Nightborne Academy

by Jessica Morris

  She cuts a glare at me and shoves the lantern in my hand. "I didn't need your help. Your interference just made things worse." She sneers at me and I grin through clenched teeth.

  "What if that was my intention?" Everything about her gets on my nerves.

  She lifts up her hand and holds the privacy stone from earlier. Green light glows around us for a moment. "I am the only friend you've got right now."

  "My friends don't steal from me." Not that I have friends, but it's not like she knows that. For the past ten years, all of my friends have been dead, leaving me with very limited experience with the living.

  "Do you know what will happen if others find out who you really are?"

  The threat whips the tension higher between us. Is she threatening to tell people the truth? "Are you sure you want to go against the headmistress and this investigation?"

  "You are so annoying."

  I adjust my backpack straps to settle the bag evenly. "I am not here to make friends. I'm here to find out who killed my sister."

  Her laughter grates against my patience. Nope, I'm no good around people. "And do what when you find them?"

  Ignoring her snide comment and the hateful expression on her face is a lot easier than I expected. "That's between me and them."

  Amazement and scorn pass through her expression and she waves a hand in dismissal. "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into. Your sister was one of the most powerful spellcasters I've ever met. Her defenses were impossible to break."

  "Then how did she die?"

  "It's obvious that someone she trusted betrayed her."

  "Why do you say that?" I rush forward and grab her arm.

  I see pity flit across her face and then the condescending smirk rises. "The only people who could get through her defenses are those that she loves. Someone in her circle killed her."

  "You do realize you're included in that list."

  "Obviously." She flips her hair over her shoulder and wrenches out of my grasp, striding ahead. "It's pointless dealing with you. Make sure you keep up."

  "Where are we going?" No way I'm following her.

  "Class. Of course, you could keep playing junior detective here and flunk your remedial courses. Then you'll be transferred and lose your only chance to find your sister's killer."

  I run ahead to catch up with her. "What do you know about how she died?"

  "Nothing. The only reason I know about it is because someone needs to show you the ropes around here."

  "Why would I trust you?"

  "Don't trust me. As a matter of fact, don't trust anyone. Isolate yourself and ignore everyone around you. Then I could stop wasting my winter break."

  I chuckle and sigh heavily. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm actually excited to start school." For years, I've been my own teacher, finding videos to help me in my classes when needed, researching everything I wanted to know, begging Dad to let me go to a library in some random city we holed up in. I've got a chance to learn from a live teacher in an environment filled with resources I've never explored.

  "Weirdo."

  Not sure I trust the opinion of anyone in this place who calls me a weirdo.

  "Where are we heading first?"

  "To see your remedial magic defense tutor. Give me your cell number and I'll send you your schedule."

  My broken phone is still back in the SUV. Dad never got me a replacement. "Don't have one."

  She jerks to a stop and I pass her by. "Wait a second. What?" She runs back to my side. "You don't have a cell phone?"

  "Nope."

  "Why?"

  "Don't need it." The truth is, ghosts always short them out anyway, leaving me with a pricey brick instead of a working phone. With Lacey hanging around, there's no point in keeping one on me.

  "Your sister has a laptop back in the room. Use that. Tell me your email address."

  I give it to her and ignore her muttering complaints. How did you ever become friends with this girl, Lacey? Is the bar this low here?

  "There, I emailed it to you. I’ve set you up with tutors in every scheduled block. You'll take mealtimes with me so I can help you adapt to Lacey's personality."

  "No thanks." As we walk, something eats at me, making me unsettled. A growing sense of dread fills me.

  "You don't have a choice. Headmistress's orders."

  I shrug. Mealtimes are my time. I don't like talking while I eat. And dealing with Courtney at the same time is the perfect cocktail for nausea.

  "You'll sleep the rest of the time."

  I ran the simple math in my head. "What about study hours? And this isn't eight full hours of sleep." How was I supposed to lure bad guys or find out who gave my sister the amulet if I'm spending all my time cramming for the next semester?

  "Adapt. My next semester's success depends on you becoming Lacey."

  That explains why she's helping me. We reach a building the size of the infirmary annex. The eerie silence around us unnerves me. "You have time for one more question before I cancel the privacy spell and drop you off."

  "Who do you think betrayed Lacey?"

  "That's easy. Who gained the most from her death?"

  "I don't know."

  She smirks and holds up the privacy stone once more. "Wouldn't that be you?"

  "I wouldn't hurt my sister."

  "No, but someone else might do so in your place."

  I freeze in shock and stare at her. A brittle laugh answers my expression. "Don't ruin your sister's reputation. She worked hard to be number one." She whispers an incantation and the spell disperses.

  Night noises flood my ears. The unnerving silence is gone, but my heart is more unsettled than ever.

  Was she telling the truth? Did someone use me to get to Lacey?

  12

  Guilt, my constant companion, still surprises me when it stabs me with intensity. Like now. Was it my fault they targeted her, or is Courtney just getting back at me?

  She opens the door and we walk in. The lamp shuts off and it takes a moment to adjust to the new, brighter lighting. Meanwhile, excitement and nervousness war with me. A horrible combination with guilt thrown into the mix, but I can't help it. A real tutor in a real Academy about to teach me defense against magic. I couldn't ask for something more amazing. Or more unrealistic in my life. All those letters Lacey sent to me talking about this. I finally get to see it.

  My smile dies the moment it touches my lips as guilt overwhelms me. Was Courtney right? Lacey knew how much I wanted to go to a real school. Even if it’s a weird one like this. But not at the expense of her life. I’d rather take classes with her than take them as her.

  I run a hand over my face and draw in a breath. Getting excited about this is wrong. I chew on my lower lip and follow her down the well-lit hallway. Immaculate floors, portraits of previous classes and school personnel hung the walls, almost exactly what I expected after watching TV shows and movies with other school kids. My memory of elementary school is hazy.

  "Here we are." She knocks on the door and a guy I don't recognize opens it.

  He has short brown hair, a messy appearance with his shirt untucked and sleeves rolled up. My gaze travels to his face and the burn scar on his cheek. I linger over it for a moment and then move to his eyes. Blue and staring at me with irritation. His narrowed gaze moves to Courtney. "Are you kidding me? I thought you had a real tutoring job. I’m not desperate enough for money to play games with you two."

  "Shut up and do it. You'll get paid like I promised.” She grins at me, her malicious smile telling me I wasted my kindness earlier. Lesson learned. “I’ll see you in two hours.”

  She leaves us then and I see his expression turn from shock to fury in an instant. His body is taut with anger, fists locked at his sides. “Is this a joke to you? Haven’t you done enough to me already?”

  My eyes widen and I step back with my hands up. “I’m not trying to do anything to you.”

  He laughs and runs two fingers along his che
ek. “That’s right. This was an accident then, too. Wasn’t it?”

  I open my mouth and then shut it again. There were hidden scars on my body from Lacey’s cruel “jokes.” Like the time she put her forearm on a hot pan and transferred the damage to me. I screamed and she laughed. She healed me when Dad yelled at her, but the damage was already done to my heart and mind.

  My throat aches with the realization that my sister might not have mellowed out like I thought. Maybe she was worse. I was healed, but she left him like this. “When did it happen?”

  “What kind of game are you playing with me right now?”

  “Just answer the question,” I snap. Immediate guilt lurches up, but not knowing the background and getting accused of something I never did rips me to pieces.

  He clenches his jaw. “Four years ago.”

  “Do you know why I did it?”

  “Yeah.” He threw his backpack in a chair. “Because I scored higher than you on the defensive magic exam.”

  My stomach twists. I remember a letter she wrote complaining about not getting first place on some test. There were half a dozen of them until she finally scored higher. “Did you ever ask me why I did it?”

  “There was no need. Everyone knows.”

  This was a setup from the beginning. But was Courtney helping me or not? I set my backpack on the desk in front of me. Either way, he hasn’t left yet so there must be something keeping him here. My instincts tell me to stay, but common sense tells me to get the hell out of here in case he turns violent.

  For a split second, I wish Grayson hadn’t decided to take a nap instead of guarding me right now. Doc’s shadow seems to move a lot slower than he does.

  Have to try and fix it now or it’s over. “Do you hate me?”

  “Yeah. I think you and your vicious friend are evil incarnate.”

  “Okay. Fair enough.” I put my hands in front of me. “Do you hate me enough to kill me?”

  “What?” His shock seems genuine. Whether this is his true emotion or not, I can’t tell, but my heart calms slightly.

  “Why are you tutoring during winter break?”

  “I need the money and the teaching credits.”

  “For what purpose?”

  “That’s none of your business.”

  I sigh and sit down at the desk. Taking out a notebook and pen, I set up my area and set the backpack on the floor.

  “What are you doing?”

  “You’re offering to teach me magic defense, right?”

  “Why would I need to teach you anything?”

  “Consider me a brand-new student. Teach me like I’ve never learned any of it. It should be easy money for you, right?”

  “Not interested.” He picks up his backpack and heads to the door.

  “I’ll be here at the same time tomorrow,” I say, and he hesitates before stalking away. I lean back in the chair and sigh. He hates Lacey and has a motive to kill her or at least cause her injury. I open my notebook and realize I have no idea who this guy is.

  “Well that went well.” Courtney comes in with a smile on her face. I see the green mist surround us. That privacy spell is convenient. I want it for myself.

  I tap my pen against the notebook. “Who was he?”

  “Rendall Michael Westcott. Exceptional student. Hates your sister. Did you blow your cover?”

  This bitch. I have never in my life wanted to tear someone apart as much as this woman. “What happened four years ago?”

  She hides her smile behind her hand. “He got a higher grade than your sister and she accused him of cheating. They had a duel on the arena floor. She broke her bracelets during the casting. Her magic went out of control and she injured him.”

  “It wasn’t on purpose?”

  “Who knows? He never got first place again after that, so maybe she was right about him cheating.”

  Or maybe he got smart and realized my sister was too dangerous to go against. I’ve been there. “Why wasn’t his face healed?”

  “No one helped him. Who would go against Lacey after that?”

  I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Why aren’t you tutoring me? Are all of them like this?”

  “What do you want me to say? Lacey is universally loved and hated by everyone. You’re too high profile to slip into remedial classes.”

  “Aren’t you setting me up for failure by selecting someone who has no interest in teaching me?”

  “I’m following orders.” She leans against the door jam. “Think of it this way. I’m helping you compile your list of suspects. You should thank me, junior detective.”

  I clench my jaw and force my hands to gently hold the pen. If I snap it in front of her, I’ll just spew ink all over myself. “What’s my next class?”

  “You’ll like her. She’s a huge fan of Lacey’s.”

  “Fill me in this time.”

  “She and Lacey used to be roommates when they were in middle school. Apparently, your sister hates to be woken up in the middle of the night.”

  Great.

  “So what do I do for the next two hours?”

  “Whatever you want, I guess. I really thought Ren needed the money. It’s such a pity.”

  “Make sure he’s paid for his time.” I stare out the window at the never-ending night.

  “Why? He’s not here.”

  “Just do it. It’s not like it’s your money.”

  She mutters under her breath and I let the pen fall back onto the notebook. Rubbing my temples to ease the ache growing there, I consider my options. I’m supposed to help them find out who wanted to hurt my sister. Courtney has probably roped every enemy she has into tutoring me. Why? So I can be exposed as a fake?

  Or is there another reason?

  Maybe she wants to torture me or blackmail me in some way. Or maybe she’s just a petty person who secretly hated my sister and is using me to vent. “Are you recording these sessions to blackmail me later?”

  “No, but that’s a great idea. Maybe this time I’ll stay in the same room with you and catch all your shocked expressions.”

  I turn to stare at her. “I wonder what Lacey would think if she knew you were treating me like this.”

  Her expression shifted for a split second, long enough for me to notice her slight awareness of her hateful attitude. “Lacey was more like me than you. You better get used to being treated this way.”

  She storms off and the green mist dissolves around me. I sigh and stretch my body, arching my tense back in an attempt to loosen muscles still recovering from whatever happened to me when I touched Lacey’s body.

  “Making friends everywhere, I see.”

  I glance up to see Grayson standing in the doorway.

  “I thought you were taking a nap.”

  “Got bored. Figured it would be more exciting in this direction, and I was right.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Westcott stormed off in one direction and your BFF went in another. I come to find the source, and surprise, it’s you.”

  I ignore his sarcasm and try to sort out my thoughts. “Do you talk to Detective Cutter often?”

  “Every now and then.”

  “The next time you talk to him, ask him what happened to the amulet he gave me. I need it to figure out who hurt Lacey.”

  “Sure, but only if I get to see the amulet first.”

  I roll my neck around and then nod in agreement. “Can you teach me magic defense?”

  “Yes.”

  My gaze locks with his and I see amusement lurking in the depths of his eyes. “Will you teach me?”

  “Sure. For a price.”

  “Name it.”

  His smile disappears and he shoves his hands in his pockets. “Let’s get out of here. Too many eyes watching your every move.”

  “Where should we go?”

  “Someplace where you’ll feel right at home.”

  “Sounds ominous. Go there by yourself.”

  “Come on.” He sighs. “I�
��m taking you to our local cemetery.”

  My skin crawls with fear. What does he know about me? “Why would you do that?”

  “Death magic, right? That’s the closest source I can think of. I thought you might recover quicker there and no one would wander across us so we can talk freely.”

  “Why does the Academy have a cemetery?”

  “Powerful magic lies in the bones and organs of the dead. Especiallyfor people like us. Burying them here means they won’t be dug up and used as ingredients.”

  He’s completely serious. “Gross.”

  “But true.”

  “Is she buried there?”

  “Yes.”

  I haven’t seen her for almost five days. Is she hovering around her gravesite waiting for me? What will I do when I see her? Lacey, everything about your life is so complicated already. “Will you answer a question?”

  “Depends on what you’re going to ask.”

  Misery and frustration washes through me and I try to keep it from showing on my face. “Was she a bad person?”

  He hesitates and then nods. “Yeah. She was a very bad person with a lot of powerful enemies.” He shoves his hands in his jacket pockets and jerks his head toward the exit. “Come on. I’ll tell you everything you want to know about her.”

  “For a price,” I say.

  “Always.” His grin is back and my lips barely twitch in response.

  Do I sit here and wait for the next emotional ambush, or follow the strange guy who’s supposed to be my bodyguard? What if I come face to face with Lacey in the cemetery? What do I even say to her? Logic tells me to stay. But Courtney exhausted me and I don’t want to deal with anything else until I figure out whatever got her so worked up. I doubt it was the fact that she got caught stealing and snooping. I put my stuff back into my backpack and stand up. “Let’s go.”

  13

  Following him out of the building and along a cobbled pathway behind gave me the time I needed to sort my thoughts. He doesn't use a lantern or flashlight, but I can still see his smoke form easily under the moonlight. Conscious of the fact that we're out in the open and no privacy spell is being used, I try for some subtle questions.

  “Can you communicate in that form?”