Supernatural Academy: Year One (Supernatural Academy #1)(21)

Princeps Jones shook his head. “No, computers tend to malfunction around the energy of the Academy. There are a few brands that work short-term, but nothing lasts. So it’s the old-fashioned way around here.”

It was interesting that cell phones worked when computers didn’t. Like she’d read my thoughts, Ilia leaned over. “You’ll have to buy a specific style of phone so that you don’t keep frying it as well.”

Princeps Jones nodded. “Yes, you can get one in Queensborough.” He leaned forward then and handed me a thick piece of paper. Actually, it was more like parchment, heavy and high quality. Written in beautiful script across the page was a timetable.

“First term this year starts on a Wednesday,” Princeps Jones said, leaning forward to point to that column. “You’ll just pick up from here.”

“Your school year runs January to December,” I confirmed.

All three of them nodded. “Yep, but we have plenty of time off throughout the year,” Larissa added. “Lots of supe holidays.”

Looking down, I found Wednesday. There were five classes listed: Basics of Magic, Pronunciation of the Fey Language, Demon Mythology 101, Sword and Sorcery, and Race Morphology.

It looked like I had two classes this morning, followed by a lunch break, and then three classes in the afternoon. I was going to be busier here than I had been in my years of high school.

“A lot of these are beginner classes,” Larissa said, “for first year students. You also need to choose three electives.” She pointed to a small section at the bottom of the page.

There was a list:

Demon, Shifter, Vampire Wars.

Water Magic—strengthening a specific elemental magic.

Pack Laws and Hierarchy

Structure of Supernatural Prisons

Spells and Securities on Supernatural Prisons

Ancient Spells

History of the Supernatural World

Herbalism—the study of plants for spells, attack, defense, and healing.

Rune Magic—an archaic branch of magic.

Bloodletting – finding your inner vampire.

Facts on Faerie



I ran my eyes across them multiple times, trying to figure out what interested me the most. History of supernaturals was a given, I’d already decided that before even stepping foot in here. It was of utmost importance I started to learn about my new world.

As for the rest … bloodletting was definitely out, but the others were harder to eliminate.

“I think Water Magic,” since I was obsessed with water and swimming, “History of the Supernatural World,” for obvious reasons, “and Herbalism.” Plants were cool, even if I mostly managed to kill the few I’d ever had in my possession. For some reason, that one jumped out at me.

Larissa clapped her hands. “I’m in Herbalism. It’s a newer class, so there aren’t many in it yet. It’s a mix of first years and more advanced students. It’s a lot of fun, and it helps to know what plants can heal versus kill you.”

That did sound helpful.

“I’m so excited that we have a class together,” I told her.

The schedule heated under my palm and with a gasp I let it fall to the ground, expecting it to burst into flames. Instead, the writing started to twist and twirl across it as the electives I’d just chosen wove their way into my schedule.

Leaning down, I picked it up, noting I now had a class after dinner tonight. Water Magic.

“That paper is spelled,” Princeps Jones explained. “It will update when there are schedule changes, say if the teacher needs to cancel the class.”

“It’s worth checking it every morning,” Ilia said. “Even if you have it memorized.”

Okay then. Who needed computers when you had magic?

The princeps lifted a shiny black card with the school shield embossed on it and handed it to me. “This is where your allowance is deposited,” he said. “I took the liberty of giving you an extra six months’ worth, because you’ve not had the same advantage as the rest of the students in coming from a supernatural family. I want you to feel settled and be able to buy any supplies you need.” His eyes twinkled. “Unless of course you’ve decided you’re not going to stay on.”

My lips twitched and I recalled how I tried to play it cool yesterday. It felt like a lifetime had passed since then. “I think I’ll stick it out for a while,” I said nonchalantly. I held up the black card. “And thank you. You didn’t have to go above and beyond like that. I’m very grateful.”

He smiled kindly, and I wondered how I’d ever thought he could hurt his daughter. There didn’t seem to be a mean bone in either of their bodies, and considering they were vampires … the myths messed up that one.

He spun then to pick up a stack of books from a shelf behind his desk, holding them out to me, and I lifted the heavy load. “The books are for your classes,” he said. “There’s notebooks for each class, along with pens and all that fun stationery stuff.”

I personally loved stationery. New pens were life.

Ilia leaned closer, her red springy curls bouncing around. “Additional textbooks and resources are given out in class. Plus there’s the library, of course.”

“So, all of my food and accommodation is provided?” I wanted to double-check I wasn’t accumulating a huge bill or anything.