Chapter 14

Tyrren

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The lamp in my dorm room crashes to the floor as the attacker slams me into the night table. The file scatters. I shove the attacker off me and they slam into the bookshelf. It teeters and smashes to the floor.

“You’ve already ransacked my room,” I grind out.

It’s dark in here now except for the slim shaft of light from outside. They lunge at me and I dodge, throwing them face-first into Aaron’s dresser.

“You’ve already turned me into a vampire,” I add.

The attacker sweeps my legs, but I’m fast and land a solid knee to the gut. There’s a familiar give as though the person is made of gelatin.

They get up slowly.

I hold the lamp aloft like a sword. “What. Do. You. Want.”

They hiss in response.

Oh, I’m dealing with a demon.

Where’s a sword when you need one?

I think fast and open the window, letting in the crisp night air. “It’s a little stinky in here, buddy.”

The demon makes another lunge, gripping my shoulders.

As we grapple, I align with the window and in one swift motion throw the demon through the window. I don’t wait to hear a splat. It won’t die but buys me time to get out of here.

There are only a few people in the dorm. Most are still probably at the Fae Court dance but I have to report this.

A CA is by the entrance and as I begin to explain, I realize he won’t buy it.

“There’s no way anyone got on this campus. Same way as no one gets off,” the CA says, indifferent to my raving.

I have a mind to go find Lea. She’ll know what to do, but she probably won’t believe me either.

I slump back to my room, gather the papers that came loose from the files, and tidy up. For better or worse, vampires don’t really sleep so I spend the night going over everything. Trying to find a clue, an answer.

I’m still without one when I’m dragged to the administration office the next morning. I stand accused of being involved in the demon attacks on campus.

“But I was attacked,” I say.

“A demon attacking a vampire?” Jurik asks. “You may be new to the blood-drinking life, but it’s vampires who order around demons. Everyone knows that.” She smirks.

“But I didn’t do it. I was at the dance. There are witnesses.”

“Do you mean Lea? Unfortunately, she’s not the most reliable.” Jurik doesn’t waver.

“But we danced together and—”

“She was with Emeric if I remember correctly.”

“Not the entire time.” Arguing is futile. I’m at the headmistress’s mercy.

“Two strikes, Tyrren.” She eyes the RIP grounds out the window. “I’m considering banning you from the Rjoklund Games endurance challenge, but I believe in offering second chances. But not third so unless you want to experience a real-life test of endurance over at RIP, I suggest you follow the rules.”

But I have been. I’m starting to think someone has it in for me. Why else was I the only vampire in Jurik’s file? Is there something she’s monitoring? A conspiracy going on in the background? Instead, I say, “Yes, of course, Headmistress.”

During my workout, breakfast, and morning classes, whispers about the demon attacks on several fae get louder. By lunch, it’s all been pinned on me. I’m the pariah. Well, at least among the fae. I don’t see Lea and I’m not entirely surprised. Not after our conversation and not after me supposedly ordering the attack on fae—if she believes the hype.

I spend entirely too much time in the blood dispensary in the coming days. Vandalism on campus increases and everywhere I go I feel eyes on me. I hardly see Lea except in passing. When I do, she hardly looks at me and won’t speak to me.

I’ve never felt so alone.

In the gray dawn, I pull on my sneakers for the Rjoklund Games. The scent of damp earth kicks up from my footfalls. Leaves and the faintest sounds of birds and squirrels rustle from nearby. We all gather around a podium.

No one holds signs for the event or shakes pom-poms to cheer us on like at my old high school. It’s kind of solemn. The clouds overhead tell me to go back inside.

The headmistress stands in front of a microphone. “Students, welcome to the annual Rjoklund Games named after the famed endurance challenges in the Southlands of Borea.”

The surrounding crowd cheers in a subdued vampire-y kind of way.

“We honor the vampire traditions of old with these tests of endurance but with one difference. You will do it with a partner. Someone unlike you. Vampires will be paired with fae. You will learn to work cooperatively.”

By the grumbles, I’m assuming that’s going to be the real challenge.

No one claps. Thunder sounds in the distance.

“We’ll all return here at nightfall to celebrate.”

Jurik goes on to read the names of the pairs. I pity the fae who has to go with Rizon. I hear my name and then Lea Vladikoff.

I blink, certain I misheard. No way would Jurik pair us up.

Lea appears in front of me. Dark circles ring her eyes. She looks tired, thin.

“Hi,” I say.

“Hi,” she repeats, glancing over her shoulder at Emeric.

When everyone is matched up, Jurik explains the three games. There is a footrace, a hammer throw, which if it’s anything like throwing axes, shouldn’t be too bad, and a golden disk hidden somewhere on the grounds. The team to find it wins the overall championship.

A bell chimes. Everyone is off on fleet feet.

Lea and I look at each other awkwardly. No words are spoken. Then we take off. We cruise along the trail, avoiding roots, rocks, and the uneven terrain. We’re in the middle of the pack. Not the fastest and not the slowest but definitely the quietest. Whether it’s because Lea is concentrating or because she hates me, I’m not sure. The tension is like a thick slab of iron between us.

We arrive at a fork in the trail. It’s an even split between both directions as the people ahead of us keep running.

We go left. The pack of runners thins out and Lea remains focused on the terrain. I’m not sure what to say to break the ice. I clear my throat but words don’t come.

All at once, she hits the ground hard and is dragged into the underbrush.

I find my voice and shout.

A demon grips her ankle. I kick it hard, sending it creeping back into the bush. She wiggles loose and gets to her feet.

“Are you okay?”

She nods and brushes off leaves.

“For the record, that had nothing to do with me.” My muscles are coiled and I remain in a fighting stance, eyeing the brush.

“Probably part of the race. An obstacle.” Her voice is flat. “We should keep going.”

It isn’t. “What if it attacks the next person?”

She shrugs and starts running again. Lea, my warrior princess, didn’t walk away when the demons attacked the girl in Brooklyn before we were locked up. I don’t want her alone on the trail in case there are more. I’m torn between warning the next runners or decimating the thing but hurry to catch up with her.

Ahead, there’s a checkpoint for water and fuel. For me, that means blood. I hate it every time but my body doesn’t. While I feel refreshed, Lea still looks worn out, exhausted after getting water and a snack.

“There was a demon on the trail,” I tell the CA.

He doesn’t reply but holds me steadily in his gaze like I’m the one who needs watching.

“Right. So. I warned you?” I’m frustrated but and take off to keep up with Lea.

We reach the end of the trail without another incident, except for regular obstacles, including a huge mud puddle, a wooden fence to climb, a rope swing, a narrow plank to walk over a pit, and without another word spoken between us.

We have a few minutes to rest while the rest of the runners come in and before the hammer throw.

“I wonder if anyone found the golden disk.”

Lea shrugs.

I sit next to her on the ground. Before we could coexist in comfortable silence. Now I feel like she despises me.

Jurik announces the hammer toss. Instead of an actual hammer or axe, we have to throw a big metal ball. The running event reminded me of a Tough Mudder. This reminds me of something from the Highland games in Scotland.

We take our turns and again, land in the middle. Not the winners but not the worst either. Even though the Rjoklund Games are foreign to fae, there are vampires here who’ve done this many times—some even going as far back as the actual games in the Borea realm. I can hardly wrap my head around it.

“Are some of the vampires here who look like they’re in their teens actually hundreds of years old?” I ask Lea, forgetting she’s not talking to me.

She rubs her face. “I feel a hundred years old.”

I force myself not to jerk my head in her direction. She speaks. “Something on your mind? We can talk.”

She blinks a few times as though coming out of a fog. “It’s almost like an actual pull. Like I’m addicted to mayhem. Out of control.” She turns to me. “Like I can’t help myself when it comes to Emeric.”

I try to play it cool but at the mention of his name my jaw tightens. I give her space to go on.

“I wouldn’t cause that kind of destruction, would I? It’s getting hard to separate what’s real and what’s not.”

“Lea,” I say softly. “I don’t understand.”

Just then, Jurik announces the winner for the hammer throw as the clouds overhead threaten to split open with rain. “Now, you’ll seek the golden disk. Good luck.”

“Do we just look for it?” I ask.

Everyone else scatters as though they know what to do, leaving Lea and me standing in the middle of the field.

“Lea, you were saying before about Emeric?” I draw her away from the field so at least it’ll look like we’re participating in the games.

“Never mind,” she answers. Her gaze fixes on the middle distance like she, along with her thoughts, are somewhere else.

“If you want to talk, I’m always here. There’s something I want to talk to you about, actually.” I tell her about the file, the demon attack, and how I think there’s something sinister going on.

This seems to bring her back to me. “You broke into Jurik’s office? Who’s the rule breaker now?”

We’re in the wooded area, working our backward along the trail, circling the obstacles, crawling over rocks, and scrambling up a hill. I barely look for the disk. My focus is on Lea.

The air is chill and portends rain as the sun sets. We’re behind the administration building. Written across the wall is the word death with a big X underneath. The windows are smashed.

Lea looks down at her hands. “I didn’t mean it.”

“Didn’t mean what?” I ask.

She points.

“You didn’t do that.”

She nods slowly and her dark eyes meet mine. “Last night.”

“We’ll figure out a way to get out of here,” I say. I’m willing to do anything to help her, protect her.

She shakes her head. “There’s no escaping that I’m fae. I’m bad, Tyrren. Even though I didn’t kill those two people, I belong here where my magic is suppressed.”

I take her hand, bringing us away from the building. “Lea, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I do know that expression. Whatever grim thoughts you’re having, no.” I lower my voice. “I’m not going to lose you again.” After the incident sophomore year, I fought to bring her back from the edge.

“But I’m not yours.” Her voice is strained. She tilts her head.

Down the sidewalk, Emeric appears holding a golden disk in his hand. “Look what I found.”

My nostrils flare. Tension grips my entire body. I see red.

Lea runs into Emeric’s arms.