Watcher Academy

by S. K. Gregory

  I actually look intimidating.

  I passed out of frame. “Is there anymore?” I asked.

  He brought up a different angle. I paused as I approached the camera, looked directly at it and smirked.

  My breath caught in my throat. My body, but I wasn’t the one in control. It was terrifying. I looked…evil. I walked out of sight again, but the Academy was the only place I could have gone, given the direction and the time.

  “I don’t see you dropping anything,” the guard said.

  “Huh? Yeah, I guess I was wrong. Thanks.” I left the office, ready to freak out. Being able to actually see myself during the black outs was creepy. Who knows where I went for the rest of the time? Who I talked to, what I did? It made my skin crawl.

  I did enter the Academy, that much was clear. It was possible that Antoine let me in, which meant I never had to use my card, or my entrance was hidden by the hacking. Surely that narrowed down the suspect list. How many people could hack something like that?

  I hurried back to the Academy. As I crossed the quad, a group of college guys stopped me.

  “Hey, look, it’s her,” one of them said.

  “What?” I asked. Who were these guys? I didn’t recognize any of them.

  “Plan on doing anymore table dancing?” another one of them asked. He was tall, with an acne covered face. He stepped forward, a little too close for comfort.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Last night at the bar? You sure looked like you were having a good time.”

  I backed away from his leering face. “I think you’re mistaken.”

  Hurrying away, I could hear them all laughing. Table dancing? They had to be mistaking me for someone else. I didn’t want to entertain another possibility.

  Rushing into Max’s office, I said, “There isn’t much on the cameras, but I arrived at the Academy at 11:38. That would have been the first time, before Chelsea got the alert.”

  “Okay. The medical examiner’s report will be back in a few hours. If he died earlier, hopefully that will exonerate you.”

  “And if it doesn’t?”

  “Then you are in big trouble.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Watching the clock tick above Max’s head was agonizing, but I had nothing else to do right now. He persuaded Chelsea that he needed more help filing, so I could wait in his office. I couldn’t concentrate on work or listen to her barking orders at me.

  The rest of the Watchers were all subdued too, considering one of their own had been killed. If anyone expected a day off, they would be disappointed. Death in the League happened on a regular basis. We were to remain professional and continue working.

  Evil doesn’t take a day off.

  On top of that, the investigation was still in full swing. All the evidence had been collected and everyone was being questioned by Chelsea.

  “What if I did kill him?” I blurted.

  “We don’t know anything yet.”

  My left leg started tapping out a rhythm as I chewed my fingernails. Perhaps it would be a good idea to get myself a lawyer now rather than later.

  Max checked his computer every few minutes to see if the file had arrived, but I had mixed feelings on the matter. Once it arrived, the truth would be out and there was no going back.

  Please let it say he died earlier. I knew it was difficult to pin down an exact time, but it was my only chance now of clearing myself.

  I’ll go to jail if I did this, but I really hope I didn’t.

  Max gave me a pointed look and I realized my tapping leg was bumping his desk.

  I got to my feet. “Maybe I can do some more filing to keep busy.”

  Max didn’t argue, as I lifted some more papers from his desk. I noticed a carved wooden box by his computer. The design looked Celtic in origin.

  “This is nice. Family heirloom?”

  Max glanced up. “Oh, no. I picked that up at a market years ago. I don’t have any family to get heirlooms from.”

  “I’m sorry. My parents died when I was nine, so I know what that’s like.”

  “I never knew mine at all. Grew up in foster care.” That’s terrible. I couldn’t imagine not having any family. Well, I didn’t have any family left now, but as a kid, that would be the worst thing imaginable.

  “Oh. What made you decide to join the League?” An obvious change of subject, although he didn’t seem upset about his upbringing. I guess he never knew anything else, so why be upset?

  “I got tapped in college to become a Watcher. Being able to travel all over the world was a dream come true to someone who had never left his hometown.”

  Until he got mind jacked by a Goddess.

  Getting chosen like that is a big deal. He must have really impressed them. I wondered if I would have even been a blip on their radar if I only had my own academia to go off. Sure, I got straight A’s, but what other qualities did I have that they would want? Not many. Nothing that stood out against everyone here.

  The computer pinged and I rushed to look.

  “It’s not the results,” Max said.

  I groaned. “This is infuriating.”

  I started pacing the office, growing more and more agitated as time passed. I forgot all about the filing.

  “Try to relax, Dell,” Max said.

  I snorted. Easy for him to say. “Maybe they’ll go easy on me because I’m possessed or whatever. Although it was my fault that I ended up like that in the first place.”

  “Dell…” Max said.

  “You know, you should tell the cleaning crew about that tile. I mean look at it,” I rambled.

  Max looked up, then frowned. “What is that?”

  He hopped up onto the desk for a better look. Pushing the tile up, he reached inside, fumbled about and a moment later, pulled something out. He held up a glass orb, only it wasn’t black anymore, it was clear.

  “How did that get up there?”

  Max jumped off the desk. “You’re sure it’s the same one?”

  “Yes, there is the crack from when I dropped it.”

  Max turned it over. “There’s no writing on it.”

  “It only appeared for a moment, but the orb had a black liquid in it too. That must be what stained the tile.”

  “I’ll take a sample, but there isn’t much to go on.”

  The computer pinged again. Max went to check it. “It’s the report.”

  I wrapped my arms around myself. “And?”

  “As far as they can determine, he died within an hour of being found.”

  I dropped into the chair. “So it is me.”

  “No, it could have been someone else. It proves nothing.”

  The office door opened and Chelsea stalked in. She eyed us both, a sour expression on her face. Max hid the orb in a drawer.

  “I need your key cards.” She snapped her fingers at me.

  “Are you kicking me out?” I blurted.

  “No, Grimm, I need to get new ones issued.” She shook her head at me.

  “Oh.” I handed mine over. “Still haven’t figured out how Antoine got in?”

  Or me?

  “Isn’t there some work you should be doing?” she snapped.

  “She’s helping me here,” Max said, pulling his card from his pocket.

  Chelsea took his card and swanned out.

  “New cards aren’t going to fix a breach,” Max said when she was out of earshot.

  “I’m more worried about getting done for murder.”

  Max got up and left the room for a few minutes before returning with two cups of tea.

  “Got anything stronger?” I joked as he handed one to me.

  “Trust me, that will do the trick.”

  I took a sip. I couldn’t place the blend, but it was spicy. After half a cup, I felt myself start to relax.

  “What’s in this?” I asked. I should get some, it might help me sleep at night.

  “A few herbs that you won’t easily come by.” Max leaned back in his cha
ir. “Tell me, who are you?”

  I chuckled. Why was he asking me that? “High Priestess Anunit.”

  I clapped a hand over my mouth. “I didn’t say that. I mean I did, but I didn’t. What is going on?”

  He sighed like he expected it. “You are possessed. The tea made the entity reveal itself. I couldn’t tell you what it was in case it stopped you from drinking it.”

  I felt sick. There really was something inside me, lurking inside my brain. “Get it out.”

  He held his hands out. “Just relax, Dell. There is a ritual I can perform to remove it. We can do it after everyone leaves. The tea will help suppress the entity for now. Finish it.”

  I set the cup down and put my head in my hands. “I’m scared.”

  He moved around the desk and patted me awkwardly on the back. “It will be okay, I promise.”

  “You don’t know that,” I said.

  “I’ve performed exorcisms before, I can do this. By tonight this will all be over. Drink the rest of the tea.”

  I did as he said, forcing it down. My stomach churned but that was from nerves.

  “Don’t leave the Academy, there’s only a couple of hours to go,” Max said.

  I nodded, excusing myself to the bathroom. Splashing cold water on my face, I stared at my reflection. I looked normal, like I always did.

  Anunit. That’s its name. It’s in there, hiding in my head.

  “What do you want?” I whispered.

  The bathroom door crashed open and I cried out. Chelsea stared at me.

  “Is there something wrong with you, Grimm? Like mentally?” she asked.

  “No, sorry you just made me jump.” I hurried out of the bathroom before she could question me further. The investigation would continue and eventually, Chelsea would come for me. Hopefully after this thing was gone.

  I headed for the stacks to search for information on my hijacker. She said she was a high priestess. I spent the next couple of hours searching but found no mention of her. Slumped on the floor, books lay scattered around me. She had to be here somewhere. Locking her away suggested she had a lot of power, and if she had power, then I’m sure she made a name for herself. I found one entry about a high priestess who managed to kill an entire army with a curse. They didn’t appear to know her name, but she had enormous power. According to the book, she stole power from the Earth itself, laying waste to everything around her. Most natural magic came from the Earth, but it was a symbiotic relationship, give and take. Stealing magic with no return did not end well.

  “Dell?”

  I looked up to find Spencer standing over me.

  “Hey, Spencer, I’m really sorry about last night. I…spaced.”

  “Yeah, don’t worry about it. Not the first time I’ve been ghosted.” He shifted from one foot to the other, looking awkward. “I heard you found Antoine’s body.”

  “Yeah, it was horrible. I can’t believe it happened here at the Academy.”

  “I know. I mean I didn’t like the guy much, but what a way to go. I told you this is a dangerous job. Why don’t we go get that drink, the day’s almost over and I’m sure you could use it.”

  He still wanted to go, even after I treated him like crap. I didn’t deserve a second chance, but I really wanted one.

  “Spencer, I’m sorry, but I promised to help Max with something tonight.”

  He frowned. “Is there something going on between you two?”

  “What? No, he’s been helping me with something, that’s all.”

  Spencer didn’t look convinced.

  “We could go out this weekend. My treat,” I suggested. “Dinner and drinks.”

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “Um, yeah. We’ll talk before then.”

  I blew it. I couldn’t believe he thought something was going on between me and Max, but I couldn’t tell him the reason I blew him off was so I could get exorcized.

  Once I got rid of my interloper, I would tell him everything. Maybe one day we would laugh about it. Although I doubted that would be anytime soon.

  I checked my watch. Almost 6pm.

  “It’s showtime,” I muttered.

  As I got to my feet, my head started to spin. My hand shot out to grab one of the shelves. I felt myself start to fall, except I was still on my feet.

  What the hell is happening?

  “Sorry, little Watcher,” I said, or rather my mouth did. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Get out of my head, I raged.

  Being an observer in your own body is terrifying. I think I preferred it when I blacked out and didn’t know any better. Anunit had complete control, while I became a bystander. I could see and hear everything but couldn’t react.

  I could feel myself start to panic, but I tried my best to stay calm. Max knew about her, we could get this fixed.

  Anunit watched from the stacks as the Watchers cleared out at six. Chelsea walked out, looking tense. She didn’t even glance in my direction.

  Why couldn’t she come up here and yell at me? Shouldn’t she check that everyone had left after everything that had happened?

  Damn it, Chelsea, now is not the time to drop the ball.

  But what would they see if they talked to me? Nothing.

  Someone help me.

  I, or rather Anunit, came down from the stacks. It felt like a horror movie, only instead of screaming at the TV screen, I screamed from inside my own head. Surely Max would notice something, would know that I wasn’t me.

  Max appeared from his office, glancing my way. “Ready to do this?”

  My mouth spread into a smile. “More than ready.”

  Nothing. He didn’t notice a thing and I had no way to signal him. I concentrated on my arm, trying to move it, but it remained by my side. There had to be a way to let him know. I tried to speak, but still nothing happened.

  Max laid out an old parchment on the table. I could see the spell for the exorcism and the ritual needed to perform it.

  “It’s a simple ritual although she might put up a fight. We just need a new vessel to contain her, something that can be spelled shut.”

  He turned his back to me, lighting some candles on the table. I watched as my hand closed around a heavy book and I swung it at the back of his head. He collapsed face down on the floor with a thump.

  Anunit dropped the book on the floor beside him. “Silly boy. You have no idea how much fight I’ve got in me.”

  Stop it! I screamed in my head, but Anunit gave no indication that she heard me. Or she didn’t care.

  I watched, helpless, as she dragged Max up onto a chair and tied his hands to it with some tape. I wondered if she would kill him too. I didn’t want to see that. I could still feel my body, I just couldn’t control it. Being there to watch someone die would be horrific.

  Max woke up as she finished, moaning in pain. I could see a trickle of blood running down his neck. He most likely had a concussion, hopefully only that.

  “Dell?” he muttered, squinting at me.

  “Guess again,” Anunit said, grinning.

  He noticed his hands and strained against the tape. Realizing he couldn’t get free, he glared at me. “You’re stronger than I thought. It usually takes more time for a demon to build its strength and that tea should have weakened you.”

  Anunit perched on the end of the table. “I’m not a demon.”

  “Oh right, you’re a high priestess. Well you wouldn’t be the first demon to have delusions of grandeur.”

  “Not in this case. I really am a high priestess. One of the oldest in existence.” She seemed quite proud of that fact.

  He snorted. “You’re so powerful yet this is your best move? Possessing a nascent Watcher?”

  She lifted the parchment off the table and tore it in two, throwing the pieces on the floor. She then straddled him, leaning in close, her arms draped around his neck. “You don’t like this body? I’ve been watching sweet little Dell, she seems to prefer that idiot Sp
encer. He’d be easy to bed. You, on the other hand, you’d be a challenge.”

  Oh my God, just kill me now.

  Max glared at me. Her. “In your dreams. Get off me.”

  Anunit pouted. “Oh don’t be like that. I know you have a thing for powerful women.” She leaned in close to whisper in his ear. “You should know, I taught Ishtar everything she knows.”

  Max jerked his head away. Anunit got to her feet and sighed. “Of course that was before she decided she was a Goddess. Ungrateful bitch decided I was a threat, so she locked me away. I gave her that power, you know?”

  She walked slowly around his chair. “Hmm, she left her mark on you. Nothing visible, but inside, you are raw and those scars will never heal. Ishtar always was a petty little bitch. She knew how to get what she wanted. You might have enjoyed all those long nights with her, I taught her all of that too, but she’s a user.”

  So Max was more than just a vessel.

  “As much as I’m enjoying the history lesson…” Max started chanting in another language.

  Anunit struck him across the face, but it didn’t stop him talking. She grabbed a cleaning rag and shoved it into his mouth to silence him.

  “Now that’s just rude,” she said. “Here I am, trying to have a conversation and you try to exorcise me.”

  She ran my hands through my hair and let out a breath. “What’s the matter? Don’t you like a good monologue? People used to respect me, they used to cower before me and now I can’t even finish a sentence.”

  Eyes blazing, Max tried to kick her. She backed away, out of his reach. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Wouldn’t want to hurt little Dell. What a stupid name by the way.”

  Like Anunit is any better? I thought.

  “Oh, I think I struck a nerve,” she cooed.

  So you can hear me.

  “Of course I can hear you. Do you have any idea how irritating it is to be in your head? The whining? The self doubt? It’s a wonder you can get out of bed in the morning.”

  By all means, leave!

  “Nah. I’m having way too much fun. But don’t worry, I’m going to find something that will put you to sleep permanently and this will become my body. Think of the things I’m going to do with it. Actually, better not, you’ll only upset yourself.”