FAUSTINE (Bonfire Chronicles) Read online

  It sure was. Our social gatherings at the Academy had been more traditional, as in old-fashioned–think ballroom dancing.

  “Glad to see you and Viola here,” I said to Audrey. “Very handy that our hearing is so good! I wonder how the regular humans communicate through this noise.”

  “I have no idea...” she shrugged.

  “Did you guys remember to feed?” I asked. Best to make sure.

  “Yeah. You?” I nodded, thinking back to the yummy steak I had devoured before I got dressed. Just the thought almost made me drool. “Have you seen anyone else from the Academy?”

  “Just your little gift from Neave. Sheesh, that girl is persistent. Took us forever to track him down.”

  “Gift? Him? Who?” I asked bemusedly.

  “That would be me,” a voice said from behind me.

  I turned around and found myself looking into the intent blue eyes of Ryker. I stopped breathing.

  “Dance?” he asked, holding out his hand.

  I was going to kill that witch! Where was she? What did she say to Ryker to make him come here? I accepted the dance with him by taking his hand. I was too mortified to refuse. I could feel my cheeks reddening in a deep blush that must have made my face glow as I followed him to the dance floor. I hoped I wasn’t luminescent! I was good at the waltz and could hold my own through a tango or foxtrot–but this? Looking around, I was fairly certain that I was not equipped for this kind of dancing. I could try to copy the movements, but I was sure I was going to end up looking ridiculous, an uncoordinated mess. Perfect. How much more embarrassing could this get? Just as I was about to attempt swaying aimlessly from side to side, Ryker put his hands on my waist and pulled me toward him. I felt flames rip through my body. I tingled all over as he nuzzled against my hair while we swayed gently from side to side with the pulse of the music. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the moment, desperately trying to remain standing, though my legs wanted to buckle beneath me. Ryker held me firmly as the music pounded around us. I felt myself getting lost in his arms, forgetting all the bodies around us. And so we swayed, through music change after change, until Neave nudged me from behind.

  “Come on!” she smirked. “You have others to meet. Enough of the PDA for now.”

  I extracted myself reluctantly from Ryker’s arms. I didn’t want this magic to ever end. It was bizarre. I had never talked to him, yet I felt totally connected with him. What if he left and never came back? This dance may be it, the gift from Neave. He didn’t let go, not completely. His hand slid from my back to my hand, which he squeezed as we followed Neave back to the booth. I wondered if there was a way to maintain this silence between us and communicate solely by touch. Surely, speaking would ruin this, whatever this was. Maybe Ryker felt the same. He didn’t say a word as we walked, just getting behind me and wrapping his arms around me as Neave introduced me to a bunch of people.

  “Nicole, Kelsey, this is Faustine. She’s just back from a prep school in Switzerland.”

  “Cool!” they both exclaimed in unison.

  “It was. It was fun.”

  “And who are you?” Nicole asked, looking up at Ryker.

  “A friend of Faustine’s. We attended the same school in Switzerland,” he explained. The warmth from his breath as he spoke made me rub the back of my head against his chest. Although it was weird for me to be so touchy-feely with anyone, it seemed natural with him.

  “Cool,” Nicole approved. “So, you are Lady Annabel’s daughter?”

  “Yes. Do you know her?” I asked in surprise.

  “Everyone knows of her, but I haven’t met her yet. Our moms were debutants together. So was Kelsey’s mom. So, we’re hoping that you’ll sit with us at school.”

  I assumed that sit with us was code for be in our group. That would be cool as long as Neave could sit with us, as well. And the vamp twins. I wanted them in our group, too. I smiled at Nicole. “Yeah, that sounds cool. I assume Neave and the twins will sit with us as well?”

  The smile faded from Nicole’s face. “Well, we...” she spluttered. “I just meant you. The rest of the group would have to approve any other members.”

  “Who’s the leader?” I asked. I would obviously take over when I could be bothered, but whoever it was for now would have to bend the rules.

  “Taylor,” Kelsey said. “She’s not here. She’ll be back from Long Island tomorrow.”

  “Well, run it past her. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a deal breaker. Who else is in the group?”

  “A few others. Let’s meet up for dinner tomorrow. You can meet them then,” Nicole suggested.

  “I can’t tomorrow. I have something else planned,” I said. Something else, indeed. With a bunch of paranormals. If they only knew! “How about Monday, before school? You can come over to my place for breakfast.”

  “Cool!” Nicole smiled. “I’ll get the girls together. You mentioned twins?”

  “Yes. Audrey and Viola. They were here.... Neave, have you seen them recently?”

  “No, they’re probably on the dance floor.”

  “There they are,” Ryker whispered into my ear, and I followed the direction of his finger with my eyes.

  “Hey!” I shouted, beckoning them over.

  “Hey! Did you two finally talk?” Viola laughed, giving Ryker and me the look.

  Awkward. I ignored her. “Viola, Audrey, this is Nicole and Kelsey.”

  I could feel the twins smirking. Nicole and Kelsey were typically Upper East Side, very unlike the twins, who were more at home here in the Village. I was glad that they were going to be at same school, though. It would be a refreshing change from the same old, same old. We’d shake things up a bit.

  “Hey, nice to meet you,” Viola replied. The twins politely extended their hands.

  “We’re all going to the same school,” I explained.

  I felt Ryker suddenly straighten up and look around. It felt like a heavy, dark aura was invading our space. “What is it?” I whispered, looking over at Neave, who was also looking around.

  “What?” Nicole asked. “Why do you guys look so worried all of a sudden?”

  “Come with me,” Luke said, suddenly appearing behind Neave.

  Had he been here all this time? I hadn’t noticed.

  “You too, Ryker, Audrey and Viola,” Luke instructed.

  We followed him out of the booth. As we made our way through the crowds toward the exit, Ryker’s hand was still firmly planted on the small of my back.

  Suddenly, from out of nowhere, we heard an ear-splitting scream. We stopped dead, as did everyone else in the room. We stood frozen in our spots. The music was turned off, and everyone waited. Then, the sound filled the room again–a blood-curling, high-pitched screech.

  “It’s coming from over there,” I said and pointed toward the restrooms. “Let’s go–” Before I could get another word out, mass hysteria ensued. Everyone around us started screaming, pushing and generally freaking out. Ryder took hold of me firmly, pulled me toward the bar and lifted me over it. Neave and the others followed. Together, we hid behind the bar, watching everyone else trying to scramble out the doors.

  Luke crawled over to me. “Faustine, I’m going to take you home. Come with me. Ryker, could you get the twins home?”

  “Home? You’ve got to be kidding! We need to find out what that noise was,” I said.

  “No, we don’t,” Luke said firmly.

  I flashed my ring at him. “Yes. We. Do,” I said firmly and climbed back over the bar. The room was much less crowded now, more than half the people had gone, and the rest were getting ready to leave. Through the open doors, I saw cop cars arriving, and shortly afterward, uniformed policemen strode in. I watched them walk over to the men’s restroom. Within seconds, a lockdown was ordered. The club doors were firmly shut, preventing anyone else from exiting.

  “I wonder what’s going on,” I whispered, looking up at Luke who was standing next to me.

  “I have no idea, but this lockdown
is not good. It means we’re all about to be questioned.”

  “Well, we’ll just tell them what we heard,” I shrugged.

  “Princess, they are going to wonder about our eyes. They’ll probably think we’re high and want blood tests. Not good.”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  “I can get Faustine out. But that still leaves you, Luke,” Ryker said.

  “I can temporarily make my eyes seem less red. But, the main thing is that Faustine gets out. Can you take her home?”

  “Attention, everyone!” boomed a loud voice through the speakers. “We have a situation. Everyone remain calm. An officer will come around and take your contact information so we can let you go home. We’ll update you when we can.”

  “Faustine, go,” Luke directed.

  “Hold on! I want to know what’s going on first.”

  “You didn’t hear?” Luke asked, looking at me in confusion.

  “I heard the screech all right. Now I want to know what’s going on.”

  “Weren’t you eavesdropping on the conversation in the restroom between the cops?” He shrugged.

  Embarrassing. What kind of a pathetic demon was I? I bet even the vamp twins knew what was going on. They had enhanced hearing as well. I was the only one who had totally forgotten to use mine. Sheesh. May as well send this ring right back to Dorian. I pursed my lips at Luke and heard Neave let out a snort.

  “Really?” Luke asked, amazed.

  “Just tell her,” Audrey said in an exasperated voice.

  “They found a body in the men’s restroom. It was totally mangled, shredded to bits like an animal had been at it,” he said, looking at the vamp twins.

  “It wasn’t us!” Viola spluttered. “We fed before we came. And I don't care how hungry we are, we would never go into the men’s room to feed. Gross. Besides, shredded? Sounds more like a werewolf’s M.O.”

  “Anyhow,” I said, “that doesn’t explain the sound we heard. It couldn’t have come from the victim; it was too... well, not human.”

  “Faustine, I need you out of here. Now. The cops are just starting to make the rounds. So, unless you can dial down the red, get out of here. Now,” Luke ordered.

  “Ready?” Ryker whispered, and drew me close to him. I had no idea how he was planning to get me out. All I felt was a warm blanket of peace and a floaty feeling as I closed my eyes. When I opened them seconds later, I was back in my bedroom.

  “Wow! How did you do that?” I asked.

  He smiled. His lips curled more on the left side of his mouth. Cute.

  “Do you know that’s the first thing you’ve ever said to me?”

  I nodded.

  “Do you know what I am?”

  “A Wanderer,” I whispered.

  “Close. I’m a Sigma-Wanderer, which means I can travel geographically, as well as through time and dimensions. So transporting you over here was relatively easy.”

  “Well, thanks. I owe you one.”

  He laughed. “Let me take you out to dinner.”

  “Sure. By the way, how did you know about the party, anyway? Did Neave contact you?”

  He plunked himself down on my bed. I sure hoped that Mom wouldn’t pop into my room. I would be so grounded for having a boy in here!

  “It was Audrey, actually, who told me about the party. But, I’m guessing Neave initiated it. I’ve wanted to ask you out for ages, so it was pretty cool to hear that you have the hots for me,” he grinned.

  “Now, wait...” I protested, feeling my face turning a molten shade of red.

  Ryker grabbed my hand and pulled me down to sit next to him. “I’m just messing with you. But seriously, I’m glad they set us up. I've totally had a thing for you for a really long time.”

  “Why didn’t you ever speak to me?”

  “To tell you the truth, I was–am–a bit afraid.”

  I laughed. “You’re afraid of me?”

  “You’re a demon,” he replied matter-of-factly.

  “Half demon,” I corrected. “And I’m a demon princess, which means that I don’t go around creating havoc. That would be very unprincessy of me.”

  “What about your demon temper?” he asked.

  “It used to be a problem. That’s why I was sent to the Academy. But I have it under control now.”

  “Come here,” he said, and pulled me down to rest my head on his shoulder. “I really like you,” he whispered, and turned to brush his lips against mine. I wasn’t sure how to respond; this had never happened to me before. I moved my lips gently across his. I could feel myself warming up, starting to feel hot. He parted my lips slightly with his and kissed me. I moved against him, feeling more and more drawn to him, like I was falling into him. And I was on fire–literally. My skin was burning. This was beyond embarrassing; I pulled back.

  “What’s wrong?” Ryker whispered, and then opened his eyes. “Wow! You’re glowing!”

  Awkward. My skin was glowing like a fire was illuminating it from the inside. We sat in silence, watching my glowing skin. The glow started to subside after a few minutes, then disappeared entirely.

  “That was... amazing,” Ryker muttered. “How did that happen?” Then he smirked. “Never mind. Did it hurt?”

  I shook my head. “It burned a bit, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. This is so embarrassing. I’m sorry. I guess you want to go?”

  “Go? Why? You mean ‘cause your skin starts glowing when I kiss you? Don’t be silly. We’ll just have to take it easy. Just to make sure you don’t explode or anything,” he laughed.

  I grabbed a pillow and thumped him with it. And kept hitting him. This wasn’t funny; tears were streaming down my face. Why couldn’t I just be normal? Like Mom.

  “Hey, hey, hey,” he said, grabbing my wrists and pulling me into his chest tightly. “It’s going to be fine. I’m sorry for teasing you.”

  I lay back against him, recomposing myself.

  A sharp tap on the door made me pull away from Ryker. I motioned for him to get into my closet. With Ryker safely stashed away, I opened the door.

  “Hey,” Luke said, walking in with Neave and the twins. “Your mom told us to come straight in after we explained what happened at the party.”

  “Wassup?” Ryker asked, walking out of my closet.

  “It was just like we thought; the cops questioned us. Obvious stuff, mostly, about what we’d heard or seen. Who else had been at the party? Etcetera, etcetera. They took down our names and contact information, then just let us go. There’s more, though,” Luke added cryptically. “Audrey will tell you. It’s not good, so prepare yourself.”

  “Faustine, as you know, I can hear human thoughts, the same as you. In addition, I can also visualize them, if those thoughts are strong enough. The cop who was questioning us had been in the men’s restroom. He was obviously traumatized by what he had seen, and his thoughts were preoccupied with visuals from the restroom. I could see them quite clearly. I won’t describe the gory state of the body, but I want to draw your attention to something else.” She paused.

  “What?”

  She chewed on her upper lip. “Brace yourself. On the far end of the restroom, just above the sink, written in red on the mirror was a note.” She stopped again.

  “Oh come on, out with it,” I said impatiently.

  She nodded. “It said, Eat That, Demon Princess.”

  Awakened by sunlight streaming through my window, I turned to the giant pink bunny on my bed and sighed. Playtime was over. One thing was clear: I would need to take this demon-sovereign thing seriously. Very seriously. Whoever had left that bloody note for me clearly meant it as a warning. But, a warning about what? Maybe it was a warning not to try to govern London in my dad’s absence. Like I had a choice. It was pretty clear that I didn’t. Given the option, I’d much rather spend my time being a normal teen and concentrating all my efforts on becoming queen bee at school. Sheesh, it was going to take an enormous amount of effort to navigate the complicated politics of high school. I really
didn’t need this extra load added to my daily routine.

  From out of nowhere, I felt a sudden breeze across my face, just before Ryker appeared.

  “Oh my gosh! You scared me!” I said, sitting up.

  “Sorry! I thought you’d want some company after what happened last night.”

  “I do, but I want to get dressed first. Can you meet me in half an hour? Just ring the front doorbell, and I’ll invite you in for breakfast.”

  “Okay. Parting kiss?”

  I smiled and kissed his nose before he disappeared again. I’d have to get used to his wandering. Poof, he was here. Poof, he was gone. Weird stuff. And, we’d have to make some rules. No appearing just whenever! That could lead to all kinds of embarrassing moments. I sighed. He did make me feel pretty wonderful, but I would have to learn to rein in my emotions. I closed my eyes and relived the sensations I’d felt when he’d kissed me last night. I felt the same burning sensation start up again in my hands, and I tried holding my breath to temper it. It seemed to work, but I would need to practice some more. Now wasn’t the time, though.

  I got ready fast. It was going to be a busy day. I threw on a blue cotton dress after a quick shower, then blow dried my hair. A dab of lip gloss and I was ready. The doorbell sounded as I walked into the dining room. Mom was already sitting at the table, leafing through a newspaper, so I waved at her to indicate that I would get the door.

  “Mom, this is Ryker. He’s a friend from Bonfire Academy,” I introduced, as they shook hands.

  “Nice to meet you, Ryker,” Mom said, pointing him to a chair. “Sit down and have some breakfast with us. Are you allowed to tell me what you are, being from the Academy?” she queried.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Lady Annabel. Sure, I can share that with you. I’m a Wanderer.”

  “Oh, lovely. Sigma?”

  “Mom? You know about Wanderers?” I asked, surprised. “I’d never heard of them before I went to the Academy.”

  “I’ve picked up on a few things since I met your father,” she smiled. “Have you heard from him, by the way? He was going to pop in for dinner last night but didn’t show.”

  “Nope. But I wasn’t really expecting to hear from him,” I said. No point in worrying her. Mom had been told very little about the emergency, which had caused her to be sequestered temporarily at the Waldorf. Thankfully, over the years, Mom had learned not to meddle or ask too many questions about the paranormal activities surrounding my dad. The secrecy must irk her, though, along with all of those unexplained dinner no-shows.