Tainted Blood (31 page)

“Your notebooks and all books will remain in the classroom. You must turn everything in to either Professor SaVan or me before you can leave at the end of each class.” He took a minute to look over the students and then he added, “Oh, and just so we are clear, we will not be covering any gods, demi-gods, or titans. Nor will we be covering any half-human/half-animals with the exception of merfolk. Is that clear?”

We all nodded. My head was spinning with the fact that Professor Morgan had pretty much just admitted to the existence of gods and mermaids.

Professor Morgan clapped his hands together and straightened. He smiled at the class. “Get comfortable, kids. You’re in for an interesting night.”

We were told to write our names, our full first and last names, no nicknames, on the front of our notebooks, and that we could not tear out any of the pages. We were only allowed to use ink in either blue or black and we were required to date and write our name on each page as we used it.

“First, I would like to point out that Paranormal, also known as Supernatural, is merely anything that lies outside the realm of a simple scientific explanation. Meaning, if the average Joe can’t believe it then it must not be true.” He smiled at the class but we all just stared back at him blankly. He cleared his throat then continued. “This week’s topic is vampires, due to the fact that there seems to be a fad at the moment. Plus, our little town seems to be running rampant with them as of late, so it only seems fitting that we begin with our fanged friends. Professor Morgan announced with a smile.

I think I was still in a bit of shock that Mr. Morgan, sweater-vest-bow-tie-wearing Mr. Morgan, was teaching the paranormal class. I wondered if he was some sort of paranormal creature and if so, what?

He nodded to Amber and she began passing out the quiz to test our knowledge of vampires.

Still in a daze, I wrote my first and last name, along with the date, at the top of the page and then I read over the questions. The first question asked how many types of vampires there were. I knew this! There were three: purebloods, mixed-bloods, and half-bloods also known as dhampirs.

Question two had a yes or no answer. Can vampires turn into bats? “No.” Silly.

I covered several more questions, feeling pretty good about my knowledge, and then I hit one that stumped me. “What kind of wood can kill a vampire?” I had no clue. This was apparently a vampire secret. I left it blank and moved on to the last question. “Which of these historical figures are/were vampires?” The list contained six people, and the question stated that I was to circle all that applied. The list included: Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Leif Ericson, Jesus of Nazareth, Joan of Arc, and Robin Hood. I giggled to myself at the list of options. I could also choose none of the above, but I circled every name. Why not?

I was still sort of giggling when I turned in my quiz and I discovered that I wasn’t the only one.

I thought I’d done fairly well on the quiz, and after the last student turned theirs in, we were told to open the books that Amber had placed face down on the desk. Across the front of the book the title read
The Book of Paranormal Knowledge.
Out of curiosity, I flipped to the copyright page and discovered that it, in fact, had been published by none other than
Brookehaven Publishing.
Oliver had told me once before that his coven had their own publishing company, and since the coven was involved in the class, I figured they’d be involved in the literature.

As Amber read the section on vampires aloud to the class, I watched the others cringe, as did I, when the text she read only proved how little we actually knew about vampires.

Another book was passed out. This one was red and much thinner than the first. It covered only vampires, unlike the main book that appeared to cover every creature imaginable.

Mr. Morgan began the discussion and we all steadily took notes. Professor Amber interjected when needed and we read sections of the supplemental vampire book when requested to do so.

It was the most interesting class I’d ever taken! Unfortunately, since we weren’t allowed to take any items away from the class, I couldn’t continue to study after Amber announced class was ending. We were told that we could make arrangements to come in and study on weekday evenings. I planned to do so and made arrangements to come in the following night.

Mr. Morgan reminded Carter and me of our biology exam the next morning and also reminded us that he would not tolerate tardiness. Meaning
;
we would not be allowed to take the test if we were not there on time.

We headed out with the rest of the class and Carter and I chatted about our new vampire knowledge all the way home. Once there, we reluctantly quizzed each other for the bio exam. Then we parted ways, heading to bed sometime in the wee hours of the night.

I was so tired that I forgot to set my alarm…

Chapter
17 - A Ride with Satan

The next morning I overslept. Blurry-eyed, I checked the time on my phone and discovered that I had no more than twenty minutes to get to Mr. Morgan’s class. I flew out of bed, threw on a pair of crumpled jeans from the floor, a pair of shoes, the same zippered hoodie I’d worn the night before. I did only the most necessary tasks to get me out the door and through the day. I didn’t eat, I’d shoved the laces into my shoes without tying them, I didn’t even bother with a bra. I grabbed my backpack and rushed out the door and down the stairs to the parking area.

If I missed this test, I was sure my grade would slip and I’d have to settle for an incomplete. As badly as I wanted to drop everything, a part of me was disappointed in myself. I knew I was capable of passing this class, of passing all of my classes. I only had myself now to answer to; I was the only one who could be disappointed in my grades. I suspected maybe Oliver might show some disappointment toward me failing but somehow I doubted it. He had other plans for us… Plans I was excited to be a part of.

I hopped into my car and that’s when things began to go from bad to worse and then continue on to horrible. My car wouldn’t start. “Not now, not now!” I chanted as I tried to start it over and over again. I knew I was probably doing more harm than good but I was getting desperate.
Really
desperate.

I grabbed my bag and slammed the car door behind me. I called Oliver but he didn’t answer so I left him a message. “Where are you? My car is dead and I need to get to school, right now!”

With my backpack over both shoulders, I began jogging down the sidewalk toward the school, hoping Oliver would get my message and meet me on the way.

The short blow of a car horn scared me. I jumped and about fell on my face. I caught myself and turned to find it was Ashton. “
I do not have time for this
shit,” I grumbled to myself and kept going.

Ashton’s car crawled up alongside me and he rolled the passenger window down. “Get in,” he said.

“No.” I started jogging again.

“You’re going be late, Laney, and Mr. Morgan isn’t going to let you take the test.”

Thanks for the update, Captain Obvious.
“I’ll take my chances.”

“Laney, we both know you can’t miss this test.”

I slowed and looked over at him watching me through the passenger side window.
How would he know that?
But it was true, and against all better judgment, I got in. I was pretty sure I’d just gotten in a car with Satan. I blamed desperation.

I snapped my seatbelt into place as he sped off. Out of the corner of my eye I saw him, he kept looking at me but he didn’t speak. I busied myself by tying my shoes, and when we hit the parking lot, I all but jumped from his still moving car.

I rushed to class with Ashton on my heels and we were the last ones to scoot through the door at the last minute.

“Why didn’t you wake me?” I hissed at Carter as I approached the back of the room.

He shrank back and responded nervously, “I went for an early run and then played some basketball. I didn’t know I was supposed to get you up. Sorry.”

I took my seat, plopping down with a huff. I heard Carter explaining to his partner that I was not his girlfriend, that I was sort of his roommate. The idiot just couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that we lived together but we weren’t dating. Carter gave up trying and ignored him. Listening to them irritated me even more and I continued with the dirty looks, especially when my eyes fell on Avery and her partner-less table. The missing partner gave me a little joy but it also ticked me off that I had to lower myself and give in to Ashton because Oliver was MIA, once again.

Ashton interrupted my inner rant and I turned my glare on him as he spoke. “I’m having a party this weekend.”

“So,” I responded rudely.

I saw a flicker of surprise in his blue eyes but his game didn’t falter. “You should come.” He tried flashing me the same smile that so many girls had fallen for.

“No thanks.” I returned my attention to the front of the room.

Thankfully Professor Morgan began the class, requesting complete silence, so Ashton was unable to push any farther. So I’d hoped, but Ashton was a persistent bastard. “You should come,” he whispered, leaning too close to me.

“No!” I whispered fiercely, “Now drop it!” Professor Morgan shushed us as I turned away from Ashton. I grabbed my test and angrily began checking off the answers.

The classroom door banged open and Oliver entered, obviously angry.

Professor Morgan was quick to greet him, “Mr. Knight, how nice of you to join us.”

He removed his sunglasses and hooked them to the front of his T-shirt. “Isn’t it?” he responded in an irritated voice.

He shot Mr. Morgan a dirty look and walked straight toward me. It was more like he stormed toward me, and I felt myself recoil as he got closer. But irritation had overridden my alarm as I saw Avery just about drooling after him. Oliver took my arm, pulled me away from the table, and down the aisle and I saw the look on Carter’s face as I passed him. A look that showed he didn’t know what to do. I could see that he was torn between staying put or being quiet and following after us
. And who knew what the latter
would bring?

“What are you doing?” I asked in that same frustrated tone as we reached the front of the class.

“We need to talk,” he snapped.

Mr. Morgan rose to his feet quickly as he’d seen that Oliver was taking me from the class. “Would you like to explain to me what you are doing?”

“No.” That was all Oliver said. “No,” and then he pulled me from the room and away to a secluded corner not far from the class but out of the way of other students heading to-and-fro.

“What the hell, Laney?” his volume was low and furious.

I pressed my back against the cold stone wall. “What?” I played stupid.

“Don’t ‘what’ me! You know exactly what I’m talking about!” I don’t think I’d ever seen him look so frustrated, so angry, at me. “I got your message and rushed over to the apartment to pick you up and I couldn’t find you. And when I get here I find your scent mixed with
his
? I told you to stay away from him!”

“I couldn’t miss this class,” I argued.

He put a hand on the wall by my shoulder and his eyes bore into mine. “Right, and your car just happened to be dead this morning while at the same time you couldn’t reach me and look who swooped in to rescue you.”

“But, I…” I tried to rationalize my actions but he was right. It was exactly like he said. I slumped against the wall and stared down at the ground feeling like I’d been had. I huffed and said under my breath, “I’m an idiot.”

“You’re not an idiot,” he said gently as he brushed my hair behind my shoulder. I looked up into the green pools of his eyes as they focused on my bare neck.

“Where’s your necklace?” he asked with concern.

I reached for where it should’ve been. “I forgot it,” I said, even more disappointed in myself. “I was in a hurry. I took it off when I went to bed last night. I left it on the nightstand,” I said in one big ramble. I’d worn that necklace every day since Oliver had given it to me and now that I knew I was without it I felt naked.

His eyes fell on mine and I knew he was still upset with me. “I’ll pick you up from now on,” he said firmly and then he slipped his sunglasses on and walked away from me.

I sulked back into class, apologized to Professor Morgan under my breath and took my seat. I finished my test and left without saying a word to Carter.

I walked straight home and found my necklace right where I’d left it. I put it on, sat on the bed in silence, and stared at the wall for what seemed like hours.

Oliver’s pupils had still been uneven, more so than the last time I’d checked. His emotions were raw and his temper was hot. There was still something going on. I had hoped that when he’d had his meeting with Felix they would’ve gotten it worked out, but if they had done something to fix Oliver they needed to do it again.

I sent Oliver a text and told him that I loved him and that I was sorry for my poor judgment. He replied with a simple, “Love you, too.” He sent a second message telling me that he’d fixed my car. I told him thanks but he didn’t respond.