by Cara Wylde
I’ll have to deal with this later. With a sigh, I moved away from the VDC table. As I walked toward the dais upon which the professors’ table was perched, I could feel all those curious eyes still on me, following my every move. God, I felt naked! As I stepped up the low stair, I pulled at my skirt to make sure it covered my bum and the back hadn’t accidentally gotten stuck in the hem of my tights. Stupid. Ridiculous. That was why I’d always hated skirts, actually. But someone would have laughed by now if my clothes were wonky. Right? Or not. Since Valentine Morningstar had made his unexpected appearance in Headmaster Colin’s class, people seemed to have forgotten how to laugh. Or even that laughing was a thing.
“Finally.” Morningstar beamed at me. “We dine together.”
He pulled up my chair, and I sat down between him and Mrs. Po, our Anthropology professor. I made myself as small as I could. The table was already laden with delicious food and beer that was way stronger than what the students were given, but my appetite was nowhere to be found. Even if I were hungry, I didn’t think I’d be able to help myself with food at the professors’ table. Not without spilling half of it on the tablecloth. My hands were already trembling, and I turned them into fists in my lap.
“What would you like to eat, daughter?” He didn’t wait for me to answer. He started piling grilled salmon and stuffed mushrooms onto my plate, then he poured me a glass of red wide. Oh. They have wine. “Your mother used to love a good Pinot Noir.” He pushed the glass toward me, and I couldn’t refuse it. My hand was sweating as I curled my fingers around the long, thin crystal leg. He raised his own glass as he looked around the table. “To my beautiful daughter, to our long-overdue reunion, and to her future career as a Violent Grim Reaper! Cheers!”
“Cheers.” The professors said in one voice that sounded half-reluctant, half-uncomfortable. Okay, maybe not half-half, because there were other feelings to be divined – if you were a good diviner, that was – surprise, shock, disbelief, outrage. Still, no one contradicted Morningstar. No one told him it wasn’t customary for students to ever dine at their table. Not even Headmaster Colin dared to say a single thing that might have gone against his wishes. Oh my God, they’re scared of him.
So, the rumors were true. Valentine Morningstar was the most powerful and influential Grim Reaper the supernatural world had ever seen to date, and they were all terrified of him. Impossible to overthrow, impossible to retire, impossible to say no to. And I was his daughter.
“Come on, Mila. At least a tiny sip,” he pressed me when he saw I hadn’t touched my wine. “I’m dying to know what you think.”
Are you, now? Are you really dying? I took a sip and actually loved the way the rich, black cherry aroma tickled my taste buds. Well, I’d never tasted anything like this, for sure. Morningstar’s blue eyes were fixed on me as he waited for my verdict.
“Amazing,” I whispered. “I love it.”
He clapped loudly, then leaned back in his seat. His whole demeanor and body language screamed power and confidence.
“You and your mom… Good taste, good taste!” He shook his head and smiled nostalgically. “In wine, but in men, too.” He threw a glance at the VDC table, and I knew he meant GC and Paz. I blushed to the tips of my ears. “I’m proud of you, Mila. I saw your worth score. It’s through the roof! And I don’t want you to worry about Sariel, Francis, Lorna…” He waved his hand dismissively. “The only reason they’re still at the top is because their parents donate money to the Academy. And Francis’s great-grandfather was one of the founders.” He looked at Headmaster Colin over the rim of his glass. “Favoritism. Never been a fan. But that will change soon. I’ll make sure of it. You deserve better. You deserve to be appreciated for who you are and what you do.” He turned to me. “Don’t you agree?”
I looked at him with wide eyes. I hated that I was suddenly the proverbial deer caught in the headlights, but I just couldn’t shake the role he’d forced me into. I nodded because I couldn’t trust my voice. Also, I didn’t yet know if I agreed with him. It didn’t bother me that Sariel, Francis, and Lorna were ahead of me. And I was pretty sure it wasn’t because of favoritism. For one, I knew Sariel and Lorna worked their assess off. Francis… Francis was another story. He was always going to be another story.
“Okay, enough talking!” As if I’d done any talking at all… “Eat! I want to see my beautiful daughter eat, drink the best wine, and have fun.” As if I could have any fun at the professors’ table… Is he crazy? I think he’s crazy. Unlimited power could do that to you…
I looked at my plate and willed my appetite to come back. For some reason, I felt like it wouldn’t have been a good idea to say I wasn’t hungry and make a scene. He’d made enough of a scene already, earlier, when he’d so rudely interrupted the Psychology class. It was better to play nice, for now, and see if I could find out anything about why he was truly here and what he really wanted from me.
As I ate in silence, sipping my wine from time to time, trying to keep my head low and my eyes down, he started talking with the professors about things in the supernatural world I knew nothing about. Work was hard, too many violent deaths in the past few years, what had become of America? Okay, that much I could wrap my head around. A bus accident in India had caused thirty-five deaths, and he couldn’t understand why they hadn’t been assigned to Neutral Reapers or Righteous Reapers. Why did Violent Reapers have to take care of everything?! And the Supernatural Council… Why were they taking so long passing the law against copulation with humans?
I almost choked on a piece of mushroom. I looked up at him, my eyes filled with so many questions I already knew I wouldn’t have the balls to ask. He was against supernaturals having relationships with humans?! In what world did that make any sense? He was the result of an archangel shagging a human! I was the result of… Okay, maybe I shouldn’t be so disrespectful toward my family. The family I’d never known.
“Are you okay, daughter? Here, have more wine.” He filled up my glass. It struck me then that he was constantly calling me “daughter” because he didn’t know what else to call me.
“It’s a difficult decision to make,” said Headmaster Colin in reply to Morningstar’s outrage. “Even for the Council.”
“What? To finally organize a proper vote? The last one was a sham.”
“I don’t believe that’s true,” said Mrs. Charon, our PE teacher. “I remember five years ago the suggestion of passing the law was taken by the Council very seriously, and the voting took place over a period of three days. More than enough for everyone to express their opinion.”
“What about the propaganda? Have you all forgotten the pamphlets that were being passed around? The articles in The Daily Diviner? Whatever group was behind those was never discovered. They said humans were necessary for us to thrive. That having relationships with them only made us stronger.” He huffed. “A society of hybrids! That’s what these rebels want!”
Okay, I couldn’t take this any longer. And I knew I’d regret opening my mouth, but I just had to say it. Someone had to.
“But aren’t you a hybrid yourself? And aren’t I a human?”
He turned to me slowly and fixed me with a stern gaze for a second. Then, his lips curled into an indulgent smile.
“You have nothing to worry about, Mila. When the law passes, I will make sure it doesn’t affect you.”
I furrowed my brows. Was he really going to ditch my question like that?
“I’m not worried about anything. It’s just baffling to me that someone who is a hybrid and has a human daughter would support such a law. I mean… if it weren’t for humans, we wouldn’t exist.”
“Or maybe, we would. We would’ve been born anyway, but instead of being half-bloods or… no-bloods,” Ouch! That stung. “...we would’ve been pure-blooded supernaturals. Maybe, you would’ve even had powers of your own.”
Well, I couldn’t deny that sounded nice. As someone who’d wondered all her life what it was like to have
powers, I couldn’t argue with his logic. But at the same time, I knew it didn’t make any sense. A Mila with powers would’ve been a different person. Not me. I had come to like me for me, and I’d never thought I’d say this, but having no special skills or powers had made me stronger, had made me fight harder and be better. I was where I was now, almost at the top of the worth scoreboard, not because of my name or my parents’ fortune, but because I was one stubborn bitch who wouldn’t give up even when faced with horrible bullying and the promise of death lurking around every corner. If I’d been a supernatural, I would’ve most certainly been a spoiled brat. Just like Lorna, Pandora, and… let’s face it, Pazuzu and GC Apis. At least, being who I was, I had a fair chance at liking myself. I wasn’t sure these people liked themselves very much.
“We aren’t, though,” I said. “You’re still a hybrid, and I’m still a human. And that’s okay, right? I mean, look at you. You’re the most powerful Grim Reaper of the twenty-two. I learned about you in History.” I didn’t mention I’d studied him outside of the History class, too. Looking at him, I couldn’t help but wonder why I’d been unable to find any pictures of him. He was legit handsome. When I’d asked Mrs. Morgan about it, she’d just said Valentine Morningstar didn’t like having his picture taken. “And I’m the only human who’s ever received an invitation to apply to the Academy.”
A dark shadow fell over his face. “And why do you think that happened?”
I gulped. He does have a point. “Because I’m your daughter…” My voice suddenly turned meek.
“No.” Everyone at the table was looking at us. They were so focused on our exchanges, so eager to catch every word and every inflection, that they were barely breathing. “Many supernaturals have children with humans, and those children are human, with not a bone of angel, demon, or vampire in them. Yet, you don’t see them at Grim Reaper Academy. Try again.”
Oh, the time when he’d call me “daughter” and tell me how much he missed me was long gone! And it had only been a few hours…
“I don’t know.” But I did know. The prophecy. Grim Reaper Academy, and maybe the Council even, wanted Valentine Morningstar removed. And who could be a better candidate than his own daughter?
He was silent for a long moment. The tension was so thick that one could cut it with a knife. It hung in the air, heavy and suffocating, like cigarette smoke in a cheap bar on game night. No one at the table said a single word. No one in the entire dining hall whispered, or even breathed. Thirty seconds. One minute. He finally relaxed back in his seat and gave me a bright smile.
“You know what? Headmaster Colin will excuse you tomorrow.” He looked at Mason Colin, who nodded. “I’m taking you out. Have you visited Salem? Lovely little town.”
I took a sip of wine, hoping the cold liquid would help bring back my voice.
“I’m not comfortable missing a whole day of school. It will be hard to catch up.”
“Nonsense! You’re the smartest student here! Just ask your fellas to lend you their notes.”
“I have Anthropology with the RDC.”
“So, ask someone else.” He stood up straighter and looked over the dining hall until he spotted the RDC table. “Miss Chiaramonte, you will lend your Anthropology notes to my daughter tomorrow.” That wasn’t a question, nor a suggestion. It was an order. “If that’s okay with you, of course.”
It was Lorna’s turn to play the deer-caught-in-the-headlights part. Honestly, seeing her so scared and confused made me feel better about myself. I really didn’t want her notes, though.
I leaned in to whisper in Morningstar’s general direction. “I don’t want to…”
“Shh. Lorna is more than happy to help!”
“Y-yes,” Lorna finally managed. “I’d be happy to share my notes with your daughter.” Her pale face turned an angry shade of pink, which showed just how humiliated she felt. In other circumstances, I would’ve enjoyed this victory. Except it wasn’t mine. So, naturally, I didn’t want it. Maybe I was more like my father than I wanted to admit.
“Marvelous!” He turned to me and raised his glass. “Tomorrow, after breakfast. You, me, and the town of Salem. There’s something I want to show you. You’ll love it.”
Would I? I stole a glance at Headmaster Colin, looking for a sign. Any kind of sign. He simply nodded then averted his gaze and poured himself more beer. Funny. I hadn’t seen him drink beer before.
CHAPTER NINE
My father owned a black Lamborghini. I never thought I’d say the words father and Lamborghini in the same sentence. Like… ever in my life. Valentine Morningstar wasn’t Stepan Lazarov. There were moments when I couldn’t decide who was worse. Because, for damn sure, neither of them was any good for me.
All hell broke loose after dinner last night. He’d popped up out of nowhere and turned my world upside down. Not that I was a fan of my social status before the whole school knew I was his daughter, but the sudden one-eighty the other students pulled on me in the span of a few hours freaked me out and might have scarred me for life. Now, Sheba and Sammy, who seemed to be joined at the hip, smiled at me every time I walked past them in the hallways. What. The. Fuck. Some guy from the RDC flirted with me at breakfast. I didn’t even know his name. He knew mine. At the VDC table, everyone wanted to sit as close to me as possible. Next to me was just not an option, since GC and Paz were – to their sudden, mystifying despair – still in the picture. Klaus had managed to demystify some of their behavior after breakfast, right before I was supposed to meet Morningstar at the gates.
“You can choose whoever your little heart desires now. You’re Valentine Morningstar’s daughter! You don’t have to settle.”
I laughed. “That’s ridiculous! We’re talking about GC freaking Apis and Pazuzu freaking Eremus. How am I settling?”
He shrugged. “You’ve been dating them for a few months. Maybe you’re bored.”
“I’m not bored.”
“Maybe you’re just a little bit curious about how… geez… I don’t know!... how an angel is in bed. Or a vampire. Or a merman, for that matter.” He grinned at me.
“I get it, I get it… Joel is rocking your world.”
“Not just my world, sister.”
“Well, I’m happy for you. And you should be happy for me, because GC and Paz are enough. More than I need, actually. I’m not curious about any angels, vampires, or mermen.”
“Maybe you’re curious about girls. Sheba seems to like you. Blond-haired demoness with catty eyes and cattier attitude… Don’t pass up this opportunity.”
“Okay, you’re just being annoying right now. Intentionally. What are you getting out of this? Sheba doesn’t like me. She hates my guts! I stole GC from her. And from Sammy. And from all the other girls at the Academy.”
“Bygones. They forgot all about it, believe me. You’re Mila Morningstar. You can steal whoever the fuck you want.”
“I’m not.”
“You’re not… what?”
“Mila Morningstar. Don’t call me that. I’m not that person.”
“What do you want me to call you then? You’re not Lazarov, for sure. And what kind of person is she that you hate her so much?”
“She’s selfish and entitled, and… and she has a name. A name that opens doors.”
“Hmm… déjà-vu. We’ve had this conversation before.”
“My mother’s name was Angelov. I’m thinking of taking it.”
We stopped at the end of the courtyard. That was as far as he’d agreed to walk me.
“He won’t let you,” he said after a moment’s pause. “He’s too proud.”
“Well, I’m proud, too. And I have a say in this.”
“I don’t know about that…”
“I do,” I snapped at him, then regretted it instantly. I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Klaus, you’re my friend. You should be supporting me.”
“I support you, sister. I support you by telling you the t
ruth. Isn’t that what we’re about?” He motioned between us. “And the truth is that he’s here now, in your life. Why? Fuck knows. Why now? Again, fuck knows. Did you want him in your life? He doesn’t care. And he won’t care whether you want to take his name or not, either. You are who you are, the whole school knows it… Hell! The entire supernatural world knows it by now. And there’s no going back. Like it or not, you’re Mila Morningstar, and that’s who you’ll be from now on. There’s no getting out of this, so better make the best of it, am I right?”
I sighed. “Ugh! You’re making so much sense and I hate you!”
As if to confirm his reasoning, an NDC guy walked past us and threw me a casual “Hey, Mila! What’s up!” along with a wink and a wave. Who the fuck is that?!
“Caleb. He might be the merman I was telling you about.” Klaus read my mind. “I bet he’s going for a swim.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m going.”
“Have fun! Don’t forget we’re convening in the library tonight, so you can tell us all about it!”
“What? No, we’re not!”
“Too late, I’ve already invited everyone, and Patty is bringing snacks.”
“Who’s everyone?”
He started counting on his fingers. “Me, Joel, Patty, GC, and Paz. Francis overheard us and said he wanted to be included.” He scratched the back of his neck. “Which was super weird. Anyway, I told him to fuck off.”
I laughed. “You told Francis Saint-Germain to fuck off? Who are you?”
He grinned from ear to ear. “Why, I’m Mila Morningstar’s best friend. I can afford to be a jerk now.”
“You’re not my best friend, Patty is. Anyway, I gotta run. Don’t break anything while I’m gone.”
As I was saying, my father owned a black Lamborghini. I got in and looked around as he pulled out of the parking lot and drove down the slope of the mountain, making my heart jump in my throat and my stomach do juggling tricks with my breakfast. He had his scythe in the back, and I might have stared at it for a second too long.
