Where Monsters Hide (The Monster Within 1)

There’s a soft hiss through the crowd at his reference to Professor Waldman. We monster hunters don’t take kindly to betrayal, not when it comes from our own kind.

He continues. “So, I wish to award each of you—yes, even you, Cleaver—the Saint Marcellus Academy Medal of Courage, as well as awards for service to the school. In addition, your trial scores are reset to perfect scores.”

The students cheer, albeit a little bitterly for some, as the Headmaster turns from the podium and begins placing medals around our necks. He goes down the line, giving me a wink before I lower my head for him to loop the medal around mine. When he gets to Cleaver, he kneels and ties it neatly around his collar, and when he gets to Owen, he gently lays it on his chest.

He returns to the podium to end his speech—something about standing together in the face of adversity—and my head reels. With my trial scores re-done to be perfect, and full marks on the final exam, the boys and I shoot from the bottom to the top of the class.

Not that it matters now. No one’s going home this year.

The headmaster dismisses us, and I join the boys in wheeling Owen back to the infirmary.

“We’ve got top marks now!” Piers says excitedly, one hand clutching his medal.

Owen is actually smiling. Both his hands lay across his chest, cradling the award.

“I can’t believe they actually recognized us for what we did,” he says. “It almost makes it all worth it.”

“We helped a lot,” Bennett reminds him.

“Especially Avery,” Sawyer adds, nudging me. The boys all look at me with smiles on their faces, murmuring their agreement. I blush and look down at my medal.

Once Owen’s back at the infirmary, the boys stand around comparing their medals, and I take a step back and look at them. Sure, we did all this, got top marks, got medals and awards … but that doesn’t make up for the hell they put me through this year.

Each and every one of them.

Without a word, I turn and walk back to the residence wing. My dorm is empty when I arrive. Erin’s probably with Luiza—they’ve been getting along really well ever since the night of the monster break-out. I sit on my bed, and Cleaver jumps up next to me, his medal dragging along the covers.

You’d think he’d want me to take it off, but the last time I tried he nearly bit three of my fingers off.

I reach over and scratch Cleaver absentmindedly.

This year, my first year as a monster hunter, did not go as planned.

Sure … I found the monster that killed my parents, but it’s trapped in a phylactery guarded by the school. I’ve learned how to hunt, how to survive, how track and fight, and yet …

I turn my face to stare out the window and down into the courtyard.

I promised myself I wouldn’t let myself get distracted from my goals, least of all by boys like Piers, Owen, and Bennett—bullies who tormented me, making me miserable. And for what? After everything, after all this, it turned out to all be for nothing.

And then there’s Sawyer.

His betrayal still feels fresh. It certainly hurts the most.

No one, in this world, is ever really who they seem.

This world, the one of monsters and men, is more complicated than I ever imagined. I don’t know who to trust, or where to turn.

There are, at least, a few things I know for sure.

I know this is just the beginning.

There will be more monsters, more lies, and more betrayal. But through it all, I know where my story leads.

My name is Avery Black, daughter of Samson and Riley Black. I will find a way to kill the djinn who murdered my parents, but I won’t stop there.

I’ll be the greatest monster hunter who ever lived.

And I’ll make all those who made me suffer pay for what they’ve done.