Bloodrage Read Online Free

those words – where was the altruism, benevolence or compassion as far as Mrs Alcoon was concerned? However, I managed to get them out of my mouth without drawing too much attention to myself.  The Dean continued on, laying out a range of rules and concepts that I was now bound to follow.  The majority seemed to involve making sure that I followed orders.  I sighed inwardly.  I probably wasn’t going to be particularly good at that part. 
    The sky was lightening with just the merest tinge of red in the east, when he finally finished and lowered his head.  “Congratulations, Initiate Mackenzie.”
    “Thank you,” I replied automatically.
    His lips curled almost imperceptibly for a moment, and then he brushed past me, heading back towards the school building.  His entire entourage followed.
    Mage Thomas stayed behind and raised his eyebrows at me.  “Well, well, well.”
    “What?” I snapped.  I think up until this point I’d been hoping that someone would jump out from behind a bush and tell me that they’d made mistake and they’d let me off.  Now that I’d taken the oath, there was no turning back.
    “I believe it’s time for breakfast.  I will show you to the dining room, and then you should prepare for your first lessons.”
    My soul lightened immediately.  At least if I could get some coffee down me then I’d start to feel a bit more human.  Human probably wasn’t the right word, but I didn’t dwell too long on that part, instead I just followed (again) quickly at the mage’s heels.
    *
    The dining hall was already busy when we arrived.  Mage Thomas dumped me as soon as he could, without making any apologies or further explanations, so I headed straight for a large welcoming looking urn and poured myself a beautifully thick and gloopy mug of caffeine, then picked up a muffin and sat down. 
    I was just savouring the bitter coffee when someone shouted in my ear.
    “Oh my fucking founder!  What the hell have you done to your hair?”
    It was Mary.
    “What do you mean?” I asked cautiously.
    “You’ve s haved it all off!  Jeez!  Is it, like, some kind of protest? I mean, I know you didn’t really want to be here that much but it was so beautiful!”
    Several unpleasant slots clicked into place.  “So I don’t have to be bald to be an initiate, then?”
    “What? No!  Who the…?”  Her voice trailed off suddenly, and her gaze fell on that bastard Thomas who was at the other side of the room in deep conversation with someone else.  “Oh.”
    I carefully put the coffee down on the table in front of me.  The flames inside were roaring, licking their way up through my intestines and seeping out through my skin. My vision was darkening, but I was still dimly aware of flickers of green flame sparking at my fingertips.  I stood up, pushing the chair back.
    “Uh, Mackenzie…” started Mary.
    “It’s Mack,” I said calmly.
    “Mack, I don’t think this is a very good idea.”
    I ignored her.  Several heads were starting to turn in my direction and the buzz of conversation was hushing.  I ignored that also.  I began to walk over to the mage with single-minded determination.  When I was about halfway across the room, he realised what was going on.  He turned and faced me, whilst his companion backed away.  I shot out a stream of green fire towards him, which he blocked with one hand.  It didn’t matter.  I just kept on walking.
    “You’ve ju st taken an oath, Initiate Mackenzie,” the prick called out, “it would be wise to re-consider your actions.”
    Only because he knew I was about to beat him.  There had been nothing in the oath about not taking revenge once provoked.   I flicked out another jet of green flame.  Again, he blocked it, this time answering back with his own blue fire.  It hit me dead on in the chest, making me gasp, but I swallowed down the pain and focused instead on the fire inside me.  He let out some more attacks, his face impassive.  A