Fearless The King Series Book One - By Tawdra Kandle Page 0,76

coming toward me, but I sensed her. The strange and unsettling aura she carried wrapped around me, and I shivered as I looked up at her.

Although knowing the future was definitely not my gift, I had one of those moments where I knew exactly what was about to happen. Nell, Casey and Liza were sitting in their respective places; I hadn’t even noticed their arrival. Ms. Lacusta was about to bring up my possible involvement with the chemistry club again, and Nell was going to respond in one of two ways: either she would melt down right there, in front of the class; or she would bide her time and plot to somehow destroy me.

Ms. Lacusta was standing next to me. “Ms. Vaughn,” she purred, in that exotically-accented voice, “it occurred to me this weekend that you never responded to my invitation to join my chemistry club. I assume you did not forget?”

I held my breath for just about ten seconds, waiting, my eyes on the back of Nell’s head. She was motionless, except for the almost-imperceptible stiffening of her shoulders, but a spurt of angry thought erupted from her mind.

“I… I did speak to my parents, actually. And they feel that with me just starting out here and trying to catch up academically, I need to limit my extracurricular activities. So—thank you, but for now, I think I have to say no.”

I spoke in such a rush of words that I was sure she could tell how she unnerved me. I was glad that I had indeed mentioned the chem. club to my parents and convinced them that it wasn’t a good idea. So I wasn’t lying.

Ms. Lacusta’s gaze never wavered from my face. “What a shame,” she murmured. “You would have been a wonderful addition to our little group. I’ve been thinking lately that we needed some… new blood.” She smiled thinly and her eyes flickered briefly over the girls sitting around me, none of whom had acknowledged her presence or her words. “Perhaps your parents will reconsider after you’ve been here a few months. Let me know. The invitation stands.”

I didn’t know how to respond, which was all right since she had turned quickly on her heel and moved to the front of the room to begin class.

I was shaken as I buried my head in the Chemistry book again. I tried to focus on the words before me, and on the teacher as she began class, but the low buzz had grown into a roar in my head. I could pick out words here and there from the indistinguishable drone. And then, a coldness crept over me.

She wants new blood, does she? Well, I’ll be happy to be oblige. When she sees what I’m going to do, there won’t be any need for people like that idiot behind me. She’ll see that I’m all she needs. The rest are just around for window dressing. Amber is going to be a perfect sacrifice, and then there won’t be any stopping me. The fullness of time is within the fullness of the moon. Blood equals power, and I’m not afraid to spill blood to gain power. That’s what makes me unstoppable. When she realizes that, everything will be perfect. It will be just the two of us… and the power…

A familiar wave of nausea swept over me, but I was determined this time not to let her knock me out. I gripped the edge of the table and drew several deep, slow breaths until my vision cleared and the sick feeling had subsided.

I had been on the right track, all along. I was certain of it now. There was no ambiguity in Nell’s thoughts today, and their vicious nature hadn’t left much to my imagination. A blood sacrifice… it must be blood…

Now the only question was what I was going to do with this information. I knew that Michael was loathe to act on anything that wasn’t precise and specific. I still didn’t have any proof to back up what I had heard, so I couldn’t go to any teachers or to my parents with what I knew. I was positive that my parents would be more upset that I was giving any credence to someone’s private thoughts than about the very disturbing direction of Nell’s mind.

I didn’t hear one word of the rest of the class. The hum of thoughts stayed with me, but I concentrated on tuning out everyone but Nell. I didn’t want to listen