Page 45

Sebastian’s smile was more than mischievous. “You’ll see the list soon, Bloom.”

Chills slithered up my spine. I had a very bad feeling about this.

“How many immortals are at Forsaken Academy?” I pressed.

“Plenty,” Sebastian said, eyes glinting with amused viciousness. “You’ll have to figure that out yourself.”

My jaw tightened. Another vague answer, another puzzle dumped in my lap.

If he wasn’t lying about there being more immortals lurking in the academy, the killer could be any of them, not just the four I’d suspected.

Morrigan, Dante, and Orren was immortals, and I’d been stupid to overlook them.

And the three power players: Stardust, Kingsley, Ravencrux.

And if Nero had an immortal team, the others surely did too.

“How will the arena fights work?” Sindy asked.

“Yeah,” I said, taking in a deep breath. “Will it be like the duels in the training hall?”

“Open combat,” Sebastian said. “Free-for-all. But relax, Bloom. You’re only against first-years. None are too far ahead of you.”

I pursed my lips. “They might as well be demigods compared to me.” Every student here looked like they could snap me in half without breaking a sweat. Even Sindy, though slight, had proven she could hold her own with spells.

“Don’t sell yourself short,” Sebastian said, his smirk not wavering. “You took down an experienced fighter before. Study gladiator tactics and you’ll get a good idea of what to expect. It might be a group combat setting, and you’ll have to form your own alliance if no one invites you.”

My stomach dropped. No one would choose me. The weakling. The outsider. The girl who still reached for her inhaler when the pressure mounted.

“I’m giving you ladies a head start,” Sebastian said, flashing that knowing smirk. “Consider it privileged information.”

Sindy beamed. “You’re the best, Sebastian!”

The valley passed without incident, no corpses rising, no demons leaping at the car. My white-knuckled grip on the seat finally eased slightly.

“But there’ll be safety measures in place, so no one will actually die in the arena, right?” I asked in a tight voice.

Sebastian’s expression turned almost pitying. “Oh, a lot of first-years will die. Ever watched the movie Gladiator ?”

“No.” My throat tightened. “It’s too violent.” Truth was, Mom had never allowed much screen time. “But the school allows this bloody sport? It’s got to be illegal.”

Sindy reached over and patted my arm. “Forsaken Academy isn’t like other schools.” She mercifully left off the usual tagline about it not being for the fainthearted.

A cold weight settled in my chest. “They never mentioned this during orientation,” I muttered. “No wonder they had to kidnap me.”

“Obviously,” Sebastian said with sympathy. “Which is why I’ll personally train you, Bloom. Get you battle ready.”

My fingers dug into my thighs. “What if…what if I just drop out after today?”

Sebastian’s amused expression vanished. “Leave the academy?” The words dropped like stones.

Forsaken Academy had given me nothing but trouble.

I jumped at shadows, braced for ambushes around every corner.

Even sleep offered no refuge since the dead visited uninvited and nightmares clawed at me, though I’d done nothing to deserve such torment.

No rest for the wicked shouldn’t even apply to me.

And then there was Nero. The constant dread of being discovered gnawed at my insides.

If they found out about us, expulsion would be mercy.

I could see it now: stripped, whipped, broken, and thrown into some smelly, dark dungeon.

Or worse—a death sentence. What kind of twisted institution punished students for fucking professors a few times?

This place was a madhouse filled with supernatural psychos. Thrown into that arena, I’d be nothing but fair game, a fox among wolves, my flesh torn open by claws and fangs. The horrific image sent a shudder through me. As if being the redhead killer’s next target wasn’t enough!

“That’s it,” I said, the decision made. “I’m quitting. Tomorrow. Before the trial. I’m going home.”

The words tasted hollow. Home. If it still existed.

Even if I could make it seventy miles to a town, how was I going to escape with no money, no ID, no way to trace my steps back to France?

Mom and I had lived like ghosts, no records, no paper trail.

No one would report me missing. If my body turned up in some ditch, the coroner would label me:Average Jane Doe, redhead. No known origin.

Fuck, how had I become this pathetic?

Obstacles glared at me, and the weight of reality pressed down on me.

Sebastian let out a low chuckle. “There’s no dropping out, sweetheart. Didn’t you read the fine print?”

I frowned. “What fine print?”

“Every student signs it during admission,” Sindy said, twisting her fingers together. “I signed mine too.”

A wild hope surged through me. “Then I’m free. I never signed anything, no paperwork, no student ID, no headshot.” My voice rose with each word. “Technically, I’m not even enrolled! I have no obligation to stay in the academy.”

“It doesn’t matter that you didn’t follow through with the procedure.” Sebastian smiled at me. “Once you stepped through the gate, you’re magically bound to the school. The contract dissolves only after your graduation if you survive.”

The finality of it hit me like a blow. My next breath came out ragged. “So my options are graduate or die?”

“Pretty much,” Sebastian said. “But I don’t want you to die. I want you to survive, and I’ll help you make it.”

The only way to survive was to get the hell out, and I wouldn’t only look out for myself.

“Thank you,” I said. “But I’m going to campaign against this policy. It’s morally wrong to force students into a trial.” My jaw clenched in fury. “And I’ll not be silenced.”

“It’ll be an event,” Sebastian purred. “At least, it’ll be entertaining.”

“I’ll make them hear me.” My nails bit into my palms. “A public protest should do.”

“It won’t work, Bloom,” Sindy said, her brows furrowing with worry. “The others aren’t like us. You’ll be mocked, shamed, and even shunned.”

“Shame won’t kill me, but blades will,” I said. “They’re welcome to shun me as long as they don’t try to put holes in my body.”

“Don’t think like that, Bloom,” Sindy whimpered. “We’ll make it.”

“Sebastian, watch out!” I shrieked as a food truck barreled toward us head-on, in our lane because Sebastian hadn’t been watching the road.

With a casual flick of his wrist, a sunbeam blasted from his palm, shunting the truck aside. Metal screeched as it careened off the road, plowing into a tree in a cloud of smoke and steam. We sped past without slowing.

My hands trembled so violently I could barely get the inhaler to my lips. Finally, a deep, shuddering breath flooded my lungs with precious air.

“Told you my reflexes were perfect,” Sebastian said, as if he hadn’t nearly killed three people and totaled a truck.

Sindy thrust a water bottle at me. “Bloom? You okay?”

“My apologies,” Sebastian said. To my shock, he actually sounded sorry. His hands settled properly on the wheel. “Speed’s dropping. You’re safe.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I’m fine,” I managed, pocketing the inhaler as the first houses appeared on the outskirts of the town, normalcy within reach at last.

A realization struck me like lightning.

Shit, I was out. Actually out of the academy. The town loomed ahead—my chance to run, to disappear forever.

But Nero?—

My chest tightened. Three days without a word. Had I meant nothing? He’d probably forgotten about me. I tasted bile and ash on my tongue.

Even if Nero had legitimate reasons for leaving, he was still part of this twisted academy where students died and no one cared. Where Angelina’s murder was already fading from memory like she’d never existed. No investigations. No justice. Just another redhead gone.

And I was the only one who still cared. But if I stayed, how long until I became like them? Cold. Ruthless. Another psycho war machine rolling off Forsaken Academy’s assembly line. Where did they even send graduates? What kind of employment required this level of cruelty?

The deeper I looked, the more the academy’s facade crumbled, revealing nothing but darkness and lies beneath.

A plan formed in my mind with icy clarity.

Step one, I’d sneak away when everyone was enjoying themselves or even getting drunk during the festival chaos.

Step two, I’d find a payphone, maybe at the post office, library, some diner with sticky floors and no questions asked.

Step three, call the FBI!

It could work. It had to work.

Yet the thought of walking away from Nero sent a fresh stab through my ribs. His absence shouldn’t still hurt this much.

We stepped into the festival’s pulsing heart. Music enveloped us, fiddles, drums, and flutes weaving a tapestry of joy.

The Harvest Moon Festival had turned the town square into an autumn wonderland.

Strings of orange and gold banners stretched between buildings and massive, intricately carved pumpkins glowed warmly in the morning light.

Vendors lined the cobblestone streets, their stalls brimming with seasonal delights: caramel apples, spiced pumpkin pastries, steaming cups of cider.

At the center of the square stood a large tent, its canvas walls painted with scenes of bounty and harvest. Inside, couples spun to the music, their laughter floating on the crisp air.

Street performers juggled fire while fortune tellers bent over velvet-draped tables, tracing lines on palms and laying out tarot cards.

“We aresogoing to enjoy this!” Sindy seized my arms, her excitement contagious.

Sebastian grinned. “Have fun, ladies. You’ve earned it. I’ve got some errands to run. I’ll catch up with you later.”

With that, he strode away, effortless and poised, the crowd shifting around him as if by instinct. Eyes slid past him, unseeing, as though some unseen force discouraged their gaze.

In moments, he was gone. I couldn’t help but wonder what business he had here and just who in this town might know him.

Children darted past, chasing enchanted lanterns that bobbed just beyond their fingertips. The rich scents of roasting chestnuts and mulled wine should have been comforting, but my stomach churned as I dragged Sindy behind a scarf stall.

“Get ready to run,” I whispered urgently.

She shook her head. “Forsaken isn’t perfect, but it’s my home. It’s the only place I don’t have to hide what I am.”

“But you said?—”

“I complained, same as anyone.” She squared her shoulders. “But when it comes down to it? That school’s where I belong.”

“They’ll slaughter us in that trial.”

“It’s our chance to prove we’re not weak.” Her fingers dug into my wrist. “We’ve got Sebastian’s attention, the Sebastian! Everyone saw us with him. It’s a privilege. And he’s offering us private training. Two weeks is enough. We can do this!”

“Since when do men keep promises?” I snorted, my mind flickering to Nero for a second. “We shouldn’t trust Sebastian so easily.”

“We can’t always live in fear, Bloom.”She looked at me with something close to pity.“That isn’t living.”

“We don’t have time to debate this.”The festival noise suddenly roared in my ears.“This is our only shot.”

“And go where?” She laughed, the sound sharp.“To what?”

“We’ll figure it out.”

“Bloom.” She cut me off.“I’m not leaving.”

I blinked.“I thought we had an understanding?—”

“No, we don’t.”Her voice left no room for argument.“I’m staying. And you should too. You’ve never been able to see what’s right in front of you. Homeschooled, sheltered…you never got to live in the real world. But now you’ve got a second chance.”

I stared at her, barely recognizing the girl in front of me. One ride with Sebastian was all it had taken.

A thunderous crash cut her off.

My head snapped around, and my eyes widened as a herd of buffalo stampeded through the festival.

Wood splintered as stalls overturned. Lanterns were wrenched free, spiraling like dying fireflies.

The crowd surged in a screaming tide, tearing Sindy from my grasp before my fingers could close around hers.

I twisted through the chaos, dodging panicked bodies, sidestepping thrashing horns, when a flicker of movement cut through the frenzy.

I whirled to run.

CRACK.

White-hot pain split my skull. The world tilted. My knees hit the ground.

No! The scream never left my throat as darkness claimed me.