Nocturnal Academy 2: Teacher's Pet

By Ethan Somerville

Alice Dibble has finally made it to the Nocturnal Academy, and is ready to start lessons at the exclusive private school. She believes she is about to be trained to become a nocturnal defender of the Earth against the chaotic hordes of the Immaterium, and is ready to face up to this noble challenge.

Unfortunately, when she arrives she discovers that the Nocturnal Academy isn’t that different from her old school. Lessons are tedious, equipment is old and broken, bats roosting in the rafters keep dropping presents on her notebook - and then there is scullery duty, which involves taking rubbish out to the epic compost heap, known to swallow children whole.

Alice’s new friend Toby, once a popular kid at her primary school, has become an outcast; her old enemy Carla needs help to learn how to change into her new animal form, and a little omniwere boy who can only change into tiny creatures has developed a crush on her.

Alice must also learn how to use her new vampire powers responsibly without succumbing to the lure of the darkness.

To make matters worse, Professor Abbacus, a teacher Alice thought liked her, now seems to want to kill her. It is all Alice can do to keep one step ahead of him and all of his devious, convoluted plans to punish her for the destruction of the Holloway Grimoire.

Also available:
Nocturnal Academy
Nocturnal Academy 3 - Immaterial Girl
Nocturnal Academy 4 - The Supernatural Circus
Nocturnal Academy 5 - Mage Against the Machine
Nocturnal Academy 6 - The Da Vinci Codex
Nocturnal Academy 7 - School of Thought
Nocturnal Academy 8 - The Lonely House
Nocturnal Academy 9 - Mirror Mirror

• Language: English
• Publisher: Storm Publishing
• Release date: May 11, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476282985

Ethan Somerville

Ethan Somerville is a prolific Australian author with over 20 books published, and many more to come. These novels cover many different genres, including romance, historical, children's and young adult fiction. However Ethan's favourite genres have always been science fiction and fantasy. Ethan has also collaborated with other Australian authors and artists, including Max Kenny, Emma Daniels, Anthony Newton, Colin Forest, Tanya Nicholls and Carter Rydyr.

Book preview

Nocturnal Academy #2

Teacher's Pet

By

Ethan Somerville

* * * *

SMASHWORDS EDITION

* * * *

PUBLISHED BY:

Storm Publishing on Smashwords

Nocturnal Academy 2 - Teacher's Pet

Copyright © 2011/2016 by Ethan Somerville

www.stormpublishing.net

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

* * * *

Chapter 1

On the first day of term one, newly-elected prefects directed excited year 7 students into the Nocturnal Academy’s enormous main lecture hall. It wasn’t often that students showed so much enthusiasm about the start of school, but this was a very exclusive and unusual educational institution. In order for a student to be accepted they had to meet some very special requirements.

Alice Dibble, a slender, dark-haired girl taking a seat up in the very back row, was a vampire.

Toby Thompson, a tall sandy-haired boy sitting down beside her, was a werewolf.

The stocky, well-built red-head who plonked herself down on Alice’s other side with her arms folded, was a werecat.

There were other weres as well; wererats, bears, birds and even a wereshark. There were tree-spirits, elementals and even one incredibly rare omniwere – a child with the power to turn into any animal he wanted.

The lecture hall was very dark and gloomy. Bats nestled in the rafters and spider-webs hung in dark corners. An occasional owl hooted and flew soundlessly from one beam to another. Alice supposed it was all meant to provide a nocturnal mood, but she could have done without the bat-poop falling on her notebook.

A tall, slender girl with white-blonde hair tucked herself into a seat in front of Alice. Hello! she called to the girl behind her. Remember me?

Yes, Millicent, isn’t it?

The pale girl smiled brightly. Yes! School has finally started! Believe it or not, but I couldn’t wait for the holidays to end!

Actually, I wasn’t holding my breath! Alice laughed ruefully. I don’t know if you heard about the big fight in the old cider factory last year, but I was involved in the banishment of the demon-prince Vladrakov. It took me the entire holiday break to calm down!

Yeah! agreed Toby. I was there too! I tore up Edgar Holloway’s spellbook and actually sent the demon back!

The red-haired werecat groaned and rolled her eyes. Her name was Carla Hightower. She had also been at the banishing. Unlike the rest of the year 6 class, she hadn’t had her memory altered afterwards, to think that she had just watched a very good play.

Millicent stared at Alice in amazement. No, I hadn’t heard! But I know of the demon Vladrakov! He’s tried to escape before, hasn’t he?

Yes, he caused the Great Appleton Damburst of 1987-

May I have your attention, please! called a rich, deep voice from the front of the lecture hall. Everyone looked up to see the Nocturnal Academy’s principal glide into the room and take her place behind the long wooden bench at the front.

At almost two metres tall, Madam Elliana Nocturna cut an imposing figure in her dark, lace-trimmed gown, her jet-black dead straight hair falling to her backside. She had ivory-coloured skin and large green eyes with long, curling lashes – a typical vampire. She had an image to maintain as the Academy’s longest-running head mistress.

It is good to see you all here for the New Year, she began. This promises to be the largest, most diverse form we have had for a long time. I have never seen so many vampire girls in one group. And is it true? Do we really have a wereshark this year?

A tall, muscular girl near the front giggled self-consciously, displaying a truly impressive set of braces.

Don’t worry Lucinda my dear – you’ll be out of those in no time. Fortunately we managed to get the pool repaired over the summer, so you’ll have plenty of time to practise your new skills. She directed her attention to another child also near the front, a small, slightly built blonde boy with a long fringe that kept falling in his eyes. And Andre Sauvage – is it true that you’re an omniwere?

Yes ma’am – I discovered three new forms over the summer. The boy’s English was perfect, but he had a strong French accent.

Excellent! I can’t remember the last time we had an omniwere here. Who can tell me what an omniwere is?

The students looked uncertainly at each other, then Alice tentatively lifted her hand.

Alice Dibble? Madam Nocturna called.

Um, is it someone who can change into multiple forms?

Yes, very good, Alice. Which brings me to my next point. Just before the end of last term, Alice Dibble and Toby Thompson were instrumental in helping to stop the Immaterial demon-prince Vladrakov from entering this realm once more. Although we don’t expect students to confront minor demons until at least year ten, these two youngsters showed remarkable bravery and initiative, especially in their decision to destroy the spellbook that was anchoring the evil creature to this world. Well done, Alice and Toby! She clapped her hands to encourage the other students, and everyone responded.

Everyone, that is, except Carla Hightower. She folded her plump arms and pouted. I was there too, she grumbled.

Yes, I remember. You bawled like a baby! Toby declared.

Carla stuck her tongue out at him.

Madam Nocturna took a deep breath. It will be the Nocturnal Academy’s job to shape all of you new students into the Earth’s next line of defence against the endless hungry hordes of the Immaterium – a dark dimension of nothingness you will come to know very well over the next four or six years. I do hope you find your time here enjoyable and fruitful – it would be a shame to lose any of you.

‘Lose’? muttered Toby worriedly.

But, unfortunately the Nocturnal Academy is not for everyone, and there will be those of you who will depart for some reason or another. Try to stay as long as you can, because institutions like this are few and far between, and it takes years to train you properly. Meanwhile the demons of the Immaterium continue to increase – and they don’t need any schooling to wreak havoc. She moved out from behind the bench, drifting rather than walking as though her feet weren’t touching the ground. On that note, I will leave you in the more than capable hands of Professor Abbacus, who will introduce you to the method of schooling we now use. She headed for one of the exits.

Alice jumped in her seat in surprise. She hadn’t even realised he had come into the room. Perhaps he had been lurking in the shadows all along. She still wasn’t used to the way people moved around here.

Professor Abbacus took his place behind the bench and glared at the students with none of Madam Nocturna’s compassion and humour. Unlike Alice and Toby, who had had some dealings with Abbacus since the enrolment last year, the rest of the students had forgotten his bizarre appearance, and whispers of surprise wafted across the assembly. He looked as Alice remembered; a small, slightly built figure dressed in a well-worn leather trench-coat that reached the floor. One half of his skull was made from a dull grey metal studded with brass rivets, and a large red lens glared in place of his right eye. There was a metal grille where his mouth should have been, and a cloud of steam surrounded his head.

That’s enough chatter, he growled. Almost everyone settled down, but a few voices continued. No more talking. I mean it. He flung out his right arm towards the blackboard behind him, and with an ominous-sounding shing a long metal pointer shot right out of his wrist, smacking into the board.

Carla couldn’t stop a surprised yelp from escaping her lips. Fortunately, she wasn’t the only one who exclaimed in surprise. Even Alice jumped again. She hadn’t known the Professor could do that.

To the students’ surprise, the blackboard changed colour, becoming an enormous white screen. On it appeared an image of a small, hand-held computer. This is a portable notebook of my own devising. Each of you will be receiving one to record all your information on. It will become your constant companion during your stay here and you are to look after it as though it was your very own. All lost, stolen and broken notepads are to be reported directly to me with a detailed reason explaining the circumstances of your misfortune.

Cool, someone a few rows down whispered.

Yes, they are cool, Professor Abbacus agreed, although there was no way he should have been able to hear the youth. In fact, they are so cool they will replace all other electronic devices you have. At the end of this lecture you will switch off all of your mobile phones, I-pods, Gameboys and other such toys you children use, and they are to remain switched off during lesson-time. Otherwise … the consequences could be dire.

There was some nervous giggling at that. Alice remembered the prefect Mercurio telling her about a werewolf boy whose phone had exploded, burning off all the hair on his face.

These notepads will ensure you have no need for old-fashioned pads, or pencils or such. As the Professor spoke, the bench in front of him opened to reveal stacks of the flat little computers arranged neatly on shelves. They began to fly out one by one, placing themselves in front the students. Alice realised an air-spirit was distributing them. I will give you a brief lesson in their use, and then we can begin the first class of the day.

A notepad landed with a slap in front of her, and Alice folded her guano-stained exercise book and put it away. Up close the machine looked very old fashioned, with large metal tubing around the outside, more big brass rivets, and round buttons like old type-writer keys. The screen changed colour depending on the light. It looked like a computer that had been made during Victorian times.

It also looked like it had very been well used. It was badly scratched, some of the keys were missing letters, and a large crack down the back had been repaired with some sort of hard, transparent glue.

Look, I got a new one! Carla boasted, showing her notepad to Alice. It still looked old fashioned, but was clean and neat, with no dents or scratches whatsoever.

Alice looked around. It seemed like everyone had received a better machine than her. Everyone, that is, except Toby. His had a big thick rubber band holding it together and it was making a strange buzzing noise.

When you receive your notepad, switch it on. This can be accomplished by pressing the ‘on’ button.

Obviously, Toby muttered sarcastically. But when he pushed his button, his machine gave a high-pitched squeal. He swore. Sir, mine’s not working! he exclaimed.

If you want to speak, Thompson, raise your hand! shouted the Professor. If your machine is displaying this menu, then it is working! Abbacus directed his pointer at the big screen behind him, which changed to show a list of icons.

Toby checked the little monitor, and sure enough – it showed all the items. It did, however, continue to whine ominously. Tentatively he lifted his hand.

What now, Thompson?

My machine is making a strange noise, sir!

So? If it’s showing this screen, it’s working!

"But – but the noise is really annoying!’

The students around him laughed.

"I’m starting to find you annoying, Thompson. Now shut up and let me continue!" The Professor directed his attention back to his screen and started explaining each of the icons, showing the students where they could find their timetables, reading lists, maps of the school and other useful information.

That was a bit harsh, Alice whispered into Toby’s ear while the Professor’s attention was elsewhere.

You’re telling me. I’m a werewolf – I have really sensitive ears. This whine is really starting to get on my nerves! Can we swap, maybe?

Alice checked her little computer. I don’t think so – mine has my name at the top of the main screen. They might have been linked to us. Although when Alice checked her name more closely, she realised it had been spelt Alice Dribble.

She groaned. She had been called that all through primary school! Was she doomed to be teased here too?

Down at the front, the small French Omniwere boy tentatively raised his hand. Um … Professor? he asked nervously.

What?

Some of my buttons don’t appear to be working.

Let me see that. Professor Abbacus grabbed the notepad. Andre Sauvage… he read the name at the top of the screen. Sauvage... he paused, as though thinking. Wait a minute - I know that name.

Um, it’s a very old family, sir, from Provence, in France.

I know where Provence is. Abbacus checked the computer, turned it over, whacked the back with his steel hand, and handed it back. That should do it. A couple of your buttons were stuck. The last user must have spilled some Coke on it. He stared intently at the boy for a few seconds.

Both Alice and Toby began to feel sorry for the kid, but to his credit, he didn’t flinch from that glowing red eye.

You’re not related to Christophe Sauvage, are you? Professor Abbacus grated.

I think … he was my great great great … great grandfather.

Professor Abbacus straightened up, scratching at his metal chin with a claw. "That would make sense. It’s the twenty-first century now, isn’t it?"

Some students giggled nervously.

I may need to have a little chat with you later, Sauvage. Now let’s start the lesson! He stomped back to the blackboard, or screen, or monitor – or whatever it was – and it changed again. A large heading appeared, that said;

The Immaterium – an Overview

This will be the most important information you will over learn, growled Abbacus. Take notes. For those of you still two-finger typing, there’s a stylus slotted into the side of your notepad, which you can use to write on your screen like old-fashioned paper. Keep up, because I don’t repeat myself!

With the help of some very intricate diagrams, Professor Abbacus explained that numerous other dimensions existed parallel to this one, each separated by invisible membranes. Alice understood, but beside her Toby’s eyes began to take on a glazed look. I will describe these in more detail later. Right now it is important you understand the nature of the Immaterium. Abbacus described it as a limbo of nothingness, where spirits sometimes became trapped on their way through to the Astral Plane. But it also contained its own natural inhabitants. These bodiless monsters longed to break out and take over reality, which Abbacus called the Materium. Institutes like the Nocturnal Academy had been created to fight these beings.

Abbacus then went on to describe some of the creatures that had made it through – beings he himself had encountered before as well as others from history. He had worked out that there was an Immaterial hierarchy, and a dark god calling himself Abraxas lorded at the very top. He had even managed to get a picture of this creature. It had the head of a rooster, the body of a man, and octopus tentacles for lower limbs. It wore the uniform of a roman soldier.

It looks like an accident in a genetics lab, Alice muttered.

That’s enough talking, Dribble, Abbacus growled.

"Ah – my name is Alice Dibble, sir," she called, amidst loud laughter. She reddened furiously. Not only had he given her a dodgy computer and spelt her name wrong, but now he had embarrassed her in front of the whole of year 7! Didn’t her help the previous year mean anything to him?

Suddenly the bell rang for recess. You will come back here afterwards – Professor Florana has a lecture lined up for you. Dismissed. Students gathered up their belongings and began to file from the room. The angry Alice and overwhelmed Toby were the last to leave, but before they could depart, Professor Abbacus beckoned them back with a steely finger.

Sudden hope leapt into Alice’s heart. Maybe he wanted to explain that he was only treating them so badly because he didn’t want to show them any favouritism.

Professor Abbacus glared at