Academy of Monsters (Descendants of Nightmares Book One) Page 3

  I’ve been here for twenty minutes now and I was almost run over by a hurse taxi driver; note to self, never hitch a ride from crazy taxi service around here. I bumped into a swamp man who gave me the stink eye because I was distracted by almost being squished like a bug on the taxi's windshield. I rub at my arm trying to get rid of the slime feeling and duck into an alleyway to breath for a second.

  Holy cross and garlic!

  I can’t believe this place, I’m for sure not in Romania anymore. Leaning against the building, I give myself a pep talk of how I can do this and become a badass mother sucking Queen! Shifting, I take flight and soar over the city onwards toward the academy in the distance.

  Shaking out of my thoughts, I barely miss running into the knight who has stopped outside the admission office. With a bow, he takes his leave. Well alrighty then, guess I’m supposed to head on in.

  Walking up to the front desk, a blue woman who looks like a melting popsicle is typing away rapidly on the computer. Her glasses keep sliding off her nose because of the droplets of blue liquid descending down her face. Her whole skin is like that, one big melting pot leaving a blue smear on everything she touches. Without looking up, she hands me the paperwork with blue fingerprints smudged onto the sheet.

  “Housing number sixty-nine. Near peek-a-boo trail and past the cemetery is your new home called Alpha Nightmare. Have a gloomy day! Next!” She shouts to the person behind me and signals me to move out of the way with a hand wave.

  Rude! I glide out of the office and start walking towards my new home for the next few years, letting the map guide me. Once outside, I grab the bottom of my dress and hike it up to my thighs as I run down the stairs. It’s pouring now, so I’m soaked within seconds with my hair plastered to my body.

  That’s just spooktacluar! Not really.

  I follow the blue lady's instructions and pass peek-a-boo trail with sounds of screaming and moaning of the ghosts coming out of the woods. Lost souls to roam the earth for all of eternity without a reason but to haunt.

  I decide that it’s probably best that I go hunting in the woods before orientation because I’m so damn thirsty. My mouth keeps watering, dying to sink my teeth into flesh and drink deeply. I never felt this way before like my mouth is the Sahara Desert and I need blood stat! I decide that hunting will have to come after I make sure my stuff arrived from home first because I need to change. I really hope the girls or creatures I’m sharing the house with are nice. I’ve never really had many friends, just the guys when they would visit with their families but then again, it’s been a very long time. Like back in the day when I had braces to straighten my fangs is about the last time I saw them. At least with bunking with other monster girls, we can have slumber parties, tell scary stories and of course talk about guys. I can hardly wait, I hope they like me.

  Arriving at the only house around, I take in the house... practically a mansion. A fortress really with an honest to Ghoul moat surrounding the grey structure, including a drawbridge. The planks creak as I cross the wooden bridge and I notice over the edge in the water there are snapping piranhas and two yellow eyes of a gator peeking out of the greenish water. On closer inspection, the cement bricks shift and I realize the house is alive. The massive front door opens slowly and the butler jumps off the handle… It’s a human masculine hand with a little bow tie on. My family has always had Ren as our servant but this is completely new to me. It’s strange, I like it. I bend down to give him a handshake, he hesitates for a second before squeezing my fingers in return.

  “Hello madam, I have been expecting you. I am Handsome and if you need anything please let me know. Follow me please.” His voice whispers through my head as we make skin contact. He talks fast but I caught enough of it to understand.

  He skitters away on all fingers and I pick up my pace to keep up as he leads me into a grand entryway. A staircase leads to the second floor and an iron chandelier hangs in the middle of the room, giving off plenty of light from the flames. It’s magic but very old fashioned. Cobwebs weave in every corner, iron chains decorate the walls with photos of the most famous monsters’ portraits going up the red stairs. Dracula is up there with the guy’s fathers too… Mummy, Phantom, Frankenstein, and the Wolfman. This must have been their housing back in the day too. I’m about to follow Handsome up the stairs when a draft carries a breeze right under my nose. A smell of the forest after a storm rolls by, making the earth damp and clean makes my eyes glow a deep red. My teeth push out of my gums and a burning sensation starts in the back of my throat.

  Must. Devour! I can barely think as I turn around to confront my hunger.

  I suck in a breath and swipe my tongue over my cut lip as a drop of blood rolls down my chin as a deep growly voice says,

  “Hello, little Princess.”

  Dragging my white shirt over my sweating chest, I run a hand through my long hair in frustration. I feel restless and caged. Tonight is the full moon and at midnight I once again have to be chained to the wall like every month. My wolf wants to shift and run the forest, to feel the dirt under our feet as we test the limit of our speed. I, on the other hand, want to tear something apart and howl at the fucking moon. I’m too dangerous and uncontrollable once I shift into my werewolf on a moonlit night. I’m usually a ticking time bomb, wanting to let loose the beast and hunt anything in my path but today it’s worse than normal.

  She’s here, I can feel in my chest with every pounding rhythm, I’ve already crossed paths with her scent the minute I stepped outside this evening. She smelt like the night-blooming jasmine flowers, dark and deadly but something you can’t help wanting to touch.

  Irresistible and mouth-watering.

  I caved and ran back inside like a newborn pup to hide out in until after the full moon so I don’t do anything crazy. For example, dragging her to my bedroom and devouring that pussy until she’s howling my name off those red lips. I’ve known Drusilla since I was just spurting my first fur coat. I haven’t seen her since but I’ve always known she’s my mate. I have no desire to have a long-term mate no matter how tempting she is or the urge to fuck her becomes. She’s supposed to become the next most powerful monster the world has ever seen but I’ve been trained my whole life to be the best of the best and take over for my father one day. How am I supposed to let a power-hungry woman take over my pack and life? She’s probably a blood thirsty vampire on a power trip, raised with her nose in the air. I wasn’t abused and whipped into shape just for someone else to take away everything from me… I’m the fucking Alpha. My father had to do right by me, made me strong but Ghoul if it doesn’t mess with my head the years of abusement.

  Matthias and Thorn both agree with me that she needs to go. We don’t need or want her here, well except Jr.. The moody fucker has always had a soft spot for her, she’s the only one who can calm his anger. Even when we were kids, she brought out the teddy bear in his giant frame.

  The bell chimes throughout the school, letting us know it’s nearing nine pm. Time for orientation and dinner before I get put in the dungeons. Taking my belongings out of my grey sweats, I slip out into the hallway barefoot. Moving silently through the house, I pass under the bell tower when I hear mad fluttering of wings. With my heightened senses, I look up in the dart to notice the bats going crazy around the bell. Taking a deep breath with my chest expanding, I catch a strong scent of jasmine coming from the first floor.

  She’s here.

  A shiver of pleasure runs down my spine as my wolf agrees with me that she smells good enough to eat. Eat her I will… All. Night. Long.

  I start breathing through my mouth so her scent isn’t as strong but I swear I can taste her on the tip of my tongue already. Growling, I make my way down the back staircase with quiet feet past Jr.’s room. Whether he agrees or not, she’s gotta go. I’m going to make her life a living hell until she goes crying home to dearest daddy.

  Landing on the first floor, I rush past the kitchen and living room to the entrance without
making a sound. I can hear Handsome’s fingernails tapping on the stone floor as he leads her to the front red staircase. Sneaking around the corner, I come to a dead stop as I feast my eyes on her pale moonlight skin. Her soaking wet dress molds to her soft curves and delicate round ass. Long, thick, black hair dripping wet, I follow the trail of water down her exposed skin of her back. Goosebumps break out on the back of her neck and I’m secretly glad she can sense the animal in the room. She’s grown out to perfection. Tall, willowy, and drop-dead gorgeous. The deadliest creature I’ve ever seen, like a punch to the gut.

  “Hello, little Princess,” I growl with dark menace.

  She swirls around, her dress swishing around her long legs and showing a hint of creamy, smooth skin. I barely breathe as she confronts me finally. My palms start to sweat because I want to grab her, throw her over my shoulder and take her to my cave. I feel my eyes start to glow yellow, the beast of my wolf rising to the surface. Heart-shaped face, usually beautiful bright hazel that you could drown in and die a happy beast but instead, they are gleaming a hazy red. The color that reminds you of a pulsing vein bleeding out slowly and deadly. She licks those blood-red lips and I can’t help tracking the movement. My body gives a hard throb in response.

  “Wolfe!? Oh, thank the Ghoul you are here! Why do you smell so… Delicious?” Her accent comes out more especially how her teeth are lengthening to a dangerous level. My wolf is responding back, wanting to fuck and repeat.

  She stalks closer to me and I notice her looking at my neck in a starving way. Fuck no! I’m not some sucky suck snack… right?

  Think of something else Watt! Anything else before she traps you and it all ends there. Okay, um witches’ tits, hairy moles, zombie dick falling off…

  The thought of a dick falling off helps cool my heated blood and suppress my hidden desire for her. Crossing my arms over my pecs, I glare at her and bark out in a sharp tone to get her attention off my neck.

  “Princess,” I say sarcastically, “It’s just Watt, not Wolfe. Why are you in my domain Drusilla?” I may or may not have said her name like a caress but my lip curl says differently.

  She snaps out of her dazed, hunger faced expression to look at me in shock. I ignore the hurt shadowing her hazel eyes at my harsh tone.

  “Your domain…? That’s not right, I’m supposed to be living with girls.” She says slowly, not understanding we all live here. One big ole scary family.

  I step closer until I’m in her personal space, my body brushing against her breasts. They are quite a handful. She’s perfect and I hate her for being made for me. Taking a deep breath through my nose, I can smell her desire so I decide to up my game.

  I allow my wolf to show his appearance as my jaw grows to make room for my sharp teeth. Yellow eyes display themselves and I flash a predatory smile to scare her a bit. I brush her hair that’s sticking to the dip between her breasts away and mentally curse the designer of her dress for showing so much skin.

  “You’re in my house now, Princess and we don’t want you here. Get your batty ass home before we decide to take a bite out of you and leave you to bleed out.” I improvise my point by snapping my jaw inches from her face, watching her eyes tint a little with red.

  Good, she’s mad now. Her bouncy ass will be out of here in less than a week. I’m counting on it.

  I’m surprised when she reaches out to trail a single fingernail between my shoulder and neck, drawing a teardrop of blood. I glance up sharply to see her staring at me already. I fall into her eyes that don’t blink, feeling completely nothing. A coat of haziness washes over me, like I’m between life and death.

  “Bark like the dog that you are.” She commands in a voice that sounds far away.

  “Ruff,” I’m shocked as I have no control over my body and I’m making fucking puppy noises.

  She breaks eye contact with me with a pleased smile gracing her beautiful face. I’m so fucking mad right now, I need to tear into something with claws and teeth.

  “If you will excuse me Watt,” She air quotes “I’m going to go find my room now and maybe if you’re a good boy, I’ll let you have a snack later.” She pats me on the head as she glides away up the stairs.

  I take a step after her, getting ready to pounce. Either to bite her or smack that ass for pissing me off and besting me. Both sound like a good idea.

  I never make it far because I’m locked in an unbreakable embrace from behind. Gruff chuckles sound behind me and arms of steel tighten until I can’t breathe.

  “Serves you right. Are you going to behave yourself or do I need her to hypnotize you again? Did you see her Watt? She’s like the fire I can’t touch but shines so bright; I need to touch even if I get burnt. She’s perfect for us.” Jr. grumbles in a low voice that has a dreamy edge to it. He’s already a goner.

  “She is not ours Jr., she can never be unless you want everything we ever had to be taken away. She will be the destruction of us all.” I struggle in his grip until he lets me go.

  With a deep growl, I prowl out the doors and take off in a run to the edge of the forest. Stomping feet chase after me so I run faster. She won’t get to me, I can’t let her. My mission is to make her life miserable until she can’t stand being here anymore. Throwing my head back to the stars and moon, I let out a howl of long-suffering. If only things were different, she could have been mine.

  I knew I would have to deal with assholes, but Watt was the last person I imagined to be just that. If he thought I would submit to his Alpha bullshit, he had another thing coming. I may have had a little too much fun bending him to my will.

  But what a delicious, ignorant asshole, his long brown hair hanging in his face and that wild look in his dark chocolate eyes. A twinge of desire coursed through me, when he peered at me that way. Damn, when did my furry protector get to be so hot?

  He didn’t notice that I almost turned into a puddle before him, that strong and commanding voice sent butterflies and moths into my stomach, and those muscular arms not so hidden. I longed to be wrapped in them once again. But I’ll be damned before I let him know that, he may be an Alpha but I am not his to control.

  Reflecting back to the time of our toddler years, we were inseparable. At nap times he would morph into his wolf shape and wrap his paws around me to keep me warm.

  I chuckle at the memory of the first time my father walked in to wake us. He went batty with rage, yelling and trying to pry me from Watt’s hold.

  When he woke he shifted back and we just held each other confused about what was wrong.

  As if his voice is a whisper, my name rolls off of Thorn’s tongue, waking me from my night dream. With my enhanced hearing, I zero in on his voice and follow it, leaving the house on quiet feet as I get closer to that seductive voice I know so well. Hunting is going to have to be put on the back cauldron for now even if my teeth keep piercing my gums. I'm so spookin thirsty. I take in the path that leads me to Thorn, within the academy itself, his words are a beacon calling to me. I trace the swirl in the marble with my finger, I hadn’t noticed before now, and this hall unlike the last is lined with portraits of monsters from long ago.

  The eyes in the painting seem to follow my every movement and the torches that line my path light themselves as I step closer and then extinguish once I am passed. The blinking of them going on and off is starting to make my headache and I wonder what moron thought that this was a grand idea. Didn’t they know that most monsters can see in the dark?

  As the last torch is lit, one of the paintings in particular, stops me in my tracks. It is of my father and his best friends, a bloody tear slides down my cheek. A rare smile can be seen on my papa's solemn face, making me miss the times we came together as one big happy family, camping in the woods. Wolfe would be teaching me how to howl at the moon, or sleepovers in the cemeteries with Thorn telling us ghost stories and odd facts about where we were to sleep. Matthias and his building of marvelous sandcastles and Jr. with his fear of fire and his big bear hugs. I sw
ipe the tear away, now is not the time to get sentimental.

  I glance over my schedule, they have a full night planned. First up is Spectors and how to communicate.

  Hum, I wonder if Thorn will show me the way to this class. That thought brings back the smile to my face.

  After Spectors, I have Creation and Spells, followed by How to Blend in and Hide from Humans. The ceremony and then a few boring sounding classes until I end my night in Monster History. I am eager to learn more about my father. His past is not something he tells anyone much about.

  I arrive at two wooden doors; when they open of their own accord, I am in awe of the courtyard that sprawls before me. This is definitely going to be my favorite part of the academy.

  What a glorious courtyard, it makes me sick… I absolutely love it!

  Greenery and a sea of flowers, some poisonous and others deadly, it’s beautiful. Decayed tree branches sway, alive in the night as they dance to their own tune. Frog’s breath hissing out of the green fog fountain brings a feeling of inner peace to the atmosphere. Ridiculously large statues of monsters, my father included, are placed among the gardens. I can’t help rolling my eyes.

  To the left is the mountain; the school was built in its shadow, away from the prying eyes of mortals and to the right I make out the sounds of the waves crashing on the cliffs below. It would be the perfect place for transforming into my batty self and letting the water spray my wings.

  Scanning the area, I spy at the base of the mummy is Matthias, his black hair is slicked to the side with an unruly piece hanging on his forehead. He was rocking that five o’clock shadow on his face, his black eyes stood out even with his tan skin. I could make out his black tee with the sleeves cut off and black leather pants. He was barely visible behind three skimpy dressed girls, but he had that look as if he was going to hop on a motorcycle at any time. All three girls have brightly colored hair and they are dressed in a fashion of pure black, from their clothes to the sly smiles painted black lips. An ornery smile spreads across Matthias as they chatter at him, the same smirk that crossed his lips, tipping me off to beware of a trick. Once I noticed his expression, all my desire for him was jumped in a grave, he is plotting something and I will not be the butt of his jokes anymore.