Salvation's Kiss (Tales Of Mython Book 1) by Kathryn Jayne (old books to read .TXT) 📗

perfect doctors, able to find illnesses in their patients often before symptoms were shown. That’s not to say non-preternaturals couldn’t make the grade, but the employment records favoured those able to execute their role to perfection, and it was no secret that most preternaturals had an extended life and thus amassed more knowledge and skills during the course of their service. Of course, many who would go on to this profession tended to be privately educated in leading-edge medical academies, meaning most academies, while offering the course, found its students took it out of necessity, since it was offered as an extra-credit course which was favoured alongside the R&D Degree.

After an accident involving some over-enthusiastic chemistry students, the science wing had been closed, and the temporary classroom assignment saw them shifting from the frontward -facing science benches to standard desks. The seats and tables traced the room creating a U-shape, with the digital board on the remaining wall. This was a classroom geared more towards participation than study, but it had been the only one available for their continual use.

Cryptobiology was taught by Adele. This sandy-haired woman was once rumoured to have worked in one of the leading scientific research facilities in all of Mython. Her hair was always tied back in a no-nonsense ponytail, complete with perfect ringlet at its tip, and whilst looking upon her conjured images of a strict school mistress, she was actually a rather soft-spoken, warm-hearted mentor to anyone who had the desire to learn.

Adele currently possessed a distinctive gait due to the recent upgrade of her cybernetic leg. The clipping of her heels was audible down the tile-paved corridor, instilling a ready silence within the class. Cryptobiology was one of the more popular topics for students hoping to be adopted by one of the top research and development companies that could be found on the outskirts of Overton. Since the revelation that preternatural beings existed, the frontier of science had changed, becoming barely recognisable, and everyone wanted to possess the upper edge.

When the first fragile alliances on Mython were being developed, the preternaturals sought to offer an olive branch in the form of new insights into science, medicine, even technology, and whilst a time of fear and panic had threatened to consume the nation, the latest upgraded technology was released and figure-headed by the Elder-bloodlines of the newly formed council, to show what magic and man could accomplish together. The older generation sought shelter, fearing their new position on the food chain, even after the conflicts had calmed and an order—which would grow and adapt to become the measures seen today—emerged. The youth, however, revelled in the inventions brought forth. The latest trends in technology became a buffer to fear as consumerism won over instinct, and from this, order emerged.

A low murmur of approaching conversation could be heard outside, stopping abruptly as it reached the classroom door. Already waiting in silence, all eyes turned to Adele and the young man who had accompanied her. He passed a hand through his ear-length brown hair, his cheeks flushing slightly as he realised he was now the centre of some curious expressions.

“Very well, be seated there. Partner with Tess’s group and we can arrange an orientation after. We can discuss the other matters later.” Adele gestured towards the empty seat beside Ashley. “Tess, can you give Mr Mendel this term’s notes since he will be joining us.”

Tess nodded as the young man took his appointed seat and flashed Ashley a guarded smile. His gaze seemed to linger a little too long, causing her face to flush and an unnatural warmth to spread through her core as her vision fixed on his lapis-lazuli-shade eyes. This unnatural heat was a new sensation, clean, not like the cold pressure she felt when she was near an Atelís, or the icy caress of a vampire’s gaze. A warm sensation was something new, something she had felt from no one else her path had crossed. For a moment, she found herself drawn into his eyes, noticing the flecks of gold burning like embers amidst the brilliant blue as he looked upon her with something that seemed akin to recognition. A new heat flushed through her as she wondered if their paths had crossed before.

“Conrad,” he whispered, nodding his head in introduction as he took his seat, breaking the tether between them.

“Ashley, Tess, Jack,” she introduced, as Adele began to load the lesson into the digital screen. “Have you transferred from another session?”

“No, late enrolment. We just moved here last week.” She could see him studying her profile in her peripheral vision, but when she looked at him he lowered her head towards his notebook, a slight frown furrowing his brow.

“What do you think of our city so far?” Ashely whispered, her attention split between Conrad and the digital board, where the lecturer had launched into an explanation of cell mutations. There was something about him she couldn’t place. Whenever she felt strange feelings around someone, she always tried to discover what was behind them. Something told her being aware of who she was around was the only way to keep herself safe.

“Different to what I’m used to.”

“Yeah, it can be a bit much here sometimes. If you’ve no other lectures, I could give you the tour and transfer class notes. I’m free after this until work,” Ashley offered, glancing down at her digital notepad, making sure she had captured all the key points on the diagram.

“Sounds great,” he said, but she heard the slight hesitation in his voice.

“Lucky you. I’ve been pestering for months for some girl time,” Tess teased, flashing a smile that showed she knew her friend had sensed something unusual from this stranger.

“You’re welcome to come,” Conrad said, a little too quickly. “Far be it from me to come between two ladies.”

“Pass. I’ve got engineering mathematics after this. Next time, though.” Tess turned her focus back towards the lecturer as Ashley, while making notes, was still trying to formulate