Page 14 of Phoenix Academy: Madness

"What are you going to do, kidnap me?" Irritation makes my tone terse. It's not just that I don't want to go with her; I feel embarrassed that I didn't realize sooner what I've turned into. "Because kidnapping me has been tried before, and failed spectacularly."

"I can see that." The headmaster studies me for a long moment. "Alright then. Tell me what it is that you want most in the world, and I'll do whatever it takes to give that to you—as long as you agree to enroll at the academy and stick around."

I consider her offer. As much as I'm loathe to admit it, I don't exactly have anyone to rely on anymore. And while the Heretic left me by a riverbank, I wonder now if that had more to do with the mad shifters following me. I don't believe for a second that he doesn't plan on coming back to get me. The four walls of a shifter-funded academy might be the best place for me.

"What's the school called?"

"Phoenix Academy." She seems pleased by my curiosity. "It's descriptive, I know, but my great great grandmother didn't want to name the school she founded after herself, or any of the donors who helped raise its walls. Instead she named it after the supernatural beings the school was founded to protect, and ever since that has been our sole mission."

I'm sure. Phoenix are terribly valuable in the magic community. Their hearts—ourhearts, if she's right about why I survived the pyre—can power dark magic spells and even turn objects into gold. Grims, necromantic summoners of dark spirits and demons from beyond the veil, are capable of tracking them and stealing the power phoenix are reborn with.

If I've lived my life being hunted until now, it'll be twice as worse when Grims figure out what I am. And I don't even really now how my magic works, or why it is the way that it is.

"Well?" Headmaster Towers raises a brow at me; behind her, the shifter trio is starting to get antsy. "Have you figured out what you want?"

I don't have to think far. I know that tonight, I'll dream about my sister's soul, unmoored from its proper path into the afterlife because of what the Heretic has done with her body. I just don't know if this woman and her school can help me.

"Do you know how to track people? Specifically, people who are very hard to find."

"We track down newborn phoenix every day," she says. "Who are you looking for?"

"A man without a soul. One who has a following of disciples. He has something that I want."

"Then we'll find him," she promises me. "Just cross through those gates, and we'll not only show you how to use your powers, but also give you access to the best trackers there are: shifters. No one can find a scent trail better than them."

I'm sure. The Heretic isn't a normal man, and he doesn't leave a normal scent behind. But I can't exactly find and fight him by myself right now. The only chance I have of laying Lizzy to rest properly and sending her spirit to the other side is to get to the top of my game.

"Show me this school." Looking behind her shoulder, I can sense a great well of magic. "It's behind some sort of illusion spell, isn't it?"

"And many miles away from this parking lot. Follow me..."

She's waiting for my name. "Ari Wolfe, witch at large."

"This way, Ari."

Chapter 7

Apparently the trioof shifters is along for the ride, too, because they're right on my heels as I follow the headmaster towards the fence in the back of the parking lot. I can feel a prickle between my shoulder blades; when I glance behind me, the pale one is glowering in my direction. I'm almost impressed by the longevity of his irritation. Most people can't hold a scowl that long.

"What's your deal?" I frown at him. "You were the wolf, right? You're acting like I stabbed you."

"You shot Xavier." His voice comes out a low, deep growl, just like the predator he shifts into. "You could've killed him if you'd known what you were doing."

"But she didn't. I'm still alive." The boy with the glasses, who must be Xavier, has a light, neutral tone to his voice. "Also, wedidtry to attack her."

"Yeah," his twin says, "whatwasthat magic, anyway? I've never felt anything like that before. It was badass."

I'm about to tell them that I have no idea what the magic is, other than the fact that it made a man choke down his own "dick" and die, when the headmaster cuts in.

"Save the questions forafterthe tour, boys. I'm glad you found Ari, but I'm sure she's lost enough right now without enduring a questioning."

She flips open a keypad next to a wide gate cleverly hidden in the fence, its hinges flat and nearly invisible. I try to catch the code she punches into the keypad, but the headmaster is a clever woman, and she cups her hand over her fingers as they input the numbers.

There goes my hope that I might come and go from this secret school's campus whenever I please, sneaking out to look for signs of the Heretic and returning without notice.

I hear a mutter from behind me, "Can't believe we're lettingherin. Do we even know what type of phoenix she is? I've never heard of powers like that before."

"You don't pay attention during history class, David," Xavier responds. "They're very rare, to the extent that their existence is disputed, but Blue Phoenix are real."

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