"You should come," said Risper. "Zervos is wondering where you are."

I started to swear, but then caught Risper's eyes. Apparently the fact that he was all bada.s.s did not give me license to swear in his presence.

Instead, I raced away. I knew Zervos was meeting with some of the other students in his cla.s.s by the gathering place for Tactical and I was supposed to be there. Zervos was going to be angry with me and the semester hadn't even started yet.

I tried to ignore the threatening presence of the demons, but out in the night air, closer to the barrier that kept them at bay, I could feel them all around us. They wanted me. It was only a matter of time.

Chapter Twenty.

"Ms. Rollins," said Zervos when I hurried towards their group, "I know you're young and have been attacked and therefore your senses have probably been addled, but is it really too difficult for you to show up at the gathering with the rest of the students?"

"Apparently," I muttered, moving to pa.s.s him without another word.

He reached out one hand, taking my upper arm in a viselike grip.

"Don't talk to me like that, girl," he hissed, his black vampire eyes blazing. There was something crazy in the look he gave me, something dangerous. I flinched. Zervos didn't like me, well, he didn't like any student, but this was the first time I'd been afraid of him.

"Sorry," I mumbled. Behind me I heard a couple of giggles. Sure that I knew who it was, I twisted around. Kia and Camilla were standing nearby.

I tried to glare at them, but Zervos shook my arm violently and I cried out.

"Leave her alone," said a hard voice. Keller appeared at my elbow and covered Zervos's wrist with his hand. I was pretty sure that, unlike earlier in the day at the Museum, when Keller's touch had brought me comfort, comfort was not what he was offering Zervos.

Zervos stared at him, the crazy look in his eyes becoming manic. "Unhand me, you fool. You dare touch a teacher?"

"Professor Zervos!" The voice was familiar, and stern. Keller's aunt was suddenly on the scene. I closed my eyes in mortification. She had made her feelings about Keller and me clear.

"Professor Erikson," said Professor Zervos, looking slightly bewildered.

"You are over the line," she said. "Unhand the girl."

Professor Zervos scoffed. "Everyone dances around her because she's elemental, when in reality she's just as tough as her friend Lisabelle Verlans."

I stared at Zervos. If I didn't hadn't known better I would have thought he had just complimented me.

"Unhand her," Professor Erikson said again. "Keller, let him go," she ordered, as Zervos opened his mouth to argue.

Keller stared at Zervos, waiting for him to let me go first. I fought back a smile as Zervos let go. He staggered away and Professor Erikson moved in, coming between me and my professor.

"How long has this been going on?" I heard her murmur, but I didn't catch Zervos's reply, because Keller touched my arm.

"Are you alright?" His eyes blazed at me even in the darkness.

"Fit as a fiddle," I muttered. Zervos was nasty, but he wasn't usually that nasty. I wondered if something was wrong.

"Nice one, Erikson," said Lanca, gliding up towards us. "Well handled." Her eyes looked troubled as she watched Zervos walk away with Keller's aunt. Apparently I wasn't the only one who thought Zervos' behavior a bit beyond the usual treachery.

"Thanks," said Keller, still watching me like a nervous cat. He looked ready to run at the least hint that I was going to snap at him.

But far from wanting to snap at him, I had come to realize something interesting about Keller. He worried about me and tried to protect me, but I almost had the idea that it was more for his own sake than for mine. He respected me as a mage and had faith that I could take care of myself. He just didn't want anything bad to happen to me.

It was a good realization.

"Come on," Lanca said. "I left Lealand and we have some Tactical kicking to do." As she grinned and glided away Evan was forced to leave her side for this part of the evening, and he didn't look at all happy about it.

Keller and I followed Lanca, but before we found Lealand, Sip and Lisabelle stepped in front of us.

"Keller, how's it possible that I like you more every semester?" Lisabelle asked, grinning.

Keller beamed at her. "Must be my wit and charm."

Lisabelle pretended to think. "No, I don't think that's it. I would have noticed."

Sip elbowed her as Keller laughed, and we all hurried toward the field together.

"How's it going?" Lealand asked as we walked up. "Keller, I'm glad you're on my team," he continued, grinning at me.

Keller grinned back. "Did everyone have a chance to study the plan?" he asked.

Lealand smiled. "I have to say, I normally like plans. I find them necessary to have a high functioning day. But I love this one."

Lanca nodded. "It's pretty good. I think everyone will go for it. Charlotte just has to sell it."

"She can sell it," said Keller, nodding towards me. His confidence gave me confidence, but I still wasn't sure. I knew I would have to put on a pretty big show, and even then there was no guarantee it would work.

There was tension in the air as the teams gathered for our first real Tactical. I wasn't sure what to expect, other than to a.s.sume that it wasn't going to go as planned.

Risper strode into the middle of the waiting students, confident and menacing in the darkness.

"Listen up," he said. "There are at least fifty demons swarming the force field. "I want you all to proceed with caution. In other words, stay away from it."

He didn't mention, although he must have known, that I was the only one who could touch it.

Murmurs went up around the circle of listening students as anxious looks were exchanged.

"Everything's going to be fine," Lanca said to me comfortingly.

I glanced at her sidelong. Was she saying that for my benefit or her own? I wasn't sure, but I was sure that vampires were not normally comforting paranormals. Something was definitely wrong.

"Now," said Risper, "the rules. First, you are not to hurt a fellow student or a professor. This is a game of tactics, not violence, and there is and will be a difference as long as I am in charge."

"Was there a difference when you found that zombie cave in Africa and commenced decimation?" someone called from the crowd.

Risper paused. I had heard all kinds of stories about Risper in the past couple of days. Apparently even the worst were true.

Risper continued. "Anyone who attacks anyone else has to deal with me. Clear?" He glared around at the crowd of students, daring anyone to argue.

No one did.

"Now, if I may continue?" He didn't wait for anyone's permission, he just said, "You will be expected to stay with at least one of your team members. If either group of two is caught, the whole team is out. The boundaries of this game are the tree line, or the force field, and the main buildings. Everything inside those lines is fair game. You are not allowed to go inside any of the small houses; you must remain outside."

"Is this a glorified game of flashlight tag?" Camilla asked.

"No," said Risper. "This is a life or death situation and could mean your very survival down the road. It is not fun and it is not a joke. Do not make a mistake. To force someone else out of the game you must fire the first, NON-hurting spell. If it works, then your target has lost. Stealth and tactics will be key. Once you're found it will be very difficult to hide again."

"Does it matter WHO we get out?" Camilla asked.

Risper nodded. "I'm glad you asked. It's not just the last team standing, but the point system, which means that there's a question of what sort of high value targets you are to *kill.'"

"And what's a high value target?"

"Seniors are valued more highly than freshmen, because it is a.s.sumed that they know how to protect themselves better. Those students who are members of Committees are also more highly valued as leaders of the community. And the first student killed from each dorm is valued very highly, because supposedly that student must be a big threat to be targeted, and every kill after that will be less impressive."

I was one hundred percent sure that at that moment every eye in the student body was turned towards me. I shifted uncomfortably and thought, Wonderful. My plan of not standing out was failing spectacularly and the first week wasn't even over.

I raised my hand. Risper nodded in my direction, smiling slightly.

"How am I supposed to be an a.s.set to my team if everyone is coming after me?" I demanded. "They're going to have to work twice as hard as everyone else."

If peepers could sing in the winter I would have heard them, it was so quiet in the circle.

"Ms. Rollins, the teams were chosen with great care. You teammates are not incapable. Also, how you choose to use the a.s.sets you have is up to you."

Keller slid his arm around my back, sending shivers racing down my spine. "That's the plan already, Charlotte," he whispered in my ear. "It's going to work spectacularly."

I tried to nod, but I couldn't concentrate with his fingers resting on my hip. I looked around for his aunt, but she was nowhere to be seen. He laughed softly in my ear.

"She isn't around. And for the record? I'm not afraid of her."

Right, well, I was. One of us should be. He released my hip and his warm body disappeared from my side. I felt his absence as a physical cold and an emotional sadness as he moved over to Lanca and whispered in her ear.

I wondered if Keller had guessed what the rules of Tactical would be before we played, because our plan was perfect for the rules that had just been laid out. I was the most highly valued target in the game, although Lough and Trafton came in close seconds.

Lisabelle was standing next to me, a little away from her group. Trafton, who was a member of her group, came up to her.

"You're going to have to protect me," he said, grinning and attempting to look meek. "They're going to want to get me right after someone gets Charlotte, and I'm going to need all the help I can get. I a.s.sume you want to win, don't you?"

Lisabelle sighed and rolled her eyes. Turning to me she said, "I can't believe Risper did this to me. We're supposed to be family. Since when do families make each other suffer?"

"Have you seen modern Americans at Christmas time?" I murmured.

Her teeth flashed in the darkness. "I like that you're becoming more comfortable with who you are, Charlotte. It's having hilarious results."

I grinned back at her.

Trafton started to move closer to Lisabelle, but suddenly Lough was there, glaring daggers at Trafton as only a nice guy who is used to smiling can.

Worried that Lough was about to start a fight I said, "Lough, does your team have a plan for your protection?"

Lough shrugged. "Who cares?" He gave Trafton one last glare and then turned his back on his rival. Trafton's grin just got bigger.

"Hey, so Airlee doesn't seem like a good place for a party. Plus Risper keeps giving me warning death stares," said Trafton. "How about Astra?"

"The fact you're missing," said Lisabelle, "is that we can all already go over to Astra whenever we want. And have a wonderful time together. No Trafton necessary."

"And you don't invite me?" Trafton asked, putting his hand over his heart in mock pain. "I'm hurt."

"You're thick-headed, that's about it," said Lough, unable to resist the very thing he was trying to ignore.

"Why don't you come over?" I said to Lisabelle. "Once this is over? It would be fun."

Lisabelle nodded. "I'm in. I'll bring my furry roomie and Lough."

"I'm coming too," said Trafton. "I need more Lisabelle in my life."

Lisabelle and I exchanged looks, but since neither of us seemed to care if he was there I shrugged. "Sounds good."

"Keller, you can come too," said Lisabelle, grinning wickedly at me. Without my noticing it, Keller had finished talking to Lanca and come back to stand nearby while we were talking. He was now standing next to me and grinning at Lisabelle.

"Thanks," he said, "I think I will."

"Awesome," said Lisabelle, returning his smile.

I glared at my friend. I knew that Lisabelle liked Keller - as a friend - but I wondered if it was anything more than that. He was really the only guy on campus who didn't act like he was afraid of her. Come to think of it, he was too powerful to act like he was afraid of anyone.

"See?" Trafton demanded. "I knew I would have my party. Risper will let his blood relations and the elemental do whatever they want. I knew I had the right friends! This is going to be very exciting. Now, Lisabelle, let us return to Cale and Betsy and you can all do your best to preserve my virtue."

"What virtue?" Lisabelle muttered, but followed him back to the rest of their group. Cale's eye caught mine and he gave me a smile. I smiled back and gave a tiny nod, but when I noticed Camilla's eyes glare I turned my small smile into a full on wave.

Keller laughed softly next to me. "You like driving her crazy, don't you?"

I grinned back at him. "One of life's simple pleasures. And I'm not the one who started it."

"The first Tactical will begin in five minutes," Risper called out.

Sip came over to me. She and her teammates had had their heads bent together ever since Risper started talking.

"Sorry, Charlotte," she said, "but everyone is going to be coming after you."

I shrugged. "I trust my teammates to protect me." I managed to grin at Keller again before I lost all sense of nerve. I really needed to get a better hold on myself. Maybe if we kissed more I would be used to being around him. Then I scolded myself. His aunt didn't want that and I wanted what was best for Keller.