Chapter Four
Audrey
“ I mean, seriously?” I continue, rolling my eyes. “You didn’t even bother to tell us your name. You yammer on about what’s expected of us and what will happen if we don’t make it, but you haven’t really told us a damn thing. Plus, who the hell are you to talk to us like this? What gives you the right?”
I don’t know why I keep running my mouth. Maybe it’s because of the power I feel rushing around him. Maybe I just like trouble. Maybe I don’t know how to hold my tongue. Or maybe I’m just trying to overcompensate for the fact that I’m freaking the fuck out because apparently, I’m dead .
I mean, what the fuck?
And he just stands up there like he’s so much better than we are. Like we should just take him at his word without questioning it. Maybe there are sheep here that will do just that, but I won’t. Just because I’m dead doesn’t mean I’ve lost my backbone.
I might not remember much about myself, but I know I wasn’t someone who let others push her around. I have zero intentions of that happening just because I died.
Fuck. That. Shit.
Even if he’s super fucking hot—which he is. He’s tall, like really tall. I’d say he’s closer to six-foot-six than six feet tall. His skin almost seems to be made of real bronze with his coloring. His black hair is longer on top and perfectly styled, while the sides are cut shorter. I can’t make out his eye color, but they’re dark like his hair. His facial hair is somewhere between what I’d call scruff and a full beard. He’s not wide like many tall men are, built more like a swimmer. There’s little doubt in my mind that beneath his robe, he’s well-muscled.
So, yeah, he’s hot as hell. But they’re usually the ones with the worst personalities, aren’t they?
The creature that moves with him has been here since they appeared out of the shadows, and I know he’s a hellhound, even though I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one before. He reminds me a lot of a Rottweiler in his build, but he’s at least twice the size of any Rottie I’ve ever seen before. His coloring is solid black, his eyes a vibrant red. And if you’re wondering how I know he’s male, it’s because he has been flashing us his massive dick the entire time.
Now, don’t go getting all weird. Hellhounds are a type of shifter. I’m not talking about an animal’s dick—okay, maybe I am, but not like that. He has a human form, making me wonder if he’s that big when he’s a man. If so, da-hmn , I want to take a ride on that cock.
“You can call me Death.”
My head jerks back to the man, apparently Death , eyes wide with shock.
“Uh...L-li-” I clear my throat, trying to push back the panic rising in me. “As in Death of the Four Horsemen?”
I’m proud that my voice doesn’t shake, even if I’d stuttered my words at the beginning.
“The one and only,” he says, splaying his arms out as he smirks down at me. “Though I prefer to go by Wraith now.”
Well, fuck.
How badly did I just mess up? Is he going to send me to be judged for what just happened? I don’t know why, but I know I can’t allow that to happen.
Something flickers across my thoughts, there and gone again in a moment. I try to grasp hold of the thread, but it’s just gone . I need to make sure that I don’t get sent to be judged. I need more time to remember whatever it is that my mind is trying to tell me.
Lifting my chin once more, I dare him to call me out. To send me to be judged. I won’t go easily.
“As far as why you should listen to me, well, this is my school. In six months, I’ll be your boss—assuming you make it that far.” His eyes run up and down my body as if he finds me lacking, sending anger and indignation racing through me. “You’ll learn more information tomorrow at your orientation. The staff members that will take you to your dorms will also give you more information.”
He snaps his fingers and shadows undulate on the walls to either side of the stage before pulling away to reveal two sets of double doors. “Now, members of staff will join us and call you by name to join their group according to who you will room with. Unless there’s something else you’d like to demand of me... You know, I didn’t get your name either. Maybe you’d like to share it with the class.”
This fucker thinks he can embarrass me in this room full of people, but I’m not that easily put off. “Audrey. Audrey Maddox.”
“So, were there any other demands you had for me, Miss Maddox?” He cocks an eyebrow, staring down his nose at me as the hellhound at his side lets out a loud laugh—or at least I think that’s what that noise is.
“No, Wraith, I think that’s it. Thank you. You’ve been very helpful.” I don’t bother trying to keep the sarcasm from my voice or from the smirk I send his way. I won’t be cowed—even if it’s by one of the Four Horsemen.
Fuck, that’s insane.
“Very well,” he murmurs, something flashing in his eyes that looks like approval before he turns away from me. “Come, Donovan.”
With his back to us, Wraith pulls the hood over his head and within moments, they’re both swallowed by shadows. I don’t have long to wonder how that’s possible before the double doors swing open and a group of people file in through each of them. They climb onto the stage and begin reading off names one by one.
My name isn’t called by the first, second, or even the fiftieth person who comes to the front of the stage. No, by the time my name is called, there are like forty of us left, including Diana.
“Audrey Maddox.” I step forward when it’s called, coming to stand before the woman currently on stage—not that I had far to step. “Diana Roberts.”
I turn to Diana, both of us grinning as we realize we’ll be rooming together. It’ll be nice to have at least one familiar face in our dorm.
By the time she’s finished calling off the names, she points to the door on her left. “Go out that door and wait for me. I’ll be with you in just a moment.”
Wrinkling my nose, I roll my eyes at Diana, who bursts out laughing. “What is it about these assholes? Are they all hoity toity little shits?”
“Or maybe you just bring out the worst in them?” she says with a grin. All I can do is shrug my shoulders because she might be right.
We gather with the other six girls in the hallway and introduce ourselves. Celeste is tall, close to six feet tall, if I had to guess, and all muscle—a valkyrie, I realize before she even announces it. It’s crazy to me that this information just keeps popping into my head, but I have no memory of how I learned it.
She’s gorgeous with her short blonde hair, pale skin, and striking light green eyes. Beside her is Daphne, a petite girl with nondescript brown hair and eyes. She almost fades into the background, looking as if she wishes she could. As she introduces herself, she fades in and out of visibility, revealing her fairy background—if I had to guess, a brownie. There’s also a vampire named Violet, a mermaid named Madison, a wolf shifter named Grace, and a high elf named Willow.
As soon as we finish our introductions, the member of staff who called our names appears. “You can call me Professor Gregory, as most of you will probably take at least one class with me. I’m not here to be your friend, and I don’t care who you are—or how much of a badass you think you are.” Her eyes narrow on me with that comment.
I guess I am the one bringing out the asshole in these people. Good to know.
“I will give you all the information you need on our way to your dorms. If you have questions, don’t ask them because I won’t be answering them. If I don’t cover something, it's because it’s something that will be talked about during your orientation in the morning. I don’t have the time or wherewithal to deal with you. It’s late, and I want to get some sleep. Your group is already running late, and I don’t appreciate it.” Once again, her eyes find me, telling me she thinks I’m to blame for that as well.
Like I was the only one who asked a question. I mean, sure, there was only one other question asked, but damn. This bitch is really pissing me off.
“Now, I expect you to keep up and not go wandering off on your own. If you do, I won’t come looking for you. You’re all adults and should be able to follow directions well enough.” She pauses, eyes finding me again, and I have to bite my cheek to keep from giving her a piece of my mind. “Or at least most of you should be able to. Now, follow me.”
Without another word, she spins on her heel and stalks down the hallway, leaving us to scramble after her.
While I get that she obviously doesn’t want to be here, she doesn’t need to treat us like shit. I get the feeling that if I were to call her out on it, her comments would become even more pointed.
“You must enjoy pissing people off.” Diana laughs as we head down the hallway at a slower pace than the other girls. I’m not worried about getting left behind. How far can they really get ahead of us?
“I guess I do?” I shrug again. “It’s not like I remember enough about myself to say for sure, but I can tell I’m not someone who allows others to walk all over her.”
“Oh, yeah. That’s perfectly clear. I think I’ll like having you as a friend, Audrey.”
Heat rises in my cheeks, and I know I’m blushing as I duck my head. “I think I’ll like having you as my friend, too, Diana.”
“Great.” She loops her arm through mine. “Now, let’s catch up before they get too far ahead.”
I want to argue with her but let her drag me down the hallway until we’ve caught up with the group.
Professor Gregory is speaking, but I’m not paying any attention to her as my mind races.
I’m dead, and not just dead, but I was murdered. I hate that I’m not able to remember anything about my life; to at least get an idea of why someone might have wanted to murder me. Though I guess with my smart mouth, it’s not too hard to see how I could piss someone off enough to want to kill me. Maybe I should work on that.
Nah.
I might not know myself completely, but I can already tell I’m going to like the person I was before dying—being murdered. Gods, it’s really crazy to think about the fact that I was murdered. That’s not something you get to say every day, now is it?
I’d been surprised when Death—I mean, Wraith—told us how more supernaturals were being murdered than humans. That doesn’t seem right since we’re still outnumbered slightly by humans and tend to live longer. But I guess he only said our murder rate was higher, not that our death rate was higher. It’s still fucking weird. I don’t feel like I knew this before I died. Was I some asshole who didn’t care about what went on in the world?
I sure hope not, then I’d be disappointed in myself.
That thought alone tells me all I need to know. I definitely wasn’t that person when I was alive, so why didn’t I know this? Maybe I’ll get the answer one day as my memories start coming back.
“Are you even paying attention, Miss Maddox?” I blink, coming to an abrupt stop when I realize Professor Gregory has come to a stop right in front of me. “This is information you’ll need. I’m not just talking to hear my own voice. You’re never going to last long at Scythe Academy. You clearly don’t have what it takes to be a reaper.”
I bare my teeth as she turns on her heel and heads back to the front of the group. I really want to tear this woman a new asshole, but I manage to rein myself in. I can’t wait to prove her wrong, because I'm going to be a reaper—even if it’s only to spite her.