Trial By Nightmare (Academy of Broken Dreams Book 2)

by Rose Alexander

  “Mr. Poe, I have a question,” I ask as class is ending.

  “Yes, Whisper?” he responds.

  “How are we going to learn to shift if we don’t have a Caballine teacher anymore?” I ask, my voice barely registering.

  “Mrs. Bradbury is more than capable of teaching you to shift if they allow you to use the shifting grounds, that is,” he looks at me, his eyes full of pity. “You’re a fast learner, and I have every confidence that you will persevere.”

  I seclude myself to my room for the rest of the afternoon. I decide to text Aunt Nellie and let her know what’s happening here. I don’t want to call her, because I’m afraid of breaking down.

  Me: Hey, just checking in. The new headmaster is changing things already. Dissidents have to eat leftovers after the other houses are done.

  AuntieN: I’m so sorry Whisper. Things look to be changing here as well. I don’t have specifics yet, but I’ll keep you posted. Let me know if anything else changes.

  Me: I will. Love you Aunt Nellie.

  AuntieN: Love you too.

  I lay around until it’s finally time for us to eat. The meal presented is nothing more than the cold leftovers the other students didn’t want. I turn my nose up at it, but eat it regardless, still not up to talking. These changes are so wrong. I can’t believe they would do this to people.

  When we finish eating, Sam grabs my hand as we exit the dining room and teleports us to a blanket sat outside the training grounds. The sky is clear, but the cold is biting.

  “Hurry up and get under this blanket,” he chuckles, lifting up the blanket to show that there’s another one under it.

  I crawl in next to him as he wraps the blanket around us and we lay back and look up at the sky.

  “Do you think this is how the stars looked when they created the pocket universe?” I ask.

  “What do you mean?” he gives me a puzzled look.

  “Are we seeing the stars like they are frozen in time from the past, or are we seeing what the sky looks like above Kansas right now?” I ask again, trying to articulate my thoughts.

  “That’s a good question. We would have to look at both to tell for sure, but I don’t know if I want to risk the wrath of the new headmaster if we get caught,” he admits.

  “Then let’s just enjoy this beautiful sky while we can,” I giggle as I snuggle in closer.

  Chapter 13

  I sleep through breakfast the next morning, not caring enough to get up for the paltry scraps they serve us. By lunch time, I’m starving when there’s a knock on my door.

  I answer it to find Korbin, Max, and Finn standing there holding baskets.

  “What’s all this?” I ask as I step aside to let them in.

  “We heard they weren’t feeding you ladies very well and thought we would remedy that,” Max grins.

  “Don’t worry; we called Sam and Ryland too,” Finn adds.

  “Korbin!” Lydia screeches when she walks in, returning from the bathroom.

  “I’ve missed you too, little bit,” he chuckles, wrapping my tiny friend in his arms.

  The guys begin unloading the baskets full of bread, roast, veggies, and fruit.

  “Did you raid the kitchen?” I ask, my eyes wide as I look over the food.

  “No, I had my mother bring the roast,” Finn says. “I told her I was trying to impress an intelligent girl.”

  “I ordered the rest to be delivered,” Max shrugs.

  “My mouth is watering,” Lydia hops from foot to foot.

  There’s another knock at the door and Lydia bolts to open it, letting Sam and Ryland in.

  “It took you long enough to get here. Can we eat now?” she asks, eyeing the food.

  Max chuckles as they work together to serve the food on plates and pass them out. We eat until we are stuffed, with food still left over.

  “You guys can keep the leftovers,” Max suggests.

  “We don’t have a fridge,” I point out.

  “Well, I’ll keep them in my room, and you call if you want any,” he grins.

  “Does that include us?” Sam asks, raising an eyebrow.

  “Sure, man. Can’t have Whisper mad because one of her boy toys is starving,” Max winks at me.

  I roll my eyes but still smile. Max is being kind, which I never expected to happen.

  After Finn, Max, and Korbin leave to go back to their classes, the rest of us gather around my laptop and watch a movie. I should really ask Aunt Nellie about getting a TV with this many people.

  Dinner rolls around but we skip it, still full from our amazing lunch, then it’s time report to our first class.

  As we step in, we notice the classroom is already full of first and second year students. How are we all supposed to learn grouped together like this?

  “Hello class,” Mrs. Bradbury says as she steps through the door. “I know this is all confusing and a bit scary, but we will make it work. We’ve split you into two classes. First and second years in one and third through fifth in the other.”

  “Are you teaching all of our classes?” Ryland asks.

  “No. Mr. Wells and I will switch back and forth to teach you different subjects. I will teach Teleportation, Mind Control, and English, while Mr. Wells will teach History, Government, and Math,” she explains.

  “What about our house specific classes?” Lydia asks.

  “We are still trying to figure that out. I of course, will work with the Cabilline powers, and Mr. Wells will work with the Empyrean powers, but we don’t have a Fury at this time. We are hoping the fifth years can help the younger students,” she answers calmly. “Now let’s get started.”

  She splits the class in half, putting the first years on the left, and the second years on the right. We spend the evening slowly working through how classes are going to work. I’m yawning by the time classes are dismissed, at nearly midnight.

  “This is going to take some getting used to,” I say as Lydia and I return back to our room.

  “It’s bullshit. But at least our teachers are trying to make it work,” she replies as we get ready for bed.

  I drift off to sleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

  The next morning I wake up to knocking on the door. I check the time on my phone and it’s not even seven yet. What the hell is going on?

  I crawl out of bed and open the door to come face to face with Alfred.

  “Excuse me for the early awakening Miss. Lawrence. Headmaster Kenworthy requests your presence in his office immediately,” Alfred says.

  “Can I get dressed first?” I ask.

  “Hurry please. I’ll wait here,” he replies.

  I close the door and quickly pull my uniform out of my closet. I slip on the long, black Victorian style dress then quickly try to tame my hair with my fingers. Giving up, I find a ponytail holder and pull it back so I look at least somewhat presentable.

  “What’s going on?” Lydia mumbles from beneath her covers.

  “Not really sure. Alfred just came and said I have to go to the headmaster’s office,” I reply. “Go back to sleep. I’ll fill you in when I get back.”

  She mumbles something incoherent as I walk out the door.

  “Are you ready, Miss. Lawrence?” Alfred asks, extending his arm to me.

  “I guess so,” I reply, looking him over. Why does he suddenly need to escort me to the office?

  “I apologize for the intrusion. The headmaster insisted I deliver you personally,” he gives me an apologetic look when I don’t take his arm right away.

  “Let’s do this then,” I sigh and grab his arm.

  He teleports us outside of the red door leading to the headmaster’s office. It doesn’t seem right, anyone but Gandore occupying this space. Alfred knocks on the door until a high-pitched, nasally voice tells us to enter.

  Alfred opens the door and gestures for me to step in before him. I enter, and try to hide my look of surprise when Praesidium Coventry is sitting across from Headmaster Kenworthy.

/>   “You’re dismissed,” Kenworthy gestures at Alfred, though his eyes are glued to me.

  A shiver runs down my spine as both men size me up.

  “Miss Lawrence, your reputation precedes you. Tell me are the whispers true?” Coventry asks, his gaze now coating me like an oily sludge.

  “I can’t answer that without knowing what the whispers are,” I reply.

  “Don’t play coy, Miss Lawrence. We both know what I’m talking about. Although I have a hard time believing,” his lip curls in a snide grin.

  “Why don’t we just test her to find out if it’s true,” Kenworthy suggests, an evil grin spreading across his face.

  “Proceed,” Coventry replies, steepling his fingers together.

  As Kenworthy brings the throne into view, Ezra’s earlier warning plays through my mind. Coventry is evaluating whether I’m worth collecting or not.

  I wish I could alter the results of this throne, make it so he wouldn’t be interested in me, but I’m not that lucky. I drag my feet as I approach the throne then sit as I flashback to my first night stepping into the office.

  This time the throne heats up, almost scalding hot immediately. Just as I’m about to jump off of the seat, unable to take the intensity any longer, it reverses and goes ice cold. Ice crystals start to form on my skin. The reactions are way worse than I remember. Maybe it’s because of my jewelry? It oscillates between the two extremes before finally returning to normal. I let out a sigh of relief as it ends.

  “So it is true. A one of a kind Nightmare who holds all of the powers,” Coventry says, looking at me as if I’m a prize to be won.

  “That’s what they tell me,” I reply, trying not to shrink under his gaze.

  “You’re dismissed, Miss Lawrence. If we need anything further, we will be in touch,” Coventry waves me off.

  I stand up and jet out of the office, teleporting back to my room before they can change their minds. Lydia is still asleep when I return, but I can’t wait for her to wake up. I throw a pillow at her to get her attention.

  “What did you do that for?” she asks, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

  “I’m back and I need to tell you about what happened. Maybe I’m just being paranoid,” I explain.

  “Ok, hit me,” she says as she sits up on the side of the bed.

  I explain everything from Ezra’s warning, to what just happened in the office as she quietly listens.

  “I don’t think you’re being paranoid at all,” she says quietly when I finish.

  “But what is his game plan? I’m just a kid who can do a little bit more as far as he knows,” I ask.

  “You better not let anyone else know about the you know whats,” she replies, her eyes widening as she points to her head. She’s right. They can’t find out about my memories the stone gave me.

  “Hopefully no one else says anything,” I chew on my bottom lip as I worry. “Since we’re up, we may as well go get breakfast.”

  “Sounds like a plan. I won’t be able to go back to sleep now,” she says as she jumps off the bed.

  While I wait for her to get dressed, I send a quick text to Aunt Nellie.

  Me: They separated us from classes now. We have to study in the evenings with only Dissident teachers.

  AuntieN: I’m so sorry you had to enter our world when it’s in such turmoil. I’ll check with Ben when he gets home and see if he learned anything.

  Me: Thank you. I don’t think it can get much worse here, to be honest.

  When Lydia is ready we go eat the meager scraps they call a meal for us sevenths. When we return back to our room, Alfred appears in the hallway in front of us.

  “I’m terribly sorry to do this to you Miss Lawrence, but I must ask you to pack all of your things. You are being relocated immediately,” he says, refusing to meet my eyes.

  “Why? Am I being kicked out of the academy?” I ask, my mind working through every worst case scenario it can come up with.

  “Not at all. But by order of the Praesidium you are being moved to private quarters near where the teachers reside. He feels you are a valuable resource and need to be safeguarded,” Alfred says, a muscle in his jaw ticking.

  “I don’t have a choice in the matter, do I?” I ask.

  “I’m afraid not. I’m not here to question orders, just to follow them,” he replies.

  “I’m sorry that you have to do this,” Lydia tells Alfred.

  His eyes widen in shock at her empathy. We don’t pay much attention to this older gentleman, but maybe we should.

  “I’m sorry too, Alfred. It must not be much fun carrying out other people's dirty work,” I sigh as I open the door to our room.

  Lydia helps me pack my things then Alfred helps me transport them to my new room. It’s larger than the one I shared with Lydia, but the extra space is disturbing. I don’t want to be alone. I loved sharing a room with my friend.

  “Miss Lawrence, here is your new schedule,” Alfred hands me a piece of paper before he leaves.

  I look it over and my blood begins to boil as I see I have solo mentoring sessions with Mr. Tesla, Mr. Poe, and Mrs. King. No other classes. There’s a note at the bottom informing me my meals will be delivered to me in my room at the specified times. What are they doing? Are they trying to isolate me?

  There’s a knock on the door and I open it to find Alexis’s scowling face.

  “What are you doing here?” I ask, debating on slamming the door in her face.

  She pushes the door open further and shoves her way into my room.

  “I’m your new study buddy, courtesy of daddy dearest,” she rolls her eyes.

  “Seriously?” I ask, my eyes opening wide. Why the hell would anyone think putting Alexis and I together would be a good idea?

  “I know. I argued and said you weren’t worth my time but he insisted. So here’s how it’s going to go. I’m going to come here every day and then teleport back to my room while people think we have study session,” she smirks.

  “Fine by me. Have fun,” I shrug.

  She gives me a puzzled look. “You do realize I’m the only student you’re going to see from now on, right?” she asks.

  “Why do you care? You can’t stand me anyways. Or do you know something I don’t?” I question her.

  “I don’t care and even if I do know something I’m not telling you,” she smirks.

  “Kinda figured that, but don’t care,” I reply. “You can go do whatever you want with your new free time. I’ll tell everyone how much you’re helping me.”

  “You really are a freak,” she rolls her eyes before wrapping herself in tendrils and teleporting away.

  Chapter 14

  The next morning I wake up to my alarm. The only good thing about this room is the attached bathroom. It makes getting ready easier. I jump in the shower and get dressed in time to meet Alfred at the door. He’s carrying a large tray full of eggs, bacon, and waffles.

  “All of this is for me?” I ask, my eyes opening wide.

  “It’s a lot more than they’ve been feeding you,” he nods.

  I take the tray and thank him then sit at the desk under the window while I scarf down every bite. Fresh, hot food tastes so good. It’s a luxury I used to take for granted. Unsure of what to do with my tray, I leave it sitting on the desk and teleport to Mrs. King’s office for my first mentoring session.

  “How are you, Whisper?” she asks when she opens the door.

  “I’m not sure,” I answer honestly. “Everything is upside down right now.”

  “Out of the mouths of babes,” she whispers under her breath before addressing me. “Here’s how it’s going to work for you. I will be teaching you Goverment and Mind Control, as well as be your Fury mentor. Mr. Poe will teach you English and History, and Mr. Tesla will teach you Teleportation and Math.”

  “I guess we should get started then,” I force a smile.

  “You’re much stronger than I initially thought. Just remember, like all things, this too
shall pass,” she says as she opens her Government book.

  We spend the next hour talking about how the government is supposed to run, and the laws that were put into place to protect all Nightmares. We talked about what happens when certain rights are violated and what power the people have to fight against injustice.

  I smile as I put together what she’s teaching me. This woman, dubbed the Demon Wookie by her students is so much more than she appears. Underneath her hard ass exterior is a woman who stands for her beliefs. Somehow, despite her house, she still believes we are equals in the eyes of the law. But why is she telling me this? What can I do with it?

  “Let’s move on to Mind Control,” she suggests a while later.

  “Am I going to practice on people?” I ask, trying not to blanch.

  “Not today. Today I’m going to tell you a story,” she grins.

  “What about?” I ask, scrunching my brow in confusion. I thought mind control was about altering thoughts and putting humans to sleep.

  “This is a story that has been passed down through the generations in my family. I don’t know if there is any truth to it, but it’s interesting to think about,” she grins.

  I sit on the edge of my seat, waiting to hear the story.

  “Long ago, before we had records of our powers, Nightmare’s could visit each other in dreams. Josiah fell in love with Nadine, a beautiful woman from a well to do family. The problem was, her family forbade her from meeting with anyone they deemed beneath them, which is what they considered Josiah. The pair would wait until nightfall, and in their dreams they created a world where they could be together without anyone knowing. They spent months, planning in secret in their private little world. How they could run away together and live happily ever after,” she says.

  “What happened to them?” I ask.

  Mrs. King smiles then continues. “Josiah prepares all month long. Works all of the odd jobs he can to save up for their new life together. As the date approaches, Nadine shows up less frequently in their special world. Each time she does, she looks more and more worried, but refuses to tell him what’s going on. The night before their planned meeting, she appears and breaks down and tells him everything. Her father promised her marriage to a prominent man in their community. She was under constant watch, with her marriage to be performed the next day; the same day they were supposed to run away together.”