Dark Descent Read online

  “Light doesn’t come with an instruction manual,” Wilder said with a disgusted look. “It’s a personal experience, and different for everyone.”

  “So how does anyone learn to fully control it if it’s unpredictable?”

  “I can guide you, but the rest is up to you.” He gave me a pointed look and added, “I don’t know why you’re so worried. You did just fine in the incursion. I heard you blew off the doors in the gym.”

  “How do you know that was me?” I demanded. “I was the only one there.”

  Since the incursion, the Sanctum had been in high-alert. Naturals had been scouring the city for traces of the Balan demon who’d attempted to take over the building and steal the Codex, but so far, no traces had been found. At least we didn’t have to worry about the Infernal who’d been trying to alter people’s DNA—Wilder had taken it out after he’d excised it from Greer.

  “Romy said there was an academy,” I said, stroking my fingers over the book. “Where is it?”

  “The Cotswolds.” Fancy.

  “Did you go?”

  “Yes.”

  “And?” I prodded.

  “And what?”

  I rolled my eyes, not interested in prying information from Wilder so early in the day. “What’s it like?”

  “Like any boarding school that teaches you how to kill demons.” He smirked and nodded at the book. “You better study that, Purples. The alert level isn’t going to drop until we’ve found your buddy, the Balan demon.”

  My scowl deepened. “He’s not my buddy. He killed my parents and tried to trick me into selling my soul.”

  “All the more reason to kick your training into overdrive.”

  Wilder was so infuriating. He had this thing where he liked to brush off people with his abrasive personality. He was my mentor, and most days he drove me to the brink of fire and brimstone, but I didn’t know what I’d do without him. I so wasn’t telling him that. Talk about complicated.

  I was pulled in two directions. Four if I took my heart into account. North and south were the Human Convergence Project and the search for Arondight. East and west were Jackson and Wilder. Then they all had their own personal tug of wars, which just made the whole thing confusing as hell.

  At the thought of Jackson, I groaned and lowered my head into my hands. My poor best friend, who’d been possessed by a genetically modified Infernal demon, had his DNA mutated, and was now a world champion e-sports bazillionaire. He was also my closest family, had hidden romantic feelings for me, and caught me kissing Wilder—something that would never happen again—in the hall outside my room. To say we’d parted on bad terms was an understatement.

  “What now?” Wilder asked with a groan.

  “At some point I have to go find Jackson.”

  He snorted and leaned back in his chair. “Good luck with that, Purples. You might have to flash a little boob to entice him back here.”

  “Wilder!”

  “He’s the weedy little demon-hybrid that’s in unrequited love with you.”

  “He’s also the guy who could help Ramona cure innocent people infected by DNA-altered Infernals,” I fired back. “Human Convergence, remember?”

  He rolled his eyes. “It’s always something with you.”

  “He was the only person who cared,” I murmured, snapping the demonology book closed. “After years of bouncing around foster homes, getting kicked out of school after school, and being the weirdo loner, he was the only one who stuck. And now he hates me.”

  “That’s his problem, not yours.”

  I snorted, which caused Wilder to take away my unfinished lunch and slide it down the table out of reach. He could’ve had the decency to ask if I was finished first.

  “C’mon. You can’t do anything about him today. Let’s get back to the gym.” He rose to his feet and smoothed down his tight black T-shirt. The fabric left nothing to the imagination, and I tried not to stare at his defined muscles. “Don’t forget your colouring book.”

  Smart-arse.

  I rose to my feet, the bruises on my bruises shrieking at me. What I wouldn’t give for a nice hot bath right about now, but no, Wilder wanted to humiliate me with more hand-to-hand combat training.

  “Hey, there you are,” Romy said behind us.

  I turned, smiling at the Natural who’d fast become a good friend amongst the others who still looked at me with trepidation. Having purple Light wasn’t exactly a normal thing around here.

  Romy was tall, muscular, yet lithe, and her skin was a flawless ivory—apart from the black geometric tattoos that snaked up and down both arms and onto her neck. She said the designs didn’t mean anything, but I wasn’t entirely convinced.

  “Greer has summoned you to the conservatory,” she said, glancing warily at Wilder. Her black hair was in a loose braid today, which was different to her usual severe ponytail.

  “We’re going to the gym to train,” he said, “it’ll have to wait.”

  “She said she’d like to see Scarlett immediately.”

  Wilder narrowed his eyes, clearly annoyed it was a one-person invite, and I squashed down an irritating pang of jealousy.

  “It must be important,” I said. “I better go see what she wants. I’ll come straight back to the gym, okay, boss?”

  He grunted and stalked out of the kitchen, causing a group of younger Naturals to scatter in multiple directions like frightened mice.

  “I swear he gets grumpier every time I see him,” Romy said making a face. “How do you handle him?”

  “He’s not so bad,” I replied with a shrug. “You just have to get to know him.”

  She raised her eyebrows.

  “Okay, okay,” I said, waving her off, “you have to impress him with your slashy-stab-stab sword skills first.”

  “If you say so.” She laughed and nudged me towards the door. “You better not keep Greer waiting.”

  “Do you know what she wants?” The only time Greer summoned me was when I was in trouble…and I’d gotten into trouble a lot since I arrived. Not even killing the greater demon who’d tried to steal the Codex had lifted my probation.

  “Like she’d tell me,” Romy said with a huff. “Maybe you’ll get lucky and they’ll let you leave the Sanctum now.”

  “Cool. I was itching for a visit to Primark for some new pants.”

  She laughed and shooed me away. “Always a pleasure, Scarlett.”

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