I blinked at her. “You would?” I asked. “But Professor Ubel’s power is close to mine, doesn’t that—”
“It isn’t and that has nothing to do with who can teach you. I may not be proficient in counter-magic, but I know enough not to have you performing spells on mimics!” she blustered.
“Um, Professor Singh, just out of curiosity, why shouldn’t I be performing spells on mimics?”
“They are the gentlest creatures on the planet! They are playful and lovely! Forcing them to turn into vampires and werewolves and other supernaturals… so unethical! And then to use the siphon on them!” She huffed and shook her head.
“I’m sorry, Professor, I didn’t know,” I said meekly, my eyes filling with tears. “I would never hurt them if I’d known.”
Professor Singh nodded her head and patted my shoulder. “It is quite all right, Miss Welch. I will see to it that he releases his hold on them and frees them. And if you wish to continue on as his student—”
“Um, no. No, I don’t think I do, Professor. I… I think he’s… well, he’s not been the same since before Christmas. I think it’s that woman. During our sessions he’s become… well I don’t know, just not the same.”
She nodded. “Well, I’ll take care of the mimics and we’ll arrange a time for us to work together.”
I brushed the tears from my cheeks and smiled. “Thank you, Professor.”
“Bethany! Thank god!”
I turned to see James rushing toward me and gasped as he threw his arms around me. “James! What’s happened?”
Chapter 26
Bethany
James’ hug was tight and he was starting to crush me with his vampiric strength. His heart was racing in his chest and I could feel it through the hug he was giving me. He still hadn’t said anything, so I said, “James, you’re crushing me.”
He immediately let me go. “Sorry,” he murmured. “Just really glad to see you and that you are really you and not her.”
I frowned and gave him a curious look. “What?”
“Mr. Barrett, what on Earth are you doing? Why aren’t you in class?” Professor Singh interjected, drawing out the ‘mister’.
“Sorry, Professor Singh. I promise I’m not attacking Bethany, I’m not under whatever spell is causing vampires to lose their minds. I had to find Bethany because… well, I was attacked.”
“What!” I exclaimed, suddenly searching him for injuries.
“Not by a student, at least I don’t think she was a student. She looked like you. But she wasn’t you, obviously. She got into my head and tried to get me to kill you. You-you, not her you. She was using your voice and saying all kinds of hateful things, but once twilight hit, I was able to push her out of my head. Unfortunately, she ran and I lost her in the hallway.”
Professor Singh frowned. “I imagine it was the same woman who attacked Bethany.”
“She attacked you?” James reached for me, I assumed to look me over for injuries just as I had with him.
I smiled. “I’m fine. I forced her out of my head too.”
James arched a brow. “How did you do that?”
“It’s a long story, but Professor Ubel taught me a siphon spell. I used it and was able to basically disable what she was doing. Professor Singh and I think we can use it to remove the ‘curse’ from those who were affected.”
James grinned. “That’s great. But do you know who the woman is that attacked you?”
I shook my head. “Not really. I know she’s friendly with Professor Ubel. He’s besotted with her. She was that woman in red at the New Year’s Eve dance.”
“That’s where I smelled her scent!”
I nodded. “How did you manage to lose her in the hallway?”
“I suspect she used a disappearing spell,” Professor Singh answered. “Most Shadow Society witches are quite proficient in that sort of spell. I’m afraid we have another operative for them on our hands. They just will not be happy until they have dismantled this school, one student at a time.” She sighed.
James looked at her and then at me. “Did you tell her we suspect the Shadow Society?”
I shook my head. “No.”
“I am well aware of the Shadow Society, I am not living under a rock,” she smirked. “You children always think you know everything or at least that we adults are clueless. I assure you, we aren’t. At least I’m not.” She smiled for a moment and then the expression faded and she sighed. “It is our fear that they will not be happy until they have completely destroyed the trust we’ve built between vampires and witches.”
“Our? Professor are you talking about the Dusk Knights?” James asked. “Are you working with them to find the person behind this?”
Chapter 27
James
I studied Professor Singh and I half thought she was going to say ‘no’, but she just sighed.
“Follow me.” She gestured for us to go with her as she moved past the clock tower in the opposite direction of the school.
I took Bethany’s hand and felt relieved that she was there with me. I had been so afraid that the woman had hurt her before taking over her appearance and apparently she had tried, but thankfully she hadn’t been successful.
Professor Singh led us to the edge of a field and then the air shimmered as she reached forward. “Well, don’t just stand there with your mouths open. Hurry up.” She held open the ward, revealing a building to us.
We quickly went through and she followed behind, dropping her hand from the ward. Looking back the way we came, it was as though looking through a mist, but we could clearly see the school and the grounds around the school. To our right, we could see the forest area students cut through to reach town.
“Professor, how much land has been warded around here?” I asked incredulous.
She smiled. “A great deal. It allows us to patrol without being seen by students or others, but allows us to see everything going on, as well as see who is coming and going, and I will not reprimand the two of you for returning to the grounds together the other day.” She grinned.
I felt my cool cheeks heat at her words. “What is this place?”
“I’m going to guess it’s the Dusk Knight Headquarters,” Bethany commented.
“Correct, Miss Welch, and we’ll come here when we get to that tutoring we discussed.” Professor Singh unlocked the door with a code and ushered us in. “Have a seat, Miss Welch, Mr. Barrett.”
Bethany and I chose seats next to each other at the corner of the huge, wooden, oblong table. Professor Singh took a seat on the opposite side, so she could face us. “Now. The woman’s name is Sara De Abrew. She is, as far as we can discover, a witch of a middling degree of power. We believe she is the operative for the Shadow Society and it is my belief that she has corrupted Professor Ubel with her mind tricks.”
“Is that what is wrong with him,” Bethany asked softly.
“We think so, but of course that is only a theory. We, the Dusk Knights, I mean, have been set with the task of protecting not only the students and this school but also other valuable things like the actual treaty papers. The two of you have become something of a thorn in the side of the Shadow Society.” She smiled, a twinkle in her eye, and then she sighed. “Unfortunately, that also makes you targets.”
I nodded. “Is there something we can do, Professor? Something to help the Dusk Knights?”
“You both are trusted by the Librarian. They have done their best to protect you when you’ve needed it.” She looked at Bethany. “Sending the chupacabra to help you,” then she turned her gaze on James, “and turning day to night for you.”
Bethany drew in a breath. “So we are right? The Librarian is the Ancient One.”
“Such a clever girl you are,” Professor Singh murmured. “Anyway, having the Librarian’s trust is a great honor. I know that their trust is well placed and that you two will go on to do great things. By continuing to cooperate with the Dusk Knights, and bringing things to me, shari
ng your discoveries with us, I know that will help. As will the bond the two of you share. And those things, along with your power, Bethany, we will succeed in—”
Professor Singh was interrupted by loud clanging bells all over campus. She stood and looked to a door on the opposite side of the room as it burst open.
Chapter 28
Bethany
I gasped as fifteen muscular Dusk Knights filed into the room. “What’s going on?” I murmured to James.
“I don’t know,” he whispered back.
“Professor Singh! It’s the vampires, they’ve… they are all turning and attacking the witches on campus, we must go stop them!”
“Non-lethal means, Captain. We don’t want to injure them, they are not doing this of their own volition.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He saluted. “We shall do our best.”
“You two, go to Bethany’s dorm room, it’s warded, you’ll be safe there.” Professor Singh moved toward the door. “And for goodness’ sakes, be careful. Do not engage any of the vampires.”
“But if I can help them—” I started.
Professor Singh shook her head. “No, Bethany, not until I’ve had a chance to see you use that particular skill and I know it’s safe.”
I frowned. “Okay, Professor, I’ll do my best not to engage any of them.”
James took my hand and we moved through the ward, which now recognized our energy signatures, and onto the grounds to see the Dusk Knights moving in on a group of vampires who were targeting a young witch. I shook my head, wanting to help, but knowing I shouldn’t.
I sighed and James looked over at me.
“I know, but Professor Singh is right. Don’t use that spell until she checks it out. If Professor Ubel is corrupted, we don’t know if it’s a good idea to use what he taught you.”
I nodded. “I know, I just don’t want anyone hurt,” I said softly as we moved past the clock tower.
James paused, holding me still against the building with his hand as a band of three Strigois passed. He was practically sheltering me from them, hovering over me as if masking my scent from them. Once they were gone, he took my hand again and led me from tree to tree and then said, “Okay, on my count I’ll run for the doors. You climb on my back, we’ll be faster that way.”
I nodded, recalling the last time I’d ridden on his back as we’d chased Professor Chalcedony down the hall. “Okay,” I breathed and then climbed on his back. He held my thighs and I wrapped my feet around his middle, locking them at his waist. “Ready.”
“One,” he said softly, “two… three!” He took off for the doors.
Everything was a blur of motion, streaks of colors and bodies. We reached the door before I had even counted to five. He pulled open the door and then set me on my feet. Backing me against the wall, he covered me once again, watching a gang of Draugr rip through the school commons room and then move off down the hall.
“Well, there goes the furniture again,” I snickered.
James snorted and looked at me with twinkling eyes. “Come on, stay close.”
He tugged me down the hall and up the stairs. We moved through two hallways and then, he stopped short.
I looked over his shoulder to see why he stopped. “Oh my god! Noor!” I dropped his hand and started toward her.
“No! Don’t, Bethany, she’s not herself,” James said, trying to keep me from going toward her.
“She’s got Helen, I have to stop her,” I said softly, trying to move around him.
He tugged my arm keeping me from getting to her. “Bethany, stop, let me. I’ll get her to leave Helen alone. Trust me.”
I met his eyes and could see him pleading with me to allow him to do this and not to put myself in her path. Finally I nodded. “Hurry.”
Chapter 29
James
Using my vampiric speed, we reached the door in under five seconds. I wanted Bethany safe, and her being out in the courtyard with all of these vampires lost in their heads, just was not safe. I needed to get her behind her warded door as quickly as possible. I pulled open the door and set her on her feet. I moved her against the wall and sheltered her again as I smelled a group of vampires coming, Draugr by the scent. They were the biggest, meanest, most out of control of the vampires. They were known as berserkers for a reason. I couldn’t be sure that they were in this frenzy mode, but I didn’t want to chance it. I drew in a breath as they came into my vision. I watched them tear apart the furniture in the front common room as if it were paper.
“Well, there goes the furniture again,” Bethany commented with a soft giggle.
I snorted and met her gaze, feeling a grin touch my lips. “Come on, stay close.”
I gripped her hand in mine and tugged her down the hall, keeping my senses open for any more vampires in this direction. As we mounted the stairs, I caught the sense of another vampire, but I knew we needed to keep moving forward. The problem was, the vampire was right next to Bethany’s dorm room and she had her teeth sunk in Helen’s neck.
“Oh my god! Noor!” Bethany dropped my hand and started toward her.
I reached for her, grabbing her arm. “No! Don’t, Bethany, she’s not herself,” I said. I had to keep her from getting hurt.
“She’s got Helen, I have to stop her.” Bethany’s voice was almost air as she spoke, trying to move around me.
I tugged on her arm, pulling her closer to me. I had to keep her from Noor. “Bethany, stop, let me. I’ll get her to leave Helen alone. Trust me.”
She looked up, meeting my eyes and I put everything I had into convincing her to trust me. I couldn’t allow her to get hurt. I couldn’t allow her to engage Noor.
Finally she nodded, biting her lip. “Hurry.”
I swallowed hard before looking up and down the hallway to make sure there weren’t any other vampires anywhere near us. I moved closer to Noor and reached out to her, pulling on her long braid. She released her teeth from Helen’s neck and turned on me, hissing.
Helen looked completely out of it, but I could see her wound starting to close, so I knew her body was trying to heal itself, even if she wasn’t aware. As Noor came at me, Helen dropped to the floor, her eyes closed and I feared she’d passed out.
I felt Bethany come up behind me and I swore as Noor took notice of her. As if she’d realized her actual target was in front of her, Noor reached out with sharp claws toward Bethany. I grappled with her, trying to keep her from getting to Bethany, but not actually hurt her. A difficult task at that moment. My fingers dug into her sides as I gripped her and forced her back against the wall.
Noor wasn’t a lightweight, she was a fairly strong vampire herself and she pushed me from her, before moving once more toward Bethany. Bethany backed up until her back hit the wall. I shoved myself from the floor and tackled Noor, slamming her into the opposite wall. As I held her there, she scratched and clawed at me. Snapping at me with her teeth, her eyes completely solid black. I could tell she wasn’t in control of herself at all. Something was causing this curse on her.
I had no idea what to do. I couldn’t stand there and hold her off forever, eventually my power would wear off. Not until sunrise, but still. Her claws dug into my side and I growled at her, hissing in her face.
I glanced over at Bethany and noticed her making movements with her fingers in a weird position. “What are you doing?”
“I can’t just stand here and do nothing!” she exclaimed. “I’m going to try and undo whatever spell is on her. Just hold her for a minute.”
“I’m trying! She’s not exactly easy to hold if you haven’t noticed,” I muttered.
Bethany’s fingers began to glow as magic flowed through the air. I had always been able to see magic while it was being worked, and Bethany’s was quite beautiful in motion.
Noor screamed and shook her head in a frenzied manner and screeched in a high keening wail as Bethany aimed the magic at her. She raked her claws down my arms to my hands and pulled my grip off of her. She
picked me up and flung me at Bethany, knocking us both to the floor and disrupting the magic.
“Damn!” I cussed, shoving myself up and grabbing Bethany as Noor charged toward us.
I carried her as I raced down the stairs, calling her name as I went. “Bethany… Bethany!” I shook my head. I couldn’t stop, Noor was just a breath away from us. “Bethany, wake up!”
She began to stir in my arms and I sighed in relief even as I continued to run. Noor was still on my tail, chasing after me, not even breaking to go after Merriwick who was charging up the stairs as we flew down them.
“What?” Bethany murmured.
“Just running for our lives, beautiful, nothing new,” I commented bursting through the front doors to lead Noor to the Dusk Knights who I prayed would be able to take her down without hurting her.
I glanced over my shoulder to see Noor being followed by three more vampires, who also seemed to be in a frenzied state. “Oh hell!” I turned my head forward again and began to zigzag, hoping to lose them.
As soon as the Dusk Knights saw us, they charged Noor and the rest of the vampires who had been after us and I headed for the clock tower, where I thought we’d be reasonably safe. I mounted the stairs with a still woozy Bethany in my arms. When we reached the top, I set Bethany down and checked her pulse.
She blinked at me, as if she was still dazed.
“Bethany, can you hear me?” I asked quietly.
“Mmmm.” She nodded. “Oh…” She grabbed her head and moaned. “What happened?”
“Noor. She didn’t like you trying to undo the spell and threw me into you. I think you hit your head pretty hard, both on the wall and the floor. I can feel a couple of knots forming here,” I lightly touched the spot just above her right ear, “and here.” I found the knot on the back of her head and barely grazed.
“Ack! Yeah, that hurts,” she breathed.
A Witch's Immunity (Supernatural Academy Book 3) Page 13
