The alarm screamed at me to get up and, fighting the urge to smash the shit out of it, I turned it off before rolling out of bed. Iโd managed to throw on some sleep shorts and a tank top before falling into bed a few hours ago. I should have just slept in my jeans to save those precious few minutes. I was going to be one grumpy ass chick today. Luckily, I only had one lecture this morning, then I needed to hit up the library to finish off a paper. I figured I could get back here by early afternoon and take a nap if I really tried. I stumbled out of the bedroom and across the corridor, into the bathroom. The bathroom was old but more than enough for my needs. There was a sink in a small vanity, a toilet and a shower over an old tub. It was clean and it all worked. It suited me just fine. I turned on the shower to as hot as I could bear in an attempt to wake my sleepy ass up. As I was stripping out of my clothes, I caught a glance of myself in the mirror before turning away in horror. Why is it that movies always show women waking up in the morning looking like a goddess? My normally wavy auburn hair was now a nest of tangles, evidence of the restless few hours sleep Iโd had, and I had some lovely dark circles under my eyes. Hopefully a shower would wake me up enough to fight off a bit of the scary look I had going on. The water was blissfully hot when I stepped in. I loved to have scorching hot showers. When I was a kid there was never enough hot water in whichever home I was in. I always ended up taking cold showers. At least with a hot shower I didnโt have to rush through to try and limit my potential for frost bite. Now that I had been blessed with the gift of never ending hot water I spent as much time in the shower as possible. Iโd actually found it to be a good thinking place. That and the fact that shower beer is actually pretty good. Nothing like drinking an ice cold beer while the hot water works the kinks out your muscles. Bit early for beer now. I would kill for a coffee though. It might actually wake me up quicker. I hate the nights where I have to get up early the next morning and try and pretend to be a normal person. I am the most unco-ordinated sleepy person. All I will say is thank god for electrolysis. If it wasnโt for that modern day miracle I would probably have
accidentally skinned myself one of these mornings. I did not have the necessary wits about me to be able to handle a razor when I was this tired. Best money I ever spent. I quickly shampooed my hair and then slathered it in conditioner to try and fight the tangles. I left it in to do its job while I lingered under the spray for as long as I could before rinsing out the conditioner and grabbing a clean towel. It wasnโt really practical in my line of work to have long hair like I did but I liked it and I didnโt want to cut it when I could just tie it back. It fell to just below my shoulder blades and once it was dry it always had a soft wave to it. Thankfully apart from giving it a quick blow dry I didnโt really have to do anything with it. I wasnโt really all that good at the girly stuff like styling hair and makeup. I suppose it was because Iโd never really had anyone to show me. My style of skinny jeans, tshirt and leather jacket didnโt really go with a girly girl look anyway. I always made sure that my legs and back were completely covered. That was where all my scars were. I wasnโt ashamed of them I just didnโt want to see the pity in everyoneโs eyes when they saw them. I had grown to accept that they were a part of me. They were my evidence that I had survived. I just didnโt like sharing that part of me with others. I suppose that was why I didnโt really form relationships. I quickly dried off and ran the hair dryer over my hair. I looked in the mirror to see the damage my sleepless night had done. Now that my hair was not resembling a birdโs nest it wasnโt too bad. I spotted a tiny bit of concealer under my eyes to cover the dark circles and coated my lips in cherry lip balm. There was really no need for any other makeup thankfully, because I didnโt really own any. My lashes were long and thick already and framed my hazel eyes nicely. I loved my eyes. I suspected the flecks of gold were due to whatever magical heritage I had.
I flicked on the news while I picked out my clothes. The news reader was the same as every other morning and she didnโt really catch my attention until she broke into the speech her fellow newscaster was giving. โIโm sorry Carlโ she said holding a finger to her ear and listening to whatever someone was reading to her. โWe have a breaking news story coming through from a mall in downtown Los Angeles. Yesterday evening a young male, who appears to be in his early twenties, has entered the mall and gone on what can only be described as a killing spree. The pictures which we are about to bring to you may be distressing to some viewers.โ I briefly watched the
news story unfold. The inside of the mall was clearly the scene of a massacre โโฆ twenty nine people were killed and many more were injured
โฆโ. This was bad. This was the worst so far. โโฆ congress went into an emergency session last night to discuss the registration act โฆโ. I did not have time for this shit this morning.
I quickly dressed in jeans, and a tshirt before grabbing my leather jacket and bag then running out the door. With my โjobโ I could have afforded an apartment if I had wanted to but Alfieโs gym had been a home from home when I was a kid. As soon as I was given the opportunity to get out of the system, I took it straight away not caring where I would end up. Thankfully Alfie cared. There were a couple of back rooms at the gym which he had converted into a small living area when he first bought it, before he could afford to renovate the top floor for himself. The first room was set up as a living room and had a small kitchen in the corner. The sofa pulled out and there was many a night that one of the kids out of my self-defence class crashed with me when they didnโt feel safe going home. Then there was a small hallway which had my bedroom on one side and a small bathroom opposite. Thankfully it also had a door which opened out into the alley at the side of the gym so I could come and go as I pleased. It was kind of essential in my line of work. It wasnโt fancy but it was everything I had always dreamed of, a space that was my own. I couldnโt thank Alfie enough for everything that he had done for me. The jobs I did for Marnie paid well but Alfie wouldnโt let me pay him anything for the rooms so I picked up some classes at the gym by helping out with the kidsโ self-defence class. I usually got about two grand a job from Marnie. I knew that she didnโt charge people like the woman last night that amount. She made up the cost with the profits from providing security systems for big corporations. I usually did four to five jobs a month so I was managing to put back a nice amount. Iโd been with Marnie for just over two years now and I had over two hundred grand set aside. From the outside I lived like a normal student. My bike was the only extravagance that I had bought and I lived pretty simply otherwise.
I managed to make it to the coffee shop on the corner with about ten minutes to spare. A latte and a breakfast sandwich should hold me over till
lunch time and hopefully keep me awake for the morning. I ordered the biggest latte they did with an extra shot and caramel syrup together with a sausage, bacon and cheese sandwich. Mmmmm cheese made everything good. I ate the sandwich on my way there and had just started sipping on my latte as I strolled across campus to my lecture theatre.
There was a strange vibe on campus today. Normally people were scuttling to and from classes but there were always groups hanging out chatting, guys throwing a ball around joking with each other and girls fluttering their eyelashes and giggling at them. Urgh, gag! Even at this ridiculous time in the morning there was usually something going on. But none of that was happening today. I slowed my steps casting my eyes around suspiciously. Everyone had no doubt heard about the mall massacre. There were small groups of people huddled through the quad whispering to each other. Shrugging it off I went into the lecture theatre and got settled in my seat. It was the same one I always sat in. Far rear corner, good views of the room, no windows or doors at my back and clear eye sights to all three exits of the room. Have I mentioned that I sometimes get paranoid? Call it a downside to the job. All the other students shuffled in and took their seats. It was weird that the room was so quiet with just some whispers here and there. It was never a busy lecture because it started at 7:45 but it was still more animated than it was now even if there was only fifteen or so people in here. Normally there was someone going on about last nightโs party or game or whatever else it was that entertained them. The hushed silence lingered until the professor walked in and, unusually, was accompanied by the Dean and another man that I didnโt recognise. He wore an ill-fitting suit and a scowl that screamed cop which immediately put me on edge.
โStudents if I could have your attention please?โ the Dean said strolling to the middle of the room addressing us. โIโm sure over the last few months you have seen the media reports of the number of attacks on humans increasing and the debate over the regulation and registration of supernaturals.โ Murmurs ran through the crowd and scowly crap suit heaved a case up on the desk at the front opening it up and concentrating on the contents inside. Something not good was definitely about to go down. I cast my eyes to the exits checking they were still clear. The fire exit
opening to the quad was clearly my best option. โLast night there was an attack on a mall. Twenty-nine people were killed and we are still waiting on the numbers of injured.โ The murmurs immediately stopped and everyone just stared in shocked silence. โAn emergency session was called in congress last night and the decision for registration was announced in the early hours of this morning. Every student from the age of eighteen on campus is now obliged to undertake mandatory testing. Anyone showing full or partial supernatural heritage will be taken for registration.โ My blood ran cold. This did not sound good. I wasnโt going to pass this test. I cast my eyes across the front of the room and back towards the exit. Scowly crap suit glared at me from the front, took out his phone and quietly spoke into it before slipping it back in his pocket with a smug look on his face. All of the doors opened and three armed police officers stepping inside each of them. The Dean turned back to scowly crap suit and glared at him before continuing. โThis is a minimally invasive test. Just a finger prick and one drop of blood is required. If you can all make your way to the front, we can get this over with and back to your normal lectures. Come on people quick quick! Iโve got three more lectures to visit in the next forty minutes.โ
Everyone looked around confused. Could they even do this? Surely we had some form of rights here. This couldnโt be happening. When did we start registering people? I suppose the problem came with them considering that supernaturals were less than people. A few students got up shrugging and walked to the front. They were right it was a quick process. Just a drop of blood in a tube filled with liquid that scowly crap suit looked at and then sent them back to their seats. No one else had moved in the lecture theatre. The Dean had slipped out no doubt going to deliver his speech to the next set of unsuspecting students on campus. โIf you do not step forward to take this test voluntarily, you will be compelled to do soโ scowly crap suit growled at us.
The rest of the students slowly stood and filed to the front and I slipped to the back of the queue. I cast my eyes over to the doors again. The room was locked down. There would be no escaping taking the test without a fight. My best option was to take it, fail and then look for an opportunity to slip away later. The twelve students in front of me filed through the test all
quickly passing and going back to their seats. I hadnโt thought this through. Going last essentially meant I was now doing this with an audience. I steeled myself and approached scowly crap suit. He, surprisingly, scowled at me and I fought the urge to roll my eyes at him. โNot much need for you to take this is there?โ He growled at me. โYouโre a runner if ever I saw one, you already know that youโve failed.โ
I smirked at him and silently gave him my hand. Fuck him if he thought he could intimidate me. He pricked my finger and turned it over to drip my blood into the tube he held. It immediately turned gold. Strangely, he looked confused about this considering that he had been so confident before. The guards around the room closed in on us and I dropped into a defensive stance. Scowly crap suit pulled out what looked like a car key fob from his jacket pocket and clicked the button before a mother fucking shimmery portal opened on the wall right next to me. I was so shocked by the sudden appearance of a portal which, lets face it, no one had seen in real life, that I failed to see the fist flying at my face and the guard rush me from behind before scowly crap suit punched me straight in the left temple and the bastard guard body checked me sending me sprawling through the portal. It was like being pushed through a cold wet curtain and I landed hard on the other side smacking my head on the floor, sliding along the tiles and crashing into a wall. It hurt like a bitch and white light flashed across my vision as I tried to pull myself up but collapsed back to the floor. I could feel blood running down the side of my face and I thought I was going to throw up. Donโt get me wrong I can take more than a couple of punches to the head but portal travel was just too weird for my stomach to take and it would serve them right if I threw up all over their shiny floor. I managed to pull myself together and look up just in time to see scowly crap suit step through the portal and close it behind him, like he did this every day. Dick!
โWas that really necessary?โ a stern female voice said before I felt hands lifting me up from the floor and helping me into a chair. A waste paper bin was quickly shoved into my hands but the urge to vomit was fading and I didnโt think I was going to need it. I quickly took in my surroundings. I was in some kind of office. Most of the walls were lined with bookcases. There was a huge desk in one corner and a sofa set against the far wall. The
woman who had helped me up off the floor had stationed herself between me and scowly crap suit almost like she was protecting me. The only other person in the room was a man sat behind a desk glaring at scowly crap suit as well. At first glance it seemed like these two were actually on my side.
โSheโs a runner. I needed to get her through before she even had chance to think about it.โ He said shrugging his shoulders clearly not giving a shit.
I didnโt bother wiping my blood from my face. Let it run and make a mess of the shiny floor. I wonโt be the one cleaning it up. Scowly crap suit just glared at me more like it was beneath him to be in the same room as me. He strolled across the room like he owned the place and placed my now gold test tube on the desk before clicking the portal button again and stepping back to it. โSheโs your problem nowโ he said before stepping through and closing the portal behind him.
The man at the desk who I hadnโt noticed at first while I was flying face first into his floor, picked up the tube and gave it a confused look before raising it up to show the woman next to me. She couldnโt keep the surprised look from her face and they just silently looked at it until I couldnโt take it anymore.
โWhat the fuck is going on?โ I screeched. Iโll admit it wasnโt my finest bad ass moment. I pulled myself up off the chair bracing myself on the desk and feeling more pissy than I ever had in my life. I was trying to do a stern bad ass stare but I think my wobbly legs were throwing it off a bit.
The woman seemed to shake herself and turned back to me clearly trying to paste a smile on her shocked face. โCome,โ she pointed me towards a chair in front of the desk, โsit down before you fall down. Something needs to be done about this Dominic they canโt treat them this way.โ She said turning towards the man behind the desk. I sat down in the chair and she produced a handkerchief from, I donโt know where, and gently pressed it against the side of my head. I was so taken aback by her kindness that I didnโt even bat
her away which would have been my normal reaction. She was clearly distressed about the treatment of me and it seemed like the smartest idea was not to make any enemies here before I knew what was going on. She fussed over me for a little while before she seemed satisfied and sat down in the chair next to me. โIโm so sorry that they have treated you this way dear. We had no say in what was happening and we only learnt that they could potentially be sending someone here a few hours ago. Letโs start at the beginning because Iโm sure all of this is more than a little confusing for you. Firstly, let us introduce ourselves. This is Headmaster Farsight and I am Professor Octavia. I donโt know what they would have told you on the other side, before they clearly brutalised you, but you have been brought to Packlands Academy to learn how to control your magic. The new laws that the humans have made mean that any halfblood supernaturals on Earth, such as yourself, have to be brought to one of our Academyโs so that we can classify your magic and teach you how to control it to prevent anyone losing control and further โฆ incidents occurring.โ She grimaced at her explanation. โGranted, the means of getting you here were not supposed to be so violent.โ
โIncidents?โ I looked around the room again and Headmaster Farsight drew my gaze. He was sat back in his chair still holding the test tube and looking intently at it. I donโt know what he thought it was going to do. He didnโt really look like any headmaster I had ever seen or imagined. He looked, at best, in his late thirties. The suit that he had on put scowly crap suit to shame. This one probably cost a hundred times what his did. It highlighted his broad shoulders and skimmed what were no doubt huge biceps. He was attractive, but something seemed off about him that I just couldnโt put my finger on. He looked up as if he had realised that I was watching him and he met my eyes with a kind smile on his face.
โI donโt know how much your parents will have told you but fullblooded supernaturals come into the majority of their magic when they reach the age of twenty. Some will have small amounts through childhood but nothing major. Once they reach the age of twenty their magic flares and they come into their full powers. At that age they are brought to the academies where they train to control and use that magic, whatever it may be. Most believed
that halfblood children wouldnโt have access to any form of magic but it seems that they were mistaken in that view. The humans believe that some have undergone the same flare but without anyone to teach them how to properly control it innocent people have ended up hurt. The idea of regulation is not one which we support but the humans are right that we should take responsibility for the halfblood children and bring them into the academies to help them learn how to control their magic.โ
Okay what he was saying made sense in a way. But twenty? I had been able to use my own magic since I was twelve. Granted over the last year or so it did seem to be getting stronger. Maybe it was part of being a halfblood. Everywhere I went I was a freak. These people seemed nice enough but I had been fooled by that before and I wasnโt falling for it again.
The headmaster had got up from him his desk and walked around to sit on the desk opposite me. โThe way in which you were brought here was not how we had expected, and I can only apologise for the way in which you were treated. The humans are scared of us and I canโt say I really blame them for it. Still, it is no excuse for harming you like they did.โ
โIโve had worse, this is nothing.โ I shrugged, wiping the blood from my face and holding the handkerchief to my cut to try and stop the bleeding. I didnโt miss the way that their eyes widened as they considered me for a minute. Next would be the pity that I hated so much. A change of subject was definitely needed. โSo, what, you want me to go to school here now?โ
โYes, we can send someone to your dorm to pack your things and have them brought here. You start your classes tomorrow to determine what magic you have.โ The headmaster nodded.
โNo.โ I replied. Might as well get straight to the point. They were not going to do digging through my stuff.
โNo?โ Professor Octavia repeated cocking her head to the side.
โIโm afraid none of us really have a choice in this .. erm Iโm sorry what is your name?โ The headmaster asked raising an eyebrow.
โAria Gravesโ I replied lifting my chin. โI said, no. I donโt want someone digging around in my things.โ
Professor Octavia knelt beside me and put her hand on my knee in an overly familiar gesture which I am sure she meant to comfort me but had the complete opposite effect. Sensing my discomfort she withdrew her hand, and there it was, the pity in her eyes. โThey wonโt let you go back Aria. You have to stay in this realm and learn your magic before they will even consider allowing you to return to the human realm and by then who knows if any of us will be allowed. There is talk of closing the gates dear.โ
The headmaster was looking at the test tube again with suspicion. โWhy are you looking at it like that?โ I asked shifting in my seat. A dull ache had started in my head and I really needed to just lie down and probably throw up a bit.
โItโs goldโ he said holding it out in front of him. โYeah, I can see that.โ
โThe purpose of the test is not just to determine if you have magic but what type it is. You are aware that there are different types of supernaturals?โ He asked setting the test tube down on his desk but keeping it in sight. It was a little unsettling how much he seemed to be obsessing over it.
โI may have banged my head but Iโm not stupidโ I snarked.
He lifted one brow again but continued โWitch magic shows as green, red for vampire, blue for elemental, black for demon and white for angel. Shifters show up green as well because their magic is so similar to a witches with it being rooted in nature.โ He explained.
โRight, so whatโs gold?โ I asked.
โI donโt knowโ he replied looking at the little tube again.
โWell is there like a manual or something? I feel like if you are going to completely disrupt my entire life you should at least have read the instructions.โ
โThere isnโt supposed to be a goldโ he explained and I swear that I saw him roll his eyes. It made me like him just a little bit. A very small, tiny, little bit.
โMaybe I donโt have magic, maybe itโs just a fault with the test. See I knew this was a mistake I should just go homeโ I said standing up and looking around the room. โJust, you know, click me open a portal and Iโll be on my way.โ I said waving my hand in the area where the last one had been. Hey, it was worth a try right.
โIt doesnโt quite work like that. You will have to remain for the first year and if you come up as a null we will speak to the humans about returning you if the gates are still open at that time.โ The headmaster said crossing his arms and clearly calling me out on my bullshit.
โSo, this is my prison for the next year thenโ I snarked.
At least he had the dignity to flinch. โI hope that you will look at the Academy as your home in time. I am sorry that we had to meet under such
circumstances but you will always be welcome here Aria.โ
I considered what he had said. It seemed like for now my only option is to play nice for a year. The problem is do I keep my magic locked down like always and see if I could skate by as one of these nulls, or do I actually trust these people and maybe learn more about my magic? Who am I kidding? I canโt hold on to a lie like that for a whole year with these people being constantly up in my space.
โHave you seen any signs of your magic Aria?โ Professor Octavia gently queried.
โNopeโ I lied. No point in giving everything away until I at least gauged if I was in any danger here.
They both glanced at each other suspiciously. Perhaps Iโd answered that a little too quickly.
โWell letโs get you settled in your room.โ She replied. โOne of the other teachers is in the human realm and will bring back your things. You have got today to explore and then lessons will start tomorrow. Weโll get this all straightened out in no timeโ she said opening the door to the office.
The headmaster handed me a packet of papers and gave me one of those pity smiles that makes you want to punch someone in the face. โThis holds your timetable, a map of the academy and some other things you need to know. All of your books and materials will be brought to your room. Youโll need to report to stores to pick up your uniform. Iโll have Caleb drop off your things when he gets back.โ
I followed Professor Octavia out of the room and looked around as she led me to my room. โWhere is everyone?โ I asked.
โIn class. Classes started a few weeks ago. We get a few extra students over the first month, those that come into their magic a bit later but generally everyone starts at the same time.โ
โI meant the other halfbloods. Why hasnโt anyone else been thrown through the wall yet?โ I said looking back at the office as if someone would fly out of it any minute.
โOh, well youโre the only one so far dear.โ Professor Octavia replied walking down a corridor heading towards a large staircase. The academy seemed to be quite an old building. The walls of the corridor were stone and the windows were set into it with thick glass panes. If we were in the โhuman realmโ this would be hundreds of years old but who knew what buildings looked like wherever the hell this was.
โWhat do you mean? There must have been others, everyone was bragging about having some form of magical heritage at my campus.โ I answered looking around trying to take stock of where I was. The windows didnโt look like they opened but being glass I should be able to smash one should I need to get out. I seemed to be on a ground floor. There was a large front door opposite the staircase which offered another exit if needed. Iโd just need to find out if they kept it locked.
โAh yes, I have heard of this. Halfbloods of your age are actually quite rare dear. The gates only opened ten years ago so any halfbloods your age would have had to come from someone strong enough to be able to cross realms by themselves. I donโt think that any of those people would have actually had true claims. Iโd be surprised if anyone else actually comes through a portal to usโ. The professor started to climb up the stairs with me trailing behind her. If she was aware of me checking the potential exit routes she made no sign of it. She just seemed quite content to show me to my room. They didnโt seem like they were going to forcibly hold me here.
โSo, Iโm the only one then?โ This couldnโt be good. I like to live life under the radar but now Iโm going to be the halfblood freak that everyone knows about.
โSo far dear but I would think it will take a couple of months before they get everyone tested so we may get another one, but there a few other academies taking in the students so they may not get sent here.โ The corridor was lined with doors and she stopped outside one and nodded her head towards it. โThis is you dear. I made sure that you got a single room. I figured this whole process would be hard enough on you as it isโ
โThanksโ I mumbled grabbing the door knob then screeching when I got zapped as if electricity ran up my arm. I really needed to calm the fuck down, I was not a screeching kind of girl but this place had me on edge and acting like a big boobed blonde chick in a horror movie.
โOh, sorry dear I should have warned you about that. Just the door configuring to you. Saves keys you know. Only you will be able to open this now. Well and certain members of staff if thereโs an emergency.โ
I nodded and opened the door. It was a typical dorm room. Bed in the corner, which was thankfully a double and already made up with blue cotton sheets. Desk on the opposite wall with some shelves, a bookcase and an armchair in the other far corner. There were two other doors. Sticking my head through each I found a small closet and a bathroom. I gave a small prayer of thanks to the universe for the bathroom. I could not have gone back to sharing a bathroom.
โWell Iโll leave you to get settled in. Your welcome pack has the schedule for the day. Lunch will be in about an hour and the cafeteria is marked on the map. Your things should be here by then as well. If you have any questions, Iโll see you tomorrow. We only have three academic classes on your timetable at the moment. No point added things in when we donโt know what your magic will be and you will have a lot of reading to do to
catch up anyway.โ She backed awkwardly out of the room before turning and striding away. The door slowly closed behind her and I looked around me at the empty room. I was exhausted and I sank down onto the edge of the bed, pulled off my boots and flopped back. My head was still hurting, I was exhausted from the night before and everything that I knew of the fragile life I had managed to piece together for myself had come falling down around me. I couldnโt believe how much could change in what must have only been an hour. I didnโt have much in my apartment. They would no doubt be able to pack everything into a few boxes. What if they never let me leave here? Maybe I should just tell them that I already had magic and let them help me develop it into whatever it was going to be. My mind felt like it was spinning in circles and it probably didnโt help that I was pretty certain that I had a minor head injury to go with it. It was probably a good thing that I was lying down. I was certain that my mind was racing with too many questions for me to be able to sleep but slowly my eyes slid closed and exhaustion took over pulling me into sleep.