Soul and Disaster: Slayer Academy (Book 1)

by Cassidy Summers

  “Awesome,” Jacinta chimes. “Looks like we get a study period as well. I can’t wait.”

  “Girls.” Mr. Garcia shouts, giving us a stern look. “Get to class.”

  Jacinta and I stammer out a half-assed apology and get going to our first class with a quick goodbye.

  Chapter 3

  I sit through my morning classes with a jittery excitement flowing through me, far too pumped about starting my combat training to even try to concentrate on my schoolwork. Jacinta and I devour our lunch in record time. “Do you have any idea who your instructors will be?” she asks, adding onto our current conversation about the teacher she was given for her language class.

  The majority of the time, students never know who their teachers will be as The Guard like to replace teachers every year. Sure, we have some who stick around for the boring subjects like Math and Science, but for the elective classes, the teachers are always new.

  The Guard thinks of it as having the best possible education for the students by having teachers pulled right from the field. Keeping it fresh, I guess. Which, I have to agree as that means I’m about to get an instructor who has some actual experience in the field rather than someone who has spent their lifetime in a training room. Which is pretty damn exciting. I’m pretty sure the teachers are given a few months' notice to prepare lesson plans and go over curriculum but The Guard doesn’t think it’s necessary to let us in on that little tidbit.

  “I have no clue. Though, I do know it’s one female and one male,” I say. “But either way, they better be good.”

  “What better be good?” I hear coming from a husky voice behind me. I look up to find Trey who’s trying his hardest to balance two lunch trays and I suddenly fear for my life. I jump up and grab one of the trays before placing it down on the table. Trey puts the other one down and slides it across to the empty spot beside him.

  “We were just talking about who our instructors are going to be,” I say. Trey nods as he takes a bite into a greasy hamburger. “Are you sure you want to eat that right before Combat Training?” I ask, momentarily concerned for his wellbeing.

  “Hell, yeah. Do you know how good this thing is?” he brags with a full mouth. “And besides, my stomach is made of iron,” he grins as Daniel comes and joins us at our table.

  “Why hello, pretty ladies,” Daniel says, giving me an exaggerated wink. “Are you ready to have your ass handed to you?”

  “Oh, please. I’ll take you down in seconds,” I grin, seeing Jacinta rolling her eyes at our banter.

  “Yeah? I’d love to see you try. Though, you know, I’m always open to rumbling with you.”

  “Geez, laying it on thick today,” I laugh. “But seriously, keep dreaming,” I tell him, watching as he picks up his hamburger and digs in, just like Trey did.

  “You two are going to regret those burgers soon,” I laugh, shaking my head at these two idiots and watching in disgust as they annihilate their lunch before washing it down with a coke. I glance over at Jacinta who’s watching them with the same repulsive look.

  “How hot is the new year advisor?” Daniel suddenly pipes up.

  “Tell me about it. I do love a hot blonde,” Trey agrees with a smile and a quick glance in Jacinta’s direction that she doesn’t seem to notice. Could he be any more obvious?

  The bell indicating the end of lunch rings and we all get up from our spot. “Have fun learning your fairy shit,” I say to Jacinta.

  “Have fun beating on the boys,” she replies.

  “Oh, I intend to,” I laugh, hearing Trey and Daniel snorting behind me as if there was no chance in hell that I’d actually be able to beat them. We exit the cafeteria and turn towards the senior’s combat building with an excited smile spreading wide over our faces.

  This is it, the beginning of the rest of my life.

  I enter the large room and join the small group that’s already begun to form. I look around, taking in my surroundings. The room is huge and with so few people in it, you’d be able to hear a pin drop. There’s a small stage at the front of the room which I’m assuming is used for academy meetings and such.

  As I walk deeper into the room, I notice five sparring mats have been set up, though I’m sure they’re more of a permanent fixture in this great room. I realize that I’m the only girl, but that was expected. There are nine males, including Trey and Daniel among our small group who are all waiting anxiously to find out just what we’re made of.

  “Hey, Bianca.” I look up to find the voice belonging to Luke Bailey, my loser ex-boyfriend, who’s still holding a grudge from when I dumped his ass two years ago. He got way too handsy at a party and hasn’t gotten over the fact that I punched him square in the face, knocking him to the ground with the majority of his friends there to witness.

  “Do keep talking. I just love how the sound of your voice makes my ears bleed,” I tell him in a tone that I keep for special occasions like these.

  “I heard you made Combat but didn’t think it was actually true,” he laughs, ignoring my snide comment.

  “Why? Worried I’m going to kick your ass…again?” I laugh, fixing him with a stare and reminding him just how dangerous I can be. I hear Trey and Daniel break into laughter as Luke’s face turns beet red. His eyes flash with embarrassment which quickly morphs to rage. Oh yeah, it looks like that party is still a sore point for him. “Come on, just try and touch me.” I dare him, itching for the chance to feel my fist slam into his face once again.

  Luke takes a step forward as Trey and Daniel step up beside me, ready to jump into what could quickly become an all-out brawl. The door of the training room flies open, startling us all. I spin around to see a small, brown-haired woman with plain features striding towards our group. I recognize her instantly; Tessa Grey.

  Well, damn.

  Shock surges through me as a lifetime of memories come slamming into my mind. My Dad’s guard partner. She’d been a great friend of the family, though after Dad passed, her visits had gotten further and further apart.

  A wide grin spreads across my face. If Tessa is one of my instructors, I’m going to be over the moon. She’s short and slim like me, though her moves are fast and deadly and I’ve always looked up to her. Tessa is an amazing fighter with amazing skills. I know I can learn a lot from her.

  Tessa comes to a stop in front of us, silently raises the water bottle in her hand and places it firmly on top of a training dummy. Without warning, she throws her body around in a spectacular spinning roundhouse kick, slamming her foot right in the center of the dummy’s torso.

  The impact sends the water bottle flying high into the sky. On its descent, Tessa kicks her leg out again, slamming it into the side of the water bottle and sending it flying across the room. The bottle crashes into the far wall and immediately drops, landing perfectly in the trash can below.

  I’ve seen her do this trick before when I was younger and it impressed me just as much as it does now. She always used to come over and she and Dad would show me all sorts of cool things, she was the one who gave me my first pair of boxing gloves.

  I glance at the other students who are all gaping at her with their mouths hanging wide open like moronic dogs. Tessa turns to face us and studies the small group, her eyes looking over each of us. She passes over each of the boys and I grin as I watch each and every single one of them straighten their posture, giving her all their respect just as she deserves. Her gaze stops when she gets to me and she gives me an encouraging smile.

  “My name is Tessa Grey. I have been assigned as one of your instructors for your senior year. I graduated third in my class. I have many years of experience in the field and have faced down more of the supernatural than you could even imagine.”

  The room is dead quiet as the class takes in her words. “You will do well to pay attention and learn as much as you can from both my guidance and experiences. I will say this once and once only. I will not tolerate any bullshit from you. Put one foot wrong and I will not hesitate
to kick your ass. Is that clear?” The boys eagerly nod their heads as I smirk at her badass routine. “Now, your other instructor,” she says, raising her hand, indicating to the back of the room.

  I turn around and my world falls flat on its face.

  Shit. It’s the guy I spilled coffee all over this morning. Just my luck.

  Mr. Sexy Coffee Man is dressed in all black and standing at the back of the room. The white shirt from this morning looked hot, but in all black, he looks dangerous and lethal. He leans against the wall, hands in his pockets with one leg propped up, looking extremely unimpressed with the group standing before him. Though I would too if my day started with a coffee burn all over my chest.

  He peels himself off the wall and slowly walks towards us, lifting his chiseled arm to run a hand through his dark hair. His eyes bore into each and every one of us and there’s no doubt in my mind that this is the kind of guy you would never bring home to meet the parents. A slight stubble dons his jaw, making my mouth water and my fingers twitch to feel it. I can practically feel my ovaries exploding inside me.

  What the hell is this?

  He comes to a standstill next to Tessa, still with that unimpressed look on his face. “My name is Rylan Neill,” he says, making the group around me erupt into awed gasps.

  Crap. I spilled coffee all over Rylan Freaking Neill. If there was ever a moment to awkwardly back away, this would be it.

  What was I thinking?

  Rylan Neill is better known as Guard royalty. He must have graduated at least four years ago and was ranked first in his class, but not just first, his results majorly surpassed any of his fellow classmates and his records have never been close to being beaten. I’m a complete idiot for not recognizing him this morning. Rumor has it that he went straight onto the Front Lines and went straight to the top of his field, though I also heard he’s an absolute asshole, which if you take this morning as an example, that would be correct.

  Some say he has our current leader, Brett Norrington in his back pocket which is why he rose in ranking so fast. Others say he had a girlfriend or a sister who was kicked out of The Guard and had to live among regular humans which is why he’s so closed off, but I’m not so sure about that one. I even heard that on his last mission, he took out four vampires alone and saved a group of hippy teenagers, again, not something I completely believe. I mean, sure, the guy is good, but no one could be that good.

  He steps forward and begins walking down the line of students scowling at each and every one of us, though that scowl deepens when he recognizes me. “I’m here to prepare you for your future of being on the front lines. I believe that respect is earned, not given and the only way you’re going to earn my respect is by putting one hundred percent into each of your training sessions. Now, if you’re not committed to putting in the type of effort that is required of you to become a fighter for The Guard, then there’s the door and I suggest you leave.” He raises that chiseled arm again, indicating towards the door. I glance over at the other students in my class, each of them with a fierce look of determination plastered on their faces. “Your training session starts at 1 pm. As of 1:01, you’re late and will suffer the consequences.”

  I swallow hard.

  “As you would know, your first defense against a supernatural being is a weapon. We will touch on this in more detail in the weeks to come, however, if and when your weapon fails, you need to fight.”

  The class is broken into pairs and are told we’ll be sparring for most of the week so our instructors can gauge our skills. Luckily for me, I’ve been paired with Daniel. “You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this moment,” he says as we walk over to our sparring mat, throwing his arm over my shoulder.

  I laugh and shake my head, trying to ignore his flirty tendencies but fail miserably. Today’s session is going to be fun. Changing topic, I ask, “What do you think of the instructors?”

  “I think Tessa will be good. She seems like she knows what she’s doing, but this guy,” he scoffs, indicating with a quick nod of his head in Rylan’s direction. “He’s a bit full-on.”

  “Yeah, I got that impression too. I heard he was a jerk,” I murmur, stepping onto our mat and getting into position, “I think he’ll be tough on us.”

  “Was it not clear what was asked of you?” A stern voice demands behind me. I spin around to find myself standing directly in front of a wall of Rylan’s pure muscle. So close I can smell him, and man, does he smell good.

  I raise my eyes to meet his, bypassing the sharpest jawline I’ve ever seen. “Yes. Perfectly clear,” I say, attempting to sound untouchable, but trembling when I notice the gold specks deep within his dark eyes. Shit. Hopefully, he takes my tremble as a sign of unease rather than my girly emotions getting the best of me.

  I’ve got to get a hold of myself so I attempt to take my mind off his smoldering good looks, intoxicating smell, and enticing gold speckled eyes.

  Rylan narrows his eyes at me. “What’s your name?”

  “Bianca Moore.”

  His eyes travel up and down my body, taking in my small frame and poorly toned muscle while somehow managing not to look like a creepy perve in the process. “Are you sure you’re in the right class, Bianca Moore?” he asks with a challenge clear in his voice.

  Fury rips through my body at his question, his good looks instantly forgotten. Who is he to judge me? “Why don’t you wait and see,” I chide with far too much attitude, accepting his challenge and giving him my best ‘don’t mess with me’ glare, wanting desperately to prove my worth.

  His lips press together as he studies me with interest, his eyes sparkling and making the gold speckles more prominent. Apparently, he isn’t used to anyone standing up to his challenges. Though one thing is clear, he’s certainly not fazed by my glare that has had so much success in the past. “Get on with it,” he orders, dismissing me and turning away. Yep, no matter how good looking he is, this guy is definitely a jerk.

  I turn back to face Daniel. “Oh, shit,” he laughs. “Way to get on his bad side.”

  “I know. What a d-bag,” I grumble. “I spilled his coffee all over him this morning.”

  “You’re in deep shit,” Daniel agrees, lunging for me as I dodge his oncoming fist. “Oh, come on,” he says with a grin. “Just let me get my hands on you at least once.”

  “That’s never going to happen. Besides, I didn’t think I was your type, I’m not inflatable,” I say, grinning right back before kicking him hard and putting him flat on his ass.

  An hour later, Daniel has got me pinned to the ground and I’m absolutely exhausted. Those last few weeks of lounging around have really taken its toll on my body. Tessa and Rylan stand in the center of the training room and call us over. Daniel reaches a strong hand down to help me up off the ground and I wince as he pulls me up. “Told you I could whip your ass,” I say as we both hobble over to meet with Tessa.

  “Whatever,” he scoffs proudly. “I annihilated you.”

  “Please, I must have got you on your ass at least ten times.”

  “You got me down once and that was because I wasn’t looking. It was sheer luck,” he laughs. I punch him lightly in the side where one of my kicks had landed earlier and laugh as he winces in pain.

  “Was that sheer luck?” I grin, laughing as we reach the rest of the students who look just as bad as I’m feeling.

  “Okay, so you don’t completely suck,” he whispers in a low voice, flashing me an award-winning smile with just the right amount of twinkle in his dark eyes. Good God, Daniel is an exceptional looking guy.

  “Alright, guys. Good job today,” Tessa says, interrupting my unwelcome thoughts. “Now, after a few observations of your skills, it seems each of you still has a long way to go before you’re even close to being ready for the front lines. But having said that, you have all worked extremely hard today and if you remain consistent in your efforts, I’m sure you’ll all succeed.”

  Tessa walks over to a table and g
rabs some papers before handing them out. “This is a schedule of the training we’ll be doing and why. I trust you will all read through this and come prepared for each and every session,” she says before finishing off her speech and sending us on our way.

  Trey, Daniel and I walk over to the small stage which has somehow become the designated bag dumping area. I grab my bag and sling it over my shoulder, keeping my lesson schedule in my hand so I can go over it on the way back to my dorm. I hear my name being called and turn to find Tessa walking towards me. I glance at Trey and Daniel, giving them the universal sign for ‘don’t wait up’ and turn back towards Tessa.

  “How are you? It’s been far too long,” she says giving me a big hug. I give her a tight squeeze, realizing just how much I’ve missed her. “I didn’t realize you’d already be in your senior year. I was shocked when I saw your name on the class attendance list.”

  “I know, it must be at least three years since we’ve seen you,” I reply, trying to remember the last time Tessa had visited, but come up blank.

  “Yes, far too long. How’s your mom? And Millie?”

  “They’re good. Millie has just started on the Junior Campus and Mom is alright, though I think she’s a little lonely, but she would never admit it,” I explain, feeling down at the thought of mom always being alone.

  Tessa gives me a sad smile, clearly understanding the thoughts going through my mind. “I’ll have to go and visit her soon,” she promises. “But the reason I wanted to talk to you is that with you now being my student, I wanted to make sure that you understand that while we’re in training, our relationship needs to stay strictly professional.”

  “Oh, of course,” I agree. “I completely understand.”

  “Okay, good. I’m glad,” she says, gently giving my shoulder a squeeze. “Though I’m really happy you’re in my class. I was watching you and I think you did well today. You remind me of myself when I was your age with the small frame and all. I think you’d be able to learn a lot from me. Though, you need to know this year is not going to be easy. You’ll have to put in twice as much work as the guys to build up your muscle and speed if you intend on taking out any of the supernatural.”