Academy of Magic Collection

by Angelique S Anderson et al.

  “Girls let’s move unless you want a date with a werewolf’s teeth wrapped around your throat,” said Sylvia.

  “There’s no such thing as werewolves,” said Kyra.

  Kyra glanced behind her then hurried up next to me grabbing my hand. She elbowed me in the side and whispered in my ear. “Do you think they exist? It’s a full moon tonight.”

  “Yes. I heard they do exist and to avoid the woods.” I squeezed her hand and kept counting the twist and turns that we were making as we went deeper into the building. I was grateful that we weren’t outside.

  The underground tunnels were massive. Sylvia didn’t turn on a light or speak again. I suspected that the lack of light was so that we didn’t know where we were. I have a great sense of direction and I was almost sure, if something happened to Sylvia, I could manage to retrace our steps back to our house.

  “I’m so glad we aren’t outside. We are in a building, so we should be safe,” said Kyra.

  Sylvia came to a door and bent down. A green light scrolled across her eyes and the door opened. She held up her finger to us before closing the door behind her. I walked to the door and listened. It was quiet. This city isn’t normally quiet, but I’m not sure if I’m relieved or filled with dread. Creeping to the door, I placed my ear to it.

  “Did Sylvia just leave us,” asked Kyra. She folded her arms across her chest. Her eyes were as large as a flying saucer, but she didn’t move from where she stood.

  “She’s making sure it’s safe. We are the safest in here.” I couldn’t hear anything but I backed away from the door. Looking around I bent down and felt for a weapon on the floor.

  “Kyra help me.” I looked up at her, squinting, trying to read her expression, but we both blended in the dark. There was a little light from underneath the crack in the door.

  “What are you doing? I can’t see.” Kyra stood there watching me.

  “We need to find a weapon just in case things go south on us.” Turning my attention from her lazy behind, I felt something hard and smooth with an oblong shape to hit. Walking towards the door, I held it under the light. Yes. It’s a rock. It wasn’t much but I was grateful for it.

  Kyra walked over to me and bent to down toward the light. “What are you going to do with that?”

  “Do you have a better idea? If we see werewolves, you’re going to wish you had a rock or something that might help save your life.”

  Wham. We backed up from the door. My chest tightened as I closed my fingers around the rock. Turning behind me, I debated if we should run away from the door or stay closer to the door so that we had a chance to escape this building. The door flew open.

  “Let’s go,” said Sylvia. Her black shirt and boots were covered in crimson blood. The right sleeve of her shirt was ripped to pieces and her arm was bleeding. I’m sure she’s trained to fight so if something did that to her what would it do to me? She turned around and I saw them. She had huge black fluffy wings. It was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen, and I stood there mesmerized.

  Peeping at Kyra, she also stood staring at Sylvia’s wings. Everything about tonight was changing everything I thought I knew. I would never be the same after tonight.

  Sylvia rushed over to me and snapped her fingers in my face. “Do you want to die in this building? It is their home and they will be back soon,” said Sylvia.

  We scrambled out of the building, and she shut the door. The wind had picked up and we shivered. We turned the corner, and there was a dead werewolf.

  “That’s a werewolf. Ari, I can’t believe that animal was out here.” Kyra squinted and crept toward it.

  “I wouldn’t get too close because he is not dead just stunned. You had better move unless you want to deal with his foul mood,” said Sylvia. She rushed past the woods.

  Several wolves howled. Glancing toward the woods I heard the ground shake. My stomach dropped and the urge to urinate overwhelmed me.

  “Run. They’re coming and it’s too many of them,” said Sylvia. She took off running and I followed behind her. The street was empty and the streetlights were out. Every bulb was crushed and pieces of broken glass was scattered everywhere. Hopping over the side of a red car, I landed on something jagged. Pain shot up through my foot and I fell.

  “Ari get up. The werewolves are coming.” Kyra yanked me to my feet and I limped forward trying to catch up with Sylvia. Something sharp nipped my leg and I fell. My head cracked against the concrete sidewalk and darkness closed in.

  Chapter Eleven

  Trevor

  I can’t believe Kyra came to meet me late at night alone. I’m blown away that she allowed me to touch her. I’d be lying if I said sex wasn’t on my mind. There’s something about her that beckons me to her.

  Is it the same thing that drew you to Lily or do you even remember her? I wish Valcrum would let her see what you’re up too. I wonder how long it would take her to fall out of love with you.

  Victoria, get out of my head. I need you to sit back and watch the show. It would be too much to have you help me. Lily is lost to me right now. Everything I do, I do for her, and she’ll understand one day. What happens on Earth stays on Earth. This infiltration of earth hasn’t been smooth but I’m starting to enjoy myself. Kyra has made it more than tolerable. I’m excited to see my plans unfolding so quickly.

  Baby, you’re cheating on me. This thing you have going on with Kyra needs to end. It’s disrespectful and hurtful. You stop dealing with her and I will help you with getting the information you seek.

  Victoria, you’ve let me down before when I needed you. I don’t trust you so go away if you can’t stand to see Kyra and me working. Walking over to the window I glanced outside. My mouth watered for a cigarette. Looking around, I patted my empty pockets. Living with forty demons cramped up like roaches, wasn’t the ideal situation, especially when we all smoke. Are those werewolves howling?

  Both of you rolling around naked on that sweated out dog-like pallet you have on the floor is not working. I realize you have low standards when it comes to women, which is why you’re afraid of me.

  “I can’t believe she told you she’s an angel. When are we going to kill her,” asked Ted? He lounged in the chair eating a piece of raw deer meat. The blood dripped down his chin as he devoured the meat.

  Ted always wanted to kill people. He didn’t have any patience and often killed for no reason. He grabbed a chair and sat down. He was relaxed but he wasn’t trying to show his nervousness. He’s been asking a lot of questions and wanting more of a role. I’m going to give him a chance to prove his worth.

  “Where are my cigarettes? If you have smoked the last one, you’ll be buying another pack.” My eyes narrowed at Ted as he tried to avoid my stare.

  “Fred smoked the last one, so he went to the store. At the rate we all smoke cigarettes, we’ll have to get jobs just to buy cigarettes and booze. I’m tired of animal blood, when can we move to humans, and stay transformed longer,” asked Ted.

  “Kyra is off-limits. No one touches her but me.” Running my hands through my hair, I looked out of the window.

  This place has been great to hide out, but it won’t do. I refuse to live like a peasant when I’m a king. I’ve never been ashamed of anything I do, but having Kyra come to this place was an embarrassment. The fact that she doesn’t look down on me for it just makes me cherish her more. When we go all the way, and we will, she will lay on the finest silk this place has to offer. This is perfect timing because I need to be closer to the academy anyway, so we can live near there.

  I sent them to follow her home so that I’m sure she made it. Leaving at night is dangerous, especially for an angel who hasn’t come into her power. Why am I worried? There’s nothing that prowls these streets more dangerous than me.

  The front door opened. A gust of wind swept through the living room. I needed the wind to cool me down. I’m very hot and the flashback of my hands touching Kyra is the cause. It took all of me, to let her leave me tonight.
I’ve never been someone who believed in self-denial, and when I want something, I take it.

  “You can’t be serious about this girl. She is annoying and self-centered,” said Dylan. He handed me the pack of cigarettes after stuffing one in his mouth.

  “She’ll tell me everything I want to know in time. I know that she and her sister are angels at the Academy of Eastwick. They are heading there tonight. I need eyes on the inside and she’s going to be my flunky.”

  Dylan smiled. “You like her. We get it. I just don’t want you to lose sight of why we’re here. This place sucks and we don’t want to stay here. We need to take our rightful place in Xundar.”

  “I will never lose sight of why we’re here. She is a part of the plan. I’m beginning to think you guys just need to find some women while you’re here, and I know where to get them.”

  “Um, you picked Kyra. Please don’t do me any favors,” said Vihaan Patel. He glanced at Ted and scrunched up his face.

  My men are so superficial. I am too, so I’m sure it’s not a bad thing.

  You still didn’t learn your lesson. You are on Earth because you’re prideful, so it is a terrible flaw that might cost you your life.

  Victoria, you almost cost me my life. Twice. If you had helped me, then I would not have met Kyra because I would still be in Xundar instead of Earth, but you played me. You watched and allowed Valcrum, to throw me from the sky.

  I’m not a mind reader. If you wanted my help you should’ve asked me. Your actions haven’t shown me that I should help you. In a blink of an eye, you are already cheating on me. If you treat people how you want them to treat you, you might get help.

  “He means angels. Guys, do you really want to stay on this ugly, depressing planet where sex is banned. I don’t know about you but my idea of sex doesn’t involve a test tube,” said Dylan. He cracked open a beer and leaned back on the musty couch.

  “I’m sure we can get an angel that meets our own taste. I have very specific taste, and I won’t compromise,” said Akihiko.

  “I don’t understand why we’re dating angels, because we’re not angels. We’re demons, so we should kill them,” said Fred.

  “We can’t kill angels directly. We can kill them and make them pay for kicking us out of Xundar, but we must do it this way. We can taint the bloodline, which will destroy angels as well.”

  “It’s forbidden for angels to soil their bloodline and can result in death,” said Fred.

  “That’s what we want. We aren’t trying to save the angles this is war,” said Akihiko.

  “What is the difference between us killing Kyra and you doing it? She’s going to die anyway,” asked Ted.

  “We don’t follow the laws of Valcrum, so we can take anyone we want as our mate, even an angle. Kyra doesn’t have to die, unless Trevor deems her unworthy to be his mate,” said Dylan.

  Tell them. I wonder how many of them would still look up to you knowing that you have fallen for that conceited, wimpy, spoiled brat.

  Victoria, your jealousy is tiring. You are used to getting everything you want, so she is no different from you. Flickering the lighter three times, the flame cast an orange glow in the dark house.

  You can threaten them, but you can’t threaten me. You should know that if you choose her. I will kill her myself.

  Victoria, do whatever you think you can. One way or another, I will have my revenge. It’s my destiny.

  “I grow tired of this decaying body. Let’s go hunting.” Smiling I head through the front door. Cracking my neck, I watched them rush out of the building. The night air and fresh human blood would do all of us some good. Besides, anyone out this late at night deserved a date with death. If I’m lucky maybe I could find my own gecko. I’ve never had a pet and I miss Joe.

  My love, you are not the scariest thing on Earth. Be careful hunting at night. Whatever you do don’t go into the woods.

  “I call the first human we see,” said Ted. He cracked his fingers and pushed Dylan.

  “You can call all you want but I play for keeps,” said Jake. He sprinted ahead of Ted and laughed.

  “Let’s go hunting.” Turning to them, I pointed to the woods. Running at full speed I broke through the trees. Hopping over the jagged rocks, I rushed into the thick of the woods. Out of the corner of my eyes, I spotted Fred heading down the other path. The ground shook under their heavy steps.

  The fog was thicker as we went deeper into the woods. I couldn’t see much but my other senses were heightened. I walked so that I wouldn’t scare my prey. A deer was in the distance nibbling something off the ground. I slowly crept toward it. Its ears raised as it looked back before bending its head to the ground. A blur of silver pepper mangy fur flashed by scooping the deer in its mouth and vanishing through the fog.

  What the heck was that? Hopping up grabbing the nearest tree branch, I quickly climbed the tree. Where is it? The smell of fresh blood was in the air.

  I told you love, but you didn’t listen. Out of all the places to hunt, I told you to avoid the woods. I’m afraid it’s too late.

  Whistling, I called my men. Most of my men came quick. Each of them climbed the trees and looked out into the foggy night.

  “What’s up. Did you see something,” asked Dylan? He looked around then back to the guys.

  “There are werewolves here. I just saw one grab a deer and vanish in the fog.”

  “Werewolves are extinct. Valcrum destroyed them and the ones he didn’t no longer live in Xundar,” said Fred.

  “What could the humans have done that would make Valcrum turn such a creature loose on the Earth. The werewolves are a problem and I don’t want to face one,” said Jake

  “Where are the others?” I lifted my face to the wind but I didn’t smell them near. This night of fun had turned deadly.

  “They could already be dead. We’re no match for werewolves no one is. We should leave now while it’s still eating,” said Fred.

  Fred White was a coward. His chicken-livered butt had gotten on my nerves. He doesn’t know the meaning of courage, faithfulness or anything else. He would slit our throats to save his own. I’m not sparing him again.

  I grabbed Fred by the throat and continued to squeeze the life out of him. His fingers clawed at my hand like a girl begging for freedom. He was despicable.

  “You don’t deserve to live. You are a coward who’s afraid to die, so I’m sparing you a life of worry. You’ll die now!” His eye started bulging out of their sockets.

  My love, I’ve had a vision. He will be useful if you don’t kill him. If you do your goal will take longer to achieve.

  I felt Fred’s muscles go slack. His eyes had closed and his hand had fallen to his side. I threw him on the ground.

  “We’re going to find the others. Keep your eyes peeled and watch each other’s back.”

  I hopped down on the grown. My anger clouded my vision as I stalked through the woods daring the werewolves to touch my men. I’m ready to fight to the death and they had better be too.

  “Spread out in threes. We’ll meet at the edge where we met the girls, and if you need help signal for us,” said Dylan. He hopped down and signaled for Jake to follow him.

  Three hours passed, and we hadn’t found the rest of the guys. Walking to the edge of the woods, where we met Kyra we meet up with the men.

  “I heard from the guys. They rode with their prey and after scoping out their home killed them in it. They are meeting us back at the house, so we can all go to the house together,” said Winston.

  “I’m glad that they are safe but why didn’t they call me?” Am I the only one with common sense? They should know to call me but they will remember when I’m done with them.

  “I tried calling you as soon as I got the call, a few minutes ago, and I got your voicemail. Phil said your phone is going to voicemail,” said Winston.

  “I always have my phone with me. I didn’t hear it ring.” Frowning, I patted my pockets. I don’t have my phone. I always have my
phone. Oh yeah, I tossed my phone against the wall when Kyra laid down on the pallet and placed her hand over my heart. My body’s heating up just thinking about it.

  “I must have left my phone at the house. Let’s get out of here.” Dylan’s laughter made me grit my teeth. Tonight, was magical and informative. I’m allowed to leave my phone at the house, but it won’t happen again. Seeing Kyra offer herself to me and accept me as I was, stripped me to the core.

  Baby, she’s going to be your downfall. I’m the only woman that you’ll ever need. You can trust me. I warned you about hunting in the woods and saved you from making a big mistake with killing Fred.

  Victoria had warned me. She still wasn’t off the hook from allowing Valcrum to make me look like a fool in Xundar. It may kill me, but I could try to be a bit nicer to her.

  Baby give me a chance. I promise you; you won’t regret it.

  I’m already regretting it. Your desperation is ugly. I might like you more if you allow me to chase you for once instead of chasing me.

  I don’t want you to like me. You need you to love me. We have all eternity to fall hopelessly in love with me, and I to tolerate you.

  “Good. I thought the werewolves had gotten to them,” said Jake. He rubbed his head and walked ahead.

  “They have eaten but we haven’t. I don’t want to be stuck in this body much longer, this guy really abused drugs bad and even running is hard,” said Ted.

  “They say the house is in a city called Alphaville, and it’s real nice there. The city is populated, so we’ll have to be careful, but we can do that and not live in a dump,” said Winston.

  Fred smiled and took off running. He broke through the trees at full speed.

  Lifting my face to breeze, I smelled jasmine and lilies. He’s hunting a woman. If anyone deserved to starve, he should.

  “Ted, you going to let Fred get the hunt over you?” I watched Ted take off in the other direction trying to sneak up on Fred and the girl.

  “I’m surprised you didn’t kill Fred. I know you hate cowards,” said Dylan.