I reached for the bundle and grazed his palm. Suddenly a black shadow slithered across his hand, then up the sleeve of his black robe. I shook my head. But the snake-like shadow lingered, shining in a dark coil on top of his cloak. This couldn’t be happening, not again. I closed my eyes and inhaled a deep breath. It was so dark I couldn’t be sure I saw anything clearly.
I opened my eyes, and the shadow morphed into a cobra that writhed up his neck. The flame in front of Will flickered as if on cue. If I could control angel fire, could I control demon fire, too? Lucy, the snake hissed. We’re right here. Ready to help you.
“What the—” I jumped backward. The package tumbled from my hand, crashing onto the hardwood floor. The canvas came loose and magnifying glasses spilled everywhere.
Yet that wasn’t even the strangest part. Will’s gray eyes sparked at me like he knew everything I’d just seen.
He slid his hand across my upper arm, those gray eyes softening in a wash of concern. “Are you okay?”
I blinked at him, the vision gone now. I swung my gaze around the room. Candles illuminated only faces in the crowd. Eleven uncloaked ones stared at me. Had I imagined the whole thing?
“I’m sorry, I’m so clumsy. Please continue.” I crouched to my knees to pick up the magnifying glasses.
“Here, let me help.” He knelt beside me, scooping up the plastic toys. “Good thing I got the cheap ones, huh?”
“Yeah, that makes me feel better.” I sneaked a peek at him, catching an eyeful of that adorable cleft under his grin.
He turned to me with a kinder look than I deserved and grabbed my elbow to help me up. This time his touch felt normal. No strange images. I breathed an extra big sigh of relief.
“You’ll need these for your survival kit. They’ll be crucial in the next task.” He passed out the magnifiers.
Each inductee moved on to the next station until I was all alone, standing beside Will.
“Don’t be so nervous. It’s adorable, but completely unnecessary. You got this, gorgeous.” His whisper sent another shiver crawling down my neck. I snapped my head his way. It wasn’t what burned my nerves.
“Don’t call me that.” I hissed at him.
“But you are gorgeous.” He edged close to me, close enough I caught a familiar whiff of spice. “And you’ll be an amazing Nexis member as soon as you’re ready.”
I pursed my lips together and narrowed my eyes at him. Hadn’t I read something about one of the dark Seer powers being mind control? Maybe I could use a little mind control right now to wipe the smug look off this guy’s face.
At that thought, smoky shadows billowed up from the floor, coiling around his torso. One tendril slithered to his temple, as if waiting my command.
Will’s eyes flashed as he leaned in. “Don’t look at me like that, or I’ll have to kiss you again.”
A chill crept up my spine. “Enough.” I backed up, speaking directly to the shadows. Slowly, the black fog dissipated until I could breathe again without my heart pounding like crazy in my ears.
Will clamped one hand down on my shoulder, holding me in place. “Just finish the next task and bring back the book. Then I can tell you everything you ever wanted to know about James.”
“Is it really worth it?” A tremor laced my question, so close to him in the dark, and my heart sank. Waiting for Guardian intel on James was probably not going to happen. Will knew my weakness, and I hated it.
“Absolutely.” He squeezed my shoulder, pressing his lips against my hair. “Now go on, you don’t want them to leave without you.”
He nudged me toward the next station, his laughter rumbling in the darkness.
Chapter 14
The chapel clock struck midnight as eleven juniors pounded down the sidewalk of the dark quad beside me. The sky grew blacker as we left the path and skirted along the edge of the woods until we reached the library. Had the Nexis members unfurled the telescope to watch our little initiation stunt? I could almost feel their eyes on our backs as we raced to the library.
My breath puffed out a little burst of white mist in front of me, thanks to the crisp fall night. Was I really about to join Nexis, and would they even tell me what happened to James if I did? My internal questions froze as the initiates halted in front of the library doors, our final destination.
Shanda reached out to yank open the doors. A brave first step, but the steel-encased glass barely moved an inch. “Now what?”
Tendrils of shadow-smoke unfurled from the woods, slithering toward me like they’d followed me from the tower. The shadows curled up at my feet and writhed with a life-force of their own, calling out to me. Didn’t Mr. Harlixton say I could control people with my mind? Or did he say demons? Acrid objections rose in my throat, but I tamped them down. If this was the only way to find out the truth about James, I knew what I had to do.
I leaned over and whispered in Shanda’s ear. “I’ve got an idea. But if it gets out of hand, you have my permission to do whatever it takes to stop me.”
“What are you talking about?” A glimmer flashed as her eyes darted toward me.
“I’m going to try out my dark powers.” I uttered the words, but I could hardly believe it myself. I winced as the shadows snaked up my leg, the icy tendrils sending shivers and goosebumps all over my body. “That’s why I need you to back me up if something goes wrong.”
“Fine.” She huffed. “But I don’t like it.”
“Me either. Just follow my lead.” Glancing around at the ten other new recruits, the shadows sought out the easiest mind to control. If Kevin were
