Goody Magic Academy, Year Three

Chapter 9

Chapter

Nine

J axon interlaced his fingers with mine, his grip tightening. Goosebumps prickled all along my arms as his eyes darted to the headmaster. “Do you know who has the Dragon Nexus right now?”

The headmaster’s handsome face creased with concern. He leaned forward, his elbows on his desk. “Not exactly. I made some inquiries and looked into the matter when Rose first contacted me on it.” He paused, his voice dropping away almost to nothing. “Unfortunately, I’m afraid you’re looking at the dark underworld.”

I frowned in confusion. “Dark underworld?” My voice cracked. “What does that mean?”

The headmaster strode toward the door purposefully. “I suggest we go to the dining room so I can tell you what we’re facing.”

My throat constricted, a knot of dread forming in my gut. The dining room had always been Mom’s go-to location for delivering bad news, too. My palms grew clammy. This wasn’t going to be good.

Rose and Valentin glided out first, followed by the rest of us. I couldn’t help but notice that the headmaster moved with the same preternatural ease as they did.

When we entered the dining room, the opulence hit me like a wave. An ornate wooden table dominated the space, its polished surface reflecting the warm glow of the huge crystal chandelier above. Ethan stood at attention, his posture rigid.

“Sir.” Ethan’s voice cut through the tense silence. “Shall I serve some refreshments?”

The headmaster’s piercing gaze swept over us. “Yes, thank you Ethan. Chosen Blood for Rose, Valentin, and myself. Wine for the others. Perhaps a charcuterie board.” His lips curled into a smile that I still couldn’t quite read. “I’m sure they’re hungry from their long journey.”

Boy, was that an understatement. My stomach growled traitorously even as every muscle in my body screamed for rest. The thought of a nap made my eyelids heavy despite my hunger, and I stifled a yawn.

A scraping sound startled me. Jaxon had pulled out a chair for me, gesturing for me to sit down. As I lowered myself onto the plush seat, I caught a whiff of his manly scent—spicy and comforting. Was this gentlemanly act really for my benefit, or just to impress the headmaster?

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Finn roll his eyes dramatically, his lips curling into a smirk. He swiftly claimed the seat on my other side, next to the headmaster—the very spot I suspect Jaxon had been eyeing. Jaxon’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, and he took the chair across from me instead.

The tension in the room was drawn as tight as a bass drum. Ethan returned with our drinks, the deep crimson liquid in the headmaster’s glass catching the light. I watched transfixed as the headmaster lifted the glass to his lips, his movements elegant, graceful and controlled. Despite his youthful appearance, there was something ancient in his eyes that had my nerves on high alert.

I wrapped my fingers around my wine glass and braced myself for whatever revelations were to come. The headmaster’s presence, both alluring and unnerving, dominated the room. What secrets was this enigmatic man about to reveal?

The headmaster set his glass down, the soft clink echoing in the tense silence. A faint coppery scent hung in the air, making my nostrils flare. His gaze swept over us. “I’m sure you all know the difference between born and made vampires?”

Twyla fidgeted in her seat, the fabric of her dress rustling softly. Her voice quavered. “Umm…sort of?”

The headmaster’s piercing gaze locked onto Twyla, causing her to shrink back slightly. I swear, the temperature in the room dropped a few degrees. “Born vampires are exactly that…birthed, just like humans…while a made vampire arises when a human is turned by another vampire. However, there’s more.” He paused, his eyes sweeping across our faces. Finn shifted uncomfortably beside me, the leather of his chair creaking. “I’m not sure if Rose and Valentin have told you, or if it’s even taught at Goody, given the high priestess’ unfortunate tendency to focus solely on witch history.”

The headmaster leaned forward, his voice low and intense. The chandelier light caught his eyes, making them glitter unnaturally. “As the first vampire, Dracula came to impose rules upon us, the most important one being not to drain humans.”

His words sent a chill down my spine, and I noticed Rose’s fingers tightening around her glass. A bead of condensation rolled down the side of it, leaving a glistening trail.

“He recognized that when humans were drained, it put vampires at risk. If humans realized they were our prey they would hunt and kill us, endangering our entire race.”

I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. The wine in my glass threatened to spill as my hand shook slightly. Across the table, Jaxon’s jaw clenched, a muscle twitching in his cheek.

The headmaster continued, his tone grave. “Consequently, Dracula decreed that vampires only feed on willing humans, and never drain them completely.” His eyes darkened. “However, there are those who have chosen to oppose Dracula and refuse to abide by his rules. They are now our enemies.”

The silence that followed was deafening. It was as if we were in a tomb. Valentin sat unnaturally still, like a statue, while beads of sweat rolled down Twyla’s temples. The only sound was the faint ticking of a distant clock, marking the seconds as I grappled with this revelation.

Valentin sighed heavily and disappointment swam in his eyes, turning them a darker shade of amber. “Does this have anything to do with my brother, Dimitri?”

The headmaster’s voice cut through the air like a knife. “Yes. Sadly, your brother has decided to join with the enemy. He has mated with Gianna Santi, the vampire mafia princess.”

I inhaled sharply breath, the cool air stinging my lungs as my mind tried to process the concept of a vampire Godfather. A hysterical giggle threatened to bubble up in my throat, but I managed to swallow it down when I noticed the dark, brooding looks on the vampires’ faces.

Valentin’s hands moved to his temples, massaging them as if trying to ward off a headache. Sadness seemed to engulf him, his broad shoulders slumping under an invisible burden. His voice came out rough. “I knew he was with Gianna, but I didn’t think he would join the mafia.”

The headmaster’s lips curled into a grim smile, his teeth gleaming unnaturally white in the dim light. “He’s actually the chauffeur for the vampire mafia king Angelo Santi now.”

A strangled sound escaped Jaxon’s throat as he tried to suppress a guffaw. The noise shattered the tense atmosphere like a hammer on glass.

Valentin’s head snapped up, his eyes flashing with anger. “It’s not funny, Jaxon.” The words came out as a low growl.

Jaxon shrugged and his face remained unapologetic, a hint of amusement still dancing in his eyes. “So… Does this vampire mafia king have the Nexus?”

The headmaster shook his head. “No, but I believe he will probably bid on it. My sources tell me that it is currently in Simon Cartier’s possession. He’s an auctioneer that caters to the seamier side of supernatural society. I have heard that he plans to auction it off this Saturday night.”

I struggled to stay focused. This was taking a bizarre turn, and I could barely comprehend what he was saying. The taste of fear, metallic and bitter, filled my mouth as I waited for him to drop another bomb.

I leaned back in my chair, the plush fabric embracing me. The wood creaked softly under my weight. “And do you think the high priestess will be there?” My voice sounded very small and far away to my own ears.

He nodded decisively. “I suspect so, yes. The trouble is the Dragon Nexus will fetch an extremely high price, and I doubt any of you would be able to afford it.”

Rose’s eyes widened, a plea written across her delicate features. Her voice was soft, almost childlike. “Can’t you go to the auction?”

“No.” The headmaster’s refusal rang with finality. “It wouldn’t be proper for me to attend such a thing. Only mafia kings such as Angelo Santi and other crime lords with deep pockets are invited. I wouldn’t even make it past the front door.”

I had a feeling that wasn’t necessarily true. If the headmaster wanted to attend the auction, I doubted anyone would dare stop him. Power radiated from him like a laser beam of light, almost visible in its intensity.

I glanced at Twyla. Her face had drained of all color, leaving her looking pale and fragile. Her hands trembled slightly as she gripped the edge of the table. She looked like she was about to pass out, her sweet and loving nature clearly struggling with the dark world being revealed to us. Her voice quaked as she spoke. “Who are the other mafia kings?”

The soft ticking of a distant clock punctuated the silence as we waited for the headmaster’s response, each second stretching out like an eternity.

The headmaster sighed. “There are three other mafia families in New Orleans,” he began, leaning back in his chair, his voice low and measured. The room seemed to darken as he spoke, as if the very air was absorbing the gravity of his words. “Wolf, Unseelie, and human. Each is ruled by a king.”

He paused, allowing the information to sink in.

“They are Trystan Hunter, the wolf mafia king,” the headmaster continued. An image of a snarling beast with gleaming fangs flashed through my mind. “Keir Rankin, the Unseelie mafia king.” The name alone sent a shiver through me, conjuring visions of dark, twisted creatures that were the stuff of nightmares.

“And Maximo Barone, the human mafia king.” His tone suggested that this human king might be the most dangerous of all, a reminder that sometimes the greatest monsters wore the faces of men.

The headmaster’s face darkened, shadows deepening the lines around his eyes and mouth.

“They are all deadly,” he said, each word sharp as a blade, “and they would all desperately want the Dragon Nexus. None of them can be allowed to acquire it.” His fingers tightened around the arm of his chair. “To keep it out of enemy hands, one of you will have to steal it from Simon before he can auction it off.”

The words hung in the air. My lungs constricted, and I fought to draw in a breath. Then a gasp escaped my lips, the sound unnaturally loud in the stunned silence that followed.

My mind raced, recollecting scenes from every mafia movie I’d ever seen. Bodies in concrete shoes sinking into foul, murky waters. Dark alleys echoing with gunshots. And meat grinders—oh god, the meat grinders.

My stomach churned violently, and I struggled to maintain my composure. The polished wood felt too cold under my clammy palms. My heart pounded in my chest. The last thing I wanted was to end up as vampire chow—a cheeseburger for some wolf mafia king. The absurdity of that thought almost made me laugh, but the sound caught in my throat, coming out as a strangled whimper instead.

I looked around the table, seeking reassurance in the faces of my companions but finding none. Twyla looked as pale as a ghost, her freckles standing out starkly against her ashen skin. Jaxon’s jaw was clenched so tight I could almost hear his back teeth grinding. Even Rose and Valentin, usually so calm and composed, showed signs of strain—Rose’s fingers were curled so tightly around the stem of her glass I was worried it might snap.

The ticking of the clock seemed to grow louder, each second bringing us closer to a decision that could change our lives forever—or end them. The headmaster’s expectant gaze zeroed in on each of us in turn like a laser beam, awaiting our response.