Initiation (12 page)

“Surely that’s enough for a DNA test?” I felt more hopeful, knowing that we had some solid evidence.

“Solid evidence that may put them at the location of the crime scene, but we still won’t be able to prove they were actually involved. Unless, of course, your blood is found on their body parts. Unfortunately, demon DNA disintegrates too rapidly for it to be identified. Was Faustine injured at all?”

“No, I made sure of that,” I said proudly.

“Not even a scratch?”

“Nope.”

“That’s a shame. She seems to have an equal mix of human blood. Easy to identify.”

“So, what are we going to do?” I felt completely defeated.

“I’m going to do what I do best. Trick them into confessing on the stand. Shifters are easy to confuse, not the brightest of the paranormals. So unless their counselor keeps them off the stand, I’ll nail them. Let’s just hope they choose to take the stand. Okay. I’m going to talk to Faustine now, and I’ll see you in court tomorrow morning before first class.”

I headed toward my room, but detoured to the mentors’ lounge. I desperately needed to feed.

The lounge was underwhelming. I had expected a fancy room, fully equipped with gaming equipment, exercise machines, and flat-screen televisions. Instead, it was reminiscent of an old man’s smoking room. Without the smoking part. A billiard table stood in one corner, and a bar in another. Groups of velvet-covered sofas and wooden coffee tables were scattered around the room. A dim chandelier illuminated the area, and Harry Connick, Jr.’s voice filled the air.

Sheesh, when did I turn eighty? I went straight to the food station and got myself a steak. Back in the lounge, I looked around for familiar faces and spotted Delam. He was looking right at me, smiling and waving.

Damn.

“Hey, Cordelia. Nice to see a familiar face.”

“Hey, Delam.” I sat down opposite him.

“Where is the lovely Faustine today?”

“Cut it out. Stay away from her.”

“Why?” He sounded hurt.

“You know why.”

“Nope. Actually, I don’t.”

“Whatever, Delam. Just stay away from her.”

He rolled his eyes and slurped on his straw.

“Do you have to make that sound when you drink? It’s gross.”

“Eh? When did we get married? You sound like a naggy beeyotch wife from hell.”

I chuckled. “I do, don’t I? Sorry. The slurping makes my skin crawl. I guess you can’t help it, though.”

“I can try. The consistency of the blood makes it hard, but I can tone it down. Just for you.”

“Thanks.” I smiled. “Much appreciated.”

I watched him take a sip. He really tried hard not to slurp. He was oddly cute, in a vampire sense. Cute, but he didn’t make my hormones go all weird. That was just as well because I’d had enough of that going on in my life at the moment. “So, I saw you in some of my Integration classes. Where are you from?”

“Spain. Madrid, to be precise.”

“What did you do before you were turned?”

“Med school.”

I wondered who had turned him, but I didn’t ask. New ones–and he was still relatively new, but not a newborn–hated talking about it. Not enough time had passed for them to have forgotten about their former lives or to have forgiven their makers. I knew his maker must be important and well off to be able to afford to send him to the Academy. It also meant that his maker must have a plan for him. Why else invest the money? I tried to mind my own business, but eventually gave in to my nosiness. “How old are you?”

“I was twenty-four when I was turned, and that was three years ago. What about you? I know you’re a demon. Are you a hybrid or purebred?

“Pure. I’m King Pierre’s daughter.”

“Sorry, I don’t keep up with demon politics.”

“He’s the sovereign demon of Paris.”

“Nice. Will you be going back there when you finish here?”

“Yeah. What about you? Going back to Madrid?”

Delam’s eyes went slightly dewy. “No, I can’t. I can’t risk running into my family or my friends. They’ll all be searching for me.”

“So what will you do?”

“My maker is trying to get me enrolled into another medical school. England is looking most likely, probably Cambridge; my maker has connections there.”

“Well, that’s good. Right?”

He shrugged. “Right now, I’m feeling pretty indifferent about the whole thing. In fact, I’m thinking about giving up medicine all together and perhaps concentrate on skiing.”

“Sounds like a fun option. You’re certainly good enough!”

“Yeah, the only problem is that it’s expensive. I don’t think my maker will pony up. I’ll have to find a sponsor.”

Jagger came striding into the lounge. “Hey, Cordelia! I’ve been looking for you. You didn’t answer your cell.”

“I turned it off. I needed some peace and quiet, been shooting the breeze with Delam. Wassup?”

“Did you forget the Initiation meeting? Faustine is waiting for you.”

“Crap! I did.” I peeked at my watch. It was due to start in ten minutes.

“I’ll take you over and have Quinn meet us with Faustine at the auditorium.”

“Thanks.” I waved Delam a goodbye before I rushed out the door with Jagger.

“We need to talk,” he muttered as we sprinted down the corridors, zigzagging past the crowd. The hallways were packed with newly arrived students.

“We talk all the time, or so it seems,” I said cheekily.

“Don’t be that way. You know what I mean.”

“Yeah, yeah. Later. After the meeting?”

“Can’t. My brother is arriving, and I’m going to spend some time getting him settled in.”

“Your brother?”

“See? We don’t talk enough. Yes, my brother, half brother, actually. His name is Ryker.”

“Do you share a mom or dad?”

“Dad. But he doesn’t know that. He’s been living with his mother. So I’m going to break it to him slowly.”

“Why? I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to have such an amazing brother.”

“Amazing?”

“Yes.” I squeezed his hand. “You know you are.”

We got to the auditorium just in time, the bells sounding that the meeting was about to start.

Faustine waited for me by the entrance, her lips pursed. “I thought you wouldn’t make it! Where have you been?”

“Never mind, I’m here now. Quinn, thanks! Let’s go.” I walked in with her and scanned the auditorium for seats. I spotted two in the back, and we made a beeline for those, leaving Jagger and Quinn behind.

The auditorium was about a third full, so I guessed there were about two to three hundred Initiates there, depending on how many had accompanying mentors. A divider had been put up in the central walkway to contain the vamps to the left side of the auditorium. The rest of us sat in the section on the right. I had to laugh, looking at the eager looks from the vamps as they peered at the rest of us through the glass divider. We may as well have been mugs full of fresh blood.

A hush descended upon the auditorium as Frau Schmelder made her way onto the stage and to the podium. She wore a pretty, almost flirty dress, but her contrasting severe hairdo and expression silenced the crowd, so not even a breath seemed to escape anyone’s mouth.

“Good afternoon and welcome to Bonfire Academy. I trust all of you have now been settled into your rooms. I am Frau Schmelder, the headmistress of the Academy. I’ll introduce you to the rest of the staff soon.

“This school was built in 1754, and is one of only six of its kind in the world, but the only one with an intake of vampires. We also have the largest intake of hybrids. This means that the curriculum at the Academy tends to be fluid. We custom design it on a yearly basis, depending on the population of Initiates. The more rare hybrids have all been assigned with mentors who will stay with them until we fully determine the nature of their powers and other issues. The aim is to help each of you realize your full potential and how to use it within the human world, because we do live in a predominantly human world. That is something each of us must accept. Although humans are weak in comparison, their strength lies in sheer numbers.

“The program is divided into two parts: Initiation and Integration. Initiation will last for at least one year. Some of you will master your Initiation requirements in less than a year. And some of you will stay in Initiation for several years.

“You have been divided into groups of four or five to start with. These groups will be combined and mingle when appropriate. You’ll each be given your group assignment at the end of this meeting.

“Each of you will be given a rule book to memorize. This will be your first task. Once you have memorized the rules, I shall personally test you. I will go over Bonfire Academy’s three Golden Rules with you now. Break these at your own peril.

“The first Golden Rule is
You do not talk about the Academy with outsiders.
All that happens here, good or bad, will not be shared with anyone outside the school, not your parents, not your friends at home. Nobody. To this end, you will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement before continuing with Initiation.

“The second Golden Rule is
Trust no one
. Look around, study the faces of your peers. Some of you may feel an instant connection to each other, a friendship may develop. But do not put your trust in anyone. Although it’s not my business to tell you how to behave with those outside this school, you’d be sensible to heed this rule at all times. Even those who you expect to be able to fully trust can be compromised. They can be coerced, drugged, violated, put under a spell, or even demonized. So, let me stress this rule again.
Trust no one!

“Now for the third and final Golden Rule:
Never miss a meal
.”

A murmur of snickers erupted in the auditorium.

“Quiet!” Frau Schmelder yelled, her eyes stony. “Yes, it may seem like a strange rule, but it’s important enough to be regarded as one of the Golden ones. A hungry paranormal is a dangerous one. As all of you are aware, your predatory instincts are heightened when you are hungry. Those instincts will dampen your ability to learn, and they can lead to disciplinary issues, which can be impediments to your success here at the Academy. So do not miss any meals. The dining hall is open twenty-four hours a day, in case an extra snack is needed.

“Okay, those are the Golden Rules. In addition, for now, none of you may roam the hallways on your own until your group leader gives you permission to do so. Your group leader will stay at the dorm with you and will always be available to you.

“Now, could the staff please step onto the stage?”

We waited while the stage was flooded with professors, assistants, administrative staff, and other peripheral teachers.

“Ugh, are we going to have to sit here and listen to her blab on about every single one of them? Boring.” Faustine yawned.

Frau Schmelder waved toward the staff. “These are our teachers, administrators, and other personnel, all integral to the smooth running of this establishment. You will meet some of them in time, others you’ll never see again. It depends on the courses and the paths you take. Let me just introduce a few whom all of you will come in contact with. Mrs. Stone, could you join me?”