Ex Nihilo Academy Read Online Free Page A

from screaming and wonder what
     I did wrong along the way to have my parents to send me to a mental institution.
    “So what about the human students? Don’t they get suspicious when everyone is turning into bats and wolves and riding around on brooms?” I say, a little hysterically and she shoots me a level look.
    “Ms. Hughes, I understand what a great loss you have recently experienced and that this must be a lot to take in. I never agreed with your parents’ choice to keep you in the dark for as long as they did but I
     must honor their wishes now in helping you through this. To answer your question, with the exception of a few trusted individuals who work for us there are no humans on campus.”
    “What about me?” I challenge.
    “While you may feel human right now I can assure you that nothing could be further from the truth. Your mother and father were fairies and the truth is that you are a fairy as well.”
    “Excuse me, but you must be joking.” I shake my head from
     side to side, willing my brain to catch up but she just smiles thinly.
    “I can assure you that I am not. Tristan will take you to your first class and tomorrow morning after you’ve had some time to digest
     everything you will report to the training room. That is all I have to say for now, though I’m sure you must have questions for me?” For a moment I am frozen in place, then I stand on shaky legs and make my way to the door. “The only question I have is what my parents were thinking by sending me here. You, lady,
     are officially nuts!” I throw open the door and run down the hall past Tristan, who jogs after me.
    “Lily?” I can hear the question in his voice and I turn on him.
    “Tristan, I don’t know what you think you know about me but it’s not true. I realize that I haven’t been acting like myself since my parent’s accident but if you think for a second that I need to be locked up with you people then guess again.”
    “I see. You think that this is a mental hospital.” A smile pulls at his lips.
    “Don’t laugh at me! Next thing you’ll be telling me is that you’re a hobbit or a leprechaun or something.” I shout.
    “Don’t be weird, there’s no such thing as leprechauns. I’m clearly a fairy.” He laughs and my eyes widen.
    “Did you seriously just tell me not to be weird? How am I weird when you are the one who thinks he’s a fairy?”
    “Look, California, you need to calm down so we can talk about this.” He moves toward me and I step back. “I don’t think so. Look, I don’t mean to be insensitive to whatever you are going through but there’s obviously been a mistake. I’m getting out of here and don’t even think about
     following me!” I move away from him and sprint toward front doors, then out on to the lawn. I can see the outline of the black speedboat in the distance so I keep running until I reach it. The boatman is waiting on the dock with his
     hands folded stiffly in front of him.
    “Take me home.” I say, bracing my hands on my knees while I catch my breath. I can see that he’s debating as his eyes flick back and forth from me to the school.
    “Take me home or I swear to God I will swim there by myself!” I shout and he relents, his cold hand slipping around my arm as he helps me up on to the deck of the boat.
    * *
    I’m beat by the time the boat drops me off at the house. All
     I want to do is take a shower, listen to some tunes and crawl into bed to work through what just happened but when I step off the dock I see Rowan and immediately cringe. I don’t think that I can handle another confrontation
     today. He stops digging in the garden when he sees me.
    “Good first day?” He asks and I hate myself for finding his Irish accent so completely sexy.
    “I’ve had better.” I sigh and I wonder if I should tell him,
     then decide against it. He will definitely think I’m nuts. Maybe I am nuts and I’m the only one who doesn’t know it. Why else would my loving