The Coven Awakens (Hollow Hill Academy #1)

9. Audrey

Chapter 9

Audrey

M y mind spun as I wrestled my bags down the stairs. Suitcases were awkward at the best of times, but they made storming away ridiculously difficult. I didn’t know how far behind me the boys would be, and I needed to get as far away as I could. My promise to Tatiana that I wouldn’t run away blared in my mind, but this situation pushed beyond the bounds of that promise.

I was supposed to be in my first combat class this morning and I’d been looking forward to the exercise. It would have given me the chance to vent some of the anger and frustration which had been building into physical activity. I had taken basic self-defense classes when I started college, and enjoyed them. Even though it was unlikely to actually help if someone attacked me, there was something empowering about arming yourself for danger that made it less intimidating. Besides, like the instructor had told us, all you needed to do was give yourself the opportunity to run away.

I had arrived at class to find I was wearing the wrong clothes. While my yoga pants and tank top had always been fine for my regular self-defense classes, they were not okay in a magical combat class. The teacher sent me back to my room, with the instruction that there should be a uniform in my closet for this class. Why hadn’t anyone told me this before it started? It was important information for a new student to know.

I should be grateful, as if the teacher hadn’t sent me back to my room, who knows what the boys would have done? I’d been in such a rush this morning I hadn’t locked my door, something I regretted now, although it probably wouldn’t have stopped them. Nosey fuckers. Now I would have to wash all my clothing, as the thought of them pawing through my underwear made my skin crawl and sent a shudder down my spine. I did not know where to go. It wasn’t like there were spare rooms, as far as I knew. I asked Tatiana about a spare room a few times and she had insisted there were none. But right now, I would rather bunk with the covenless than return to that room.

Just as I turned the corner to approach Tati’s office, I walked into someone. I didn’t simply walk into them; my body bounced off theirs and knocked over my suitcases, then I stumbled over them and landed on the floor. Because that was exactly what today needed, me falling ass over teakettle. As I was still running almost entirely on indignant rage, I glared up at the hapless person whose only crime was being in the hallway. My glare instantly melted as I met his apologetic green eyes.

“Mademoiselle St. John, I do hope you are okay? Let me help you up.” Henri fucking Beaudelaire. This day was determined to see me suffer, it seemed. My cheeks flamed as I took his hand and let him hoist me to my feet, this time as much from anger as embarrassment.

Before I could do anything, he picked up my suitcases and looked between them and me, curiosity clear in his expression. I didn’t want to deal with his questions, I just wanted somewhere safe to hide.

“You seem upset. Why don’t you come with me? We can have some tea, and you can tell me what happened.” His offer rang with sincerity, and I wondered if he often invited students to his office for tea. Maybe he wanted Tatiana’s job. But it wasn’t really any of my business either.

He waited for an answer to his offer, and I shook my head. He was a member of their coven. I couldn’t turn to him when I was angry with them. There was no doubt in my mind he would take their side, it made sense. He softly sighed, while he carded his hand through his perfect hair. Henri looked at my bags, and then again at me.

“Clearly, my coven-mates have upset you to the extent it has driven you away. The last place they will think of looking for you is with me. Come and tell me what happened, maybe I can help you find a way forward.” He grabbed the handles of my suitcases, and it forced my hand. I didn’t want to wrench them away from him and cause more of a scene in the hallway. Honestly, I was lucky classes were on at the moment, so my public shame was kept to a minimum. But that wouldn’t last forever, so I gave in and nodded, following behind him.

Once we were inside his office, he put my suitcases by the door. It was an action which reassured me as at least they would be easy to grab if I needed to make an escape. There was no grace in the way I flopped into the same chair I sat in last time. Too wound up to bother minding my manners, I left him to make the tea while I stared into the fire and stewed in my anger.

I needed to go through my suitcases to make sure none of my belongings had been taken. I should have asked them what they were doing, but the single thought in my mind was getting out of there. Plus, the white light stopped them all from moving. My hand came up to rub my sternum as I finally let myself think about the light. I hadn’t done it on purpose; I was just so mad and wanted them to stop. My thoughts consumed me, and I was so wrapped up in them I didn’t notice Henri setting down the tea until he crouched in front of me, blocking the fire from my vision. I blinked twice and focused on his face, on those green eyes. They were such a pretty shade with little flecks of gold in the inner ring, and right now, they were full of concern. Forcing myself to sit up straighter, I picked up the teacup.

“Thank you for your kindness. I know they are your friends, and I don’t mean to put you in the middle of all this.” It made me feel bad. I should have turned down his offer and instead gone to Tatiana’s office, but he shook his head.

“They are my friends, it’s true, and I care a lot about my coven-mates. But I was hoping you were going to join us. As you can see, they could use a voice of reason and you seem like a very reasonable young woman. You aren’t putting me in the middle of anything—I invited you here. You can always come to me when you are having trouble with them.”

His words reassured me, though not in the same way as Tatiana’s. Henri seemed so earnest, like he really wanted me to join their coven. But I wasn’t sure how that could happen after this morning. I didn’t want to disappoint him, so I sipped my tea rather than answer.

Pushing to a stand, he moved to sit in a chair across from me and picked up his own cup of tea. “Perhaps it would help you understand them better if you knew more about them? From what I have been able to observe, you have not talked with them much, non?”

That was an understatement. I curled my feet under my body as I got comfortable and considered his offer. Did I really want to learn more about them from someone else? Even someone who knew them well. Did I want to learn more about them at all? This felt like an important decision. If I learned more about them, would it temper my anger toward them? If anyone could convince me to give them another chance, it would be Henri. But did I want to do that?

“The first one I met was Caius. He insisted I get out, that I would never be one of them. I met Ewan next. He and his dragon chased me, and his dragon set me on fire. Then I met Soren, who gave me some potion that burned my brain and put memories in my head.” I knew the potion hadn’t really put the memories in my head. The more I thought about them, the more I knew in my soul they were real. But I was mad at the boys, and I didn’t want to paint them in a good light. Soren still hadn’t told me why he had done it. He could have warned me what the potion was before I drank it, to let me prepare somehow.

A deep frown crossed Henri’s face, one which didn’t look right on him. Sure, he wore a serious expression most of the times I’d seen him, but it differed from looking so disappointed. I was glad the expression wasn’t aimed at me. “I’d not known things were so dire between you. But perhaps my explanation will help some. Let’s start with Soren, hmm? He is the easiest to explain. Which classes are you taking?”

I was confused when he asked me a question rather than giving an explanation, but I answered him anyway. “A history class, Introduction to Healing, combat, plants, The Power of Names, and shapeshifting. Tatiana said she would teach me about the seasons, since the class for that has already run, or I can take it next year. She wanted me to have a light courseload while I find my feet.” I tried not to think about how I was already planning the classes I would take next year. Part of me still hoped I would be far, far away by that point.

“Not a lot of crossovers with the boys then, other than the shapeshifting class. They all take combat as well, but at a more advanced level. Your teachers or Tatiana will tell you it’s not a required class after your first year, but I recommend you continue with it. Life as a Scion is very different to your human life. It’s more magical, as you are discovering, but more violent as well.”

My nose wrinkled at the thought. Did I want to be living a life where violence was normal? Before this, I’d been studying to be an architect—there was no violence in designing buildings. I didn’t want to interrupt him, though, so I kept my thoughts to myself.

“Soren takes most of the divination classes Hollow Hills offers. His lineage has some innate ability, although it’s not the focus of his natural skills. It is what he has chosen and dedicated his attention to though. Seeing what is to come, so he can keep the people around him safe. It is something he holds dear, but because of it, he also rarely gives reasons for his actions. If he gave you a potion, there is likely a good reason, it simply hasn’t become apparent yet. It will though.”

I took a long sip of tea to hide the incredulous expression on my face. I knew there were divination classes—Tatiana had told me about them when she gave me an overview of all the courses I could take—but people thought they could actually see the future? That was insanity. Sure, Soren might have thought he was helping, but he was more likely using it as an excuse to be an ass to people.

“As for Caius, I can’t do anything but apologize for him. He is not a very warm person, and very few primordial Scions are, perhaps it is wielding so much power that causes that trait. They are more powerful than those of us from divine lineages, regardless it is not an excuse. He must attempt to overcome his nature.”

I had not heard of a primordial Scion. In our discussions, Tatiana had told me about a few different types, but that wasn’t one of them. Though I really didn’t feel like a lesson right now, so I didn’t ask. Instead, I made a mental note to ask Tatiana the next time I saw her, or maybe I would take a trip to the library. I was building a steadily growing list of things I wanted to research. Plus, it would keep me from having to interact with the boys for a while longer. I set my now empty teacup down.

“You must spend a lot of time apologizing for Caius. I don’t think I have ever met anyone as rude as he.” I didn’t mean to make Henri snort into his teacup, and I jumped up when he spilled the hot liquid onto his lap.

“Oh, my gosh! I am so sorry!” I still had enough of my faculties not to try wiping down his lap, so instead, I took the teacup and the saucer from him and set them down. There was a cloth over one of the cabinet handles, which I retrieved and held out to him. But the spill was already gone, and he now stood, holding his hands out toward me.

“It is fine, Mademoiselle St. John, there is no need to fret. A little magic, and it is all taken care of.” He spun slowly to show me, his clothes as spotless as they had been before. Clutching the towel to my chest, I nodded, glad the hot tea hadn’t burned him. My healing teacher insisted I possessed a lot of skill, but I didn’t know how to actually heal anyone yet. So far, all my efforts had done was give me a headache.

Henri looked at his watch and sighed, and I felt my mood deflate further.

“Unfortunately, I have a class I must teach, but do not fret. I will inform your instructors you require today absent, I want you to relax. You are welcome to stay here and gather yourself. There are many books on the shelves, find something that interests you. I have a full day of teaching, but you can come and go as you please. After dinner, I will return, and we can discuss how you are feeling then.”

I didn’t want to kick him out of his office for the day, but the thought of having somewhere safe to hide definitely appealed. My bags still needed to be checked so I could make sure the boys had taken nothing. I could also use the time to put together a reasoned argument for Tatiana why I should be allowed to move rooms. One she wouldn’t be able to deny.

I nodded and moved sideways to make my way back to the seat, when Henri stepped in front of me, wrapping his arms around me in a hug. I tensed for a moment, surprised by the contact before my body relaxed, and tension I hadn’t realized I was holding dropped from my shoulders.

Henri patted my back twice, then stepped back. “See? Everything will be alright Mademoiselle St. John. You may simply need to have patience.” Without another word, he departed his office, leaving me alone with my thoughts.