Page 24 of Jinxed
The other students kick out their legs or reach down to grab at Jinx as he passes, but he nimbly jumps and dodges them all, until he reaches me and jumps up into my lap.
Crap.
‘THAT THING IS YOURS?’ MR BAIRD ASKS, his eyes blazing.
‘Probably defective,’ says one of the other students, and everyone starts laughing – the tension broken.
‘I... I’m really sorry...’I begin to say, but Mr Baird’s owl flaps his wings past me, dropping a small token into my lap. It’s a black disc, not much bigger than a coin. I pick it up and turn it over in my palm.
‘That’s not for you, it’s for your baku,’ Mr Baird snaps. ‘It’s a black mark. A one hour enforced power down. You won’t be able to use your baku for the next hour. And you’ll see me after class for detention forthe disruption you’ve caused.’
As if by magic – but more likely, by magnet – the black disc jumps out of my palm and locks itself to Jinx’s tail. Instantly, Jinx slumps in my arms, his power sapped. He’s almost back to the way he was when I first found him – just a misshapen hunk of metal. I’m in shock for a moment, but then panic sets in. ‘What? You can’t do that!’ I tug the metal disc but itwon’t budge.
‘One hour, Miss...’ he looks down at his baku, ‘Chu. You didn’t think you could come to Profectus Academy,theofficial training programme for Moncha Corp, and not end up finding out about some new, proprietary technology, do you? And let this be a lesson to all of you newbies,’ he says, lifting his stern gaze away from me and addressing the rest of the class. ‘Any sign of misbehaviourby the bakus, or by yourselves, and we have ways of shutting you down. Black marks are real. While you are on these school grounds, you are under Moncha’s rules. The older students know that all too well. Don’t you?’
The team captains nod, staring at me with a mixture of disbelief and bemusement that makes my cheeks burn. I’ve never been one to get in trouble with my teachers, and I hate thatI might have made a bad impression already in front of the captains. Anger tenses up all my muscles. My fingers worry at the black mark, trying to pry it off, but it’s no good.
‘Well, I’d say it’s almost time for the team selections,’ says Mr Baird. ‘And considering this is thebestclass, it won’t shock you that this is where you’ll be finding out just who’s made the team.’
There’s some commotionas the doors open and other freshmen years file in. I take the opportunity to look at the captains –otherthan Tobias, who is glaring at me and sheltering his eagle protectively.What’s his problem?I wonder. I avoid his gaze and instead study Gemma, with her fierce tiger baku. She seems amazing – strong, and in sync with her baku. It’s for the chance to get to meet people like her that I wantedto come to Profectus.
To be aroundmykind of people.
‘Everyone here?’ asks Mr Baird, to his baku. The owl nods and hoots once. ‘Let’s find out who’s made the team then.’
In the classroom all around us, bakus buzz and light up with notifications. There’s an immediate scramble as everyone rushes to see if they’ve been selected for a team. I’m the only one who can’t check her baku – because he’slying motionless in my arms. That black mark might have ruined all my chances.
The girl next to me squeals with excitement. She looks up at Elektra. ‘I’ve made your team!’
‘Welcome, Nalini!’ says the captain with bright blue hair.
I cross my arms, miserable, waiting to see who else has been chosen. Of course, I hear the snuffling of Carter’s boar as he saunters up to the front. But there’ssomething unsure about the way he’s walking, and he frowns down at his baku. He stops in front of Tobias, but then hesitates. Tobias and Gemma turn to each other – Gemma folding her arms across her chest. ‘Did you do this on purpose?’ she asks. She looks angry.
‘No, did you?’ he snaps back.
I frown, looking between the two team captains. I feel like I’ve missed something.
I’m not the only one.‘Problem, guys?’ Mr Baird raises an eyebrow.
‘It’s nothing,’ snaps Gemma. ‘Welcome to my team, Carter.’ Carter and his boar take up their position next to Gemma, but I can see him looking over at Tobias.
There are four first years standing at the front now – but no one in front of Tobias.
‘Well? Aren’t you coming?’ Tobias asks. To my surprise, he’s looking right at me.
I look down at Jinx– but of course, he’s still black-marked. Dead to the world.
‘Your selection is Miss Chu?’ asks Mr Baird.
Tobias nods. He looks down at his baku as if to check that’s right – as if he thinks he might have made a mistake.
‘Well, Miss Chu?’
I scramble to my feet, rushing down the row towards the front of the classroom. I feel the eyes of the other students on my back as I pass. I reach Tobiasand I’m flustered, my hair coming out of its hasty ponytail, strands of it sticking to the back of my neck. I dare a glance at Carter, and he’s shooting daggers at me with his eyes. So much for staying out of each other’s way. We’re going to be pitted against each other.
‘Come on then,’ Tobias says. There’s noWelcome to the team, Lacey,I notice. ‘Let’s go and meet the others.’
IFOLLOW TOBIAS OUT OF THE CLASSROOM, Jinx in my arms. Strangely, Tobias is also cradling his eagle baku – not allowing it to fly, like I’ve seen before.
