I spot the old dorm building in the distance as I approach. Casting my eyes across every inch of the building, I look for any sign of activity or life, but there is nothing. This can’t be good. Shit, why am I doing this?
I make my way around to the back of the building, wanting to scout out the place before I sneak in, somehow. Gods, how am I even meant to get into a locked building? Cat burglar I am not.
The fire exit door at the back provides the answer for me, as it’s been left ajar, presumably by whomever sent me the note. Shit, if I go in that way they’ll see me coming for sure.
I look more closely at the building. Bingo. I notice a window on the 1st floor isn’t shut all the way. I walk closer and try to work out how to get to the window. I stand there, feeling clueless for a while when it hits me. East jumping from the window. I could use my air ability to get up there. I’d already managed to call on it once during the fire lesson. How hard could it be?
I picture the air mark in my head and try to call on it. I picture the air lifting me. I look down, feet firmly still planted on the ground. Damn it!
“Why are you staring at a wall, Crowe?” Enzo’s voice drifts over to me. I turn to see him walking over from the shadows of the trees. Enzo looks every bit the bad boy he comes across as. With his leather coat, heavy, black boots, and denim jeans. His black hair is styled to the side, and even in the dim light I can see how dark his eyes are as he watches me. Why are bad guys so friggin sexy?
“Did you invite me here?” I ask, and he chuckles.
“Not even in your dreams,” he says slowly, and I have the feeling he is checking me out as he walks past. I don’t reply to his remark as he walks around me, but I do glare at him. I watch as he walks into the building through the fire exit. Fuck it. I follow him in, feeling the cold wash of a ward hitting me, just before the blasting music hits my ears. It’s not too loud, but I’m guessing the ward is a sound blocker. The abandoned building has a massive party going on inside. There are three huge speakers at the front of the room and a table full of alcohol at the side. There are chairs littered around and people dancing to the music. The girls look half dressed in skimpy dresses, and I look down at my jeans and hoodie. I clearly didn’t get the memo. There must be about hundred people in here I think as I look around. I catch a glance of Enzo’s back before he disappears into the crowd of people. I walk around for a bit, not seeing anyone I know and jump when Enzo stops next to me.
“You should leave,” he says, and I look up at him.
“Why?” I ask, and he doesn’t respond to me, but gives me a look that suggests I’m stupid or something. I watch as he walks away.
“Kenzie Crowe, right?” a woman’s seductive voice says next to me. I turn a little to see that Stella girl standing next to me, her arms crossed and a sweet smile on her pretty face. Shit, this girl is pretty, and it makes me want to hide in a corner. She has curly, blonde hair, a stick-thin figure with big boobs, and the heels she has on make her taller than me. Her dark-red dress matches the red lipstick she has on. I want to think it looks slutty, but my mind betrays me by thinking how nice the outfit is with the lipstick.
“Yes, you’re Stella, right?” I say, and she smiles widely.
“I see you’ve heard of me. Welcome to this year’s welcome party,” she says holding out a hand. I don’t take it as I think over her words.
“Why was my friend not invited?” I ask her. If this was a welcome party for first years, Kelly should be here.
“Who?” she asks, a slightly annoyed frown on her face as she pulls her hand back slowly.
“Kelly Curwood.” I say, watching as she laughs.
“The two?” she chuckles out, and I narrow my eyes at her.
“Oh, hunny, we only let seven and ups in here. You should get some better friends, rather than that weakling. She might as well leave the academy now. She would be better with the humans, I mean, she basically is one. Such a waste of space,” she says, and I don’t think as I slap her. Her head swishes to the side, and she glares back at me as she straightens up. That felt good.
“You shouldn’t have done that, you little bitch,” she says, wiping the blood from her lip.
“I’m not the one who’s a bitch,” I say. I won’t let her speak about Kelly like that. Stella doesn’t reply, but she grabs my arm quickly. Pain slams into me and filters though every part of my body. Falling to my knees as I scream, the pain just keeps flowing through me. Wave after wave. I can’t think straight. I try to pull my arm away, but her fake nails dig into my arm as she holds on tight.
“Let her go,” Enzo’s voice comes through all the pain, his words are clipped and full of anger. I take a deep breath the minute Stella’s hand falls away from my arm. My knees give, and I begin to fall to the ground, but someone catches me. I feel a large arm slide under my knees as someone lifts me up.
“The stupid twelfth girl needed to be taught a lesson about her place,” Stella says.
“You need to fuck off, Stella, this shit isn’t cool. She has had her powers a week. Just one fucking week. Winning a fight against her is nothing to be proud of,” Enzo replies. I faintly register that it’s him holding me, but everything is still fuzzy. I burrow my head into his chest, smelling his leather jacket and a faint smell that reminds me of a bonfire.
“Whatever,” Stella says flippantly, and I feel Enzo moving with me.
“Why did you help me?” I whisper when the music of the party disappears and chilly air hits my face. Enzo doesn’t reply for what seems like a long time, but I know he heard me.
“I don’t know, Crowe,” he replies softly, and everything goes black.
“You have gotta wake up, Crowe,” a deep voice flitters through to me as I pull my eyes open. Every part of my body aches, reminding me of last night. That Stella girl is a bitch. I resist the urge to move when I look up and see Enzo hovering over me, his face too close, and I see how dark his eyes are this close. They really do look nearly black, I find myself struggling to look away. They are something else. I blink when he straightens up, standing by the bed. I sit up and look around at the dimly lit room. This is not my bedroom.
“Enzo?” I ask, looking around the big room. There are two single beds in here, and there is a guy with light-blond hair lightly snoring in the other bed. There are two large wardrobes, and I notice straight away how much bigger their room is compared to mine and Kelly’s. That’s so not fair. I feel myself quickly, noticing I’m wearing the same clothes as the party last night. Enzo must have looked after me.
“You have gotta go before Logan wakes up,” Enzo says quietly, nodding a head towards the blond man who stirs in his bed.