Beast Academy (Vengeful Beast #1)

I can’t believe I’m doing this.

I glanced at myself in the pull-down mirror of my rundown Honda Civic. It wasn’t the car my father bought me when I turned sixteen. No, that one was in the driveway of my childhood home, where my stepmother and stepbrother lived.

I couldn’t bring it with me because I knew they would be able to track it.

They would do anything to find me now. I’d bought this Honda Civic with cash I’d saved from babysitting when I was in high school.

Not that we needed the money.

No, I’d grown up with tons of that. I needed an escape. Somewhere to hide in plain sight.

That’s why I sat in the parking lot of Beast Academy.

When my father died suddenly two months ago, I knew my days were numbered. My stepmother pulled the will out so fast it gave me whiplash.

There, she realized that everything had been left to me; unless I died, I was the heir to my father’s fortune, his father’s money, and every piece of property he owned.

That’s when I woke up to her standing in my doorway, an evil glint in her eye.

That night, I packed my bag and slept at my best friend Rachel’s house. I hadn’t been back.

It was August, the first day of school, and I was breaking all the rules.

All. Of. Them.

I’d used the rest of my cash left from buying my car to get myself a fake ID. I was no longer Vivian Kingston, I was Blaire Hope McConner, a scholarship student moving from Tennessee to the depths of Louisiana.

The kicker? I was human, and no one at Beast Academy was human.

They’d earned their rights back in the 1800s during the war that set the supernaturals free.

Now, everyone wanted to be one.

Humans fawned over them like celebrities. It was interesting to see the different powers and abilities.

Dad had worked at the school as a Vice Superintendent.

Dad had Fae blood but hadn’t been brought up to practice like most of them.

I was human, taking after my mother, who had no supernatural blood in her whatsoever.

That’s why I being here was dangerous.

Humans weren’t allowed.

But I knew this was the one place that my stepmother wouldn’t find me. Why would she look here?

I was seventeen years old with no money until I was eighteen, and nowhere to go that she wouldn't find me, but here.

I opened the door to my Honda, and it squeaked loudly. Thankfully, the parking lot was vacant.

The giant stone castle reminded me of something out of Harry Potter.

It was at least five stories high with gargoyles posted on the top like a creepy fairytale.

I straightened the tie to my new uniform, hating the plaid and knee-high socks that itched.

This was a step down from the public school’s attire. At least there I could express myself, but maybe blending in was better considering my current situation.

I unfolded the map in my pocket as I walked toward the front steps. The double doors opened as I neared them like a supermarket, but these weren’t glass doors.

Magic. It was all magic.

Students lingered in the front entrance. Some I could tell were of a different species, while others looked no different from me.

Elves had pointed ears. Faes did as well.

Vampires were pale.

The werewolves were harder to tell unless they were an alpha, who stood a foot taller than everyone else.

It was the faeries, the gargoyles, and the plethora of other beings that I couldn’t pinpoint.

I prayed none of them sensed my fear like animals.

I kept my chin up, marching toward the front entrance, finding a troll sitting behind the desk of the office.

She looked up, her green skin covered in makeup with red lipstick and eyeshadow. “Well, howdy, darlin'. How are you?”

I blinked at her accent—a troll with a southern drawl. I’d seen it all.

“Hi, I’m Viv ... Blaire McConner.”

“Oh!” she said, standing up to grab a file from across the room. “Yes, dear. I have your class schedule, your room number, and a map of the school. There was one thing missing from your file. What is your species?” She blinked at me with her pen in one hand, waiting.

I’d forgotten that, had I?

Maybe on purpose.

Sweat built at my hairline, and I nervously wiped it away. I tried to rack my brain for something to say. It needed to be something where I could easily hide myself.

I swallowed. “Werewolf,” I lied.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. It was too late to go back now.

“Sure thing!” she said. “Your roommate is a faerie. That won’t be a problem, will it?”

Did she think I’d eat her?

“No, no problem.”

She handed me the folder full of paperwork. “Classes start tomorrow. We allow our students a day to get to know one another through planned activities. The list is in there. Good luck, Blaire. See you around.”

I backtracked out of the office and into the chaos of the front entrance. Everyone seemed to know someone. Friends meeting with friends. Some parents lingered with the lower-classman.

I was a senior, lucky me, stuck with students who had known each other for the past four years.

Following the map, which was a maze, I found the hallway, Dooms Hall, where my dorm was located.

Dooms Hall sounded like a bad omen.

I should have run while I could.

Room 303 was at the very start of the hallway near the staircase. A good thing in case I needed to run for my life.

Turning the knob, I glanced inside the room. Inside, there were two twin beds, one on each opposing wall.

Two chest-of-drawers.

Two closets.

And two desks.

Glancing at my roommate’s side of the room, I blinked, letting my eyes adjust to the black.

It was surprising. She was a faerie.

Didn’t faeries like pink? When I think of ‘faerie’, I think of Tinkerbell.

“So, you’re my new roommate?”

I looked over my shoulder at a tall ebony-haired girl standing behind me. She wore a black dress that fell to her knees, paired with spiky biker boots. “Um, yeah, Blaire,” I said, offering her a handshake.

She smiled, much lighter than her attire and room decor, and pulled me in for a hug. “It’s nice to meet you, I’m Bree.”

“What are you?” she asked, pulling out a pretzel from somewhere in her pocket.

“A wolf,” I said, the lie heavy on my tongue.

I lugged my bag toward the bed and slung it over.

“Oooo, a wolf,” she said, sitting on her bed, watching me pull out my clothes. “Where are you from?”

“Tennessee,” I lied. “You?”

“Maine. I started my freshman year. I'm a senior now. It was definitely a culture shock,” she chuckled. “Want to come to the cafeteria with me?” she asked. “I just got here. I’m starved.”

“Sure,” I said, tucking my dark locks behind my ear. “That sounds nice.”

We left our room ten minutes later since I had nothing to unpack but clothes. Bree seemed friendly, getting to know everyone so easily, while I cowered away when anyone looked at me.

I knew this wasn’t going to be easy, faking a supernatural ability.

It was a stupid idea. What would I do when they wanted me to shift into this wolf I claimed to be?

Cry? Run? Beg for mercy?

I hoped they didn’t ask, but I doubted you went to this school without honing your abilities.

The cafeteria was down a long hallway with giant ceilings and double stone doors. The smell of food wafted over me.

My stepmother hadn’t been feeding me since Dad died. I’d been sneaking down in the middle of the night and hoarding cheese slices and bowls of cereal.

A pain churned in my stomach at the thought of my dad. I hadn’t had a proper time to mourn his death because of her.

Bree fell into line and looked over at me. “You OK?”

“Fine. Why?”

She grinned. “Did you forget the faeries can sense emotions?”

Damn. I had. “Oh, yeah, I did. I’m just nervous.”

She smiled. “Don’t worry. Everything’s going to be OK.”

Something tells me it won’t be.

I piled my plate full of pot roast, mashed potatoes, and vegetables, so much that I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold it down.

We found a booth in the back, away from everyone, and began to eat. Bree kept glancing around the room, aware of everyone, while I ate my food like I’d never get another bite.

“Crap,” she hissed.

I looked up. “What is it?”

“She’s here.”

“Who’s here?” I asked.

“Heather Cordly,” she said, rolling her eyes. “She’s such a mean girl. I was hoping her parents would have taken her overseas, I don’t know, dropped a house on her in Kansas somewhere.”

I chuckled. “Wow, tell me how you really feel.”

Glancing over my shoulder, I knew instantly who she was talking about. The blonde was standing with her tray at the center of the room, her nose tilted in the air, wings fluttering out from behind her.

“Wow, she has wings? Why don’t you?”

“Everyone gets them at different stages,” she groaned, pushing her food around.

Heather’s blue gaze shifted toward mine and held. I watched as she stared at me until a guy walked up beside her.

He was gorgeous, more gorgeous than I’d ever seen before. He was muscular, with broad shoulders and a slender waist. His dark-wash jeans and T-shirt fit him perfectly. That tousled brown hair was shampoo commercial worthy.

It was then that I realized no one was wearing their uniform but me.

“Who’s that?” I asked.

“Caleb Murphy,” she said softly. “He’s Heather’s boyfriend. A wolf, like you.”

I turned away instantly, shoveling more food in my mouth to keep it busy. When Bree stiffened, I looked up, seeing her face turn ashen.

Heather stopped next to our table, a smug smile on her face. I hated to admit how pretty she was since I could tell this conversation wasn’t going anywhere good.

“Bree, I see your wings haven’t come in yet. Bummer.”

The snark in her voice rubbed me the wrong way.

“Who’s your friend?” she asked.

“Blaire,” I said coolly, my gaze shifting toward Caleb.

His dark gaze was heavy on mine, his thick lips parted, curled upward at the corners. “Nice to meet you,” I said.

Heather chuckled. “You should know not to hang around Bree. She’s not progressing in her abilities."

Some people listening snickered at her, and I realized how similar this was to my high school.

“We can’t all be perfect like you, can we?” I asked.

Heather gave me a bored look. “You could try.”

I shrugged. “I guess we’ll work on that.” I went back to eating, really over the conversation, when I realized they were both staring.

“What are you anyway?” Heathe asked.

“She’s a wolf,” Bree pitched in before I could.

My cheeks turned red at their stares, and I shoveled in more food, making Heather cringe. “It explains the eating,” she said. “You eat like a pig.”

“Like your boyfriend?” I asked over a mouthful.

Caleb grinned while offering me a handshake, and I took it. The warmth swallowed me, and something zapped down my arm.

It was then I realized Heather didn’t like competition, which was rich considering I wasn’t in their league at all, and she saw me as a threat, someone wanting her man.

She smacked my hand away from his, and instantly, it took over.

It was stupid. I was supposed to be lying low, blending in, but that rage I felt inside of me that controlled my pride snapped.

I tossed my plate at her face, covering her with roast and half-eaten mashed potatoes.

Heather’s face morphed into fury, her ears turned red, and her teeth bared.

I had no defense against these people, and I was starting fights.

“You’re going to regret that,” she said.

I already did.

Author's Note:

Hey guys! Please, please, please (in my best Sabrina Carpenter voice) like, comment, whatever you can to help me get this noticed. It's in the new contest, and I want to win soooooo bad. The winners are considered for Galatea and the Candyjar app, which turns books into short film dramas. THAT IS MY DREAM. Please help me make it come true! :)