“I don’t know how much time I have before I need to move again now that I’m back in this realm, but I need you to stay where you are, Bechora. I promise, as soon as it’s safe, I will come to you and explain everything. But until I can, you need to use the Academy to learn what you are and master your abilities. And whatever you do, Bechora, don’t ever, under any circumstances, leave the grounds. Trust the ice mage, she can help you figure this out.”
I glanced over at Shadrie to find her wearing a confused expression.
“Don’t use the mirror to find me again, Bechora. They can’t know that you’ve returned, and they will find you if you do.” Geordie said. “Everything I’ve done has been to keep you safe and to lead you to the Academy. I promise, you will be safe there.”
He waved his hand in the air, and suddenly, I was looking at my own reflection, more confused than I’d been when Mr. Scowly pulled me into this realm.
“Holy shit, B, you didn’t tell me your friend was a seer,”Shadrie whispered, pulling my attention to her. Her face was pale and her eyes wide as saucers.
“I-I didn’t know.” I stammered. “We met as kids in the human realm. I swear, he was human the whole time I’ve known him.”
“Glamour. All fae have the ability to glamour their appearance.” Shadrie shrugged. “A fucking seer, though. That’s intense, B. And a little creepy, if I’m being honest.”
I placed the mirror on the table and dropped my head into my hands. Nothing made sense anymore. Even with his warnings, I wanted to find Geordie and make him tell me what was going on. I didn’t understand how the kid I met on the streets could be some supernatural being, and I’d never seen the signs.
“I need to find him. Did you recognize anything about where he was?”
Shadrie placed a hand on my arm and frowned. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. He said for you to stay on Academy grounds. He’s a freakingseer, B. If he’s saying you need to stay here, you need to stay here. I’ll help you figure all this out,” she insisted before muttering to herself. “A freaking seer, I’ve never been part of a seer’s vision before. Selir, that's intense.”
“Selir?”
Shadrie blinked at me before bursting into laughter. “Right, human gods are different. Most supernaturals aren’t religious, so Selir has become more of a swear for us, but at one time, there were really insane rituals involved in worshiping her. She’s like, our goddess or whatever.”
I leaned back against the couch and sighed. “This is all insane.”
“We’ll figure it out, B.” Shadrie smiled, patting my thigh. “You’re clearly not just a fire mage, and something tells me that if we figure out what you are, we’ll find the answers you need.”
Chapter Seven
Bechora
Classes didn’t officially start for a week. I spent most of that time in my room, reading every book I could get my hands on about the strange new world I found myself in. Shadrie helped by giving me a crash course in all things supernatural. She even brought me meals from the dining hall, and I found myself enjoying the often-strange selections she made for me.
“Okay, B, you’ve been holed up in here long enough,” Shadrie spoke, causing me to look up from the latest book I’d found to see her standing in my doorway. “It’s been five days of cramming, and we both need a break. The annual start-of-term party is tonight, and we’re going.”
“I’m not stopping you, but I’d rather finish up—” I paused, flipping the book to find the title. “Creation of the Realm.”
“It’s been five days, Bechora. You need to get out and meet people, get the full Academy experience. Besides, Geordie said you’d find answers here, not that you had to avoid all fun to do it. So, get your ass dressed. We. Are. Going.”
The petite ice mage crossed her arms in front of her chest and scowled at me. Part of me wanted to laugh at how hard she was trying to appear stern, but I knew she’d just continue to argue with me until I gave in.
“Fine,” I sighed. “An hour. I’ll go for one
” I held up my index finger, “hour, and then I’m coming back here to finish this book.”
Shadrie clapped her hands and squealed. “You won’t regret it, I promise. Now put on something sexy and let’s go!”
She bounced away from my room, and I uncurled my bodyfrom my seat on my bed. Stretching to work out the stiffness that had set in from being bent over a book for hours, I shut the door and headed to my closet. Grabbing a clean pair of jeans and a black spaghetti-strap shirt, I quickly changed out of my pajamas. I’d agreed to go to the party, but no way in hell was I dressing “sexy” like Shadrie insisted. Giving myself a once-over in my vanity mirror, I applied a small bit of makeup to cover the dark circles under my eyes and ran my hands through my red hair to tame it into beachy waves.
“That is not at all sexy,” Shadrie pouted when I stepped out of my room. “You’re dressed like my grandma.”
“I am not,” I huffed. “Besides, I said I’d go to this stupid party, but I never agreed to dress sexy. This is comfortable and cute. Best I can do.”
“Ugh, fine. Next time I’ll pick your clothes, though,” Shadrie replied, motioning for me to follow her. “The party is in the woods behind Versipellis House. It’s the only place on campus where we can throw a rager without being noticed.”
“Versipellis House—that’s the shifter house, right?” I asked, working to recall what she’d told me about the Academy’s four houses. If memory served, there were originally only three; Noctus House was for the vampires on campus. The fourth was added some time later.
“Yep. They have a massive forest within the Academy’s magical protection barrier, so they can shift and run as needed. Keeps their aggressive tendencies in line. And it’s way less creepy than the demon house, Daemonium.” She gave a slight shudder. “My sister was friends with a demon here, and the pictures of their house she showed me over the summer were just creepy. It’s like a freaking mortuary.”
