The Guardians of the Book: The Freak Academy

By S. LouRita Tingey

Elektra Simmons lives in a town that views people with magic as freaks. She herself has always viewed them as freaks. Until the day that she stands up to her abusive boyfriend and learns that she herself has an affinity. She has magic. She ends up transferring schools and making new friends. As she's coming to terms with her own abilities, she and her friends learn about a powerful Book. But they need to hurry if they're going to find the Book before someone else does. In the meantime, Elektra has to deal with her ex-boyfriend. Can Elektra and her friends find the Book before its too late? Can Elektra survive meeting her ex again?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: May 23, 2014
• ISBN: 9781304807014

Book preview

The Guardians of the Book: The Freak Academy

The Guardians of the Book:

The Freak Academy

S. LouRita Tingey

For Josh

This one’s for you, bud.

Extend your wings, and soar.

Chapter One: Bruises

Ah, great, I groan, as I rifle through my purse.  I’m standing outside my three story manor.  My BFF since the fourth grade, Patricia Evans, is sitting in her fancy, white Jaguar.  She honks the horn, getting impatient.  She’s never had much patience, though, so that’s nothing new.

I hold up a finger and dash back inside.  The last thing I’d want is for her to leave me behind.  I race up the stairs to the second floor, and grab my cell phone from my dresser.  I’m about to leave my bedroom when I hear my mom’s voice.

It’s not too late, Daran.  She’s only a week into her sophomore year.  She won’t be far behind the other kids.

Okay, now I’m totally curious.  What were Mom and Dad saying about me?  I won’t have my daughter with those freaks, Dad answers. We are Simmons; can you imagine what that would do to our reputation?  What freaks?  Ew, I can’t be seen with freaks. 

They’re not freaks, and you know it, or have you forgotten?  Is our reputation really more important to you than the needs of our daughter?  She needs to be –

I said no, Lilly.  No, and that’s final.

Phew!  Way to go, Dad!  From outside, I hear Trish honk again.  Elektra! Mom yells.  You’d better get going!

Elektra.  I know, kind of a dorky name, but I like it.  It suits me.  Slipping my phone into my purse, I race outside.  I climb into Trish’s car.  Jeesh, girl, what took you so long? she demands.

I almost forgot my cell.

Trish is an adorable teen.  She’s got perfect, unblemished, olive-toned skin.  Her nose is small and straight, and her eyes are a shocking shade of blue.  Today, she has her long, straight blonde hair pulled into a messy ponytail.  She’s extremely slender, and has a large chest that I’m very jealous of.  Though I don’t have a bust like Trish, I’m not flat either.  My skin is a little on the pale side, but not pasty.  My straight blonde hair is cut into a bob-style.  My ears are double-pierced, and I’m skinny, but not sickly skinny.  Perhaps my most unique feature is my eyes.  They’re blue-green, like the ocean.  I’ve been told that they look like a stormy sea when I’m upset.

Oh my gosh, Trish, you’ll never believe what I just heard.  So I tell her all about the argument between my parents.  It’s really weird, I finish.  I mean, what could they possibly have been talking about?  What freaks?

Trish and I both crinkle our noses and murmur, Ew.

You don’t think…? she trails off.

I straighten in my seat, watching my friend.  She has that tone, that tone that means that she knows I’m not going to like whatever it is she has to say.  I don’t think what?  Spill it, Trish!

She bites her lip.  "You don’t think they were talking about…well, the Freak Academy?"

I gasp.  Okay, there isn’t actually a school named the Freak Academy, but that’s the nickname it’s earned.  Goldtip Academy for the Supernaturally Gifted.  That’s right, I said it, supernatural.  Goldtip is a private school for a bunch of magic freaks.  Well, there are actually a bunch of these schools all over the world, and at least one in every state of the U.S.  No way!  That can’t be it, Trish.  I don’t have any sort of creepy power or anything.

You’re right.  Sorry, El.  Hey, are you doing anything with Luke tonight?

Immediately, my mood sours.  Luke.  My way hot, really popular, senior boyfriend, Luke Thomason.  Also abusive, but Trish doesn’t know that.  As far as everyone else is concerned, Luke is the most wonderful boyfriend on the planet, and he likes to keep that image up.  But I know what he’s really like, and how much of a jerk he can be.

Some of you may be wondering why I don’t just break up with the loser.  See, the problem is, I’ve tried.  He just doesn’t get it.  And now, every time I come close to mentioning it, he gives me a glare so intense that I can almost feel smoke streaming from his ears.  So, yeah, I’m stuck with him, while I try to hide the bruises from everyone.

No, I mutter.  I think I’m just going to relax tonight.

I know!  We can go shopping, just you and me!

I grin widely.  Who can turn down a trip to the mall?  Right after school?

Yep.

We chat, and gossip, for a few more minutes.  Then, we pull up in front of the school.  Trish and I take turns driving each other to school in the mornings.  We’re like sisters, the two of us.  She’s the sister I never had. 

Laughing, we get out of the car, flipping our hair.  Of course, that’s when I spot Luke walking toward us.  My laughter dies instantly, as he comes to me and puts his arm possessively around my waist.

Luke is a hottie, but I hate the way he treats me like an item, an item that he can throw around as much as he wants.  I don’t know if he feels that way just because he’s a senior and I’m a sophomore, or if that’s just his personality. 

He has tanned skin, really only a bit darker than my own, and short brown hair.  His eyes are brown, and his body is ripped.  He’s nineteen, almost three whole years older than me, and really rich, like me.  Well, actually, my parents have more money.

Hey, babe, he says, in that deep, husky voice of his.  How are you?

Great, Luke.  Ugh, can I please just get a new BF?  What did I see in this guy to begin with anyway?  I think it was mostly the idea of having my big, senior crush ask me out.  I didn’t think it through first, and now I wish I had. But I hadn’t known what a jerk he was, when he first asked me out.

I should have listened to my older brother Drake, who’s always been a little suspicious of Luke.

He kisses me roughly, before dragging me with him to the school building.  We attend the local high school, where practically everyone in the neighborhood has moolah.  Very few people attend Ridgeview who can’t afford a private yacht.

I’m relieved when the bell rings and I can get away from him.  Of course, all my classes are completely dull.  The teachers drone on, and on, until I’m practically sleepwalking through the school hallways.  And I’m even one of the good students! 

I don’t fully wake till I meet Trish by her car.  I grin.  You armed? she asks, climbing into the driver’s seat.

I sit, and whip out my gold credit card.  Oh, how I love being a rich child.  My parents spoil the crap out of me, especially since I’m Daddy’s little princess.  You know it.  Time for some heavy-duty shopping.

She starts the car, and then we’re cruising toward the mall.  As we’re entering the main doors to the mall, my laughter trails off.  I watch in disgust as I notice the security guard arguing with a freak. 

The guy has large, feathery, black wings extending from his back.  He’s shirtless and shoeless.  I can only see the back of him, but even that is muscular.  He has wavy black hair that hits his ears in the front, but slants down to just below the nape of his neck in the back.  When he shakes his head, I can see a gleam of silver in his left ear.

His words float back to me.  But –

No shirt, the guards interrupts, no shoes, no service.  Can’t you read?

Come on, man.  This is a treat for all the ladies around; why cover it?

No service! 

Are you serious?  Man, I am so sick of always having to cut holes in my shirts.  And what’s the point of wearing shoes when I’m usually in the air?

No service!  Now that’s final!

A small teenager is staring at the winged guy.  She grips her friend’s sleeve.  Kaitlyn, look, he’s got wings, the girl says, loudly.

The subject of her comment turns to her, and now I can see his profile.  His nose is long and straight.  The one eye that’s in my line of sight is green, a bright green.  The silver gleam I’d seen earlier is a hoop earring.  His mouth quirks up in a smile, and his golden-tanned skin crinkles a bit.  He’s got a heart melting smile.  Hey, girl, a little advice: don’t drink Red Bull.  Did you know that if you drink too much of it, the wings don’t go away? 

I bite my lip, struggling not to laugh as he flutters said wings.  I hate to admit it, but he’s kinda funny. 

And they’re not always white.

Trish seems to finally realize I haven’t been paying any attention to her.  What are you looking at, El– her voice stops suddenly as she follows my gaze.  Her nose crinkles in revulsion.  Ew, it’s a freak.

Before I can disagree and say that maybe he’s not so bad, something soft and warm brushes my shoulder, resting on my upper arm.

Somebody call me?  But I don’t believe we’ve met.

I glance down, and squeal.  Black feathers.  I spin around, and stare in shock as a watery fist clutches a handful of feathers.  My eyes widen, and the fist falls to the ground, splashing us all as it hits the floor.  Now it’s nothing more than a puddle, but I can’t seem to tear my gaze away from it, wondering where it could have come from.

Elektra!  I give a small exclamation of pain as someone grabs my arm, pinching a bruise left by Luke.  When I look up, I’m not at all surprised to see Luke himself standing beside me, his brown eyes flashing.  "What are you doing, talking to this…this bird?"

If you’re referring to me, you hideous troll, you’re mistaken.  My name is Joel.  He steps forward, putting his face about an inch from my boyfriend’s.  Joel stands just a bit taller than Luke, putting him close to six feet tall. I’m only five-four, so Joel is about half a foot taller than me.  I can feel the grip on my arm tighten.  There’s no reason for you to be so rough on…Elektra, right?  That’s your name? he asks, looking politely at me.

Look, freak, I don’t want you coming anywhere near my girlfriend.

He arches a single eyebrow, looking a bit cocky.  What if she wants me to come near her?

"She’s seeing me, and no one else."

I try to pull away, but I can’t.  Luke’s too strong.  Luke, I mumble.  Luke, stop.  I’m not seeing him, okay?  Just calm down.  Let’s just go, now, please.

Joel shakes his head.  No, I’ll go.  I have to put some clothes on, anyway, apparently.  He bows low, expanding his dark wings to their full width and blocking half of the area.  He lifts his head slightly, and winks at me.  "I have no doubt I’ll be seeing you again very soon, Elektra," he says, putting an emphasis on the word ‘seeing,’ probably just to annoy Luke.  And then, with a large gust of wind, he takes to the air and flies through the doors.

What is up with those Goldtip freaks?

I sigh.  Luke, shut up.

As soon as the words are out, I regret them.  I wince as he squeezes his hand, glaring at me.  What did you say?

I’m sorry! I blurt.  I’m sorry, Luke, I didn’t mean it.  I just…I’m a little shaken up, you know?

His eyes lose their hard edge.  Of course you are, after talking to someone like that.  You should probably just go home and rest.

I nod woodenly.  Yeah.  Trish?

Yeah, sure.  She’s watching me closely, frowning.  Luke has never been this possessive and harsh – in front of her.  I allow him to give me a quick, rough kiss before he leaves.  The moment he’s gone, she squints at me.  Elektra?  Are you sure you want to leave, girl?  We just got here, and we haven’t even looked ye–

Patricia, I whisper, cutting her off.  I rarely call her by her full first name.  I want to go home.  If Luke is here, I add to myself, then I want to be far away.

Okay, if you say so.

Yeah, I do.  So she takes me home.

I’m quiet for the rest