Hell Fire

by Lia Davis

  My stomach rumbled, the nuts and cheeses we'd snacked on in the cafeteria were not enough to quench my hunger. I was always hungry, it seemed like. My weight fluctuated sometimes, from healthy to a little curvy, no matter how much I ate, so I ate as much as I wanted. We had easy meals back in our room, so I headed that way.

  "Tala, Ami," I called as soon as I opened the door. "Poppy was here."

  They joined me in the kitchen and watched me make ham sandwiches.

  "You eat too much." Tala picked up an apple. "It's gonna catch up with you one day."

  Ami nodded her head. "I still think your fire burns off energy and that's why you need to eat more. I only have to eat once a day or so. Air helps create energy."

  "I'm normal," Tala said dryly. "I eat like mom."

  "I don't eat much either."

  The three of us turned quickly toward the new voice. My fire flared inside me, startled at the newcomer. No one, except our sentries, was supposed to be there for a few more days.

  "Wow, you guys really are triplets. Except for the streaks of color in your hair, you look exactly alike."

  My sisters stayed silent, naturally deferring to me as their alpha.

  I took an instant dislike to her. She was the opposite of my sisters and I in appearance. Our hair was nearly black, a gift from our father. We each kept a streak in a different color to help people differentiate us. Mine was red, Tala's blue, and Ami's white.

  This girl’s hair was white blonde and coiffed perfectly, with curls at the bottom that would make any cheerleader red with envy.

  My hair was in a messy bun. Tala’s needed a good brushing, and Ami's was braided neatly, except for a sprig in the back that she'd missed.

  We'd never been the perfectly coiffed types, none of us. Why spend time fixing hair that will be ruined in sparring?

  "Hello. I'm Meda. Yes, we're triplets. Who are you and how are you here?"

  She gave us a blank look before flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Calista?" she asked as if we were supposed to know. "I'm your roommate."

  "We weren't supposed to have one."

  "Well, you do."

  "Sorry," Tala said firmly. "But we just have to check on that. We're supposed to be on the top floor for security."

  Calista shrugged. "Me, too."

  "Why?" I asked suspiciously. A soft breeze stroked my face, a little reminder from Ami that she was ready to use her wind if needed.

  "My father is a powerful warlock with a lot of enemies. They thought I'd be safest here near your enforcers." She cocked her head and twirled a strand of hair around her fingers.

  It was easy to verify. A shout for Randall, our head sentry, brought him through the door in seconds.

  "What's going on?" he asked as he helped himself to my uneaten sandwich. "Why are you yelling?" He nodded at Calista. "Hey."

  "Do you know who she is?" I asked him with an eyebrow up.

  "Don't snip at me." He'd been our sentry long enough to feel free with his fat mouth. "She's your roommate, her dad pulled some strings with your mom."

  "Okay, thanks," I said, keeping the growl out of my tone. He shrugged and left with my sandwich. When I reached my room, I turned back to Calista and tried to smile warmly. My face hurt from the effort. "Welcome to the dorm."

  Chapter Two

  7:00 A.M. came too damn early. I growled as I heard chipper babbling coming from the common area of our dorms. Apparently, our roommate was a morning person and chatty.

  Oh, goody.

  Giving up on sleeping for a few more minutes, I rolled out of my bed and stumbled to the dresser, pulling out a black t-shirt and black jeans. Dressed, I walked out of my room. Calista’s chatter grew louder, and I groaned as moved toward the kitchen.

  Tala handed me a cup of coffee and shook her head. I cradled the warm cup in my hands and glanced out into the living room portion of the common area. "Does she have an off button?"

  Tala shrugged. "You could set her on fire."

  "I’ve thought about it." I sipped the warm, rich coffee. "Why are we up so early?"

  "Our first class starts at eight and there's been a change in professor." Tala's tone turned a little darker and was heavy with annoyance.

  I studied her for a few moments not sure I really wanted to know what had her irritated. Before I asked for more details, Ami drifted over. "Paw is teaching History this semester."

  "What?" My gaze snapped from Tala to Ami. "They promised we could have some kind of normal college experience without them hovering over us. Why is he teaching?"

  Just then our sentries, Randell, Noah, Elijah, and Harper entered, dressed in their unofficial sentry uniforms. Unofficial because the Collective really didn't require sentries to dress a certain way. However, my parents had thought it would be best if the sentries stood out. To let everyone know who and what they were. I thought it was ridiculous. Another way to set us apart from every other student.

  At least our sentries got to pick their coordinating outfits. They’d chosen a brown leather look. Even I had to admit they looked hot.

  The guys got halfway to the kitchen area before being cut off by Calista. "Good morning." She placed a hand on Randell's arm, and I felt Tala tense beside me. The orange juice in the glass in front of her swirled. Wow, okay then. Jealous much?

  I stepped around the kitchen island and headed to the door. "Let's get this shitshow started."

  My sisters moved with me and the sentries followed, ignoring Calista. I smirked and let out a slight chuckle. Randell and Noah were our sentries, not Calista's and if she thought she had any say in what they did or who they protected, she had an awakening coming. Elijah and Harper had been added to our detail when we’d convinced our parents to let us come to the college. They were ours, too, but were also tasked with keeping an eye on Calista. Her father had arranged it. Ugh.

  We got to our first class before Paw did. Randell and Noah broke off from our group. They had math that hour, besides they were a year ahead of us. They transferred from online classes to be our on-campus protectors. Harper and Elijah were first year like us and also had History, as did every first year. My sisters and I kept our core classes the same but took different electives. Our sentries’ schedules matched ours so at least one of them was in our classes at all times. I wasn’t totally sure that Harper and Elijah had wanted to come to college, but they definitely had wanted to become sentries to the famous triplets, so they’d enrolled.

  We had just taken our seats toward the back of the classroom when our Paw walked in. His gaze met my glare and the corners of his mouth twisted. Then he glanced to the sentries and nodded. That was when Calista bounced into the room.

  Yeah, she bounced. She was definitely too perky for her own good.

  She spotted us and rushed over. "Oh, it's great that we have the same first class."

  I laid my hand on my desk with my palm up and formed a small fireball to hover over it. Ami dangled a finger around it, adding air to the fire. It flared and heated.

  "Meda." Paw’s stern warning ended our fun. I absorbed the fire inside me and glanced to Calista in time to catch a flash of fear before she returned to the bubbly blonde. "All the first years have History first period, Calista," I said dryly.

  When I looked back at Paw, he shook his head. I sighed and sank into my seat. It was going to a long first hour of college.

  Paw spent the hour having us all introduce ourselves. It wasn’t so bad for me, I wasn’t terribly shy. But Tala didn’t like speaking in front of others—she always thought they hated her—and Ami was so shy nobody could hear her introduce herself. Paw knew better than to ask her to speak up, though, and we got through our introductions. I tried to pay attention to everyone else, but my mind kept wandering to what my next class would be like. I was looking forward to it.

  For our second class, we went our separate ways. I had Defensive Spells 101 and looked forward to it. Tala and Ami didn’t like spells or potions. They said it was too witchy for them. It intri
gued me. I’d even done some reading ahead in the book and was able to perform some of the minor spells with ease, which was odd since I didn’t have witch’s blood in me. It was something I was keeping to myself for now. Not even my sisters knew. Maybe the teacher would be able to explain it.

  I was the first one in class, so I took a lab station in the back. Moments later Harper entered and found me. She smiled as she took the seat next to mine. "You left class in a hurry. Please wait for me tomorrow."

  "Sorry, I will. I figured I’d better before Paw asked me to stay after."

  Harper laughed. "The fire thing?"

  I nodded. "What do you know about Calista?"

  "She’s from California. Her father is a warlock who’s pissed off a lot of people. Rumors say he’d tied in with a mob or something. Calista wanted to come to our school because it’s secure. Since you and your sisters are here, that’s added security." Harper glanced to the door as a man entered carrying a briefcase to the desk up front.

  "He’s hot," I said then realized I’d said it out loud.

  Harper giggled. "Too hot for…"

  "Don’t say it!" I shoved her off her stool. She landed on her feet, laughing harder.

  My awareness tingled, and I glanced to the door as Paw stuck his head in. With a sigh, I moved around Harper, who started to follow. I turned. "It’s Paw. I’ll just be at the door."

  "You in trouble?"

  "Maybe." I rolled my eyes.

  In the hall, Paw studied me for a moment. "What’s up?"

  "Nothing."

  "Don’t play nothing with me. You’re tense. Was the fire display a warning to someone?" He lifted my chin, so I looked into his eyes.

  "There’s something not right about our roommate. It could be nothing more than she’s a morning person or too perky or both. No one should be that happy all the time and be sane. But I get a weird vibe off of her." I folded my arms and cocked my head. "Why are you a teacher? Poppy would be a lot more fun with History."

  Paw pressed his lips in a thin line. He tried to appear intimidating and hide his amusement, but I saw through it. "Poppy has his hands full with Grams, not to mention, you know, running Hell?" He relaxed a little and added, “I won’t interfere with your freedom on campus. I’ll look more into Calista if it’ll make you feel better. Just don’t set her on fire when she sleeps."

  "I’m not making promises." I crossed my arms.

  He chuckled and nodded toward the classroom. "Go back to class. I’ll see you this weekend for the family dinner."

  I hugged him quickly and rushed back inside the classroom before anyone saw, taking my seat next to Harper. She lifted a brow. "Everything okay?"

  "Yep. Just ‘don’t set Calista on fire in her sleep.’"

  Harper giggled again. Harper appeared to be a girly-girl, but she was an alpha female vamp and kicked the other sentries’ asses in training. I really liked her and was glad when she joined our sentry team.

  The room filled pretty quickly after that and the hottie teach started roll call. He flashed a brilliant smile that revealed dimples in both of his cheeks and joked with the students as he checked them off. When he got to me, he wasn’t so pleasant. He didn’t joke or smile at me. I got the feeling that he didn’t want me there.

  Then he reached another name I hadn’t realized was in the class. Calista. As if him speaking her name had summoned her out of nowhere, she rushed through the door. "I’m so sorry I’m late."

  "Fucking great," I muttered so only Harper heard me. It was a good thing I already had a lab partner and the only empty seat was the station at the front by the door.

  "It could be worse."

  "How?"

  Harper shrugged. "I don’t know. But it could."

  I laughed, drawing Mr. Hot-but-Angry’s gaze, then focused on the lessons in the syllabus, hoping that the perky bimbo wasn’t going to be in all my classes. That just might drive me to set her on fire in her sleep.

  Lunch didn’t come soon enough. I was starving. I’d have to remember to pack a few snacks to hold me over the next day.

  The first half of the day went fairly well after my second class. I hadn’t seen Calista since, but I was sure I’d see her again.

  "It's been an interesting morning." Ami set her lunch tray on the table. "Everyone is acting so weird."

  "Yeah, I noticed too." I glanced around from the large round table I chose in the food court.

  A moment later a familiar scent surrounded me as a pair of hands covered my eyes. I smiled and took those hands and squeezed. My BFF Kinsley sat in the seat next to mine. "This school is amazing."

  I hugged her. "I know. Even though it's not far enough from home."

  Tala sat across from me and agreed. "And one of our Niswi was our History teacher."

  Kinsley laughed. "Yeah, I noticed Voss was teaching History. But it's only for this semester until they find a new professor."

  "Why weren’t you in the History class?" I asked my best friend.

  "There were too many of us enrolled to make it into one class. Mine was right after yours."

  A bubbly laugh reached my sensitive hearing and I rolled my eyes. Kinsley looked up and noticed Calista. "Who's the bimbo?"

  Ami snorted. Tala smirked. I shrugged. "She's a witch from the west coast. Her father is a high-profile warlock or something, so she's our roommate."

  Kinsley glanced at me. "I'm sorry."

  That was why Kins was my BFF. I nodded. "Me too."

  Calista got to our table and glanced around. I had purposely removed two of the six chairs because I’d hoped Calista would find her own friends and hang out with them. I’d thought wrong. She placed her tray on the table, grabbed a chair and joined us.

  Holding out her hand to Kinsley, Calista introduced herself. "Hi, I’m Calista."

  Kinsley gave a short nod but didn’t shake her hand. "I don’t shake hands because I have a phobia about germs and the transfer of energy I’m not familiar with."

  I choked on my soda, which drew the attention of the sentries at the next table. I waved them off before one of them rushed over to do the Heimlich or something.

  Kinsley elbowed me to behave. But seriously, she started it. Kins stared at Calista for a long moment before turning back to us and saying, “Have you picked your majors yet?"

  My sisters and I shook our heads at the same time, but I answered. "No, we’re taking a bunch of classes in subjects we like. We’re just not sure what we want to do. Or in my case, what will benefit me when I become High Alpha."

  Kins pouted and laid her head on my shoulder. "Poor princesses of the Collective. So limited in life."

  I pushed her playfully. "Hush it."

  Kins leaned into me so our shoulders touched. She was a lycan and her wolf was riding her hard. I could sense her need to be close to someone familiar. She may be tough and playful, but she dealt with social anxiety and being away from her family wasn’t helping. I was surprised when she told me she’d be living on campus. She’d said she needed to be more independent.

  I leaned into her allowing my wolf to surface. "You okay?"

  She sighed. "Yeah. Thanks."

  I looked to see Calista watching Kins and me. Usually, I didn’t give a shit what people thought. Kins and I were friends. There were no sexual desires between us. Our wolves had connected the first time we’d met in elementary school and we’d been best friends since.

  Taking a bite of my burger, I stared at Calista until she averted her gaze. I wanted to ask what her deal was, but I wasn’t in the mood to start shit in the food court. Instead, I asked, “Have you noticed that a lot of people are acting odd? I mean we went to high school with a lot of these people and they were never this serious and almost emotionless." I’d been surprised at the lack of excitement on many of their faces.

  Tala shrugged. "That's what Ami said. I don't notice a difference. Then again, not many talked to me anyway."

  Most people generally avoided talking with Tala because they could sense h
er darkness. If they had an issue or wanted to invite us somewhere, they'd always just came to me. "Well, no one had said hi or asked to have lunch or anything."

  Calista flipped her blonde hair, something she seemed to do a lot. I considered cutting her hair while she slept. "Maybe they grew up and don’t want to be friends with you anymore."

  She flashed a smile and laughed like she made a joke. But something flashed in her eyes that sent a shiver up my spine. What the fuck was that? I glanced to my sisters and Kins, but none of them were paying Calista any attention. She reached a finger out and touched my hand. "I’m just teasing, Meda. Of course, they want to be your friend. Who wouldn’t?"

  Her smile was sincere, but my instincts screamed she couldn’t be trusted. I’ll have to do my own research on the perky witch from Cali.

  Chapter Three

  Something tickled the back of my mind. I was forgetting something, but damn if I had any idea what it was. It was like that itch when I'd slept through an alarm, and my body wanted to wake me up.

  My eyes flew open. I'd slept through an alarm, that was it.

  But no, that wasn't right either. I sat in a comfy chair behind a huge stack of books. My brain was fuzzy like it was really early morning and I needed an enormous cup of coffee.

  I got to my feet, looking around warily. Why was I in the library? None of my stuff was around the chair. I didn't have my backpack or anything. Not even my cell phone in my pocket. Nothing. What the fuck was going on?

  What day was it? I thought about for a few moments. Friday.

  The library was fairly empty, not that I would've expected it to be crowded at the end of the first week of school. I walked past the librarian, who nodded at me. She'd gone to the academy several years ahead of me, then went on to get some writing degree from a human university. When my parents had been trying to think of a suitable librarian, Tala had mentioned her. Tala'd spent a lot of time in our Academy library, avoiding people. She wasn't very social. Apparently, this woman had been nice to Tala when she was younger.