The Shadows of Blackbriar Academy Read online

“Still, we need to keep our eyes open and remain vigilant.” Soren’s feet shuffle over the debris covering the floor as he makes his way to a small window sitting high at the opposite wall. The glass is shattered, leaving jagged shards sticking out of the frame and glass littering the sill and floor beneath it.

  I stop pacing to face the headmaster. “I don’t think we’re done here yet.”

  “Anyone else as unsettled as I am?” Milo’s voice is distant as his eyes focus on the puddle of congealing blood at his feet. His skin pales and I worry if he’s about to throw up.

  “Well, what are we waiting for?” Jesse spins, a gleeful glint in his eyes. “Let’s finish checking out this place. Maybe we’ll still run into someone?”

  Though I agree, I also can’t shake the feeling that there’s more than what meets the eye here in this room.

  “Let’s look for clues. I want to make sure there’s nothing here we can’t use.” I gesture to the room. “Just in case.”

  Milo steps forward. “I’m on it.” He scoops up tattered papers scattered along the floor, leaving the ones soaked in blood alone.

  A pinch forms in the center of my forehead. “What is all that?”

  “I don’t know.” He grunts as he continues to bend over and collect the pages. “Directions, blueprints. I’m not sure yet. We can piece these together later.”

  “Blueprints?” My voice sounds almost foreign, but my magic churns within me, and a dose of dread fills me.

  “We need to hurry.” Soren speaks from the corner, continuing to stare out the broken window.

  Jesse starts to help Milo. I collect the pages surrounding me. Gideon pitches in as well. Once all the salvageable pages have been collected, we stack them in a haphazard pile and pass them all to Milo. He clutches them in his hands and holds them like they are the most precious gift in the world. Close to his heart. But there’s a shadow that crosses his eyes and I wonder what it is about the pages that bothers him.

  Before I can ask, we file out of the room. Now is probably not the best time, anyway. I trust him enough to tell me once he has a solid idea of whatever is hidden within the numerous pieces of paper.

  We step through the dilapidated door of the bloodied and destroyed room as Gideon’s words ring true within me. We’ll find my father. Maybe not today, but someday soon. I won’t give up on him. I will find my father, even if I have to overturn every rock on this earth.

  Just as we step into the glaring hot sun again, a heavy weight falls upon my shoulders. Something dark and foreign. It’s a magic I’m not familiar with.

  Shit! There is someone here. And by the feel of this unknown presence, it’s not good.

  Chapter Twelve

  The uncomfortable sense of something incredibly imposing nearby doesn’t let up as we make our way through the empty building, back toward the double doors at the front. We’re all tense and unsettled because things hadn’t gone the way we anticipated. My magic pulses through my wrists and into my hands, waiting for the chance to be freed.

  We’re not out of the woods yet.

  Once we make it to the dirt outside the building, my eyes adjust to the brightness of the sun casting waves of heat down on us. And leaning against the gate is a man wearing skin-tight jeans and a leather belt buckle with silver spikes. His bare torso shows off his greyish skin. His long black hair cascades around his shoulders, and his black eyes narrow on me as his lips quirk into a grin.

  “You must be Wren Blackwood.” His voice is calm, even, and coated with a hint of enjoyment. There’s a slight southern twang to his words and part of me believes his demeanor is being played on to distract us from his true purpose.

  Call it gut instinct.

  “Who wants to know?” I ask from between Gideon and Soren. This is it. This is what we were waiting for. It has to be.

  He stands straighter and holds out his hand as though he wants me to approach and shake it. “Name’s Jackson Cane.”

  “And what if I am Wren Blackwood?” While I stare him down, I take in the subtle way his body angles just slightly before shifting his weight in the same direction. His shoulders are a bit more tense than the casual tone he speaks with. His hands rest at his side, but they are partially closed. Like he could start throwing punches at any moment.

  “Wren, what are you doing?” Milo asks behind me in a low whisper.

  “Stalling.” My word flows quietly from my mouth as my eyes search the surrounding areas. There’s a trap here. I feel it. And this Jackson person’s appearance confirms this. But he’s not alone. I know this deep in my gut. I just can’t see anyone else just yet.

  But they are here.

  Somewhere.

  I search for a getaway route as well. I don’t know enough about using portals to know whether doing it in the middle of a confrontation would allow unwanted guests to join.

  Gideon and Soren angle their heads slightly toward me, but never turn their backs toward this Jackson character. Soren’s amber eyes take in mine. It’s a silent cue that he’s going to join in on this stalling game we have going on. And it’s an intense one at that. I nod, silently agreeing.

  Soren steps forward. “What does it matter who she is?”

  Jackson chuckles under his breath. “Let’s just say I have something she wants.”

  “And what,” Jesse says, “you’re just helping out of the kindness of your heart?”

  I stare into the shadows, deep into the trees for any movements, any signs of the trap we’ve anticipated during this mission.

  Jackson takes a step forward. Gideon and Soren tense. He chuckles again. “Relax. I’m just trying to help.”

  “Prove it,” Gideon says.

  Yeah. That. He’s not trying to help. He doesn’t look like the helping type. Aside from the air of dark intentions this guy gives off, he’s standing too casually. His words are too calm. This whole thing stinks of ulterior motives, like trash baking in the hot summer sun or trolls before their yearly baths. I adjust my feet just slightly, taking a fighting stance. My hands glowing with magic, prepared for the trouble I can feel brewing.

  Jackson’s gaze takes in my hands and meets my eyes. He clicks his tongue. “Is this how you react to everyone trying to help you?”

  “What could you possibly help us with?” Milo asks. “And better yet, why?”

  “I know where her,” Jackson points at me, “father is.” His eyes settle on mine. “Don’t you want to see your father?” His voice is coated with honey. He’s goading me. His pleasantness is too plastic. Too fake.

  And I’m not going to buy into it.

  “Tell us the real reason.” Gideon steps forward, his voice full of warning. “Now.”

  Jackson smiles as he takes another few steps toward us. He’s closer to closing the gap between us. He holds his hands out to the side as he struts forward. And suddenly, I’m aware of the possibility that it’s him that’s stalling more than us. And that lets me know that there is definitely backup coming to help him.

  Time to get to the point of this little talk.

  “That’s far enough.” I hold out my hand, full of magic, never averting my eyes from his. I refuse to give him the satisfaction. That would show that I’m afraid of him. And if it’s one thing I am not, it’s afraid of Jackson Cane. Showing him fear will give him power over me, which is never gonna happen. I refuse to give him any type of power. “Tell us the real reason you’re here. Now.”

  He casually shrugs as though he doesn’t know how close to death he really is. Because I know if a fight breaks out, that’s the only way this can end. And I’ll be damned if anyone but him dies.

  “Very well, clever girl.”

  I arch an eyebrow.

  “My…” he pauses to look up at the sky as if the right word is going to fall from the heavens, “boss wants to see you.”

  “Who is your boss?” Soren asks.

  A scuffling sound hits my ears, alerting me to nearby movement. I search the area around us, peering into the shadows
and blind corners of the buildings around us and behind us. As I turn around, I notice Jesse and Milo doing the same.

  “She will find out soon enough.”

  Jackson strikes me as being cocky and too full of himself. I just may have to knock him off his imaginary pedestal. As a favor, of course. Since he’s so willing to do the same for me.

  Tit for tat, and all that.

  “No, I won’t. I’m not going anywhere with you.”

  “You’ll never find him on your own.” Jackson smiles, and it’s threatening. “Give up the girl. All this can end peacefully. Otherwise, I’ll be forced to take her.” He sighs, shaking his head, a false expression of worry on his face. “I would rather not get dirty.”

  I snort.

  Yeah, right. He wants a fight. And I’m willing to give it to him. Judging by the expressions on the faces of my men as I quickly glance toward each of them, they are too. I step forward, magic filling my hands and shooting him a daring glare of challenge.

  Jackson’s lips stretch into a dangerous grin. He chuckles.

  “Challenge accepted.” Jesse’s voice is deep, full of dark warning. There is also a slight hint of anticipation.

  Gods help Jackson. He’s trudging a thin line and he doesn’t even realize it.

  “She’s not going anywhere.” Fire erupts over Soren’s skin.

  Gideon’s hands ignite in magic. “You’ll have to go through me first.”

  Jackson chuckles and shrugs as he takes another dangerous step forward. “Wren, I’m told to keep you alive. Well, as much as possible. But you,” he gestures to my men, “you’re all fair game.”

  Oh, hell no. He did not just threaten my men.

  I step between Gideon and Soren. I’m done playing games and stalling. No one threatens my men. I fire a blast of magic at Jackson’s feet. “Enough!”

  He halts, staring at the area now scorched from my ball of fire. He slowly drags his black eyes up to mine, a silent threat flashing through his expression.

  “No more games. Who do you work for?”

  He shrugs nonchalantly. “The hard way, then.”

  Black smoke erupts along his body, condensing into his core. Growls and howls surround us as wolves made entirely of smoke and shadow emerge from where they were hiding. They stalk slowly toward us, enclosing me and my men in a circle. Their red flaming eyes narrow on us as they snap their jaws full of razor-sharp teeth at the air. There are a dozen of them, at least. And I’m not sure if there are more hidden in the trees, behind the buildings, or anywhere else not easily seen.

  “Oh goody, shadow wolves.” Jesse’s voice pulls my attention to him. He’s not smiling. Instead, he stares with a grim expression at the few wolves at his sides. “Let’s dance then.”

  I turn my gaze back to Jackson. “Really?”

  He smirks and charges. The wolves bark and rush in as well. I clench my fist and swing, connecting with Jackson’s left cheek. His head snaps to the side as he stops mid-stride. I cast a quick glance over my shoulder to see how my men are faring. Shadow wolves look ethereal, but they are far from weak and harmless. They can cause serious physical damage. Incapacitating them is difficult, but not impossible.

  Jesse kicks one in the head with a resounding thump. Milo blasts another one with purple light, setting it on fire. Soren shoots flames at two wolves who are trying to separate him from the group, and Gideon…

  What the…?

  Gideon is spinning a staff of light, creating a small shield in front of him, stopping three attacking wolves in their places, while he blasts a ball of bright white light at another.

  Damn. Okay then.

  Jackson kicks my feet out from under me. The world spins in my view, and I realize I had become distracted. Cursing myself, I blast a ball of fire at his smug face and stand, conjuring my shield at the same time.

  This is what I’ve been training with Soren for.

  I know this. It’s familiar. Practiced.

  He shoots a smoldering black, inky substance toward me. It barrels like a ball shot from a cannon toward me. I dig deep into my stance and brace for impact. It hits with more force than anything I’ve ever felt before. My shield cracks. My arms give out as the force becomes too much to hold back. My shield knocks into me, and I’m thrown backward. I fall against the ground, the world blurring in my sight as I land with a painful thud. I groan. Dots line my vision as I struggle to sit up. My vision teeters, the woods and compound twisting in a blur.

  I must have hit my head harder than I thought.

  I catch sight of my men, standing with their backs touching as they struggle to keep the wolves from overwhelming them.

  Jackson steps into my view. He holds his hand out for me to take.

  I slap his hand away, roll back to my knees, and settle my eyes on him, hoping he realizes the mistake he’s made. I doubt he does. And I have no problems with delivering that little lesson.

  I rise to my feet, keeping my gaze steady on his. Fire erupts over my skin.

  Jackson’s eyes widen a little. His lips barely part, but it’s a motion that doesn’t escape my notice.

  “You’ll regret that.” My voice is low and full of warning.

  His cocky façade returns as he chuckles darkly. “We’ll see.”

  I fight him with all I have—magic, kicking, and punching. But he’s there to block and deliver equally powerful blows. And before long, I am running out of steam. But I refuse to let Jackson see that.

  “Where is he?” I kick him, landing the blow to his gut. “Tell me now!”

  He catches my fist as I move in for my uppercut, and with his other, lands a crushing blow to my gut.

  I fall to my knees and gasp for air.

  A blinding light fills the area around us, and a loud boom thunders through the air, shaking the ground, the buildings, and everything surrounding us.

  When the light dies down, my eyes struggle to focus, but when they do, I see a figure in a cloak fighting off the shadow wolves.

  Soren joins my side and helps me to my feet. “Are you okay?”

  I nod and look for Jackson. The shadow wolves are busy with the new arrival—whoever it is—as well as Jesse, Milo, and Gideon. But Jackson? He’s nowhere to be seen.

  Coward.

  We rush into the fray, taking out the wolves one-by-one until they dissolve into black ash. As the final three are backed into a corner, they snap at the air to keep us back, but we don’t stop advancing. As soon as they realize they are the last ones left, they tuck their tails and run off yelping.

  As I pant for breath, pain rockets through me. My pulse drums through me and a dark rim encircles my vision. I nearly fall to my knees, but I fight against the growing pain and stay on my feet.

  The cloaked stranger rushes to my side. The hood of her cloak falls from her head, revealing black hair with purple streaks.

  “Savannah?” She presses her fingers against my diaphragm, and I flinch.

  She speaks over my shoulder. “We need to get her back before we have more friends show up. She’s good. Just bruised.”

  Yup. It’s Savannah. But before I can say I’m not going anywhere, I’m pulled into a portal. I shout, “No,” but my voice is carried away by the gravitational force of the portal.

  Within seconds, we land in a courtyard on Blackbriar’s grounds. I fall to the grass and scream in rage. Fire burns along my skin again.

  We were so close to rescuing my father. We should be pursuing the remaining shadow wolves, not jumping through a portal back to Blackbriar. Now that Jackson didn’t die, he’s going to be a problem for us in the future. The fight wasn’t over. Not for me.

  The blades of grass around me singes and blackens. Little plumes of smoke float into the air.

  I focus myself, taking in a few deep, albeit extremely painful breaths. Slowly, the power dissipates, and the flames sizzle out.

  In my periphery is Soren, Milo, and Jesse. Behind me, I feel Gideon’s presence. I vaguely hear Savannah saying that I need som
e time alone.

  “What makes you think we are willing to leave her alone?” Soren’s voice is livid. I peek over my shoulder and watch as he approaches Savannah. “Just because you helped us back there doesn’t mean you’re trustworthy.”

  Fire burns along his skin. It’s sweet that he’s protective over me. Sometimes a bit overprotective, but this is Savannah. Why would she risk her own life to help us if she had ulterior motives? It just doesn’t make sense.

  Just before I stand up to intervene, Gideon beats me to the punch.

  “Soren.” Gideon’s voice comes from behind me, out of view. “Stop.”

  Soren snaps his attention in the direction Gideon is standing and his eyes nearly burn with rage. “What?” It comes out flat, and I wonder if Soren will snap and try to fight his best friend.

  “I’ve seen her soul.” His voice is soft and warm. “She’s good.”

  Soren narrows his eyes on Savannah. “How did you find us?”

  Savannah takes a cautious step back. Her eyes flit to me and I want to intervene. She saved us. Keeping my eyes locked on Savannah’s and watching for the slightest flinch from Soren, I start to stand up.

  Savannah holds out her hand to stop me and almost imperceptivity shakes her head. I nod. Something inside me recognizes that this is her way to prove herself a friend to me.

  “She’s…” Gideon’s voice seems almost pensive. Like he’s thinking out loud. “interesting. She has the ability to see glimpses of people’s lives. She’s a truth seeker. She sees events from a person’s past and very near future. That’s how she was able to find us and help with the fight. She’s also a healer, using her magic to pinpoint ailments and provide relief.”

  Everything about Savannah, I already knew. Everything except the truth seeker part.

  “Truth seeker?” I move to sit on the grass and take in Gideon as his gaze turns from that of almost looking through Savannah to seeing her directly. He blinks away the trance and settles his gaze on Soren who still stands like he’s about to go to war.

  “It’s the technical term for people like me.” Savannah’s voice is still calm, even in the face of Soren’s anger. I smile a little. She returns her attention to Soren. “Satisfied I won’t hurt her now?”