Nightworld Academy: Term One(Nightworld Academy #1)(39)

"Why is this funny? People could've been hurt."

He shrugs. "Only witches take that class."

I blink at him. Not Ash too—why do they hold prejudice against each other when they’re all in the same boat?

"That’s one reason Amelia’s boyfriend was transferred to another academy," adds Ash.

Jamie appears at his shoulder and peers at us. "I sense some tension here. What's going on?"

"We were talking about Wuthering Heights," I say quickly, not wanting more tension by Jamie drawing himself into the clashing.

He pulls a face. "Literature is such a waste of time. We should spend our time studying things relevant to our lives."

"At least English class is something I'm used to," I say. "I'm hoping we do read Dracula too."

Ash's eyes shine. "Ask Andrei about Dracula."

"I don't think I'm at the chatting about books stage with him," I mutter.

Ash's smile grows. "No. Ask him about Dracula."

"The vampire?"

"Yeah. Come on. Class."

He wanders away, and I catch a glimpse of Andrei watching us as Katherine and her girls chat around him. He looks away, face sullen, back to the usual Andrei. But on Saturday night, I saw his panic and fear before he pulled on his bad attitude.

I don't want anything to do with Andrei, but I'm torn because he intrigues me. Andrei doesn't realise this, but he won't need mesmerising powers to pull me back into his life.

Then I look between Katherine and Jamie, still struggling to connect the two in my head. They’re skilled at deflection, because nobody would guess they were involved with each other. They’re rarely polite in public.

How could Jamie be interested in this girl? Something odd flutters in my chest as I look at the preened, false, nastiness I saw with Jamie earlier.

Am I jealous?





Chapter Twenty-Two





MAEVE



The week passes quickly as I struggle to catch up on the lessons and new subjects. I only missed a week before I started, but it feels like an eternity. Potions class still involves endless research. Including one strange lesson where Professor Turlington produced plants and asked us to catalogue and store them. I hated chemistry and biology class at my old school; potions sounded exciting but is so far a boring combination of the two. Amelia and Jamie insist I'll have fun once we start creating from the recipes. I hope that's soon.

Sofia complained I was distracted and less focused when I caught up with her earlier in the week, and I became frustrated too, because I couldn't see anything when scrying. I'm desperate to unravel what I'm seeing in Tessa’s future, to summon images and focus on the detail. I try half a dozen times and I don't even catch a glimpse. Did Tobias do something when he searched my mind that has interrupted my abilities?

In the end, Sofia suggested we leave any further attempts for the day, and to catch up with her after divination class.

Divination is one of the few classes that includes all three houses, though many from Gilgamesh house quietly mock the idea. I've come to the conclusion that 'brawn over brains' should be their house motto, but don’t voice my opinion. Most shifters have no interest in anything but the physical classes led by Professor O'Reilly, who's also the rugby trainer.

Each house has classes specific to their race—witches are magic-focused, shifters have physical training, and vampires... I'm unsure.

I sit in Divination between Jamie and Amelia. Other witches sit close by, and the vampire group opposite. Most teachers ignore the segregation the students impose, but Sofia stops any attempts to stay separated in her class.

"Mix it up." She gestures between us all. "Jamie and Maeve—sit with Andrei and Dominic." She continues instructing others to group, but I don't hear. I knew I couldn't avoid Andrei for long. At least Sofia didn't include Queen Vampire Bitch in our group.

Jamie crosses to the table they sit around, and I mutely follow. Andrei regards me impassively but long enough to illicit a shiver along my spine. He annoyed me with his words about girls loving the bad boys, because I can't help my attraction to his type. The bad boy, not the blood drinker. Tobias mentioned vampires are designed to attract. I guess this helps with the mind control.

I shift in my seat and meet Jamie's eyes. He's troubled too, and I recognise the nervous habit he has of shoving his fringe back with one hand.

"Are you okay?" I whisper.

"Divination freaks me out. I never know what I might see."

"You don't see anything half the time," says Dominic with disdain.

"That's because I can 'see' the most from touching objects," he retorts.

Two packs of cards appear face down on the table between us as Sofia places them there. Andrei gives a derisive snort. "Tarot? Well that's one step up from tea leaves."

"Have you memorised any more of the card interpretations yet?" she asks.

He takes the black cards covered in thin gold foil and shuffles them. "I haven't had time."

Sofia fixes him with a withering look. "Andrei. I will help where I can, but if you want to pass this year and move on to the next, then you must study—even the subjects you dislike."