Academy of Lost Souls: A Dystopian Enemies to Lovers Academy Fantasy (Battle for the Half-Blood Princess Book 1)

by K.N. Lee

  A light so bright that it nearly blinded me shone throughout the forest. I shielded my eyes, and once the light began to dim, I saw him.

  Orion.

  Except—he was taller than me, with brilliant wings that glittered and sparkled around him. Translucent, I wondered if he was truly there.

  “Orion?” I asked. “Is that you?”

  He smiled, and bowed before me. “Yes, princess. I heard you call my name. Here I am.”

  Ecstatic, I raced into his arms and wrapped mine around his slender body.

  My oldest, most loyal friend.

  Rhys walked to stand beside us, examining Orion. Then, he smiled.

  “See,” he said. “There is no such thing as time or space here.”

  Orion nodded. “This is true. Now, what lesson are you learning tonight.”

  Rhys glanced at me, and a bright shield of golden light encapsulated him.

  “Magic defense,” he said.

  Nothing sounded so beautiful.

  13

  The next couple of weeks blurred one into the other.

  I did attended classes, studied, and then studied some more on the weekends. After meeting the Ancient, it began a series of training that was unlike what I learned in the academy.

  I was enrolled in two schools now. And, the one I attended at night was a form of training not offered in the mortal realm.

  I didn’t go out much, but there was a meeting that Dr. Grant organized, where the students could get together after hours and have a meal or drinks together. That, I did enjoy.

  There was something mysterious about Dr. Grant, and that had been the main draw for me. Still, it seemed that no one was particularly interested in befriending me, and Lucia had bonded with Morgan, and a few other girls I still hadn’t been introduced to.

  Alas, that was the least of my worries.

  I was battling literal darkness while everyone else was preparing for some major event that might not ever come.

  I sat on the floor of the sitting room on the first floor of the main building. Several girls I’d either never seen before or only in classes were there.

  They chatted, complained about classes, talked up boyfriends or girlfriends. I heard someone mention the final trials we’d face at the end of the year. I kept to herself in the corner, reading from one of the books on magic I’d bought at the shop.

  When I went to move my wet clothes from the washing machines that ran on generators, I found my clothes laying on the floor.

  “What the hell?” I stared at my clothes in shock, and then scanned the room.

  The only other person there was the last person I wanted to see.

  Tabitha.

  At a loss for words, I looked from my clothes to Tabitha. With a flip of her hair, she went back to leafing through her book. “You left. The other washers were still running.” She licked the tip of her finger and turned a page.

  “Fair enough, I guess." I said, trying my hardest not to shout at her. "But you didn't have to dump my stuff on the floor."

  I kicked one of the wheeled laundry carts toward her. It wasn’t hard enough for it to hit her, but it still made my point.

  Blue eyes focused on me for a moment before she shrugged and flipped another page. "You don't leave your stuff unattended." Without looking up, she pointed to a sign hanging from the ceiling.

  It wasn't a direct quote, but it was close enough.

  Take the high road, Sky.

  Dragging the laundry cart back, I picked up my things and wheeled them to the other side of the room hang from the clothesline. Electricity was scarce, and drying clothes wasn’t a good reason to waste it.

  Still, as I hung my clothes, I noticed Tabitha steal another glance my way.

  After all I’d been learning with the Ancient and Rhys, I dared her to try to attack me again.

  Come on, bitch. Try me.

  14

  After I returned to my room, I noticed Lucia was still gone.

  She was rarely there anymore. I was a bit disappointed. That first day, I had thought we’d grow close. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

  The door slammed behind me.

  A foul stench of old blood and decay hit me like a slap in the face. Slowly, I took a chance to look over my shoulder.

  A man, pale and gaunt, stood centered before the door. Long, greasy-looking blonde hair reached past his shoulders. A once-white dress shirt and threadbare brocade vest hung on his bony frame. He took a step into the small room, opened his mouth to show sharp, long fangs, and hissed at me.

  Bloodshot brown eyes focused on the vicinity of my throat, and baffled, I took a step backward. My knees hit the bed and I fell onto it.

  He lunged.

  A cold hand gripped my shoulder, ragged fingernails sinking in. I tried to scream but no sound could escape past the grip of terror around my throat. He pushed me back onto the bed, ignoring my wild bucking to get him off me. His mouth opened wide, giving me a good look at those fangs.

  No way. A vampire?

  I gagged at the stench. Throwing every bit of my strength into it, I tried to roll to dislodge him, but had no leverage.

  Then, I heard a scream, wondered for a moment if it was my own, and fought to remember all of the training I’d undergone.

  I took a deep breath, and with both hands outstretched, I summoned a burst of energy from my chest, and grit my teeth as I shot it into the creature assaulting me.

  It snarled and gasped as bright red light crashed into its thin body, and engulfed it in flames.

  Wide-eyed, I shot up.

  “Holy crap,” I said, as I watched the writhe and flail.

  Rhys burst in, eyes wild with worry, and then rage once he saw what was happening.

  Within seconds, he ignited three blue orbs around him, and then flashed a series of intricate symbols that radiated around his hands and formed a bubble around the creature.

  I scrambled back, eyes wide.

  “What the hell is that?” I shouted. “Is it a freaking vampire?”

  The bubble imprisoned whatever it was.

  The only light in the room came from the hallway through the open door. I fell off the bed, striking my elbow on the unforgiving edge of the bookcase; but barely felt it.

  It hissed, and Rhys motioned for me to get up and join him at his side.

  “What do we do?” I asked, and instead of answering, Rhys laced his fingers through mine.

  A spark ran between us, a visible thread glowing blue flowed from Rhys into me.

  “We are linked,” he said. “Feel my power.”

  Feel it, indeed. I nearly fell over from the surge that was sent into me.

  “You can use it. You won’t hurt me, but hopefully, you’ll dust him.” Rhys squeezed my hand. “What better way to practice than this.”

  “Mine,” it whispered from inside the bubble, pressing its face against the walls of air and energy.

  Time seemed to stand still as I fought to get control of Rhys’ power and my own.

  Without thinking about it, I willed that blue energy to stab the creature, vampire—whatever it was—through its miserable, stone-cold heart.

  There was a flare of light, and a jolt within my chest. A heavy weight seemed to hover right above my head, weighing me down. But, the vampire opened its mouth in a silent scream a heartbeat before it dissolved into a shower of ash.

  “Not today, my pasty friend,” he said, and we stood side-by-side for a moment, staring down at the pile of ash that sparkled in the dim light of Rhys’ energy orbs.

  Rhys glanced at me, and broke the link of power. After a quick kiss on my forehead, he spoke again. ”Got a broom?”

  15

  The night after the incident with the vampire, Rhys and I returned to the Ancient while the academy slept.

  Ms. Sharpe had actually been impressed that I handled the creature on my own. Rhys never mentioned he helped, and that bothered me. I wanted to be able to protect myself, and not rely on his assistance.<
br />
  Soon, I’d be more powerful than whatever came out me.

  At least, that was the hope.

  I didn’t tell Rhys, but I knew Tabitha was behind the attack somehow. I mean, who else had a grudge with me, especially after our little tiff in the laundry room.

  I’d deal with her later.

  The Ancient opened a doorway with a key she’d taken from a chest kept hidden in a secret compartment within the dirt.

  She winked at me as the lock clicked and the doors opened to a vault. She pushed the doors open and a chilly gust of wind blew at my face.

  “After you,” she said, stepping aside to let me in.

  I stepped onto a metal walkway with grates that looked down onto dark vegetation. Torches lit the way along the narrow path that went directly to an altar.

  “Whoa,” I said, as I walked along and looked up at the doom-shaped ceiling that had to stretch hundreds of feet high. “How deep are we?”

  “A few hundred feet,” she said, following behind me. She pointed past my shoulder. “See that altar? I need you to go there, alone.”

  I glanced back. Warnings buzzed within my belly. “What is it?”

  Her smile was less comforting than it had been. Now, it was unsettling. I wonder if she sensed my fear, for she touched my cheek with her thumb and my fears dissipated. It was nice, like I’d just downed a glass of red wine.

  “There is nothing to fear or worry about. The altar was brought into existence long before any of us, and it is pure truth. It will never lie, and will never cause harm to those worthy of its presence. It is time to learn what has long been hidden from you. You’re ready.”

  I breathed in, and nodded.

  I was ready.

  “Go, on. Bow before it and return to me once it has released you.”

  I stared at it. It was tall, like a totem pole, with plates that glistened in the dim light of the torches surrounding it. Whatever this magic stuff was, intrigued me. But, there was still a nagging fear in the pit of my stomach. Still, how could I turn around and leave without the truth? I had seen things that shouldn’t exist. I’d done things that I never even dreamed of.

  I was falling for my soulmate.

  I ran my fingers along the raised symbols on the book’s cover. It was cold to the touch, but warmed me from within. Whatever awaited inside that book would change everything, and my heart raced with anticipation.

  “Bow to it?”

  “Yes. Bow,” she called from far behind me.

  Drawing in a cleansing breath, I bent to my knees and lowered my head.

  An inaudible screech ripped through my throat like molten lava. It burned and a rush of electricity surged through my entire body. I was lifted by the ground by some unseen force and my back bent backward as the power poured into me. I struggled to keep my eyes open—to see the white light fly from the book and into my chest.

  I saw it then. I saw myself in a flood of light, holding a sword, winged and beautiful. I could barely recognize myself, but the truth was clear.

  I finally knew my class.

  I was a warrior—a badass one at that.

  The pain ensued. There was nothing to grip, no one to save me, so I forced myself to not let the panic consume me as the pain grew and the light intensified.

  There I was, like a poor soul possessed by a demon, my body contorted and my mouth wide as the light filled me.

  All went quiet.

  I fell to the floor and curled into a ball.

  Everything hurt. My body. My mind. Whatever had just happened left me in tears, sobbing like a baby.

  “Well,” a strange female voice whispered into my ear.

  No—it wasn’t whispered into my ear—it came from inside my head.

  My eyes popped open.

  I’d gone mad.

  “Not mad, love,” the voice purred. “Just awakened.”

  “Who is this? Who’s speaking?”

  “Oh, we’re just your ancestors.”

  “Hello,” another voice, a male one, bellowed.

  My mouth snapped closed.

  You’ve got to be kidding me.

  16

  Rhys sat in a chair in the corner of my room, his legs crossed, eyes fixed on me, his hair falling into his face.

  Lucia wasn’t there. I was starting to think she requested to switch rooms. But, what really vexed me was the fact that after we left the Ancient, I was still glowing.

  And, to make things worse, there were several voices having a chat inside my head.

  “Calm down,” he said. “Everything will mellow out if you simply relax.”

  Stopping, I threw my hands up and turned to him. “You tell that to the voices inside my head!”

  With a frustrated groan, I balled my hands into fists and lowered them to my sides.

  “How do I stop my body from glowing?”

  He stood, and with a sigh, walked over to me.

  He wrapped his hands around my arms and just held them. The warmth of his hands and the smell of his aftershave distracted me.

  I swallowed and looked up to see his green eyes searching my face in a rather pensive manner.

  What was going on inside his mind?

  “Nothing like what’s going on inside yours,” a voice said with a laugh.

  I cringed. “Lord, help me.”

  “Lord, who? Tell us about this lord.”

  Frowning, I tried to ignore them. I turned my focus back to the Rhys who now stood so close to me that our noses could touch.

  “Just breathe,” he whispered, gently running his hands up and down my arms.

  Whatever he was doing was working.

  “Match my breaths with yours.”

  I did as I was told, and I listened to his soft breaths until I could match them with my own.

  Before long, the anxiety that plagued me faded, as did the yellow glow that had made me look like a jaundiced mental patient. Even the voices seemed to quiet.

  All I heard at that moment, was his breaths and the beating of my own heart.

  “See,” he said, taking my hands into his. “If that happens again, just remember to relax.”

  He traced the lines in my palms with his finger and smiled. “I’ve never seen the book do that before. Good to know I was chosen to watch over someone so special.”

  Licking my lips, I tried to process all that happened. It was useless.

  “What now?”

  He brought my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles. A shiver zapped up my spine.

  “Well, the Council of Souls will be here this weekend. The academy holds a massive party whenever they come. They’ll want to meet you.”

  I sighed, but nodded. “I guess I knew I’d have to meet them one day. You know, when I first came here, I just wanted to watch the academy fall? I wanted to hurt those who hurt me.”

  “And, now?”

  I didn’t see judgement in his eyes, and that gave me the confidence to go on.

  “Now, I kinda see what we are trying to do here. There are dark forces that we need to be prepared to fight. I’m a warrior. I want to stand with the light against the darkness.”

  He smiled, and my heart soared. “Good,” he said. “But, first, I teach you how to use and control your magic before you kill us all—light and dark alike.”

  17

  Magic tutoring.

  Now, this was something I could get excited about.

  I could actually feel the power coursing through my body like a cool liquid. Considering how awful it felt to obtain such a power, it now felt nice, like a high.

  I guess I expected it to be like training for a marathon or something, because I showed up to my first session with Rhys the next day after classes in black jogging pants and a t-shirt.

  I was ready.

  Let’s do this!

  He, on the other hand, was dressed like we were going on a date.

  “So,” I said, approaching him as he stood outside of my door.

  With a lopsided grin, he
leaned against the doorframe and looked me up in down.

  “Are we training, or what?”

  “Yes,” he said, nodding. “Follow me.”

  He took me to the training grounds, which were now empty except for a man walking and clearing away practice weapons and gear left from the previous class. Dressed in black slacks and a burgundy sweater with a bow-tie, he sauntered to the center of the field and clasped his hands before him.

  “The first thing you need to know, is that your magic isn’t like most forms of magic. It not only manipulates fire, but there are different disciplines and levels, like like any. But, you are a fluke, a beautiful miracle. You, can control all of the elements.”

  I clapped my hands together. “Great, show me.”

  He grinned. “No, Skylar. You show me.”

  Brows furrowed, my shoulders slumped and I lowered my arms to my sides. “What do you mean? I have no clue what to do.”

  He stepped over, taking my hands into his. He looked down at my hands, tracing the grooves and lines in my palm. "Just feel the magic, Skylar. Let it guide you. Unlock that little box hidden within your soul and set the magic free. Like you did with that vampire.”

  As he spoke, I tapped in, closing my eyes and reaching out to the little whisper that itched within. It awakened, stirring within my belly like a lamp that started dim and burned brighter the more I focused. He was right. The magic did guide me.

  It urged me on like a child on its first attempt at riding a bicycle.

  "That's it, Skylar," a voice inside my head cheered. "Give it a go."

  I ripped my hands away from Rhys', gasping as heat shot down my arms and with a burst of light and crackling of sparks, flames ignited and shot free from my hands. I fell onto my butt, stunned as the flames raged and licked at my fingers.

  Like a storm of rage, they flew from my hands...toward Rhys, who stood there watching me with a bewildered expression on his face.

  "No," I shouted, rolling onto my side to point it in a different direction. Sweat beaded on my forehead, dripping down my nose as I tried to shut it off. I closed my eyes, willing it away.