Day Break Academy Series book 1

Chapter 14: Ladies Night

"Ow!" My face scrunched up as Torri squeezed my existence into the sparkly blue club dress that felt ten sizes too small. Width, and length I grimaced, hopelessly tugging the hem down a millimetre to cover my barely concealed ass cheeks.

"There, see? Perfect fit!" She Beamed, managing to close the rest of the zipper.

I gazed at myself in awe. The magic Torri wielded to complete my hair and make up was otherworldly. I hoped one day when I learned to harness my magic, I'd be able to do that as well. My eyes were rimmed in a dark smoky umber, with thick black lashes that made the cerulean blues of my irises pop, and my nude lips were dusted with a hint of rose. My pale ashy hair shimmered like the sun reflected over fresh snow as it cascaded in loose waves over my bare shoulders, framing my face just right.

"Wow…I look…"

"If you don't like it I can fix it…" Torri interrupted casually, but I could hear the vaguely disguised hurt behind the words.

"No, it's incredible! Thank you, honest" I turned to her with appreciation.

Her cheeks flushed and she waved me off, "it's nothing, let's grab you some shoes." She scanned her open closet, before reaching down and tossing a pair at me.

I raised an eyebrow, jaw agape, as I took in the five inch silver stilettos with criss crossed open toes. "Umm…i don't think I'll be able to stand in these, let alone walk" I admitted.

"Nonsense, you're thinking like a human again, your balance is way better as a vampire."

"Yeah, unless somebody trips you" I muttered.

"Ugh, forget that b***h, we're supposed to be having fun tonight" she pouted.

I sighed, plastered on a confident smile, and gave her a nod.

"Shuttle leaves in fifteen , let's get going," she said walking towards the door.

Her dark chocolate hair was pin straight falling down her back like an oil slick. The mini hot pink dress she donned was long-sleeved with a plunging neckline that went all the way to her belly button. Black pumps completed her outfit. She looked every bit the club hopping diva. Gorgeous as she'd done me up, I felt out of place without my jeans and sneakers. She was right however, for a moment I forgot I was wearing heels as we glided effortlessly towards the elevator shaft, and my confidence rose a little bit.

We had spent the afternoon concocting potions, and had them sealed safely away in vials for tomorrow morning's pranks. I couldn't wait for it. I was happy to sit around the room and catch up on my history of magic, but Torri convinced me to head out with her to the Twisted Cauldron, a bar on the outskirts of Dovinia. Saturdays were ladies night so we didn't have to pay.

"Do we have a curfew?" I wondered.

She gave me a sideways glance and a snicker, "not on weekends no, but Monday to Friday we're forbidden to leave campus without Vahlmers consent. People still sneak off of course, but it's not worth the trouble, Vahlmer's fair but it's not wise to get on her bad side. Good thing is the shuttles head to downtown Dovinia every fifteen minutes on Saturdays and Sundays all around the clock."

I nodded thoughtfully, and tucked that tidbit away for later.

We arrived at the shuttle just on time, the trip to get to Twisted Cauldron taking less than ten minutes. We stepped out on the curb and I looked up at the barely hanging toxic green sign flashing above the door. The street out front was desolate with broken boards nailed to building windows. Loud bass shook the ground we stood on and a nervous tremor wracked through me. I had never been to a club before, and aside from the odd Christmas wine Dianne had slipped me, had never really drank much. I know a lot of kids in the system turn to drugs and alcohol, but I had always been pretty straight laced and sheltered.

"C'mon!" Torri grabbed my hand and tugged me after her.

As soon as we made it through the doors, my eyes lit up in amazement. From outside, this place had looked like a sleazy oldtimer dive, but inside it transformed into a full on Vegas underground. Extensive VIP balconies lined the upper level. On the ground floor, women on elevated platforms were gyrating to the bass fully naked aside from glowing designs painted on their bodies. A dance floor occupied the centre of the room with hundreds of bodies grinding scandalously against one another. Strobe lights and fog invaded my vision, and a DJ worked the music from a cage hovering twenty feet above.

"What do you think?!" Tor shouted over at me with a grin. I responded with one of my own. My nerves had left, and all I felt now was excitement as the steady thumping of Sickick 'World on Fire' raged through my limbs.

I followed Torri to a long bar that appeared to be made of glass, and she shouted something to the bartender over the music. Swirling colours of smoke danced below the bar top, and I reached a hand out to touch it, drawing my cold fingers back as I realised it wasn't glass, but ice.

"It's enchanted" she smiled at me handing me an electric purple drink in a tall narrow tube.

"What is it?" I asked hesitantly.

"A Mage's Moonrise, you'll like it, trust me, but go easy, they hit hard."

I followed her lead, shooting back the sweet liquid. It burned my oesophagus and I spluttered, earning a grin from the bartender. Despite the burn, the aftertaste was exquisite, though I couldn't actually find a word to describe the flavour. Before I could finish that thought, a wave of pure euphoria washed over me, the drink hitting me much quicker than anything I'd experienced in the human realm. I ran my hand over my arm, and watched in amazement at my hairs standing to attention, I could feel the air against each follicle like a velvet caress.

The music transitioned smoothly into Cannons Fire for You, and all I could think about would be how good it would feel to move my body in one with the fog.

"Let's dance" Tor read my mind, heading for the dance floor.

The ceiling was enchanted with clouds and the red and orange lights moved behind them in time with the music, appearing as though a volcanic thunderstorm raged overhead. I began moving my hips, my hands running through my hair of their own volition. I felt so good. A few guys were staring our way watching our bodies roll with rapt attention, and I shot them a coy look of invitation. I had never felt so confident as I had in this moment, there was something so freeing about it.

Large hands landed on my waist, and I felt a solid body press up behind mine. Torri was already distracted with a guy of her own to dance with, so I shifted around to look at my pursuer. He was a bit older than me with black hair and what I think was blue eyes, the dark made it hard to tell. He smirked down lazily at me, and began to grind his pelvis against mine. I took the cue, turning back away from him and pushing my ass back against the hard length of him. I heard him groan and it fed my confidence, throwing my arms up above myself as I swayed against him. His hand moved from my waist, fisting into the base of my hair as he pulled me further back into his body. Sharp teeth grazed my neck, and I shuddered softly.

At the end of the song, he pulled me towards the bar. He handed me another of the purple drinks, and I raised it to him before throwing it down in one clean swing.

A wave of vertigo ran through my head, the heat of the room drawing the air from my lungs making me feel like I could pass out.

"You alright?" He leaned in to ask.

"Fine," I gave a fake smile, "I'll be right back." I whirled away from him, shoving my way through the tightly packed bodies before he could follow.

I found an emergency exit at the back of the place and pushed my way outside. I leaned back into the cold bricks with my eyes shut, and took in a deep breath of air, relishing in the coolness of it. It was way too hot in there, probably should have gone easy like Torri said, and not have had that second drink.

A bang from the right startled me, and I pushed myself off the wall, eyes peeled for the source. A metal garbage bin lay on its side, gently rocking from the wind. I breathed out a nervous laugh, and surveyed my surroundings. I was in an alley behind the Cauldron.

Another bang, louder this time came from the left of me, and my hairs pricked in response. My senses were much stronger since I had transitioned, and I c****d my head to hear better. Low whispering began at the base of the alley, but I couldn't make out the words. My heart picked up its pace, my feet urging me to move yet my body refusing the command. The base of the alley visibly darkened into shadow, edging closer along the walls toward me. My breath came in quickening pants, visible in the cold air before me. The closer it came the louder the whispers, until they were all but screaming unintelligibly in my head.

Instinct took over, and I threw all my strength into yanking the exit door I'd come through open, but it didn't budge, it had been locked. I threw a fleeting glance towards the dark end of the alley, my head ready to bust from the pressure of the whispers within it. Spinning on my heel I raced for the opposite end that would lead me out onto the front street. I stumbled around the corner, colliding with a solid wall of muscle.

Strong hands grabbed my upper arms, and pushed me back a step. I looked up at the concerned face staring down at me. The smell of earth and cologne blanketed me and helped to slow my breathing.

"Woah what's wrong, you look like you saw a ghost Ava" Lex smirked a lopsided smile.

I considered telling him about the alley and the voices, but what would I even say? What the f**k even was that? Suddenly another thought struck me.

"It was nothing. What exactly were you doing back here anyway?" I asked accusingly. Was he following me? A muscle in his jaw ticked but he said nothing as he stared at me silently.

Just then the sound of heels came up behind us, and I peered around him to see Torri heading our way. She glanced between the two of us with a concerned frown, her amber eyes falling on where Lex still held my arms tightly. He seemed to notice her staring a moment late, and instantly released me from his grasp.

Torri came around the side, giving a wide berth to him, and wrapped her arm around my upper shoulders, tugging me into her and further from him. She shot a protective glance towards Lex as she said "I was looking for you everywhere, come on the shuttles about to leave."

I let her lead me away, casting a brief look at him over my shoulder. He wasn't looking our way. His posture was rigid, his back turned to us as he stared off into the alley.