Page 16 of Satanic Shadow
I want to laugh with them, something to lighten the mood. It’s been nothing but doom and gloom the past few weeks. Bad news after bad news after bad news.
Stuck on an island with magical, mythical creatures. A bully who’s told me on more than one occasion that he wants to kill me—who follows me around the castle, breaks into my room to ask me how to use a mobile phone, and gets hard when he sees me in my sleepwear.
I can feel Dane’s eyes on me, but I don’t look his way. Nerves consume me, but not the terrifying kind.
The feeling vanishes, as does every voice in the hall, and the history professor clicks her fingers. “When you are asked to be silent, you will all be silent!”
I try to mutter under my breath, but no words come out. One of the professor’s strengths is that she can remove everyone’s voice. We can all breathe and give each other looks of confusion, but no sound can be heard throughout the hall.
If a handful of pins were to drop, I’d hear them hit the ground.
Dane seems unbothered. As if he’s used to this behavior.
She smiles. “Great. Thank you for giving me your undivided attention. Shall we begin?”
For the next few minutes, she walks around with a scroll, calling out names and marking them off the register as hands raise to show their presence.
“Seraphine Winters.”
Involuntarily, my arm snaps up. Pain snakes around my bicep and wrist, burning, and settles when she sees me.
She nods, smiles, and marks my name off.
Once everyone’s names have been called out, Headmistress Dalton rises from her chair, addressing us all as her wonderful students.
She walks to our table, and Dane ignores her as she rests her hand on his shoulder and speaks about safety measures within the academy. He tenses under her firm grip, his cheeks turning red, and for some reason, I feel the tension of his muscles in my own, the embarrassment, the need to get away.
I frown, and he glances at me, shaking his head slightly, as if to stop me from making it obvious I can feel what he feels.
I want to mouth,What was that?But I know not to. She’ll see, and knowing her brutality, she’ll demand to know what’s such a secret.
But how did I feel all of what he was feeling? And how did he know?
Mrs. Dalton clears her throat, releasing Dane and folding her arms in front of her. “Most of you are aware of what happened this morning. I want you all to know that we are taking action and putting security measures in place.”
I tilt my head, looking over at the twins. Words don’t work, but I mouth,What happened?
Poppy graciously slices her finger across her neck, tilts her head, sticks out her tongue, and crosses her eyes.
Gosh.
In the short time I’ve been here, a few people have been murdered in the most barbaric of ways, so what’s different this time? I guess their immortality only goes so far if people can be killed on this island.
“I will be questioning each student who attended the history room, and if I find you suspicious, you will be sent to the dungeons. Death here is a consequence of bad behavior, not a hobby to keep you busy when you’re bored. If I find another butchered student, I will punish each and every last one of you.”
Professor Mallory, head of martial arts and weaponry training, gets to his feet. Every girl in here instantly drools at the sight of him. In all fairness, he’s a tank given how muscular he is. Tall. With the brightest, bluest eyes ever. And he’s handsome. Really, really handsome.
But he’d snap a neck without even blinking.
I’m a tad scared of him. He’s asked me a lot about being mortal, and sometimes, when he’s teaching me a fighting stance, his hand lingers far too long on my hip. He always partners with me, saying that I’d be snapped in half if I were with someone else.
Also, he and Dane don’t get along, which makes him my favorite person. From afar, at least.
“I will be leaving a magical signature around the island. If someone steps out of line, I will be notified.”
Gentle pressure releases from my neck, and I cough, hearing a few others do the same. Some students are mumbling words, and someone lets out a sob.
Mrs. Dalton speaks again. “From now on, you will have a designated partner. You cannot walk the grounds without them by your side.” Dane’s mother watches me as she adds, “No one will refuse their pairing.”
