Marked: Black Water Academy: Book One

by Murphy, Sloane

  I lay on my bed and stare at the ceiling and wonder what exactly is happening to me. And if Ethan and Creed seem to like me because of me, or if it’s because of who I am luring them to me. I wish my mom or Dannika were still here, or that I’d thought to ask all of the questions I have before…

  I don’t know if I can trust myself, let alone anyone else. I’ve been here two weeks, and already everything feels so complicated. Ruby seems to have implanted herself in my life, and as much as it’s nice have a friend, I worry about who she really is, if I can trust her, and if I do, will she just get hurt in the long run. It’s the same with the guys. I know Dannika said that losing so many so close to me, so young, jaded me, made me cynical, but she also taught me to be cautious of people who seem too good to be true. But I have no idea how anyone here could really know anything.

  Then there’s the fact that Creed’s dad is the freaking Minister of the Council. Like what the actual fuck. He’s been the most consistent; the nice, but dickish guy friend that every girl should have. But he did seek me out when I started here, and was that just a coincidence, or was it more?

  I scream my frustration into my pillow as the sun peeks over the edge of the forest and I resign myself to the fact I’m not going to figure it all out today. I do some stretches as the sun rises fully before jumping in the shower and putting on my uniform. Opening the fridge, I realize my blood stocks are running low and make a mental note to bring some up after dinner tonight. I grab two and drink them down, but since tasting fresh blood, this stuff is like eating tofu. It fills me, gives me the warm tingly feeling, but something is just missing.

  I turn at the knock on my door, and smile when I find Kane behind it. “Well, good morning. Smiles, this is new.” He laughs and I can’t help but stick my tongue out at him.

  “Right! I just kind of figured that everything around me is going to shit, so I might as well smile through it because why the hell not.” I joke.

  “Well, that’s one way to look at it I suppose. That’s actually, kinda why I’m here. How are you doing with your new empath stuff?”

  “Other than the fact I think Ruby’s unparalleled peppy happiness is affecting me right now, I’m just freaking great.” He laughs as Ruby bounds through the door, practically skipping as she bites into a shiny red apple and I can’t help but laugh too.

  “What? Something on my face?” Ruby’s face falls.

  “No, just one of Eden’s little quirks. You’re fine, little wolf.” Kane smiles at her, and I can feel her heart skip a little at the brightness of his smile.

  “Kane, turn down the Fae charm,” I poke. “What are us poor girls to do but fall at your feet? You going to walk us down to breakfast?”

  “Your wish is my command, ma’am.” He stands and bows, and I laugh again, while Ruby’s gaze bounces between us suspiciously.

  “I missed something, didn’t I?” she asks as we usher her out of the door.

  “No, Rubes, nothing.” I don’t want to explain why I don’t want to tell her, so I just smile at Kane, and I think he gets it.

  “Okay then,” the bounce back in her step, she walks slightly ahead of us, talking about everything I missed yesterday since I was with Ethan; about the girl who was supposedly killed, and the boy they supposedly think did it.

  “Apparently, someone saw him with her, just before she was found dead. It’s all just speculation, but it seems sketchy to me. And he’s a Vampire. I mean, no offense Eden, but you never really know someone, right? He could be one of the original families’ infiltrators.” She shrugs and it pisses me off.

  “Why do you assume that he’s bad, just because he’s a Vampire that might be from the original families? He could be just another kid, dealt a shitty hand, and now because of what he is, he’s being persecuted. Even if it’s not true, the rumors will always follow him, and that’s so, so wrong. I thought it was innocent until proven guilty, not guilty until proven innocent.”

  “Now then, ladies, this is all just speculation; let’s dial it down a little, shall we?” Kane intervenes as we approach the cafeteria, where I spot Creed leaning against the door, waiting for us.

  “Morning, ladies. Kane.” He nods, tugging my arm to pull me aside. I nod to the others, telling them to go ahead of me. “You disappeared on me yesterday, Eden. You okay?”

  “I am. I just got a little overwhelmed being in a room with that many people I guess, and with the news your dad delivered. It was just a bit much. Kane helped me, and then I trained with Ethan until I was so tired, I crashed.” I rub my chest where Ethan punched me last night almost unconsciously.

  “Did he hurt you?” Creed growls and I feel his protectiveness rise, which makes me feel even worse about not being totally honest with him.

  “Only a little. It was my own fault for not paying attention. Really, it’s nothing. I’m okay.” I reassure him and he hugs me tightly.

  “Thank you for caring,” I whisper as I hug him back, trying to keep my emotions tucked away. It’s been so long since I felt like someone actually cared about me. Those years in the group home were long and lonely, and I realize that maybe that’s why I’m learning to have people around me, why I’m worrying about who to trust; because for once, I want to trust someone.

  “Lowering your standards a bit there, aren’t you, Gus?” Jeremy says with a sneer. “This is where you’ve been huh? Slumming it with the freshman?”

  “You need to shut your mouth, before I shut it for you.” Creed growls, stepping in front of me.

  “Now then, boys, we’re not arguing are we? That seems so…. first year of us.” Colt intervenes, but I can tell it’s only because he thinks Jeremy would lose, and Creed can’t deal with public mess ups with his dad around.

  “Hey, it’s okay.” I tell Creed. “Let’s not lose our shit when people think there’s a killer Vampire going around killing other races, yeah?” I feel him tense, but he takes a deep breath and lets it out.

  “You’re right. Not worth it. See you guys later.” He grabs my hand and pulls me behind him into the cafeteria.

  “You didn’t have to do that, you know. They’re your friends. I don’t mean to monopolize your time. I’m sorry.” He spins and stops me in my tracks. His eyes dance like they’re firetouched.

  “You have nothing to be sorry about. Those jerks should know better. They just get all wound up about the Original family stuff. They buy into my dad’s crap, which is insanity considering. But yeah,” he runs a hand through his dark tresses, and they fall into his eyes. “You don’t get to be sorry for those douchebags. Let’s just forget them and grab some breakfast. You look a little pale.”

  “Well, I am a Vampire,” I joke and step around him toward the food hall. He barks out a laugh and shakes his head before he follows me. We sit at our usual table, where Kane and Ruby already sit with Ava and Cam.

  “Well, who would’ve thought a pretty little freshman would’ve united the houses like this.” Amberley saunters over with her goon squad behind her. “We’ve gone from years of inter-house squabbles and fighting, and all it took was one little girl to bring all you boys to your knees. What makes you so special?”

  “Leave it, Amberley. We all know you just hate being on the outside. You had your chance not to be a bitch, and you just couldn’t get over your old school views. So why don’t you and your little Mer friends just leave us alone,” Ava pipes up, and color me shocked. I knew she was close to Kane, but I never expected her to speak up against Amberley; she seems so distant and cold most of the time.

  “Oh and the Ice Queen deems me fit to bestow her words of wisdom on me. I’m surprised you’re here considering, but I suppose you are a Dragon first these days, huh?”

  “Don’t act like you know me anymore, Amberley. That bridge burned a while ago.”

  “Why, exactly are you here?” I ask Amberley. “Do you get your kicks trying to stir up drama, or are you really so desperately lonely, that you act like a little kid and think that by being mean to us,
we’ll come around and realize it’s just because you love us? Really, why are you here?”

  She sneers at me and flicks her long blonde hair over her shoulder.

  “You know what, screw you, Dragon bitch. They’ll all leave you in the end. You’ll see.” She turns on her stiletto heel and walks away, her minions in tow.

  Ruby bursts out laughing. “Dude, that was kind of epic.” She giggles and I shrug. I look up as I hear a crash from the middle of the room and see Ethan stood, with Amberley on her ass in front of him. He offers out a hand to help her and she bats him away with a squeal, and I can’t help but laugh and the table joins me. Ethan shrugs and makes his way over to our table and takes a seat next to Cam.

  “Crazy. She’s certifiably crazy.” He shakes his head and looks around, his eyes landing on Creed’s arm against mine, before looking up at me. “How are you feeling after last night?” he asks, but I feel like he’s just trying to provoke Creed.

  “I’m a little sore, but I’m good. Are we training again after classes?”

  “Actually,” Kane interrupts. “I was thinking I could help you with some control stuff tonight. If that’s okay with you and the guys?”

  “Fine with me, I could use some of that calm again,” I laugh. Creed grunts his approval, even though he’s still staring daggers into Ethan, who just nods his agreement.

  “Well… this is fun, but we should probably head to class, Ruby.”

  “Are you sure? The testosterone matches at this table are kinda hilarious.”

  Ava laughs and shakes her head. “Come on, girls, it’s not dark outside, but we might as well walk together. I’m heading your way. Later, guys.”

  We stand with her and I pick up my satchel. “I’ll see you guys later, I guess.”

  Neither of them respond, and Cam and Kane share a look. I can’t really read it, but I’m not sure I want to.

  “Bye, guys,” Ruby sings, and she puts her arms through mine and Ava’s as we head to class.

  “You guys have Healing for Beginners now, right?” Ava asks and Ruby nods enthusiastically.

  “I’ve already learned a lot about healing from the pack, so I’m super excited to not actually be clueless in a class for once. Two weeks of classes, and my head is spinning. I cannot wait for Friday. Between your lockdown on Saturday and the assembly on Sunday, last weekend sucked. I need some time to wrap my head around all of this, and we’ve not even started basic spell casting yet.”

  “You’ll be fine. Between Kane and I, we can definitely help with casting and runes. Cam is the best healer you’ll ever find; I swear he has magical hands. Defense and strategies, obviously Ethan and Creed are your guys there. As for astrology and history, there you might be out of luck, but they’re optional after the first year, so you’ll be fine. Just try to find your groove and focus on that the most. It’ll help the most after your years here,” she says wistfully, leading us to the healer’s room.

  “I know it’s hard in the first year; but try not to get too wrapped up in the drama that comes with this place. The politics of our world, well, they’re fickle at best. Just find your tribe, and hold tightly onto them, because that’s the best thing that you’ll get from this place. Your circle will be everything. Trust them, and they’ll trust you.” She says cryptically as she stops in front of the room. “Have a good day, girls.”

  She sashays away, and I don’t understand her sudden change. Maybe it’s because of the girl, but who knows. I push the door open and we take a free table at the back of the room. A small woman stands at the front, dressed entirely in white.

  “Good morning ladies and gentleman, my name is Andrina and I will be your tutor in the art of healing. Please ensure you are not sat with someone of the same race as you. Our first lesson of healing is not physical, but the broken bridges of our kinds.” Her waist-length mousy hair flows behind her, and her movements are almost like dance moves. She carries herself with grace, and as she reaches our desk, I notice her pendant. The heart of the sea. Our healing teacher is a Mer, well, that I didn’t expect. Her kind are typically lethal and selfish, so to be a healer she must be an enigma to most of her kind.

  “Those thoughts, Ms DeMontford, are exactly what I mean,” she whispers to me, and I sit up a little taller. Shit.

  “You heard that?” I stutter and she nods. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean… I just…”

  “It’s fine. Not all of us are what we seem now, are we?” She says with a warm smile, before looking at Ruby warily. Then she moves to the next row of desks, re-arranging students to fit her needs.

  “Right, now I want you to turn to the person next to you and tell them one thing you assume about them because of what they are, not who they are.” There are gasps around the room, and I can’t help but wonder her angle. “You can’t learn to heal bridges if you are not willing to be honest with each other. Now, let’s begin. Students sat to the left of the desk; you can begin.”

  Ruby turns to me and blushes a little. “Well, I er… kinda just assume you’re a bit of a hussy, because Vampires are typically seductive creatures.”

  “Ruby!” I gasp. “Are you kidding me?” I can’t help but laugh. I guess she isn’t too wrong about the stereotypes of my kind. It’s all because of the blood exchanges; but I get it.

  “I’m sorry,” she giggles. “Like, I know you’re not, now that I’m getting to know you. If anything, you’re a bit of a prude, but you know what I mean. It’s a generalization.”

  “It’s fine. I’m not going to lie, my initial thoughts about you were not to trust you.” She tries to interrupt me. “I know, it’s just pack animals are typically loyal to a fault, but I don’t know who you’re loyal to outside of your pack, which means, I don’t naturally assume you’re trustworthy, despite everything.” I shrug. It’s a shitty thing to say, but I think that’s kind of the point here. To air our crappy thoughts and move past them.

  “Right, now then, ladies and gents,” Andrina claps her hands amongst the chaos that has erupted with airing the ugly truths. “You see how easy it is to completely not know someone and assume something completely untrue about them, just because of what they are? It sucks doesn’t it? Knowing that we do that to each other, every single day, just because of what we think we know, rather than taking the time to actually find out about each other. Now, students on the left, I want you to rotate to the table behind you. Back table students will come to the front, and we’re going to repeat this again. Let’s go!” she claps her hands again and Ruby shrugs before bouncing to the front of the room, and a blonde girl from House Scorpion sits down beside me with a snarl.

  “Hey, I’m Eden, and I’m a Vampire, and this feels insane.”

  “I know exactly who you are. My sister told me all about you. High and mighty Vampires.”

  “Your sister?” I ask, completely confused by her instant hatred.

  “I’m Averley Aveyard. Amberley’s sister.” Anddddd now it all makes sense.

  “Oh, well, isn’t this just craptastic. I’m really not everything you think I am.”

  “Let’s just get on with this, shall we? I don’t assume, but I know that Vampires think they’re better than the rest of us. Even now, having been decimated and had your main power taken from you with the original families gone, you all think you’re so superior. Fucking cursed beasts that you are. Unnatural.”

  “Ahhhh, you’re one of those Mer. The ones who think that they and the Fae should run the world, because you’re from old magic. But breaking news, it was that old magic that cursed the Vampires and the Shifters, so your logic is a little off.” I roll my eyes, knowing my words fall on deaf ears.

  “Change!” Andrina shouts from the front of the room, and Averley stomps away from me. I guess that’s one bridge that’s never going to be rebuilt.

  “Hey, I’m Devon.” A tall redheaded guy from House Phoenix says as he sits beside me and tries not to blush.

  “Eden,” I smile. “Nice to meet you. So, Devon, what are you?” I
can’t help but laugh at the absurd question and he laughs too.

  “I’m a Fae,” he says, tucking his hair behind his ears, showing off his points.

  “Oh, awesome. My house captains are Fae, and they’re awesome people. I’m a Vampire.”

  “Yeah, I can tell. Call it my gift.” He blushes again. “I can tell what species a person is on sight, and usually their extra little quirky powers just by touching them.”

  “Oh wow, that’s awesome. So, stereotypical Fae trait. That you guys are super secretive about your powers, apparently, you’re not a typical Fae,” I wink at him. “And that you’re typically the coldest of the races. You don’t like other races; you just tolerate them. Though I’m quickly learning that this isn’t true for the Fae I’ve met.” He smiles at me brightly.

  “Well, I’m glad to hear that. Don’t get me wrong, some Fae are definitely that way, but we’re not all bad apples.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.”

  “Now, what about Vampires?”

  “Oh right, yeah… Stereotypically you’re the most beautifully lethal of us all. Speed, agility, strength, and enrapturing means you’re the deadliest of us all.”

  “Well, I don’t know about all of us. I’m not all that graceful, or deadly. I’m more likely to hurt myself,” I lie, because he seems nice and I don’t want to scare him with the realities of what I am. Even I don’t know the true extent of what I am yet.

  “That’s good to know. But I mean, the original families ran our world for a reason, right? Deadly and beautiful. The envied and the feared. Fierce but fair. It can’t all be a falsehood.”

  “Oh, I’ve no doubt,” I smile. “Unfortunately, our generation will never really know thanks to the Uprising. Those of us left are but a shadow of what they were. Or so I hear.”

  “It’s kind of sad really. The world lost a lot of history in the Uprising,” he whispers, and I nod.

  “But let’s not say it too loud, hey? Treason of the council isn’t something I fancy being tried for before I even finish school.” I giggle. I like Devon. He seems fun, and geeky, a little shy; but like he knows who he is, and he isn’t apologetic for that.