Page 58 of Of Blackened Blood (The Blackened Blade #3)

MICAI

I slide through the academy’s large entrance gates, giving Ezra a small wave as he watches me from his Maserati before reluctantly leaving.

He and all the guys, along with Morgan, Ash, and Grey had spent the rest of the day yesterday in town with me before we had to leave for training.

It was a nice break away from the academy and being able to skip some classes after everything that had happened with Knox.

We went back and forth discussing Knox’s condition, but we still couldn’t figure out if it was Seria’s brainwashing undoing itself that left him like that, or if she had done something else to him. Maybe to stop him from leaving her, or from talking to others about what had happened between them?

Ezra had also contacted a few other students he knew and confirmed that Knox was moved by the dean and Dr. Rinx shortly after we left. I hope he gets the help he needs in Magnostic’s, and we weren’t too late.

Creed also confirmed that Seria, Xander, Kane, Anders, and all her pawns were still attending classes as usual.

Were they really unaware of what happened with Knox? Or did she genuinely not care for him anymore?

I shake my head as I watch Ezra’s car disappear into the distance.

He was following up with a new contact in Lay City who may have information about a “shadowy group.” Annex and Mallyn were also checking in on a couple of their subordinates and safe houses.

After the attack on Erving, they were patrolling their places more regularly and making sure their people were safe.

Creed was the only one staying close. But who really wanted that asshole nearby?

All that meant I was flying solo during classes today. But they promised to be back by lunch and meet me in the cafeteria.

I stretch my arms out, a yawn pulling at my lips as I creep past the main building and toward my dormitory. Only the birds and small critters make sound as the sun begins to wake and shine brightly in the sky.

It had been a long training session last night, with Isaiah surprising me with running drills and Gadriel joining in after with a heavy spear-sparring session.

We trained close to midnight, losing track of time, and I spent the night in the abattoir, unable to return to the dorms. And completely exhausted.

Gadriel told me he would be returning to the academy today as well, which was a relief.

His replacement, Mr. Maddox’s idea of a good Defence class is running the third hardest obstacle course in the academy over and over again every single day . The repetition was beginning to annoy me.

I still don’t know why Gadriel had left the academy for the week. But with all the secrets I’ve been withholding from him, it hardly seems like my place to ask.

Another yawn stretches my lips as I sneak into the dormitory and creep quietly into my room.

I take a quick shower and change into my uniform before grabbing a small snack from the dorm kitchen and making my way toward the main building just as the morning bell rings. Hopefully this morning’s classes would pass quickly and not drag by without Annex, Ezra, or Mallyn around.

I head into the building and down the corridor, toward my first class of the morning, and I notice a lot of students stopping to stare or glare my way.

I ignore them and make my way toward Mr. Finch’s classroom. But a few feet from the door, a foot slips out from a nearby group, trying to trip me up.

A smirk tilts my lips as I quickly notice the move and step heavily on the foot before passing, earning a pained yelp before it’s quickly pulled back.

I take another step before a larger group of boys edge too close while passing by, with one of them moving forward, trying to shoulder me.

I sidestep him and watch on as the pathetic ass tumbles to the ground. Clearly putting too much weight in his movement and trying to deal some damage to me.

A crowd begins to grow in the corridor around me.

More and more students glare my way as the other boys from the asshole’s group helps him up.

One steps forward, his beady brown eyes glaring my way as his lips twist upward.

“How the hell can you just waltz around here after what you’ve done,” he spits, his meaty finger pointing my way. “And act like everything’s fine?”

What the hell was this asshole talking about? What kind of bullshit had been spread about me now, and by which pawn?

I guess it had been a little too quiet in the academy lately. And the guys weren’t here today, so they all probably thought I was an easy target.

They never learn, do they?

Just as I’m about to tell him off, he continues, his next words having my own fade from my lips.

“Was Knox not enough? How the hell can you walk around after what you did to him?” Disgust twists his slender features as he continues. “Just because he turned you down, you curse him?” He takes a step closer. “How the hell did you do it? Did you bribe someone or buy something on the black market?”

What the hell was this dickhead talking about? Curse?

And why the hell was Knox being mentioned by this asshole?

I glance around, noticing the hushed whispers and glares directed toward me again. They were serious? They thought I was the one who hurt Knox?

“What the hell are you talking about?” I turn back toward him, my own anger growing. “I was the one who brought Knox to the infirmary. How the hell did I hurt him, asshole?”

Another boy from behind me scoffs, pulling my eyes toward him and the large crowd surrounding us.

“No one here is going to fall for your ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about’ bullshit.

” His dark green eyes harden as he drags a hand through his dirty-blond hair, taking a step closer.

“Everyone knows your history with Seria and her men. And you were just ‘conveniently’ there when he collapsed?” A dark chuckle leaves his lips as he shakes his head.

“Just because you brought him to the infirmary doesn’t mean you weren’t the one who made him that way.

It’s just a great excuse for when you’re finally questioned by the faculty, isn’t it? ”

“You went for Knox who’s a little softer and somehow managed to guilt him into seeing you a while ago .

.. you were seen in town together,” the beady brown-eyed boy calls from behind me before he begins circling me.

“Did you curse him then, or was it when you ‘found him’ and brought him to the infirmary?” A sneer coats his thin lips.

“The details will come out soon ... and then you’ll be locked away.

Not even your name will protect you.” His face twists up even further.

“And then you’ll rot alone like you should and pay for all you’ve done.

Better yet, let’s start now.” He reaches for me, his hand grabbing my shoulder.

But I grasp his wiry fingers, tearing them from my body and breaking three of them in the process.

He lets out a pained howl before another set of hands try to grab me from behind.

Twisting around, I dodge them before landing a heavy punch to the face of the dirty blond–haired boy.

He bends over, blood gushing from his broken nose as another three boys jump from the crowd and try to land a hit on me.

I evade each attempt and front kick one in the chest, sending him tumbling into the lockers behind the crowd. I then twist around and throw a roundhouse kick toward another oncoming attack.

I might have put a little too much strength into it, as it sends his head whipping to one side before lifting him completely off the floor and knocking him into the group nearest him.

All the crowd’s eyes widen with the move as the last guy raises his hands and takes a shaky step backward.

I take a slow step toward him, and he in turn, takes another shaky step back. Caution is now in his gaze as he watches me. But he shouldn’t have started something he couldn’t finish.

I wasn’t letting any of them away today.

I glance around at each injured boy on the ground before peering toward the crowd, my anger rising with their continued whispers and hushed voices.

It was time to put a stop to their bullshit once and for all.

If they weren’t willing to listen to reason, then they would at least learn not to fuck with me anymore today. I’ll show them the consequences of whispering my name and spreading rumours about me.

“Micai, you need to stop this.” Seria takes a step out from the corner she and her cronies were hiding in, probably watching everything unfold the way they planned. But I guess they didn’t expect this reaction from me.

“You’re only hurting more people.” Seria takes another step closer toward me and into the centre of the corridor, her tear-stained eyes slightly red and her pink lips pulled down in a soft frown. A picturesque image of some weak damsel in distress, if I’d ever seen one.

I glance briefly around at the crowd and notice the sympathy and warm looks she’s receiving. Her audience seems completely enthralled.

“I know we’ve had our differences, but you’ve been let away with too much now.” She wipes a crocodile tear from her cheek, her voice sounding soft before chiding me. “Knox ... I didn’t know you would?—”

“ Really ?” I cut in, a dark chuckle leaving my lips as my gaze narrows in on her, my anger rising remembering Knox’s frail body as I lifted him up yesterday.

“ You want to blame me for what happened to Knox? Where the hell do you get off on spewing this shit?” My lips curve into a grin that has the crowd taking a step back from us as I continue.

“Do you enjoy it? Feeding off the lies you spread and watching the damage you cause? Is it fun , Seria?”

I take a step closer to her as a familiar face, Alice, tries to open her mouth and defend her. But the glare I send her has her quickly closing her mouth and freezing on the spot.

I wasn’t playing around with these bastards. Too much has happened to pretend, play fair, or hold it all in anymore.