Nightworld Academy - L.J. Swallow Page 0,2
spell I learn in class one step further than I should, but what’s the point attending a Nightworld Academy if I don't learn?
I need extension, not to be held back at everybody else’s level. If the class creates a tiny fire in their hands, I make mine a fireball and send it flying across the room towards the water witches. I’m doing the teacher a favour—if they're slacking in class, you can be damn sure that they’ll stop gossiping and conjure ice or water to counter my spell.
“Theodora, I don't believe Matt holds any ill will. As he says, this is for family reasons. His family are too high in the Confederacy to allow a member to defect to the Dominion.”
“Is that so? And Andrei’s family? His grandfather is head of the vampire council and look at what Andrei’s mother did.”
Her outburst takes me aback. Theodora stays out of politics and runs her academy how she wants. Andrei’s family history should put him into Ravenhold automatically, but she allows him to stay. Why is Theodora bowing to others now?
Is she scared of me?
“Take the boy out of his comfort zone,” says Professor O’Reilly gruffly. “Don’t give him the chance to extend his magic.”
He’s a hard taskmaster but cares about his team. Darren had an issue last year with his grades slipping and needed extra tuition, which meant he missed practice. Our coach kept him on the team and, when he discovered the reason why he kept missing matches, found him extra academic help.
If you look at the scarred shifter with his shock of red hair, who was once a Confederacy army general, you’d never guess he had a soft spot.
“Please don't send me to Ravenhold,” I say with genuine meekness.
I’d call the place the equivalent of a human young offender’s institute, but the reality is harsher. Many who are sent there have no hope of rehabilitation and remain in the old building on a Scottish island for years.
Some are put to death. Others go insane. Last I heard, the student body were ruled over by long-term residents: powerful hybrids who’ve banded together and keep the students under their control. Do the staff allow this? I wouldn’t be surprised, as it helps with their job of subduing the kids there.
If anybody sent me to Ravenhold, I’d fight tooth and nail to get out.
But nobody has ever succeeded in escaping.
“I’ll stop,” I plead. “I won't perform any magic I shouldn't.”
Theodora pulls out a chair and sits. “How many times have I heard those words from you, Matt?”
“I mean it this time. I understand how close you are to sending me to Ravenhold.” The words are finally spoken. The place the supernatural world would like to pretend doesn't exist.
Last time we had this conversation, Sofia argued that Ravenhold would corrupt or kill me, and her passionate defence warmed me to her. How could Theodora think of sending me to the place. Is she under pressure from someone?
Theodora runs her tongue along her red-painted bottom lip and looks down at the paper in front of her. The form is my death sentence if she signs. The old, wooden clock on the wall behind ticks through the silence, and I pray this isn't counting down the seconds to the moment my life changes.
“Take away Matt’s free time,” suggest Sofia softly. “Place him somewhere he’ll be under a watchful eye every moment he isn't studying or sleeping.”
“We’ve no detention class that allows such supervision,” says Theodora with a frown.
I tense but keep my worry out of my expression. Keeping me under their watchful eye is their only choice—the faculty can forget putting a tracking spell on me; I can bypass that with a click of my fingers.
“No, but there’s something happening in the school that leaves the participants exhausted and short of free time.” Sofia smiles at me. “The school musical performance is underway. I’m watching over and directing. I can ensure no untoward magic is used.”
Who’s more stunned by her suggestion, Theodora or me? I couldn't think of a worse way to spend my time.
Apart from incarceration on an island for an unforeseeable future.
I brighten. “Yes. One more chance. I promise you won't regret the decision. Uh… but I can’t sing.”
My words break the tension and Theodora smiles. “That’s not a problem. Do you need backstage help, Sofia?”
She nods. “We have a set to construct and plenty of backstage work.”
I keep my false smile even though I’m watching my free time disappear. I’m facing time