The Curse (H. Academy Series #1)

The last brush of mascara I added to my left eye glued three lashes together, making me look like a complete fucking amateur. With a sharp intake of breath, I grabbed a cotton pad and removed the excess makeup off the lashes.

“You know.” Morta stood next to me. “I’m pretty sure demons don’t care if your makeup is perfect.”

No, I had neither time nor patience to answer.

“I’m almost ready.” I said, heart pounding through the thin silk of my red mini-dress.

“You look like a whore.”

I almost messed up my mascara again, “That was the plan.”

“Yeah, I mean, sure.” The girl put her hand on her hip, the only movement I saw in the periphery of my vision. “We said dress for the party, not a demon-hunting mission.”

“Exactly.” Finally satisfied, I stepped away from the mirror.

“We did not say wear a silk nightgown and no underwear.”

“This is not a nightgown.” I looked down at the sleeveless dress.

Sure, the material was thin and silken, the dress was loose enough to pull up with ease and tight enough to enhance my figure, and the tiny straps forming an X on my back were lacy, but it was not a nightgown.

“Uh-huh.” Morta crossed her hands on her chest, her black top lifting up, revealing her thin white waist.

“You look like a whore, too.” I raised my eyebrow, eying the black shorts showing her butt and the fishnet stockings ending in her Doc Martens.

Morta’s sharp dark purple lips spread into a grin, “I always look like a whore. You are trying to sleep with Leon.”

“Okay, I’m ready!” Amma entered my room and stepped on the carpet with her olive green rubber boots.

She wore sturdy wide pants and a jacket made out of the same material. On her hands, she had rubber gloves matching the boots. She put the black backpack on the carpet.

“You look like a gardener.” Morta murmured.

Amma eyed us, “Why are you two dressed like you’re not going to hunt a demon?”

“Jade is trying to sleep with Leon.” Morta pointed at me.

“I don’t have to try to sleep with him.” I countered.

“I don’t care.” Amma interjected, eyes wide. “If the black ooze touches you and you die a horrible and painful death, I want it on record that I told you to wear gloves.”

“Well, I have boots.” I grabbed black knee-high heeled boots and put them on.

“Goddess.” Morta mumbled. “You’re getting desperate.”

“Shut up.”

Amma clapped, “Let’s go! We have to go!”

My stomach upturned as reality set in.

“Is everyone in position?” I looked between the two girls.

“Bella has eyes on Vice Mage Montgomery.” Morta took out her phone. “He’s having a meeting in his chambers right now, but only Darth and Lange are with him. Dean is at the party, Lorenia and Thar are there, whispering in a corner.” Morta looked up. “That’s a quote.”

They were probably trying to figure out what happened to the Headmaster. Our advanced demon-hunting study group figured they were dead.

“Okay.” I took in a deep breath. “The rest of the teachers?”

“In their quarters.” Morta said. “Eugene is guarding the exit right now, but I’ll take over as soon as we head downstairs.”

“I’m meeting Eugene at the back entrance to the eastern building.” Amma glanced at her phone. “In ten minutes.” Palpable nervousness gripped her expression. “We’re going to need a solid distraction to enter the building.”

“Don’t worry.” Morta grabbed her small black backpack. “I can already feel the lust charm, and not everyone’s even arrived.”

The clock ticked 9:50PM.

“Let’s go.” I swallowed the burst of panic and moved, hating the fact I had to remain completely sober.

“Crap, crap, crap.” Amma hopped after me. “I’m so not ready for this.”

“Oh, Dean just texted.” Morta said. “He doesn’t have eyes on Leon.”

I took in a sharp breath, hand pushing the door open a bit too hard, “Fucking prick. If he doesn’t show up, I’ll-”

“Wear an even shorter dress?” The voice coming from the staircase cut me off.

Fuck.

I turned on my heel, a thin tight smile gripping my lips, “Hi, Leon.”

“Hi, Jade.” He had a bottle of Absolut vodka in his left hand and a crimson rose in his right. “I see you’ve had your beauty sleep as well.”

The loose beige shirt he had on was unbuttoned to just under his pecks, the right hem part tucked inside the black dress pants and the left hanging freely. There was an effortlessness to his attire that made me want to tear it off. He didn’t bother to brush his hair, and the loose strands added just a touch of chaos and destruction to his look.

“You’re drinking?” I eyed the bottle.

“Yes, want some?” He spread out his hand, but Morta took it in my stead.

“Fuck it, I need some.” She took a sip, then spat it out. “Fuck you, this is water!”

Leon laughed, “I’ve been instructed to seem very drunk.”

I eyed the crimson rose in his hand, “Have you also been instructed to seem suave?”

“This is for you.” He pushed the rose in my hand so carelessly it pricked my finger.

“Ouch!”

I pulled away on instinct.

Then, it dawned on me.

“Leon.” I eyed my finger, a drop of blood appearing at the tip. “You did not.”

“Don’t worry about it.” He tore the lone thorn from the rose and glanced at me. “It’s an innocent spell.”

My eyes widened.

“We need to go!” Amma pushed me from behind. “Five minutes, people!”

“Alright, we’re moving.” Morta gave the bottle back to Leon. “Let’s go.”

The four of us stumbled down the staircase. Amma kept repeating ‘crap’ over and over again, and Morta kept slapping her shoulders, trying to keep her quiet. I eyed Leon a few times before we reached the first floor. Whatever he’d put in that rose, I was going to find out and counter it with a particularly nasty spell.

“Okay, okay.” Amma stopped in the lobby. “I’m going out through the backdoor and sneaking off to the eastern building. Morta?”

“Yes, alright.” Morta followed her. “Jade, I’ll text you once your dad leaves his chambers. Don’t-”

“Leave the party until he sees me. Got it.”

I tried to ignore the wild beating of my heart.

“Amma, good luck.”

She eyed me, panic making her azure eyes appear watery, “I’ll text you once we’re ready to enter the main hall.”

“Move it.” Morta grabbed her shoulders and turned her away from us.

I faced Leon, “If you don’t tell me what’s in that rose-”

“Smell it.” He handed it to me.

“No.”

“Trust me.”

“Never.”

He let out a laugh, brought the rose to his nose and breathed in, “Mmm, smells like a rose.”

“Prick.”

Leon gave me the bottle, which I took, and opened the door. Without another word, I followed him outside, gaze flying to the red flower between his fingers. The closer we came to the male dorms, the stronger the lust charm became. I swallowed hard, trying to push down the budding excitement. I even took a swig of water, hoping it would calm my wild heart.

A couple of people were in front of the entrance to the building, some already drunk and high out of their minds, grabbing the gothic columns surrounding the terrace and trying to either sit down or throw up. The beat from the inside pumped through my skull, sending shivers down my spine, making me want to both run away and come closer.

“I’ve outdone myself this time.” Leon was behind me as we approached the entrance, and I felt his hand hovering just next to my waist. “The lust charm is pretty strong.”

I would not let him see how much it’s already affected me.

“Afraid you won’t be able to handle it?” I glanced behind my shoulder.

Leon stood on my left, side-eying me, “I’m here for the party, Montgomery. Nothing more, nothing less.”

When he brought the rose to his nose for the second time, I stole it out of his hand. I would not give him the satisfaction of being more nervous than him, not because of his proximity at least. I smelled the rose. A wave of clarity and sobriety immediately washed over me, as if I’ve been underwater for the past ten minutes and could suddenly breathe.

“It-”

“Negates the lust charm.” Leon said. “Told you I wouldn’t pull any of my usual crap.”

“For the record, I still don’t trust you.”

“I don’t expect you to.”

He opened the door and allowed me to walk in first. The room was alive with an electric energy, pulsating with the beats of thumping music. The air was thick with laughter, mingling voices, and the strong aroma of alcohol and lavender. The energy invited everyone to let loose and embrace the night, but there was a disarray underneath. People were too hectic; especially the unfamiliar faces that have just arrived to the Academy.

The laughter was a bit too high-pitched, the glasses clinked a bit too hard against one another, and the witch’s brew had just an ounce too much vodka inside. It was early, too early, to be this drunk.

The strength of the lust charm knocked all air out of my lungs. Gasping like a fish, I grabbed the trusted bottle and drank water, forgetting for a second we were standing right at the entrance, all eyes on us.

I was wearing a nightgown. The bottle of Absolut vodka in my hand. Next to Leon.

I found Thar staring at me from the corner on the other side of the room. His expression was hard and distant, but the hint of disappointment in his eyes unmistakable.

Leon put his hand on my waist, his touch soft, “You can tell your boyfriend it’s all play pretend.”

“An hour.” I took in a breath. “It’s only one hour.”

When Leon nudged me towards the dancefloor, I whiffed the rose again, hoping it would be enough to keep me from making several mistakes tonight.