Ex Nihilo Academy (16 page)

“Some do, like those in positions of power who built this
meeting place for us.” Mohan clarifies.

“And what are you proposing exactly?” I urge Alan to continue, ignoring the dirty looks Rossum is shooting me. I’m not surprised to find that he’s so much like his daughter. I guess the apple really doesn’t fall
that far from the tree. Alan’s lips curl into a grin that I can only describe as frightening.

“I propose that we take back what is ours. Reveal our true powers and take our place as rightful leaders. Feed freely, practice freely, live
freely.”

“You want to come out of the closet?” I add and Zaros snorts.

“I don’t believe I understand the reference?” Alan scowls.

“Well, you would Alan if you took your head out of your ass
and actually got to know the world you’re living in now. My vote remains unchanged. You will lose.” Zaros says passionately.

“Zaros is right, Alan. In doing what you seek to do we will
lose the advantage of discretion. Right now we remain under the radar. We are free to feed and practice and live as we see fit without interference. I am with Zaros.” Mohan affirms.

“You side with him because you are both weak and because you
are afraid of these bags of flesh who live and die by our watches.”

“I am not afraid. I am a realist.” Mohan counters. “There are billions of humans on the planet and while they may be fragile their weaponry and brute force are not. The world has changed Alan, and to them we
will be nothing more than terrorists out to change their way of life. And while we may have some advantages our losses will be greater than the sum of our powers. Peaceful, unaware coexistence is the only way.” A heavy silence fills
the air before all of the glasses on the tables in front of us start to shake. They implode and shatter simultaneously, flooding the tables with pools of water that drip on to the marble floor.

“Not necessary, Zander.” Mohan says with distaste.

“Living with humans is not necessary when dominating them seems like much more fun. I side with Alan.” He says without the slightest inflection of emotion.

“As you can see princess, we are at an impasse.” Zaros says
dryly.

“Let me tip the vote then.” I put on my most authoritative voice. “I know I’m not what you expected and probably not who you want but I’m ready to take my rightful place on the Council and I do not take this
responsibility lightly. I want this. I want to carry on the legacy and to represent my people fairly and honesty. I am committed and I have come a long way in a short time and I will continue my training and studies full force to
develop my abilities.” Rossum snorts and Mohan shoots him a look. “My vote is no. From everything I have seen in my time at Ex Nihilo coexistence has served us well and will continue to do so.”

“But you are biased!” Rossum yells. “You have lived among
humans for longer than you’ve known your true self which makes you unfit for service. Are we really going to listen to a child?” Rossum's face has turned bright red and his hands are balled into fists. “Be mindful of who you are
speaking to Rossum. She is the heir of the fairy throne and what you are saying borders on blasphemy.” Mohan gives him another measured look and Rossum snaps his mouth shut.

“It is true that I may not know all of your customs and ways
yet but I know my parents and I know what they would have wanted. My mother was a woman of integrity and she believed in doing what was right even if it meant putting that above yourself. My answer is still no and I will take my seat, unless all of you can tell give me some reason why I cannot?” I survey the
room, the challenge in my voice clear. The Council has gone quiet. I have them on a technicality and they know it. Professor Winters made sure that there’s nothing in any of the doctrine preventing me from ascending to the throne as
long as I can prove that I am of sound mind and judgment.

“I think that we’ve said everything that we came here to say and Alan, your motion is denied. Let’s reconvene next month and hopefully by
then we will have moved on to more relevant matters, lest our people think that we have lost our edge.” Mohan steps to the podium to adjourn.

“We lost our edge a long time ago. This isn’t over.” Alan stands abruptly and heads toward the door.

“I now call the 10,095 Council meeting to a close.” I gape at the number he spouts off and Mohan shrugs apologetically. “That’s when we started documenting at least.” I wait until the last Council member leaves before getting up from my seat and making my way to the door. As the glass
elevator deposits me back on to the famous bridge I think to myself that it went better than I expected. Now I have to spend the rest of the night in an unfamiliar city before my morning flight home. I lose the suit jacket, stuffing
it in my shoulder bag, and switch my heels for flip flops. I take the tube back to the hotel and decide to stop in the lobby bar for something to eat before I head to the room. I don’t see a sign that says no minors so I take a table by
the window. The bar is all red velvet couches and crystal chandeliers with a stone hearth dominating the centre of the room. I pluck the index card sized menu from its holder and survey the selection. Chicken wings, something called
bangers and mash which does not even sound remotely appetizing, beef pot pie, a plowman’s plate. I’m frowning at the menu when a voice interrupts.

“Nothing vegetarian I take it?”

“What are you doing here?” I yelp as he slides into the
chair across from me.

“I heard they had a fine late night menu.”

“I mean in London, Luca!”

“I’ve been here the entire time. Someone has to keep an eye on you.” He sounds so smug that I want to lean over and simultaneously slap him
and kiss him.

“I don’t need a babysitter.” I say tersely.

“I know that, Lily, but someone or something is trying to kill you and I am going to make sure that doesn’t happen. Now get up because
there’s nothing you can eat here.” He stands and holds out his hand which I stare at suspiciously. He’s right of course. I’m starving and there’s nothing on the menu I can stomach so I let the bossiness slide and take his hand.

* *

There are no seats in the Japanese restaurant we are at in Soho; only cushions on the floor. It’s small and cozy and off the beaten path and the agedashi tofu and avocado roll are to die for. We have a table for two
at the back with its own privacy screen and I’m sitting on the floor cross-legged and shoeless, my flip flops piled on top of Luca’s expensive looking leather boots to the side. Prada
.
Of course, I roll my eyes.

“This place is amazing.” I say as I pop another piece of sushi into my mouth. “Sushi is my absolute favorite.”

“I know.” He says.

“How do you know?”

“Let’s just say I’m very good at finding things out about
people.”

“What you mean is that you’d make a great stalker.” I tease.

“Would I now?” His mouth hitches up into a sensual smile that makes my stomach flip. He’s not eating of course and it’s a little weird
having him watch me while he just sits there.

“Can you eat?” I ask.

“I can if I have to.”

“Why don’t you?”

“Can you eat dirt?” He asks me and I nod.

“Would you?”

“Point taken, but vampire or not you are missing out!” I wave the last piece of fried tofu in front of him and his face scrunches up.

“If I wanted to eat human food I imagine it wouldn’t be
something like that. A steak perhaps.”

I shrug and drain the rest of my jasmine tea as he slides around the table to sit next to me. The next thing I know he is nibbling on my ear and trailing kisses along my jaw and I can feel my pulse throbbing in all
of the places his mouth touches.

“It’s a little hard to concentrate on my dinner with you doing that.”

He answers with a grunt and his teeth graze my earlobe,
making me shiver all over in a way I’ve never felt before. I am nervous and excited all at once. “You have the most beautiful hair. It’s like spun gold.” He comments as he runs his fingers through it. “I’m all done.” I break contact
with him and scoot over to pick up my shoes. The server, who is a raven-haired beauty wearing a kimono that barely reaches her knees, comes by and Luca hands her his credit card without taking his eyes off me. She grins and bats her eyelashes at him and I smirk back, secretly pleased that he doesn’t even seem
to notice that she’s flirting with him.

“It’s late. I should take you back to the hotel.” His espresso dark eyes are shining and I swallow nervously as I follow him out.

We take the tube and I must look disappointed because he leans over and whispers in my ear.

“London is busy even late at night. I guarantee that someone would notice us flying back to the hotel.” He winks at me and runs his thumb
across my knuckles. Back in the room he shrugs off his fitted black leather jacket and hangs it on the back of the desk chair.

“Are you staying?” I think I want him to stay but I’m also terrified.

“If you’ll let me.” He says, his eyes giving away nothing. I
blush and nod and he tilts his head in question. “Just to sleep, Lily.”

“Vampires sleep?” I say incredulously and he laughs.

“Everyone sleeps. You’ve been watching too many movies.”

“It seems like you’ve been watching too many movies.” I counter and he looks a little guilty.

“Consider it research. I need to keep tabs on how we are portrayed.”

“And?” I press him.

“Well I definitely don’t sparkle.” He laughs again.

“I disagree.” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them and my cheeks redden in embarrassment. “So what are your weaknesses
then? Crosses? Garlic? Holy water?” I ask and his lips twitch with a suppressed smile.

“Only you, Lily. You are my weakness.”

He walks over to where the Ramones t-shirt is neatly folded on the coffee table and raises a quizzical eyebrow.

“It’s a present for Rowan.” I say and he makes a defeated sound.

“I know you are friends. I just wish that you weren’t. Where’s my present?” He says gruffly as he runs a hand through his thick, brown
hair.

“I would love to get you something. I don’t know you well enough yet. What do you like?”

“I like you.” He crosses the room to where I am standing and slips his arms around my waist, leaning down to rub his nose against mine. “I
want it to be me you are thinking of when you are wandering the streets of a strange new city, not him.”

“It is you!” I argue, looking up at him.

“Do you really believe that you know him?” I don’t know how
to answer so I kiss him gently on the mouth instead and he groans against my lips.

“Just be careful who you trust. Not everyone has your best interests at heart.” He feathers light kisses across my mouth and along my
chin.

“Do you?” I ask, breathlessly.

“Of course I do. Well, mostly.” He pulls back and winks, giving me a devilish grin before leading me over to the bed. “You must be exhausted.
It has been a long day.” “Will you lie with me?” I ask shyly.

“Anything you want.”

I kick off my flip flops and slip into the bathroom to change into my sleep shorts and tank top. I take time to brush my teeth and
wash my face before heading back to Luca. When I exit the bathroom I see that he is sprawled out on top of the covers with an arm slung over his eyes. He is shirtless and I can’t help but stare at his tanned chest, tapering down to a
v-shaped waist and disappearing into his low-slung jeans. He looks so peaceful and I don’t want to disturb him so quietly pull back the covers and climb in. When I rest my head on the pillow he rolls over and pulls my back against his front, making me shriek out loud.

“I thought you were asleep!” I gasp and he tightens his hold on my waist. “You can get under the covers if you like.” It is both a question and an invitation.

“I am a gentleman, Lily, not a saint. Just go to sleep
beautiful girl.” His voice is low and rough and his breath tickles the back of my neck. My heart is pounding so hard it feels like its going to rip right through my chest but I close my eyes and before long all of the stress of the
day finally catches up with me. Soon I’m drifting off, feeling cocooned and safe in Luca’s strong embrace.

The sky is bathed in the orange glow of sunset and streaks of red peek through the low lying clouds. The chilly wind pounds
against my wetsuit but the good surf that the spring brings makes up for the West Coast dampness that seems to soak through everything.

I’m walking along the beach in Tofino and I am eleven years old. I know this because I’m still using a foam board. The tide is all
the way out as I walk along the hard-packed sand. I glance back at my parents who are folded into beach chairs and swathed in thick, heavy blankets. A massive pile of driftwood is stacked behind them, castoff remnants from the
dense Canadian forest. I told my parents to stay at the cabin; a small A-frame with the big windows hidden in the trees near half-moon bay, but they insisted on coming. I place my board down beside me, momentarily distracted by a rock
pool that is teeming with life; a starfish, sand dollar and barnacled mussel are resting on the bottom. I’m staring at a tiny fish swimming in the shallow water when he approaches. “Lily.” His voice is deep and rough, deeper than my father’s, and he doesn’t sound like he’s from here. I look up into a pair of
dark eyes set in a face that would be otherwise handsome except for a long thick scar cutting down his cheek. “Who are you?” I pick up my board and hold is against my chest like a shield. I’m not even sure how he recognized me as
I’m in full gear with a hood and boots. “Ah but the real question is who are you?” He smiles but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’m not supposed to talk to strangers.” I mumble, looking back over my shoulder at my parents who are
now watching with interest, and his eyes follow mine. “They cannot hide you forever. Soon you will know who I am and you will know what I am capable of.” I am shivering inside my wetsuit and I know it’s from more than just the wind.
“I’m going to tell my parents.” I say with a shaky voice and he just grins. “Tell them I said hello. I look forward to seeing you soon, princesa.”

* *

I wake up to an empty bed and to the shrill of a phone
ringing in my ear. I roll over on to the note Luca has left and see a vase of crisp white lilies sitting on the night table that instantly makes me smile. I pick up the receiver and yawn a hello into the phone.

“Miss Hughes? We have your car waiting.” I rub my forehead
to try and remove the cobwebs.

“I didn’t order a car.”

“I’m sorry, miss, but I’ve been told that your presence is required immediately in the lobby.” The bellhop sounds flustered and I can hear
a muffled argument in the background before another voice comes over the line.

“Bella princesa. You said that you are ready for the Council and there’s been an incident that requires your participation. So
congratulations, hada, it’s your first field trip.” Alan Martinez’s voice sounds like gravel wrapped in silk and it makes me shudder. Before I can respond the dial tone hums in my ear. I should’ve known it couldn’t be as easy as showing up to London and declaring myself.

Ten minutes later I’m dressed and in the back of a stretch limo facing Alan and the rest of the Council members. Mohan speaks first.

“There’s been an incident in a small village in Macedonia. A
rogue group of vampires and witches have revealed themselves and they are taking liberties with the townspeople.” Zaros rolls his yellow eyes.

“What he means, princess is that they’ve gone medieval and are spelling and feeding at will. If it’s not contained we risk some serious
backlash. And if we’re not careful we could have another Salem on our hands.”

“The Salem witch trials were a result of a reveal?” I remember learning about them in class back in California and I shake my head in
disbelief.

“Yes, a messy and poorly executed reveal, which coincidentally was my only objection.” Alan smiles wickedly.

“If you and Zander had anything to do with this you know what it will mean.” Mohan adds angrily and the vampire leader waves his hand in
response.

“If I did I wouldn’t tell you. But you must know that it is simply the evolution of our species and it’s happening right before your eyes.”

“That goes for you too, Zander. You’d better be on board to clean house because until it is otherwise doctrine revealing oneself to and interfering with humans is punishable by death. You do remember, don’t you?” Zaros raises his voice.

“Don’t worry my little green friend. I will aid you in your silly eastern European clean up only because I know that as hard as you try you cannot change the coming tide.” Zander calmly responds. Rossum is noticeably silent on the ride, pausing only to glare in my general direction from time to
time.

“We’re not driving there?” I ask, confused and Alan snorts.

“Do they not teach you geography in the Americas? We are going to a private airfield to catch our flight.” He is clearly putting me down
and I can feel my anger bubbling up.

“I know where Macedonia is Mr. Martinez, hence my initial confusion. My question to you is do you know the gross domestic product of Spain in relation to the ‘Americas’ as you call them?”

“Ha!” Zaros claps his hands together and Mohan winks at me. Alan chooses to purse his lips and stare out the window like a child in a tantrum and I feel a surge of pleasure at winning this round. We arrive at the
airfield and are escorted to a private jet not unlike the one my parents used to charter. I wonder how I could’ve been as blind as to not realize that people having their own planes was not a normal part of everyday life, especially not
for sales people in the so-called import/export business.

After a three hour flight we land in Skopje and take another hour long drive to the village in an SUV with blacked out windows. I check my new phone and see that I have about eight thousand missed voice and text
messages from Luca. We are definitely going to have to have a talk about boundaries when I get back.

“Trouble in paradise?” Zaros says jokingly and I shrug. “Give the guy a break, princess. You are a beautiful girl and I’ve never seen
him act the way he does when he’s around you.” I blush at Zaros assessment.

“That’s because you never see him. You can’t come out in the daylight, remember?” “I’m a Council member and I have my ways.” He winks.
“Though I regret that unless the sun sets soon I’ll be forced to remain in the car for the clean up.”

“That must be hard for you, being limited only to the darkness.” I say.

“It is and it isn’t. You get used to it and nighttime has
its advantages.” Zaros is still wearing his cargo shorts and today a Quicksilver graphic tee, which is not very hobbit-esque at all. He grins, displaying the two rows of shark-like teeth and I think about Tristan’s comment
about the trolls eating goats. I’m not entirely sure that I want to know what he means by ‘nighttime advantages’. The sun is setting when we arrive at the village and my jaw drops when I step out of the car. The town is built along
one long dirt road which is flanked by the skeletons of bare trees. At the end of the road is a main square where we have parked and the scene before us is part war-torn country news footage and part B-grade horror film. Most of the grey stone cottages are in ruin with their windows smashed out and their dusty
red clay roofs still smoldering from recent fires. Mangy dogs pace around the bodies of corpses that are piled beside the tavern. Tables and chairs have been dragged out from inside the tavern and are scattered around the square. The
tables are occupied by vampires, some of whom are openly feeding. A semi-circle of witches surround a raised platform where they are toying with a woman, who they have suspended in the air by magic. Her screams are muffled and I notice
that her mouth has been sealed shut as if sewn together. I recognize it as a silence spell we learned about in class. I can taste the bile rising up in my throat and I swallow down my nausea. Even though I’ve never seen a dead body before I don’t want to be sick in front of these people because they will see
it as a sign of weakness. The rest of the Council minus Zaros steps out of the car. Alan surveys the damage with a bored detachment while Mohan’s face screws up in disgust. Rossum clears his throat.

“This is definitely more damage than I was expecting but it’s nothing we can’t handle.” I notice that he emphasizes the ‘we’ and Mohan just shakes his head then looks at me. “Unfortunately, Lily, containment is something that we have to do from time to time, though it’s been awhile since
I’ve witnessed an event of this magnitude. I wonder whatever could’ve spawned such noxious behavior.” His voice drips with sarcasm as he turns to Alan. “Your people, your move. How do you want to proceed?” Alan laughs. “I see witches
among them as well, Mohan.”

I continue to watch as the vampires feed and a few turn and notice our presence. One in particular drops the body from his lap and sprints down the road.

“Uh… guys?” I say, not sure what to do next.

Mohan takes notice and shifts into wolf form right before my eyes. One minute I’m standing beside the slight, Indian professor and the next I’m beside a giant inky black wolf. He looks at me with the same warm amber
eyes before chasing after the vampire and catching him by the leg. Mohan drags him back to the square. Another vampire, witnessing the exchange also tries to run but Zander flicks his wrist and lifts him into the air as easily as a
feather, then slams him to the ground. Alan goes after two witches who try and throw a paralysis spell at him but he is too fast. He is a blur, moving much faster than I’ve ever seen Luca move, and he grabs both by the scruffs of the
neck and knocks their heads together leaving them to fall to the ground unconscious. Meanwhile villagers run screaming in every direction, some holding their hands against the ugly red gashes on their necks. The woman who is levitated crashes to the ground and unleashes a blood curdling scream, her
mouth now unbound.

“We need to rein this in before we lose the witnesses. If they reach the next village with this story I fear there will be very real consequences for us.” Zaros says emerging from the car now that the sun has
dipped behind the mountains.

“Well what are we waiting for? They all need to be eliminated.” Rossum says matter-of-factly.

“We are going to kill innocent people?” I stammer and Alan
smirks at me.

“Can’t stomach it, princesa? Its necessary collateral damage I’m afraid. That is, unless you have a better idea?” I can hear the mocking challenge in his voice.

“In fact I do.” In fact I don’t, but I have to think of
something fast because I can’t watch these people die. I purse my lips in concentration and say the words over and over in my head.

‘Ignius, Ignius, Ignius.’ A line of flames appears at my feet and I mentally stretch it around the perimeter of the square, sending it snaking down the dirt road and around the villagers so it traps them in. I so desperately want them all to stop moving and be still so I can save them from their fate and I’m thinking it and wishing for it and suddenly all of the
humans around me are frozen in place. When I look over my shoulder I see that all of the Council members including Rossum are gaping at me. Even Alan looks begrudgingly impressed. Mohan, who has shifted back, speaks first.

“You did a time stop. On your own. And someone of your age should not be able to summon that much fire.”

“I told you she was powerful.” Zaros says smugly.

“How did you do it?” Rossum challenges, eyeing my
suspiciously. “Time stops are an ancient fairy power that is nearly impossible to do and it requires a group of us acting together to channel our power.”

“You mean the frozen people?” I say back. “I thought that
was Zander. I didn’t do that.”

“Yes princess, you did.” Zaros says quietly. “And I’ve never seen anything like it. It would seem that you belong among us even more than you think.”

“So what? People are frozen and the ground is on fire. How
does that help us at all?” Rossum shouts, waving his hands in the air.

“It’s simple, Rossum.” I say as if speaking to a toddler. “There is no danger of anyone leaving and running off to another village. Alan
can use his mind wipe talents to clear their memories and no one has to die.”

“If I must.” Alan shrugs. “But it seems like a waste of time to me.”

“Well I say that we take advantage of Lily’s gifts and get
this place cleaned up so we can get home. How long do you think it will hold?” Mohan says to me.

“Mohan, I don’t even know what I just did.” I answer honestly and he pats my shoulder. “Then we will just have to hurry.” Zaros
adds.

“Undisciplined. She may have powers but she has no control over them. She is a liability.” Rossum seethes and I choose to ignore him, focusing all of my energy on keeping the ring of fire lit and holding the
people still. Once Alan has finished glamoring the villagers they round up all of the supernatural’s, who I notice are completely unaffected by the time stop. There are about fifteen of them in total and they are mostly vampires with only a few witches. Some are injured but all of them are dazed so they don’t resist
when Alan pushes them to their knees.

“What do you have to say for yourselves?” Mohan asks with his usual authority and they seem to wither under his glare.

“We only acted in the name of Alan. We too support the great
reveal.” One says and Alan waves his hand dismissively.

“Your actions are self-indulgent. Unless I command you to do something then make no mistake, you are not doing it in my name. I chose when
and how to lead my people to greatness - not you.”

The witches are chanting in low voices when Zander cuts them off. “You don’t speak for me either. Your selfishness undermines my cause. You are like little children who lack discipline.”