Ex Nihilo Academy (6 page)

“Relax, Lily.” Luca is at my back shielding me. I hear the tires screech and the car peel off down the street before he finally releases me. Rowan is at my side in an instant and he grabs my hand and pulls me away
from Luca.

“My God, are you alright? You gave me a hell of a scare.”

“Looks like I saved your date’s life, Savage.” Luca says flatly.

“I can take care of my date just fine.” Rowan growls. Wait,
what? His date? Why isn’t Rowan correcting him and how does Luca know his name?

“You guys know each other?” I ask, thoroughly confused. My pulse is still racing from the near collision so I almost miss how they are
glaring at each other with barely concealed contempt.

“We’ve met before.” Luca speaks first and Rowan snorts.

“Yeah, we’ve met. Thanks for the help, Morello, but I think
I’ve got it from here.” He says sarcastically and Luca just shrugs.

“I’ll see you at school then, princess.” He walks back across the street to where his vampire friends are watching the scene with interest.

“How do you know him?” I ask Rowan who’s staring after Luca with a look of pure disgust on his face, making me wonder if he can unconsciously sense Luca’s otherness.

“A few friends and I had a run in with him a long time ago
and I don’t trust him. Look, I’m not going to tell you what to do but if I were you I’d stay away. Luca Morello is bad news.” At this point I’m more than a little exhausted from all of the testosterone swirling around so I take a deep breath to steady my nerves before speaking.

“Thanks for the advice but as you previously pointed out I am very good at taking care of myself. Maybe you should take your own advice and be careful around him?” I say and he gives me a level look.

“You don’t think I can handle Luca?” He asks, hurt flashing in his eyes and I know that I am entering dangerous territory. Luca is a vampire with speed, strength and power on his side but how can I say this to Rowan without offending his male ego? I decide that I can’t so I change the
subject instead.

“Hey, what’s with not correcting him when he called me your date?” I put my hands on my hips and Rowan shrugs apologetically.

“I didn’t think it was important.”

“Your girlfriend might disagree.” I say, trying to keep my frustration in check. He folds his arms across his chest and stares at the ground.

“Does it matter that I didn’t correct him?” He’s trying to
act casual but I think I detect a note of jealousy.

“I don’t know.” I answer honestly. It’s pretty clear that Luca can’t stand me, but do I feel the same? Frankly it’s not any of Rowan’s business and I don’t want to fight about it so I move on to a safer topic. “You
guys were great tonight. Like really, really good.” He looks at me again and his eyes soften.

“Thank you for coming. I’m glad you were here.”

“Have you played together for long?” I ask and he nods
shyly.

“I’ve known these guys forever. They are like family to me.”

“You are one very tall and very muscular family.” I tease. “Seriously, the four of you should start a basketball team. I already feel tiny
enough standing next to just you.”

“Yeah, we do stand out in a crowd I guess. Come on then, let’s go back in and I can introduce you properly.” He holds out his arm and I loop mine through his. “You know that I’m just trying to look after you,
right?” He sighs.

“I appreciate the thought but you don’t have to look after me. I may not be a giant but I’m used to looking out for myself.” I laugh and shove him playfully.

“Watch who you are calling a giant! How’s the weather down there?” He pats my head. “Well, at least you are closer to God up there.” I say and his eyes widen as his mouth breaks into a smile.

“More than you know, little one.” He pulls me in front of
him, holding me against his chest as he uses his body to clear a path for us through the crowd. Just before we reach the table where his band is sitting he leans down and whispers in my ear. “For the record, I’m just taking the piss. I
love that you’re tiny, in fact I think you’re perfect just the way you are.” His breath tickles my neck and he smells like cut grass and mint and boy and it sends tingles all the way down my spine. I know that by not pulling away I’m sending the wrong message but it feels so good being pressed against him with his arms looped tightly around my waist. I can’t deny that I do feel a connection to Rowan but he has a girlfriend which makes him strictly off-limits in my eyes. I slip out of his embrace and take the chair next to the drummer.

“So this is the wee lass you’ve been talking about? The name’s Tom.” He offers me one hand, the other holding the remnants of a pint of beer. “Yer a sweet one, aren’t ya? No wonder he’s been going on and on.” I look
up in time to see Rowan cringe.

“Leave her alone Tom, you’re langered.” He says and Tom chuffs. Tom has a blond buzz cut and light blue eyes. He is wearing military-style pants and a tight black t-shirt that showcases a set of thick,
ropy biceps.

You’ll have to excuse Tom, he’s Scottish.” Rowan says as if that answers everything and the drummer quickly loses interest in teasing me. Rowan goes around the rest of the table and makes the introductions. In
addition to the drummer, Tom, there is Danny the bassist and Charles the other guitarist. I can’t get over how incredibly tall and broad they are with their big arms, wide shoulders and thick, powerful legs. They all have strong
features and smooth creamy complexions, and all three seem a lot older than Rowan.

“They’re all so….blond. Are they related?” I whisper to Rowan and he laughs.

“They’re sort of half-brothers.”

“Sort of?”

“It’s a long story.”

“It seems to me like all of your stories are long ones.”

“Something like that.” He winks then shoves Danny out of his chair so he can sit down beside me.

Danny slides into the next spot over. The bassist has pin-straight white blond hair that falls just below his chin. He is wearing baggy jeans and a loose button up and when I try to smile at him he flushes and stares down at the table. He definitely seems to be the most reserved of them
all. Rowan gets up to get another round of drinks and I look across the table at Charles who’s watching me very intently. Charles is probably the most handsome of the three brothers with his curly straw blond hair and wholesome
good looks. He is wearing a form fitting sweater, distressed jeans and one hell of a smirk.

“So what do you think of our Rowan?” He asks as his cold gray eyes bore into mine.

“I’ve only known him for a short period of time but I think
he’s great. I’m lucky to have him to show me around.”

“He’s one of a kind alright and he seems to be invested in you already. Just be careful. He’s not used to getting close to people.”
Charles levels me with a look and I can’t help but think that is weird that he’s warning me off, considering that I’m sitting at a table with three people who seem very close to Rowan. It’s three people more than I have in my life right now.

“I’m not sure exactly what you are trying to say but I have a lot of respect for Rowan. He’s a good guy, I enjoy his company and I’m grateful to him, but so we’re clear I haven’t given him any impression otherwise.”

“Ah but Lily you don’t give a man impressions, he just has
them whether you want him to or not. Maybe he can’t help it but you can. All I’m asking is that you watch yourself.”

Rowan returns and we all sit for another hour talking and
laughing until I’m fighting to keep my eyes open. As I cover my mouth to stifle a yawn Rowan stands. “Let me take you home.” He says and I wave him away.

“No, please stay with your friends. I’ll take the truck back since I have school tomorrow.”

“Lily, I want to.” The way he looks at me tells me that there’s no point in arguing so we walk back to the truck together and he hops into the driver’s seat. As we drive back to the ferry dock I lean my head
against the fogged up window.

“Thank you again for coming tonight.” He says quietly as he pulls the car up to the dock and on to the waiting ferry.

“Thank you for inviting me. I had a really good time.” I
yawn, letting my eyes close. “Lily?” He says my name like it’s an unanswered question.

“Mmmm?” It’s all I can manage.

“Never mind. It’s not important right now just get some sleep.” I barely catch the end of his sentence before the sound of the waves
and the sway of the boat lull me to sleep.

I’m sitting in the headmasters’ office for the second time in less than a week and staring at the shiny surface of her desk. My face is
still burning from the embarrassment of being summoned from class over the PA system; apparently being called to the office is taboo even at a school for supernaturals. She sits behind the desk with her ankles crossed and her hands steepled over her mouth and Lucinda, who was kind enough to come with me, is
sitting in the chair to my right.

“One of the students has brought to my attention that there was an attempt on your life over the weekend. While I was hoping the incident
at the dance was simply an accident it would seem to be too much of a coincidence to ignore.” I resolve to kill Luca as soon as I see him, if that’s even possible. He had to be the one that told.

“I understand that your parents wanted to give you time to
adjust but we don’t have the luxury of time anymore. The Council is depending on you and the fate of supernatural’s’ around the world may very well rest in your hands.”

“What do you mean rests in my hands? What Council?” I look
back and forth between the two of them.

“At the request of your parents we were telling you only what we felt you needed to know, but now you need to know everything. The supernatural community is governed by a Council called the ‘Council of Five’
that has a representative from each of the races: trolls, witches, wolves, fairies and vampires. Your mother held the fairy throne. Each seat carries with it a long history and tradition and ascension to that throne is hereditary and
can only be taken by someone sharing the same bloodline. In the absence of a blood heir then it passes to the next oldest fairy family but it is extremely rare for this to happen. You are the last in the Hughes line - the fairy princess to be more exact - and it appears that someone is trying to kill you.”

“Why would someone want to kill me over some group of stuffy, old figureheads?” Lucinda clears her throat and shoots me a look while Professor Winters’ eyes assess me coolly.

“I assure you that our Council is neither stuffy nor bureaucratic as the human politics you follow may be. The Council’s power is all-encompassing and their decisions directly impact each and every one of us. At present time the newly appointed vampire leader is calling for a revolution.
It is his belief that we are superior to the human race and shouldn’t hide our true natures. He is calling it emancipation but it’s really just a clever coup d’état he’s plotting. He hides it well enough in rhetoric but at the heart of
it he truly believes that humans are dispensable and should be used however we see fit. It is a very dangerous proposition that if accepted by the races will almost certainly mean war.” She comes around the desk to face me. “So far he’s
been successful in convincing the witches that they need to reveal themselves. The wolves and trolls favor discretion. You would be the deciding vote.”

“So what are you saying?” I ask, my voice wavering.

“I am saying that we need to double your training sessions and educate you on the Council so that we can get you to London as soon as possible to take your seat and cast your vote.”

“Isn’t that a little hasty? You still don’t know for sure
that someone wants me dead. The speaker and the car, they could’ve been accidents.”

“They were not accidents.” Lucinda says quietly. “It’s just like your parents.”

“Lucinda.” Professor Winters says sharply.

“They were her family. She has a right to know.”

She sighs and removes her glasses, pinching at the bridge of her nose. “I suppose she does. Lily, the investigation revealed that there was
no mechanical failure detected during the plane crash and that the fuselage was inexplicably crushed. Planes don’t just rip in half. The only thing that could take down a plane that quickly and with that level of precision… ”

“Is magic.” Lucinda cuts in.

“It is an unfortunate truth. Your mother was very vocal in her opposition of a reveal to humans and her opinion was always held in high regard with the Council.”

“You are telling me that my parents were killed over stupid
politics!” I can’t keep the venom from my voice and I don’t even try. In that moment I want more than anything to close my eyes and back at the old bungalow: waxing my surfboard in the yard and listening to mom play piano while dad fries
up tofu scramble and veggie sausage on the stove. I am filled with a sudden loathing for this place and these people.

“You’ve been feeding me lies and hoping that I’ll just adapt. Well guess what? It’s not working. But I am smart enough to read between
the lines and what you are saying is that I don’t really have a choice. So I’ll do exactly what you say and double my training efforts, learn about your politics and cast my vote. Then once everything has returned to normal and this
vampire leader guy gives up his agenda I get to leave this place. The Council can find other fairy to do their bidding and I am done with Ex Nihilo, and so help me I will find whoever killed my parents and make them pay. Agreed?” I
think I catch them both by surprise. There is a beat of silence before the Professor answers.

“That sounds reasonable Ms. Hughes but as hard as it may be I urge you to put your feelings of revenge aside and focus on what’s important
right now.”

I clench the edge of the desk with both hands. It is all I can do to keep myself from launching myself at her.

“My parents’ lives may not have been important to you but I assure you they were to me.” I sling my bag over my shoulder and stalk out of
the room, ignoring Lucinda’s calls as she follows after me.

“Lily! Please wait!” I’m halfway down the hall before I stop. This isn’t her fault. She’s the one that wanted to tell me. When she
reaches me she pulls me into a firm hug and I let go. I’m crying hard and my nose is running on to her sweater but she stays where she is and gently rubs my back. “I’m so sorry.” She whispers. “I wish there was another way.” I pull away
and wipe at my nose.

“But there’s not and I get that. So I will do what I am required to do by birth and nothing more.”

“That’s all the headmaster is asking.” She smiles at me, the corners of her green eyes crinkling.

“Have you ever met the Council?” I ask.

“I haven’t, but I hear that their bark is worse that their bite and you have a good head on your shoulders so you’ll be fine.” She runs a hand through her spiked platinum hair and then produces a handkerchief from her
pocket. “I’m always here if you need to talk but right now I’d better get back to class. And that goes for you as well - especially now that you’re on an accelerated learning plan.” She winks good-humouredly and heads off down the
hall. I take a moment to wipe my eyes which are undoubtedly red and puffy so I don’t see Luca when he passes by me.

“Trouble with your boyfriend, princess?” He says it so snidely that my eyes fill up with tears again.

“For once why don’t you just shut your mouth, Luca! You obviously have no idea what you’re talking about.” My voice wobbles when I shout and for the first time since I’ve met him he actually looks embarrassed.

“Come with me.” He is at my side before I can blink and his large hand is grasping my fingers as he leads me into one of the empty classrooms. He closes the door and flicks on the lights and I’m surprised that the classroom is unlocked – supernatural’s’ are definitely more trusting
than the California Department of Education - or maybe it’s just a private school thing. He drops my hand and pulls out two stools for us to sit on as I look around at the science lab with its high tables, glass beakers and Bunsen
burners. “I’m sorry for what I said. Please don’t cry.” He says seriously.

“Forget about it.” I swipe at my eyes and take a deep breath.

“Did you get the news about your parents?” He reaches for my
hand again and I recoil.

“Great, so everyone knows that my parents were murdered except me.”

“I didn’t know for sure. I heard rumors.”

“Then you probably also heard that your leader is one of the
prime suspects.” I spit back. “He isn’t my anything. I don’t participate in that nonsense. I knew your parents and they were good people who didn’t deserve to die.” He says, the irritation in his voice clear. “You knew my parents?”

“I did but it was a long time ago.”

“How old are you Luca?”

“How old do I look?”

“I don’t know nineteen or twenty?” I say and his mouth curves up into a smile.

“You’d be warmer if you times that by five.” He smiles.

“You’re a hundred years old?” I don’t think he appreciates my horrified expression because he sighs.

“Princess, how old do you think your parents were?”

“They never really talked about it and they refused to celebrate their own birthdays. They always said you are only as old as you feel, but I guess around forty? My friends always said they could easily pass
for thirty.” He shakes his head.

“I’m not sure if I’m the one who should be telling you this but I guess you’ll learn soon enough; supernatural’s age differently than humans. Your parents were easily over two hundred years old. And your friend
Tristan, he may look seventeen but I assure you he’s not. We are born naturally and we can live a mostly ‘normal’ adolescent life aging at the same rate as humans until puberty hits, and then the aging process slows considerably. We
still age but it takes decades which to the naked eye looks a lot like immortality.”

“So you’re not immortal? From everything I’ve read and seen about vampires I’d just assumed you were.”

“No, all of us from the five races can be killed. Not easily
but we can be and there are very different and very specific methods for successfully getting rid of us.”

“And vampires are born?”

“We are, true vampires at least. All of those legends about
us lurking in alleyways and biting unsuspecting humans to turn them into one of us are simply pop culture perversions. The reality is that we take our bloodlines very seriously.”

“So you can’t make a vampire?” I ask, knowing that we’ve
strayed off topic but curious all the same.

“You can and some idiots do, but it’s not the romanticized ‘turning’ you’ve seen in films. Usually it’s done by bottom feeding vampires with inferiority complexes who prey on occult groups and lonely souls who think
becoming a vampire will make all of their problems go away. It is a messy and dangerous process with a very low success rate and turned vampires are never quite right in the head.” He puckers his mouth in distaste and I can help but
notice again how full his lips are.

“Meaning what, exactly?”

“Have you ever seen the movie Pet Sematary?”

“You mean you have?” I ask incredulously and he laughs.

“I’m one hundred years old, of course I have. What I mean is that you can bring someone over and make them a vampire but they end up leaving a piece of themselves behind. They are vacant and simple-minded and only a step
up from zombie. In fact it’s probably where the zombie legend stems from.”

“Why do you bite people then?”

“Everybody has to eat. We glamour them so they don’t feel any pain. It’s intended to be clean, quick and efficient. Humans have enough
blood that they don’t miss it and in the interest of safety and fairness children, the elderly and the infirm are off limits.”

“But wouldn’t that change if you all revealed yourselves? Wouldn’t people become more vigilant in protecting themselves?” I ask and he
nods in agreement.

“You are preaching to the choir, princess. The vampire leader is a fascist and an extremist and he doesn’t speak for all of us. I am truly sorry about your parents.” He brushes his hand across my cheek then
quickly pulls away.

“Please call me Lily. I am no more a princess than you are an extremist.” I say, quietly. “I am not trying to tease you. Whether you like it or not you are supernatural royalty.”

“I thought you didn’t believe in all that nonsense?” I challenge and he grabs my chin and tilts my face up towards his, catching me off guard.

“I believe in you.” I breathe in his clean, spicy scent and
take in just how flawless he is up close with his smooth caramel skin, strong straight nose, and eyes that are such a deep shade of brown they’re almost black. I’m sure that he can hear my heart skipping as he holds my face in his hand.

“That’s probably the nicest thing you’ve said to me since I came here.” I say and he frowns.

“Have I really been that bad?”

“Yes, Luca. You really have.” He releases my chin and steps
back.

“Then I’ll try harder.”

“That would be a nice change.” I give him a half-smile and he nods.

“I’ll see you around… Lily.” My name sounds strange on his lips and I like it.

“See you around, Luca.” I leave him standing in the lab as I head back toward my locker somehow feeling a little bit lighter. I check the clock in the hall only to find that I’ve missed the rest of class so I drop off my bag and decide to track down Nissa and Cai in the cafeteria to fill them in.

* *

“That’s horrible, Lily. I can’t believe they didn’t tell you right away.” Nissa frowns into her chai tea. Cai, who is eating a massive steak, drops his fork and it clatters against the table.

“I have an idea! You could go and see the trolls. Maybe they know what happened to your parents or at least they can help you see what will happen when you go to meet the Council.”

“I don’t know, Cai, those guys seem a little unreliable to
me. They deceive people for sport and they could end up making her hallucinate so badly that she’ll have to spend the rest of her life wearing a straight jacket in some padded room.” Nissa voices rises an octave just as Kennedy
appears behind her.