“I know. It’s tough. My mom has her reasons and I’m not saying they’re not important…”
“But?” I snapped.
“But she can be way too harsh.”
“You think?” I said, taking a breath and feeling like I’d shot the messenger. It wasn’t Aviar’s fault his mom had it in for me. “How is Safi?” I said, softening my tone.
“Why don’t you ask her yourself?”
“How?” I looked around at the students dotted around us, most were engrossed in conversations, while a few still watched us with curiosity.
“In here,” said Aviar, tapping his index finger against his temple.
“We’re allowed to communicate telepathically, now?” I said, feeling my mood lift unexpectedly.
“Who’s going to know?” replied Aviar, “You guys are besties. I mean, don’t advertise it to my mom, or your profs but what’s the harm? You guys need each other.”
“But what if my profs get to her through our connection?” I lamented.
“I’m her older brother and I’m telling you – my sister is probably the best protected witch I’ve ever known.”
“Thanks,” I said truly grateful as we reached the gates of Superno.
“I didn’t do anything. Safi wanted me to let you know,” said Aviar, patting my shoulder and holding up a hand to summon some magic. The same portal Pearl had made for us to go through to enter the academy, opened up and I walked through it.
I looked up at the inky sky and the crescent moon winked back at me. All that the day had brought ran through my mind and as Aviar waved at me and disappeared, I realized that I had to get back to Bloodline Academy as soon as possible. I was probably already missed. Natalie would definitely be wondering where I was. We had a free period before Duquette’s class. Great. And there I was thinking that by getting away from there, my days of being slammed by Moldark were over.
“Katrina!” Ulric called from behind me.
“What happened?” I asked, relieved when I turned and saw that he was still behind the gates, inside the academy. I went to him.
“I’m coming with you. There are too many unknowns and they’re sending you into the mouth of monsters,” he insisted.
“No, you can’t! You’ll be killed!”
“And you think you won’t? They’re all using you! I thought that at least the S.L.A. would have your back but they don’t.”
“Do you believe in light magic?” I asked.
“Yes, of course. But not in the people who are willing to send one of their own into hell for it.”
“But that’s just it, Ulric, don’t you get it?” I said bitterly, “I’m not one of their own. Not fully. And, I can’t expect them to feel the same about me as if I was.”
“Whatever,” Ulric replied, clinging to the solid structure that kept Superno and its’ students safe from the rest of the world. He looked like he was ready to scale the gates.
“No!” I said, “I’m not kidding!”
“Or what? I can’t do this – knowing my girlfriend is about to walk into darkness while I sit back and watch her leave! It’s bullshit!”
“They’re not going to kill me,” I said, though I wasn’t nearly as sure as I sounded. “And I have work to do there.” I didn’t mention that I had to find Winnie because I knew that would have been the final deciding factor for Ulric. He wouldn’t let me go back alone because I was looking for his sister.
“I’m coming out too! I can’t take you being alone – okay?” he said.
“If you really care about me, you’ll stay right here!” I said, fighting back tears, feeling the solid metal. “Because if you come back with me, soon enough they’re going to find out that you aren’t doing their bidding and then they’ll kill you. You know that and so do I.”
“I don’t care if they do,” said Ulric, reaching out and gripping my shoulders, looking into my eyes.
“Then you don’t really care about me.” I held his gaze and he knew I meant it. He let me go and inhaled sharply, looking up at the moon just as I had done. Drawing in the strength he so badly needed.
“I’ll be fine,” I said. “Ask Safi if you can talk to me through her.” The idea had only just come to me but it relieved me knowing that I wasn’t severing all ties from my end.
“Fine,” he sighed, holding my hands through the gates. “And tell Natalie that she better have your back. I swear, if anyone hurts you in any way, they’ll wish they hadn’t.” He gently put my hand to his cheek, sealing the longing and ache he already felt. And although he couldn’t directly feel my energy the way I could his, I was sure my own longing came across.
Chapter 15
After we parted, I streamed back to Bloodline Academy and within a few minutes if that, I was at the gates. After being at Superno such a short time ago, the place looked even gloomier than before. Even the moon didn’t shine in the same way over the academy. I used my silver sucker to make a gash in my finger, smearing my bloody fingerprint on the metal to let myself into the deserted courtyard. I wondered why they were called suckers, anyway? They didn’t suck, they simply drew blood. Why not just give us penknives and be done with it?
“Where were you?” asked Natalie as I went into the common area of our dorm. There was no point in lying to her. She’d been nothing but an amazing friend to me. I told her everything. Including why I’d come back and that Ulric hadn’t. And how I’d met Sophie-Anne and she’d told me the sordid tale of my own ancestry. Natalie took my arm and whisked me in the direction of our suite.
“Wait, you’re descended from Elizabeth Bathory? The Countess Bathory?” shrieked Natalie.
“Ugh, I don’t know. Maybe. I don’t want to think about it. It’s not important,” I groaned.
“And your mom is alive?”
“Again, I don’t want to think about it,” I said, turning away, “but yes.”
“But this changes everything!” said Natalie. “You must have had so many questions all these years!”
“What? Like how many innocent people my ancestors actually murdered and drained of their blood?” I sighed. It felt even grosser to say it out aloud and yet that was part of my own history.
“No, silly! I meant your mom!”
“Ugh, let’s change the subject,” I said.
“Fine, there’s something I need to know,” said Natalie, deflated. “So, this morning, you walked out of here, just like that, without even telling me you were going to leave?” She looked hurt.
“I’m sorry,” I said, “I did it to protect you.” Natalie didn’t look convinced. She frowned, looking past me as she knotted her blonde hair into a bun at the crown of her head.
“How did you think it would protect me, when I woke up with my best friend missing?”
“Because they’d ask you questions. And when you didn’t know…” I tried.
“They would think I was lying and torture me until I did,” she said making me feel as guilty as hell because I knew she was probably right.
“I just didn’t want to drag you into it. Or even Val,” I said, feeling like crap.
“We’re friends. And whether you like it or not, that links us together,” said Natalie. What sucked was that she was truly disappointed. Not angry but let down. “And, what makes you think, I wouldn’t have wanted to help you?”
“I know you would have. That’s exactly my point.”
“You can’t fight demons on your own. Not every time,” said Natalie.
“I know. But they’re my demons. And, I’ve already had you killed once,” I said, feeling stronger for my reason not to have included her.
“And you brought me back,” said Natalie, “you need to stop shutting people out. Especially those who really care about you, doofus,” she smiled.
“I won’t,” I smiled too.
“And at least if you get me killed again, you need to stick around so you can bring me back to life.”
“Deal, I guess,” I said, shuddering as I hoped there wouldn’t b
e a next time.
“So, after Duquette’s lesson tonight, what should we start looking for first? Winnie or the necklace?” said Natalie.
“Don’t forget we need to get our hands on a random charm to practice on, too,” I said, thinking about what Valenthia would say.
***
My body tingled as I rushed towards Moldark. A split-second before I made contact, he dodged out of the way, sending me crashing into the rocks behind him. “What the hell?” I cried out in pain as dusty bits of the landscape actually crumbled and fell to the ground on top of me as my entire being throbbed in pain. My hands, which had become raw and bloody from the impact almost instantly began to feel a cooling sensation as my magic and vampire blood, set about healing me. The class had fallen silent to watch the spectacle.
“Impressive, Miss. Quartz,” said Duquette and as usual, I couldn’t tell whether she was being sarcastic or sincere. I decided to err on the side of realism and assume she was heckling me.
“Here, let me help you,” smirked Moldark offering his hand.
“I’m fine,” I said through gritted teeth, using my own hand to brush the loose debris out of my hair. “That was a jerk move, by the way,” I said getting back up on my feet.
“It was my only option, you would have destroyed me, otherwise,” said Moldark seriously.
“I’m sure you would have coped,” I said, shaking my head to rid it of some more of the wall that was now tangled up in it.
“You’ve made some good progress,” said Moldark, his dark eyes looking into mine.
“Thanks sir,” I said, not in the mood after my crash. In reality, I’d prepared for the lesson by downing two bottles of blood. I’d needed to after the day I’d had. The essence of it was still pulsing through me and was likely what had given me the extra stealth rather than that I’d improved since last time.
“Both of you did quite well and at least one, if not both of you, could learn a lot from what just happened,” Duquette chimed in, her pale eyes and fuchsia lip-gloss glistened in the soft lighting. “The rest of you listen up too. Mr. Whitlock, why did you find yourself backed up against a wall?”
“It wasn’t a conscious decision,” shrugged Moldark, looking to Duquette like it was her problem to solve.
“It should have been,” reprimanded Duquette “because if it’s not, it means you were trapped.”
“I wasn’t, I was just…”
“Hush, when I’m talking,” sang Duquette, in her sweet and deadly voice. “You were trapped because you failed to think. However, you redeemed your position by choosing to dive out of your assailant’s path at the last minute, effectively stunning her and freeing yourself in the process, hence regaining a temporary advantage.”
“Which is why I did what I did,” said Moldark, unwilling to relinquish his arrogance. He looked at me and winked. Seriously? Where did he get his unending supply of pride?
“And Miss. Quartz, seeing as Mr. Whitlock was up against a wall, without even realizing it, kudos for starting out in the superior position. My advice to you for next time is, don’t ever stream into an attack when there’s a solid wall behind your victim. If and when you have them trapped like Mr. Whitlock was, close in slowly and strategically.”
“Can you explain what you mean by strategically, professor?” asked Clara.
“In this case, she would have done well to close in on him in a semi-circle,” replied Duquette. She dismissed our class and I was about to walk over to Valenthia and Natalie when Clara tapped me on the shoulder.
“I thought you kicked his ass!” she said.
“Thanks, but I feel like an idiot for blindly charging at him,” I said.
“Well you shouldn’t. By the way, can I ask you something?”
“Sure,” I said, hoping it wasn’t about who my parents were like she’d done the first time we’d talked. This time I actually did happen to know and she was one of the last people I felt inclined to share it with.
“You and Moldark seem close,” said Clara lowering her voice and looking slightly nervous.
“No, we’re just partners in this class. And you heard Duquette at the beginning of the semester, it’s more a skill-set thing than anything else.”
“Okay but still,” said Clara. Not this again. Did the girl know how pushy she was or was she so used to it because it was an innate part of her?
“Why?” I asked.
“Can you set us up?” asked Clara, coming straight to the point.
“Like ask him if he’s single?”
“I already know he is. And, that we’d be perfect for each other. That’s where you come in.”
“Why don’t you just ask him out?” I said, feeling awkward for a reason I couldn’t explain.
“No, silly. He seems like a guy who likes to be in charge. It has to come from someone who’s not me.”
“Okay, I’ll suggest it to him if that’s what you want,” I replied, not knowing how the topic of him dating Clara would naturally arise when we were busy colliding with each other. Or the ground. Both of which were usually me more than Moldark, who I noticed had come away pretty unscathed each class.
“It is,” said Clara contentedly before streaming off.
“What was that about?” asked Valenthia.
“Not much,” I said, as we began walking.
“Was she bugging you about not knowing where you came from, again?”
“No, it wasn’t that. She was just wondering if I could set her up with someone.”
“Who?” asked Natalie, intrigued.
“If I tell you, you guys can’t spread it. Especially as I don’t know if the guy even likes her like that,” I said.
“We won’t,” said Valenthia.
“Promise!” said Natalie.
“Fine, it’s Moldark.”
“Wow, got to give it to her, that chick has balls!” said Valenthia.
“I guess, we can’t help who we’re attracted to,” I said. What I really thought was, of course she does, she’s a pure Sanguine. “You can’t tell anyone including Clara,” I added, “or she’ll hate me.”
“My lips are sealed,” smiled Natalie and Valenthia nodded, moving her thumb and index finger across her lips.
“Anyway, now that we’ve got a free between classes, I need to talk to you about something,” I said to Valenthia. The three of us went into mine and Natalie’s suite and I filled her in on everything I’d told Natalie. Valenthia gawked, wide-eyed as I conveyed the events of the past day.
“Shit!” she said afterwards, “But your solution was to leave us and just disappear?”
“That’s exactly what I said!” agreed Natalie. There was an awkward silence between us.
“Well at least Ulric was thinking straight,” said Valenthia at last. “Although it’s too bad you guys had to part ways just as your romance was starting to heat up.”
“We haven’t parted ways,” I said defensively, “we’re long distance. Kind of.”
“Of course, it’ll be fine. Better than fine, in fact – the whole being away from each other will only make it hotter,” said Natalie, ever hopeful.
“Maybe,” smiled Valenthia patronizingly.
“Thanks,” I replied.
“Kat, don’t be like that. I’m your friend, right? It’s just that I have experience with this kind of thing,” said Valenthia not backing down.
“What you’ve been long-distance before?” asked Natalie.
“Yes. It was a couple of summers before coming here.”
“And?” I asked, curious.
“He was a few years older than me,” sighed Valenthia, like we were the ones forcing her to tell us and not like she’d been the one to raise it.
“What happened?” asked Natalie.
“We dated for a whole year. It was my first proper relationship. What made it even better was that it was kind of a forbidden love thing – like you guys have,” she said wistfully looking at me, “but as I said, he was older, so he went away for scho
ol. I really thought we’d take on the world and everyone in it, together one day.” Valenthia turned away.
“Sorry,” said Natalie, “I thought you dated Riskel last semester because…”
“Because what?” said Valenthia, sharply turning around.
“I don’t know, I thought you hadn’t really dated before, I guess.”
“I think I was only into that bozo to try and get over my ex once and for all,” Valenthia looked at us both, “which I am now, so no more questions, okay?”
“Okay,” we both agreed, even more curious than we’d been before. I consoled myself that Ulric and I were a few streaming minutes across town and not technically long-distance. No that it meant much. He was gone and he may as well have been across the world or even in a different realm as far as us getting any facetime was concerned. He kind of was in a different realm. Superno had an air all of its’ own, unparalleled by anywhere else I’d been. That included my former, now non-existent coven.
“Anyway, so what’s on tap, tonight? Are we looking for the cursed necklace first or your boyfriend’s missing, evil sister?” asked Valenthia.
“We have Devin’s class in like an hour,” I groaned, “let’s try and make some more headway at the library?”
“Ugh, boring! At least those painful lessons with Kragen are done for this semester,” said Natalie, “he’s such a creep.”
“True,” I agreed, “I think it’s best if I go to the library alone and report back to you guys.”
“Why?” asked Natalie, “You promised you wouldn’t leave us out anymore.”
“I’m not,” I said quickly. This time I really wasn’t. “It’s just that, le Boursier was suspicious enough about you guys last time. Don’t you think if we all turn up there together again, it’ll blow our cover?”
“It’s the library. We’re friends studying together.”
“No, she’s right,” said Valenthia, “le Boursier definitely knew something was up.”
“Fine, we’ll just sit here and wait for you, then,” Natalie pouted.
“No, why don’t you two check out the tunnels and see if there’s anything down there that might give us a clue to where they could be hiding Winnie?” I said.
Dark Spark: A Young Adult Urban Fantasy Novel (Bloodline Academy Book 2) Page 15
