Light of Equality (Hawthorn Academy Book 5)

by D. R. Perry

  "We'll wait quite a while to find out." Cadence sighed.

  "Anyway, I figured today would be a good time for me to give you a heads-up about what you might have to deal with on my campus."

  I filled my friends in on all the recent developments, except Grace's secret plan. They'd known of Alex's agreement last spring with Charity Fairbanks to terrorize vamps and other extrahumans, which helped them put all the new stuff in context.

  "At least Grace is having some success countering Temperance with her brand of in-crowd. It's a good thing everybody likes Dorian, too." Cadence grinned.

  "Everybody does not like Dorian." Izzy sucked her teeth. "He's a wild card, and that's the opposite of comforting to plenty of folks. Grace had to fake-date him. Otherwise, he might have been competition."

  "Dylan would agree with you, Iz." I nodded. "He fills the margins of his notebooks with stuff like comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable. Dylan can barely stand being in the same room with him, and Logan is not himself around Dorian Spanos."

  "That's because he likes him, duh." Cadence rolled her eyes. "I mean, come on. It's totally obvious."

  "I thought I was the only one who noticed." I blinked. "And Grace, who's around Dorian all the time."

  "I did too," Izzy said. "But I'm psychic, so take that with an entire can of salt."

  "Did you tell Lee?" I raised an eyebrow.

  "Why would I?"

  I sat waiting for Cadence to say something, but she didn't.

  "He took you to the Parents’ Night dance, which is kind of a big deal to Hawthorn students."

  "What's this?" Cadence stood up, the swing arcing back and forth behind her. She barely noticed as it smacked into her legs repeatedly. "You went on a date? A real date, like wearing a dress and dancing, the whole nine yards?"

  "It wasn't a date." Izzy waved her hand. "We're like partners in crime. Not romantic."

  "I know you and Lee hang out alone in your house." Cadence tapped her foot, putting her hands on her hips. "So, what's going on?"

  "That's between Lee and me." Izzy gazed steadily into Cadence’s eyes. "It's none of your business."

  "Okay." She reached behind her, grabbing for the swing, and sat back down. "Anyway, I think I can handle myself on your campus, Aliyah. It should be easy enough to avoid the mean crowd. And don't worry, I've already told everyone on our team who the cool kids are."

  "What about you, Izzy?" I leaned an elbow on the picnic table, turning my head to look at my psychic friend.

  "Yeah, the Messing folk should go your way for the most part. Jonah is the only one you have to worry about, not that I think the anti-vamp bigots will want anything to do with him."

  "Oh, yeah, he's the psychic vampire." Cadence nodded. "What did he say about the ballroom dancing?"

  "Yeah, we're teaming up for that. And we both made the Bishop's Row team, too." She sighed. "So your plan worked, Cadence."

  "Who plays reverse point?" I wanted to know, so I could compare them to Elanor Pierce. I was prepared to do a little digging to figure out our chances of winning the tournament in the spring.

  "Oh, that's me." Izzy looked down, tracing a smiley face carved into the surface of the picnic table.

  I had nothing to say to that. Fortunately, any awkwardness Izzy might've noticed went unseen, thanks to Cadence's squeals of glee.

  "Oh, my God, I can't believe it!" She clapped her hands. "Azrael's reverse point on our team. What position are you playing again, Aliyah?"

  "Mid, with Dylan. Elanor Pierce is reverse point. She's badass, so watch out, Izzy."

  "Good." Izzy finally looked up. "Maybe she'll strike Jonah out on the first throw."

  "You still don't like the guy." Cadence shook her head. "What gives?"

  "It's not that I don't like him." Izzy sighed. "He treats me like I'm his sister."

  "Oh." I nodded, understanding. "You’ve had enough of that to last ten lifetimes."

  "True story."

  After that, we all stood up, then took a walk around the block. As we went, I filled them in on everything Grace and I had seen and heard in the kitchen. Cadence kept her mouth shut the whole time, which I thought was odd. When we got to Hawthorn Street, I was about to check on her, but Dylan Khan ran up to us and interrupted.

  "Aliyah, thanks!" His grin was wider than I'd seen it since before Grace broke up with him outside the Engine House.

  "What? Why?" I blinked.

  "The Lyceum hired me. Even if the café stays closed all year, I'll make enough money to afford tuition again."

  "I've been meaning to ask, Dylan." Cadence tilted her head. "You have to work two jobs just to come to school. Why aren't you on a scholarship?"

  The grin faded, and the spark in his eyes dulled.

  "Cadence." Izzy elbowed her. "Apologize, jeez."

  "No, it's okay." Dylan shook his head. "Because I don't qualify for the need-based ones. My folks don't make a lot of money, but it's too much for financial aid. I got something the first year from a poetry contest, but that was a one-shot deal, and I'll never make grades like Logan."

  "Oh." Cadence shook her head. "That's too bad."

  "Hey," I tugged Dylan's sleeve, "you just got a job. We should celebrate. I'll get us some pizza, then we can play Mario Kart at my place."

  "That sounds awesome." His smile returned, not as big as last time, but still, it was a comfort. Like watching Ember flying toward me.

  I took up my phone and called the pizza place, making our order for pickup. We got the order and walked back to my house, joking and laughing like we had the summer before freshman year. The next day, all four of us would be in the same school at the same time, though it wasn't easy to forget we'd still be separated into teams. It wouldn't be as simple as before.

  You can't deliberately take yourself or your friends back in time to when life was simpler, but sometimes, when you're together, it happens on its own.

  Chapter Eight

  After breakfast on Sunday, all the Hawthorn students lined the walkway leading from the foyer door to the seating in front of the podium. We waited, watching as students from the Messing and Gallows Hill schools filed past.

  The Messing kids kept to themselves, walking with their heads either down or turned toward each other. They didn't fall into a single-file line, but their red-accented gray uniforms gave that impression.

  The one exception was Izzy, who kept her head up and locked gazes with everyone she knew from Hawthorn. A freckled redheaded boy walked near her, staring straight ahead. His hazel eyes seemed to look at everything and nothing at the same time, a Mona Lisa smile giving the impression that he knew more than he should about our school. The rest of the psychics reminded me of autumn rain pattering against a bedroom window—uniform, gray, and relentless.

  The Gallows Hill students came through the door behind them, their attitude and behavior a night-and-day difference. They were raucous, loud, and vital, like confetti and bullhorns, with one exception.

  Brianna Collins brought up the rear, her hands clasped in front of her so tightly her knuckles looked like sun-bleached driftwood. I gave her my best smile, hoping to ease the anxiety I knew she always felt in large crowds. She didn't return the smile but she straightened, walking with more confidence after that.

  Cadence glanced over her shoulder, blinking at me and tilting her head in Brianna's direction. I wasn't sure what that meant but figured the mermaid would tell me later.

  As instructed, all the Hawthorn students waited for the others to take their assigned seats before choosing our own. It was the first time I ended up closer to the rear for a formal announcement here. I didn't much like it because it wasn't easy to focus on the headmaster's speech. Fortunately, most of it was stuff I already knew about campus.

  Headmaster Hawkins tapped the lectern and the magipsychic screen lit up, displaying a map of campus. He pointed out the locations of the cafeteria, the academic wing, including classrooms reopened for guests to use and the infirmary,
then moved on to announce that the Gallows Hill students had accommodations on the fourth floor, with Messing's on the fifth.

  He introduced the professors and coaches on our faculty, then moved on to the visiting staff from the other schools. Each contingent had an administrator, an academic instructor, an athletic coach, and an artistic mentor. Messing also brought a nurse. When he introduced the administrator from Gallows Hill, his voice cracked.

  "It's my mom." Hal murmured from behind me.

  "Are you okay?" I didn't dare turn around in my seat but had to ask.

  "Yeah. She's here practically by herself, and I've got all my friends with me."

  "If she messes with you, give the word, and she's TKO." Faith's voice carried genuine menace, and I could hardly blame her.

  After that, we quieted down because Headmaster Hawkins changed the magipsychic display to show us a list of all the extramural competitions running until late next spring.

  "Most of you have seen this before. The first of these is Magipsychic Fair, and we've got some special guests to run that for you on campus and in town over the next three weekends." Headmaster Hawkins stepped aside from the podium, then extended his hand.

  Two figures emerged from the hallway beside the stairs. I blinked, nearly standing up in my surprise because I recognized them both from the Providence news bulletins the last few years.

  "May I introduce Mr. Blaine Harcourt and Miss Kim Ichiro. He's a doctoral candidate at Providence Paranormal College, and she works for the Newport Police Department. You might have noticed the magipsych projects have themes in their areas of expertise. That's because they'll be judging them." He grinned, then glanced at Kim. "You had a few words, Miss Ichiro?"

  "Thanks, Headmaster." The young woman grinned, nodding her head. Her nut-brown ponytail bobbed, showing off the nearly blonde hair at the tips. "We're very excited to help with the kickoff event for your extramurals. Your headmaster was right about one thing: it'll be challenging, but you will definitely have a blast. I can't wait to see what you make together!"

  It was hard not to look at the Tanuki as she spoke. Her manner was engaging and her voice carried an undercurrent of fun and excitement, but I couldn't help glancing at Blaine Harcourt. He didn't look happy to be here, not one bit. When I noticed his eyes fixed on a spot somewhere behind me, I realized what his problem was.

  "Hal, he's scared of Nin."

  "But she's harmless."

  "Pharaoh's rats are the only natural predators dragon shifters have."

  "Crap. How could I forget something like that?"

  "Shush." Bailey elbowed me. "They're still talking."

  "Sorry."

  She was right, but all we had missed was the headmaster dismissing us to mingle in the lobby and that the magipsychic display would introduce each student guest momentarily.

  It wasn't easy to pay attention to the displays. I was too busy being pulled around the room between Grace, Izzy, and Cadence, and in all that mess, I had to check on Hal and Dylan. Dorian kept Logan near him most of the time, ushering him into a huddle with Grace, Kitty, and Eston.

  I was surprised when a cold hand closed around my wrist. I twisted out of its grasp, turning abruptly and narrowing my eyes at the pale red-haired boy from Messing Academy. His eyes were wide and round, his mouth open like a fish out of water’s.

  "Who do you think you are?" I put my hands on my hips.

  "Peep!" Ember reared up on my shoulder, her wings stretched wide and her breath hot against my cheek.

  "Um, Jonah Arnold." He blinked, then composed his expression, but I could tell it was a façade. I'd frightened him. "I know your Izzy. I mean, your friend." He cleared his throat. "Your friend Izzy. We're ballroom dancing partners, and she talks about you all the time."

  "So, you thought you could just grab me?" I tapped my foot. "If she talks about me, you know I'm a fire magus, right?"

  "Extramagus, actually." He gave me a full smile, including a set of pointy fangs not long enough to signal bloodthirst. "And I'm a vampire, so I guess we are both slightly more dangerous than our peers in a manner of speaking."

  "I'd rethink that if I were you." I rubbed my wrist. His grip had been stronger than anything I was used to. “I’m only dangerous to my enemies. Don’t make yourself one of them.”

  "Look, I'm sorry." The smile vanished, replaced by a thin straight line. "I assumed you knew as much about me as I did about you. That we'd meet as friends."

  "You didn't pay much attention to what Izzy leaves unspoken, then, and nobody I know is cool with randomly handsy guys."

  "I screwed up. I'll apologize more profusely if that helps. It's just, I thought maybe we could talk Bishop's Row. We're both playing on our school teams, after all."

  "Maybe later. I've got a lot to do right now." I shook my head, trying to settle my nerves. Jonah had scared me, too. His forwardness reminded me too much of Alex Onassis. "And maybe you're right. I'm slightly dangerous, but mostly harmless."

  "I don't buy that for a second." He sighed. "It sounds too much like the kind of thing I'd say about myself. Anyway, for the third time, I make my apologies and invite you to approach me next time. I'll leave you alone unless you do, I promise."

  I rolled my eyes and walked away because I wasn't sure how to respond to that. Also, I’d noticed Dylan edging toward the corner again, isolating himself. He shouldn't have to do that, considering Cadence and Izzy were here and nowhere near Grace.

  "I just need a minute, Aliyah." He held up a hand, palm out.

  "Okay." I glanced over my shoulder. "But Cadence is making a beeline over here. Should I stop her?"

  "Head her off for a second if you don't mind." Dylan closed his eyes. "I just need to take a couple of breaths."

  "Hey, Cadence." I stepped in front of my friend.

  "Hey, yourself." She grinned. "I just wanted to introduce Dylan to a couple of the guys on our Bishop's Row team. Oh, and Brianna wants to see you."

  "Okay." I nodded. "He'll be along in a minute. Where's Brianna?" I looked around, not seeing her immediately.

  "Trying to find the restroom. For whatever reason, she's gotten super-shy all of a sudden."

  "Oh." I blinked. I couldn't imagine Brianna Collins, the queen of customer service, being shy. Her trouble with crowds had more to do with ambient noise than people.

  "Yeah, I don't get it either." She shrugged. "Anyway, she must have found the restroom because I don't see her anymore."

  "Hello, Cadence." Dylan stepped up beside me. "How're things?"

  "I could ask you the same."

  " I wouldn't answer right now. Maybe later." He jerked his chin at a crowd of Gallows Hill students. "I couldn't help but overhear you want me to meet some people. Shall we?"

  "Okay." Cadence jerked her thumb in the direction of the restrooms. "Maybe you want to go in after her, Aliyah?"

  "Will do."

  Somehow yet another friend needed my help at this gathering. At least Dylan was in good hands. I glanced back over my shoulder at Hal and Faith, entrenched by the door to the lounge, chatting with Darren. They seemed safe enough, but Alex and Temperance stood by the now-empty podium, glaring daggers at Jonah. I couldn't make myself scarce in the ladies’ room while a vampire sat alone in a corner with those two around. Fortunately, the perfect person happened to walk right past me. I stopped her with a smile.

  "Hey, Elanor, there's someone you should meet."

  "Really?" She blinked, then shook her head. "Of course. You have friends all over town, so you know some of these students."

  I beckoned her to follow me, then sauntered toward Jonah and made introductions. He knew something about performance art in case they ran out of Bishop's Row topics. I'd done what I could for him. It seemed like the right call, too, since Temperance turned her back and stalked away, Alex in tow.

  In the bathroom, Brianna was nowhere to be seen, but one of the stalls was closed, so I figured she was in there. I checked my makeup in the mirror, which wasn't necessary,
considering I'd only put on a little lip gloss. After that, just for something to do, I washed my hands. The noise must've alerted her to my presence because a moment later, Brianna emerged from the stall.

  Her face was blotchy, her color too high. I saw that in the mirror as she leaned forward to wash her hands, even though she hadn't flushed. So she hadn’t been in the stall for its intended purpose. She'd been crying.

  "Are you okay?"

  "I wish I could say yes." She shrugged.

  "Do you want to talk about it?" I leaned against the counter. "I'm here if you do. And our headmaster is also a licensed counselor if you need that."

  "It's just, in order to do these extramurals, I had to quit at Walgreens, and I don't know what I'm going to do after that."

  "Oh, Brianna. That sucks. Why?"

  "I'll be missing most of the holiday season in retail, that's why."

  "Dylan didn't say anything about that."

  "He quit when he got the Lyceum job. Anyway, we're confined to campus except for school breaks and weekends. That’s not enough hours for retail in autumn."

  "I had no idea they were doing that."

  "Me either, not until after I signed up."

  "And you couldn't drop? Or ask for an exception?"

  "I tried. Principal Hawkins said no."

  "Do you want me to talk to my mom? She might be able to help since she works in extrahuman education."

  "It's too late for that. My job's already gone, and next year I'll probably be back in Billerica at the public school."

  "Let's not count on that. This is Salem, so there are loads of places you can work."

  "I'll have maybe a week and a half after extramurals end."

  "Well, you'll have help, don't worry."

  "Thanks. You don't know how much that means."

  "I'm trying to start a kindness trend. People should help each other."

  She blinked, standing perfectly still. She opened her mouth but closed it again, whatever she was going to say lost in the silence between us. After that, Brianna reached for a paper towel, wet it, and wiped her face. Moments later, she strode out the door, shoulders back and head held high.