationship was like.

  “Was there something wrong with what I said, Mr. Marsh?” Our instructor stepped closer, until the projection of the Revenant covered half his face in an eerie grey light. “Is there a reason you think a familiar’s claws shouldn’t be able to save you from certain death?”

  A couple sniggers punctuated the silence and Mason huffed, like what he had to say was obvious.

  “They’re a lesser species, sir. Bred and predestined to assist us as we protect humanity from demons. It makes no sense that against such a formidable foe they would be more powerful.”

  I think my jaw touched my desk. He didn’t just say that. That little shit, who looked like a toothpick with mini muscles, did not just say I was a lesser species. Was this the crap the school spewed now? My fingers ached with the need to release my claws and swipe through that smug face. I glanced around the room and nearly growled at the mixed reactions I saw. A couple other familiars silently snarled at the thought of being lesser, but most didn’t react at all. Like this was an actual fact they’d come to accept. Some witches were even nodding along at the nonsense. What the actual fuck happened to this place?

  “The only lesser species, Mr. Marsh, are the demons we are charged with destroying. Familiars are our partners and deserve the respect that position merits.” Mr. Laveau didn’t raise his voice, but there was an unyielding glint to his gaze that barred no room for argument. “As to why their claws will work but not something as powerful as a knife or any other weapon you might wield; some of our scientists believe it comes down to nature. A familiar’s origins are rooted in the creation of life, their animal half a direct unpolluted product of Mother Earth, and as such is seen as the very opposite of the Revenant itself.”

  “Unless you’re Bastion.”

  The class broke out in another fit of snickers and Bast sunk lower in his seat, his curls falling over half his face in a poor attempt at a shield. I caught the eye of a few nearest me and my glare shut them right up, but I didn’t see who made the comment to begin with.

  “That’s enough,” Mr. Laveau’s disapproval cut through the rest of the chatter, but the damage was already done.

  The bell rang and Bast bolted from his seat before I could get to him. My glower did little to keep the attention away from me—in fact, it might have encouraged some of the gossip—and I increased my speed until I was all but jogging out of the school and into the heavy downpour outside. The rain was warm when it hit me, but it came down in sheets so strong that it stung. Fuck this school. Fuck my classmates. And fuck being back here. I missed Sensei and the peace of the dojo. I missed the respect from my students and their parents. Respect that was sorely lacking here. But mostly, I missed how uncomplicated my life was before that stupid party. I stomped through a large puddle, splattering my sneakers and pants with mud in one splash and sighed. I should’ve fought harder to get away.

  chapter fourteen

  The storm still raged outside, pounding relentlessly against the window and casting shadows of raindrops across the wall. The heavy lightening randomly lit up the room, and from where I stood in the shower, it was just enough light to see where the shampoo sat on the shelf. I hadn’t bothered to turn on the lights when I got to my dorm. I preferred the dark atmosphere the thunderstorm provided and allowed its haunting lullaby to converge with the warm water, heating my muscles until I left the shower feeling like a puddle of goo. The silence was a welcome reprieve to the crazy mess of the last twenty-four hours.

  It was the first time since I’d returned that I was able to just…be. No worrying about how the Council would punish me. No handcuffs. I had a blissful chunk of time where no one stared at me and I wasn’t watching over my shoulder for the next unexpected strike. I’d had about all I could take for the week, and I still needed to go home and see my father. That was going to be super fun, I could tell. Standing in the doorway to the bathroom, I took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. The wind whistled and howled through the trees, shaking them hard enough they scratched at the windows. The tension really built outside. I didn’t have to look to know that the sky was black and the rain came down sideways like thousands of heat-seeking missiles. Aside from the flashing light and rolling thunder, it was a calm bubble in here. A boring, calm, basic bubble. My eyes roamed, taking in the dismal plainness of the dorm and I found another emotion taking over. My old room was covered, floor to ceiling, with pictures of me and Asher; our adventures captured on film since the days we toddled around in diapers. I looked at empty corners where I remembered hanging pictures of my mom, happy and smiling. The barren walls that stared back at me now hit harder than the silence. Harder than the loneliness that’s followed me every day since I was thirteen.

  Lightening flashed and my gaze caught on a small lump, virtually camouflaged by the standard issued black comforter. I lunged for it before my brain fully registered what it was. My bag. I thought I’d lost it forever after leaving it at the Miami bus depo, but here it was. All my things were inside; clothes, extra shoes, toiletries, even my meager cash. I frantically dug some more, the knot in my throat growing larger with every pocket found empty, but—there. In the very front zipper was my favorite knife. The one Sensei gave me. When Auden knocked it from my hands, I didn’t have time to grab it before making my escape. Then later, on the bus, I mourned its loss and resigned myself to never seeing it again. My eyes burned from Auden’s unexpected kindness as I pulled out a clean pair of leggings and an oversized shirt. I brought them to my face and inhaled. Tears sprung free as the comforting scent washed over me. I missed home.

  I wasn’t sure how long I sat in my towel, crying over my clothes, but when I finished the rain was down to a trickle. Mild thunder still preceded each lightning strike even though the storm was obviously on its way out. Goosebumps dotted my skin and I quickly shimmied into my now wrinkled clothes, causing the stitches in my shoulder to pull as I brought my shirt over my head. Halfway through re-bandaging my arm, there was a knock on my door. I ignored it, hoping whoever it was would go away, but Auden stuck his head in a couple minutes later and I scowled.

  “That door was locked,” I grumbled, trying to tear the gauze with my teeth as I spoke.

  “I have a key,” he replied, letting himself all the way in the room.

  “Of course, you do.” I didn’t waste energy on being surprised.

  It wasn’t easy to tie a knot with one hand and your mouth, in the dark. Auden offered to help, and my stubborn pride shooed him away each time, before I finally gave in and allowed him to kneel beside me. His fingers were warm as they gently brushed against my skin. His scent mixed with the heady fullness of the storm outside until I almost couldn’t tell them apart, even with him this close. I kept my gaze down and away as he finished up.

  Please don’t blush. Please don’t blush. I repeated the mantra over in my head. My damn cheeks and I were going to have a serious talk if they couldn’t control themselves around him. I didn’t need him thinking I was nervous or something equally as stupid. It was utter nonsense anyway. I was only reacting to the awkwardness between us. Perfectly normal.

  “Come on,” Auden stood and held out his hand.

  I almost refused but didn’t want to start a fight. He let go as soon as I was on my feet and we were out of my dorm and in the hallway before I even thought to question where he was taking me. The hallway was empty, lacking even the echoes of voices from the common room. Our footsteps caused the aged wood to creak as Auden led me to the left and around the corner, down a dimly lit corridor I hadn’t even known was here, until he stopped in front of a thin door with an aged handle.

  “How do you know so much about the girl’s dorms?” I asked, as he pulled an ancient looking key from his pocket. “Seriously. I’ve lived in this building since I was eight and never knew about this.”

  The door in question led to an even thinner and darker stairwell that had seen better days. Auden’s answering grin was downright sinful and I questioned my morals as I followed him into the dust ridden dark.

  “Is this where you kill me and store my body?”

  Auden came to an abrupt stop and looked back over his shoulder. “Is there where I

  what?”

  I shrugged and ducked under his arm, taking the lead up the staircase. “It’s a perfectly reasonable question.”

  After a second, I heard his steps resume on the cracked wood. “There was absolutely no reason in that question. None whatsoever.”

  On and up the stairs continued, growing more narrow the higher we went. Soon, both my shoulders were nearly touching the walls, so I knew Auden had to be walking almost sideways. I fought the urge to turn back and look.

  “You bring me to an ancient hole in the wall—”

  “It’s obviously a stairwell.”

  “That no one but you even knows about, during the middle of a thunderstorm, when no one can hear me scream—”

  “Who said anything about screaming?”

  “And you think I’m weird for asking where you’re going to hide my body?”

  “Technically, you didn’t ask where. Just if.”

  “Semantics.” I stopped at the top, unable to go any further until Auden pulled out that key of his.

  There was hardly any room for me in front of the door and it took an uncomfortable amount of scooting and brushing against one another until we got into a position that allowed Auden to reach the door. Unfortunately, it also forced the entire front of my body to press against the ridiculously defined front of his. While his arm brushed my waist with each attempt to fit the key into the lock. I was more than thankful that the lightbulb above us was more or less on its last leg. The copper inside barely glowed and sputtered constantly. In these cramped conditions, there was no hiding how my cheeks burned or how fast my breaths were coming. But he didn’t need to see my voice to understand how I felt.

  “Please, take your time. I enjoy being repeatedly stabbed in the ass with a key.”

  Auden snorted. “Well, if you hadn’t pushed past me, I’d be in front of the keyhole and the door would be open by now.” A couple more subtle movements with his hand and I heard a click. “Got it.”

  The attic smelt musty and was just as dark as the stairwell, until Auden flipped a switch that bathed us in warm light. At least this bulb was working. Old cobwebs draped their sticky strings near my head. The luminescent strands also shimmered near the window at the other end of the room, immersed in lightning. Junk, covered in years of dust, was piled in the corners and off to the side, leaving plenty of room for a large rectangle of mats, some punching bags, small mitts, and an array of weapons. Auden already removed his shoes and stood in the middle of those mats, looking at me expectantly.

  “I don’t get it.” And I truly didn’t. Had he done all this? For me?

  “What is there to get?” Auden smirked. “Your ass, here.” He pointed in front of him. “Then we train.”

  I cautiously slipped out of my shoes, eyeing him with a growing sense of unease. He went against his father, brother, and most of the Council to get me reinstated as a student. He wouldn’t jeopardize that now, would he?

  “Auden,” I said his name slowly. “Familiars aren’t trained to fight with anything but our claws and fangs, nothing more than the basics really. You know that.”

  “It’s not forbidden,” he said with a shrug and stepped closer to where I hovered at the edge of the mats.

  “But it is extremely frowned upon,” I reminded him. “The others see it as an afront to our animal natures. If they find out I’m more than competent at kicking your ass in human form…I honestly don’t know what they’d say.”

  Besides my precarious standing with the Council, there was another voice in the back of my mind that made me question if this was a wise idea. Asiel all but promised that I was only hanging onto my probation by a thin thread. Would this be strong enough to make it snap? With enough disgruntled comments from the other shifters, my probation could swiftly come to an end. Auden circled me, slowly herding me to the center of the mats. It reminded me of how he stalked me outside when I was bound with roots, and I tried not to let those thoughts overwhelm me. This was different than last time. There were no potions here.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34