Witch Born - LJ Swallow Page 0,79
Girls meets Lord of the Flies.
Still, I could use said distraction.
We park, and I clamber from the car. The gravel crunches under my heavy boots, one earbud still playing music in my ear while the other loops across my dark jacket shoulder.
As I stare at the open double doors into the uninviting darkened hallway, Dad casually says, "And there's better pastoral care here. Professionals."
I pull the other earbud out, in case the music is interfering with his undertones. "Professional what?"
Mum touches my hand with soft, warm fingers and the tears I've fought almost start again. "Your grades have always been higher than average and being a gifted child comes with added... difficulties. This could be part of the problem and why your grades have dropped. I heard that—"
"You mean there are psychs here, don't you?"
I walk forward into the shadow. Rectangular windows line the brickwork, four storeys high, and the front of the academy juts out and upwards to form a turret. The doorway looks like a mouth ready to swallow me whole. Do not cry.
Dad places a hand on my shoulder. "Extra support, Maeve."
I shrug him off. "You could've told me this was the Academy for Bad Girls Who Also Aren't Right In The Head." I pause. "But I guess that's a bit of a mouthful."
"Maeve. We discussed this. We haven't forced you to come here."
I don't get a chance to reply as a tall, male figure appears at the top of the stone steps, emerging from the dark hallway behind.
"Oh. Look. I wonder if he's insane too?" I ask.
"Maeve Foster?" The guy squints into the sunlight and then shades his face with a hand. His ring catches the sunlight and dazzles me as he crosses towards us.
I blink faster when his face comes into view, in case I'm hallucinating again.
No.
He can't be.
I saw him in a vision — a snapshot of a horrific death that haunts me. The images usually fade with time, but he's scorched across my mind and I recognise him the moment his face becomes clear. His startling blue eyes and lean, muscular figure would make the guy memorable to most, but I want to forget the last time I saw him.
There was blood. So much blood.
This guy died in front of my eyes.
"Are you Maeve?" he asks again. Voice lost, I nod. "I'm Jamie, and I've been looking for you."
I've been looking for you. I shiver at the words I've heard him say before.
Jamie offers me a reassuring smile. "You look nervous. Don't be. We're mostly friendly here."
"Have I met you before?" I blurt and he frowns again. "I mean, you look familiar."
"No, but I'm looking forward to getting to know you." I purse my lips at the hint of flirtation in his voice. "Mr. Foster, should I carry Maeve's bag?"
My father hands over the rucksack and he effortlessly throws it over his shoulder. Jamie's eyes widen for a second and he grips the handle harder, avoiding my eyes.
"Is it too heavy?" I ask.
"No. And don't worry, I'm sure you'll enjoy this school more than your last."
"I did enjoy my last school," I lie and flash a look at my parents. I didn't, but it's preferable over whatever the hell this place is.
"I get the feeling you didn't." Jamie pulls the bag further up his shoulder, and his cryptic phrase puzzles me.
He accompanies me to the steps leading into the building, and I chuckle to myself as I hear the Star Wars 'Imperial Death March' in my head. There's nothing space-age about the great brick building ahead. I glance up to the highest window. I'm more likely to find a Victorian madwoman in the attic, or a heart beating under the floorboards.
"...would you agree, Maeve?"
I snap out of studying the architecture and look to Mum. "Agree with what?"
"How lucky you are that Aunt Marie is paying for you to attend."
"Not to sound ungrateful, but I'd rather she'd bought me a car."
Jamie laughs but my parents aren't amused. My aunt's offer to pay tuition at an exclusive academy was a bolt from the blue. I'd finished my GCSEs and started A levels before the Tyler incident, destined for university. I heard Mum crying at my wasted opportunity, and the guilt burrowed so far into me that I didn't argue with the decision to send me to a boarding school.
Who cares that Ravenwood Academy is only for students my age and older? It's still a boarding school.
I met my aunt a few times when I was younger, but not recently. My only memories are the tension in the room between her and mum and the large charm bracelet she wore that jangled every time she moved. Her white-blonde hair matches mine, much different to mum's auburn curls.
Her husband died recently, and Mum went to the funeral, but not me or Dad. I can imagine my drunk mother spilling to my aunt about her daughter's "problems". Why else would she offer to help?
A week after expulsion from Moorland High, here I am.
"The academy doesn't often take students without an interview unless they have the right family connections. Your aunt either has a lot of money or you're talented," Jamie says.
"Maeve's very clever," Mum smiles with pride.
"Does she have the same surname?" he asks.
"No. Marie is my sister. She could have connections, as I know she attended the academy. It's Willowbrook."
His mouth parts as if we just told him we know an X Factor winner, but he keeps his thoughts to himself.
I trudge up the steps into the academy with my heart beating harder the closer I get to the gaping maw. Doorway. I mean, doorway.
"Oh, sorry. I've been rude and not introduced myself properly." Jamie shrugs the backpack further up one shoulder and extends a hand to my father. "It's very nice to meet you, Mr. Foster."
Confused but evidently impressed by the etiquette the academy instils, Dad shakes his hand. Jamie smiles and offers his hand to Mum. They awkwardly shake before Jamie holds a hand out to me.
I stare.
His hand remains extended.
I look at him harder.
He doesn't drop his hand.
Did I really see him die?
Nightworld Academy: Term One is available here
Nightworld Academy: Term One
Or in the Term One - Term Three Box Set here
Nightworld Academy: Term One - Term Three
OTHER BOOKS BY LJ SWALLOW
The Four Horsemen Series
Reverse Harem Urban Fantasy
(COMPLETE series available now)
Legacy
Bound
Hunted
Guardians
Chaos
Descent
Reckoning
or as two box sets
Books 1-3
Books 4-7
Nightworld Academy
Reverse Harem Paranormal series
Term One
Term Two
Term Three
Term Four
Term Five
Term Six
Blackwood Magic
Ravenhold Supernatural Reform Academy
Reverse Harem Dark Academy
Witch Born
Magic Forged
Blood Legacy (coming soon)
Daughter of Shadow series
Reverse Harem Fantasy romance
Dragon Soul
Silvercrest Guardians
Ebon Queen (coming soon)
The Demon's Covenant Series
Reverse Harem Urban Fantasy
Held by Magic
Elements of Magic
Coming Soon
Shades of Magic
LJ Swallow is the pen name for USA Today bestselling author Lisa Swallow… if you like contemporary romance then read on!
Books by Lisa Swallow
Do you like contemporary romance? I write those too!
What would you prefer to read?
British rock star romance?
Try broody Dylan…
Summer Sky
Or bad boy Jax…
Cadence
College romance at an English university?
Because of Lucy
Hollywood romance?
Unscripted
A gamer romance?
End Game
And More….
amazon.com/author/lisaswallow
About the Author
LJ Swallow is a USA Today bestselling paranormal romance and urban fantasy author who is the alter-ego of bestselling contemporary romance author Lisa Swallow.
Giving in to her dark side, LJ spends time creating worlds filled with supernatural creatures who don't fit the norm, and heroines who are more likely to kick ass than sit on theirs.
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For more information:
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