by J. N. Colon
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t want to play the stupid game. I was just wondering why you were playing it. You never do, alone anyways.”
Mac shrugged. “I found it. I was bored. Why not play it?”
Because it’s not like you, I wanted to say. Instead I shrugged, donning his casual, noncommittal gesture.
He paused the game and set the controller on his knee, leaning forward to grab a few chips off the table, popping them in his mouth and chewing loudly. He didn’t bother offering me any. I wasn’t expecting it, but my tummy did whimper a little.
“Are you over your little Haley Joel Osment moment?” He snickered.
My face paled as a myriad of images flooded my mind from last night. The feeling of bugs crawling on my tongue made me bite it almost hard enough to draw blood.
Those jade eyes surveyed me, a smirk widening. “Gees. Don’t pass out or anything.” His lips pursed in thought. “Or better yet. Don’t puke in my room.” His head motioned toward the door. “Take that shit outside.”
The normal un-Mac response to my distress. I expected it. It still hurt. In fact I had no idea why I was still standing on the outskirts of his room, subjecting myself to his cruelty. I must be a masochist now.
“You should have seen Damarius’s face when he learned you’re an even bigger weirdo than he thought.” He grabbed more chips, popping them in his mouth before snatching the controller and resuming the game. “He thinks you’re nuts.”
My eyes burned with tears and cheeks flamed with embarrassment, probably a drastic change from the previous pale coloring. Without meaning to, my hand reached up and pressed Mac’s royal ring that still hung from my necklace into my chest until the pain radiated. I suppose I was just as upset at his harassing behavior then the fact that another council member thought I was a terrible choice for princess.
“What are you doing?”
I glanced up to see Mac staring at the hand that was still lingering on my chest, suspicion spreading across his face. “Nothing.” My gaze averted to the floor, unwilling to let him see the hurt and humiliation I felt. I wouldn’t spur him on or give him the satisfaction.
Tension thickened the air and I could feel his heavy stare, making me fidget. I was moments away from turning heel and high-tailing it out of there when I felt a presence coalesce behind me.
“Ah, Rubi, I’m glad you’re here.” Whitmore’s hand pressed between my shoulder blades, gently propelling me further into the room—the last thing I wanted to do. “I wanted to speak to you and McCollum about something.”
Miranda was behind him, her gaze soft and sympathetic once she got a good look at me. She knew I was upset over something and from the narrowed glare she gave her son she clearly knew who the cause of it was.
Unfortunately Whitmore couldn’t take a hint and sat me down on the couch right next to Mac. He made a face and scooted to the far end, pausing the game and setting the controller on the table in front of us.
Whitmore turned off the television as Miranda stood beside him.
Trepidation slowly oozed through my stomach, cooling my blood. They were putting on a united front. This couldn’t be good.
Whitmore cleared his throat to get our attention. “Rubi, you can’t work at the shop anymore.”
I slid to the edge of the couch, outraged. Sort of. “Why not!”
“Too many ghosts are attaching themselves to you.”
If only he knew the worst ones had nothing to do with the shop. “But…”
He held up a hand. “Not up for discussion. Your safety is a priority and it’s not safe.”
Why did I get the feeling this was more about me looking insane in front of the council members?
Whitmore removed his jacket and folded it neatly before laying it on the back of a chair. “It really is for the best. Besides, you need to finish your schooling and graduate.” His gray eyes flickered toward Mac. “Both of you.”
Miranda flashed a wide, way too happy to be good smile. “Both of you will return to Highland to finish your senior year.”
“WHAT!” Mac was suddenly on the edge of his seat, looking down right mortified. “Why can’t I just finish online or something?”
“Yeah?” Wow we actually agreed on something.
Whitmore removed his tie. “It’s not up for discussion. It’s final.”
“Look at the bright side. You’ll both be able to still live here.”
Awesome. And I meant that with the utmost sarcasm.
Emmaline’s azure eyes scrutinized us or more importantly the wide space between us. She had Mac and I come to the lab at Highland to be examined and we were now sitting on a cold metal table while she stared.
“I don’t know why I have to be here,” I said for the umpteenth time, feeling uncomfortable in the lab and also next to the un-Mac. “I’m not the one who died and came back to life.”
“Yes I know, but there has to be a reason why Mac is the only one who has returned. You might be the answer.” She grabbed a clipboard and began reading over the information.
“I’m the answer for their death. Not any kind of resurrection.”
Mac silently surveyed Emmaline, his gaze lingering over her flawless porcelain skin. She wore a tight gray sweater dress that melted across her delicate body like a glove and a pair of tall heels that made her legs look miles long. She looked like she belonged on a runway in Paris instead of a secret lab beneath a snooty private school.
From the hungry look he was giving her, Mac felt the same.
My stomach curled and an ache began in my heart. It was as if I didn’t even exist to him. How could someone be so attracted to a person and then just suddenly stop? I clearly wasn’t his type anymore. He apparently preferred tall, willowy blondes.
I shouldn’t be surprised. His ex Laney was exactly that. Maybe his attraction for me was simply a fluke and now he’s realized it.
Emmaline’s gaze flickered up from the clipboard, catching Mac’s wondering eyes. “Stop that right now.” Her lips turned down in a frown. “Do not look at me like that McCollum. It’s extremely unsettling.”
Mac’s lips twitched, threatening a smile. “Why? Are you shy or something? I’ll go easy on you.”
My mouth nearly hit the floor. I dug my nails into my palms to keep the tears of pain from prickling my eyes. He was flirting with another girl right in front of me.
An expression of disgust and disappointment crossed Emmaline’s face. “No. It’s unsettling because I’m like a sister to you—much older sister. I watched you grow up.” She pointed the tip of her pin at me. “And another reason is your mate is sitting right next to you. You should be ashamed of yourself for treating her the way you are. The man I knew would never be so terrible and disrespectful to someone.”
His cheeks flamed in embarrassment or maybe anger. I couldn’t really tell what he was thinking these days. “Excuse me,” he hissed through gritted teeth while fists clenched by his sides. “I don’t remember choosing her as my mate.” His voice held such contempt it a cut in my heart so deep it was splitting in half.
“And another thing,” she continued until I interrupted.
“Emma just stop, okay?” I hated how dejected I sounded. “Just finish this examination so we can go. I’m tired.”
Her blonde brow rose. “Nightmare?”
I nodded.
“Psychic one?”
I shrugged. “William.”
She sucked her teeth. “I’m sorry. I wish there was something we could do about helping you sleep.”
“What, your Russian body guard didn’t scare away the ghosties last night?” Mac’s mouth was curled in a cruel, mocking smile.
I couldn’t even respond through the lump rising in my throat. Instead I turned away before he could see the tears watering in my eyes because this time I couldn’t keep them at bay. There was only so much of his horrible behavior I could take before I would break.
Emmaline suddenly reached out and gripped Mac’s ear, pulling
until he got jumped off the table.
“Ouch. What the hell?” he screeched.
“I need to examine you alone for a moment McCollum. And if you say something lewd about that I will break your nose.”
My head reeled back. I’d never seen Emmaline so scary I almost wanted to laugh. She dragged Mac out a door into another room, leaving me alone.
Part of me was hoping she would smack him silly. Hell, all of me would appreciate that.
I wiped the tears that had slipped down my cheeks, trying to gather myself. I wouldn’t let that jerk see me cry over him. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
With a long, weary sigh my gaze traveled the sterile room, trying not to cower from my horrific memories of other labs that were burned into my mind. It wasn’t an easy task because they all looked and smelled the same. They all had that carried a hollow emptiness that made me feel utterly alone—especially now.
Hollow and alone. That was kinda how I felt at the moment.
It totally sucked.
The door across the room opened up as the headmaster of Highland Academy stepped through.
“Rubi.” His amber eyes lit up at my appearance. “I was hoping I hadn’t missed you yet.” Roman Norrington strode in, looking like the respectable principal he was. Brown hair flecked with gray around his temples glinted in the light. His brown tweed suit made his slender build look impeccable. But underneath that reputable exterior I knew a hot guy existed. Beneath those boring suits his body was actually strong and shredded like an Olympic swimmer and those eyes of his were simply hiding the exciting man within. His office was littered with video games and car magazines most people assumed were confiscated from students. Nope. They were his. I’d actually been in his 1973 Dodge Charger and Roman didn’t know the meaning of the words speed limit.
“Hi Roman,” I said kicking my feet. “I’m still here.”
He leaned forward, wrapping me in a bear hug, smelling faintly of sage and tobacco. He pulled back and examined my face, noting the red eyes. Thankfully he didn’t mention them. Instead he flipped open a folder and pulled out a crisp copy of my new schedule. “I’m so happy to have you back.” He winked. “You are by far my most interesting student.”
“I bet,” I scoffed.
“There’s never a dull moment when you’re around.” He pulled out another one. “I have Mac’s as well. Is he still here?”
I jerked my thumb over my shoulder. “He’s with Emmaline.”
“I said I was sorry.” Mac’s muffled yell seeped through the walls.
“Not to me! To Rubi.”
My gaze flickered to Roman, his expression sympathetic. Great. Now the whole of Highland Academy would get to witness my humiliation. Hey I should look on the bright side. It couldn’t be any worse than my very first day at the private school two year ago. Right?
Gulp.
Right…?
Part 2
Chapter 15
Oh man. Here we go again, I thought staring at myself in the mirror off the kitchen. My gray tartan skirt was too short for my liking, threateningly close to displaying my lacey black covered goods. Not that anyone would care to see them these days. The black cashmere sweater was tight over my chest even though I lost a few pounds while Mac was dead. Thanks to Demy they were slowly but surely returning. The Highland Academy crest was stamped on the left side. A dragon breathing fire onto a shield still wasn’t normal in my book.
A finger hooked in the collar, stretching it down to reveal my star shaped scar dangerously close to my heart. For eleven years my parents let me believe I got it from falling out of a tree. That was so far from the truth it was laughable. I was staked by a hunter when I was five after ingesting a bunch of Whitmore’s blood to cure me from some rare blood disease. That was what started this whole mess. I was supposed to stay away from vampires, but well, here I am. One of them.
Gray knit knee high socks led down to a shiny pair of Prada Mary Janes. I only knew they were Prada because Aspen bought them for me. They arrived in the mail yesterday with a pair of pretty silver hair clips. The note from her told me to brush my hair and wear those clips or she’d come to town and take me shopping herself.
Yikes.
Definitely not taking her threat lightly.
My hair was pulled up on one side away from my face with a clip. One was the most I could handle.
Just to please her in case she saw pictures I wore a little mascara that brought out my honey eyes and a sheer gloss over my fat lips. I grinned tightly, deepening my lone dimple.
So weird.
I shook my head, experiencing a major case of déjà vu. This scene was so similar to the first time I attended Highland it was frightening. Except I had no bitchy roommate then.
Oh wait. I supposed the Un-Mac was my unfriendly roomie now.
I snorted on a humorless laugh.
My gaze took in my reflection, suddenly visualizing the picture of my tormenter Dana Livingstone. The uniform was too close to hers in the picture I had to look away.
It took some effort to swallow the dread down. I seriously hoped the three ghost-keteers didn’t decide to show up in my classes. I could see it now, me screaming at the invisible bugs falling in my hair and the acidic slim eating away my skin.
With a shiver I turned away and stalked into the kitchen, grabbing a piece of bacon off my plate. I chewed on it while I looked over my schedule. I felt Mac walk in and glanced up just in time to see him do a double take, his jade eyes wide.
“What?” I snapped, waiting on some snarky response.
Mac was wearing a matching uniform with gray slacks and a black cashmere sweater that didn’t do much to hide the muscles in his arms and chest. A white button down shirt and tie peeked from beneath. His hair was annoyingly neat, combed away from his chiseled, handsome face. His now normally cold jade eyes were darkly smoldering as he slowly drank me in from head to toe, lingering on my thighs and chest. A pink tongue absentmindedly flicked out, licking those lush lips I was very familiar with even if he didn’t remember.
A deep flush spread across my cheeks. “What?”
Mac looked away and cleared his throat, averting his eyes to adjusting his already perfect sweater. “Nothing.”
Rufus drove while Daedalus sat in the passenger seat, shooting worried glances at me through the rearview mirror. After the tenth one I sighed. “Dae, I’ll be fine.”
He grumbled unconvinced.
Rufus elbowed him. “Don’t make her more anxious.”
He clucked his teeth. “I’m not.” He shot me another glance, his brows arched questioningly. And a little hopeful. “Right?”
I shook my head. “Nothing could make me more anxious about this.” My tone was laced with sarcasm. Okay let’s be real. It was drowning in sarcasm.
“Aren’t you going to ask about me?” Mac smoothed down a stray hair that I wished would kick the others around. No such luck.
Daedalus turned, smirking at a Mac. “No. You’re a big boy. I’m sure you can handle yourself.” He winked a dark eye before spinning back around.
Mac harrumphed and crossed his arms against his check, making his biceps appear even bigger.
The massive, ominous iron gates of Highland Academy rose up into view, opening to allow us in and closing behind us with an eerie, grinding clank. Towering oaks leaned over the black SUV, threatening to reach down and scoop us up and devour us in his head of multicolored leaves.
The castle like main building sprung up against the dreary gray sky. Turrets rose high, stabbing the heavy clouds. A carpet of moss and lichen crawled up the brick façade, snaking toward the lower windows as if wanting shelter from the glowering gargoyles perched on the roof.
Yep. Gargoyles. Oh how I’ve missed your grubby little faces.
Groves of maples and oaks flanked the school, leaves turning every shade in the autumn rainbow while fog crawled ominously between the trunks. The mist was so thick it was difficult to see past the edge even with my vampire
sight. Groups of students appeared out of the white haze like the dead returning from the grave.
Welcome back to Highland Academy.
Rufus and Daedalus disappeared amongst the shadows to guard as Mac and I strolled toward the main building. Students had no qualms about staring, even the humans who didn’t know we were royalty. Most of them simply knew us as Mac and Rubi, the popular it couple.
I hated to burst their bubble, but Mac and Rubi were no more. I was sure they could tell by the immense distance between us. Okay, there was only about a foot and that was a foot too much for us.
The old us anyways.
A blonde head of hair that still managed to gleam in the dull sunlight caught my attention. Sasha was standing by the door, a shy smile on her sweet, heart shaped face. Her slight frame barely cast a shadow.
I glanced down at mine to see a deformed gremlin staring back.
Ugh.
“Hi Rubi. How are you?” Sasha asked, waving a delicate hand. Her light blue eyes fixed on Mac without waiting for me to respond and I swear they actually twinkled. “Hi Mac.” Her voice took on an almost breathy quality.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
She tucked her hair behind her ear. “I know you don’t remember me, but…”
Mac flashed a crooked smile. “Sasha. You’re parents told me all about you.”
I bet.
Surprise crossed her face and pink tinted her cheek. “Oh. I hope it was all good things.”
“Sure was Sasha.”
My hand flinched, wanting to smack the back of Mac’s head. He was flirting with another girl right in front of me! And Sasha, the sweet shy girl was salivating all over him like me over a steak.
Apparently I was freaking invisible.
“I could show you to your classes,” Sasha offered.
I audibly cleared my throat, making her blink out of her little love haze. I shot her a hard, narrowed glare that had her pale skin turning purple.
“Oh, um right.” She shook her head. “Rubi can show you.”
“You can show me,” Mac said, grabbing her arm and tugging her into the building.
