Page 14 of Beastkin
I studied his face more carefully, trying to place him. When I was a child, I’d known some creatures. But this couldn’t be one of them. They all lived on the other side of the country. If they were going to go to college, it would be at the academy in Oregon, not here. Andsince I was ten, I’d never had another friend outside of the witch community.
“I don’t,” I replied honestly. “But I think we have the same class together. Professor Blackwood seemed impressed with you.” I held out my hand. “My name is Phoenix Emberwood.”
The Beastkin’s face fell, a flash of hurt crossing his features before he quickly masked it. The shift was so sudden that I wondered if I’d imagined it.
“Right,” he said, his deep voice gruff. “Same class.”
He didn’t take my outstretched hand. Instead, he stepped back, putting more distance between us. The pendant around my neck remained cool against my skin, which meant my parents weren’t monitoring this interaction too closely. Probably because he was just a classmate, not a friend.
“Nice to meet you,” I said, letting my hand drop awkwardly to my side. “Are you new here too?”
“No,” he replied curtly. “I was here before. Took some time off.”
There was something about the way he said it that suggested there was more to the story, but his closed-off expression made it clear he wasn’t interested in elaborating. His ears flattened slightly against his head, a gesture I recognized from my childhood as a sign of discomfort.
“Well, I guess I’ll see you in class,” I offered, trying to be polite despite his strange behavior.
The Beastkin stared at me for another long moment, his dark eyes searching mine for something I couldn’t understand. Then, without another word, he brushed past me and walked away, his powerful frame moving with surprising grace for someone so large.
I watched him go, a strange feeling of unease settling in my stomach. There was something familiar about him, something I couldn’t quite place. The way his ears twitched when he was uncomfortable, the particular shade of his eyes... it stirred a longing that I didn’t understand. I hadn’t been allowed near any monsters in eightyears. Nobody outside witch circles knew me. My parents made sure of it.
As I continued toward my next class, I found myself glancing over my shoulder, half-expecting to see him watching me. But the path behind me was empty.
Throughout the rest of the day, I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that I was missing something important. The name Laurent echoed in my mind, but I couldn’t connect it to anything specific. Perhaps he had been famous at the school before I arrived? That would explain why he seemed to expect me to recognize him.
By the time I returned to my dorm room that evening, I was exhausted from the combination of classes, navigating social interactions, and keeping up appearances for Thomas’s benefit. As expected, my roommate was already there, his nose buried in a thick tome about ancestral witch bloodlines.
“Phoenix,” he greeted without looking up. “I trust your first day was productive?”
“Very,” I replied, dropping my bag onto my bed. “The classes seem challenging.”
“As they should be.” Thomas finally glanced up, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied me. “You seem... distracted.”
I shrugged, trying to appear casual. “Just tired. It’s been a long day.”
“Indeed.” He returned to his book, but I could feel him watching me from the corner of his eye. “By the way, I encountered some interesting information about your Advanced Magical Method class today.”
My blood ran cold. I kept my expression neutral as I pulled off my jacket, but inside I was panicking. “Oh?”
“It seems there was quite a commotion after class. A student witnessed Professor Blackwood conducting some sort of elemental testing.” Thomas set his book aside, giving me his full attention. “Apparently, one of the... creature students displayed unusual abilities.”
I hung my jacket in the wardrobe, grateful for the excuse to turn away from his scrutinizing gaze. “I wasn’t really paying attention to the other students. I had to get to my next class.”
“Hmm.” The sound was noncommittal but loaded with skepticism. “The reports suggested it was quite dramatic. Crystals glowing, objects floating. The sort of display that would be difficult to missifyou were paying attention.”
My hands trembled slightly as I arranged my textbooks on the desk. The pendant against my chest remained mercifully cool, suggesting my parents weren’t actively monitoring this conversation. Yet.
“Like I said, I was already gone and heading across campus.” I forced myself to turn back toward him, hoping my face didn’t betray the anxiety clawing at my throat. “Why are you so interested, anyway? We don’t care about…” I swallowed hard, forcing the words up. “Their kind.”
Thomas’s pale eyes glittered with something that made my stomach twist. “My family has always been... vigilant about unusual magical manifestations. Particularly when they occur in unexpected populations.”
The way he said it sent chills down my spine. Vigilant. As if magical ability in non-witch students was some kind of threat to be monitored and contained.
“I see,” I managed, settling onto my bed with what I hoped appeared to be casual disinterest.
“The Academy’s new policies are quite permissive,” Thomas continued, his tone suggesting he found this deeply troubling. “Allowing creatures to explore magical abilities and methodologies that were never meant for them. It’s... concerning.”
I thought about the Beastkin from earlier, the way his face had fallen when I didn’t recognize him. Had he been the one Thomas was referring to? The one who’d made crystals glow and objects float? Professor Blackwood had asked him to stay after class. That Iremembered.