“Your exams,” she said. “I finished marking them. Come collect yours.”
Alina usually passed out our essays one by one, keeping everyone’s marks private. She didn’t seem to have the energy this time.
Chairs screeched along the floor as everyone stood up and formed a queue to come get their work. There were only a few left by the time I got to the front. As I shuffled through the array of papers I skimmed for my name. When I found it I took it in my hand. I received a 96/100, one of the highest marks in the class. When I placed the pile of disjointed papers back down I caught a glimpse of the exam that was directly beneath mine. It was McKenzie’s. She scored 98/100.
I did my best not to scowl like a child as I walked back to my desk. On the inside, I was livid.
‘At least she can rest assured that I’m not receiving special treatment from Alina like she thought.’
Once everyone was seated and McKenzie made sure she had flashed her exam at just the right angle for others to get a look at her high mark, Alina pulled down a large white projector screen and began showing us painted images of people in 17th-century clothing.
Alina took a deep breath and walked away from the podium, pacing back and forth on the platform as she spoke.
“Today we will be discussing the origins of the bond between the vixra witchlings and the lycanthrope,” Alina began her lecture. “Now when I say bond I don’t mean friendship. Don’t make the mistake of believing the vixra and the lycanthrope are natural allies. We’re not.”
For whatever reason, Alina’s eyes fell on me after she finished her sentence. I couldn’t quite guess her meaning. I saw her and Adeline sharing a drink and laughing together. Did she not consider Adeline a true friend?
“The alliance the vixra and lycan share was forged through times of great upheaval and bloodshed,” she continued. “We work together so beautifully now because many before us did the arduous work of bettering the lycan into a meaningful force in this world. One that could be of use to the vixra and do good despite our violent nature.
“As I’m sure many of you are aware by now, lycan are tribal. They always have been. We stick to packs. Even once we leave the academy lycan tend to form groups. Those who don’t are often untamed and end up at the mercy of a Vontex’s blade. A pack helps us to stay focused, disciplined, and in line with the laws of the lycan that were handed down to us by the vixra.”
“You mean the lycan didn’t create their own laws?” A young man in the front row asked.
“No. We certainly have our own code and a way of keeping order among our packs but the overarching laws that all packs must abide by were created by the vixra council. It’s those same laws and ways of life that we teach you here at the academy and that are taught by the other lycan academies throughout Europe. This helps the lycan who pass from one country to another to always behave within the law of all lycan and not be subject to punishment by a foreign pack. But of course, what the vixra council doesn’t know usually won’t be subject to accountability. So if you do encounter another pack when entering the human realm, or if you manage to get an invite to a foreign lycan realm in Europe, always do well to learn the code enforced by the local pack. That is if you value your life.”
Alina opened up her notes and searched for a piece of paper. I watched her make meticulous notes back in our dorm room for her classes and always tried to give her privacy when she did so. I knew from watching her that she had a very thorough process. That process seemed to be slipping into disarray as she shuffled through her notes and couldn’t find the next page for her lecture. Before she knew it, the entire pile of unorganized papers fell from the podium and splattered all over the platform. She groaned in agitation as the class waited to see what she would do.
She muttered something in Russian under her breath and decided to leave the pages on the floor as though she couldn’t be bothered. Then she peered back at the projector’s picture on the screen and took a deep breath, trying to regain her concentration.
“Packs have certain qualities that never seem to change,” she continued without looking down at the mess of papers on the floor. “They even have a law within the laws handed by the vixra to permit the execution of a lycan if they become too violent or if they pose a threat to other lycan. This became necessary mostly during the Dark Ages. The lycan didn’t have a source of centrality to focus their efforts and organize. Nor did they have a formal way of teaching one another the practice of discipline and hunting their prey with stealth and dignity. The vixra changed that by creating private lycan realms inside major cities of Europe. Where you sit now is one of them. These realms were created in the 16th century. Every once in awhile the vixra will make renovations and provide new resources for the lycan to help with our training.
“The compromise to give lycan this realm along with the others comes at a price. We are only permitted to go to the human realm for small incursions or special occasions. Otherwise, most of us stay here given we tend to stick to our packs and try not to place humans lives in constant danger. But of course, some slip through the cracks. Lycan are often created at a fast rate by those who do not adhere to our laws or those who manage to finish their first ten shifts outside the academy. Their senses are heightened and untrained. They tend to hunt without discrimination. The problem grew to such proportions that the vixra created the Order of the Vontex. An elite group of lycan who hunt down those of our species who resist the law and brutally murder humans in their own realm. It’s the Vontex’s job to kill those who cannot be saved and help others who have the potential to overcome their werewolf stage and become a lycan. Everyone in this class was fortunate enough to receive the latter treatment. As a Vontex, I can assure you, not everyone does.”
‘Alina would know. She had to clean up after me when I murdered that grave keeper.’
“This is a sacred pact,” she went on. “One that helps give us a peaceful place to live along with giving the vixra the ability to receive help from lycan through our services. Those who prove capable and graduate at the top of their class are sometimes invited to live near various vixra families, primarily in Hungary. They serve to protect them and aid in the effort to keep our species a secret from humans. As I’m sure you can imagine, if humans were to discover our species exists, they would hunt us down with ruthless determination.”
Xavier raised his hand from the right side of the classroom. “Miss Sokolova?” he asked.
“Yes?”
“Have you met any vixra?” He was clearly fascinated by the idea.
“Yes, I have,” she answered. “As a Vontex I often have direct contact with a few of them. Some have become close allies. But remember, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re our friends.”
Her eyes once again fell on me when the words left her mouth, as though she made sure to add on the last part of that sentence just so I would hear it.
‘I’ve known Adeline for years. I have absolutely no reason to believe she’s not my friend. She cast a spell on my bracelet to protect me.’
I fidgeted in my seat and twirled my bracelet around my wrist as Alina continued her lecture without looking at me again. Thank goodness. Because she was making me mad. Adeline might have been looking out for my mum, brother, and me because my father asked her to but she cared about me. I knew she did. Why would Alina suggest otherwise?
By the time the lecture ended, the rest of the class had forgotten about the pile of papers that Alina dropped on the floor. I was the only one to stay behind and gather up a few that fell from the podium. She knelt to her knee and started getting a few herself. I managed to collect most of them. She appeared too tired to move fast enough to get the rest before I gathered them up in my hands. I lightly tapped them along the edge to get them aligned properly then handed them to her. She took them without saying a word of gratitude and stuffed them into the mess of her bag.
“Are you alright, Alina?” I asked. “We missed you during the trip back to the ritual site last n
ight.”
“I had other things to do,” she said gruffly.
“Yeah, Lothar said you went to the continent.”
I thought she might elaborate but she didn’t. She threw the strap of her bag on her shoulder and pushed by me, walking down the side steps to leave.
“Hey, I wanted to ask you a question,” I said, trying to sound sweet given I suspected she was in a mood. I received enough attitude from Lothar and Rodrick recently. I didn’t need any from Alina.
“I really don’t have time right now,” she answered.
“It will only take a second.”
“What?” she spat, stopping dead in her tracks to face me.
I nearly took a step back from her, not expecting her to react quite so harshly. I didn’t know what had changed or if it had anything to do with me at all. So I did my best to pretend as though it didn’t phase me that one of the only people who showed me kindness when I first arrived was now behaving like I was the biggest inconvenience in the world.
“Why did you suggest the vixra aren’t really our friends?” I asked. “I’ve known Adeline for years.”
“A few years is nothing to a vixra,” she snapped.
I was left in a daze as she ignored my question and walked away from me. I hoped she was heading to take a nap given she was so massively unpleasant and obviously needed some rest.
Even so, she wasn’t entirely wrong. A few years was nothing to a vixra. Adeline was over a century old and only knew me for a short matter of time. At least in the way that she felt time pass. It seemed like a lot longer to me.
I exited the classroom and saw Alina with her arms crossed over her chest at the other end of the hall. Lothar was standing there with her with his hand extended and narrowing eyes.
‘I’ll make a note to avoid both of you today.’
I couldn’t imagine what they looked like during a heated argument back when they were a couple. From the looks of it, they were ready to get in each other’s faces, shift in an instant, and tear each other to shreds. Alina wasn’t backing down and neither was he.
“I’ve covered for you long enough,” he lectured with his finger pointed at her chest. Lothar knew how to be intimidating when it was necessary. I was glad to see it wasn’t just something he rarely used on me.
“I told you what was going on,” she said defensively. “I needed the time.”
“Not the time you’re meant to spend with the Vontex. Do as you’re ordered or I’ll have no choice but to tell the vixra council upon your annual review that you’ve been intentionally slacking. I won’t cover for you again, do you understand?”
I swiftly moved back into the doorway of the classroom, hoping they hadn’t noticed that I walked out and witnessed everything.
I heard Alina’s light footsteps march down the hall without another word. That didn’t stop her from scoffing. She didn’t appear too concerned with Lothar’s threat.
‘Was Lothar lying to me about Alina having an assignment on the continent? Did he cover for her even though he didn’t know where she was?’
When I didn’t hear their voices anymore and I assumed the coast was clear I walked back into the hall to leave. Lothar was walking right in my direction with his eyes cast to the floor.
‘Christ, does he think I was eavesdropping? I didn’t mean to! I walked in on them by accident.’
If he did think so, he didn’t say anything. All he did was walk by me as if nothing had happened and I was no more than a faceless student he had never had contact with.
Something rough touched the palm of my hand the second he sped by me. He had discreetly passed something into my hand. I quickly wrapped my fingers around it and tucked it into my trench coat pocket. That was when the door into the hall burst open and more students filed in for another class. Lothar was down the other end and away from me without so much as a single word. But he did leave me with something. I just didn’t know what.
I wasn’t sure if Alina would go back to our room. If she did, I certainly didn’t want to disturb her rest. She needed it. So I headed for the library to get started on the homework assignment she gave us and to see what Lothar had secretly passed to me under the hidden material of his trench coat.
I took my usual table at the corner of the library where people didn’t bother me. There were very few students around and those that were about focused on the books laid on their tables. Regardless, I didn’t take any chances. I took out the item Lothar placed in my hand and examined it under the table. It was a small folded piece of paper. I opened it to see a few scribbles on the page. They didn’t make sense to me. Then after looking a little closer, I saw the ink was moving, just like the writing in the notebook Alina gave me.
‘Holy shit! I’ve got to learn this trick and how to use it!’
The letters on the paper rearranged. I went from fascinated to feeling my heart plummet into my stomach within the span of a few seconds.
Margaux Carville was spotted in Bakewell.
Rodrick has ordered your involvement in the Vontex temporarily suspended until she’s been apprehended.
I silently groaned and slumped back into the chair.
‘Figures. Let me guess. Rodrick is doing it for my protection.’
I reread the sentence and realized its meaning. If Margaux was in Bakewell, she was near my father’s home. Was she trying to find him and kill him? Was my father next on the Dolch Erbe’s list? Alexei was going to stay with him. They were both trying to help break the curse. It would make sense for either of them to be the grandmaster’s next target. If not for acquisition then for murder.
More words appeared on the page. The ink moved about and realigned until I saw more of the hidden message.
Ellinor’s orders remain.
‘Huh?’
My pulse quickened once I grasped the true meaning of the message. Lothar told me that he didn’t follow Rodrick’s orders. He received orders directly from the vixra. This was his way of telling me that Ellinor’s authority overruled what Rodrick wanted.
It made sense to me now. Rodrick wanted me tucked away in the fortress while Margaux was nearby and on the loose. Whereas Lothar intended to follow Ellinor’s orders, which were for me to continue joining the Vontex to learn more about them and their way of life.
Adeline said at the ritual site that our next step was to capture Margaux. So that’s exactly what the Vontex was going to do. We were going to go after Margaux Carville against Rodrick’s orders. The most powerful luxra witchling in France and the coven mistress to the Sorlin-Vontaine.
A few candles flicked on the table where I sat, giving the corner where I was seated a cozy glow. It was perfect for studying. And perfect for burning.
I made sure no one was watching and folded the piece of paper in my hands. Then I set it on fire and contained the embers with a light touch of my crowning magic until it was nothing but a small pile of gray ash. The writing inside might have been enchanted to only have my eyes decipher the message but I wasn’t taking any chances.
12
When the day winded down and I was left with nothing else to do but go back to my room, I made sure to do so with a lightness to my step. I opened the door as quietly as I was capable only to discover that Alina wasn’t in her bed. Not only that, she wasn’t even in the room.
Alina went from being kind, energetic, and studious to never around. On top of that, she didn’t bother telling Lothar she wouldn’t be coming with us last night when we joined Adeline at the ritual site.
I was in unchartered territory. I didn’t know how to help a person in need when they made it obvious they didn’t want or need help. Then again, maybe it was for Lothar to sort out and not me. He had known Alina for much longer.
I set my side bag on the bed and decided now was as good of a time as ever to continue with my little side mission. The one only Rodrick knew about and then fortunately forgot. Or if he didn’t forget, he hadn’t brought it up again.
I took out the s
mall notebook I sneaked away in my things and placed it on the desk near the wall. Then I opened up the first page to see the same words I saw sprawled across the first time I opened it.
ACCÈS REFUSÉ
The one thing I came to understand about the witchling world was their respect for hierarchy. It might have been an outdated system in England but it was alive and strong among magical beings. That meant even though Margaux’s magic was extremely powerful, it was still luxra magic. I had crowning magic. A type gifted by the vixra. That counted for something.
I placed my palm over the page the same way I had before and squinted my eyes, doing my best to focus on only a sliver of my magic touching the page. The scarlet red light seeped between the lines on my palm and drifted down to the paper. After a few seconds, the writing began to move and form new words. But not just any words. Margaux wrote all her notes in French. Lucky for me, I was fluent.
I read through her exquisitely practiced penmanship. She seemed to write in a pattern. A code that I wasn’t familiar with but was straight to the point. She listed ingredients for potions that were used by and for Blackatters. Some of the ingredients were normal, like rosemary twigs. Others were utterly bizarre, like bumble bee wings. Then she wrote out in detail the results these potions had and what they did for Blackatters. After only a few minutes of reading, I was able to decipher what she was trying to do. She was brewing potions to see if they could potentially counter-act the curse. She detailed the experiments only to conclude after several test trials that there was no knowable potion to prevent the curse from affecting Blackatters.
‘Figures. At least she tried.’
I read on to see her list several lines of known Blackatters in France. Just like I was told, all the names started with Black but ended with something different. Only Margaux had dashes between the names and other ones. My eyes scrolled over the list of names that went on for twenty pages. It wasn’t until I reached the end that I realized what she was tracking. It wasn’t just Blackatters. It was Blackatters that had changed their family name to prevent being discovered. That’s why she had the hyphen there. To note the original family names to the new ones.
Rescind: (Lycan Academy of Shapeshifting: Operation Shift, Book 4) Page 11
