Supes from all the different factions stared and whispered as I roamed through the crowds. For the first time in my life, I wished I was a witch. One of those face-hiding hooded robes would be useful. I came upon a long picnic table filled with an assortment of food. My stomach growled, just looking at it—bowls of freshly-cut fruit, loaves of bread, and a crystal bowl with a ladle spoon, surrounded by crystal cups. The honey-colored liquid inside sparkled under the flickering lights.
“I didn’t think this was your scene.”
I pivoted around, and Sacha was standing a few feet away. He wore a tight black t-shirt that showed off every muscle group in his upper body, dark jeans, and boots. For once, his pack focused on something other than him. The horde worked their way down the line of food, scooping up as much as they could fit on their plates. “How would you know about my scene, or anything at all having to do with me?”
“You’re alone, reaper,” he explained, pointing out the obvious. “Aren’t you concerned about your safety?”
I moved closer to him, catching the attention of his pack. “I can handle myself, shifter. And my name is Mina, not reaper.”
“I know who you are, Mina Van Helsing,” he smirked. As members of his pack started to make their way over, he held up his palm, and they returned to the food spread. He crossed his arms, making me wonder how his massive biceps hadn’t split the sleeves open. “Have you eaten any of the food? I wouldn’t if I were you. It’s likely enchanted.”
“If that’s true, why are you allowing your pack to eat?”
The corner of his lip rose. “The food isn’t deadly.”
The food was okay for his pack, but not for a reaper. “Why shouldn’t I eat it?”
“The witches invited us all here because we will make their ritual stronger,” he explained. “The enchantment will remove the inhibitions of anyone who eats or drinks. That will mean that more of us will be willing to participate.”
I picked up a peach and stared at it. There was nothing special about its look or weight, but witches were deceiving by nature. “And how do you know this?”
“I can smell it,” he replied bluntly.
After years of training, I’d never heard of this ability. But supes weren’t known for their openness, especially when it came to their skills. I wondered if all shifters could smell magic or if this was only alphas. “You can smell the magic on it?”
He came to stand only inches from me. We were so close I could feel the heat coming off of him. Shifters ran hotter than other supes. “I smell it just as easily as I smell the compulsion on you.”
That’s incredible. The compulsion used on me was months old. This whole conversation was starting to make me suspicious. “Why are you helping me?”
He raised his eyebrows. “Excuse me?”
“During archery, you outed Brianna when she enchanted my bow, and now you’re warning me about the food.” I tilted my head to the side. “I’ve never known shifters to be helpful, especially to reapers.”
He let out a hearty chuckle. “Perhaps you don’t know us as well as you think you do.”
I wasn’t convinced. “Why have you taken an interest in me, Sacha? What do you hope to gain?”
“I will gain nothing from you, little reaper.” His eyes narrowed. “The truth is that I find the circumstances of your arrest and conviction puzzling. Your family’s response was equally unsettling.”
This type of conversation was what I was trying to avoid. Sacha’s status made this much worse. An alpha, whose strength was greater than all of his pack combined, would draw the attention of the academy. I had to find a way to put him at ease. Otherwise, I’d have him and his pack to worry about as well. “My family follows the rules of the covenant above all else. I committed a crime, and I’m serving my time.”
He took a step back, remaining silent while his eyes roamed my body. I tried my best to ignore the tingles his stare created. “Are you admitting you killed those two vampires?”
“No,” I said without thinking. I tried to recover from my mistake. “I refuse to discuss the trial with you or anyone else in the academy.”
He smiled, and I noticed the dimple in his cheek for the first time. “I believe you’re a spy for the council.”
A cold chill raced up my spine. I pushed my index finger into Sacha’s surprisingly hard chest. “You don’t know a thing about me, but I know you. I know you killed your father, and that you want to be an alpha about as much as you want to swallow a swarm of bees.”
His appearance swung from shock to anger.
It was enough to make my entire body shudder. “I can’t do much now, but once I get out of here, I can make your life miserable. You keep that in mind the next time you throw accusations at me.”
He pushed my hand away. “This isn’t an accusation. You are a spy, and I will prove it.”
All the nerves in my body were firing in unison. I wanted to get the hell out of here, but I couldn’t do anything that might draw additional attention. I scanned the area around us. There had to be fifty supes watching our every move, including Kiera, whose eyes darted between Sacha and me. I was, once again, entertainment for the supernatural world.
I stood on my tippy-toes to level our eyes. “You’ll do nothing but waste your time.”
“We’ll see, Mina Van Helsing.” His pack joined him. “You’ll be seeing us around. Count on it.”
I rolled my eyes at him.
As he turned to leave, he paused and glanced over his shoulder. “There was one more thing I wanted to tell you.”
“What?”
He closed the distance between us and spoke low enough that only I could hear him. “Alphas can smell emotions too.”
With my hands on my hips, I replied, “Please don’t say you can smell guilt on me because we both know that’s bullshit.”
“It’s not guilt,” he corrected. “Since the moment I approached you, all I can smell is lust. It wraps around you like a second skin.”
My cheeks burned, and I prayed it was too dark for anyone to notice. “You think I’m attracted to you,” I scoffed. “Not a chance.”
A couple of the pack members chuckled, and I sneered at them. “I never said you were attracted specifically to me,” Sacha corrected. “But, I do find it interesting that you came to that conclusion on your own.”
My hands were in fists at my sides, and I was about to say something else when Kiera injected herself in between us. “Mina, I’ve been looking all over for you,” she said, almost frantically. “I have something important I want to show you.” She took my hand in hers. “Come on.”
I didn’t fight as she practically dragged me out of there. That conversation had gone sideways fast, and every time I tried to recover, I seemed only to make things worse. Kiera held onto my wrist as she maneuvered her way through the crowd. This night was a total disaster. Since the moment I got here, it’s gone from pretty bad to complete failure. I should’ve done as I planned and stayed in the dorm.
I glanced over my shoulder once, and Sacha’s eyes were on me like laser beams. Was he planning to follow me around as he suggested? That was the absolute last thing I needed. And that crap about me finding him attractive. It made me so mad I wanted to go back over there and punch him in the face. Besides, he probably made the whole thing up. If alphas could smell emotions, reapers like me would know about it.
We pushed our way through the bushes on the outside of the clearing. No one could see us now. Kiera slowed to a stop and turned to face me. “What the hell was that back there?”
Was I even going to attempt to lie to her? She’d already heard so much that telling the truth didn’t seem like it would matter much. “He said he doesn’t trust me,” I replied. With quotation fingers, I added, “And that he would be watching me.”
She stared at me with curiosity. “I don’t get it. We’ve had reapers here before. I don’t know why Sacha’s interested in you.”
I’d guess he was more perceptive than m
ost of the supes around here. Being an alpha comes with all sorts of little gifts. “It’s my last name. It’s always about the last name.”
She glanced in his direction, then back to me. “I’m sorry he's such a jerk.”
“No more than anyone else,” I shrugged. “Well, except you.” I crossed my arms. “Why are you nice to me?”
“I’d rather we get along than not,” she replied. “It would be awkward if we lived in the same room and hated each other.”
“Aren’t you worried what your friends might say,” I questioned. “Being friends with me won’t win you any popularity contests.”
“I wasn’t winning any popularity contests regardless,” she admitted. “If you haven’t figured it out already, I’m the outcast. The shifter who hates transforming. The shifter who rejects violence, even if it’s justified.”
I’d never met a shifter like her before. Even in my world, she was unique. “Are you saying you don’t have any friends? Not one?”
She kicked a rock with the tip of her shoe. “Just you.”
“Geesh,” I replied with surprise. “Well, aren’t we a pair? The outcast shifter and the murderous reaper.”
The corner of her lip curled upward. “We should start our own fan club.”
We both chuckled.
I slid my arm inside hers. “I think we should return to the celebration and have a little party of our own. Let them stare all they want.”
“Sounds good to me.”
As we were heading back toward the celebration, the drummers were playing once more. The beat was faster than before with a lot of urgency. Kiera squeezed my hand. “It’s about to begin.”
Chapter Twelve
The supes stood in clusters around the labyrinth’s exterior, while the witches collected in the center.
Sacha was positioned in the middle of his pack, while Cassius joined a smaller group of vampires. There were other groups of vampires and shifters scattered throughout. They must have belonged to other packs and clans. I was glad to see they hadn’t all joined together. That would be dangerous for everyone, especially me. I was the only one without any backup. I ran my hand over the bracelet the headmaster gave me. If things got bad, I could press the panic button, but how long would it take for someone to respond?
Kiera and I settled down in the back, furthest away from the action. Tactically, this was the best position. I could see everyone from here, and I was the closest to the exit if I needed to leave in a hurry. I watched the witches circle the altar, singing some kind of mantra I couldn’t make out. I wasn’t sure, but it sounded like Latin. As they moved, I noticed waves of light circling above them. The illumination expanded until it was all around the clearing. The vampires and shifters closest to the center were all swaying in unison with the witches.
I didn’t need to be an alpha shifter to know that they were enchanted. In any other situation, I would’ve been concerned, but Sacha didn’t seem to believe that the witches had nefarious intentions. Whatever this magic was, he was comfortable with his pack participating. The shimmering light lowered until I could feel it prickling my skin. It was warm and soothing. I reached out to touch the glowing beam, and my fingers tingled. The sensation traveled my body, making goosebumps rise on my skin.
When I turned my attention back to the supes, my jaw hit the floor. All of the witches and warlocks disrobed. They were completely naked, dancing around the altar with their open palms reaching to the skies. The drumbeat switched to an erotic rhythm that made my skin hum. Shifters appeared to be feeling the music as well. Many of them, including Sacha’s pack, removed their shirts and joined the witches. Some broke off into pairs, while others remained in small groups.
I should’ve looked away, but I froze in place. How far would they go with this? I was joking when I suggested this was an orgy, but I might’ve been right. Was this the foolishness Kiera wanted to see? When she first told me about this, I thought they would be drunk and possibly disorderly. I never thought witches and shifters would hook up. The vampires hadn’t made a move. They appeared to be enjoying the show. But after everything I’d witnessed thus far, nothing prepared me for what came next.
Sacha approached the group, and my entire body tensed as he removed his shirt. The boy was ridiculously cut, and I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. He was muscle on top of glorious muscle. The light created shadows in his toned stomach, enhancing his impressive shape. My mouth was suddenly dry, and I swallowed hard. I’d seen plenty of boys that were in shape, but he looked like he belonged on the cover of a fitness magazine. Okay, maybe I was slightly attracted to him.
His eyes met mine, and he shot me a cocky smirk. Had he sensed my emotions at that moment? I was so embarrassed I was sure my body was red all over. I sneered at him, trying to play it off, and he laughed. Hard, like a belly laugh. Dammit. I seriously needed to get out of here before the magic started to affect me. Letting go of my inhibitions, and dancing naked under the full moon with a bunch of dangerous supernaturals, most definitely wasn’t good for my health.
Kiera squeezed my forearm, startling me out of my thoughts. When I looked at her, I noticed her dilated pupils and half-lidded eyes. “I’m going to go find Cassius.”
She didn’t wait for my response before she bolted. As she maneuvered her way through the crowd, I lost sight of her. The music and magic seemed to be working together. I could hear string instruments like violins now playing along with the drums. The rhythm was seductive, tempting me to join the celebration. That was the enchantment, of course. Under normal circumstances, I would never even consider taking part in a supernatural ritual.
The couples that had broken away from the group were kissing passionately. Hands were all over the place, like they couldn’t stop touching each other. The heat level rose close to boiling, and I couldn’t bear to watch what came next. I felt myself taking several steps backward as I attempted to distance myself from what was going on. I headed for the woods. The further I went, the desire to join them weakened.
It would only take me a few minutes to get back to the academy, but it would take a lifetime to forget the debauchery I witnessed. I knew that supernaturals were generally promiscuous when it came to their sexual partners. They didn’t share the conventional views of our human community. Loose morals, my father said. I used to roll my eyes when he talked about it, but now that I’ve seen it for myself, I had to admit he had a point.
A scream made me stop in my tracks. The screeching sound rang in my ears like a warning. The voice sounded like it might be Kiera, but the high-pitch made me unsure. The music stopped abruptly, and I knew something was wrong. I rushed back to the ceremony, pushed through the crowds, and then I saw what had brought the celebration to a halt. Cassius was on the ground with several vampires surrounding him.
White bubbling foam poured out of the side of his mouth. His body shook like he was having a seizure. “What happened to him?” I asked.
A blond vampire I didn’t know, said, “He was dancing, and then he just collapsed.”
“Who was he dancing with?”
Several vampires came forward. They held a struggling Kiera by the arms. She growled at them, but it didn’t seem to make a difference. They had a good hold on her. “Let her go,” I ordered. “Now.”
“She poisoned him.” Someone in the crowd accused.
“No, she didn’t,” I insisted. “She’s been with me all night, and I know she wouldn’t do this to Cassius.”
One of the vampires holding her said, “I’m not letting her go until I have proof that she’s innocent.”
“Let her go, and I’ll save him,” I stated in a firm tone.
“A reaper saving a vampire?” he chuckled. “How stupid do you think we are?”
“Oh, don’t get it twisted. I think you’re epic level stupid.” I replied, hearing growls in response to my words. “I think you’re stupid enough to stand here and let him die when I’m probably the only one here who knows how to save him.”
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“We’re taking him to the infirmary,” he insisted. “We don’t need a reaper.”
“He’ll be dead before you reach the academy.” I glanced down at Cassius, his skin paler than usual. “But, I can still save him if you release her.”
They whispered to one another while they stared at Cassius. After an awkward moment, they released Kiera, and she hurried over to stand next to me.
I motioned for them to move out of my way, and kneeled next to Cassius. The seizure stopped, but he’d passed out. I searched through his jacket pockets, felt some kind of glass tube, and pulled it out. It was an empty vile of blood. I opened the lid and took in the aroma. The blood smelled like sulfur, which was normal, but there was something more to this. It had a rotten odor to it.
“The blood is putrid,” I announced.
The crowd gasped in unison, and I handed the vile to the vampires. One by one, they took a whiff of the blood and made a squeamish face. They didn’t need to say another word. They knew I was correct. “Can you help him?”
“I need something to thin his blood to prevent clotting like warfarin.” I couldn’t get that drug out here, and he wouldn’t make it back to the academy in time. I had to get creative. I met eyes with a group of witches. “Does any of the food have turmeric, garlic, or cayenne pepper?”
Brianne came forward wearing her robe once more. “We have garlic cloves.”
“Great,” I replied with relief. “Crush a few cloves as best as you can and bring them to me.”
A group of them rushed toward the food spread. I couldn’t watch them. I had to keep my eyes on Cassius in case I noticed any changes. In record time, she returned with a bowl of crushed garlic. I poured the clumpy liquid into Cassius’s mouth. When it came to the vampire mythology, most of it was wrong. Garlic did nothing to harm vampires. Few knew this, but some of the best Italian chefs in the human world were vampires.
Van Helsing Academy Page 8
