Page 98 of The Lost Ones

“And you’re not?” Levi asks, raising his eyebrow as his mouth kicks up into smirk.

“Alright fair point,” I chuckle. “You guys want to hear something gross?” I ask.

“Not really but I have a feeling you’re going to tell us anyway,” Hunter comments, amused.

“You’d be right in your assumption.” I say primly, making them grin, “The blood is drying and going all crusty.” I add grimacing.

“Oh that really is gross, thanks for sharing, Little Star!” Jax grimaces.

The others pull similar faces showing their disgust.

“You’re more than welcome. I thought it was something you guys would love to know!” I smirk and can’t help the laugh that escapes me as they share another look filled with promise. “What do you think we’re walking in to?” I ask changing the subject again.

Outside there’s still no change in the scenery, it’s just trees, trees andmore freaking trees. Don’t get me wrong I love trees in fact I tend to feel more at home surrounded by trees than I do anywhere else but I’m starting to feel like we’re in some sort of never ending loop where we just keep driving with no end in sight.

I’m aware that sounds dramatic but including the time before the driver stopped we’ve been on this same road for at least three hours now and there’s no break in the trees or sign of other people. It’s suspicious as fuck actually. Especially since according to the information we had the trip from the airport to the academy should take at maximum two hours.

“I have no idea, Darling.” Levi answers my question pulling me out of my thoughts.

“It’s even more clear now that something’s not right at the training academy. I think the vampire ambush proved that.” Jax frowns.

“I don’t even think my parents know what’s really going on and they’re supposed to run the agency. That is the sole reason for the training academy.” I say thoughtfully. “I would’ve liked to think that they would have warned us if they’d known about the vampires on the way up here.”

“I think that for now we should give them the benefit of the doubt.” Maverick starts and the rest of us look at him incredulously. “Alright hear me out before you voice how wrong you think I am,” he chuckles, “this world is completely new to us, up until two weeks ago we didn’t even realise that supernaturals existed. We have no idea how this world works and until we do I think we should keep an open mind. We also need to remember that the vampires that attacked us were rogue vampires and not a good representation of vampires as a whole. We should never judge the whole of a species, race, religion or gender etcetera, by the few who do wrong within it.”

“Well said brother!” Levi grins.

“I think we all agree with that.” Kai grins and the rest of us agree.

“If it becomes clear that they’ve done it on purpose though . . .” I start.

“Oh there’ll be no holding back don’t worry, Titch.” Mav grins and I return it.

“Hey I think I can see something ahead. Hopefully it’s the school and we can get this over with.” Jax exclaims.

Chapter Four

Sure enough up ahead there seems to be a break in the trees. No matter how hard I try I can’t seem to see beyond that though. The closer we get the more certain I am that I can see something up ahead. Almost like heatwaves rolling across hot asphalt in the summer.

“Do you guys see that?” I ask not taking my eyes off of it as it continues to ripple and move as if it’s a living entity.

The longer I watch it the more certain I become that it is in fact nothing like heat on asphalt. It shimmers and pulses arcing upwards towards the sky.

“The heat shimmer?” Jax asks, his tone hushed as if, if he speaks louder it will somehow disappear.

“I don’t think that’s a heat shimmer,” Levi says leaning further forward as he tries to study it better. “It’s moving.” He adds, slowing the car down.

“That’s what I see too.” I add.

“It must be because Levi’s demon side is barely blocked and the seal on Sage’s gifts is weakening.” Maverick muses.

“We’re about to go through it guys,” I warn them since they don’t seem to be able to see it as well as me and Levi.

As we pass through the shimmering wall a jolt of something, powerful, awe-inspiring and feeling strangely like home runs through me causing the sparks to react strongly. Just as quickly as it starts, it finishes and I have the innate understanding that it was a protection barrier that forms around the perimeter of the training academy.

We start up a long driveway and in contrast to the densely packed tree lined roads, to either side of the wide piece of asphalt is just large expanses of manicured lawn. At the end of the long stretch of road sits a humungous squat rectangle castle. This is no pretty castle from a storybook though, in fact it is the complete opposite. There are no pretty buttresses or sculptures, no sweeping arches and fragrant rose bushes. Nothing even close to it. It looks exactly like what it says it is.

A military castle.