Silverwood Academy Book 1

by Jasmaine Groth

  I gave her a tight-lipped smile. “Hey,” I replied.

  Then they went back to talking amongst themselves, looking out across the room I seen Ace sitting alone, a coffee cup in front of him. He was staring off into the distance, not a worry on his face. His leather jacket hung open over his black shirt and black ripped jeans. He gave off bad boy vibes. As if sensing me watching him, he turned to look at me, smirking. I smiled at him, then quickly turned away.

  My hangover was starting to fade, and I was feeling less drunk. I was still exhausted though. “Good night?” Ace asked, slipping in beside me at the table. Anna’s head snapped up and she looked shocked as she seen who was sitting next to me.

  “Yeah,” I told him.

  “I thought you would’ve called me for a ride,” he smirked down at me, winking.

  I laughed, biting my lip. “Obviously, that was a one-time thing.”

  “We could always do it again.” He smiled at me. “You can call me any time, day or night.” He stood up and left.

  I couldn’t fight the laugh that bubbled up my throat. “Sure!” I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes.

  Anna and Sophia leaned forward. “Did you have sex with him?” Anna asked in a whisper.

  “No,” I told her. “He just gave me a ride back to the academy on his motorbike last week.” I shrugged.

  “He’s older than us,” Sophia added. “He’s in third year, and apparently super popular with the ladies.”

  I smiled, looking over at him, as he looked at me with a grin, obviously listening into our conversation. “I can’t see why he wouldn’t be,” I replied. “But he seems a little bit of a douche.” His eyebrows lifted at that and he chuckled. I turned away from him, my hair flicking, as I rose from my chair, heading out the door, walking past Selene and her friends. I smiled kindly at Dawn and she smiled back, which earned a scowl from Selene.

  Once I was out of the cafeteria I shot back to the dormitory in a blur, heading to my room, laying on my bed, trying to get some sleep, but it wouldn’t come, so I just laid there watching as the time ticked by slowly. I headed back to the cafeteria at lunch time, eating food, having some blood and heading back to my room hoping to pass out so I could get some fucking sleep.

  I laid in bed, waiting for sleep to come, but it still didn’t, so I sat in my bathtub, a face mask on and relaxing oils. I only got out when the water got cold, drying myself off, getting dressed in some booty shorts and a crop top, sitting on my window seat, painting my toes a nude shade, scrolling through s-book while I waited for them to dry.

  A popular post stood out. I read it, my blood ran cold, and my heart stopped beating for several moments as I paled, reading it again and again. Tears stung the backs of my eyes and I tried not to cry.

  Sterling Blackwell is in a relationship with Melissa Blackthorne

  I decided to torture myself further by reading the comments.

  Claudia Nightshade: Congratulations!

  Destiny Simmons: I called it! Told you Adrienne Vargas

  Adrienne Vargas: Omg! You totally did!

  Anna Clarke: OMG! Always thought they’d look cute together!

  Sophia Montgomery: Same!

  Anna Clarke: So happy for them!

  My heart sank further into my chest, and I drew my knees up to my chest, letting the tears fall freely, liking Anna’s comment and the status. Hitting comment.

  Natasha Marshall: Congratulations to the happy couple!

  A sob wracked my chest and I cried, my heart crushing in my chest, making it hard to breathe. I hated myself for letting it get to me. So stupid! Such a stupid girl! This is what you get for opening your heart up to someone! I cried until no more tears fell. A notification told me Sterling and Melissa both liked my comment, which made me scream and cry into my pillow, hoping people couldn’t hear me. I fell asleep from exhaustion.

  ***

  Waking up early Monday morning I went for a run, doing three laps of my usual run. When I finished, I headed into the cafeteria, making myself a coffee. Sterling walked in, grabbing two cups, waiting for me to be finished making my coffee. I knew he was making them for himself and Melissa, like he did for me in Bora Bora, and my heart twisted painfully in my chest. I grabbed my cup, walking to the buffet table and grabbed some yoghurt, berries and muesli, sitting down at a table in the corner. Sterling looked up at me, glaring. “Do you have something to say to me Professor?” I asked him, folding my arms across my chest and glaring.

  He ignored me, grabbing the two cups of coffee, heading to the buffet and putting a bunch of stuff on two plates and took off in a blur. People started filling in the cafeteria and I ignored everyone, I finished my breakfast, heading back to my room to change into my uniform.

  The bell rang, and I shot off to the arena for my Air Elemental class, and stood inside as I waited for the rest of the class to come in. Professor Carr walked in. “Today we will be learning to use our Air to shield ourselves,” she said, looking over the class. “You will have to concentrate and push the Air outwards, using your own power. Now we’ll start.”

  Wind swept around me, blowing my hair around in the crazy breeze and I shut my eyes, reaching out to the well of power that blazed beneath my skin, I brought it to the surface, holding onto it as I pushed the power out of me, willing it to still the wind around me, slowly it died down until it was still. I held the protective bubble tightly around me, focusing on keeping the power at my fingertips to push out the wall of wind. “Good job Natasha!” Professor Carr encouraged.

  My bubble faltered a little and my hair got carried away in the wind for a second until I slammed my magic back in place. “That’s great everyone! Now I’ll make it rain a little and just remember to hold the shield up, you will be able to protect yourself from the rain by guiding it away from you using air.”

  As she was talking the sky turned dark above us and a light drizzle fell from the sky. I hardened my magic bubble, willing the rain from me with my air and I watched as the rain fell, and changed direction away from me. I held the bubble of air, keeping the wind and rain off me.

  The bell rang and I headed off to my Physical Exercise class, speeding off using my vampire speed, changing into my sports uniform and running shoes, heading back outside and began stretching, then taking off into a jog, before Sterling could mention anything, the rest of the class followed.

  I jogged around the usual route, taking lead, I kept running pushing harder. I focused on my power, bringing it to surface, using what I’d learnt from today to stop the air from rushing passed and sweeping my hair out behind me, it fell still around me and I pushed the air behind my back a little, my speed increasing. I laughed, thrill running through my veins.

  When I finished my last lap, I headed inside the gym, starting on weights. When the bell rang, I was covered in sweat, my shirt was wet and clung to my body. I used my Air element to dry the sweat from my body, clothes and hair. A huge gust of wind blew through the gym, slamming against my body as it dried me out, I walked to the door, turning the full force of my wind on the door and it blew open. I grinned to myself, loving my power. The energy of it sang across my skin, tingling me.

  ***

  I finished off my last bite, drinking the rest of my blood, getting up from the table and walked across the cafeteria, putting my thermos in the returns bin and the plate on the table next to it. I walked outside, laying down on the grass as I leaned into my power, using it to bring a gentle breeze across my flushed skin. I smiled, feeling the tingling sensation I got when I used them. I shut my eyes, feeling the sun wash over me. It reminded me of laying in Sterling’s bed in Bora Bora as the sun rose and beat into the door, the wind would rustle my hair.

  Shaking my head, I banished those thoughts. Refusing to let them in, not allowing them to be something I looked back on. I refused to be reminded of the week I got used by him, the week that had been amazing, only to end so suddenly. He has a girlfriend now.

  The wind picked up, suddenly it was whippin
g around me wildly, I couldn’t get a hold of it, it was out of control. I wrangled my magic back, unsure why I lost control like that. I bit my lip.

  I got up just as the bell rang, heading inside and up the stairs for Advanced Abilities, standing outside the classroom as others came walking up the stairs. Professor Pierce unlocked the door, walking inside. “We’ll be attempting to do trances now,” he told the class as we walked in. “We have some guests to help.”

  The door opened, about a dozen people walked through the door, humans from the smell of them. My fangs ached to be set free, but I ignored that feeling, looking around at everyone’s faces.

  “Pair up, you and your partner will attempt to put our delicious guests into a trance,” Professor Pierce said smiling.

  Anna and Isaac paired up, Sophia and Nic. I looked across the room, Silver and Selene paired up, while Dawn looked around the room hopeful, I stood up walking over to her with a friendly smile. “Hey Dawn, wanna pair up?” I asked nicely.

  Relief crossed her face as she smiled up at me. “Yes,” she replied.

  Selene’s head snapped in our direction and she glared at her friend. “Don’t team up with her!” she demanded.

  Dawn bit her lip. “Everyone else has already paired up,” she told her in a small voice.

  I crossed my arms. “Don’t be a bully, Selene,” I told her, lifting my brows challenging. I took Dawn’s arm, leading her away. “Come on.” She followed reluctantly, biting her lip.

  A human came walking over to us and sat down opposite to us. “Did you want to try first?” Dawn asked.

  “Sure,” I told her. Looking into the girls’ eyes across from me, I smiled, releasing some of my vampire power in her direction, unleashing the swarming dark monster a little bit. Her brown eyes glazed over and smiled at me. “I want you to jump up on the table and dance act like a monkey.”

  The lady giggled. “Anything for you!” she replied, she proceeded to jump on the table, hunching her shoulder over, squeaking like a monkey, jumping up and down.

  Dawn and I laughed, and my concentration broke and the lady stopped what she was doing, looked around wide-eyed like she couldn’t believe what she did. I turned towards Dawn. “Why are you friends with Selene? She’s so mean and bossy.” I smiled kindly at her.

  Dawn sighed, a worried look crossing her face as she looked over at Selene. “She seemed nice when we first met, but now it seems better to be her friend than her enemy,” Dawn whispered, biting her lip.

  “I don’t know why you hang around her, you’re so nice,” I told her, shrugging.

  She smiled at me. “Thanks. I’m sorry about Selene hitting you in your ribs when they were broken. That wasn’t cool.”

  Looking into her eyes I could tell she was being genuine. “Thanks,” I replied, smiling back at her. “Your turn.”

  Dawn turned to the lady, whose face went blank and smiled again. “I want you to inspect your nails, I think one has chipped,” she said.

  The lady inspected her hands and gasped. “Oh no! My nail has a chip!”

  I laughed, she didn’t even have nail polish on. “Awesome.”

  We kept going back and forth, putting the lady in a trance, talking. Dawn was actually nice and funny, and we had a good time together, even though she was friends with my enemy.

  I headed off to Advanced Compulsion when the bell rang, walking across the hall, I took my usual seat, looking down at Melissa as jealousy and hatred crawled through my body, filling every crevice, making me wish I didn’t feel anything towards Sterling. “Today we will be working on our compulsion still,” she told us, smiling. “Remember to concentrate, messing with anyone’s mind is not easy.”

  There were five humans sitting on chairs at the front of the class and we all took turns in groups of five at trying to compel one of them and make them forget. I succeeded.

  ***

  The rest of the day passed quickly, and when classes finished I got dressed in my room and lounged around on the hill outside The Hub, closing my eyes and soaking up the sun, feeling the light breeze I had conjured play with my hair, the smell of grass and dirt mixed together.

  I couldn’t blame Anna and Sophia for wanting to hang out with their boyfriends all the time, but I was starting to feel a little neglected, but figured when they were ready to hang out again, they’d come find me. We all just had so much going on at the moment. Well they did, I just moped around in my spare time, planning my revenge for Selene and playing with my magic, all while trying not to think about Sterling.

  “What are you up to?” Dawn asked, walking up to me. Her hair rustled in my breeze as she sat down beside me and laughed. “You’re making this wind, aren’t you?”

  “Yeah,” I told her with a smile.

  “Aren’t you always hanging around with Anna and Sophia?” she questioned.

  I waved my hand. “They’re hanging with their boyfriends,” I replied. “Why aren’t you with Selene?”

  Dawn looked sheepish. “She’s been ignoring me since I worked with you earlier,” she replied, shrugging.

  I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know why you hang out with her,” I replied. “She’s so toxic and abusive.”

  Dawn sighed, leaning back against the hill. “I think she’s that way because her parents didn’t care, and they’d buy her things to shut her up, then when she couldn’t be quiet anymore they sent her away,” she told me, shrugging. “I think she has some deep seeded trauma.”

  “True,” I told her. “But you know what? Everyone has something. Look at this place as an example, we have vampires who were stolen out of their lives to be offered up and turned because what someone somewhere decided that they wanted that person turned?”

  She smiled. “That’s a good way to look at it,” she told me. She suddenly stood up. “I have to go, if Selene seen me, I’ll be in so much more trouble.”

  “Bye,” I waved as she went, wondering if I should leave Dawn out of my revenge plans for Selene.

  The sun started setting in the distance, sending the sky various colours: oranges, pinks, purples. They started fading, the first star appearing, the darker it got the more stars appeared and I watched as they winked down on the world, letting us know they could see us.

  I stood up, letting the wind I created fall away as I walked into The Hub and into the cafeteria. Heading to the buffet, I grabbed a thermos, some pizza and chocolate cake, heading back outside to sit in the courtyard under the stars to eat.

  A cool breeze began to pick up, I used my Air element to push the breeze away from me, so I was protected. “I’m happy to see you practicing,” Professor Carr said, stopping by the door to smile at me before she walked inside.

  “Thanks,” I told her, not really knowing what to say, she walked off inside, the door swinging shut behind her.

  I finished off my chocolate cake, licking the icing off my fingers with a moan. It was so good. Sterling came striding towards The Hub wearing jeans and a shirt, I turned away, my heart pinching at seeing him, which I ignored. Adding another brick around my heart.

  Swirling my finger through the chocolate icing left on my plate, sucking the chocolate icing off my finger. I refused to look up as he walked passed me, focusing on my plate like it was the most important thing in the world, the door opened, and he disappeared inside. My heart hammered around in my chest, I grabbed my plates, walking back into the cafeteria to put it on the table beside the kitchen, grabbing another thermos and left.

  I ran back to my room with a burst of vampire speed, slamming my door behind me, stripping off and heading into the bathroom for a shower. After I changed into my pyjamas, I laid down on top of my bed and fell to sleep, as silent tears fell down my cheeks.

  Chapter 15:

  The sound of my alarm woke me up. I groaned, turning over, silencing it, pulling myself out of bed and changing into some leggings and a plain shirt, pulling my runners on and tying my hair up into a high pony.

  I ran the Academy grounds, running a new
route that took me out the back of the dormitories, through the woods and around to the Health and Wellness Centre, then back to The Hub, up the hill, past the witches’ dormitories, the garden, the gym and back to the vampire dormitories, then back around.

  After my third lap around, I headed upstairs to my room, showered and got dressed in my shorts and polo shirt, ready for my morning class with Sterling Blackwell. Walking along the path through the woods to get to The Hub, thinking about how much I wasn't looking forward to seeing Sterling.

  I made a coffee, grabbed a thermos and my usual breakfast, heading back outside, sitting down at one of the tables in the courtyard, eating my breakfast.

  As I was eating, Sterling came strolling up to The Hub, I ignored him, and he didn’t acknowledge me. I felt the slightest pang in my chest as my heart squeezed, but I tried to ignore it, pushing my feelings aside.

  Sterling was untrustworthy and an asshole, he played me like a fool and there was no way I was going to fall for it again, no matter how much my heart hurt and complained.

  A few moments later Sterling walked back out the door with two cups of coffee, heading back in the direction of the teachers' housing, I knew who that second coffee was for and I kept trying to ignore the way it made me feel, glaring at him as he walked away, while sipping my cup of coffee and listing every reason why it was impossible for me not to hate him.

  People started filing into The Hub, heading to the cafeteria with their friends. I stood up returning my bowl to the table in front of the kitchen, sitting down at the table I usually sat with my friends.

  “Hey Tash,” Anna said, smiling at me as she sat down with her coffee and breakfast.

  “Hey,” I replied, smiling at her.

  “We didn’t see you at dinner last night,” she stated.

  “Yeah, I ate outside,” I replied. “Come to my room tonight, I need to tell you something.”

  Anna raised her eyebrows at me. “Is this why you were hanging out with Dawn yesterday?”

  I smirked at her and nodded, she laughed. “Okay.”