We sneak from the Walcott building and to the grassed area behind, instead of stepping into full view by walking across the courtyard. Taking advantage of the shrouded moon, we hurry through the crisp night, beneath the barren trees where the leaves that would've given us cover litter the floor.
Ash plans to drive from his town to the academy, then onto mine once he collects us from the rear of the campus. The main entrance into the academy is through the tall iron gates, which we need to pass. The perimeter fence is covered in security signs designed to deter human intruders, reminding me of the day I arrived. Only this time, I see runes glowing on stones randomly dropped around the bottom of the chain fence.
"How do we get out?" I look at the six-metre fence, hardly visible in the night. There's no barbed wire, but I can't imagine climbing over.
"There’s another exit to where Ash is meeting us. That way we only need to climb a gate."
Thanks to the magic barriers, the academy feels no need to have people patrolling, but Amelia told me security personnel are close by if there's sign of trouble from supernatural intruders.
Where were security the night I was attacked, when the only people around to help were my friends? Was security told this was house pranks? Sofia and Theodora mentioned a rogue security guard to Oskar, which answers my question.
We stealth through the long grass, along the perimeter, until we reach a narrow lane that runs towards a building. This stands beside the field where the academy keeps cows for the blood-drinkers. I'm repulsed by the thought, but that makes me a hypocrite because I'm not a vegetarian.
"This one leads to a small gate where service vehicles come in—maintenance etcetera." Amelia points back to the cows. "Food."
"Mmm. Fresh meat for the burgers." I pause. "Is the meat any good once the vamps drain the animals' blood?"
"Maeve!" She wrinkles her nose. "The alternative to the hemia drinking animal blood isn't good, is it?"
"Some vamps still drink from humans," I mutter.
"They don't. It's a punishable offence."
"How punishable?"
"Three strikes and then put to death."
I gape at how matter-of-fact she is. "For drinking or killing?"
"Either, especially if the human remembers. If they survive, of course."
Wow. Speechless, I follow her along the edge of the lane in the shadows. Now I understand why Tobias helped Andrei. I'm torn whether he should—how dangerous is Andrei?
We reach a lower fence and the gate where tyre tracks mark the ground from delivery trucks. I check my phone for the time. A little past six p.m.. Ash told us he'd arrive at six and for us to wait along the lane. To leave as quickly as possible.
Amelia steps on the bottom gate rail and peers into the darkness. "No car out there yet. We can hop over and wait for Ash."
She nimbly climbs over and creeps into the trees. I hitch up my long dress and coat above my bare knees, cursing that I didn't think this out properly. What if I rip my costume? Now I know why Amelia chose a zombie.
"Interesting look, Maeve."
I snap my head around at a familiar voice from above. Andrei swings down from a tree branch and lands in front of me, feet barely making a sound as he lands. There's colour in his cheeks, unlike his usual alabaster white, and his green eyes are brighter than usual. Almost human-looking.
He's dressed in the usual unzipped hoodie over one of his favourite band T-shirts, and jeans complete with chains hanging down. There's nothing different about him for Halloween—including his entrancing presence that sends my pulse haywire.
Each time we're close, I'm increasingly aware this is more than anxiety around him. Andrei's correct that I always liked the bad boy look. Emphasis on look, not the idiots I've come across in my life that rock the image and arsehole nature.
He stares at where my skirts are still hitched halfway up my thigh and his gaze travels slowly upwards. "Shame I can't see the rest."
"What are you doing here?" I drop the skirts and smooth them self-consciously.
"Watching you." He smiles. "Not in a creepy, stalker way. More in the line of public duty."
I scoff. "Really?"
"Yeah. I like to uphold the academy rules and leaving campus is forbidden. Surely your witchy friend knows that."
"As do you, and you leave, don't you? Headed out for more blood-sucking?"
His face hardens. "Shut the hell up." I turn to walk away from him, and he seizes my wrist. "Don't leave. How long since we chatted? It's almost as if you're avoiding me and that makes me sad."
I attempt to get away, but his grip is stronger, reminding me of the day he helped stop my vision. "Let me go, Andrei."
"Where are you going?" His cool fingers tighten.
"I'm visiting a friend."
"On Halloween? Awesome. Please tell me you're sneaking out to a party."
Crap.
"I'm visiting a friend," I repeat.
He ignores me. "Is the party invite-only, or can I come? Oh, what am I saying? Of course, I'm coming with you."
"You are not. Let my arm go."
He steps closer. "Yes, I am."
I tip my chin and challenge his look, the pair of us staring in silence. Behind the roguish look in his eyes lies something else. He's looking at me with more than scorn—there’s an intensity I hate and love at the same time.
I grit my teeth against replying 'no' again, refusing to turn this into an immature argument.
"If you don't take me with you, I'm visiting Professor Lancaster for a chat about her favourite student." He releases my hand. "Did you know the witch teachers can put spells on you to keep track of your every move?"
"You wouldn't."
"That would be inconvenient when you're spending 'quality time' with your boyfriends." He sneers the word boyfriends. "Where are they?"
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you were jealous."
He steps back. "You have a high opinion of yourself."
"As do you. I guess that makes us equal."
Andrei runs his tongue along his bottom lip and stares at my mouth. Why does he deliberately make me uncomfortable whenever we're together? "I'd be happy if you added me to your little harem."
"Gross!" I protest. "First of all, I don't have a harem. And secondly, even if I did, you wouldn't be allowed in."
Andrei's laugh echoes through the trees and he sticks his bottom lip out. "Aww, aren't vamps allowed in your gang? Not even ones you're hot for?"
"Omigod! You're ridiculous."
He looks over his shoulder and waves at someone. Amelia stands behind me the other side of the gate, face filled with fury.
"What is he doing here?"
"He is coming to your human party." He runs and hurdles the gate in a move to match an Olympic athlete. "Let's go."
Amelia gapes at him beside her then looks back at me with a helpless look. "What do we do? We can't take a blood-drinking vampire into the middle of a human party. That's asking for trouble."
"I heard that," he calls. "Think of me as your bodyguard. The shifter needed my help to protect Maeve last time. I should ask you to pay for my services, really."
"I don't need protecting," I call back.
"Sure you don't, blondie."
Headlights beam from our left as a small car slowly approaches along the lane. I shield my eyes as the light dazzles me.
Ash.
Before I can reply, Andrei's figure blurs and he appears by the passenger car door. The car stops, engine idling, and he climbs inside. I can't see Ash's expression, but I can imagine it won't be a happy one.
Chapter Thirty-One
MAEVE
Following an initial altercation between Ash and Andrei, where I interrupt to remind Ash about the urgency in finding Tessa, the car speeds away and everyone falls silent for the rest of the journey. I should be thankful only Andrei followed us, without his bitchy friends. I switch to watching the world whizz by as we travel across the darkened, bleak moors towards my town.
&nbs
p; As we emerge from the hills and along the town outskirts to the centre, a surreal feeling takes over. We pass familiar places. The newsagents. The town square. The doctor’s surgery I visited regularly. I've been away weeks that feel like months, and my reality isn't this world anymore.
Even though I resented my parents sending me to the academy, the truth is, I couldn't leave permanently now. Not with everything I'm aware of. Some students shun me because of my human connections, but that connection is what will help them. I'm invested in keeping the status quo between both worlds.
Andrei rests his head against the car window and enthuses about attending a 'real, live, human party'. The 'live human' part concerns me. I vow to keep as close an eye on him as I will on Tessa.
Ash parks the car in the car park behind my old school and my stomach lurches again as the familiar re-enters my life. I stare at the 1970s single-storey building that takes up half as much space as the academy. Pupils of all ages group outside as they wait for friends, dressed in an array of costumes both traditional and modern. I spot superheroes and Frankensteins, plus zombies and a plethora of TV show characters. Andrei barks a laugh as a young teen in a red-lined black cape passes by, struggling to keep plastic teeth inside his mouth. Ash dressed as a zombie too, which is a smart move considering how well-disguised he and Amelia are.
I turn to Andrei. "You don't have a costume. You'll stand out."
"Uh, Maeve? I'm a vampire, remember?" He speaks loud enough for a passing group to double take, but they don't see what he does next. Andrei lifts his top lip and touches the tip of a sharp canine with his tongue.
"I've never seen your fangs before," I blurt.
He drops his fingers and smirks. "Fangs. Cute. You almost saw them when you told me to bite you."
Ash jerks his head around from where he's watching passersby. "What?"
"Maeve cosied up to me in the library and asked me to bite her."
"I did not," I retort. "The expression was a comeback to your rude behaviour. People say it all the time."
He straightens. "Oh? Do they? Do you think someone will say the words to me tonight?"
Ash grabs his shirt and drags him closer. "Listen, arsehole. You're lucky I didn't kick you out of my car halfway here. If you so much as breathe in a human's direction, I'll knock you into next week."
Andrei pushes Ash's hand away and tuts. "Shifters. You guys need to get a handle on that aggression."
Ash's mouth becomes a thin line and I step between the pair as Ash reaches out to Andrei again. "Can we find Tessa and leave?"
"Yes. Let's." Andrei smirks again. "I am going to have so much fun."
Amelia gives me a pained look and I mouth, "watch him".
Tessa agreed to meet me outside the main school office where 'on the door' tickets are available to those who didn't plan in advance. The school hallway is alien to me now, but the familiar smell of canteen food and floor polish pulls me back to my last days. Will Tyler be here? That could prove interesting.
As could a teacher spotting the psycho girl they expelled.
Andrei squints against the bright strip-lights and leans against the wall, arms crossed, with Ash by his side as I queue for tickets. Amelia spins around in a slow circle, examining everything from the peeling posters on the chipped, painted walls to the rows of lockers lining the hallway.
"Everything's so..." She waves her hands around.
"Normal?" I suggest.
"Modern. I swear the academy hasn't been updated for a hundred years."
"This school is pretty average. The whole town is."
She grins. "I like average. I've visited Ash's village a few times and spent nights in Paris and London, but this... This place is like a TV show."
I shake my head. I'd love to know what TV show she means.
I shuffle to the edge of the short queue, adjusting my wig and hoping I'm disguised enough.
"Did you really get cosy with Andrei in the library?" Amelia whispers.
"Are you serious?" I ask. "He's a certified dickhead."
She chuckles. "Yes, but a hot one."
I blink at her. Surely, she doesn't find the guy attractive?
Okay, I'm a hypocrite.
"We have to keep an eye on him," I tell her as I hand money over to the young girl selling tickets.
"Andrei? He wouldn't risk hurting someone."
"Wouldn't he?"
Amelia rubs her green-covered nose. "That sounds like you know something. Spill."
I check out Andrei. He's designed to kill, but his fear for the future after he attacked the girl was palpable. Is his mistake recent enough in Andrei's mind to stop him repeating it?
"Maeve!" Tessa's voice shrieks across the hallway and silences the conversations around us. She charges me and wraps arms around my neck, dancing in a circle as she hugs me.
I smile through Tessa's grip and hug her back, holding onto this anchor to my human life. To the girl I feared would be hurt before I managed to find my way here.
Holding me at arm’s length by the shoulders, her eyes search my face. "You look tired. Are you okay?"
"Dark eye make-up. I'm so happy to see you."
She beams, before catching sight of my friends. "This must be Amelia. Hey."
Amelia nods at her but Tessa is intent on the guys as they walk over. "Are these friends from the academy too? The guys you talk about."
I elbow her and my cheeks heat.
Ash rubs a hand across his mouth as he examines Tessa's costume, before glancing at Andrei.
"I like what you're wearing, Tessa." Andrei's voice is soft and cajoling, one I've heard him use before. On me, when teasing.
Tessa's tall figure is covered in a slinky black dress with a plunging neckline that scoops beneath her full breasts and clings to her curves. Heavy makeup in blacks and reds, with spots of fake blood around her mouth, complete the vampire temptress look. White streaks her long dark hair, which falls below her shoulders.
"Thanks," she says brightly.
"I'm a vampire too," he informs her.
She wrinkles her nose as she sweeps a gaze the length of him. "Really?" Andrei flashes his fangs at her, but Tessa remains unimpressed. "I don't think you'd win any prizes for effort with your costume," she says and pushes my arm. "Will he?"
She giggles, and Andrei scowls. I guess his charm doesn't work on everyone. "Have you been drinking, Tessa?"
She holds her fingers up, a centimetre apart. "A little."
Oh, hell.
"Come on, you should catch up with everybody." Tessa seizes my arm and pulls until I almost lose my balance.
Right, because everybody misses the super popular Maeve.
As Tessa takes my hand in her hot one and leads me away, the others follow. Andrei's sour face amuses me—and Ash too, who claps him on the back. "Never mind, dude. Make more of an effort with the costume next year."
Chapter Thirty-Two
MAEVE
The dark, Halloween-decorated school hall wipes away all traces of the room I'm familiar with. The stage I performed Grease on (badly), aged fifteen, now contains a DJ and plastic gravestones. The polished wooden floor isn't visible beneath the choking dry ice and strobing green lights.
No wonder I didn't recognise the place in my vision.
I've attended Halloween dances at the school before, apart from a pause around age sixteen when we deemed it too 'uncool' to go. I'm surprised Tessa wanted to attend this year, but she has a new circle who are here tonight. Like I do.
Tessa's new friends watch with interest as we walk across the half-empty dance floor, and then enthuse how much they've missed me. Total lie. I don't remember half of them. What rumours followed me to the academy? The girls immediately lose interest in me when Ash approaches. He gives curt hellos before turning his back to the group to survey those around. I'm desperate to do the same. Where is the guy I saw?
We shout at each other above the music for five minutes before I make polite excuses and walk to a tres
tle table lined with plastic cups. Adults supervise plates of food beside bowls of fruit punch, and I smile wryly to myself. This never stopped people adding vodka to the bright green and red juices in past years—and the teachers know that.
Amelia follows me like a lost puppy and continues to stare around her as if she's landed on another planet. "This is amazing."
"I wouldn't go that far, Amelia." Has she been so sheltered in her life that she's never spent time around ordinary people? Amelia and others all look human, and sometimes I forget they aren't.
"Is this like in the movies? Will there be a prom queen and king?" she enthuses. "Please tell me there is!"
I splutter a laugh, but she's serious. "Amelia, this isn't a prom, just a yearly Halloween party."
Amelia's face falls. "I was hoping to get some ideas for when I organise the end of year prom at the academy."
"You have plenty of time before July." Do supernatural academies have proms? That place gets weirder. Nobody needs to guess who the prom king and queen will be—Clive and Katherine.
"Oh well." Amelia tiptoes to see over the growing swathe of costumed bodies. "I'm sure tonight will be fascinating."
"I'm sure it will be. As long as it's not violent."
We stand side by side, sipping our drinks, like two wallflowers nobody wants to dance with. I keep my sights fixed on Tessa. They're loud, even with the music drowning out most other laughter and chat, and they draw attention. Keeping track of Tessa and her drunk friends won’t be a problem. How long before I can persuade her to leave?
Ash stands in the doorway, alone. I shake my head at how conspicuous he is for somebody trying to hide. Sure, he’s in costume with his face turned into one where black skin hangs off and his cheeks are gouged, but he can’t hide the good-looking guy beneath.
Ash’s body is honed by years of playing rugby at a high level, and the ragged clothes don’t hide this. His T-shirt stretches across his broad chest, the torn sleeves revealing solid biceps. When will I finally admit that my interest in his rugby matches isn’t which team will win?
My stomach lurches as a thought hits.
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