Nightworld Academy: Term One(Nightworld Academy #1)(11)

Jamie looks between Andrei and me, and his lips purse. As Andrei reaches the table, Jamie speaks to him.

I don't hear what he says, or Andrei's response, but he tosses the book in front of Jamie, grabs his bag, and saunters away.

I'm left in the library with my musty book about werewolf trials, two guys, and one hell of a lot of questions.





Chapter Six





MAEVE



At least Maths and English are relatively normal. I half-expected we'd study Frankenstein or Dracula to match the gothic surroundings. Instead, we start reading Shakespeare's Macbeth. Two tall guys interrupted the reading with loud laughter and pointed out three girls huddled together at their desks, who in turn warned the guys to watch their backs. I watched their exchange, confused why half the class laughed too. The guys’ hilarity grew, and they asked if the girls will turn them into toads.

At that point, the tired-looking teacher in his tweed suit interrupted and said there’d be trouble if he found any toads in Gilgamesh common room.

House rivalry?

And toads?

My new friends head off for their advanced program lessons at nine p.m., leaving me confused and lonely. These students must be exhausted with such a long day; I wouldn’t manage to keep up with that pressure. As it’s too early to sleep, I head back to the library. If I contribute more to our group project, we can avoid losing marks. I agree with Jamie on this—group projects suck, especially when working with lazy students.

I'm alone at a desk close to the librarian’s in the echoing room, which reinforces Andrei's taunt that I'm the only one not on advanced program. Honestly, I'm beginning to believe keeping me out of the program is a lesson from my parents: "don't think you're special". I perk up when another guy walks into the library. He leans over the counter to chat to the quiet man with glasses who sits behind the desk. The librarian barely registered my arrival or presence.

The bright auburn hair stands out and when the guy turns and catches sight of me, I know who this is. The guy from the cafeteria who sat with Katherine and Andrei stares for longer than feels comfortable, before walking to a shelf. I refocus on typing notes into my laptop, and my tapping keys are the only sound.

I glance at my phone. Eleven p.m.. If I told Tessa I was studying at this time, she'd think I'd been possessed. I smile to myself. I'm tired but determined to be around when Amelia finishes class. I have questions.

The guy passes the desk I sit at, with a book in his hand, then stops and turns back. "Why aren't you in class?"

I blink up at him. He doesn't look much older than me, perhaps twenty years old. He’s as big as Ash but holds himself more aggressively.

"I'm not on the advanced program."

Confusion crosses his face. "You must be."

"I’m not." I squirm under his scrutiny. Why is he confused?

"You're lying. What's your name and which house do you belong to? I should report you to your head of house."

"For what? Studying?"

He pulls out a chair and sits opposite me, elbows on the table as he leans closer. "Don't be disrespectful. House?"

"Are you a teacher?" I retort.

"Head boy. Gilgamesh." He points at the badge on his jacket. "Clive Forrester."

"Maeve," I reply, keeping my eyes on his.

"Katherine told me you were the new girl. I'm surprised you're getting yourself into trouble already. Your head boy won't be happy if you put a black mark against the house name." He smirks. "Let me guess. Walcott house?"

"Yes." I squint at the crest on the pin attached to his smart grey shirt. Green and black. I need to find out who my house leader is and ask him or her to smooth this over.

"How is completing assignments in the library wrong?" I ask. "My lessons finished at nine p.m."

"Well aren't you special?" he mocks. "Let me guess. Your family has a ton of money and you get to do the bare minimum to qualify. I've come across your sort before—you buy your way through the academy."

"That's not correct at all," I retort.

"Then are you talentless?"

I stand and shove the laptop into my bag. The fact he mentioned Katherine's name tells me all I need to know. He shares whatever prejudice she has against me. "Tell who you want. I've done nothing wrong."

My heart beats faster in anger as I walk past him. Why are people aggressive to me? So much for being kind and understanding to the new girl.

"Wait," he calls after me. "Why aren't you wearing your house colours?"

I pause and look back. "I don't have them yet."

He nods. "Skipping lessons and not wearing the house colours? Way to make yourself unpopular. If anybody else sees you without the blazer, you'll be punished by your house." He indicates his jacket, which is trimmed with green and black to match his badge. Did I need to find and ask someone about the allegiance ceremony on my first day?

I feel sick and grip the strap of my laptop bag. "Report me for that too."

"Did you not get the instructions from your house leaders?"

I take a deep breath. All I want to do now is get away from this guy and his threats. "I will find them and ask."