“I’m happy being an omega. It’s easier alone.” Kiera peeked over her shoulder only for a second. “Besides, they wouldn’t want me. I’m not like most shifters.”
“I guessed that when I saw the explosion of pink on your side of the dorm room.”
“It’s not just pink.” She stared at something in her lap. “I’m not a fighter. I hate transforming and violence. I like to think of myself as a conscientious objector.”
“Wow, a shifter who hates shifting.” I tilted my head to the side as I thought about what she said. “I can honestly say I’ve never met anyone like you.”
“I guess that makes two of us,” she smiled. “This is the longest conversation I’ve ever had with a reaper. I used to think you were all robots.”
“Some of us are,” I winked. “Terminators are a real thing, you know.”
We both laughed, and then I tensed when I realized I’d let my guard down. I couldn’t allow myself to like this girl. It was too easy to fall into a conversation with her. She was either one of the most helpful people I’d ever met or the greatest spy in the world. It could go either way. I cleared my throat as I contemplated my next move. It seemed like the best I could do at this moment was leave. This way, I couldn’t say anything that might keep this gabfest going.
“I have to go to the library,” I said as I stood. “I’m guessing some of these courses will require books.”
“Yeah, that’s a good idea.” She started collecting her things. “Do you need me to show you the way.”
“Nah, I know my way around, but thanks.”
“Sure, no problem.” Again, she seemed disappointed. “Maybe we can have dinner together.”
My first instinct was to reject her. Keeping her at a distance would be a challenge, but I didn’t want to see another defeated look on her face. “Sure, why not?”
Her eyes widened as if she were surprised by my answer. “Okay, great. I’ll see you later.”
I left the table and headed for the exit. The conversations all around me continued, but I felt their eyes on me as I approached the elevator. Once inside, I let out a long breath. As the doors slowly closed, my eyes locked with Sacha. He leaned forward with his forearms resting on the table. He didn’t eat, converse, or even move. The whole thing sent a shiver up my spine, and I had a feeling that this wasn’t the last time I’d catch the alpha’s attention.
Chapter Nine
The library hadn’t changed over the years.
As soon as I stepped inside, I saw two librarians sitting behind a desk, and three armed officers roaming the space. I stared up at the five levels of bookshelves filled with books that go back centuries. I didn’t see any supes. They must all be eating breakfast, which put me at ease. I could go a few minutes longer without anyone staring at me with deadly glares. It was only my first day, and I was already sick of the attention.
I headed over to the desk. One of the librarians was busy filing while the other was reading something on her computer screen. I cocked my head to the side to see what she was looking at, and it appeared that she was on Twitter. That was surprising to me because I knew there were many websites blocked by the administration. I guessed the library was the exception. This information could end up being useful when I attempted to access their surveillance system.
The librarian reading glanced up and saw me standing there. She put her hand over her chest. “Goodness, I didn’t see you there. Did I keep you waiting long?”
“No, ma’am.” I shook my head. “I just arrived.”
She straightened her pearl necklace and the collar of her silk top. “How can I help you?”
“The headmaster said you would have some books and supplies for me.” Her eyebrows furrowed. “I’m Mina Van Helsing.”
Smiling widely, she replied, “You’re really her?”
There was no escaping it. “Unfortunately, I am.”
She giggled. “I can’t believe I’m finally meeting a Van Helsing. I’ve been working here for five years, and you’re the first one I’ve met.”
Her level of excitement signaled the beginning of a conversation I didn’t want to have. “Do you have those books?”
“Of course, of course.” She held up her hand. “Wait one moment. I have everything collected in the back.”
I watched as she hurried toward one of the officers. He retrieved a navy blue backpack from a cabinet and brought it over to me without saying a word. I slung the canvas bag over my shoulder with a groan. The damn thing had to weigh twenty pounds. “Thanks for your help.”
“If you need anything, you come see me.” She grabbed my hand. “Okay?”
I gently released myself from her surprisingly firm grip. “It’s a deal.”
I scurried out of there before she came up with a reason to call me back. As I headed down the hallway, my fellow inmates joined me. They flooded the walkways in every direction. I managed to maneuver myself through the traffic without any incidents, and eventually found my way to the outside training center. It was nothing more than a large field with a thick metal fence surrounding us in every direction. Guards with weapons lined the perimeter.
As I approached the cluster of people, I noticed they were standing near a row of large, round ethafoam targets. On the other side, I saw a collection of heavy-duty black cases. One was open, and when I got closer, I spotted at least a dozen arrows and one bow. I took a second look to make sure I hadn’t imagined it. They’d brought all these supernaturals out here to teach them archery. These instructors must be out of their minds.
“Good morning,” an instructor announced, jolting me out of my thoughts. “I’m going to take a wild guess and say that you’re Mina.”
“Yes, I am.”
He glanced at the supes and then back to me. “Do you want me to introduce you to everyone?”
I shook my head. “No, not at all.”
“Most of the class is made up of witches with a few shifters mixed in.” He lowered his voice. “This group hasn’t given me much grief, so I don’t expect you’ll have any trouble, but we do have the guards here just in case.”
I wasn’t sure if the guards were watching because they were handing loaded weapons to dangerous supernaturals, or if they were here for me. I ran my fingers absentmindedly over the bracelet the headmaster gave me. “I won’t be a problem for you, either.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” He held out the bow he had in his hand. “I’m sure you know how to use one of these.”
I’d spent years training with weapons: knives, guns, swords, throwing stars, and bows. “I think I can keep up.”
“Good.” He pointed to a row of white lines spray-painted into the grass. “Grab a case and stand behind one of the white lines.”
When I was in position, he spoke to the rest of the group. “We’ve spent a lot of time learning about all the ways we can avoid conflict, but we all know that some situations are out of our control. That’s why we’re here today. I’m going to teach you that there are other ways you can defend yourself without using your powers.”
“Why is this necessary?” A blond-haired girl asked. “Some of us have no problem controlling our powers.”
The instructor zeroed in on her. “Brianna, are you suggesting when you use black magic that you have full control of your powers?”
She wrapped her arms around her middle like his words made her uneasy. “Well, no, but there are many different kinds of magic—”
The instructor dismissively waved his hand. “If you’re defending yourself, you are using black magic.” He paced around the group. “You need to be honest with yourself. Each of you ended up here because something happened and you lost control. Either you severely hurt or killed someone, and that’s why every one of you needs this lesson.” He displayed the crossbow. “This is a weapon you can use to defend yourself while maintaining control.”
“And what if the bow gets knocked out of your hand?” A male questioned.
I shifted around
.
Sacha, along with four of his pack, approached the group. He had a distinctive Russian accent with a harsh, gritty tone. His voice fit with his appearance: intimidating mixed with a little scary sexy. “What do you do?”
“If you can’t escape, you would either go for another weapon or use hand-to-hand combat.” The instructor replied with ease. “Although I doubt many would be able to disarm you, Sacha.”
A member of his pack spoke. “I’d like to see someone try.”
Sacha glared at him with narrowed eyes, and all the emotion on his face melted away. He closed his mouth without saying another word and backed up several feet until he was standing behind the rest of his group. I’d never seen a shifter recoil like that. He seemed genuinely afraid of Sacha at that moment. I watched, trying to hide my admiration. The boy might not want to be an alpha, but he certainly had a knack for it.
“Okay, everyone needs to grab a case and get in line. No more than five in each row.” He blew his whistle. “Let’s go.”
Brianna and two of her friends got in line behind me. With their matching long blond hair, blue eyes, high cheekbones, and full lips, they could’ve easily been sisters. I didn’t think I’d ever been that stunningly beautiful. I wore make-up and styled my hair, but some people are just naturally gorgeous. And considering the stares they got, I imagined they had to be popular around here. I should probably try to become friends with them. With them around, it would be easy to be invisible.
“You’re Mina, right?” Brianna asked.
One of her gorgeous friends nudged her arm. “How do you know her?”
Brianna rolled her eyes. “Bianca, this is Mina Van Helsing.”
“Oh, right.” Bianca gazed at me, looking thoroughly unimpressed. “The reaper.”
The reaper. I should’ve been pleased I wasn’t called the murderous reaper or killer reaper like they did in the newspaper. “Yeah, that’s me.”
Brianna motioned toward her friend. “This is Bethany. We’re all three witches and best friends. Most people call us the Queen B’s.”
They had a group nickname. It took everything I had not to laugh.
Bethany took a break from filing her nails to glance at me with a half-hearted smile. “Hi,” she replied. As soon as the word left her lips, her attention returned to her nail file.
“Hi,” I replied, intentionally sounding equally bored.
The instructor blew his whistle. “Each person will take one shot and then go to the back of their row. The first person in line, stand upright with feet shoulder-width apart. Your feet should be at ninety degrees to the target. Make sure you keep a relaxed grip on the bow handle. Draw, aim, and let one loose.”
I did as he asked, but I didn’t need any instruction. I started archery lessons as soon as I could handle the weight of a bow in my hand. I nocked my arrow, pulled back on the string, and released. The arrow wobbled and dropped to the ground a few feet from the bullseye. What the hell just happened?
Laughter broke out.
“That was terrible,” Bethany giggled. “Aren’t you supposed to be an expert hunter or something?”
“Maybe she’s not a real Van Helsing,” Bianca answered. “Newspapers are all fake news anyway.”
While they continued to tease me, the anger grew in my chest until it was practically burning out of my skin. I nocked another arrow. The instructor said we only get one shot, but I needed to shut them up. I wasn’t about to take any crap from a bunch of mean girls. I pulled back and released a second arrow. The arrow spun in the air before landing halfway between me and the bullseye.
This time, the laughter was even louder.
“Better luck next time.” Bethany giggled.
My cheeks heated as I stared down at the bow. It made no sense. I hadn’t done anything different than I always do, and I hadn’t missed a shot since I was a kid. Not one miss in years. There had to be some kind of defect with the bow. When I couldn’t find anything, I let out a frustrated breath. As I strode to the back of the line, Sacha made his way over with his pack trailing behind.
“Brianna, you’re not playing fair.” He turned his gaze on me, and I could finally see the color of his eyes. They were emerald green. “Let’s see what she can do without your disruption spell.”
I narrowed my eyes at Brianna. I should’ve guessed magic was involved. She pretended to be nice just to get my guard down, and I allowed myself to be setup—a mistake I won’t make again. Never trust a witch. But why had Sacha chosen to intervene? I’d never spoken to him, and when I saw him in the cafeteria, he glared at me like he might rip my head off with his teeth. It made no sense.
“You’re no fun, Sacha.” Brianna rolled her eyes. “Fine, whatever.”
The bow in my hand shimmered with a white glowing aura, and then the bright light disappeared. Whatever magic she’d placed on the bow was gone. I nocked three arrows, aimed, and released. They hit the center of each of the bullseyes closest to me. The crowd that was once laughing gasped. I glanced over at Sacha. He had a smirk on his face but said nothing. No one around me said one word.
As I collected the rest of my unused arrows, Brianna yelled, “A few words out of my mouth, and you’d never get a single arrow in the air.”
I nocked another arrow in record speed and aimed directly at her. “Not if you’ve got an arrow in your throat.”
The instructor blew his whistle. “Whatever’s going on over there stops this second. Do you understand?”
I thought about the device in my neck. He didn’t need to ask me twice. I lowered my bow with a smile on my face. Brianna sneered at me like I just killed her puppy. Ignoring her, I placed the weapon back in the case and headed toward the end of the line. Each supe I passed moved to get out of my way. I couldn’t help feeling proud at that moment. They needed to know that they couldn’t mess with me, and now they do.
The rest of the sessions on my schedule were uneventful. Once we finished for the day, I collected the heavy bag the librarian gave me and made my way toward the dorms. I stayed on the outside of the campus, taking the scenic route. Officers carrying weapons kept their eyes on me as I traveled the sidewalks. The temperatures were in the lower seventies, and the skies were clear. A warm breeze tickled against my face. It was a beautiful day for outdoor activities, and it made me wish I was anywhere but here.
I was feeling good as I entered the main hallway right before the dorms. I climbed the stairs to the second floor and was about to reach the landing when I felt something odd in my ankle. My joints went numb, and then my leg gave out. I felt myself going backward. I tried to reach out for the railing and missed. My back hit the step first, making me groan. I slid down the rest of the way until I rolled into a wall.
Throbbing pain came from several spots on my body. Even without seeing it, I knew bruises were swelling on my back and knees. I had bloodied cuts on my palms from trying to catch myself. Supes watched, but I didn’t attempt to move. It hurt too much. Books and papers were scattered all around me, and I figured my bag must’ve burst open during my fall.
A small crowd around me parted, and the Queen B’s stepped forward. Brianna wore a smug grin on her face. “Poor little reaper,” she said condescendingly. “You really should work on your balance. I imagine staying on your feet is an important part of your job.”
I had all kinds of thoughts running through my head, but mostly I wished I had a broad sword so I could slice her head off of her shoulders. I was about to start something when I noticed the blinking light on the surveillance camera. I couldn’t do anything that would give them a reason to watch me any more than they already were. For that reason, I rolled to the side and said nothing.
I was busy collecting my stuff when the officers arrived. They were quick to send everyone away, and soon I was alone again. I sat down on a wooden bench and took in the damage. As I suspected, I’d have a colorful arrangement of bruises peppering my body by morning. I leaned back against the wall and sighed. If it was going to be lik
e this every day, I wasn’t sure how I’d ever accomplish my goal.
“Are you all right?” a male voice I recognized asked.
I glanced up and saw Cassius standing next to me with perfect posture. Unlike our first meeting, his hair was perfectly combed, and his face clean-shaven. He wore the same uniform as the rest of the boys, but somehow, managed to appear refined and almost elegant. It had to be his royal upbringing. “What are you doing here?”
He bent down to level our eyes. “I heard about what happened.”
“How could you possibly hear a rumor that fast?” As soon as I finished the sentence, I realized what he meant. Vampires had long-range hearing and super speed. He could’ve heard us while it was happening and rushed over in seconds. “Nevermind.”
He sat down on the bench next to me. “I came because I thought I might be able to help in some way.”
I couldn’t accept any help from him, no matter how sincere he was. He broke the covenant when he used compulsion on me and put my life in danger. Regardless of his reasoning, he couldn’t be trusted. Plus, I didn’t need assistance from a supe. “How could you possibly help me?”
“I could talk to Brianna,” he offered. “She’s not that bad once you get to know her.”
“Yeah,” I massaged the knee that took the hardest hit. “She seems like a real peach.”
“She’s only mean to you because of what you are,” he replied. “Her parents were killed by reapers when she was just a kid.”
“Reapers only kill when they have no other choice.” He burst out laughing, and I raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“You sweet girl.” He patted me on top of the head. “You believe that, don’t you?”
I swatted his hand away. “The laws of the covenant prohibit violence against supernaturals without merit.”
“And who decides if you have merit?” He tapped his index finger on his full lips. “Give me time, and I can come up with a reason to kill anyone here. What I’m trying to say is that the world we live in is not as black and white as you pretend it to be.”
Van Helsing Academy Page 6
