Of Life and Death: [A Dark Academia Paranormal Romance]

Chapter 9

An eternity passes before we slow into a snaking, tree-covered lane. My mouth gapes when I make out something in the horizon. "Is that Elmore academy?"

"The one and only."

Grey spires reach up into the overcast sky like bony fingers, turrets and sturdy parapets spanning the school's mountainous perimeters. In the distance, crows flap and caw around a dark tower.

"Buckle up," the girl says. "It's a bumpy ride from here." She steps on the gas.

I lurch back from the impact, gripping the seats till my knuckles whiten. "Aren't you supposed to shift to a lower gear!?" Air whips my hair into my face and I sputter, craning my head away from the wind rushing in through the windows.

A burst of laughter escapes her. "Can't hear you!"

The car bumps and hobbles over the congested path. The sound of snapped branches pierces through the deafening roar of engine and pure chaos. When, finally, we break into even ground, air rushes out of me and I scrape my hair away from my face. "A heads up will be great next time!"

"Let's hope for your sake there'll be a next time."

The hell?

When she gets down, I follow suit, hefting my bags from the trunk. Then I face the huge academy.

A few students mill about the open fields, cloisters with soaring stone arches and quadrangles centered with macabre fountains dotting the horizon. Giggles sound in a corner and I turn to the side. What I see has my mouth falling open. Girls in uniforms skip over a rope.

Not weird at all.

If you could ignore the fact they do it at the speed of light.

My eyes hurt trying to make out the blur of each girl. A pack of uniformed students rush toward a far building, never breaking stride even when, for all intents and purposes, they look ready to run smack into the wall. An inch away from the bulwark, their forms grow hazy and they... Disappear through the wall.

"Don't look so shocked. Never seen a ghoul? Spirit shifters? You could pass for one."

A scoff. Distantly I say, "A year ago I didn't think I was anything other than a mental case." I look back to her with a smile. "A welcome change."

"Okay," she starts, moving toward the sprawling building. "Well, I'll show you to the administrative wing, then when you get everything sorted out I'll come find you."

"Thanks. You know, if I didn't know better, I'd think you were a shifter yourself. You've done a complete 360 since the first time I saw you at the airport."

"Mouthy," she mutters. "Besides, I was having a bad day. The Bloody Mary helped a lot, though. Although I prefer mine actual, you know, bloody Marys."

At my expression she throws her head back and laughs. "Oh, my God," she breathes, trying to pull herself together. "You just keep eating stuff up."

"Gee. Good to know someone's having fun."

Heads draw to us as we approach the sprawling front steps, emotionless gazes dropping to my box. Any trace of humor leaves me. Tingles of alarm run down my spine, an instinct surfacing to ring warnings through my head. I might be surrounded by people, but beneath the guise of flesh and bones lurk terrifying predators.

The enormous doors part to reveal a dimly lit hall. Drafts of waning sunlight streak through stained glass windows to dapple along the gleaming floors. I make out an enormous fireplace across the hall. Above the lavish mantle sits the regal echelon of two swords crossed over an open book. Below it reads knowledge and power.

We walk further, landing into a new section that sees us surrounded by spirals of staircases. Cobwebs cling to the chandeliers, flying buttresses bolstering the massive vaulted ceilings. Interspaced between climbing rows of shelves are elaborate sitting arrangements. Students lounge around, gazes lazily surveying the room. When they land on me, interest followed by something cruel lights their gazes. Soon whispers sweep through the room.

The girl notices my unease and says in what I want to believe is an attempt at soothing me, "Don't worry, the intrigue will fade soon. You're a shiny new toy in their otherwise boring lives. They'd want to play with you a little. Rest assured, they won't harm you...much."

A dry scoff. "Toy, huh? Well, this one's got a few deadly tricks." How apt.

An amicable slap to the back has me lurching forward. "That's the spirit!"

I dwarf her by about a foot but boy is she packing.

We stride through a labyrinth of hallways and after what seems like the hundredth turn, I lose any hope of trying to keep track of where I'm going and find myself just trailing after her.

The silence is soon broken by loud chatter. We walk into a bright hall. Golden beams refract the sun's last rays, illuminating the upscale room in washes of yellow. Up ahead is a set of glass doors. Through them, I make out office cubicles and tables stacked high with over-pouring files.

She gives me a light pat. "Alright. Catch you later, Green."

"Wait. I didn't get your name. And it's Emma."

A smile. "Nice to meet you, Emma." With that she turns away, disappearing around the corner. I roll my eyes heavenward.

She peeks back around the arch suddenly. "Don't forget." She motions from me to her. "Cousins."

No way in hell.

"And it's Sofia," she says. "Sofia Alwell."

When she's gone, I approach the glass doors. It's like a whole world in here, there are offices within offices, whole guilds dedicated to every immortal species known. Finally I am directed to Headmistress Alba's office. I knock.

I am allowed in soon after.

Once I step inside, I freeze when I see who is standing across the room.

"Mum?"