The Culling Trials (Shadowspell Academy #2)(19)

He led us down a small hallway ending in what looked like a reception area. A large black desk faced four chairs. A plant stood stationary in one corner, and the plant opposite it moved in a strange breeze I didn’t feel. Next to the desk a door stood open, leading into a much larger office, full of deep oranges, yellows, and pinks, as if a sunset had been poured into the room.

“Ready?” Wally asked, plucking at my sleeve.

The man stood beside a desk, his dark eyes rooted to my face. I had the distinct feeling he didn’t like me. But no warning blared along my skin, so I’d leave it alone for now.

“Yup.” I scurried in past him, uncomfortable and not sure why, until I remembered I was supposed to be a guy, and they probably didn’t scurry. A moment later, however, my fears were put to rest as Pete scurried in behind me.

“Madam Director,” Ethan said, standing in front of a massive oak desk with two computer monitors on one side, and one of those padded calendar desk toppers on the other. Between them was a solid black box, like a jewelry box. The top of it had been shined to a perfect lustre. Something in me itched to flip it open and see what was inside.

A full-sized couch faced the desk with other chairs positioned in clusters around the room.

A petite woman in her late seventies stood behind the desk, a fitted suit hugging her small frame, thick glasses mostly obscuring her smoky gray eyes with pronounced crow’s feet, and short-cropped gray hair in a style not unlike her assistant’s. Aged, but aged well, she was calm, her demeanor one of faint amusement. The sensation of mirth was there and gone before I could be sure of what I’d sensed.

“Mr. Helix, how can I help you?” she asked tersely. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she wasn’t overly thrilled with Ethan. Clearly, she had more sense than the others if she recognized what a pain in the butt he was.

“My father should’ve touched base with you by now regarding our poor accommodations,” he said without embarrassment. Boy, had we grown up differently.

The director’s lips pursed, and her eyebrows lowered behind her large glasses. “Yes, he did. I do so apologize for the previous accommodations, Mr. Helix,” she drawled, her tone so dry, a spark would light it on fire. “I would love to make your stay with us as comfortable as possible. I have taken the liberty of swapping your portable for one of our rooms within the manor. I merely had to displace other young people to do so. I’m sure they won’t be put out at all. Hopefully that will be to your liking?”

“That will be fine, thank you,” Ethan said matter-of-factly. He was ignoring her sarcastic tone with great aplomb.

“Fantastic.” The director turned away to her monitors. “If there is anything else, just have your father let me know, and I’ll do everything in my power to assist you. Or you can contact Adam here, and he will always do his best to fit you into my schedule. In the meantime, he’ll show you to your room.”

“Yes, perfect,” Ethan said, still missing the overtones of sarcasm.

A grin worked up my face as I turned and followed Ethan out of the office. “That was some serious shade she was throwing,” I whispered to Wally.

“It was embarrassing,” Pete said softly, huddled next to me in sweats much too large.

“If you want what your station in life has promised, you must ask for it,” Orin said loftily. “Those at your level will expect it. The rest don’t matter, nor does what they think of you.”

“Wow. You sure know your way around being a dickhead,” I said. Wally laughed.

“I am a predator,” Orin returned. “I have a fondness for those who think they are better than me. I will one day enjoy waking them up to the realization that they are not at the top of the food chain.”

Ethan’s back stiffened.

The memory of Orin in the shower, talking about the vein in my neck, dried up all the spit in my mouth. I really hoped I didn’t end up on his bad side. I didn’t want to have to fight him off. If his current speed was any indication of what was to come for him, I knew I’d never beat a full-fledged vampire.

On the second floor, way in the back near a rear stairwell that would be really handy for sneaking in and out without being seen, the director’s assistant—Adam—stopped next to a door numbered 245. He didn’t gesture or make any sound, just waited expectantly for us to disappear from his life.

“Right then. Here we go.” I shooed everyone toward the door.

“Not her,” the assistant said, looking directly at me.

My blood ran cold and a warning crept up my spine. My cover was about to be blown sky high.





Chapter 8





The group of us stood there on the second floor, staring at Adam—the director’s assistant—as he stared right back at us. And the only thing I could think was that I was out—he knew I was a girl. I took a breath to defend myself, to beg if I had to.

“This floor is boys only,” the man continued, his hard gaze cutting right through me. “Girls may visit, but they may not stay. If a girl is caught in a boy’s room after dark, and vice versa, they will be kicked out of the program. Do you understand?”

“Pretty outdated,” Wally said, stepping around me. “I mean, it’s not like we’re underage or anything. I’m eighteen. I can bang a whole room full of guys, and it’s perfectly legal. Although, I have to own that more than half of the hopeful students in the Culling Trials have not yet turned eighteen. I suppose that could be an issue. I mean, it’s not like I would I.D. everyone in the room before I—”