Demonspawn Academy: Trial Two

by Annabel Chase

  My hands began to itch and glow again. I sheathed my sword and prepared for another blast. This one would be solely for Luke. I evaded the gryphon, maneuvering between attendees that were too stunned to duck under their seats. Some had run behind the curtains, but I knew the only way out was through the portal.

  There was too much chaos around me to see anything clearly. My heart hammered as I dodged the gryphons. They managed to circle around and corner me. There was nowhere to go. My wings were useless against them. The gryphons could easily follow me into the air. Right now my hands and head were calm and quiet. The itching and throbbing had stopped. Maybe I’d expended my big burst of energy against Luke. One of these days I’d learn how to control my powers—to use them on demand.

  The gryphons fixed their beady eyes on me and snapped their beaks. The one on the left swiped its talons at me and I pressed my back against the wall. It managed to catch the material of my shirt but not my skin. The one on the right moved to strike me and I threw up my arms to block my body. I felt a rush of air and braced myself for impact but none came. I dropped my arms to see one gryphon on the floor in a pool of blood and the other one in Liesel’s viselike grip. She held the gryphon by the beak and pushed it across the floor until it slammed into the wall. She kept pushing until the beak folded into the gryphon’s head. The flapping wings slowed and stilled as thick liquid oozed from the side of the creature’s head. I fought the urge to vomit, but there was no time. I caught sight of Luke as he disappeared behind the curtain. What if there were more cambions back there? I had to go after him.

  I darted behind the curtain and glimpsed the tall demon as he rounded a corner. I chased after him, using my wings to cover more ground faster. There were others hiding back here, trying to stay out of the fray. I shoved my way through them in my pursuit of Luke. He slipped behind another curtain and I went in after him.

  “Found you,” I said. A gasp escaped me. The demon stood in front of a pedestal with two lit candles on either side. In the middle of the pedestal was a familiar item. “The Book of Admissions.”

  Luke brandished his cane at me. “Back away now.”

  “No way,” I said, my anger rising. “I’m not leaving without that book.”

  Luke practically snarled. “You’ve ruined enough. I’m not letting you take the book. I’ve taken too many risks to keep hold of it.”

  “There’s no point in keeping it,” I said. “You don’t have the means to open it. It’s useless to you.”

  His eyes flashed with indignation. “I’ll find a way.” He snatched the two candles from the pedestal and chucked them at me. Flames licked the floor around my feet. I unsheathed my sword and walked through them, my eyes trained on Luke.

  Energy blasted from the tip of his cane and I swatted it away with my blade. Luke leaned over the book in an effort to protect it. His cane remained aimed at me.

  “You won’t be able to withstand this at short range,” he warned. He seemed quite pleased about it too.

  I waited until he shot at me again. I soared higher and let the blast pass under me. I came down with both feet and slammed them hard into Luke’s face. He fell and landed on his side. The flames continued to spread. I grabbed the book and fled. I may be fireproof, but the book wasn’t.

  I sprinted back to the arena to find my friends. The place was in tatters with broken chairs and smashed cages.

  “Cassia?”

  I spun around to see a bruised and limping Rafe. One wing was torn and bloody. I ran to him and clasped his hand.

  “We need to heal you,” I said.

  “I can do it,” he said, breathing heavily. “I just need to rest for a moment.”

  “What happened to you?” I asked. “I lost sight of you in the fight.”

  “I was grabbed by a few demons unhappy about the disruption,” he said.

  “Where’s Luke?” I spun around, but there was no sign of him.

  “I saw him run behind the curtain,” Rafe said. He wiped a spot of blood from his cheek.

  Sage bounced over to us, her dark ponytail swinging. She halted when she saw the book in my arms. “You got it back?”

  I nodded, elated. “Luke had it hidden in the back.”

  “I really want to throw a dance party right now, but we should get out of here,” Sage said. “I feel a weird pressure, like the whole place is going to fold in on itself like a black hole.”

  Rafe’s eyes rounded. “That’s entirely possible. Pockets like this have been known to collapse.”

  “We have to get everyone out now,” I said. I sprang into action, running for the cages.

  “They’re already empty,” Sage called after me.

  I halted in my tracks and turned to see the children huddled between Barris and Rylan. Zeph stood behind them as an added layer of protection.

  “Let’s move.” Rafe bolted for the exit and everyone fell into place behind him.

  I ran back through the tunnel as the pressure continued to build. Sage was right. This whole place was going to implode. At least it would destroy Luke and his horrible friends along with it.

  I was the last one through the portal. I barely made it to the other side before the portal turned black. The ground rumbled as though there’d been an explosion.

  “Did everyone we like make it out?” Liesel started counting heads.

  “Liesel, you’re a lifesaver,” I said. I hugged the Watcher and kissed her cheek.

  “I told you she was into me,” Liesel said to Rafe.

  I released her and went to check on the cambions from the market. They still looked shell-shocked, but at least they were safe. I crouched next to the little girl.

  “My name’s Cassia. What’s yours?”

  “Lily,” she said in soft voice.

  “Nice to meet you, Lily. My friends and I are going to take care of you. We’re like you, actually. We’re cambions.”

  “I’m exactly like you,” Rylan said. She kneeled beside me. “My mom is a succubus too.”

  Lily’s face brightened. “You’re like me?”

  Rylan smiled. “I sure am. We’re going to take you back to the place where we live. You’re going to love it there. No one is going to make you do anything you don’t want to do.”

  “I wouldn’t go that far,” Barris said. “You have to eat when they tell you. And do your homework.”

  “There are rules,” Sage agreed. She bent over with her hands on her knees to address Lily. “But some of us know how to get around them. I’ll be your big sister. Show you the ropes.”

  “So will I,” Rylan said.

  The children seemed to relax.

  “The Elders will help you learn to use your powers appropriately,” Barris said. “That way you don’t accidentally ice someone.”

  Liesel folded her arms. “Why does this sound suspiciously like a school?” She narrowed her eyes at me. “That seraph isn’t your boss, is he?”

  I cast a guilty glance at Rafe. It was time to tell Liesel the truth. After all she’d done to help us, we owed it to her.

  “No,” I said. “He’s one of five Elders that run a secret academy for cambions.”

  “Right here in the city?” Liesel asked.

  “Not quite,” I said. “But close by.” I’d fill her in on the details later. “The five of us graduate this year. Then we’ll leave the academy and live wherever we choose.”

  A train rushed by and we huddled together under the bridge until it passed.

  “What about you?” I asked the fire demon. “Are your parents alive?”

  “My father is,” she said. “But I don’t want to go back to him. He’s the one that sold me to that monster.”

  I felt numb. Her own father? “You’re more than welcome to join us at the academy,” I said. “We accept all ages.”

  A hesitant smile emerged. “Really? I don’t have to be little like them?” She gestured to the other cambions from the auction.

  “Not at all,” I said. “The academy is a sanc
tuary for our kind. We stay there until we’re adults and then we graduate.”

  “And then you can go anywhere?” she asked.

  “Anywhere you like,” I said. “You’ll be free.”

  “And, more importantly,” Sage said, “you’ll be prepared.”

  The fire demon’s eyes glittered with hope. “Can we go now?”

  “Who’s hungry?” Liesel asked. “I think this calls for a celebratory meal.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  We regrouped at Liesel’s place for a hearty meal and I watched the children run around the library and bury their noses in books. It warmed me from the inside out to see them look like kids again instead of caged animals.

  Elder Sam had been contacted via a magical beacon created by Barris. Soon he’d arrive to help us bring the children back to the academy to start their new lives. I was so excited for them that I could hardly contain it.

  “What an amazing day,” Rylan said. “I never realized how good it would feel to do…good.”

  “And everyone thinks demons are the ones to demonize,” Barris said.

  “Don’t use the word that way,” Sage said. “It’s as bad as saying demonspawn.”

  “But we are demonspawn.” The little ice demon hybrid had wandered over to the table with a book about trucks clutched to his chest.

  “We’re cambions,” I said. “That’s what human and demon offspring are called. It’s much nicer than demonspawn.”

  “Your boss is here,” Liesel called.

  Elder Sam appeared in the library. He seemed taken aback by the sight of the children.

  “Elder Sam!” Sage bounded toward him with one of the cambions at her heels. “I’d like you to meet Maya. She’ll be coming to the academy with us.”

  Elder Sam offered his best version of a friendly smile. “We’re happy you can join us.”

  “Can we go now?” Maya asked. She practically vibrated with excitement. “I want to see a spire.”

  “You’ll do more than see one,” Sage said. “You’re going to live in one. Won’t that be awesome?”

  Maya tugged on the hem of Elder Sam’s shirt. “Will you teach me how to use my powers? Sage said the Elders will train us.”

  “That’s part of what we do there, yes,” Elder Sam said.

  Liesel observed the exchange in silence. Finally, she turned to me. “Is that what they did for you?”

  “Sort of,” I said, though it had become clear recently that they must’ve hidden some of my talents, even from me. It seemed impossible that they didn’t know I could perform energy blasts and turn an opponent to a pillar of salt. The question was—why? I had the nagging suspicion that my powers were the real reason I’d been sequestered from my peers for so many years.

  Elder Sam gathered the group. “I’m going to escort everyone home now.”

  Home. That sounded really nice right now.

  “May I present the Book of Admissions,” I said. I handed the book to Elder Kali, who hugged it to her chest.

  “Thank you so much, Cassia,” Elder Kali said. “The academy is in your debt.”

  My hope skyrocketed. “How about my favorite dessert tonight?”

  “How about every night this week?” Elder Kali said with a broad smile. It was rare to see her so genuinely pleased. She tended to lack Elder Bahaira’s warmth. “I’ll return this to the archives where it belongs.” She left the kitchen and disappeared around the corner.

  Elder Alastor squinted at me. “Did you open it?”

  “I thought it couldn’t be…Oh.” I’d forgotten that the ward was only activated when the book left the academy. I could’ve snuck a peek when I returned to the spires with the book. On the other hand, I had no reason to look through it. I already had a general idea of the cambions listed in there, including me.

  “Why would Cassia do that after all she’s been through to retrieve it?” Elder Sam asked.

  “You don’t always need to jump to her defense,” Elder Alastor snapped. “It was a reasonable question.”

  “He wasn’t jumping,” Elder Bahaira said.

  Elder Asago motioned with his hands for everyone to calm down. “We should be celebrating, not arguing. The book is in its rightful place and our charges are safe, both old and new.”

  “For now,” Elder Alastor said. “Until the next attempt to breach our borders.” He glowered at me. “How many did you tell about the academy this time? Should we hang out a shingle?”

  “Only Liesel,” I said. “And she was rescuing the cambions right along with us. She’s an asset like Rafe, Elder Alastor. We should use her.”

  “You’re so naive, Cassia,” he snapped. “We’ve done you a disservice by protecting you all these years.” He stalked out of the room and I half expected him to stomp his foot like a toddler.

  Elder Asago stroked my hair in a rare gesture of affection. “You’ve performed a great service. We’re very proud of you.”

  “Thank you.” I felt mildly uncomfortable. I wasn’t accustomed to the Elders fawning over me. Even though I’d grown up in their midst, they’d never treated me like I was special. Not really. Most of the time, I’d felt more like an inconvenience they tolerated.

  “I’d sleep more soundly if we discovered why the demon wanted that book,” Elder Bahaira said. “Cassia’s nightmares are starting to rub off on me.”

  “I would think it was to continue collecting cambions for the gray market,” Elder Asago said. “The names in that book are worth a fortune to someone like him. He could’ve cherry picked the ones he wanted that would sell for a higher price.”

  “He wouldn’t even have needed an auction,” Elder Sam said. “He could have arranged private sales.”

  “I think that was probably his intention,” I said, “but I don’t think he’s the one behind the original theft.”

  The Elders frowned. “What do you mean?” Elder Sam asked.

  “Something he said to me,” I began. “That he’d risked too much to keep hold of the book, as though he wasn’t meant to keep it. That implies someone else should have been the recipient of the book.”

  Elder Bahaira grimaced. “See? Nightmare.”

  “Then we need to find him again and question him,” Elder Kali said, returning to the room.

  “Kind of difficult because he’s dead now,” I said. “The whole market imploded and he definitely didn’t get out.”

  “Then this isn’t over,” Elder Bahaira said. “Not if we don’t know the real culprit.”

  “I have an idea,” I said, a thought blossoming.

  Elder Asago raised his brow. “Oh? What is it?”

  I was glad Elder Alastor had left the room. One less curmudgeon to contend with. “It involves a trip to the Nether.”

  Elder Sam choked on his objection.

  “Absolutely not.” Elder Bahaira was the first to respond. “No one from this academy is venturing to the Nether.”

  “I agree with Bahaira,” said Elder Sam. “It’s a recipe for disaster.”

  “Why not?” I asked. “Five of us graduate this year. If we want to live in the Nether, we can. What’s the harm in checking it out now?”

  “Because you’re not going shopping for real estate,” Elder Kali said. “You’re going to put yourself in danger.”

  “There isn’t time to debate the issue,” I said. “We’ll lose our window of opportunity.”

  “Good, because there is no debate,” Elder Sam said. “You’re not going.”

  “I have to,” I insisted. “Luke’s shade will be there, awaiting judgment. If we catch him beforehand, we might be able to question him. He’s our only link to the book now and he’ll have nothing to lose by telling us the truth.”

  Elder Sam blanched. “You can’t be serious. What makes you think you can march into the Nether and request to interrogate a shade? Do you have any idea how insane that sounds? The demons will kill you on the spot. I didn’t rescue you from a Whistler to watch you die a horrible death in the Nether.”
<
br />   I’d never seen Elder Sam so upset. I knew they’d object, but I didn’t realize it would be this vehement.

  “I say we let her go.” Elder Alastor slipped back into the kitchen.

  Elder Sam slammed a fist on the counter. “Enough. I’m tired of your attitude. Cassia is not dispensable.”

  “We are all dispensable, Sam,” Elder Alastor said. “Such is the nature of existence.”

  Elder Sam stood nose-to-nose with Elder Alastor. “You have been risking Cassia’s life at every opportunity. It ends today. Put your personal grievances aside and remember that she’s an innocent young cambion. She didn’t ask for any of this.”

  I waved at them. “I’m right here. You don’t have to discuss me like I’m not in the room.”

  Elder Sam’s body was still poised to strike. It was Elder Bahaira who placed a calming hand on his shoulder and urged him to step away.

  “We need answers,” Elder Alastor said. “If she’s willing to extend herself, why not let her?”

  “We’re talking about the Nether this time,” Elder Sam said. “The city was different and even that was a risk.” He withdrew from the other Elder. “I’ll go.”

  “You’re a seraph,” I said. “You can’t go. They’ll treat you far worse than they’ll treat me. Besides, there’s someone there I can ask for help.”

  “Someone in the Nether?” Elder Asago asked in disbelief.

  “I met her in Faerie,” I said. “If I can find her, I’ll use her as an intermediary.”

  Elder Sam pressed his palms flat against the counter. “We need to discuss this.”

  “There isn’t time,” I said. “They don’t stay shades indefinitely. You know that.” We couldn’t risk judgment being passed before we reached him or our only hope would be gone forever.

  “What about the Watchers?” Elder Bahaira asked. “Can’t they go?”

  “Rafe would be willing to come with me, but it’s not their fight. They shut down the gray market. That was a separate issue from the book. We need Luke, not them. The Watchers are happy he’s no longer a threat.”

  “She has a point,” Elder Asago said.

  “What if she didn’t go alone?” Elder Alastor asked. “Send an entourage.”