Page 4

Roxy

My classes didn’t start until the next day, Odin mentioned during the tour. They gave us a full day to settle in—more like regret our life choices.

I had to make the best of it, but that was hard when I didn’t know what I was anymore. I was a shifter. But bitten by a vampire. A former soldier. A present student?

An orphan.

That one still stung.

There were times like this that one of my mom’s hugs would come in handy.

But there was no one here to comfort me but myself. Had been that way for a long time. Aunt Jessie wasn’t a touchy-feely aunt. She took on the role of wicked stepmother, but both my real parents were gone.

Vampires killed them, ironically enough.

I sighed. A pity party was not on the agenda. Not today or any day that I could foresee.

“Uniforms are in the closet, huh? Let’s see what those look like.”

I’d seen some other students, but they were in shorts and T-shirts with Summer Ridge written across the chest. They looked more like physical education uniforms than ones you would wear in a classroom setting but, then again, this place didn’t follow the norms.

“Oh, that’s classy. Bloody red for the win.” I had thrown open the closet to see ruby-red uniforms. Jackets. Sweater vests. Skirts not made for climbing stairs. Stockings right out of the nineties.

Who thought this was a good idea?

“What in the world?” I tugged on the fabric, hoping it was at least soft. It was not. It was scratchy, and would make me want to scratch myself right to death.

At least that would keep me awake.

Were the boy uniforms as itchy. I doubted it. Boys things were always comfy and long enough. Goddess forbid a man be uncomfortable.

Speaking of males…Odin was sexy as hell. I always thought myself a woman who liked a lean, tall, man, but fluffy and beefy was also my type, he’d made me realize. Who knew? He was funny and intelligent. I didn’t know much about him but what I did, I already liked. If a lunch lady liked you, smiled and waved, gave you extra brownies, that meant you were a good guy in my book.

The way he talked about his mother was both sad and sweet. I wanted to ask more, but clearly I’d spooked him when I touched his scars.

I’d crossed a line, caught in some Odin stupor. He claimed girls didn’t like him much, but I was hooked at first sight.

Too bad I had other things on my plate. Like making sure I didn’t turn into a vampire or suck the blood of the entire school.

There was also the question of what would happen to me if I didn’t make it here.

Would they kick me out?

Imprison me?

End my life?

I wouldn’t put anything past the shifter council. They were the ones who put us in this situation in the first place.

Slapping at the uniforms hung on hangers, I closed the closet and looked around my room. I didn’t expect luxury accommodations, but damn, this place was like an institution. Rather, it was an institution. They were going to monitor us to find out what happened. Or what we would become.

I unpacked my clothes and put them in the small dresser in the corner. I had nothing more than the basics. I was at Urban Academy on a scholarship since my aunt had squandered all my parents’ money. I was surprised she helped me pay for the bus ticket to the school.

She rarely paid for anything for me. I had odd jobs since I was a young teen, trying to buy my own clothes and taking care of my needs.

Once everything was in its place, I lay on top of the comforter and let out a long sigh. Since I didn’t have to be in any classes today, it was a good time to catch up on sleep. Since leaving my station as a fighter, it seemed like all I did was sleep. This vamp bite was something else. Drained me of energy. Made me feel like a walking zombie.

Not good for school, but I was counting on coffee to help me through.

When I closed my eyes, the events from the battles came flooding in. The healers gave me some herbal remedy to help with the images and sounds that wreaked havoc on my thoughts, but they did little more than make me sleepy. Sometimes, I tried to distract myself, but most of the time, I faced them, hoping exposure therapy would cure me of the disturbing images.

So far, nothing had worked. If only there were something or someone who could calm me, bring me peace.

I hadn’t known peace in my life.

My parents dying.

My awful aunt.

Bullies in school.

The war.

Now this.

My head pounded as I overthought things until my brain quit and I fell into a deep sleep.