Page 74 of Magical Academy for Delinquents
“Why not?” Z wondered.
Evan jumped in. “We aren’t sure. We’ve been investigating. But vamps are disappearing left and right. The Pinnacle’s transferring them out of institutes where they’ve lived for decades. And they aren’t reappearing at the institutes where they’ve been reassigned.” His statement was followed by a long moment of silence, where everyone in the room processed what had been said.
“Sending them where?” Grayson’s voice was uncharacteristically soft as he leaned forward and clicked on one of the schematics, pulling up a large shaft that descended from the seventh floor of the Pinnacle to deep underneath the ground.
At least he’s listening,I thought as I fought the urge to wring my fingers. “Still working that out,” I replied. “But, that’s off topic. We get this serum; we can stop that. There won’t be any more Vampiric Institutes. No need. It supposedly allows them to think normally.” So I’d been told. By a ghost. I didn’t add that shit yet. Baby steps. Okay, well I’d screwed up the baby steps part of it. But still …
“Why would the Pinnacle hide something like that?” Z scratched his head, leaning back in his seat.
“Because whatever they’re using vampires for, they want them as is,” Malcolm theorized. “They want them mindless and controllable. They want them rejected and forgotten by society. So they can use them.”
His words made the air grow cold. Or maybe he did it with his power. Either way, goosebumps rose on my arm. “It’s evil, whatever it is,” I whispered. I kept the tremble from my voice only because I pinched myself on the arm, hard. I wouldn’t get weepy. I would only let myself stay angry about this. Anger was better motivation.
“It’s what every regime does. Abuse the weak.” Malcolm’s face twisted with anger in a way I’d never seen before.
Malcolm turned to me, standing up in front of Zavier and eyeing me speculatively. "But why this cause? Why would you risk a life in prison for a cure for some freaky arrogant assholes who were overconfident in their own abilities and are now 'suffering the consequences of their choices?'" He used air quotes around the last part, which was good, because otherwise I’d have wanted to punch him.
Grayson chimed in. "He has a good point."
Fuck.This was not how I needed this to go. I knew it was too much to expect them just to jump right on board, but still, I’d hoped they would. I glanced over at Malcolm, who didn’t say anything, his expression stony as he stared at me. Had I judged them wrong? Did these guys really think so little of vampires?
Evan nodded encouragingly.
My eyes went around the room again. I didn’t know what to say to make Grayson say yes. I wasn’t sure about Z. But Malcolm … honesty seemed to be the key for Malcolm. He wanted power, just like anyone else in the world did. But not the same kind of power. He didn’t want it in stacks of cash. He wanted it in knowledge. Vulnerability.
I swallowed hard before I pulled up my phone. I swiped to an old picture of Matthew and then walked over and showed it to him. “I want the cure for my brother.”
Malcolm took the phone and glanced back and forth between the picture and me for a minute. Then he stood up in front of me.
Shit. He was going to walk out. He was going to leave. I held my breath, waiting for his rejection, trying to school my features and be ready to take one on the chin.Grow up, Hales. You knew this could happen.I had a memory spell prepped in my notebook in case I needed to use it, to wipe all their memories so they forgot this conversation.
I started going over the first lines of the spell in my head as Malcolm approached me, his face as unreadable as stone. He handed my phone back and his fingers brushed mine. His skin was blazing hot. The air around us warmed. His burning fingers touched the edge of my arm. I felt the heat seep through my sleeve as he traced a path up to my neck.
Oh, God, just end it.Just say no and be done.
But was he furious? Did he think I’d used him? Shit, I didn’t want him to think that. No matter what, I didn’t want him to think that. Honesty tumbled from my lips. “Look, I want the cure for my brother. And that’s selfish. And I came here to school so I could recruit you and Grayson. But … you hate the Pinnacle—their bullshit laws. The very fact that they’re keeping a cure from people? Evil.” I shook my head and glanced from Malcolm’s stern face to Grayson’s. Crap. I couldn’t tell if they thought I was crazy or if they were taking me seriously.
I couldn’t tell if they were interested or not. I couldn’ttell. And that made me nervous, wired, buzzing with anxious energy. It pushed me to try harder—even if I came across as desperate. I had to try harder.
I raised a hand and gestured at the playboy. My hand shook and I quickly retracted it. They didn’t need to see that. “Grayson here is a fucking genius who’s living in a shadow.” I made eye contact with Grayson. “Some of those spells you’ve pulled on me are brilliant. You’re a lot smarter than you like to pretend. You are good at spell writing. Your dad might have gotten magicals to Mars, but you’d eclipse him if we set you up a lab and a year or so from now you came out as the person who ‘invented’ a serum to cure vampirism.”
Grayson raised his eyebrows.
I swallowed hard. That wasn’t enough? My stomach churned. I’d profiled him for months. I’d been sure that Grayson’s issues with his dad were …
Zavier interjected, “Wait. Wait. That’s still doesn’t—”
I kept my eyes on Grayson, trying not to plead. My words came out stiff and stilted. “There are labs in China right now investigating Alchemiken. Wasting their time. I have six mil stashed in offshore accounts we can use to fund the production. Use your dad’s lab contacts and flip one of them to work for us. I have a contract all drawn up here.” I pulled a contract that had cost me a small fortune out of my laptop bag. “It makes the four of you partners in the lab, with Grayson’s name on it.” I slid the thick document across the table. “In less than a year, you’ll all be billionaires.”
I glanced down at Zavier in his seat. He was easier to deal with, easier to read than the other guys. Or just more relaxed. I wasn’t sure. I didn’t feel sure of anything anymore. But I kept on with my pitch. I had to get through it. Even if they said no.
I had to let them know just exactly how big an opportunity they were turning down. “How much do you think a magical would pay in order to avoid the risk of becoming a blood-crazed vamp? A thousand bucks a pop? Ten thousand? Fifty? I want something selfish. But I don’t expect you all to risk everything for altruistic reasons. I’ve thought this through.”
Z licked his lips, an admiring smile spreading across his face.
I glanced over at Evan, who was leaning back in his seat, beaming.
My chest started to blaze with excitement. Z was smiling. Evan was smiling. Had I done alright? Was it going better than I thought? I glanced around at each of the men in the room, feeding on the rising energy. Grayson’s eyes were brimming with the vision of exceeding his father.
