The Culling Trials (Shadowspell Academy #2)(3)

“Suddenly the team player?” I asked Ethan dryly as Wally caught up to us.

“I need someone to trip if we’re being chased by beasts,” he replied. Funny enough, I didn’t think Ethan was kidding, not for a second.

“Only three times in the history of the Culling Trials have they altered the format,” Wally said breathlessly. “This is very exciting.”

“Why do you think they’re changing things?” Gregory asked. “Do they want to hurry us into school, maybe? But really, what’s an extra few days?”

A line of chartered buses waited for us in the mansion parking lot, the doors open and an attendant standing by each. I didn’t see Sunshine or Rory anywhere.

“Which one should we choose?” Pete asked.

“Follow me.” Ethan cut through the crowd.

At the fourth bus from the end, the attendant held up her hand. “Room for one more group. Let’s go.”

“That’s us.” Ethan put out his hand to stop another group of five guys who stood much closer to the bus. “Find another bus,” he told them with a haughtiness that seemed as grotesque as it was useful, given they all deflated and backed away. He glanced back at us. “Come on.”

“Why this bus?” I asked, seeing no distinction between this one and the rest.

He didn’t answer, only strode past the empty seats at the front. Near the back of the bus, he stopped next to a seemingly random seat and jerked his head at the occupants. “You’re in my seat. Move.”

The two starry-eyed girls fell over themselves to get out of his way, batting their lashes and showering him in sweet smiles.

I scowled at them. “Grow a spine, ladies.”

“You too. And you.” Ethan motioned for more seats to be vacated, this time by equally starry-eyed guys before taking his seat and nodding for me to sit with him. The way both genders reacted to him was unreal.

“People just do what he says?” I asked Wally as the displaced kids found new seats and the bus door slid shut.

“He’s a Helix.” She shrugged and sat.

Apparently, that was answer enough.

I slid in beside Ethan as he pulled a square of thicker type paper from his pocket. After a cursory look around, he peeled the corners away and read the sheet. His hand slid to his belt where his wand stuck out of a canvas holster.

“Do you have your cell phone on the other side, nerd?” I asked with some snark. I didn’t plan to mention that I was so poor, I neither had a phone nor a belt to put it on. “You should at least get a leather belt. It’s way cooler.”

The bus shimmied to a start, following behind those in front. The sun lit the interior and a few people started chattering.

“Did I hear right that you don’t know anything about magic?” Ethan asked, refolding the paper and tucking it into his pocket.

“Yes, you heard right. This is all new to me.”

“But you made it to the end of that Shade trial.”

“Teamwork. You should look into it.” I looked out the window as we rode. The scenery was all trees and bushes in full summer bloom. The heat wasn’t too bad, at least, especially not this early in the morning. If this trial was as physical as the last, we were going to be hurting in a few hours.

“The others in the crew, they’re useless. You’re…” A small crease formed between his brows as he studied me. “Odd.”

“Great. Good observation.” I turned away, nervous about how he was studying me. He was the last person I wanted to know my secret. His kind would sell secrets to the highest bidder and laugh when “Billy” ended up paying the price.

“You know Rory Wilson?” he asked.

The change in his conversation threw me and I paused before answering. Until yesterday, I would have said we were friends. Not anymore. “We grew up together.”

“He’s trouble.”

“Always has been, yes.”

“He’s the best Shade in his class. Nearly the best in the school, though he’s only a third year. Well, fourth year coming this year.”

“He’s a lying blockhead that’s going to get a thump as soon as I get a chance, so help me God.”

“What’s he doing here though, at the trials?” Ethan asked.

I paused again, having no idea where the conversation was going, but still not expecting it to end up where it had.

“I have no idea,” I said honestly. The bus turned down a small dirt road. Dust flew past the windows, fogging the view. Anticipation quickened my heart. “He didn’t tell me he was coming here. I thought he was in Nevada. He sent me a postcard from Nevada.”

Ethan didn’t say anything for a long time. A quick glance told me he was staring at the side of my head.

“Is there a problem?” I asked

Ethan’s eyes bored into me. “Rory Wilson doesn’t have friends.”

“As of yesterday, I know why. Where are you going with this?”

The bus came to a stop, and Ethan pushed me to get out of the seat.

“He’s an enigma. People wonder what side he is on,” Ethan said.

“Side of what?” I moved in line as everyone exited the bus. He didn’t answer. Great, another question to add to the pile.

The five gates stood in front of us once more, sentinels lined up at the top, same as the day before.