Vicious Souls (Saints Academy, #3)

by K.C. Kean

Those motherfuckers have no clue who they’re messing with, but I’m more than happy to show them. RHEA HARRINGTON

“Those pretentious, self-centered cunts,” Harmonia bites, stomping her foot as she whirls around to face us. “You better figure this the fuck out.” She points a small finger in our direction like she’s the one giving orders. “I’ll find Thalia and Cassandra, and you lot, find our fucking girl.”

The dean is clearly fearful of Rhea even though she hasn’t used her power in a threatening way. It’s only triggered when she has to protect herself.

To the outside looking in, the Elias family is always calm, collected, and righteous, but if you fuck with us, you’re going to bare the consequences.

“I want to know why you think it is suitable to place my son’s sealed soul…” she pauses again, turning from Zellus back to Rhea with a joyous smile on her face, giving a quirky wink, before her death glare crosses her face once more. “In such inhumane confinements. She is of the utmost importance to him, his unit, and to us. She shall not be treated like an object for your amusement.”

“Everything must be approved by the Hex, Mrs. Elias,” he responds, like he hasn’t listened to a damn word she’s said, and it stokes the fire of anger inside me, making it flare again. “Please, you're full of shit, Zellus,” my dad gripes, stepping up to my mother and wrapping an arm around her shoulders sweetly. “Always have been, always will be,” he continues with a shrug of his own. “You want them to do your bidding, just like you manipulated someone else’s parents, forcing their hand to aid in whatever it is you have planned for Rhea. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

“Baby, you have two options, waste a lot of your breath right here, telling me all the reasons why you need to be alone, only for me to go into my room and walk right through the bathroom to get to you. I can do it immediately or the second you fall asleep, creepy or not,” he states with a pointed look. “Or, you can get over it and let me in now, saving all of the wasted time and effort making me work for it when you know you’re going to cave. The others may know you have your shit together, but well, you’ve met this needy fucking soul of yours,” he murmurs, pointing unashamedly at his chest.

“I fear saying this will only scare you away, Rhea, but we all know I can be a selfish asshole, so here I am doing it anyway,” he mumbles, making my nose crinkle in confusion as I tilt my head back to look at him. The second my eyes meet his lilac pools, he confidently says. “I love you.”

The Elites are my kryptonite, and I can’t deny I’m okay with that.

“The calmest I’ve ever felt in my life was when Zen, Xander, Khaos, and you took me out by the lake on Christmas Eve and showed me snow.”

I appreciate Xander, Zen, and even Khaos, for giving me the space I asked for, but I’m also thankful for this demanding and needy demon beside me, who can read me so well.

Nothing will ever compare to this, the ecstasy my sealed souls can give me. I could die right now and be a happy woman, figuratively speaking.

Xander immediately laces his fingers with mine, his thumb brushing over my knuckles as Zen places his palm at the bottom of my spine.

Adonis grumbles under his breath, and Xander scoffs. “Fuck off, A, you had her all to yourself last night. I can smell the soap from showering this morning, but my wolf can sense you all over each other. You. Need. To. Fucking. Share,” he snaps, squeezing his fingers tighter with mine before pulling me through the portal.

Zen keeps my hand in his, and to my amazement, it’s Khaos who snatches the spot to my left, not touching me, but I can feel the protective vibes drifting off him in waves.

“We’ve decided we’re going to do a forced test, to determine what Rhea’s powers actually are, then we can figure out what her agenda is.” There. Apparently it’s as simple as that. Before anyone can jump to my defense or respond, I plaster a smile on my face as I finally get Zellus’ attention. “If that is the case, then I want every first year to do it with me. I refuse to be singled out just because you seem to have a problem with me.”

“The first years won’t have powers yet,” she adds, like that simply washes away my claim, and I shake my head in disappointment. The shitstarter should know better than to act oblivious. But I’m going to thoroughly enjoy dropping some Zellus truthbombs.

“How do you think Zellus is going to force the test, Mrs. Bishop?” I ask innocently, feeling the Hex shuffle nervously, but no one utters a single world. She looks at her husband for guidance, but he offers nothing in response since he’s as clueless as the rest of the Supernatural world. Exactly why I’m targeting my questions at her. I want her to see with her own eyes that she believed in the wrong man.

“He’s going to do exactly what he does with the second years at the end of the Academy term, and do you know what that is?” I eliminate the distance between us, surprised no one steps forward to cut me off as I stride toward her, watching as she shakes her head.

“He undoes the suppression placed on each student, allowing their magic to finally flow through them. That’s what he’ll do to me, completing the process my sealed soul hasn’t done already; by force, like they always do. And that's exactly what he can do to every supernatural under the age of twenty-two, don’t you think?”

When the room continues to sit in silence, it’s Ana who speaks first, a gasp falling from her lips as she gains everyone’s attention. “Oh my Gods, is this true?” Her hands are planted firmly on her hips as she gapes at Zellus to the members of the Hex and back again. I follow her line of sight, only to find Hades smirking mischievously as he claps slowly.

“You, Miss Harrington,” she starts, pointing her finger at me as she puts the emphasis on the last name I shouldn’t have. Clearly she won’t aim her rage at Hades who agrees with me, targeting who she believes is weaker instead. Me. “Are untrustworthy, dangerous, and a disgrace to our society. Would you like me to add liar to that list of adjectives too?” I scoff, squaring my shoulders as I keep my gaze fixed on hers. “No, because the word liar is a noun,” I sass, challenge flashing in my eyes before turning my back to her and facing Zellus, dismissing her, something I’m sure will piss her off just as much as my attitude. “All or nothing, Zellus.”

“You should know Zellus loves a show, but he’s a shady motherfucker underneath it all,” he murmurs, and Harmonia nods in agreement at the fact. “Obviously,” she deadpans. “And you. You’re going to have to fill me in on all of this,” she states, slouching back in her seat as she tilts her head at me in a silent demand, and I offer a tight smile in response.

“Shut the fuck up you washed-up has-been. Get over yourself. The Elites didn’t want you then, and they certainly don’t want you now. So take your little reality hit, and fuck all the way back off to where you came from.”

“What do you think the test will involve?” I sigh, my gut twisting as I offer my friends a tight smile. “Fuck if I know, but I’m sure it will be rigged to ensure my failure. It’s inevitable,” I answer truthfully, not wanting to make this about me, but I’ve explained how everyone’s being tested because of me, and thankfully, they don’t hate me.

That’s when I see it, a fucking smirk on Khaos’ lips, and I don’t think he’s ever looked hotter. Fuck. He’s delectable as a dark and angry vampire, but as a smirking, happy faced vampire, shit, he’ll ruin me.

“I learned that there are three original furies; Alecto, Tisiphone, and Megaera. Each fueled and powered by a different… sin. One unceasing in anger, another the avenger of murder, and the third sought to seek out jealousy,”

The kitchen alone is the equivalent to four of my rooms at the Academy, and I’d hate to consider how it compares to the shoebox apartment I had in Phoenix Valley which was even smaller than that. There are surfaces everywhere, two five-burner stoves, four ovens, and a huge walk-in fridge and freezer.

I want that kitchen.

“Let one thing be clear. Your parents may have created your DNA, Rhea, but they don’t create who you are. Core values, inner strength, morals, and drive come from life lessons. All of which you have in abundance, dear.” Holy fucking shit balls. I think I’ve fallen in love with this woman.

“I don’t need to know about his sex life. Thanks.” I cringe, not needing the imagery, when I remember what he said when he left me in the cage in Zellus’ office. “You know he insinuated he raped my mother as she died,” I bite, my anger quickly rising as I repeat. “Raped. Her. While. She. Died.” I emphasize every word as she tilts her head at me.

The magic chooses you, not the other way around.”

“Actually, when we got up on the stage last night, Zellus refused to do the awakening to complete the transition for the two of us.” I force myself to remain in place, although my body wants to shuffle from foot to foot, nervously awaiting their response, when all three of them blast at once. “What the actual fuck?” They’re all so in tune that a scoff of laughter bursts from my lips. “He said something along the lines of ‘there being no chance in hell Khaos and I would be sealed souls too,’ so we could enter the test at a disadvantage… for entertainment purposes,” I continue, tucking my hair behind my ear as I watch all of their jaws drop further.

“Zellus was wrong, you fucking sealed your soul with Khaos too, didn’t you?”

“Goodbye, Dante,” I grind out, turning my back on him, when his hand lands on my shoulder once more. Before I can spin around and lay into him, his grip has been ripped away, and I turn to find Dante flat on the floor with Khaos hovering over him. His body vibrates with anger, his eyes barely remaining green as I panic his magic will make its way to the surface. “Give me one more fucking reason to kill you, please. I’ve been itching for your blood on my hands for far too long,” he spits out, leaning over Dante’s shocked body on the floor.

Telling me I’m not safe isn’t telling me something new. I haven’t been safe since I touched the damn fucking box and wound up here.

“I think the question should be, what aren’t we looking for,” Adonis snarks with a chuckle, and I roll my eyes again. They’re going to fall out of their socket at the rate he’s going tonight. Releasing a heavy breath, I sit back, straightening my shoulders as I hold a finger up. “Anything and everything on sealed souls, anything that will help Cassandra with her frenzies. Why the war was even a thing, and what Zeus’ reasonings were since he also ended up producing me at the end of it all. Whatever information we can find on Nyx, and if by some miracle we get all that, any hint or information on where the fuck the third years are.”

Years ago, every vampire was gifted to the world in a frenzy. Red eyes and a desperate need for blood was the norm among the community, making them profusely feared and a danger to society. Created to defend Chaos, Goddess of carnage, known for her short temper, moodiness, and bloodlust, they served their purpose. Until they got out of hand, and uncontrollable, even for her. A solution was required, and one was offered in the form of the furies. Known for their need for vengeance, the three brothers lived in the underworld, torturing sinners. Alecto, Tisiphone, and Megaera. Unceasing. Avenging murder. Grudging. Having tortured many vampires for their frenzied sins, they chose to heal them of such a curse, which subsequently tortured Chaos for her grueling sins.

One word about laying me out and fucking me in the dining hall has us all turning into horny fucking teenagers. And I can’t deny that I like it. The desire. The magnetism. The craving.