Knightfall: Hyde Chronicles, #2

By H. J. Harding

Violet Peters doesn't regret her choice to stay at Hyde. Usually. But it has complications. Especially when it comes to relating to her family. Her worlds are separating and Violet finds it harder and harder to straddle the balance. When her own cousin applies to Hyde, even Violet isn't sure if that will help or harm.

She does know that the danger isn't over yet, and someone is using Hyde as their personal chessboard. Violet is determined to do her part to save the school, but even that determination has unexpected consequences. The game is turning deadly, but she can't back down now.

Book Two of the Hyde Chronicles is more than 75,000 words of adventure you don't want to miss

• Language: English
• Publisher: H. J. Harding
• Release date: Jul 18, 2017
• ISBN: 9781533758781

H. J. Harding

H. J. Harding is the writer of the 'Hyde Chronicles' and the 'Moonlit Memories' series. She lives between the states of chaos and confusion with occasional stopovers in Virginia. Once in a while she updates her website at hjharding.com. She also plays with blogging (hjharding.wordpress.com), Pinterest, Facebook, and Tumblr.

Book preview

Chapter One

A Typical Day

A ttention all students ! The blood-seeking creeper vines are loose. All students are to head to the nearest shelter with all due speed. Students inside shelter are not to leave until the all clear has been announced. Trained faculty, please meet at the arranged points to corral the plants. Thank you.

When the announcement started, I looked around trying to figure out where it was coming from. Once again, I failed to notice any sign of visible speakers. Maybe it was magic; wouldn’t be a surprise in this school. No one else in the crowded cafeteria was looking for speakers, so I stopped before I looked any dumber.

Swallowing the soup I had in my mouth, I looked at my friends. None of them seemed overly concerned about the announcement, so it probably wasn’t a major deal. Okay, stupid question time. What exactly are ‘blood-seeking creeper vines’ and how does a plant escape? Being the only human in the group, actually in the entire university, meant I was often forced to play catch up. Of course, since the population of the school came from all different dimensions, everyone had a turn at being ignorant sometimes.

I was a little surprised that Adrian was the one to answer. While he was the only non-freshman at the table, the panther shifter also came from my dimension so he shouldn’t have had that much of an advantage over me. Of course, he grew up knowing more about the dimensions than I did.

For example, it wasn’t until I came to Hyde University that I learned there were twenty major dimensions, each of which had diverged into little related clusters, and there were nexus points where dimensions shared space. Our dimension was 13A. Adrian knew that before attending.

Blood-seeking creeper vines are mobile, intelligent plants. I think they come from one of the 2s or 3s. Plants are smarter in those dimensions. Anyway, like the name suggests, they’re vamparic, like your roommate. Unlike your roommate, they rarely hesitate to attack anyone they come across. They have a very shallow root system that lets them uproot themselves and move to a new location. May not have much in the way of speed, but they can cover nearly three meters at a time, and the creepers can extend up to five meters from the plant. Don’t ask me how, but somehow they can sense when someone nearby is bleeding. And if someone nearby isn’t bleeding, well, the thorns can take care of that. A single plant can’t kill you, but they travel in packs and somehow communicate with each other. No one knows how they do it. That’s one of the reasons they escape so often. That and they learn. Every time someone uses a certain technique to prevent them from escaping, once the plant learns to get past it, they all know it in hours.

I shivered. Why keep them around then?

Adrian took a sip of his soda. Lots of reasons. The different parts are useful. The leaves and sap in the vines have medicinal uses. The flowers are used in certain magic ceremonies, and perfumes, I think. The roots are made into tea for medicine, magic, or luck. Besides, Dr. Ash is the head of the botany department, and he likes them for some reason. He’s a dryad, so they can’t hurt him. He took a bite of his burger, swallowed and continued. You’re a bio major, right? Then you’ll study them in Advanced Botany. Allison did a major report on them in her senior year, and drove me nuts telling me all about them.

I smiled. Your sister was a bio major?

Nah, psychology. Her paper was on learning behaviors.

So how are they going to stop the plants? Kara asked. The werewolf had finished her lunch and been about to leave when the announcement was made. If her massive grin was any indication she was not at all unhappy that she had to stay and socialize with her friends instead of going to class.

Magic, plant elementals. Stuff like that. Adrian shrugged. They’re afraid of fire. Again, like your roommate.

I shook my head but didn’t say anything. After more than a month of distrust, Adrian and Ilse had finally come to some kind of truce, wispy as it was.

Speaking ill of a lady when she is not present to defend herself is the actions of a–

He wasn’t insulting her. It’s a known fact that vampires are cautious of fire. Like most intelligent people. Interrupting Tim may have been mildly rude, but I was sure that letting him and Adrian get into another fight would be worse.

Tim had unfortunately been... out of it, during most of the time the rest of us made friends with Adrian, and the yeti still had to warm up to the shifter he had believed a threat for so long. I couldn’t exactly blame him, and Adrian did seem to take a little too much enjoyment in tweaking people’s noses, but this wasn’t the place for a fight. Though perhaps that wasn’t the reason for this particular fight. Last Friday, the 21st of October, had been the school Halloween dance. Tim and Ilse had spent most of that dance together, but neither had said anything about being more than friends before or since.

I decided to change the subject quickly. So, these plants. Are they cold resistant? It’s almost November. Hyde University was on an island in Wollaston Lake, Saskatchewan, far closer to the North Pole than I really wanted to be. I think it might have been a whole thirty-five degrees Fahrenheit today.

Some. Soon it will be too cold for them, but they can manage now. Adrian leaned back as Kara’s roommate, Denise, stole his empty plate. The dragonfly shifter made what she called ‘table sculptures’ at most meals. This one was particularly impressive, standing almost four feet off the table in places.

How long does this normally take? Any chance they’ll cancel my Foundations of Literature class? I was more hopeful than expectant.

Doubtful, Denise said, trying to balance a cup on a fork stretched between two plates. Your class isn’t for an hour, and I doubt Professor Argus would cancel class unless it was more than half over by the time they caught the creepy vines.

Shouldn’t take that long. Not unless it really gets away from them. Adrian said, keeping a tight hold of his cup lest it join the rest of ours in the table sculpture.

I sighed, causing Kara to give me a sympathetic smile. Not looking forward to your test? She asked, looking up from the napkin flag she was making for Denise.

I’ve been studying and studying. The past three days I’ve been cramming like crazy. But I still can’t understand half of it. Studying literature from multiple dimensions is tough. Especially when some of the concepts and authors aren’t even pronounceable in English. Kara commiserated and Tim assured me that I’d do better than I thought.

Adrian just shrugged. Could be worse.

I winced at the reminder. Yes, even failing a massive test was better than what was going on last week, or most of the month. No one was hurt, everyone was mostly getting along, and as far as I could tell, no one was trying to kill me or get me expelled. It had been a rough month. I was still having nightmares. Yeah, I know.

He looked a little sheepish at my reaction. You’ll do fine.

Before I could answer him, the announcement came that we could leave our shelters. They had corralled the ‘creepy vines’ as Denise put it. Considering the circumstances, I wasn’t sure she was wrong. There was plenty of time for me to get to class.

I pushed all those thoughts away as I got to class. Foundations of Literature was hard enough when I wasn’t distracted. I was early, but not the first one there. Stifling a groan, I slid in my seat, next to Arie, the harpy that lived a couple doors down from me.

She was stretching her blue eagle wings, looking rather pleased with herself. I half expected her to start preening feathers with her beak. Evidently she wasn’t nervous about the test. Then again, why should she be? As far as I could tell, she was one of the best in the class.

"Professor Argus? Will there be extra credit on the test? Some people might need it." She gave me a syrupy smile that was belied by the contempt in her eyes.

I tried to ignore her, making sure I had two working pens. Professor Argus’s extra credit questions were notoriously difficult so I wasn’t relieved when he said there was.

Class, pull out your weapons of orthographic destruction and commence. The teacher’s grin was demonic. Rattled, I flipped over my test and had to resist the urge to scream.

ADRIAN WAS WAITING outside when I got out of class, like usual. How’d it go? He smirked.

I shook my head. "Considering it’s nothing compared to some things this month... it was evil."

Arie was leaving then, and must have heard me. She tossed her blue hair and walked away with smirk making sure to tell her friend that she was certain she aced it, at a volume that seemed unnecessary unless her friend was profoundly deaf. While I didn’t know Tatiana well, I knew the pixie had hearing that was at least as good as mine, probably better.

Adrian ignored them. Really?

Worst thing this week so far. Hopefully it will stay that way.

It’s Tuesday, Adrian pointed out, holding the door for me.

I thanked him. Yeah, I know. I sighed. I know, I know. I shouldn’t complain. It’s a perfectly normal part of school. No one got hurt, and I might even have gotten one of the extra credit questions right. A pause. I still hate that class.

Adrian was trying not to laugh at me, I could tell. Five Hydeonians says you got a B+ or better.

No bet. That came out to around twenty-five U.S. Dollars. I didn’t want to risk that, even if I didn’t think I had done quite that well. A few times I ended up doing better in that class than I expected. Hyde arranged for the grades to be counted the same way another college in one’s home dimension would, hence why my grades were the letter grades I was used to. Almost. Canada had slightly different grading than American schools, having A+ be a normal grade, leaving a B to be the equivalent of a C by my usual standards. We got to my math class. Gotta go. See you later?

Probably, Adrian said, leaving.

I got to my seat just before Professor Pod, the seven and a half foot centipede, started taking role. There was just enough time to nod to Krystal, the ice elemental whose room was right next to mine. She smiled back.

Math was easier than Lit, at least for me. For one thing, it hadn’t changed with new dimensions. Math was math no matter where you were. Well, mostly. Besides, I didn’t have to figure out deep themes and symbolism. Krystal didn’t seem to agree with me, but we studied together sometimes, like last night. Good thing, because Professor Pod decided today was a good day for a pop quiz. Sneaky teachers.

This quiz I was less worried about. For one thing, it didn’t count for a quarter of my grade like the one in F of L. Two, it was much easier. Krystal seemed to agree, if the smile on her face was any indication. Of course for all I know, she finds Lit easier.

All in all, except for the vines getting out, it was a pretty typical day at a normal college. If you ignored the fact that everyone else wasn’t human, I could actually tell my family about most of the day. My dimension was called a ‘shade’ dimension, meaning the majority didn’t know about the multiple dimensions and all the other types of beings out there, and it was against the rules to tell people about it. Probably Inter-dimensional law too, because the school made/tricked all the students into signing a magically binding contract swearing they wouldn’t reveal the secrets of the school. Though my family would think I was nuts if I did try to tell them anyway.

I got back to my room and was surprised to see that Ilse was awake. Being a vampire, she was almost entirely nocturnal and normally wouldn’t be up for several more hours. She didn’t seem particularly happy to be awake now, either. The phone in her hand suggested the explanation. Here she is. She just walked in.

I took the phone in surprise. I hadn’t expected a call. Mouthing an apology to Ilse, I turned my attention to the phone. Hello?

Hey, Vi.

Jesse? That was a surprise. My oldest cousin on Dad’s side, Jesse and I lived in the same neighborhood until he went to college, but we were never that close. He was two years older than I, but our interests were usually very different. It wasn’t that we didn’t get along, but I wouldn’t have expected him to put much effort into trying to talk to me. Is everything alright?

He laughed, relieving me a little. You don’t want to talk to me? I’m hurt.

I smiled. Of course I want to talk to you, you goof. I’m just surprised. Besides, I think you woke up my roommate.

It’s five in the evening.

Three over here. We’re two time zones over. Besides, she takes night classes.

Fine, fine. I apologize to your roommate. Is she cute? She sounds cute.

Jesse! I fought back laughter. Ilse had gone back to her room, so I went to mine, both for privacy and to cut down on noise. She could be a model, I said honestly.

Realllly? He managed to draw the word out for almost a minute.

Oh, why do you care? It’s not like you’re coming here.

Well, that’s the thing. I froze. I’m thinking about transferring. Hyde’s been brought up a few times, and I wanted your opinion. Violet? Are you still there?

Chapter Two

Family and Friends

Iswallowed twice. Yes, I’m here. Hyde? You want to come here? Are you sure?

Well, I’m not positive. That’s why I’m asking you. You seem to be enjoying it.

Jessie at Hyde. Oh my. Could he adjust to everything? You’re pre-law, right? The pre-law program isn’t what you’d need, being a different country and all. Not to mention the dimensions. Besides, I doubt you’d get a baseball scholarship. I don’t think they play that here.

It was in their brochure.

Oh, then I guess they do. I thought some more. I’ll be honest; Hyde required a lot of adjusting.  More than I expected. Yeah, I do love it, but it’s so very different. Is your mind mostly made up, or are you considering other options? Why are you transferring anyway?

Oh, different reasons. My favorite professor retired, and I don’t like some of the ones who stayed. The baseball team is pathetic. Tuition is on the rise. I feel like a change. Do you know that I’ve never left the state of Virginia? Ever?

Neither had I before I came here.

Anyway, I have a few options. Hyde is on the list, but not the only one. Uncle Kevin seems to think it’s a good idea.

I closed my eyes, having a pretty good idea why my dad would want Jesse at Hyde. If the only reason you’re considering Hyde is to play nursemaid to me, then no, you shouldn’t come here. It wouldn’t be best for any of us.

Whoa, retract the claws. His joke calmed me a little. I suppose it had come out testier than I meant to.  It’s not the only reason and I’m not going to play nursemaid. So, what do you like best and least about Hyde?

I had to think about it for a few minutes. Especially how to word things so that I could say what I needed to. The best would probably be how very much there is to learn. Plus I’ve made some great friends. Least would be the snobs. There are a few who don’t like me, just for being different. That was an understatement, but I could hardly tell him that someone was trying to drive me away from the school, or even kill me.

Huh. Wouldn’t have thought there’d be many Americaphobes in Canada.

It’s not always because I’m American. There’s other reasons. Like being human.

I guess that happens everywhere.

I suppose. Not to this extent.

I better go. This call is going to cost a fortune.

Well, let me know what you decide, I said. Jesse at Hyde. Oh my.

WOULD THAT BE BENEFICIAL or detrimental? Ilse asked, taking a sip of her drink, food, red substance I tried not to think too much about. Dinner, unlike lunch, was often just the two of us. Probably because I had to wait until nine or ten for her to be up and ready.

I had to think about it. We had recently found out that Hyde University required there to be at least one human at the school to stay open, and some people seemed determined to make sure it didn’t. Two had recently been caught, but my friends and I knew there were at least two more people involved. We had to keep quiet about it, but Taria, my student advisor claimed the faculty had everything under control. I wasn’t sure I believed it.

Jesse coming? I’m not sure. Both I guess. I like him okay, though he is a bit of a tease. Having another human, or more than one, would be great. I think. But I honestly don’t know how well he’d adjust. Plus there’s the prejudice. It’s not fair to ask him to put up with that. I rearranged my pasta some more; probably hadn’t had more than three bites all night. Judging from Ilse’s reproachful look, she had noticed. Though it might get my parents off my back. They aren’t happy with how little I tell them about school. Maybe having him here will reassure them. Or he’ll get as close-mouthed as I am, they’ll decide the school is brainwashing us and force us to come home. I shrugged and forced myself to have another forkful of noodles.

Ilse shook her head at me. If he would be completely unable to adjust, Taria will know and refuse his application. It might be wise to speak to her in any event.

I brightened at that. You’re right. Good idea. I’ll have to talk to her after class tomorrow. Hopefully she would be in a better mood. She still seemed to have some lingering suspicions about me. After being able to prove that I wasn’t responsible for the... disaster earlier this month, things had gotten even more awkward. Still, she was my advisor, and since she had been the advisor for every human student in the past hundred years, if Jesse did come, she would be his as well.

How was your literature test? Ilse asked, deciding the topic was done.

I pushed my plate forward, set my arms on the table, and buried my head in my arms, groaning. It did nothing to drown out her laughing.

THE NEXT DAY I HAD Interdimensional History with Taria. It was my most crowded class, with nearly three hundred students. But the purple telepath shapeshifter managed to keep order nicely. After class, I waited until the rest of the students had left to talk to her. Maybe it was my imagination, but she had seemed to be watching me during class. I don’t know if that was lingering suspicions or her way of saying she wanted to talk to me. After all, her telepathy didn’t work on me anymore.

Not the most socially adept at the best of times, nerves left me utterly ‘graceless’ as Arie put it once. My cousin is thinking of transferring to Hyde, I blurted out as soon as I got to her desk.

Her wings switched from looking like sheets to becoming ribbons intertwined above her head. Yes, I’ve received his application.

No one spoke for a minute. I couldn’t think of anything to say. Fortunately, Taria continued before I could lose my nerve entirely. Do you believe your cousin would be unsuited to Hyde?

I opened my mouth, closed it, and after a pause, opened it again. I’m not sure. It would definitely be a challenge. Jesse doesn’t even read fiction for fun. I think finding out he was wrong about, well, the nature of reality would be hard for him. If he did manage, I think he’d be fine. He’s always been pretty culturally sensitive to others. He usually manages to pull off being understanding without being condescending.

Taria nodded. The wings separated, morphing into large bells. That coincides with our findings.

How can you tell who can adjust? I mean, the application was weird, but I still...

Several ways. The paper itself is magical, allowing us to know if someone lies or hedges the truth. In addition, the applicant leaves a bit of their aura on it which is then read by an aura reader. I suspected there was more to it than that, but didn’t ask.

Much as I wanted to ask if Jesse would be accepted, I didn’t think she’d tell me. It wasn’t really my business. So I was surprised when Taria brought it up. Do you believe we should accept your cousin?

Closing my eyes, I tried to think objectively. It’s not my place to say. I don’t know all the circumstances. I can say this, Jesse is not the type to be a loose cannon. If he can’t take it, he’ll go back home. But he won’t try to cause problems. That’s just not who he is.

Taria nodded. Her wings formed an extra set of arms that started picking up papers on her desk. If your cousin was completely unacceptable we would not be having this conversation. Nor would we be discussing this if he was unquestionably acceptable. Her eyes pierced me. There is no reason to mention that to anyone else.

I nodded.

Good. You should get to your next class.

I didn’t have another class for several hours, but I didn’t argue. Tim would be meeting me for lunch soon; maybe I’d feel better after eating. After thinking about it, I decided not to mention the possibility of Jesse coming to anyone else yet. Nothing was set in stone, it could wait until more was decided.

THE CAFETERIA WAS