by G. Bailey
“It’s not me that is tempting, Lexi,” he darkly warns.
“Are you saying I am?” I joke, but something about his eyes make me think this is more serious than I thought.
“Very,” he remarks, leaning closer. “Demons like you make it easy for me to understand why an angel fell to hell for the love of a demon.”
“You know your history,” I point out.
“Lexi—” he is cut off as the door opens, and I jump away from him as Sera walks in, quickly shutting the door.
“Javier, you need to get moving. They are talking about adding extra security to the academy for whatever is happening. I don’t think it will be safe for you to come back,” she explains.
“I’m not leaving you alone here, Sera,” he protests.
“She isn’t alone, Javier. I will protect her with my life, I promise. Is there a way to connect to you through social media or something?” I suggest.
“The pack has no signal, but I can sneak out to a local town and use a computer there. Sera, you can email me on Lexi’s laptop. Okay?” he says, walking to the kitchen and finding a notepad on the side with a pen. He jots down something before hugging Sera and walking right up to me. I’m surprised when he pulls me into a hug, holding me close to him, and I realise how nice it is to be hugged by him. God, I’m not stupid enough to not realise I’m falling for Sera’s brother. Even though he will soon be mated and I won’t see him again.
Even though he is impossible to have as mine.
My stupid heart doesn’t care about that though.
“Keep yourself and Sera safe. If you need anything, I’m one email away. Even if it means running away, I’m here for you,” he tells me.
“You need to go,” I remind him.
“I know,” he tells me, closing his eyes for a second and stepping back. Sera comes to my side as Javier shifts into his wolf, ripping his clothes to pieces, and I lock eyes with the big gray wolf in front of me. I step forward, but Sera grabs my arm.
“Don’t,” she warns me, but I shake her off.
“It’s just Javier,” I tell her as I walk up to the wolf and fall to my knees, so our eyes are at the same level. The wolf surprises me by bowing his head down, and I gently place my hand on his head, running my fingers through the thick, silky-soft brown hair. In seconds, Javier’s wolf hits my arm with his paw, cutting me as I jump back.
“Lexi!” Sera falls to my side as I watch Javier’s wolf run to the window and sneak out of the panel before disappearing into the cliffs.
“Why would he hurt me?” I ask as Sera pulls up my sleeve.
“You don’t understand,” Sera tells me, her voice serious and almost frightening, so unlike my friend. “His wolf just marked you as his. If anyone sees this, both you and Javier are dead.”
“What?” I splutter, moving my eyes to the three scratch marks on my wrist. What the fuck just happened?
Chapter 25
Gifts of an unusual kind
“You’re mad at me,” Claus suggests, his sexy voice makes me shiver like it always does. But I don’t want to speak to him right now. I just want to pretend he isn’t here.
“Duh,” I mutter at Claus, ignoring him as he stares at me. I carry on reading the book about Hellers and the millions of rules of their jobs that they have. Mr. Johan pretty much dropped the books on our tables before disappearing like all the rest of the teachers have this week. I don’t know what is going on, no one does, but all the teachers are spooked. Every room smells of fresh paint, polish, and there isn’t a dust bunny in sight.
“I did something for you,” he tells me. “It’s a gift.”
“Murder some kittens? Puppies?” I sarcastically suggest, and he narrows his eyes at me as I turn to face him. “I don’t want your kind of gifts, Claus. They are not nice.”
“This one is,” he tells me. “Don’t you want to know?”
“Nope,” I reply.
“Lexi,” he warns.
“Claus?” I reply.
“You are so stubborn. Please let me tell you,” he asks with a groan. Oh, I do like annoying him.
“Fine, what is it?” I ask, giving in.
“I made Nick release all of the hex guys we had. We won’t be doing any more ceremonies because we know you don’t like them,” he tells me, and I’m actually really shocked. A happy kind of shocked.
“You did that for me?” I ask.
“Despite everything...we want to be better for you. We were bought up with humans you know?” he remarks.
“Thank you,” I tell him, and I think I surprised him by reaching over and wrapping my arms around his neck, holding him close to me, and he flattens his hands on my waist, almost pulling me into his lap. “It really means a lot to me that you are trying to be better than everyone else in this academy.”
“You mean a lot to us, Lexi. To me,” he whispers to me, and I pull back, knowing my cheeks are blushing. I think that’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me.
“What were your human foster parents like?” I ask him, leaning back in my seat.
“Don’t think I missed the change of subject, but I’m going to play,” he replies with a smirk. “Stephanie and Fernand were, without a single doubt, the kindest people I’ve ever known. They had good hearts, pure and simple, and they were good parents. The best really.”
“They sound very sweet. Where were you brought up?” I ask.
“Just outside Wales, in a small village. We never were good at making friends, but we had each other,” he explains to me.
“I think humans can sense we are forever. I never made friends either, and the first guy I went on a date with ran away crying,” I explain to him, and his lips twitch before he starts laughing.
“Don’t laugh, it’s mean,” I say, annoyance thick in my tone.
“It’s just hilarious. You really are amazing, Lexi,” he tells me, and I blush a little bit.
“When you said they were good parents, do you mean they are dead?” I gently ask after a little silence between us.
“Yes,” he says, looking away from me and to the desk where the book he was given is closed, and I doubt he has any intention of opening it.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked,” I say.
“No, you can ask me anything,” he is quick to tell me, looking at me once more. “Our mother came to see us five years ago, even though she was banned from being near us until we turned seventeen. She got jealous and killed Stephanie and Fernand. We came home to see their dead bodies and our mother standing in their blood, pretending she didn’t do anything.”
“What happened next?” I ask, feeling horrified for him and Nick.
“Father said he cursed her and that we wouldn’t have to worry about seeing her again. We went back with him to hell for a bit and then lived here and there until coming to DA,” he explains.
“I’m so sorry your mother did that. It must be hard. Did you ever know her?” I ask.
“Father told us she never wanted us as babies, and he knew he couldn’t bring up children in hell, especially not with angel blood. We were getting sick, so on the advice of his guards, they suggested a human fostering. Turns out that is just what we needed to live and grow,” he explains to me.
“It’s almost like you lost two mothers and a father, only to meet a stranger,” I remark.
“He wasn’t a stranger to us. Dad always came to see us once a year in this old, burnt-out house. I don’t know why it had to be there, but we always saw him there,” he explains to me.
“So Lucifer can come to Earth? I thought—”
“Loopholes. Enough about my dad though, tell me something about your past,” he rapidly changes the subject. I did that earlier on him though, so I have to play.
“My old school uniform was orange,” I aimlessly say.
“Random, but I like it,” he chuckles.
“I once had a rabbit as a pet, that is until I forgot to lock the cage and she escaped into the garden. I found n
othing but fluff the next day,” I divulge to him.
“No pets for you then,” he chuckles.
“Well, I have Amethyst,” I remind him.
“Why have I never seen your familiar?” he mutters.
“I know, right? It’s so odd that you keep missing her,” I say.
“Maybe if you invite me over for a sleepover, I would—” I put my one finger on his lips and shake my head before turning back to my textbook. “Is that a no?”
“Get some work done, Claus,” I mutter, hearing his sexy chuckle, feeling like it rolls over my skin, leaving goose bumps in its trail. Claus Lucifer is becoming an addictive part of my life, and I have the feeling he won’t be leaving any time soon. At the end of class, I gather my books and walk out with Claus, coming to a stop when I see Mr. Bisgaard outside my classroom. He waves a hand for me to follow, and I look toward Sera, who is walking over.
“Want me to come with you?” Claus questions me.
“No, I’m okay. See you later,” I tell him, resting my hand on his shoulder for a second as I pass. I follow Mr. Bisgaard to his office where Sera waits outside, and I go in. I sit in the seat as he closes the door and comes to sit down.
“Any news on my parents? Is something wrong?” I quickly ask, needing to know what is going on.
“As far as I’m aware, your parents are fine and the trial is set for two weeks’ time. I wanted to have a quick word with you about next week before everyone else hears,” he says, putting me at some ease.
“I’m confused,” I ponder.
“Next week, we have a special visitor who is coming to stay at the academy for at least a few weeks. He will be attending the court case with you, and it is important you behave as a respectable student of DA,” he tells me.
“What exactly do you want from me?” I ask, crossing my arms.
“Times are dangerous for your family, Miss Cameron. I am merely suggesting you do not do anything to put yourself in more danger,” he tells me, and it only makes me think of the wolf marking scratch on my arm that I don’t even understand, and the angel blessing on my thigh.
I’m a walking danger hazard at this point.
“Is that all?” I ask.
“There is one more thing. A letter from your uncle,” he tells me, pushing over a white envelope across the table. “Did your uncle send the necklace you wear?”
“Yes,” I reply, picking up the letter.
“How very expensive a gift it is. Do you understand what it is?” he enquires.
“Not exactly. I was told it would protect me, but then I was hexed—” I pause. “The necklace was glowing before I went to sleep. Maybe it knew?”
“Yes, it does. It senses danger, and it will glow. It is a powerful and rare gift. Do hold it close, Miss Cameron. I feel you need all the help you can get,” he tells me, and without saying goodbye, he bursts into green flames. I turn the envelope over and break the red wax seal before pulling out the letter.
For my dearest niece,
I do hope The Demon Academy is looking after you well. We will meet very shortly at the trial, and I will be the one in the yellow cloak.
Your mum and dad send their love and deep regret they did not get to tell you about this world themselves. They hope you have adapted yourself to this world, and they are desperate to see you soon.
The second reason I write to you is to remind you of your father’s last words to you in this pressing time.
We belong only to ourselves.
Your uncle,
Harry Snowen
I rub the tears away from my eyes, wishing I could hear my parents say these words and that they weren’t written by a stranger. Two weeks. That is all that is left between me and seeing my parents once more. How much could really go wrong in that time?
Chapter 26
The devil speaks no lies
“Lexi...you look like a queen,” Sera states in utter shock as she steps back from me, finishing doing up the lace back of the dress.
“You chose the dress, so why are you surprised?” I ask her, watching as she rubs her arm with her other hand.
“I didn’t choose this dress, Lexi. I picked another one and never saw this one. It just turned up,” she explains to me.
“Maybe it went to the wrong room?” I suggest.
“I asked that, but everyone is certain this dress is yours,” she tells me. “I just don’t know who sent it and had it made.”
“Well, let’s not punch a gift horse in the mouth,” I say, and she chuckles at me as I look back in the full-length mirror. The dress is red...which every girl is wearing, and the guys have to wear white. The red dress has a deep v shape split down to my stomach, and it is so tight that I can wear it without a bra, and it looks amazing. The back is all lace, and thin straps of shiny red fabric rest on my upper arms down to my wrists. The rest of the fabric flows out into a princess shape dress that touches the floor. I’m keeping my flat black shoes on instead of the red heels that came with the dress, or I am going to be falling over. Sera has circled all my hair up into a bun with several braids at the sides, and she has placed tiny little diamond-looking slides into the front of the bun, which catch the light. My necklace from my uncle rests in the middle of my chest, the red glow from it matching the dress almost perfectly.
“Perfect,” Sera whispers, and I turn to her. I walk over and pull her to me, hugging her tightly.
“I wish you could come with me,” I tell her. I’d love to dance with Sera and chuckle.
“I know,” she tells me. “I love to dance as well.”
“Then I will dance for you,” I tell her as I pull back. “I want you to lock the door behind me and hide in here. I have a bad feeling about tonight, and I can’t quite place what it is.”
“I feel nervous too. My wolf is on edge, pushing against my mind even though it’s five days until the full moon,” she tells me.
“To make me feel better, grab a knife from the kitchen and keep it on you tonight as you hide,” I ask her to do.
“What about me? You care little for my existence,” Amethyst protests.
“Good idea. I will go and get one now,” Sera walks off, and I lean down, picking Amethyst up.
“Amethyst, I love you, you know that. I also know you are a very good escape artist, especially if anything goes wrong,” I tell her.
“Compliments do not work on me,” Amethyst grumbles, but she starts to purr as I scratch behind her ears and put her down on the bed. “Sera has catnip and fresh chicken for you. I asked her specifically.”
“Maybe you aren’t a betrayer after all,” she mutters.
“Maybe not,” I chuckle and leave her rolled up in a ball on my bed as I walk away.
“You look like someone I once knew,” I hear Amethyst say, sounding strange to my ears. I turn back to ask her who, but she has her eyes closed, her breathing heavy. I wonder who she used to know that wore red ball gowns? Maybe Amethyst is going crazy after all. I shake my head as I leave the room and come into the kitchen where Sera is waiting for me, a knife on the side next to her. The biggest one. My kinda girl.
“Good luck and have fun. It might be nothing—”
“Every teacher is acting weird and almost frightened this week. I don’t think this is just going to be a regular ball,” I remind her.
“Me neither, I just wanted to make you feel better,” she tells me.
“You’re my best friend, Sera. You know that?” I tell her as I walk to the door.
“You know you’re mine too,” she tells me, and I grin back at her, feeling more at home in this academy than I ever have done at this moment. This school gave me Sera, a chance to have her friendship, and I know it will last a long time between us.
“See you later,” I say as I open the door and walk out into the corridor. I keep my head high as I walk past the statue and around it to the double doors that have always been closed until this night. Sera told me the decorations in the ballroom where insanely beautiful, and I can�
��t actually wait to see this room. A few students in light-red dresses look at me, and I smile at them, but they don’t smile back.
“Enjoy the ball, Lexi,” I sharply turn to see Maggie at my side, appearing out of nowhere. She has a tight, floor-length red dress on with black vines wrapped around her arms and up to her neck. Her long hair is up in a high ponytail, curled to perfection, and her makeup makes her eyes seem darker and bigger somehow.
“Same to you,” I reply. I’m surprised she said anything to me at all.
“Letitia was my best friend, but I should have stopped her doing what she did. I didn’t, so it is as much my fault as it is yours that she is gone,” she tries to explain. It hurts that she knew she was going to try and kill me. At the end of the day, everything in this academy is trying to kill us, and as students, we should try to band together simply to survive.
“Her soul belongs to Lucifer now,” I say, but it doesn’t feel like me that said it at all. My demon echoes the words in my head, making it clear who pushed that thought out of my lips.
“As it should,” Maggie replies and nods her head at me before heading into the dark corridor behind the double doors. I keep my head high as I follow after her, walking down the silent corridor which has no lights. Two doors on the other side push open as I get close to them, revealing the ballroom, and the music blasts against my ears. An orchestra plays beautiful, soulful music on the one side of the ballroom, couples dance and spin around with each other in the middle, and the other side is a bar with small tables with red orbs floating in the middle of each table. I look back to the dancers, the way the women have long dresses that contrast with the men in white suits. The mix of red and white almost blur together like a beautiful painting, effortless and unique.
Unforgettable.
