Quantum Entanglement Read online

  A white-haired man enters, and I can hear Mr. Seymour say, “I thought I locked that door.”

  The man’s stoic expression never changes. His white hair is at odds with his youthful appearance, but so is his suit. What is the occasion? He looks directly at me as if reading my thoughts before quietly telling our professor the reason for his intrusion.

  “Mr. Remis, it seems you’re needed for an urgent matter. This gentleman is here to escort you and fill you in.” Mr. Seymour gives the white-haired man a look over, unsure.

  I waste no time grabbing my backpack off the floor. I stash my wrist straps in one of the front pockets before flinging it over my shoulder once more. Was it my mom and dad? Another family member? I wait until I’m outside the classroom before I turn to the stranger. “What is the urgent matter? Is my family okay?”

  “Your family is fine. And yes, I was reading your thoughts back in there.”

  “What are you talking about?” I ask, now breathing a sigh of relief that he wasn’t here about anything related to my family.

  “Well, you were thinking that I was looking at you as if I was reading your thoughts. I was reading them.”

  “Look, I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but you have a few seconds to tell me the reason you pulled me out of my class, or I’m leaving you out here. What was so urgent?” I don’t know what I was expecting him to say, but my relief is short-lived.

  “The fire, the infinity symbol on your inner left wrist, and your increased speed and strength are all the reasons I’m here,” he explains with a flat affect. Has this man been watching me? Oh, wait … he read my thoughts, but how?

  “No, I haven’t been watching you. I was able to sense use of supernatural ability, which led me here to investigate,” he answers the question in my mind. How the fuck did he do that? Supernatural what? “Look, we’ll be here all day with your internal monologue of questions. A beacon has been sent, so it won’t be long before others will come to investigate too. I can explain all of this to you, but we need to get you to a safe place first.”

  “Safe? Am I not safe now? Who am I in danger from?”

  “Too many questions. Do you understand we need to go now?” Two men appear at the end of the hall … too far for me to get a good look at them, but if the urgency in Mr. White Hair’s voice is any indication, this is the danger he was referring to. “Like right now. Cross your arms over your chest and hold on.”

  I do exactly as he says, too stunned to do anything else. The minute he grabs my shoulders, an orb of white light encircles us. My eyes are forced shut from the brightness, followed by stabbing pain. What the hell just happened? The pain pulses through me relentlessly until I succumb to total darkness.

  Chapter Three

  Genesis

  Light slowly begins to filter in as I blink and rub my eyes. “Ah.” I gasp as a sharp pain makes me protest the sudden movement.

  “Try not to move too much,” the strange man suggests. “You just experienced your first joint teleportation. Your body went through quite an ordeal.”

  “A joint what? You’re not making any sense, and the cryptic act is getting old. I followed you, endured whatever the hell that was, and now I want answers,” I huff as I lie back on the hard surface.

  “You just teleported with me. Teleportation is …”

  “I know what teleportation is, and there’s no such thing. Did you roofie me? Drug me? Is this some kind of bad trip?”

  “I can assure you I did no such thing. Look around … what do you see?”

  I look around, suspiciously—careful not to take my eyes off him for too long. “We’re in some kind of clinic. Why am I on an operating table?” I shriek when I realize what hard surface I’m lying on. I’ve seen enough of these on television.

  “Calm down, I’m not going to hurt you. I could have already done so if that was my intent.” He begins to pace, worry creeping into his handsome face for the first time. “It’s just as I thought. You’re a supernatural.”

  “Super what? Hello? Can you stop pacing, and tell me what you’re going on about?” I sit up again too quickly, and the jolt of pain reminds me to settle the hell down.

  “The thing you did in the coffee shop was a form of magic, Genesis.” I want to ask him how he knows my name, but my brain is stuck on the magic part. He has my full attention. “Unsanctioned magic. It’s against the rules to use magic or any supernatural ability in the presence of humans.”

  “Wait. I’m human. What are you talking about? And anything I did wasn’t intentional. I don’t know magic. I mean I know what supernatural is, but that’s fiction …”

  “Genesis.” He snaps his fingers, getting my attention. “Just listen. It’s a lot to take in but try to listen so you can come to terms with it. Then I’ll answer any questions you may have.” My silence is his cue to continue. “I know your magic wasn’t intentional, but it still sent off a beacon to other supernaturals. The two men who appeared when I said don’t look back had come to investigate. Those men were shapeshifters. Werewolves,” he clarifies.

  “Am I …?”

  “No, you’re not a werewolf,” he answers. “They have a distinct smell, and you don’t.”

  “I don’t wholeheartedly buy into all this make-believe stuff, but I don’t have logical answers either. So what am I?”

  “That’s what I brought you here to find out.”

  “And how are you going to find out? What are you going to do to me?” I ask nervously, looking around at all the medical equipment in the glass cabinets and on the countertops.

  “Relax. I promised I wasn’t going to hurt you. This is an old veterinary clinic out in the middle of nowhere. I cast a minor illusion spell to make it look like a secluded day spa to humans. The minute you correctly saw this place for what it actually is, I knew you were supernatural. That was the first test. Now we just need to determine what kind of supernatural being you are.”

  “Are you telling me that I’m not human? That you’re not human? You said you casted a spell.”

  “No. My guess is that you’re at least half human. Your pain receptors and regeneration are that of a human. It also explains why the joint teleportation was so painful for you. Teleporting two people requires more of an energy force. But the things I’ve listed so far rule out vampire since you have the ability to be out in sunlight.”

  He walks closer to the table to study me. Probably trying to gauge how far I am from flipping the hell out. If I wasn’t in so much pain, I’m quite sure I would’ve hopped off this table already.

  “Vampires? Werewolves? What else exists?” I can’t wrap my head around any of this.

  “All the things that go bump in the night. All the fairy tales and myths you were probably ever told.” My eyes widen in complete fear. “Not all supernatural beings reside here on Earth, though. Only witches, warlocks, vampires, and shapeshifters.”

  “That’s plenty, don’t you think?” He lets out a hearty laugh, but I can’t find the humor in it. I’m more afraid now than I was before he brought me here. Teleported me here. Whatever.

  “Much like the democracy that’s in place for humans, the supernaturals have their own governing body that establish rules to promote order. Then we have the outliers who insist on being the judge and jury independent of those rules. I’m Mr. Blakely, the headmaster of the Legion of Supernatural Academy.” He smiles at me for the first time, but it’s only somewhat reassuring.

  “What do they do at this academy?” I prod.

  “Well, after we have identified a supernatural being, we group them based on that classification. They learn to harness and develop their powers, the history of their ancestry, and most importantly, the rules so that they avoid being punished or banished for unsanctioned practices.”

  “Why did you bring me here then? Where is the academy? How long do I have to stay for?”

  “Slow down. I brought you here first to identify what kind of supernatural being you are. I have to p
rotect the students of the academy from the unknown.”

  “And I’m the unknown,” I state as I slowly swing my legs around the table to slide off.

  “Yes, for now. But we will run some tests, and once I’m comfortable that you’re stable, and it’s safe, I’ll take you to the school.”

  “Well, give me your business card, and we can schedule some time to meet up to figure out what kind of supernatural being that I am,” I say with air quotes. I still think this is all a bad dream. I need to see Steve and Jan.

  “I don’t think you understand. You can’t go back out there like this. Your ability is unpredictable and out of control. If I had to guess, I’d say you’ve experienced some unexplainable events before you froze all those people in that coffee shop. If you’re not careful, you can really hurt someone. I erased their memory of the event with a snap, but this is not going away. And yes, I broke a rule to rescue and get you here.”

  “Dammit. Don’t say that. I have exams coming up. Thank you for breaking a rule for me, but I can’t stay here.” I lie back on the table and close my eyes so he can’t see the tears welling in my eyes, but that doesn’t stop them from spilling over. I feel his gentle thumb wipe them away.

  “I know this is overwhelming, but I also know you don’t want to risk hurting anyone. I can’t protect you out there. Just work with me and we’ll figure something out with your university so you don’t get behind.”

  I open my eyes and simply nod. I don’t have much of an option. My world is being turned upside down, but I’d never be able to bounce back from hurting someone. I have no choice but to accept help from the strange man and hope that I don’t regret it. “What are you? How did you erase their memories of what I did with a snap?”

  “I’m a warlock, the male version of a witch. I come from a line of very powerful witches. But this isn’t about me. I need to know more about you so I know how to help. Start from the beginning. Tell me everything that has happened until now that you couldn’t explain.” He climbs on the metal table and sits next to me as I prepare to share all the craziness that has been my life. Every word that I utter is confirmation that my life will never be the same again.

  I give Mr. Blakey the play by play, relieved to be able to get it all off my chest. His eyebrows knit as he hangs on to every word. I pull the bandage off my wrist, and at first, he doesn’t speak. He assesses the branding as he skims a lone finger over the elevation.

  “And this just appeared three days ago on its own?” he confirms.

  “Yes.”

  “Quite interesting.” He inspects closer. “I’ve never witnessed such a thing.”

  “What does all this mean?”

  “To be honest, I’m not sure. I will need to acquire the help of my trusted colleagues, but we’ll get to the bottom of it.”

  He scoots off the table and then reaches for my hand. I let him help me down. The soreness is noticeably gone. “Where are you taking me?” I ask. He begins to walk toward the door without releasing my hand.

  “To the academy.” His stride never breaks.

  “But I thought you just said I can’t go until you were sure that I was stable and not a threat to the other students. And why is my pain suddenly gone?”

  I stop so he is forced to as well. He turns and look at me, probably annoyed, but I have so many more questions.

  “We have no choice. From the things you just shared, I’m almost certain that you’re not any of the supernatural beings that exists here on this Earth. And if I’m right, you’re in more danger than I initially thought.”

  He begins to walk again, and this time, I let him lead me. When we step outside into a wooded area, I’m tempted to fire more questions at him, but I hold them for now. We walk for approximately forty minutes before we come to an open clearing. Before us, a wrought iron gate opens. Lush greenery stretches out as far as the eye can see with medieval, cathedral-like buildings in the distance. The architecture is astoundingly beautiful.

  “Is this it? The academy?” I ask in awe.

  “Sure is. You’ll be safe here. The entire campus is veiled— from both humans and other supernatural beings. That means only students, faculty, and authorized personnel can see or find it.”

  “Where are we? Because I’m pretty sure there aren’t medieval-like buildings in the middle of Seattle or even Washington for that matter.”

  “You’d be incorrect. We’re not far actually. We’re in Snoqualmie Falls, which is about twenty-nine miles east of Seattle. We’re on sacred tribal ground, so this land is off-limits to the public without an invitation. And since the entire institution and its grounds are cloaked from visibility, it’s a safe place.”

  “And the medieval part?”

  “Our academy was constructed for a sense of nobility, but its infrastructure also binds with our magic to help keep it hidden. It allows natural light in from the sun while refracting the accompanying UV rays that would otherwise be harmful to our vampire students. And now that we’ve had our little history lesson of the academy, I see that Miranda has arrived.”

  A middle-aged, raven-haired woman walks up to greet us. “Randolph.” A knowing look passes between them before she gives me a warm smile. “Give us a second, dear,” she says politely before pulling him to the side.

  I can’t make out what they’re saying, but I’m distracted by the students in the near distance. The scene really does look like any other college campus with the exception of the unique exterior. Would I fit in here? How long before I can return to my own university? A week? One thing is for certain; the sooner, the better. I can’t allow myself to get behind.

  “Thank you for your patience, Genesis. I’m Professor Winters. Mr. Blakey has me caught up to speed on your situation,” the woman greets as he begins to walk away.

  “Nice to meet you,” I reply.

  “You as well. You’re in good hands here. Follow me and we’ll go over a few things before we get you situated.”

  I go to wave goodbye to Mr. Blakey, but he doesn’t turn around, so I follow the raven-haired woman. That’s all I seem to do lately—blindly follow people. We pass several students, who all seem normal enough. But they couldn’t be if they were here, right?

  “Define normal, dear,” Professor Winters challenges as she gestures for me to enter what looks to be an office.

  “Gah, I keep forgetting you people can read minds. Not to be rude, I just wish everyone would stay out of my head.”

  “You people? You’re one of us now. This is your normal—our normal. Having supernatural abilities doesn’t mean that we’re inferior.”

  I take a seat in a Queen Ann chair near an unlit fireplace. I study the plethora of ancient looking books on shelves that stretch from wall to wall. Anything to avoid eye contact with the woman who has just put me in my place. I didn’t mean to sound judgmental, but they were my personal thoughts. It’s not like I said it out loud.

  “We manifest the things in our thoughts. I take no offense. This is all new to you, and you have a lot to learn. Can I get you some tea?”

  She is reading my thoughts yet again. I simply nod. She brings over a tray with tea, milk, and sugar. She takes hers without the additives and then sits across from me. I add milk and a packet of sugar to mine as she begins her explanation for the reason she’s brought me here.

  “I’ll start by saying that I’m a witch. This academy has been around for about thirty years. The original academy was built in Ireland, and the architecture carried over here in the States. Its building material serves a purpose as well.”

  “Yes, Mr. Blakey told me. I know this is a school for the supernatural to learn to control their powers, but is it like a regular school too? I’m a senior at my university, and I want to graduate on time without transferring here.”

  I take a sip of my tea, bracing myself for her answer.

  “We’re not a regular institution, dear. That means we can’t be accredited through regular means. As far as the public is concerned,
we don’t exist.”

  “Well, how do the attending students get an education?”

  “I never said that we didn’t educate our students … only that we’re not accredited. You can’t get a traditional degree from our academy.” She takes a few sips of her tea before she continues. “Unfortunately, like you, supernatural abilities manifest at different ages. This campus has an age cap of eighteen and up. Our younger students attend our primary campus in Dublin where other supernatural beings are less populated. They are taught only what they can handle, and as they peak in maturity and age, they transition to this campus for advanced studies.”

  “So basically, all of the students here are advanced?” I ask wearily. “I definitely won’t fit in. I should be at the other school with the beginners. Not that I want to travel to Dublin or anything.”

  “That wouldn’t be an option, I’m afraid. You’re too old. Besides, it’s not about fitting in. It’s about self-discovery and learning to control your abilities. We all have something to learn here. The students get a regular education as you would at any other university, just with supernatural specific academia woven into the schedule. You can increase your course load after passing the fundamentals. Your curriculum will be structured to your needs, so don’t worry about what classes you peers are taking.”

  “But what about my real classes at the University of Washington? I need to know how they will fit in the scheme of things.”

  “You’re not a prisoner. If you decide not to enroll here, you’re on your own and subject to the consequences of your uncontrolled and unconditioned abilities. Ignorance won’t be accepted as an excuse, and we will not be able to save you. However, if you choose to enroll and learn from us, we will provide an undeniable excuse to the university on your behalf and get permission for you to be transferred to online classes. If you work hard enough, you can earn off-campus privileges as well.”