Page 16 of A Curse So Cruel
“Just think, child,”Tarlaz chimes in.“With our help, you might survive this place.”Peels of his shrill laughter echo in my head, and the sound is so loud that I’m distracted and don’t see a fold in the dark carpet up ahead. Stumbling over it, I pitch forward, but before I can topple to the floor, Raith is there. He curls a thick muscled arm around me.
“Careful now, we wouldn’t want you damagin’ that pretty face of yours before you make it to your first class.”
Chapter Eight
~ Shade ~
Ah class.That distracts me from the vocal shadows, reminding me that I have bigger things to worry about right now. Like the other students… “Thanks,” I mumble as he sets me on my feet and releases me. “So when you say classes, what specifically does everyone learn here?”
My gaze flicks to Knox and Thane where they stride at the head of the group. “I mean, if these are lessons about how to be grumpy and brooding, I'm sorry but I can tell you now, I'm going to fail.”
Raith snickers. “Shadow warriors aren't taught to act like that,” he explains. “It’s one of the many side effects of the shitty job we have to do.”
“Speak for yourself,” Galen drawls. “I quite like my job.” Closing the distance between us, he reaches forward trailing a slender finger down my arm, and I try not to shiver. “Let's just say the others haven't embraced the job like I have.”
“Okay, I’m not going to pretend to know what that means,” I say. “But the classes. You still haven't told me anything.”
Galen straightens, finally taking my question seriously. “There are core classes all students must attend, and then as your abilities start to develop more, you're able to take specialist classes.”
I fidget when I hear the part about abilities. “Now when you say abilities, do you mean like… combat?”
“Basic combat is taught in your core classes. No, what I’m referring to is shadow gifts—cloaking, manipulating shadows, dreamwalking, stuff like that.”
My jaw drops. They’d mentioned about shadow powers earlier, but I hadn’t even contemplated dreamwalking. Mostly, I’d only thought they were referring to those first two options.
“Some become more powerful than others,” Raith explains. “And gain specialized gifts.”
“But how does that even happen?” I ask. “Like you all keep reminding me, I’m human.”
“All will be revealed in good time,” Galen answers cryptically.
I fidget again, interlocking my fingers. “And what if I don’t develop any gifts?”
“You die!”Elgen shouts dramatically, and she lets out a shrill laugh when I jump. Scowling, I have to fight hard to keep ignoring her.
“Then you go back to where you came from,” Knox says coldly, oblivious to Elgen’s comment, and still walking ahead, not even bothering to turn around and face me when he speaks.
“All students obtain gifts,” Galen assures me. “Trust me, learning to shadow walk is the least of your worries.”
“And whatshouldI be worried about?”
“Everything,” Knox answers. Abruptly, he halts and turns, and I only just manage to stop myself from running into his back.
His dark eyes ignite with irritation when he sees how close I am to him. Instinctively, I want to take a step back, but I feel like that would give him some sort of satisfaction, so I simply stand there, making the situation uncomfortable for the both of us. It’s probably stupid on my part, but I’m stubborn like that.
His nostrils flare when he realizes I’m not going to move. “From here on out you would do well to remember who you are, human. You’re astudent,and you’ll remain human unless you can develop and master shadow abilities and graduate, gaining your immortality.” His lips twist into a cruel smile. “Or until you die in the coming nights.”
Glaring at him, I try not to let his words get to me, but the shadows on the walls laugh like they’re mocking me, and I can’t help but avert my gaze.
Smirking, Knox peers at the men behind me. “Galen and Raith, you’ll keep your cocks to yourselves if you know what's good for you. Get to work, and if I hear that you’ve been playing favorites with your new toy in class, trust me when I say you’ll regret it.” He pivots his gaze to Thane. “Can you take our little problem from here?”
“Problem?” I splutter, unable to keep silent even though I know I should. “You're the ones who violated my library. I was quite happy getting lost in my books before you all came along.”
A muscle ticks in Knox’s jaw. “And without us, you would have died,” he replies dryly. “Despite your strange arrival, from now on you treat us with respect like everyone else does in this academy. The rules are in place for a reason, and I won't have you here messing everything up. Attend your classes, keep your head down, and if you’re lucky you’ll survive. But I wouldn't wager on it.” At that, he turns and shadows explode around him. A second later, and he’s gone.
I just stare after him stunned and seething as the words of his rant sink in.
“Itisimportant you treat us with respect,” Thane says, and it’s the first time he’s spoken in a long while. “We are your professors, after all.”