Ex Nihilo Academy by Jennifer Watts Page B

so sorry.” She whispers. “I wish there was another way.” I pull away
     and wipe at my nose.
    “But there’s not and I get that. So I will do what I am required to do by birth and nothing more.”
    “That’s all the headmaster is asking.” She smiles at me, the corners of her green eyes crinkling.
    “Have you ever met the Council?” I ask.
    “I haven’t, but I hear that their bark is worse that their bite and you have a good head on your shoulders so you’ll be fine.” She runs a hand through her spiked platinum hair and then produces a handkerchief from her
     pocket. “I’m always here if you need to talk but right now I’d better get back to class. And that goes for you as well - especially now that you’re on an accelerated learning plan.” She winks good-humouredly and heads off down the
     hall. I take a moment to wipe my eyes which are undoubtedly red and puffy so I don’t see Luca when he passes by me.
    “Trouble with your boyfriend, princess?” He says it so snidely that my eyes fill up with tears again.
    “For once why don’t you just shut your mouth, Luca! You obviously have no idea what you’re talking about.” My voice wobbles when I shout and for the first time since I’ve met him he actually looks embarrassed.
    “Come with me.” He is at my side before I can blink and his large hand is grasping my fingers as he leads me into one of the empty classrooms. He closes the door and flicks on the lights and I’m surprised that the classroom is unlocked – supernatural’s’ are definitely more trusting
     than the California Department of Education - or maybe it’s just a private school thing. He drops my hand and pulls out two stools for us to sit on as I look around at the science lab with its high tables, glass beakers and Bunsen
     burners. “I’m sorry for what I said. Please don’t cry.” He says seriously.
    “Forget about it.” I swipe at my eyes and take a deep breath.
    “Did you get the news about your parents?” He reaches for my
     hand again and I recoil.
    “Great, so everyone knows that my parents were murdered except me.”
    “I didn’t know for sure. I heard rumors.”
    “Then you probably also heard that your leader is one of the
     prime suspects.” I spit back. “He isn’t my anything. I don’t participate in that nonsense. I knew your parents and they were good people who didn’t deserve to die.” He says, the irritation in his voice clear. “You knew my parents?”
    “I did but it was a long time ago.”
    “How old are you Luca?”
    “How old do I look?”
    “I don’t know nineteen or twenty?” I say and his mouth curves up into a smile.
    “You’d be warmer if you times that by five.” He smiles.
    “You’re a hundred years old?” I don’t think he appreciates my horrified expression because he sighs.
    “Princess, how old do you think your parents were?”
    “They never really talked about it and they refused to celebrate their own birthdays. They always said you are only as old as you feel, but I guess around forty? My friends always said they could easily pass
     for thirty.” He shakes his head.
    “I’m not sure if I’m the one who should be telling you this but I guess you’ll learn soon enough; supernatural’s age differently than humans. Your parents were easily over two hundred years old. And your friend
     Tristan, he may look seventeen but I assure you he’s not. We are born naturally and we can live a mostly ‘normal’ adolescent life aging at the same rate as humans until puberty hits, and then the aging process slows considerably. We
     still age but it takes decades which to the naked eye looks a lot like immortality.”
    “So you’re not immortal? From everything I’ve read and seen about vampires I’d just assumed you were.”
    “No, all of us from the five races can be killed. Not easily
     but we can be and there are very different and very specific methods for successfully getting rid of us.”
    “And vampires