Montrose Paranormal Academy, Book 1: The Nexis Secret: A Young Adult Urban Fantasy Academy Novel by Barbara Hartzler

Author:Barbara Hartzler [Hartzler, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: secret society fantasy for teens, academy paranormal romance snarky, clean academy paranormal, urban fantasy ya kindle unlimited, academy ya, badass heroine fantasy, academy young adult
Publisher: Barbara Hartzler
Published: 2020-07-08T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Soft music trilled through the otherwise silent lobby. Laura’s neck craned up and down the glass-encased elevators as she eyed Lenny. “Elevator tag, really?”

Walkie talkie static crackled outside as a black-clad team raced past the hotel lobby.

He lowered his voice. “It’s only a matter of time before the Watchers search this place. What better way to lie low and pretend like we’re normal teenagers, right? Might as well have some fun. We’ll do brother-sister teams, Tony and Lucy can team up.”

“You’re so immature.” But Laura smiled back at her brother, not fooling anybody. “You’re on, but let’s make it interesting.”

He scratched his unmarred chin. “Losers have to buy the winners’ subway ride back to school.”

“Not interesting enough.” Tony’s sneakers squeaked across the marble. “How about the subway ride, plus loser buys the water bottle to throw at the bagpipe guy?”

“Water bottle? Huh?” I turned to Bryan for answers.

He leaned in close. “It’s an all clear signal. If he throws it back, we’re all clear.”

“Weird.” I mumbled under my breath.

“You better get used to stuff like this if you’re going to join the Guardians.” Brooke tilted her head at me, her blonde hair falling over her glasses. “Everyone ready?”

Heads bobbed and everyone moved closer to the elevator bank.

Bryan cleared his throat. “We’ll take the right side. Tony, you take the middle. Laura and Lenny, you’re on the left. All three teams must ride to the top floor, then run down the hall to the next set of elevators. Whoever makes it down first, wins. Racers ready?”

“So official.” Tony saluted her, sauntering to my side.

Brooke, Tony, and Lenny poised their hands over the buttons.

“Go.” They pressed their buttons simultaneously ... and we all waited.

Laura checked her watch. “So this is what elevator tag is like.”

Then the bell dinged, and the doors opened for Tony and me. We waved at the real siblings as Tony sang out, “Hey, hey, goodbye.”

“You’re such a goof.” I shoved him in the shoulder just like I would do to my brother. My heart lurched at the thought.

Passengers shot us puzzled stares as they exited. If I wasn’t so amped up, I might’ve been more self-conscious. But a nervous energy zipped through me, like something good was about to happen for a change. We scurried on and Tony hit the door-close button.

He grinned. “I can’t believe I’m acting like a middle schooler.”

“Me, either.” I cracked up, then my smile faded. “Did you already know that bagpipe guy was some kind of Guardian lookout?”

“Sure. He’s more like an informant, really, between sectors. A middle man. We tell him stuff. He tells us stuff.” He pressed his nose to the elevator glass, looking out at the courtyard as if that were a normal everyday comment. “They’re only a couple of floors behind us.”

The car jerked to a stop on the fifth floor.

“What do you mean, sectors?” I tried to make my question light and breezy, like I was just a curious initiate. But I knew better than anyone that every bit of information could be potentially useful.

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