Page 31 of The Stone Initiation
If you pass, you’ll take the stone oath binding you to become a guardian. Initiates are our front-line guardians, and if you’re deemed worthy, you’ll learn more about how they operate directly from our elites.”
“But in the meantime,” the headmistress continued. “Please get some rest. The kitchens are open until dawn if you’re hungry.”
Of course, gargoyles were most active at night, preferring to sleep in the day, although they barely needed three to four hours sleep to function. With my half human nature, I needed a little more than that, but I’d figure it out so as not to miss the important stuff.
“This way,” Travani stalked off down the path and Carter ushered us to follow.
She gently took my arm as I passed. “Come see me any time in my office if you have any issues.” Her smile was filled with genuine warmth. “This program is designed with purebloods in mind, and although I admire you for wanting to do your duty, it won’t be easy. If you change your mind, I’ll do my best to sign you off.”
She was offering me an out, and once I had the intel I needed, I’d take it. “Thank you.”
I rejoined the others, sliding into place between Touron and Sharniza.
“What did she want?” Sharniza asked.
Curi, answered for me. “Offered her a way out if things get too rough for her.” He looked down his nose at me. “You should take it. Save us all the embarrassment of making you eat dirt.” He walked off with a chuckle leaving me with the urge to punch him in his blocky head.
“I didn’t think gargoyles could be such assholes.”
“They’re not,” Touron said. “Not all of them anyway. Curi is simply a bad example.”
“No, he’s not,” Sharniza said. “Not when it comes to qualifying for initiate, which is what every gargoyle who comes here wants. There are no friends here, only temporary allies, because everyone, and I meaneveryone, is your competition for those coveted initiate spots.”
This was news to me. “The spots are limited?”
“Damn right. Twenty spots a year. They take five gargoyles every eight weeks and training is intense. We’re the last batch of cadets for this quarter, which means we’re already three weeks behind in training.”
“Wait…we don’t all get the same amount of training time?”
“It’s each to their own,” she said coolly. “Adapt and learn, or die.”
“It’s not that bad,” Touron said with a nervous laugh. “At least it doesn’t have to be. We can work together. Allies, if not friends?”
Sharniza exhaled. “I’ll think about it.”
I’d been so focused on the conversation that it was a surprise when we came to a stop outside a large gray stone building four stories high with huge gleaming windows and a ledge running beneath the third and fourth floor windows.
A ledge for gargoyles to land on and get into their rooms without going through the building.
“Kitchens are on the ground floor,” Travani said. “The dorm master will assign rooms and provide you with maps of the academy grounds and an induction manual.”
Movement on the ledge above caught my eye. A figure in a white nightgown stood looking down at us, her pale, bare feet hung half off the edge of the platform.
“Hey, get back!” I stepped forward, waving my arms at her.
“What is she doing?” Touron said.
“She’s not a gargoyle,” Sharniza added. “She’s going to—”
The woman tipped forward and fell off the ledge.
CHAPTER13
Curi was the first to get to the spot where the woman had fallen, but the ground was clear of a dead body.
“What the fuck?” he looked up at the ledge then back down again, his heavy brow furrowed in confusion. “Did you see that?”
“I apologize for the fright, cadets,” Travani said. “I’d forgotten about our resident spirit. Miss Parker likes to frighten the new arrivals. Jumping out of closets and hiding under their beds, but this…This one is new.” She sighed as if the whole thing was a minor nuisance. “You’ll soon get used to her.”
