Nightworld Academy: Term One(Nightworld Academy #1)(60)

The middle-aged woman's witch's hat sits skew-whiff on her head, and her cape reaches the floor.

"I'm good. I ate one." Or maybe three. I rush by her before halting to take in the surroundings.

Voices carry from the brightly lit kitchen, women chatting happily and not screaming because they're under attack by a vampire.

As if Andrei would be dumb enough to attack more than one person, and publicly.

I edge down the hallway to the rehearsal and changing rooms, trying each door handle as I do. Locked. The place smells of stage makeup and stale perspiration, evoking memories of my awful singing on stage.

The last door I try opens into a cupboard-sized room. I squint into the dark as I reach for the light switch. A bare bulb shines down, revealing mop buckets, vacuums, and a shelf filled with bottles of cleaning products.

No vampire.

Cursing, I switch the light off and back out.

I'm about to change my search elsewhere when I spot a couple huddled against a wall at the far end of the hallway. Breath shortening, I edge towards them, squinting. Please don't be Andrei.

The guy leans against the wall, legs stretched forward so he's equal height to the girl facing him. He has his hands in his jeans pockets and watches with an amused quirk to his lips as the girl speaks enthusiastically. I cringe as she giggles and adjusts the top of her dress lower.

He may have more colour tonight, but the pale face and dark hair are undoubtedly Andrei. I march over and my footsteps echo through the quiet hallway. Andrei rests his head against the wall, which he turns when he hears me. His expression doesn't change.

"What are you doing here?" I snap at him. "You weren't supposed to leave my sight."

The girl looks around at me and steps back from Andrei. She readjusts her clothes and folds her arms across her chest.

"Chatting." He gives me a lazy smile. "Aren't we, uh... um..."

"Emily." She pulls an apologetic face at me. "Sorry."

I could laugh at the situation, if I weren't freaked out what he might've done, because she's yet another girl dressed as a vampire temptress. Or a human version of one, not a Katherine version. Her slinky, low-cut dress reaches her ankles and her ample breasts swell above the tight black material. The girl's long brown hair is swept over one shoulder. What is it with girls using Halloween parties as an excuse to sexualise themselves?

I step forward and examine Emily's neck. She self-consciously touches her throat and frowns at me.

"Have you touched her?" I demand.

"Sorry, I didn't realise he was with you," stutters the girl, eyes widening with alarm as I glare at Andrei.

"Neither did I." Andrei pulls himself from the wall. "Maeve invited me tonight and then spent her whole time looking for another guy. Don't you think that's rude?"

I bristle. "I did not invite you."

Andrei holds a palm over his heart and sighs. "I told you, didn’t I, Emily. So you see what I mean? "

She nods sympathetically. "I do."

"Told her what?" I push hair from my face.

"Emily is a lovely girl. Very friendly, but I was just explaining that I came here with another girl. One who never notices me, but who I care about intensely." His hand remains on his chest and he turns his mouth down as if upset. "Do you know that I saved her life once, Emily?"

The girl looks at me as if I'm a cruel-hearted girl who friend-zoned a caring guy. "Did you? Wow. What happened?"

Omigod. I turn my eyes upward. "You're not my type, Andrei."

"You know, she told me she liked bad boys, but isn't interested in how deeply I hurt underneath. Emily understands. She listened to me."

I bark a laugh. "You're full of it, Andrei. Is this what you usually do? Give a girl a sob story and then sink your fangs into her?"

The girl rubs her neck again and this time I move towards her and hold my face close enough for a good look. She recoils and mutters something about psychos.

He gasps. "Maeve. What has got into you?"

"I guess I arrived in time to stop you."

"Honestly, if you're not interested in me, please don't get jealous when I spend time with another girl."

I grab Andrei's arm in exasperation. "Come with me. I'm not leaving you alone with her."

He runs his tongue along his bottom lip. "As long as you tell me the truth about how you feel. I can't deal with you playing with my emotions anymore."

"Seriously?" I hiss. "Move your backside, now."

Footsteps echo down the hallways as the girl hurries away while we're distracted. Andrei steps back and doubles over with laughter, sliding his hands down his knees as he does.

"Your face!" he gasps out.

"What the hell was that performance for?"

Andrei gazes up at me from beneath his fringe. "Didn't you think it was funny, Maeve?"

"No."

Andrei straightens and shifts his focus to me with that look—the one that always sets my heart racing because I don't know what he's capable of. The wall touches my back, and Andrei stands over me with his arm stretched above and palm on the wall. He's sideways on so I'm only half trapped, but I can't summon up the ability to move.

"Do you think I'm a good actor?" His eyes sear my skin. Does he do this to make my heart pump faster because he enjoys listening to my blood?