14. Salem
Chapter fourteen
Today, Constantine and I go into battle, or maybe we should start referring to it as a dispute. He is being dramatic about how today will go, although I know I should admit he is probably right. Since I found out that Marcus would be there, all I feel is dread. They are the ministry; why couldn’t he send a member of his office? It has to either be to fuck with me, or he has something up his sleeve. I don’t know how I will react to being in the same room as him. Emotional situations and me aren’t a great combination.
I continue to train myself with my routine that I did with 203 every day. My body feels antsy, wanting to fight again. I miss the adrenaline rush that came with the physical fighting. It also didn’t help that I was good at it. Actually, I was great at it. Monica has helped me create almost a dream simulation system where I can battle monsters she creates. I don’t want to lose my edge. Plus, it reminds me I have faced more terrifying things than Marcus, at least visually more frightening things.
This nervous energy has not been helping my productivity for the day. I feel like I need to be doing something, yet all I have been doing today is working with Monica on my appearance. She has made my curls look even better than what my spelled hair usually looks. I need her to write down how she did this because it makes me feel more like me. After doing my makeup, she slipped me into the suit she custom-made. The midnight blue fabric has pinstripes adorning the pants and coat. A silky cream-colored shirt with custom heels completes the look.
I feel terrified when we stand side by side outside the gothic-style building that looms ahead. We are about to meet with them, and I know they have weeks to plan. Marcus and his team have the moves to change and bend the laws to their will. They can file paperwork to make my life hell and have us playing catch-up, leaving us behind.
Constantine gives me a tight smile. His shoulder playfully collides with mine, which helps snap me from my thoughts. “We are going to get through this,”he tells me as he opens the door, holding it open for me.
“If you say so.” I walk ahead and sway slightly before righting myself as I open the second set of doors. My heels click against the tiled floors as I straighten myself, trying to stand taller.
When I sway again, and my ankle tries to buckle under, Constantine reaches out and loops his arm in mine, steadying me. “Not that I care what you wear, but why the heels?”
I drop my voice so it’s slightly above a whisper. “They are special shoes, so if we have to stab someone in the face, we can.” Monica helped me make them. Each one has blades within, so if I feel stabby, I am accommodated.
Constantine scoffs, and his grip tightens. “Peter needs to step up his suit game. None of my shit is that cool.” He tilts his head at me and smiles. “I look pretty damn good, though.”
My heels click against the tiled floor as we approach Conference Room 101. “Do we need a lawyer? This feels like we need a lawyer.”
“Not now, but I might need one in the future. I believe Simon is going to be a litigator of this meeting. Dean Campbell is also supposed to, but who knows where his allegiance will lie.” His words sound ominous, yet calm. I feel nervous but pull that back, faking confidence I don’t feel.
“Now or never,” I tell him as we reach the door. Constantine opens the heavy wood door and motions for me to enter. He is close behind, probably ready to catch me if I fall.
When my eyes scan the room, I want to leave. Instead, I straighten my spine and pull my shoulders back, acting like a confident woman, even though I feel like the scared little 13-year-old who got dragged out of her home by the large man sitting at the end of the table. My eyes take in Marcus, whose golden eyes narrow, yet his lips curl into a smile. ‘Gotcha’ .’ His voice enters my mind, and I am even more terrified of how this meeting will go.
A stunning woman with long, wavy blonde hair sits beside Marcus. Her face visibly pales when she looks at me. Marcus reaches down when he sees my eyes on her. A wince appears on her face; one that you would have missed if you weren’t watching for it. Looking at her, I can’t feel anything for the woman. I spent all that time thinking about her and her actions in my metal cell. Now, I could almost laugh as I realized that Dr. Vic might have set me free from wanting this woman in my life. Her regret hits me in my chest, but I don’t let it affect me. She doesn’t deserve my pity, and I can’t find it myself to care about her. My mother might not be a complete monster, but she is as guilty as Marcus. She had to expect there was a large chance I wasn’t Marcus’s kid. Yet did nothing to protect me, an innocent 13-year-old girl.
Constantine stiffens when he sees her, but nothing else. “Dean Campbell. Simon.” Constantine nods to the two men in the center of the table. Dean Campbell has salt and pepper hair with a matching goatee. He looks tired as he sees us enter, his hands steeple. Our seats were across from Marcus and my mother, and we made it there without incident. Constantine nods his head to my mother as he sits down. “Kiera.” Marcus looks like he is about to say something. Constantine sits ridged, and I feel his anger vibrate off of him. I haven’t thought about how hard this might be for him. Much like a rubberband snapping, he slaps the top of the table. He claps his hands as he stands, motioning to Marcus. “Well, I tried! I came in here wanting to be reasonable and make some progress. But the man is impossible! Just look at his smug fucking face!” He slaps the table once again and takes a breath. He leans forward onto the table and glares at Marcus. His voice comes off calm, but a little condescending.“Seriously, Marcus, is this whole thing necessary? Are you so bored that you need to harass a teenage girl?”
Marcus growls, and you can feel his hatred fill the air. Dean Campbell clears his throat. “Thank you both for coming here and trying to solve this amicably. That’s what I wanted to say before that outburst, Constantine. Can you perhaps pretend to be professional for one afternoon?”
“Odds are not in his favor, no. I will act how I see fit because he has made this even more difficult than necessary. I’m not sure why or what is so hard about it. We have filed the formal paperwork. Yet,” Constantine motions to Marcus. “Somehow, his office seems incompetent and doesn’t seem able to know how to open mail. Let alone file it.”
Marcus leans back in his chair and tilts his head to the side. “Her mother wants her to come back home. It’s a reasonable request. A girl, no matter what the age, needs her mother.”
“Why the hell would I do that? We both know I won’t be welcome there.” I tilt my head and look at them both. I close my eyes, breathe, and focus on what Monica and I practiced. “As a 19-year-old, I am firmly within my rights not to be in your care.”
“You ran away from a hospital after attempting to attack a doctor. I would hardly call that being mentally capable of making rational decisions.” His eyes narrow. “I would also like to know how you escaped so easily.”
I shrug and give him an unamused look. “Maybe I have new talents since we last saw each other. As for the doctor, I felt threatened. It was convenient that two nurses had tranquilizer guns in hand. Seeing how I was tossed on the floor, I simply figured it wouldn’t matter if I disappeared.” I shrug. “On top of that, I have been in capable hands.” I motion to Constantine, who straightens slightly.
“One of the Seven Deadly Sins. I wouldn’t call that an excellent influence on an immature mind. You reappear after being gone for years. The hospital was vague on the details of why you were there. You can’t blame us for being concerned parents.” His lip curls up like somehow he has won. He is bating me, and the worst part is that it’s working. Even though I know that is what he is trying to do, it’s hard to control my emotions.
I hold up my hand to him, my eyes close, and I take a steady breath. “Please do us both a favor and drop the act. You don’t care about me. You only want me silenced. Stop acting like you didn’t know where I was.” My voice shakes, yet I hold firm. “You just didn’t expect me to still be alive. If you were a concerned father, you could have come and picked me up. The fact is you’re not my father. I would have pretended you were, if that is what you wanted.” I’ve kept my voice calm, yet I am shaking with rage inside. “You aren’t my father.” I point to Constantine. “This is my father.” Constantine squeezes my hand. He pushes his emotion to me. Tears spring to my eyes as my rage disappears, and I am filled with pride.
“Let’s refocus. From our data, you aren’t in our system properly to register you as whatever type of creature you are. So, that process has been delayed as well.” Dean Campbell looks through notes before him. “The hospital detected multiple different fae types in your blood.” His eyes harden on me. “How can I ensure the well-being of my other students if you claim to be multiple different species?”
“Sir, if I may,” Simon starts. “There is interbreeding between species all the time. Two different species have children from the union. This situation should be treated the same way.”
Dean Campbell huffs out. “This seems to differ from one of those situations, from what I see. Let me look through my notes,” he dramatically pages through his notebook, licking his finger as he turns the pages. “Yes, it seems that she claims to have been in one of these anti-fae prisons for six years. I have yet to see any evidence of this.”
Constantine scoffs. “Did the hospital not send it over?”
Dean Campbell looks through all the paperwork. “No. I have contacted the hospital to ensure I have everything they received. They have noted that they thought she came in with the prison raid, but nothing else to note. One nurse claims she was dropped off at the ER doors anonymously.”
Anger flares inside me, and Marcus’s smug face smiles. “We have looked into this, and there is no proof of you being in the prison raid on any of the records.” Marcus at least has the decency to look like a concerned father.
Dread sinks in my stomach like a lead balloon. “What are you talking about? How else do you explain my blood abnormalities?”
He shrugs and nonchalantly frowns, looking at everyone. “I have looked into these claims, even interviewing the officers who oversaw the raid. Nobody remembers you ever being there.”
Before I can answer, Constantine slams his hands on the table. “I read those documents myself.” He stands and looks from me to them. “She was in that prison, being experimented on and fighting beasts and monsters.” He glares at my mother, who pales under his gaze. “What the hell has he done to you?”
Her lip trembles and Marcus slams his hands down on the table. “You don’t address my wife! She is mine, not yours.” He nods his head over to me. “You got all that you are going to get from her.”
Simon lets out a loud whistle, and everyone’s eyes go to him. “I went to the hospital when Salem first got there. The FPS brought her from the prison raid. I read the files, and Lydia from your office did, too. There are many witnesses to confirm this.”
“I do not know if there ever has been a Lydia who has ever worked in my office. We are welcome to call and speak about this. However,” he looks at me, his eyes narrowing. “None will corroborate with this story you weave.”
A growl leaves my throat. “I need those documents. It’s the only way to find—” Constantine’s shadows fly out of his hand and swirl around my mouth, cutting off the following words.
Dean Campbell smacks his hands on his deck. “I’ve heard about enough of this!” He points to Constantine and me. “You two are on thin ice! The Chancellor and his wife agreed to meet with you to make you see reason. If it were up to me, you wouldn’t attend this Academy. Powers above me have insured your place here. However, you are not above a three-strike rule. You are already on strike number one.” Simon looks shocked by the proclamation. Dean Campbell looks at Simon. “You will sit in that chair and not say another word. These people might fool you, but that doesn’t mean that the rest of us are so easily manipulated.”
I can feel my beast wanting to come forth, and my eyes are changing. “You must keep in control of your beast. Are you even registered as a shifter?” Dean Campbell says in a mocking tone.
Constantine shakes his head. “Her DNA is still mutating.” He scoffs and rolls his eyes. “Because, according to you all, this must have happened naturally. Perhaps through an illness or something.”
“Perhaps drugs? This is another reason you should come with your mother and me. We can get you the help you need,” Marcus points out, and Dean Campbell shakes his head in agreement.
“Over my dead body, will she be going anywhere with you!” Constantine says through clenched teeth. “She is a Midnight Beast. The only recorded ones were from my bloodline. We are doing our research on what she needs.”
“Once again, I ask, how am I supposed to ensure the safety of my students if there isn’t any research of her kind?” Dean Campbell tilts his head, his eyes challenging Constantine.
“You have rare creatures here already! Some of them could take out half the Academy before you could do anything about it. If the rare creatures that go here don’t have to be leashed, then she shouldn’t either. We are figuring this out, and that’s more than anyone else has ever done for her.” He points his finger at the Dean. “How dare you?”
Dean Campball’s face blanches, and he averts his eyes. “Either way, mental assessments must be made–”
Once again, Constantine slams his hand down. “If you bothered to read your emails, you would already see we have done one.” I keep my face neutral. We have done an assessment, but I haven’t been to a therapist. Maybe I should go to one, but I don’t want that now. I don’t feel ready. “She is sane. Traumatized but sane.”
“We should be able to conduct our own,” Marcus says, looking directly at Dean Campbell and waiting for him to back him.
“So it can end up exactly like these lost documents? You can take it up with my lawyer. We aren’t about to come to any agreement today. However, I would like to push Salem’s last name forward to be changed to Blackthorne.” He looks at my face. I can see his rage before turning to Marcus. “It will help with any embarrassment that she may cause your reputation.” Constantine’s eyes narrow, and his voice lowers slightly. “From her being an indiscretion, as people like to put it. Keeping any backlash that may come your way minimal. After all, we are all about helping Marcus look great on paper.”
“Um, yes, I got that paperwork. The Academy listed her as Tempest, so it is already on almost all the documents. I believe most teachers and students will have no problem adjusting. Might take a week or so.” Dean Campbell has at least the courtesy to look somewhat embarrassed.
“Great. We will take our leave because I don’t believe much needs to be discussed after this enlightening conversation.” Constantine rises, and so do I.
My hands are shifting into claws as we speak. Constantine uses his shadows to cover me as he tries to keep us moving quickly. His arm loops into mine, helping me as I hunch over. My body is quickly changing forms as the beast wants to take over. The hair on my arms looks silver and seems to glimmer. I cannot concentrate on that; this transformation is happening sooner rather than later. When we reached the doors, my body shifting caused my beautiful suit to split. Constantine is holding onto my shoulders, my heels falling off as we push through the first door. Then, I am off and running. Every part of me wants to kill them all.
I am unsure how long I ran; I don’t remember changing back. My body aches, and the sun seems to rise as I wake up in the grass. I look around and don’t see anyone at the forest’s edge. I feel so weak as I try to stand; my body wobbles as I walk forward. “There you are!” Simon practically screams at me. “We have been looking for you for almost two days.”
My teeth sharpen as I look at him, and I hear his pulse beating. I close my eyes and try not to focus on it. I stand before him, limping and naked, but none of that seems to bother me. Only how loud his blood is pumping in his veins. I can’t seem to concentrate as I attempt to walk to him. My foot catches on a tree root, causing me to fall forward. Simon shoots forward the remaining distance, his arms going around me as he catches me before I hit the ground.
Simon scoops me up, cradling me to his chest, and I feel unable to stop myself from leaning into his neck and biting down. I let out a moan as my arm grips his shoulders. “Fuck.” I hear him say as I hold on and drink from him.
Desire, I feel so much passion. I grind myself against his hardness as his arms snake around me. When I pull off his neck and seal the wound, his breath quickens. I pull my lips to his as I wrap my arms around his neck. Simon kisses me back, his tongue reaching out to meet mine. A twig snaps in the distance, and we both pull back.
“Damnit.” He unbuttons his top button shirt before pulling it over his head and down over my head. His fingers reach down and button up my buttons. “That cannot happen again.”
I nod, not because I agree, but because I am slightly confused about my feelings. My fingers touch my lips, which are tingling from the kiss. “What day is it?” I say, feeling confused because did he say I have been gone for almost two days?
“Tuesday. School starts tomorrow. It’s move-in day.” He is walking me back towards the dorms of the Academy. “Constantine has your schedule and somehow got into your dorm early to get everything set up.”
“Are there others inside yet?” I panic at my state of undress and briefly wonder if I should go into the veil.
“It’s not uncommon for people to be in various states of undress here at the Academy. There are only a few people here. Constantine hasn’t left since you have been gone. He isn’t about to rest until he sets his eyes on you.”
I almost roll my eyes at that statement. “As you can see, I am perfectly fine.” I motion my hand over myself. Besides being dirty and wearing Simon’s black button-down, I think I am in good shape. My bare feet continue to walk beside Simon.
His eyebrow raises, and he pulls me to a stop. His gaze feels almost cold before a spark of anger overtakes it. Simon’s brows furrow, and he shakes his head at me. “Yeah. Because it’s perfectly normal for someone to shift into a creature that hasn’t existed for almost two hundred years. A creature we know little to nothing about their abilities. We haven’t even had time to research what you can do because we have been busy looking for you. Not knowing if you might have been taken again.” He almost growls. “Because that’s what Marcus wants. He wants you to die, or at least be silenced. I have no doubts that the people running that prison facility want you back. I’ve read some notes that the doctor wrote about you. He is going to want you back. The ministry wants you to be drugged and hidden away from anyone because they think you are a danger. The only thing keeping you out of there is this Academy and Constantine. That’s all that stands between you being taken. So, I need you to get this through your head. Shit is way more serious than what you are making it out to be. Grow up, little girl.”
Anger flares inside, along with guilt. “What part of you thinks I am used to anyone being concerned about me or what happens to me? I know firsthand what they are capable of. In case you haven’t noticed, I cannot control the beast right now! She took control, not me! I have little a memory of the last, however many hours. She felt like we were in danger and took the wheel of my mind! So yes! I am aware.” His arm reaches out, and I bat it away. I am walking towards the school, leaving him standing there. “Don’t follow me. I will find Constantine.” My eyes glance around before hissing, “Probably not a good look for us to be seen together after all.”
I am so tired of all the changes in my life. It’s not like I’m not trying because I am. Everything is out of control within myself and all around me. I don’t know what is happening, but it’s not like I am trying to rebel or whatever Simon thinks I am doing. I remember 203‘s words. Fuck anyone else but us. Well, except maybe Constantine can be in our circle too, but everyone else fuck off.
When I reach the edge of the woods, I pull my shadows. They seem happy to be back in control. When I am in my beast’s form, I can’t seem to access them. I wonder if the more I shift, the better I can control all my parts. I send them outwards to find Constantine. Find Constantine. Before I can blink, he teleports himself in front of me. Relief comes over his face. “Don’t scare me like that.” His arms are slightly tense but then sag with relief.
I let out a small laugh, feeling a little awkward. I can’t help but fidget slightly. “My beast took over. She thought she was protecting me.” I shrug, not wanting another disagreement already.
“Where is Simon?” He asks, looking around before shaking his head. “Nevermind. That doesn’t matter. Let’s get you to your room before something else goes wrong.” He circles his hand around, motioning to my outfit. “Not sure your outfit is something that will be trending.”
I roll my eyes. “What do you know about outfits trending?”
“I happen to be very fashionable. We have had this conversation before, and I refuse to believe you don’t remember it.” He states, and we pause, seeing the dark gothic-style dorms in the distance. There are four dorms in total sitting in the distance. Ivy crawls along the stone of all the buildings, and I mentally try to hype myself up for going inside.
We walk inside, and I am surprised that it’s empty. It’s supposed to be the move-in day, and nobody is here. “Where is everyone?”
“We have about an hour before students should begin showing up here. I got you set up.” He pauses as we walk up the stairs. “Well, Monica picked everything, and I tweaked some stuff.”
We make our way up to the fourth floor, the top floor of the building. He stops at a door that says 415 and holds the door open for me. “Home sweet home,” I say as I walk into the common area with a microwave, refrigerator, small kitchen area, and couch.
Constantine points to the door on the right. “This is your room—well, the one I picked for you, at least.”
He made my bedroom from the Realm of Dreams, but it was less grand. It has a similar vibe without changing the walls and ceiling. It had everything I needed: a full bathroom, a desk, and a twin bed. He also stocked my closet with more clothes than I needed. “Thank you.”
“You know you are only a veil ride away from the Realm of Dreams. You can pop in and out as you like.” I nod to him, but he continues. “Has your link to the library been keeping your energy full?”
Maybe Simon was right about Constantine’s worry. I should feel bad about my interaction with Simon, but I can’t find it inside me to care. “Yes, as far as I can tell, it’s working.”
“Oh, before I forget.” He snaps his fingers, and the shadows swirl around his fingers like smoke, revealing a small box. He hands me the black velvet box.
When have I last received a gift? My eyes look at the box, and a lump appears in my throat. I stare at it like it’s precious, yet I can’t seem to open it. “I promise it will not bite you.” Constantine jokes as I try to push down the emotion I feel.
I clear my throat and look into his dark eyes. “It’s not that. You have done so much for me and are still giving me a gift.” My fingers pry the box open to reveal a silver chain necklace. The pendant almost resembles a star, yet not the traditional five-point. The stone inside is a deep blood red with black diamonds on the outside. “It’s beautiful. I don’t know what to say.”
He looks pleased, with a small smile on his face. “Well, it also has functions other than being pretty. It’s spelled. It will help channel your empathic gifts. Quiet the noise and focus on the important energies. It will help keep you safe and warn you of energy you need to be aware of, which will benefit you. It’s also a symbol of the Seven Deadly Sins. The stone is called Hellfire and is said to add extra protection to the user. I figured it couldn’t hurt. Also, I have spoken to the rest of them, and you are now officially listed as my heir. This is a small symbol of that without announcing or being super ostentatious. Figured you would prefer it that way.”
“Thank you.” I don’t know what else to say. I have been nervous about my emphatic abilities hindering my life here on campus. Constantine thought of that and came up with a solution. “I’m not used to someone looking out for me. Once again, thank you.”
“On that note, I will take my leave.” He chuckles. “Before I say something to ruin this.”
I spend the rest of the day hiding away in my room, wanting to avoid other students and parents. I end up popping back into the realm of dreams to sleep, using the phone Monica gave me a few days ago to set the alarm so I won’t be late.