Grave Secrets: A Dementon Academy of Magic Novel (The Everlasting Chronicles Book 3)

by K. G. Reuss

  “What are you nervous about?”

  I breathed in quickly several times, unable to answer him. My hands were twitching, my legs trembling.

  “Brandon, let everyone know I’ll be a moment.” Raiden’s eyes never left mine.

  Brandon didn’t reply. He simply walked away from us. My eyes started roaming wildly, desperate to escape Raiden’s overpowering presence.

  “L-Lo siento. I’m s-sorry,” I rasped out. “I-if I-I did a-anything. C-couldn’t leave—”

  “Shh,” Raiden murmured, his hands coming out to rest on either side of my face like he’d done when he’d healed me. A sweeping warmth washed through me. It comforted me, slowing my breathing.

  “Just keep looking at me,” Raiden said softly. “Don’t look anywhere else. Do you hear that?”

  I listened but only heard the chatter of students as they milled around probably casting us odd looks.

  “I-I don’t hear anything but s-students.” I gulped, my eyes back to being locked on his.

  “Exactly. Nothing to fear. It’s just a normal day. With people like you. Doing boring student stuff.”

  I immediately understood what he was trying to do for me. Brighton had instructed me to find something to focus on. Raiden was providing me with just that. Even if the focus was on a distraction. My breathing continued to slow, the shaking in my body stopping.

  “Better?” he asked, his hands still cupping my face.

  I nodded. “Yes. Thank you.”

  His hands fell away, the void following. I’d felt it the other day as well when he’d healed my rotwraith mark. “Good.”

  “I don’t understand,” I murmured, shaking my head. “Why did you come—”

  “I noticed you from my table,” he cut me off quickly. “I know making a scene probably wasn’t on your to-do list today, or at least I hope not.”

  “And yet we just made one,” I replied, my eyes still locked on his.

  “Perhaps just a little one. But I daresay no one will say a thing about it.”

  “At least not to you,” I answered. He nodded solemnly before looking around.

  “That’s probably accurate.” A pause. “It worked though, right? You’re better now?”

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Maybe you’re not as horrible as I thought,” I said, the words falling out of my mouth before I could stop them. My face probably could’ve cooked an egg as hot as it was from embarrassment.

  “Oh, I am, Miss Torres.” He winked at me, getting to his feet. I stared up at him in surprise. Did he just make a joke and then wink at me? “Best be off now. Wouldn’t want to keep the Conexus general waiting. Hate for you to end up in his office.”

  “Yeah, I heard he’s a real jackass,” I said, slightly breathless, getting to my feet, my body still tingling a little. Whether if it was from my panic attack or Raiden’s presence, I wasn’t sure. Raiden looked away from me, and I could’ve sworn he was going to crack a smile. Instead, he turned back to me and gave me a curt nod, all emotions gone from his face.

  “Stay out of trouble. You’ve already had two warnings in just a week. A third could end poorly for you.”

  I watched as he departed with a scowl on my face. That guy was relentless in his moodiness. Sure, he’d saved me from a potentially embarrassing disaster, but he’d also thrown me into a different one.

  “Why was Raiden talking to you?” Harper fretted as I walked with her and Abby to the training grounds. “Did he say anything about Conexus? Tell me they aren’t taking you, Ever. I mean, we just got you. I can’t handle losing another friend to those jerks—”

  “Harper, it’s fine really. He, uh, just wanted to talk to me about Eric,” I lied, feeling like a jerk for it.

  “What about Eric?” Abby eyed me with avid curiosity. Even Harper perked up.

  “Uh,” I looked around, wondering if I should tell them about Eric being in my room. I figured they wouldn’t tell anyone else, so I came out with it. “Eric hung out with me last night in my dorm.”

  “What?” they both shrieked, shock written on their faces. I winced.

  “Yeah,” I hissed. “So quiet. He wanted to let me know that Conexus doesn’t associate with us.”

  “What a jerk,” Harper grumbled. “Eric Craft is freaking gorgeous. Like he might be a total jerk too, but if he’s brave enough to want to hang out with you, then he must have some sort of personality.”

  “He does.” I smiled at them. “Eric is sweet. Kind. Caring. He listens to me—”

  “Girl, check yourself. That’s Eric Craft, second in command. He’s just as dangerous as Raiden. Be careful. Don’t get caught up with them,” Abby was quick to interrupt me, worry painting her delicate features.

  “Eric isn’t like Raiden. Raiden is cold. Harsh. Weird,” I muttered, thinking about his display from earlier. “And he’s a pain in my ass.”

  “OK. Real talk.” Harper pulled me a stop outside of the training grounds. “Do you like him?”

  “Who?” I asked, hoping she didn’t mean Raiden. He scared me. And angered me at the same time. We were like oil and water. But he made me feel weird things too. Breathless, jittery. Not just from fear. And even though we’d only just met, we both enjoyed pushing one another’s buttons. Maybe I’d found a new hobby.

  “Eric.” Harper rolled her eyes. “Because it might be a good thing.”

  “It’s not a good thing,” Abby interjected. “Don’t listen to her. She’s nuts. Stay away from all Conexus members. Even if some people think it’s a good thing.”

  Harper rolled her eyes at Abby and gave me a “we’ll talk later” look before tugging me through the arch that led to the training grounds. It appeared the entire school had turned out for it.

  Eric had assured me that this wasn’t a big deal. I was supposed to simply go into the ring, do what was asked, and I’d be done. And the fight wouldn’t be a big deal. He said he’d even spoken to the members and told them my worries about having to fight.

  Eric was far too sweet to lie to me about things like that.

  Or I was naive. I guessed time would tell.

  “Everly Torres?” Professor Hall called out. I bid my friends farewell and went over to her.

  “We have you going last, dear. I know you’re nervous. But no worries. I think you’re going to make a wonderful caster!”

  “Uh, OK?” I said, confused. I’d done pretty decent in my psychic workshop. I’d known what was behind the cards I couldn’t see. Like I couldn’t predict crap, but I figured it was easier than starting a fire with my mind. I had a headache the entire night after I’d burned those candles the first day.

  “Just go stand over there with everyone else.” She nodded to where the other new students were standing. “We’ll be doing demonstrations first. Once we get through the list, we’ll go into the sparring. Then declarations and pinning.”

  She grinned happily at me, clearly out of her mind. No one should be so excited to watch students fight each other. The only thing that kept me sane, other than Eric’s promise, was knowing I probably could hold my own if need be. Not that my diner incident had showcased any of my skills. But I’d been scared then. And surprised. And completely out of my element. Now, I knew what to do. Sort of.

  “Welcome students!” Brighton’s voice boomed out, magically amplified. “Today is a very special, very important day! Today, you find out your faction. We urge each of you to put your full effort into today’s ceremony. Heaven forbid we declare a werewolf a vampire.”

  There was a general chuckle throughout the stadium. My eyes scanned around and found the Conexus shrouded in black standing on the edge of the field, opposite of where I sat. As always, they looked stern and ready to rip heads off. Taking in the area further, I saw a weapon racks along the side of the field. Weapons? I had to use a weapon? And they weren’t toy weapons. They were real swords. Real whips. I swallowed hard, starting to feel worried.

  Brighton had fi
nished his announcement, and people were clapping and cheering. I’d been so caught up in my worries I hadn’t heard what he said.

  “Sherry Philips!” Sloane called out. A small girl with dark eyes, walked to the center of the field. I kept my attention on her. I wanted to know what the hell I had to do out there. There were professors from each faction waiting. Sherry went to the first professor and stood in front of him. Professor Evans. A werewolf.

  They stared at each other for a long moment, her hands resting on his palms as he held them out. After a tense, silent few moments, he shook his head at Sloane and Brighton. A mark was written on the sheet and Sherry moved to the next professor. She continued down the line until she’d reached the end. Then another name was called. I saw how they were doing it. One name at a time.

  I waited, watching as student after student went through, my nerves ratcheting up with each passing name.

  “Everly Torres!” Sloane called out. I made my way out to the center of the field.

  “Please step up to Professor Evans,” Sloane instructed in her monotone. I did as she said. Professor Evans held his hands out. I placed mine on his as I’d seen the others do before me and waited. After a few moments of tense silence where I was sure everyone in the stadium could hear my heart trembling, Professor Evans frowned and turned to Sloane.

  “Her readings are all over the place,” he murmured, not so quietly that I couldn’t hear him. “I-I can’t gauge her.”

  What?! I wasn’t a freaking werewolf!

  “Allow me to try,” Professor Danbury, a female caster broke in with a smooth voice. Sloane gave me a nod, and I moved to Professor Danbury and rested my hands over her palms. Her dark brows furrowed as she concentrated on me.

  “It’s the strangest thing. I-I’ve never encountered anything quite like it,” she murmured, looking to Sloane then to Headmaster Brighton. “I can sense caster in her, but there’s something else. Something I’ve never come across before.”

  I gulped at her words. Being the only whisperer on campus probably made me wonky. The very real idea of being booted out weighed heavily on me.

  “Professor Laughlin?” Sloane asked. The dark-haired vampire professor held his hands out for me. I placed my hands over his like I’d done with the others. And just like with them, he shook his head, looking confused.

  “Definitely not vampire. Although the potential is there.” His lips quirked up into a wicked smile that made me nauseous.

  “I hope you’re not suggesting we start turning students into vampires when we can’t accurately read them,” Professor Danbury snarled, her eyes darkening as she glared at the vampire professor. He only shook his head at her.

  “Professors Melnik and Hamilton?” Sloane fixed her gaze on the psychic and shifter professors before the other professors could continue their fight. Professor Hamilton, the shifter, offered me his hands. I placed mine in his hold, my insides quivering like jelly. He frowned for a moment before cocking his head me.

  “What the devil are you, child?”

  I gulped down my standard answer of freak and turned to Professor Melnik. She offered me a kind smile as I placed my hands in hers. I waited for her verdict, my breath held.

  “Mm, if she’s psychic, she is truly the strangest one I’ve encountered. It feels like she’s made of. . .” Professor Melnik studied me for a moment, her dark brows crinkled. “Static,” she finished, releasing her hold on me.

  I looked over at Sloane, wondering what I was going to do.

  Sloane was silent, which confused me. A moment later, Raiden was by her side. I looked in surprise at him. Apparently, she’d summoned him with her mind because he knew exactly what was happening.

  “Miss Torres,” Raiden nodded to me as Professor Melnik stepped aside and Raiden moved into her spot, his hands outstretched. Brighton gave me a slight nod, so I placed my hands in Raiden’s, wondering what the hell was happening.

  There was a strange flash, almost like static electricity had jolted my entire body. Images began pouring into my head. My heartrate kicked up, thundering in my ears. I knew where I was. I was in the stadium surrounded by hundreds of students and teachers.

  Only I wasn’t. I was far away. Voices. Places. Words.

  Fin. The last. The only. A name given to him by his mother.

  There was a flash of red, making my knees buckle.

  Raiden held a sword. His eyes were red. Then solid black. Fin. He slashed through his enemies, sweat on his brow. More were coming. He wouldn’t be able to defeat them all. I could see faint movement of his other members in the background. They were struggling. They needed… me.

  A haunt. Twenty days. I had a mission. Not Conexus. Marek. Marek. Marek.

  My hands fell away from Raiden’s, my body swaying. Arms went around me immediately, holding me up. I was woozy. Scratch that. I was sick. Or about to be. There was a rush of warmth through me that made me feel at ease, the churning in my head and stomach not as bad.

  I thought Raiden had caught me. But when I looked up, it was into Eric. His arms were around me, a tight look on his face.

  “Ever, are you OK?” he asked, worry painting his features.

  “I don’t feel well.”

  “Get her some water,” Raiden commanded. I hadn’t noticed Damien standing there. Wordlessly, he hurried off and returned a moment later with a bottle of water for me.

  “Thank you,” I murmured, tipping it to my lips, my hands shaking.

  “Verdict?” Sloane asked softly.

  “Not a werewolf,” Raiden replied. “Not a vampire. Not really a caster, but potential. Psychic possibly.”

  “Figured that,” Damien muttered.

  “What do you want me to classify her as?” Sloane sighed, rubbing her eyes. “I think I already know—”

  “What happened?” Raiden asked me, cutting Sloane off.

  “I-I don’t know. I saw stuff,” my voice trembled. I’d never had anything like it happen to me before.

  “Like what?” he demanded, looking annoyed that he had to waste his time with me. There he was doing that hot-cold thing again. Eric’s arm was still around me. He gave me a slight squeeze.

  “You,” I answered, my voice tiny. “I saw you. You needed me.”

  Raiden sucked in a sharp breath, his face paling. He quickly righted himself as Sloane stared wide-eyed at me.

  “I don’t need anything from you,” his voice dripped with venom, causing me to flinch back.

  “Easy, Gen,” Damien said, his dark eyes shifting between me and Raiden.

  “A haunt at the end of the month says otherwise,” I shot back weakly, angry that he was being an ass to me. “Fin.” I tossed it out just because I knew the name belonged to him. His face paled even more before he seemed to collect himself.

  Leaning in, he whispered in my ear, “Don’t you ever call me that again. Do you understand? If you do, the dead will be the least of your problems, Whisperer.”

  I shivered as he moved away from me, pure loathing in his eyes.

  “Gen, where do you want me to put her?” Sloane asked softly, fidgeting. Everyone was fidgeting. Great. I’d pissed off the general. Again.

  “Out of my sight,” he snapped, throwing me another glare. He stormed away from me, leaving me humiliated in front of the entire school and unclassified. At least no one had heard our exchange. But there were hushed murmurings throughout the stadium.

  “Come on, Ever,” Eric coaxed while Damien gave me an apologetic look.

  I let Eric steer me off the field.

  “He’s just having a bad day. You need to ignore him. Don’t let him get to you. I promise he’s not that bad.” Eric kept offering me assurances on his general, but I couldn’t see it. The guy was a jerk, plain and simple. I struggled to keep my tears at bay. I didn’t want anyone, least of all him to know he’d made me cry.

  “Are you OK?” Eric asked gently, his blue eyes filled with worry.

  All I could do was nod mutely, knowing if I spoke, my words
and tears would both tumble out. Eric must have sensed it because he gave me a slight nod and turned back to face the field where they were calling out students to face members of Conexus in the sparring.

  I watched in horror as Conexus decimated each student who walked onto the field. And it was like they weren’t even trying to beat the students. When Raiden took the field against a werewolf, I watch in stunned silence as he whipped and turned around the were with ease before placing his sword at the were’s throat. The next fight was once again against Raiden. Someone had chosen him. And lost. Then another challenge. And another win for Raiden.

  Even through the anger still marring his face, Raiden Hawthorne was beautiful. I hated I felt that way about him. I hated that there was an awful tugging in my heart to go to him and demand that he… well, I wasn’t quite sure what I should demand.

  “Eric Craft!” Brighton’s amplified voice called out, beckoning Eric to the field. Eric cast me a quick look before going out to the field, awaiting his opponent.

  “Everly Torres!” Brighton called my name. A breath of relief whooshed out that I hadn’t gotten Raiden. I was sure he’d bury me in the dirt without a second thought. I walked out to the field and faced Eric whose lips quirked up into the tiniest of reassuring smiles. He always had a way of putting me at ease.

  “Choose your weapons. You may choose two. Fight ends when one of you does.” Brighton shot me a quick look, worry etched into his face. I nodded at him to let him know I was OK.

  Wandering over to the weapons, I stood staring at them with Eric at my side.

  “I’ll go easy on you, Ever,” Eric whispered so no one else could hear him. The professors were lined along the field not far from us. It was probably to intervene should things go south with the students. It wouldn’t surprise me if it took all of them to stop Conexus.

  “Don’t.” I stared at him earnestly. “Please. If you take me down, do it hard. I don’t want special treatment because I’m having a bad day and you think I’ll break.”

  “It’s not that.” Eric scowled, as he ran his fingers along a sword. “I just saw how you were at the diner. I don’t want you to be hurt—”