Demonspawn Academy: Trial One

by Annabel Chase

  “In Elder Asago’s office. Now.”

  I didn’t dare look at the others. The mantle of guilt settled heavily on my shoulders as we trudged the long stretch of corridor to the office.

  We squeezed into Elder Asago’s office and silently accepted his reprimand. And Elder Alastor’s. And Elder Sam’s. Pretty much everyone with the title Elder gave us a tongue-lashing. I tried to explain, but they refused to listen. Eventually they marched out of the office and left Elder Asago to deal with us. He rubbed his hands over his face, debating our punishment.

  “I think solitary confinement fits the crime, sir,” Barris said.

  Elder Asago sighed and shook his head. “Your introverted tendencies are well-established, Barris. For you, solitary confinement would be a reward.”

  “I wanted to find Harlan,” I said, for what was probably the tenth time. For some reason, I felt like if I kept saying it, Elder Asago would accept it as a good excuse.

  “It doesn’t matter the reason,” Elder Asago said again. “You cannot leave the spires without permission and an Elder to accompany you. It simply isn’t done.”

  “And if we don’t punish you,” Elder Kali said, returning to the office with Elder Sam, “then it sets a bad precedent for the younger cambions. We’ll have a mutiny on our hands.”

  “But we found a lead,” I said. “We have to follow it up.”

  “The lead that Harlan gave you?” Elder Kali asked.

  “You can’t trust Harlan,” Elder Sam said. “He’d say anything now to save his own skin.”

  “I believe him,” I said. “If you’ll just let me go back…”

  “Absolutely not,” Elder Asago said. “The Elders will take it from here.”

  I clasped my hands in my lap. “There’s something else you should probably know. We met a Watcher while we were down there.”

  “You what?” Elder Asago was on his feet, slapping his palms flat on the desk. “And you only now decided to share this?”

  “I was somewhat distracted,” I said.

  “An actual Watcher?” Elder Kali asked. “One of the nephilim?”

  “Yes,” I said. “His name was Rafe. I helped him fight a kappa.”

  Elder Sam’s face paled. “You didn’t tell him about Domus, did you?”

  “Of course not.” My neck grew warm. How could anyone think I’d expose the academy?

  “Was he alone?” Elder Sam asked.

  “Yes, he was searching for an entrance to something called the gray market in the tunnels beneath the city,” I said.

  “The gray market,” Elder Kali said, frowning.

  “I thought you’d be proud of me,” I said. “I was able to defeat the kappa because of what I learned in class.”

  “Forgive us if our pride is somewhat overshadowed by your deceit and recklessness,” Elder Kali said.

  “Wasn’t this Watcher curious about the three of you?” Elder Asago asked. “Three young cambions lurking in a tunnel?”

  “He was, but we seem to have put him at ease,” I said.

  “He was unexpectedly reasonable,” Barris added. “He put away his sword when he determined we weren’t a threat.”

  “It’s only because he wanted me,” Sage said. “He didn’t want to scare me off by threatening me with his sword.”

  Barris groaned. “Yes, that was apparent.”

  Sage wiggled in her seat. “Of course, I would have quite liked to be threatened by his sword. It looked…big.”

  Barris groaned louder. “Can we go now? This conversation is punishment enough.”

  “I don’t think the three of you grasp the enormity of what you’ve done,” Elder Kali said. “Now the Watchers know there are three cambions in the area that they didn’t know existed. It will raise questions.”

  “They don’t keep tabs on every non-mortal in the city,” I said. “That’s not how they operate.”

  “One run-in with a Watcher and now you’re an expert?” Elder Kali snapped.

  “Anyway, we’re safe in the spires,” Sage interjected. “The academy is cloaked and warded.”

  “Didn’t help Mariska, though, did it?” I asked softly.

  Elder Asago dropped back into his seat. “A week in lockdown. No lessons. No training. No field trips. Meals in your rooms.”

  “What about Zeph and Rylan?” I asked.

  “They showed common sense,” Elder Asago said. “Therefore, their studies will continue as planned.”

  “They were complicit,” Barris said, and quickly realized what he’d said.

  “They told the truth the moment they were questioned,” Elder Asago said. “I’m willing to overlook the fact that they weren’t forthcoming about it before then.”

  “You heard him,” Elder Kali said. “No lessons. Plenty of time to think over what you did.”

  “I don’t know that ignorance is a punishment,” Barris said. “It’s more of a crime, really.”

  “It’s not fair,” Sage said. “I’m stuck with Cassia, but Barris gets to be alone and that’s how he likes it.”

  “I can put him in with you two,” Elder Asago said.

  Barris waved his hands. “No, no. Please. Mixed gender bedrooms at our age could only bring about unwanted pregnancy.”

  Sage barked a short laugh. “In your dreams.”

  “Switch Rylan into Zeph’s room,” Elder Kali said. “Barris will take Rylan’s place for the week.”

  Sage’s hands gripped the arms of the chair. “You can’t be serious.”

  “Elder Kali, please make sure that these three miscreants make it back safely to Spire 10.”

  Elder Kali crooked a finger. “Come, cambions. To the internal portal. Clearly you know how to use it.”

  “One more question,” Barris said. “Would it be possible for us to have phones? They seem really handy…”

  Elder Kali shooed us out before anyone could answer.

  “This is all your fault,” Sage said, once we’d been sent to our room without supper.

  I realized she was looking at Barris. Eventually he realized it too.

  “My fault?” he sputtered. “How is it my fault?”

  “You pushed them into a decision,” she said.

  “How about we focus on how we ended up in trouble in the first place?” Barris said.

  I was too deep in thought to follow their argument. Someone tortured Harlan for this information and then used truth serum. Why not start with the easy way? We were looking for a sadist, it seemed.

  “Anyway, I’m glad this is finished,” Barris said. I’d missed whatever came before that statement.

  “It isn’t finished,” I said. “Not until we’ve found Mariska’s killer.”

  “Get a grip, Cassia. We’re never seeing the ground again.” Barris grabbed a pillow and pressed it over his face.

  “I plan to see it again tonight,” I said.

  Sage sat up, listening intently. “Do tell.”

  Barris threw the pillow aside. “No, no, no. Bad idea in the history of bad ideas. Have you learned nothing in the past twenty-four hours?”

  “Quite the opposite, in fact,” I said.

  “How do you propose to accomplish this?” Barris said. “You think they won’t be watching you?”

  “We’re trapped in this room anyway,” I said. “It’s not like there’s anything to miss.”

  Barris scoffed. “And you think no one will check to make sure you’re here? That’s the oldest trick in the book.”

  “It’s only a good trick if there’s magic involved.” I offered my sweetest smile.

  “What kind of magic…?” Barris stopped. “You want me to use magic to make it look like you’re still here?”

  I made a sound like a ringing bell. “I’ll be in bed, feeling sorry for myself.”

  Sage jumped to her feet. “Cassia, my love, where have you been all my life?”

  “I can’t do that,” Barris said. “I want to graduate and live my own life on my terms.”

  “How wi
ll this interfere with your grand plan?” I asked.

  “They can hold us back if they want too,” he said. “They’ve done it before. Remember Fiona?”

  “Fiona was stark raving mad,” Sage said. “They had to break her before they could set her loose.”

  “She wasn’t a stallion,” I said. “She was a cambion like us.”

  “Not like us.” Sage pulled her hair into a tight ponytail. “Fiona was far more demon than human. In fact, there was no humanity in her at all as far as I could tell.”

  “They tried for years,” I said quietly. I remembered the Elders’ hushed whispers in the kitchen, where they often discussed difficult cases. It was rare when a cambion couldn’t be taught to favor their human side.

  Barris’s expression turned sullen. “She’s dead now. What does it matter anymore?”

  “You can turn that pillow into Cassia,” Sage said. “And turn that pillow into me.” She pointed to the one on her bed.

  “No, Sage.” I put a hand on her shoulder. “I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I’m not risking anyone else this time. It isn’t fair to you.”

  “Stay here and annoy me,” Barris urged. “It’ll be fun.”

  She played with the fringe of her ponytail. “That is amusing.”

  A knock on the door interrupted us and Elder Bahaira poked her head in. “I just wanted to see how everyone’s feeling after all the excitement. It isn’t every day we have escapees.”

  “We’re ready for another…” Sage didn’t get to finish. Barris’s foot made contact with her shin and she abruptly stopped talking.

  “Would you mind if I spoke to Cassia alone?” Elder Bahaira asked. “I know you’re supposed to stay here, but I give you permission to go and see Rylan and Zeph. I know they were worried about you.”

  They didn’t need to be told twice. The two cambions zoomed out the door without a backward glance.

  Elder Bahaira crossed the room and embraced me. “I’m sorry. I know how distraught you must feel. You never would have acted so rashly under any other circumstances.”

  “I miss her.” I heard the quiver in my voice and felt embarrassed. I wasn’t a child anymore. I had to stop acting like one.

  She rubbed my shoulders as she released me. “Excellent work with Harlan, by the way. I know the others won’t admit it, but they were impressed. They just don’t want to encourage you.”

  “There’s something that’s been bothering me. Harlan thought maybe the culprit was a vampire, but why would a vampire use truth serum?”

  “I don’t know that a vampire would,” she replied. “Unless he could tell that no amount of pain would force an honest answer.”

  “Then why use pain at all?”

  “Because he enjoys it?” Elder Bahaira suggested. “Which does point back to a vampire or someone cut from a similar cloth, doesn’t it?” Her brow furrowed. “We discussed Balthazar, but I can’t imagine he would do anything of the sort. He’s only vicious to those that deserve it.”

  “Balthazar?”

  “The vampire that owns Hotel Franklin in the city,” Elder Bahaira said. “He’s not a regular like Packer, but he gets in touch if he picks up a stray cambion. Doesn’t like to see them hunted, which is odd, considering he’s a vampire.”

  “What other creatures might resort to torture and truth serum?”

  She looked thoughtful. “Not shifters. Not lesser demons. I can’t see any greater demons from the Nether wanting to break in here. What would be the point?”

  “Seraphim?”

  Elder Bahaira snorted. “Doubtful. They’re not sneaky. They’d waltz in like they owned the place and make demands. Uppity bastards.”

  I wagged a finger at her. “Don’t let Elder Sam hear you say that.”

  She waved me off. “Please, you think he doesn’t agree after what they did to him?” A frown rippled across her forehead. “You know, I wouldn’t put it past the fae. They are as cruel as they are beautiful.”

  “But why would they be in the mortal realm?”

  She smiled. “Same reason as we are perhaps.”

  There were no half fae among the cambions. They tended to stick to Faerie, their own realm.

  “Can they make themselves invisible?” I asked.

  “Oh, they’re capable of any number of tricks,” Elder Bahaira said. “Not to be trusted in my experience. They reel you in with their silver tongues and then…” She trailed off, a blush creeping into her cheeks. “Never mind. I can’t think of any reason they’d want the Book of Admissions anyway. It doesn’t seem as though our existence would be of interest to them.”

  Then Balthazar it was. At least I had a destination when I arrived in the city. A hotel would be better than combing dank tunnels.

  Elder Bahaira kissed my cheek. “Try to rest during your punishment. Bond with your kenzoku. These are important times in a campion’s life. Don’t miss them.”

  She blew me another kiss as she exited the room.

  By the time Sage and Barris returned, I was ready to execute my plan. Like a fairy godmother, Barris turned my pillow into a sleeping replica of me. I stood over myself for a moment, fascinated by the likeness.

  “You have really cool magic, Barris,” I said.

  “Thank you.” He shot Sage a triumphant look.

  “How do you plan to sneak out?” Sage asked.

  “Same way I did it last time. No one will be watching. They’d never dream I’d try again so soon.” I slipped on the bracelet that Mariska had given me.

  Barris appeared unconvinced. “Please be careful.”

  I collected my weapons and saluted them before creeping down the corridor to the internal portal. If only the ward wasn’t activated, then I could simply fly down. Sadly, the portal was my best chance.

  I looked up and down the corridor in the main spire and was relieved to see the area was clear. I heard movement in the kitchen and realized that Aldo was probably making tea for the Elders. I missed the rhythm of the day in the main spire.

  I turned and the portal beckoned to me from the far end of the corridor. I bolted for it, not wanting to risk being seen. I withdrew a pin and pricked my palm for blood. The moment my hands touched the portal, I knew something was wrong. There was no response. No glow. Instead, there was an alarm.

  “Goddess of mercy,” I breathed. They’d been ready for me after all. I turned around to see Elder Alastor at the end of the corridor. He looked both pleased and furious, if such a combination was possible. He crooked a finger and I had no choice but to submit. There was nowhere to flee.

  The Elders were assembled in the kitchen. Elder Bahaira couldn’t bring herself to look at me.

  “You have disobeyed us and flouted our rules in our faces,” Elder Alastor said. “For this, you must be held accountable.”

  “Mariska’s death is more important than any rules,” I said.

  “No!” Elder Alastor slammed a fist on the counter and my insides quivered. “Nothing is more important than the rules of the academy. Do you understand me? Our entire existence hinges on that one fact.”

  “You put the entire safety of the academy at risk,” Elder Asago said, more softly. “And then you intended to do it again.”

  “No, the entire safety of the academy was at risk when someone broke in and stole the Book of Admissions and murdered Mariska.” I knew I was shouting, but I couldn’t stop myself. I was angry and the threat of rules and punishment wasn’t enough to silence my rage.

  “You were with your kenzoku for one day and managed to lead them astray,” Elder Alastor said. “Barris and Sage never would have left the academy if it hadn’t been for you.”

  “Trust me, Sage was overjoyed to break the rules,” I said. “She thrives on danger.”

  “Do not presume to tell me about the cambions in this institution. I have known each one of them far longer than you have.” If Elder Alastor were a cartoon, there would’ve been smoke pouring out of his ears.

  “And whose fault is that?” I s
hot back. “It wasn’t my idea to sequester me from my peers, remember? I was an infant when I came here. Too young to have a vote.” And apparently still too young to have one.

  “Let’s not tread old ground,” Elder Bahaira said. “Dole out the punishment, Alastor, so we can be finished with this.”

  Elder Alastor tightened the belt around his cloak. “Very well then. I cast you out, Cassia. If you are so cavalier that you would risk the lives of everyone at this academy, then do so on your own. Go down to the city and remain there until you’ve captured Mariska’s killer.”

  I wasn’t the only one to gasp. “You’re kicking me out?”

  “Temporarily,” Elder Alastor said. “You have an itch, Cassia. I’m agreeing to let you scratch it. Consider it a gift.”

  Elder Sam’s pallor turned green. “Alastor, this doesn’t seem wise.”

  “You want her to learn independence, don’t you?” Elder Alastor asked.

  “Yes, and that’s what Spire 10 is for,” the seraph replied. “That entire curriculum is designed to prepare them for life outside of the academy.”

  “We’ve allowed Cassia to hide under our cloaks long enough,” Elder Alastor said. “This will be exactly what she needs to prepare for her final year with us. No more coddling.”

  “It isn’t coddling,” Elder Bahaira interrupted. “You know why…”

  “Enough,” Elder Alastor said. “My decision is final.”

  “And why is it only your decision?” I asked. “You’re not the only Elder here and others seem to have a different opinion.”

  Elder Alastor shook an angry fist at me. “Show some respect, Cassia. You have been treated as special for far too long, but that ends today.”

  The other Elders seemed as shocked by his response as I was.

  “If I agree to this, does that mean no one else will be searching for Mariska’s killer or the book?” I asked.

  “You do not get the luxury of agreeing to anything,” Elder Alastor said. “It is my decision and you must obey.”

  “Alastor, the book is too important to leave in her hands,” Elder Kali said. “If we don’t find it quickly, the result could be catastrophic. The break-in will be the least of our worries.”

  “We have trained her, each one of us,” Elder Alastor said. “Now we must trust that we have trained her well.”