“No,” Levi provides, “but that’s Serafina’s territory.”
We grunt in agreement as Zeke clicks on another link, pulling up another picture with a bio, but this one is a background mix of the four seasons, and I can’t seem to see any students.
“What the fuck. Did I go blind somehow?” he asks before blinking wildly and staring at the picture again.
Levi chuckles and shakes his head before pointing to the caption underneath.
“Nope, this is Bailiwick Hawthorn Academy.” Levi draws his finger across the screen. “Watch. Focus on one spot in this section as I turn the monitor slightly.” Levi turns the monitor, and it settles, but I see a glimmer of color as a young woman with bright blue hair, dressed in a yellow uniform and wearing a crown of yellow flowers, pops out on the screen.
“Holy Bubble Tea and Espresso. Where did he come from?” Moni asks, almost spilling her coffee.
“You see a guy?” JP asks. “I see a… well, I don’t know what it is, it looks like a pet. That is, if you consider a creature that’s a crossbreed of a walking tea kettle and a spider a pet.”
He’s got to be joking.
“Bailiwick Hawthorn Academy specializes in all things nature. We pride ourselves on our ability to blend into our surroundings, allowing us to become one with nature. We allow all supes, but you must have a natural ability with nature to be accepted.Hmm. That’s all the information it gives,” Zekes confesses with a shrug.
I shift slightly and see the creature that JP saw. That is not a cute pet at all; it should be called a spout widow, or a steamweaver, or a furrytea. Either way, it can’t be called a pet; it’s disgusting.
“Anyone we know in this one?” Moni asks, pulling on her tail.
“N—” Ryker immediately turns to look at Knox. “Okay…? I guess the answer is yes? Knox?”
Knox points to a blond man in the back row, “Beckingham. A lion shifter and an asshole. He doesn’t fit any academy standards, but it shouldn’t surprise me that he’s with Bailiwick. Either way, we’ll have to watch out for them. Excluding Beck, they will be more subtle with attacks, using traps and allowing ‘nature’ to do their dirty work.” Knox cracks his neck, giving off an unsettling look, but all I feel through our link is a little tension.
“Agreed, even if nature is doing their dirty work, that won’t stop them from trying to advance the timeline themselves,” Levi adds.
A chill runs down my spine as I reach out and move the monitor in different directions to see multiple students. Most of their facial expressions are dead and without a smile. The few that are, their smiles don’t reach their eyes, and all I see staring back are soulless eyes.
“They’re freaking me out. Can we move on to the next?” Moni asks, burying her head into Chester’s chest.
“Yeah, sorry. They are kinda creepy.” Zeke quickly clicks on the next link, bringing up another bio and picture. The group photo is definitely a mix of demons, a few fae, and another species I’ve never seen before. “Seven Seductive Sins Academy specializes in the arts. The art of dance, seduction, torture, and business. We accept all supes, but our main attendees are Demons.”
“I guess if anyone needed to make a binding contract, it would be a demon,” Lynx mumbles.
“Yep, can’t have anyone win back their soul that easy, it would give Demons a bad wrap and they can’t have that.” Ryker chuckles.
“What does it say about us?” Moni asks, spinning around while leaving green sparkles in her wake.
Zeke clicks on the link for Purgatory, and the bio and picture appear in front of the school.
“I don’t remember taking a picture,” I squint, trying to see who I recognize.
Of course, the Queen Harpy is front and center with her goons surrounding her. There are a few students I’ve seen around, but what stands out is the fact that we’re not in it.
“I wonder when this was taken,” JP mumbles under his breath, but we all hear.
“I’ll find out,” Knots answers as we continue to look at the page.
“Purgatory Preparatory Academy specializes in Combat techniques, Ley line magic, Creature Mastery, and much more. We take all Elite Supes and open our doors to those who hold uniqueness,” Zeke reads off.
“That’s funny,” I snort. “I seem to have gotten most of my on-the-job training in Hell.”
“True,” Ryker chuckles, “but you wouldn’t have gotten there without knowing us.”
I roll my eyes and blow a raspberry his way. I know, I’m so mature.
“Willow says that picture was taken right before Battle Week of this year. So, of course, we all missed it since we were still in Hell,” Knots answers, refreshing my memory.
