Academy Obscura: The Flame Within Read online

  Academy Obscura

  The Flame Within

  Cassia Briar

  Copyright © 2019 by Cassia Briar

  Publisher: Wednesday Ink, LLC

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Cover design by Fantasia Cover Designs

  Get Ignite: An Academy Obscura Prequel Novella for free when you join my newsletter here.

  Contents

  1. Caprice

  2. Caprice

  3. Caprice

  4. Caprice

  5. Caprice

  6. Caprice

  7. Jaxon

  8. Caprice

  9. Caprice

  10. Caprice

  11. Angel

  12. Caprice

  13. Caprice

  14. Caprice

  15. Liam

  16. Caprice

  17. Caprice

  18. Caprice

  19. Jaxon

  20. Caprice

  21. Caprice

  22. Caprice

  23. Liam

  24. Caprice

  25. Caprice

  Ignite: An Academy Obscura Prequel Novella

  Academy Obscura: The Fiery Shifter - Chapter One

  About the Author

  Also by Cassia Briar

  1

  Caprice

  I was driving fast up the freeway, probably too fast, but it was an evening for speed. The summer between high school and college was supposed to be filled with adventure and recklessness. These were the best days of our lives, after all.

  Elena sat in the passenger seat, bright red bikini top showing off her perfect tan. Her long, wavy black hair was twisted into a messy bun.

  She cranked up the radio. “Love this song!” Elena started to sing along. She was so tone deaf. I laughed, drumming on the steering wheel.

  The last rays of sunlight shone through the driver side window, and I shifted the visor to block it out. My tan arms were showing a faint pinkish hue from the day spent at the beach.

  “This summer is the best. And this party is going to be epic,” Elena said.

  I glanced at her over the top of my sunglasses. We were on our way to crash a University of Maryland Baltimore County party. Both of us would be attending UMBC in the fall. May as well check out their party life now.

  I smiled, never sure which one of us was the bad influence over the other. Maybe it didn’t matter. Since we met each other sophomore year of high school, we’d been inseparable.

  Changing lanes, I zoomed around several cars in a row.

  We arrived at the beach, parked, and grabbed our tote bags. Opening the car door, the warm, humid air blasted me, instantly coating my skin with a sheen of sweat.

  The sun was setting in the hills behind us. The beach swarmed with college students in shorts and tank tops. At one end was a volleyball net, at the other some tables set up with a row of kegs. In the middle of the sand, the bonfire was about to be lit.

  I glanced at Elena. “What you think?”

  “Let’s start with beer.”

  We marched over to the kegs and poured ourselves a couple of drinks. I turned around to survey the crowd. Someone had turned up the music and people started to dance in the sand. The hip-hop beat thumped along with my pulse.

  “Hey, lovelies.” The guy approaching us was buff and tan. His blond hair cut short. He smiled, showing perfect white teeth. Damn, I didn’t realize such hotties went to UMBC. He was probably a jerk, most hot guys were.

  “Heyyy…” Elena said. She was totally checking him out.

  He cozied up to her. “Wanna dance?” He took her hand and led her out to the unofficial dance floor.

  I sipped the beer, watching them for a while as the last rays of light disappeared. Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I was unsure of what to do. I could go dance by myself. Or hang out on the side and people-watch.

  From across the bonfire, a guy caught my eye. He was wearing sunglasses, which I thought was weird now that the sun had gone down. Even though I couldn’t see his eyes, I knew he was looking at me, I could sense it. A shiver ran down my arms.

  He moved slowly in my direction. Not directly. He skirted the perimeter of the party, eventually ending up about ten feet from me. He stood in the shadows, just out of reach of the bonfire’s light.

  I blinked and he vanished. Something about him captured my full attention. More than anything, I wanted to find him, to see him again. I couldn’t explain this sudden, overwhelming curiosity.

  Intrigued, I approached where I’d last seen him standing. Maybe he’d gone around the side of the restroom building. I circled it. He wasn’t anywhere around, yet I thought I could feel his presence. Or at least, it felt like someone was watching me.

  Then he appeared behind me. I spun around. He’d taken off the sunglasses. In the dim light, I could make out a defined jawline, broad shoulders, and short dark hair.

  He stood so close that I could smell him. A heady scent of fresh spring water and pine.

  I swayed toward him. Alarm bells went off in the back of my brain. Something wasn’t right about him.

  “Look at me.” His voice was deep, rich, and compelling.

  My eyes lifted to his, which seemed to glow with a faint silver light. I couldn’t look away.

  “I’m going to kiss you,” he said.

  I continued to stare up at him, unable to say anything or move. We were in the dark, behind the restrooms where no one could see us.

  He grabbed my waist and lifted, stepping forward until I was pinned between him and the concrete wall. All the while, he still held my gaze. His hands slid up from my waist to brush against my breasts, but they didn’t linger there. They continued up to palm either side of my face. He licked his lips, then brought his mouth to mine.

  His lips were warm and soft, yet demanding. He deepened the kiss. Parting my lips with his tongue.

  I felt dizzy, like I’d had too much to drink. But my half consumed beer was still clutched in my hand. It was like this guy had some power over me. Or I was in a dream. None of it seemed real.

  The floaty feeling lessened when I noticed his hands had returned to my body. One hand was wrapped around my waist while the other cupped my bikini-encased breast. The warmth of his palm seeped through the thin fabric. He caught my nipple between two fingers. I gasped.

  The shock jolted me back to reality. What was I doing? I didn’t even know this guy. And I didn’t want to be this easy. I’d had sex once. Years ago. My second time was not going to be behind a bathroom with a stranger.

  I dropped the beer cup, freeing up my hands to push against his solid chest.

  He drew back and locked his gaze on mine. “You will not resist me.”

  The weird light-headed feeling came back. My body went limp in his arms, and he lowered us to the sun-warmed sand. He leered down at my scantily clad body. That silver glow flaring in his eyes.

  When his weight pressed down on me, something snapped alert in my brain again.

  I shoved at him with all my strength. He seemed unprepared for it and rolled to the side. I took the opportunity to jump up and run. Twenty feet away, the party was in full swing.

  Panicked, I sped through the crowd trying to find Elena. The music was blasting so loud that I couldn’t hear anything over it. In the middle, I circled. I didn’t see Elena, but the creepy guy was lurking on the outside, his gaze fixed on me. Like a predator waiting for his prey.

  Blood rushed in my ears as I spun again, search
ing for Elena. A million horrible questions popped into my head. How was I going to get out of here? Was the guy Elena danced with a freak too? Had he taken her somewhere?

  Then I spotted her. She was with the same blond guy. They were making out by the volleyball net.

  I pushed through the twerking bodies to the other side. At a dead run, I closed the distance between me and my friend. Without a word, I grabbed her arm, pulling her toward the car.

  “What the hell?” Elena said, struggling to free herself.

  “We need to leave. Right now. Questions later.” I’d lost my tote, but I didn’t care. The car keys were in my shorts pocket. I fished them out. Dropped them on the asphalt. Then picked them up with shaking hands.

  “Seriously, what’s going on?” Elena wrenched her arm out of my grip.

  I faced her. “Get in the car.”

  Whatever expression I wore must have scared her. Her face paled, and she sprinted around to the passenger side.

  I pressed the fob to unlock the car. Just as I reached for the handle, the creep appeared right behind Elena. I screamed.

  He spun her around to face him. “Sleep,” he commanded.

  She fell to the ground. What the hell?

  His eyes locked on me. “No human can resist me. Few others can either. What are you?”

  I didn’t know what he was talking about. His words barely registered. I needed to get Elena and myself out of there. But she lay on the other side of the car at his feet.

  The blond that Elena had been making out with approached us. “What’s going on here?” he asked.

  I stepped closer to him “Help. This creep…he did something to her. He’s trying to assault me.”

  The creep spoke. “She’s resisting my compulsion, which is impossible. Be careful. She’s not human. I don’t know what she is.”

  Wait. These two knew each other? I moved toward the driver’s door.

  Blond dude chuckled. “Man, you need to learn the art of subtlety. Now leave them alone.” When creep didn’t move, Elena’s guy said, “Leave. Now.” His voice came out strong, almost booming. It was unnatural and freaky as hell.

  Creep cursed, but left. The blond strode over to where Elena lay unconscious. He picked her up, opened the car door, and buckled her into the passenger seat. With a glance at me, he said, “Sorry about that. My friend gets a little carried away. ”

  I didn’t care what his excuse was. I started the car, slamming my door shut. As soon as the passenger door closed, I sped out of the parking lot.

  I glanced at Elena. She still slept. At least, I hoped she was just sleeping.

  My heart was pounding too fast. My hands shook on the steering wheel. That creep had done something to my brain. Like some kind of mind game. Hypnotism, or something. I’d almost given into him. Almost. A chill radiated from my chest. I shivered.

  I turned on the radio. The music helped, as I took deep breaths in and out. When I was feeling more stable, I reached over to shake Elena’s shoulder. Her eyelids fluttered open. She sat up.

  “What’s going on?” she asked. “Was I just sleeping?”

  I was so relieved she was okay. “Some creep attacked me. Then he went after you, used some kind of hypnotism to make you fall asleep. But that guy you were making out with made the creep go away.” That was the best I could sum it up.

  “Oh my God, are you all right?” Elena asked, then she cringed. “My head feels foggy.”

  Frowning, I nodded. “Let’s get home.”

  2

  Caprice

  After dropping off Elena at her parent’s house, I drove the block and a half to mine, and parked the old Jetta on the street. There were no sidewalks in our neighborhood, so the lawn came right up to the street.

  I sat in the car for a few moments to let my heartbeat settle before facing my foster parents. Trying again to wrap my brain around what had happened tonight, it was no use. Hypnotism? Glowing eyes? None of it made any sense.

  With a long exhale, I got out of the car and I let myself into the house. Antonio, my foster dad, was up late playing Xbox with my foster brother in the living room. My greeting went unnoticed by them.

  Vanessa was in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner. “Hey, sweetie, how was the beach?” She kissed my cheek. As foster parents went, and I had a lot of experience, these two were the best.

  “Okay.” I’d told her that we were staying out late with a couple of other friends. Not mentioning anything about a frat party or underage drinking.

  She finished loading the dishwasher. “Just okay?”

  “Yeah. I have a headache, actually.” I turned toward the stairs.

  “Wait.” Vanessa retrieved an envelope from the counter. “You have a letter.”

  Probably more college information. I took the envelope from her and glanced at the handwritten addresses. It was an elegant cursive, unlike anything I’d ever seen. Who would be writing to me?

  Heading up the stairs to my room, I stopped in the doorway. Even after two years here the room didn’t really feel like mine. That was no fault of Vanessa’s, she’d bought the emerald green comforter just for me. Let me put band posters on my walls. And hang strands of clear lights around the window.

  But who knew how many foster kids had lived in it before me. And once I left, another one would come in. In six short weeks, I’d leave all of this behind and move into the dorms at UMBC. No more parents, no more of living in other people’s houses.

  Though, I would stay in touch with Antonio and Vanessa, at least that was my hope. Even though I was already eighteen and free of the system, moving out was the last step.

  While I was excited for the changes, a part of me wanted to stand still, to have this summer last a little bit longer. I was ready to not be a kid anymore, but unsure of whether I was ready to become an adult. To really be on my own. Especially if creeps like the one tonight were waiting for me in college.

  At least Elena was coming with me. We’d have each other. Watch each others backs.

  I closed the door, leaning against it, and lifted the envelope, studying the unfamiliar handwriting once more before ripping it open. Inside was a letter in the same flourished script.

  Dear Caprice,

  I hope this letter finds you in good health and happiness. My name is Isabella Sorrentino, and I’m your grandmother; your birth father’s mother. I have been searching for years to find you, and am so glad that I finally have.

  I would love to meet you. Given my age, travel does not agree with me very well. I live in Oregon and I want to pay for a plane ticket for you, so that you may visit me this summer.

  My phone number is written at the bottom. Please call me and I will arrange everything. I so look forward to meeting you and telling you about your family.

  All my blessings,

  Isabella

  My head swam, and I crouched down so that I wouldn’t fall over. I had blood relatives—or at least one. A grandma.

  I stared at the carpet. My heart pounded, filling my ears with its uptempo beat. Tears moistened my cheeks, and I let them fall. I’d dreamed of this letter for years, mostly when I was younger and filled with hope. But it never came—until now.

  Wiping the tears away, I reread the letter. What if she had the wrong Caprice Sorrentino? There was a chance that this was all a mistake and I wasn’t the granddaughter she sought. It was never good to be too hopeful.

  I read it a third time before folding the letter and setting in on my nightstand.

  It was late here, but earlier in Oregon. I pulled out my phone and it lit up with a touch. Almost midnight here, which made it nearly nine in the west. I dialed the number that was written as a post script.

  It rang four times, and I chewed the inside of my cheek.

  “Good evening, this is Isabella.” The woman who answered had a deep, purring voice. She had to be old, to be my grandmother, but she didn’t sound old.

  I cleared my throat. “Hello, Isabella, this is Caprice. I got your lett
er.”

  * * *

  I told Antonio and Vanessa about the letter and phone call at breakfast the next morning. My foster brother Max was the first one to respond.

  “So sometimes families do search for their kids?” he asked.

  I didn’t want to give him too much hope. As far as I knew his dad was in jail and his mom was an addict. He might have a grandparent looking for him, but chances of that were not great.

  With a brief smile, I said, “Sometimes.”

  Vanessa reached over and squeezed my hand. “You may be eighteen, but you’re still under our protection. Before you make any plans, I want to make sure this woman is who she says she is.”

  I nodded. Fair enough.

  “I’ll call in a favor and have her checked out.” Antonio was a lawyer in the District Attorney’s office. “If she’s really your grandmother, we’ll decide what to do next. Together.”

  Part of me wanted to tell them that I had this all under control, that I’d already made my plans, and could take care of myself. Two years ago I would have done just that. But this family had changed me. They’d made me realize that I didn’t have to do everything myself and that I could trust others—or at least these two and Elena.

  Trusting three people in the entire world, that was some serious progress.

  Antonio went to work and Vanessa packed up Max for summer camp. I lounged on the couch, thumbing through social media but not really absorbing any of it.

  It had ended up being a long talk with Isabella last night. My impression was that she was kind, outgoing, and genuinely interested in knowing me. We made tentative plans for August. She told me the sooner she could book the plane ticket the better. But I’d had to talk with my foster parents first, which she totally understood.