Chapter Twenty-Four
“What’s the time anyway?” I ask once the explanations are all out of the way and stroking the soft feathers on Ghost’s chest as he flies over to me and settles down.
Knot flies over too and perches on my lap looking at me intently, I feel her gentle magic probe against my barriers checking to see if I’m really ok.
Once she seems satisfied she gently rubs her cheek against mine and then disappears in a cloud pink and purple magic, the purple exactly the same colour as mine.
“What the hell?” Hunt exclaims as all of us just stare in shock at the space where Knot used to be.
“I guess that’s how she keeps disappearing and reappearing.” I say. “I knew she had her own magic but I never expected anything like that.”
“I don’t think any of us did.” Kai says his eyes wide.
“As much as I want to talk this out, we need to start getting ready.” Levi says.
“Seriously, I feel like I got no sleep last night.” Kai groans sitting up and seeming to realise that he was just cuddled up on Jax’s chest for quite a while.
He smiles shyly at Jax who returns it just as cautiously and it’s cute as fuck. I decide to save them both since they seem to be struggling with how to deal with what’s happening between them.
“That’s because we didn’t, our bodies may have been asleep but we weren’t really. You especially, were fighting the Creep.” I say to him.
“That’s a good point.”
“The Creep? Is that what we’re calling him now because I kind of like it.” Hunter chuckles.
“That’s what I started calling him since he refused to give us his name and it seemed like an obvious choice.” I grin, getting up and starting to get ready, I pull out my phone quickly and send a text Erin explaining everything that’s just gone on.
The others all start to leave to do the same and its not long before we’re all dressed and ready by the door.
Each of us having chosen flexible easy to fight in clothes in dark colours.
We all know something is going to go down today, if it hasn’t already.
We are going to our realms lesson which is our last lesson of the day and our riding lesson which none of the other students are really aware of.
It hadn’t occurred to me last night when Rupert suggested it but missing the majority of our lessons makes us look guilty, like we’ve done something wrong or spent the entire morning being questioned by the enforcers.
I have a feeling that we’re going to need to watch our backs even more than usual.
“Everyone armed?” Levi asks.
“Yep,” I reply the others nodding too.
“Alright, lets go. Everyone should’ve heard about the Director by now so I’m not quite sure what we’re walking into. Stay alert.” He orders as we make our way out of the door.
“You’ve had quite a night and not the fun and sexy kind.” Erin comments already out in the hall and I laugh.
“Unfortunately not the kind I was wishing for.” I smirk.
We walk down to our classes together although they have theirs with a different realms professor.
After saying goodbye to Erin and her guys, I take a fortifying breath before we enter the classroom preparing for the undoubtedly hostile environment we’re about to encounter.
When we walk in and take our seats though nobody bats an eyelid in our direction not even the usual glares and suspicion.
I share a look with the guys but we all focus on the lesson as the strict instructor walks in and starts talking about the demon realm immediately.
Rupert insisted that we attend this lesson, not as strongly as he insisted that we attend out horseback lesson later but strong enough that we all made sure we were here.
I can’t really see a glaring reason why though.
I do pay attention regardless since hopefully we will be attending the academy in the demon realm and we need to know about where we are going to be spending our time.
Much to my disappointment the lesson is more about the ruling family and the sorts of food and traditions they have than anything about the Blood Moon Academy.
“Right, that’s it for today. I’ve started with the easy stuff but next lesson we’ll get more onto the enforcement side of everything.
Before you leave for dinner make sure that you pick up your demon realm book, you’ll find these lessons incredibly easy if you read through it.
” He says pointing to a stack of leather bound books perched on the edge of his desk.
We all grab one on the way past and quickly make our way to the dining room, I am absolutely starving, we missed breakfast and lunch thanks to sleeping in and our encounter with the Creep.
“No one is even talking about the Director or what happened.” Jax says quietly as we all pile our plates high with pasta and garlic bread and all sorts of delicious things.
“I know, it’s strange but then again this is a training academy the students here are no strangers to death and should be trained to deal with it.” Jett says as they arrive behind us and then follow us to our table, Cole with them.
“Even so I’m still surprised they’re not talking about it.” I frown looking around at the unaffected and even laughing students.
“They’re not trained to deal with it. At least not that I’ve seen yet. Something else is going on.” Cole says, just as he finishes the doors open and in stroll, Rupert, Theo and several other instructors.
The room falls silent and everyone’s attention turns to them.
“Sorry to interrupt your meal, I’ll be quick.
” Theo says taking the lead. “Director Annie has had to leave on a family emergency and I am going to be acting as interim Director in the meantime. Any issues or questions please don’t hesitate to come to my office, I have taken over Director Annie’s for the time being.
That is all, you can now return to your meal.
” He says rather abruptly before turning back around and leaving the room, the other instructors following him out.
“That was not what I was expecting at all.” Nate frowns.
“Why are they covering it up?” Kyle asks.
“We can ask Rupert in our lesson. There’s something more going on here and I want to know what.” Levi says firmly.
We finish our food in a rush. All of us keen to get out to the stables and talk to Rupert to see what the hell is going on.
I thought there would’ve at least been a couple of enforcers around.
Keeping an eye on the students and making sure that the Director was the only one that was betraying her kind.
“You guys done?” Dash asks us all and we nod, getting up and leaving the dining room.
Just before I leave Ghost swoops through the door and lands on my shoulder causing shocked mutters and then a hushed silence to follow me out. Great more rumours will be going around about us now.
Throughout the whole trek to the stables I feel like we’re being watched but no matter how much I look around I can’t see anyone at all let alone someone watching us.
“Rupert?” Erin calls as we get to the stables.
When he doesn’t reply, we all spread out and search the large stables for him. Not only is he not here but our horses aren’t either.
“He’s not here,” Levi says frowning.
“Well its not like we can practice by ourselves, our horses aren’t here and part of the point of them being ours is that we form a bond.
I don’t know about the horses you guys ride but Dave will be pissed if I ride anyone else.
” I say and they all turn to me with amusement in their eyes and it takes me a second to work out why.
“You called your horse Dave?” Kai asks, suddenly exploding with laughter.
“Yes I did.” I say primly, “It’s a very respectable name.” I defend making them all snicker.
“Ok so Sage’s questionable name choice aside. We may as well go back to our room.” Nate grins.
“It’s a bit weird though,” Erin says, “he made such a big deal yesterday about making sure we come to the lesson. Needlessly repeating himself even though he had literally just told us and now he’s not here?”
She makes a damn good point.
“He probably just didn’t want to answer all the questions he knows we’re going to have about the cover up with the Director.” Dash says logically as we make our way back to the room.
“Do you guys want to come and hang out in our room with us for a bit, since our evening is suddenly free for the first time in what feels like forever?” Levi asks Jett and the others.
“Sure that sounds good to me.”
“I should really get down to the library if we’ve got some free time there’s still so much we don’t know.” Dash says frowning heavily.
The lack of information that we are working with is clearly weighing heavily on him and Maverick judging by the matching frown on Mav’s face.
“Not tonight.” I say simply and then decide to elaborate when they all look at me with their eyebrows raised. “I just feel like we all need to stay together for some reason.” I tell them laying a hand on my churning stomach.
“Ok Sage, that’s fine. Any excuse to hang out with my girl anyway.” Dash reply’s pulling Erin in close and kissing her on the top of her head.
“Thank you, for understanding my weird.” I say as we all take seats in the guys and my room and smile shyly.
“Duh of course we do. I’m just as weird maybe not in the same way but still.” Erin grins.
“Do you want us to get Cole over?” Jax asks from beside me, his hand on my thigh.
“Yes, he needs to be here.” I say not needing to think about my answer at all and he pulls out his cell immediately and starts texting. He obviously remembered to get Cole’s number off of him at some point yesterday.
“He’s on his way.” Jax says making a small part of me relax slightly.
Fortunately our rooms are fairly close together so he arrives in no time at all.
“What’s up? Aren’t you guys supposed to be in a lesson?” He asks taking a seat.
“Yeah but Rupert and the horses weren’t there. Sage had a feeling so we’re sticking together.” Nate explains and Cole just grins.