Spearwood Academy Volume Seven (Spearwood Academy Series Book 7) Read online

  Spearwood Academy

  Volume 7

  By

  A.S. Oren

  Rook Hilt Publishing L.L.C

  Copyright © A.S. Oren 2015

  Rook Hilt Publishing

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locals are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events, real locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental or used fictitiously.

  Text copyright © 2015 A.S. Oren

  Cover copyright © 2014 A.S. Oren

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

  Book design A.S. Oren

  Table of Contents

  Fun Stuff!

  Previously on Spearwood Academy …

  Dishonest

  Uninvited Dinner Guest

  Healed Mind

  The Full Monty

  Bullock’s Back

  Recruiting

  Dungeons

  Spearwood Underground

  Attacked

  Fun Stuff!

  Soundtrack:

  https://open.spotify.com/user/12149862702/playlist/5zfj643iT03OPBDU3hDXLF

  Newsletter Sign Up!

  http://eepurl.com/bggTLv

  Who is your favorite Spearwood Boy 2015?

  http://goo.gl/fBXk6i

  Dante Mathis in Anime form

  Artist: http://rosita.deviantart.com/

  Previously on Spearwood Academy …

  “I beg you; continue to act like you hate me. I need to be able to protect you, and I can’t do that if they think I’m not warped. Look at what happened to Bullock. You’re lucky you were able to get him out because they’re acting dumb.” He places a warm hand on my shoulder. I welcome the small comfort. My mind goes a thousand places.

  I nod and lick my lips. He’s right. The more secret allies I have the better it will be for us all in the end. “Don’t worry; I won’t say anything about you. I’m just glad I understand what caused you guys to not be warped. I just wish I knew what I did to make it happen, so I can repeat it later.”

  He lets go of me and turns toward the opening. “We can’t worry about it right now. I’ll be in touch.” He walks away before I can say anymore. I have so many questions still.

  My only option with classes over is to go back to my dorm. Maybe Dante and the rest of the guys will want to hang out. Ever since Jericho, I haven’t wanted to be alone. I hate feeling so weak and helpless. My heartrate picks up. What if someone ambushes me and I go paralysed the second I try to defend myself? There’s Kaliyah, but walking around with her out when I’m not lost would be strange and draw too much attention. I inch further into the passage. I’ll just take this all the way to my rooms. That way I can have Kaliyah out, and no one will know.

  She unfolds too quickly into her normal form and looks around. Seeing we’re in the clear, she lets out a sigh. “It’s so nice to be let out again. You don’t know this, but when we’re folded up, we hear all the chatter of the other P.A. calculating where they are and listening to what their owners are saying. It’s really annoying when you realize you don’t have to listen to it. It all went quiet once you came in here though.”

  I nod. “That’s good. Maybe that’s how The Watchers listen in on what we’re talking about. For it to go quiet in the passages means there’s a block they can’t get through. Do you know how to get back to my dorm from here?”

  She looks at me for a long second. I advert my eyes. I don’t want her to see the hint of fear in them. “It would be faster to walk there the normal way. You have to take many detours from here.”

  “I don’t feel like taking the normal way; tell me how to get there from here.”

  She folds her arms across her chest. “Your heartrate and blood pressure are erratic. What’s wrong?”

  It’s not fair she can read me like this. “Fine. I’m scared!” I snap.

  She frowns. “Of what? The Slayers? I’m not a part of them anymore, but I highly doubt they will plan an attack now. They will want to make us fragile first, and there are too many of us standing strong for them to consider that. Trust me; they will only make a move when they feel it is safe.”

  The shame builds ever higher at the fact I’m scared. “It’s not that. I can’t help but replay the other day with Jericho. What if Triton hadn’t activated your alert to get Lusk and he actually finished what he started?” Hot tears fall now as my shoulders shake. “I was powerless to defend myself. I couldn’t do anything. I may have some of my power back now, but it’s only when Roseman is around.”

  Kaliyah pulls me into her arms, and I rest my head under her chin. “Shh . . . that’s not something you should be afraid of feeling. Once we figure out how to get those damn cuffs off, your confidence will return. I’m sure of it. You won’t let what happened control you.”

  I sob harder, and she holds me until my tears subside. I back away from her and wipe my eyes. “I’m so embarrassed.”

  She smiles. “Don’t be. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing at all. Everyone needs a good cry with a friend.”

  “Friend?” I question.

  “I’ve been with you for a while, Avvi. I’ve come really respect you, and if you’ll have me, I want to be your friend.”

  I grin. I’ve never had a girl friend before. I was raised with boys, and there were never girls my age around. “I’d like that.”

  “Good! Now, let’s get back to your dorm. We have a long walk in front of us.” She slings a lazy arm around my shoulder, much like Dante used to do before he thought we were dating.

  ~*~*~*~

  If I weren’t used to walking for a long time by now, my legs would be tired from trudging through the maze I just went through to get here. Kaliyah wasn’t kidding when she said it would be a long walk. We agreed to have her go back into her card form before I collapse onto my big, fluffy bed. I could so go to sleep right now. I couldn’t care less that dinner is in an hour. The Governors can get their panties in a wad for all I care.

  My eyes close, and sleep eases over me. I’m asleep before I can count to ten. That spare with Lusk must’ve really tired me out.

  “Avalon, someone’s at your front door,” Kaliyah says from invisible speaker in the room.

  I groan. “Who is it?”

  “Minos Mathis.”

  My eyes snap open. What is he doing here? Dante hasn’t come around yet. There’s no reason for him to be here.

  “He has not left, Avalon, would you like me to open the door for him?”

  “I guess.” I get up and go to the living room. I cross my arms in front of myself. He’s not Dante; I don’t trust him. Hopefully, Kaliyah will sound the alarm if he tries anything.

  He smiles at me as he comes into the room and closes the door behind himself. “Thank you for seeing me, Avalon.” He steps over to me and holds out his hand. “I apologize for not getting to formally meeting you this morning, and I missed breakfast due to resolving some issues with my paper work.”

  I take his hand quickly and give it a light shake. “I’m aware. Dante told me.”

  “Good, it seems he no longer believes me to be a fraud. Not that I blame him.”

  He sounds so formal to my ears. Like one of the servants. “Did you only come by to introduce yourself?”

  He offers another small smile and a bent elbow. I won’t admit it’s oddly charming. “I also came by to escort you to dinner.”

  I flick my hair over my shoulder. “Dant
e takes me to dinner.”

  “He gave me permission to take you. Don’t worry; I think he would’ve damn near took off my head if I hadn’t asked. We can shift our wings and fly there if you want to get to him quicker.”

  I would feel safer around him too. “I can’t shift anything right now. I’m under magical and physical arrest. I can only do either if my Dad,” added solely for The Watchers listening, “is present.”

  He arches a solid black eyebrow at me. “Well, that is troublesome, isn’t it? I can fix that.”

  I frown. “What are you talking about? No one can fix these. They’re on me until my sentence is up in nearly three weeks.”

  He tuts. “No, that won’t do. We’ll just make them think you aren’t free of their powerful hold when they take them off.”

  He closes the gap between us and takes both my hands in his. Tapping both with an offbeat rhythm, he murmurs something under his breath. All weight leaves the cuffs as if I’m not even wearing them, but the warmth of their magic remains.

  He puts a hand on my shoulder. “Go ahead and try your magic.”

  I shake my head. “The Watcher will see.”

  “No they won’t; they can’t see you right now. I’m masking you.”

  I frown. How would he know how to do that? He continues to urge me to try some magic. I go for a tiny flame at the tip of my finger. My eyes go wide when the flame sparks to life. He actually did it!

  I look into his lavender eyes. I can’t help but to wonder what magic he was using on the cuffs. It wasn’t dragon magic. I’ve never heard the language he was muttering. Who is this guy? Is he really Dante’s brother? Can I trust him?

  To be continued…

  Dishonest

  “That wasn’t dragon based magic you just used to take the magic out of the cuffs. I could tell. How do you know how to do a different form of magic?”

  He just smirks at me. “Who says we can only learn dragon style magic and limit ourselves to what our full potential could be? Take you for example, you can use more than one element of magic. And, most of it has come to you instinctually. Our kind are just lazy and don’t bother to push themselves to the limit. I think it will take a person like you to make them realize their potential is so much more than what they believe it to be.”

  I take a step back from him and pull my hands out of his grasp. "How do you know so much about me?"

  "I was informed about you on a regular basis. Through the information, I came to know you and the young woman you’ve become. I think a very becoming one, if I do say so."

  "Who informed you?" This guy reminds me of Paden before he dropped the act of trying to trigger my memories.

  "At first my father. He was good friends with Edgar, after all. You probably don't remember seeing him, you were too young to care who visited Orchard. There was a good chance of Dante being your protector while you were there, but then those brothers had to pop up and steal it from him. You and I met once, when you were ten. I'm sure you'll remember that."

  I need to be able to save Edgar. I search my brain for anytime I met a kid with lavender coloured eyes. None comes to the front of my mind. He steps around me now to circle me. I tighten my fist. I can defend myself now if he tries anything. "You look different than how I remember you. I think you've grown into your face more; of course, puberty did you well too. You haven't gotten much taller though, that's a shame. What are you five foot-one?"

  He makes me feel as if I'm a prize pony up for being bought. I swallow hard, supressing the urge to throw a fireball at his face. I rather not start a fire in my dorm if I don't have to. I ignore his question about my height. Even if he was creepily right. I haven't grown in height since I was twelve. "Who is your other informant?"

  "You'll find out soon. He's excited for you to know the true him."

  I frown. That makes no sense. "I'd like it if you would leave now. You're making me uncomfortable. I can walk to the dining hall myself."

  He tsks and circles me still. "Do you know how many people want you dead right now? All of Aibek's followers, that's for sure. I don't think that is a good idea."

  I shake my head. "Aibek wants to kill me with his own hands. None of his followers are going to kill me."

  He comes to a stop in front of me. "What if they don't all know that? They may try to kill you in order to get on his good side. You never know."

  A small fireball warms my hand. I relish in it. It has been too long since I could use magic of my own free will. Five days felt like a hundred years. "I'll take my chances."

  Another knock at the door sounds, I move past Minos to answer it. Please be one of the guys. I open the door. The Sun god has been listening to my pleas. Dante stands on the other side. He smiles at down at me. "Ready to go to dinner, Rosenip?"

  I wish I knew the story of how I became Rosenip to him. Wait, he's acting as if he didn't know Minos had come here to pick me up. I glance over my shoulder at Minos. He smirks. I turn back to Dante, who now watches his brother. "What are you doing here?"

  "I came to retrieve Avalon for dinner, but apparently, she doesn't want me to walk her."

  I growl. "Don't talk about me as if I'm some kind of dog you have to take for a walk twice a day."

  Dante takes my hand. "Don't worry, Rosenip. You won't have to walk with him. C'mon. You can I can go together." I hold onto his hand tighter. It’s actually giving me some comfort right now, and I will take any I can get.

  He pulls me out of the dorm. Minos follows behind, closing the door. Dante tugs me closer to his side and drops my hand, so he can put his arm around my lower back.

  "You really shouldn't torture yourself this way, Dante. You know you can never truly have her. Not once her beloved comes around. You'll have to give her up to him."

  "I told you this morning. No prophecy is going to tell me who I can and cannot fall in love with. For all you know I could end up in some sort of polyamorous scenario and I would be fine with that. As long as I get to live my life how I want and with who I love."

  Dante runs his thumb back and forth over my side. "Well said, love." He leans down and gives me a kiss. I hate that I'm starting to get used to that. Maverick hasn't even been dead a month. I'm such a horrible person.

  "You can't run from a prophecy."

  I turn around now. "Who says the prophecy is about me? Yes, I'm the first female shifter in a thousand years. That does not mean I will be the last!"

  "You will be if you don't fulfil the prophecy. Marrying and having children with the unmarked Royal, your beloved, will break the curse and females will be able to be born again."

  I fold my arms over my chest. "I was born and didn't die. There will be others too and I have never heard that part of the prophecy, you made it up."

  He grins at me. "It's just a part of it you haven't heard. There's much more to it. Including a part about Aibek and the outcome of this war. I can tell you the whole thing, if you wish."

  I turn away from him and put Dante's arm back around me. "I don't have time for nonsense."

  Dante leans into me. "Don't trust him, Rosenip. I don't. He's not the Minos I grew up. He's been taught to believe some strange things."

  "You can't go against a prophecy, you should know that."

  Uninvited Dinner Guest

  Somehow, we make it to the dining hall without me beating Minos into the floor. He can't seem to get it through his head that I don't care what a thousand year old prophecy says. I'm going to live my life the way I want to and if that bothers him than he will just have to deal with it. I won’t let some story scare me. As for the rest of prophecy. I don't know if I will have him tell me the rest of it or not. I could cloud my judgement with the coming war. I don't want to make a decision based of prophecy. It will all play out as it's supposed to in the end.

  We sit down at a table with Amr and Horace, underneath the balcony seating. It doesn't take a detective to see that they are holding hands under the table. I really hope they stay like this after I find
a way to fix them. I want my brother back, but I also want him to keep the guy he loves. "How was the rest your guesses last class?"

  "It got cancelled," Amr says.

  I frown. "I didn't even know that could happen, why?"

  "Art professor was sick."

  I frown more. "We don't get sick unless--"

  "We're poisoned," fills in Minos. I send him a glare. He sits across from him. No one invited him to sit across from us.

  Amr shrugs his shoulders. "Probably one of the other students playing a bad prank," Horace says, with a shrug of his shoulders.

  The normal Horace would never shrug his shoulders at something like this. Especially if he knows the Slayers are waiting for an opening, so that they can strike us while we're weak. That's what Kaliyah said at least. "Are any of the other professors sick?"

  "I think I heard that the Physics and Piano teacher are out as well. Strange, right?" Amr asks.

  At least he sees that it's strange. I look to Minos. The day he shows up the teachers get sick. Dragon shifters don't get sick, which means they were poisoned. Did he do it? He just stares back, as if he knows what I'm thinking. A servant comes by with our menus and he opens it. "So what do you guys recommend off the menu?"

  "The salmon is always good," Horace says.

  I try not to gag at the thought of salmon. I never minded the taste of it as a kid, but at one point or another, it developed a love hate relationship with my body. If I ate it, I would be spending the rest of the night in front of the toilet.

  "Hm, all right. I'll give that a try." He puts down his menu and I arch an eyebrow. He doesn't seem to me like the type to be so easily pleased with whatever.

  "Are you listening, Rosenip?" Dante asks.

  I turn my attention away from his twin and look at him. I can't believe I didn't hear him talking to me. I have to be more aware of what's going on around me. "Sorry, D, what did you say?" I hope that's a nickname I still use with him. My other self did.