Page 16 of Stealing Embers
I narrow my eyes. It’s in my nature to be suspicious of deals.
“What kind of deal?”
“You stay here for six months, until your eighteenth birthday—” She holds up a hand when I open my mouth to protest. “You stay here for that long. Not a single day less. Let us teach you about our world. All the strange things out there. How your power works. How to use it—”
“Wait, I have a power?” If that’s true, it’s several shades of awesome.
“And when you turn eighteen,” she continues without acknowledging me, “you can go wherever you want.”
“How do you know when my birthday is?” I ask. A note stating the date of my birth and my name, and a yellow baby blanket were the only two things I was left with after someone abandoned me on the steps of a fire station sixteen and a half years ago. The note is currently tucked away in a social worker’s file cabinet. The blanket is most likely molding in a pile of landfill debris. I don’t expect to see either of them again.
“We’ve seen your files.”
“I’ll bet that was an interesting read.” I suck my bottom lip into my mouth and saw my teeth back and forth. “What’s the catch?”
“No catch. The only thing you will have lost is a few months. But what you’ll have gained—besides steady meals and a place to sleep—is the knowledge you’ve been robbed of all your life. I understand you don’t really know me, and you don’t know the others at all, but I can promise we only want to help you.”
I turn her words over in my mind. The years have taught me to be naturally wary of people, but having a place to stay is a pretty big bonus. This bed is amazing. And if what she says is true and there are other people like me—whether this angel thing is a hoax or not—it’ll be good to know more about the crazy that is my life.
On the other hand, this might be some sort of cult that wants to sacrifice me to some pagan god.
Oh gosh, why did I think that?
A shiver runs down my spine.
As long as I can rule out the cult thing, the smartest move would be to learn as much as possible and then hightail it out of here the second I turn eighteen.
If I take this deal, then for the next six months I’ll be fed, get decent sleep, and hopefully learn how to properly protect myself. After all, the group who fought the shadow beasts held their own. And I’m seventy-six percent sure one of them is a shape shifter of some sort.
Ohhhh . . . what ifIcould do that?
“So, start by telling me about these magical powers.”
A slow smile overtakes Sable’s face. Her eyes sparkle with warmth and she holds out a hand.
“Bathe first. After we get some food in you, I’ll sit down and answer whatever questions you have.”
Bringing a hand up to my head, I wince when I touch my crunchy hair. It’s been a little too long since I’ve had a decent shower.
I’ll accept her terms. Get cleaned, get fed, and get answers. I can live with that.
Taking her outstretched hand, I pump it twice.
“Welcome to Seraph Academy. I think you’re going to like it here.”
Chapter Five
So. Many. People.
After taking an elevator several floors down—apparently half this academy is underground—we only make it two steps into the giant windowless room before a sea of dark-haired, light-eyed faces snap in our direction.
Or rather, my direction. Sable isn’t the oddity.
I feel each set of eyes on me like a brand.
This is one of my nightmares come to life. Having spent my life keeping to the shadows, the attention of an entire room of teenagers makes my skin crawl.
It’s so quiet, I can hear my own ragged breathing. Heat seeps up my neck and overtakes my face.