“Did you know that all three secret societies were once part of the Guardians until Nexis discovered a better way to do things?” He ran his finger down his jawline, then slouched back, nodding at me.
I opened my mouth to object, but those steely eyes analyzed me, as if they could read my mind. Goosebumps popped up on my arms. I couldn’t give myself away. “Shouldn’t I be asking the questions?”
“I’m just trying to figure you out what you know, so I can help you fill in the gaps about Nexis.” His mouth curved in the most adorable grin. It shivered straight through me.
My heart pounded a new rhythm. Would he tell me what I wanted to know about my brother?
A voice boomed from the stacks behind me. “Nexis doesn’t need anymore new recruits.”
I spun around as a tall, dark-haired guy stomped over to our table. Then it dawned on me. This was the guy from orientation, Bryan something or other. What was he doing, hiding back there? His aqua eyes seared the air like light sabers as they leveled right into me, but his gaze didn’t give me chills like the Stanton boy.
“Cooper.” Will’s lips twisted into a scowl and he stood up, inches from Bryan. “Like the Guardians need any more brainwashed cult freaks trying to shove their beliefs down everyone’s throat.”
“Woah,” I whispered. So Bryan was a member of the Guardians. That explained a lot.
In an instant, all the shadows in the room elongated, turning into a thick black smoke. The shadow-smoke swirled between Will and Kevin, yet miraculously forked around Bryan. I blinked and rubbed my eyes, but the strange shadow scene remained. Except now a light glowed around Bryan. What was happening here? Was I hallucinating again, or was this part of being the Seer?
“What’s going on here?” My heart jangled in my chest like a tambourine as the smoking shadow river undulated around me. A wraith-like black tentacle slithered toward me. I froze in place as fear curdled in my stomach.
“I think we just stepped into some kind of turf war.” Shanda snorted out a cackle that reverberated around the room.
I couldn’t move, couldn’t blink the images away as the shadow wraith wrapped around my ankle. A ball of energy roiled in my stomach that I couldn’t tamp down. I had no idea what to do. Flicking my eyes up, I mentally called out for help, focusing all of that fear energy into the globe pendant on the ceiling. With a flash of light it popped, and the bulb burnt out.
Then the lights returned to normal and the shadows winked out of existence. I breathed a sigh of relief, ready to bolt out of this place.
“Are you okay?” Will’s fingertips brushed my palm like he wanted to grab my hand.
My body shuddered and I shook him off, scraping my chair back. It screeched like I’d stepped on a cat’s tail.
All eyes turned my way. “I’m fine. I gotta go. I have class.” My words jumbled together as I shoved my books into my bag. “I’ll see you around.” I raced to the door.
“See you this weekend.” Will’s voice cracked as he called after me.
Shanda mumbled something about giving me some space. Such a good call.
I reached for the front doorknob, but the door flew open without me touching it, blasting humid night air in my face. What in the world was happening to me? The purpling sky soothed my inner questions, making the world feel halfway normal again.
“Wait up.” Bryan’s footsteps pounded after me. “Are you okay?”
I kept walking, my heart still beating a syncopated rhythm. “Yeah, I’m fine, but that was really weird. What is up with you two?”
He jogged ahead, stopping right in front of me so I had to look at him. I’d find that cute if I wasn’t so edgy right now.
“He’s the Nexis president. I’m the Guardian president. It’s a natural rivalry dating back centuries.” A ghost of a smile curled up his lips as his aqua-blue eyes analyzed me.
“Were you guys really all a part of one group?” Like a magnet, my gaze moved to his face. The dusky hues of the sky turned his eyes robin’s egg blue, calming my out-of-control emotions.
“Yes. Originally, the Guardians were the protectors of the sacred stones. Then Nexis decided they wanted to use certain stones for themselves.” He held out his hand. His eyes countered mine, daring me to take it. “Let me walk you to our class?”
“Our class? How do you know what class I have?” I wrinkled my forehead, trying to give him the same scrutinizing look he’d given me. Note to self, research sacred stones.
He cocked his head at me and laughed. “It’s the only night class this semester. Trust me on that. You coming?” His hand still hovered in the air.
“Yeah, let’s go.” I inched mine closer until I tapped his palm.
The wrought iron lampposts seemed to twinkle in the dusky night as he gripped my fingers, hauling me down the sidewalk.
“You’re gonna love the chapel. C’mon.” His white-toothed grin glowed under the lamppost.
~
The chapel shimmered against the navy sky, its scalloped arches illuminated by uplighting. All the air whistled from my lungs. “Breathtaking.”
The beautiful Gothic stonework made the church look like it belonged in Europe instead of a boarding school along the Hudson. I climbed up the cobblestone steps behind Bryan. The curved wooden door creaked as he opened it.
Glancing over my shoulder, I gazed at the observatory tower. Was Nexis watching me right now? Maybe I should tell someone, like Bryan or the Guardians. Someday.
We stepped through the marble arches of the foyer and into the sanctuary and I exhaled my relief. Even after the beauty of the outside, the sanctuary lived up to the hype. Dim shadows hid the stained glass windows on the outer walls, but a spotlight illuminated the far sphere of rose and blue glass with a golden cross in
