Tears threatened, but I pulled myself together. I had to think. Staying here wasn’t an option. I had to return and find Preston.
The climb back upward was hell. My arms burned, my legs ached, and my lungs begged me to stop. I pressed on, reminding myself that I was the lucky one. I hadn’t been snatched. I could and would do this for Blair. Finally, I reached the top and faced the window above. The sky was no longer black but blue with slivers of orange. Dawn was almost upon me. I had to hurry. I pulled myself up onto the grassy outcrop only to find the window was both too high for me to reach and shut.
My teeth chattered and my whole body trembled uncontrollably. I had come so far for nothing. My way to get back inside had been cut off.
“You shouldn’t be wandering outside the academy,” a low voice said, and I whipped my head around, my instincts yelling at me to run, yet my body refused to move.
The vamp guard moved out of the shadows. I had never seen him at the academy before. At six foot two, he was one and a half heads taller than me, and his muscles looked like stone. His ash blond hair was combed to one side, and his blue eyes were clearer than a lake on a cold winter day. He was a Viking warrior, who could snap my neck with one move.
“I wasn’t—”
“Save it,” he barked. “I’m not interested in your excuses. Get back inside before someone sees you.” He turned, showing off his broad back.
I just stood there. Wasn’t he going to manhandle me, threaten me, or at least drag me in front of someone?
He turned his head, impatience in his eyes. “Are you deaf? Or do you enjoy getting punished?” The guard tilted his head toward the castle wall.
I hurried toward him, and he pushed the stone wall open, revealing a tunnel. A hidden door. It looked as if it only opened inward judging from the hinge. He motioned for me to step inside, and I did, everything inside of me tightening as he joined me and shoved the heavy door shut. Had this been a trick? Would he, now that we were alone, gorge on my blood until not a single drop was left? Instead of touching me, he walked down the tunnel, and I followed him. His strides were long, and I had to run to keep up. We reached the end, and he stopped at another stone door, his gaze gliding over me.
My throat went dry. This was the point where he asked for his payment. Nothing in life came for free.
“Be careful. And don’t try something stupid again.” He opened the door, and pushed me into the main hallway. Before I could reply, the door clicked shut behind me.
Chapter Twelve
Blair wasn’t in the dorm when I returned, and devastation hit me like a wall of bricks. Until now, I had held out hope that the vamps would chastise her, then throw her into our room, but now, reality slammed into me.
I changed into my uniform, knowing I couldn’t search the school for Blair dressed in my black clothes. Before I could decide where to look for Blair first, the gong went off, startling me. Why on earth was it going off at five in the morning?
My stomach cramped, and bile shot into my throat. Swallowing, I put on my shoes and pulled my skirt down, trying not to look at Blair’s empty bed or the alarm that might never go off again. When I emerged from my dorm, the other fae, confused, were already walking down the red carpeted steps, wandering toward the dining hall. Lightheadedness seized me, and it took all my willpower to put one foot in front of the other and keep going.
Everyone streamed into the dining hall where the tables had been pushed to the sides, leaving the center of the room bare for students to watch the spectacle.
Lady Cardinal patrolled in front of Blair, still dressed in black and with her wrists bound in cuffs. Iron cuffs. Her wrists were blistering. That was why she hadn't been able to fight back when captured. As a pureblood fae she was allergic to iron, which also zapped her powers. Whatever Lady Cardinal or her minions did, Blair wouldn’t be able to fight back.
Lord Sullivan, Mr. Chad, and Preston stood behind Blair. The latter two were pale and as still as statues while a tiny smirk played on Lord Sullivan’s lips. Prick. Preston’s gaze met mine and drilled into me, and I wondered if someone had made Blair spill the truth. If the vamps suspected she had an escape buddy, they could wrench the answers from her. Blair could not lie, giving her a disadvantage even if Lady Cardinal didn’t use her vampiric mind powers.
When everyone had gathered, Lady Cardinal stepped forward. “Escape attempts will not be tolerated at Nocturna Academy.” Every word slid over a razorblade. Lady Cardinal walked circles around Blair, who stared straight ahead. The headmistress closed in inch by inch. “This fae attempted to escape our well-guarded mountain last night, risking death, when we have done nothing but provide food, shelter, and free education.”
My pulse roared in my ears, but I stayed quiet, knowing Blair wouldn’t want me to speak up. If I got myself locked up, there was no way I could help her. Preston could step in, but he wasn’t in charge. If he got himself fired or worse, he could never help the rest of the fae at the academy or bring this horrific institution down.
“Therefore, this fae is to be punished, after which her new ward will arrive to claim her.” Lady Cardinal stopped before Blair and faced her. “Lord Sullivan.”
The walls and paintings closed in. They weren’t even letting Blair stay for the rest of summer prep. Her sentence had been moved up. Gregory would arrive tonight.
Lord Sullivan stepped forward, looking down at his hands, while Mr. Chad seized the binds that held Blair’s wrists together, dragging her over to a table. Gingerly, Lady Cardinal removed the tablecloth and cradled it, protecting it, while Mr. Chad pulled Blair over the table so that her back pointed at Lord Sullivan. Blair gasped in horror and took one deep breath. A few looked away or covered their mouths. Even Peony remained silent. I looked away from her, because if I saw her smile, I’d kill her.
A black whip curled around Lord Sullivan’s right hand. With one graceful motion, he let it unfurl. His facial expression was stoic, but hunger burned in his eyes, revealing how much he enjoyed this. Preston stepped away from the whip as Sullivan pulled it back and let it fly.
I looked at the floor, trying not to vomit.
Crack.
Blair tried and failed to stop her scream. I balled my fists, reminding myself over and over why I couldn’t intervene. I had to stay strong. For Blair. For both of us.
“Such ungrateful behavior must be punished.” Lady Cardinal paced calmly before us. “We saved your kind from living on the streets and struggling among humans.”
Crack!
Blair’s shriek of agony made me flinch. I smelled blood and dared to look up. Two bloody lines had appeared under her torn black shirt. Lord Sullivan pulled back the whip, which dripped fat, red dots onto the floor.
Lady Cardinal appeared before me, blocking the sight. “Without us, you would have no purpose. The earthbound fae would have died off years ago.”
Crack!
“That’s enough.” The headmistress whirled to face Lord Sullivan. "Gregory does not want his goods...damaged into uselessness.”
I wanted to scream as tears gathered like an angry storm in the corners of my eyes. They couldn’t even refer to Blair as a person anymore. My friend remained over the table, though Mr. Chad released her wrist binds so she could stand. Three lashes, crisscrossing one another, seeped blood.
Blair didn’t move, and I wondered if she wished she hadn’t survived the ordeal so that she would never face Gregory. Finally, she took a gasping breath and pushed herself up with shaking arms.
Lady Cardinal eyed her bloody back, licked her lips, and quickly turned away. “Take her to the infirmary and clean her wounds. We don’t deliver infected goods.”
I needed to talk to Preston, but he was nowhere to be found. Deciding that he had probably been dragged into a staff meeting to discuss how to prevent other students from getting out, oh the irony, I went to the infirmary to check on Blair.
The room she was in had white walls and no decor. It was depressing and smelled like antise
ptic. Blair was lying on her stomach, wounds crusty and exposed. She was still. Defeated. She looked as dead as I felt inside.
“Hey.” I took her hand, not knowing what to say.
“You shouldn’t be here. You might get in trouble,” she rasped.
“I’m your friend. They’ll expect me to visit you. Have they cleaned your wounds?”
“No. They said someone would come by soon.”
That wasn’t good enough. I reached for some cheap dollar store bandages on the shelf and unwrapped them, not sure what to do, but I couldn’t leave Blair like this. She was still wearing the iron cuffs, her blisters weeping, and I had the feeling she would all the way to wherever Gregory lurked.
I helped Blair to sit up and dressed her wounds the best I could, pouring hydrogen peroxide over the lashes. Blair barely seethed. The life had left her eyes, and a shadow sat in Blair’s place. I wished I could do something about the cuffs, but I was certain Lady Cardinal held the key and would hand it over to Gregory.
“I should be here with you,” I choked. “I’m going to turn myself in.”
Blair finally truly looked at me, her green eyes sparking with fury. “No. Then it’s all over. Onyx, you might be able to go to the fae realm and get help. Stick with Preston, then come back and give these bastards hell for me.”
“But—”
“No buts,” Blair interrupted. “Don’t worry about me. I’m getting better at my powers. I’ll be fine.”
I didn’t think she would be, but I didn’t dare say it. Blair had enough worries of her own. I didn’t need to add mine. I had to shove my guilt aside, find Preston, and get help. Maybe I could even rile up an army to help us earthbound fae. Certainly, they couldn’t just abandon us if they knew what the vamps were doing.
“We’ll be fine.” Blair forced a smile.
I did the same, dying inside. I could have tried harder on the mountain to break Blair out. Thrown rocks. Provided a distraction so she could light the vamps on fire. Anything. Instead, I let her convince me to stand back.
“You should go,” Blair said.
“I’ll miss you.” Tears pricked my eyes.
“Shh. This is not goodbye. I’ll stay alive, Onyx, I promise. And so will you.” She extended her arms for a hug, though they were still cuffed together.
I hugged her sideways, careful not to touch her wounds.
“Go,” she said after a moment, not meeting my gaze. I knew that staying would only make this harder on her, so I left the infirmary. After a few steps, I broke out into a run. I ducked into the bathroom, leaned over the sink, and threw up the contents of my stomach as sobs overtook me.
Chapter Thirteen
I woke up with a start. I had spent the previous day in bed, my limbs as heavy as lead, my mind a useless mess as I sobbed into my pillow. Now, I had to pull myself together and talk to Preston. It was already Saturday. With the full moon falling on Monday, I needed to make sure that the fae prince was still planning to get me out of here. It was the only way I could help Blair and the other fae, even if some of them like Peony didn’t deserve my help.
While there were no classes on the weekends, we were still expected to wear our uniform. I pulled on my stockings, checked the collar of my shirt and headed downstairs. I didn’t dare go to the Home Decor classroom and use the secret tunnel. Too much had happened recently, and I really hoped I could find Preston without breaking any laws. Fortune was smiling down on me, because I spotted him in the gardens, sitting on a bench surrounded by rose bushes. I hadn’t been forbidden to walk into the gardens or talk to him, so I stepped onto the soft grass and made my way over, my heart pounding with too many emotions to name.
Preston didn’t notice me approach. He was squinting at a letter in his hands. When he still didn’t look up even though I was right in front of him, I said gently, “Preston.”
His gaze met mine, shining with desperation, but then he blinked, and the emotion cleared.
“Are you all right?” I sat down next to him as he folded the letter and put it away. I had hoped he would be the one to reassure me, but it looked as if our roles were reversed.
“I need to go home.” He didn’t elaborate and given that he was staring straight ahead, his forehead furrowed in concentration, I doubted he was ready to talk. I wished I could give him time, but I was afraid that I wouldn’t see him again before the full moon, and I needed to hear that we still had a deal.
“The full moon is in two days,” I began. He continued to stare straight ahead. “Where do I meet you to—” He gave me a sharp look, and I fell silent.
He shook his head, disgust in his eyes. “I thought you understood how delicate the situation was.”
“I do.”
“I thought you were trustworthy.”
“I am!” My palms broke into a sweat, and my breathing turned shallow.
His eyes narrowed. “No. You tried to escape with Blair. Somehow, you weren’t captured, but you were this close.” He put his thumb and index finger a millimeter from each other. I didn’t reply, which seemed to only make him angrier. “Why? Why would you do something stupid like that when we had an agreement?”
“Because they were going to sell Blair to this sadist before you could take her away. Because this was her only chance to escape.” I balled my fists, anger and desperation brewing within me.
He shook his head. “There is no escape out of here unless you use the portal or the vamps are willing to let you go.”
I stared at my hands. He was right, but it was hard to hear how foolish my plan had been. Tears gathered in my eyes, but I blinked them away. I needed to be strong. “I made a mistake. I admit that, but I think I deserve a second chance. Don’t we all? Please, take me with you.” I beseeched him with my eyes. He didn’t say anything for a long moment.
“Prove to me that you’re trustworthy, and I’ll take you with me.”
My heart leapt with hope. “Of course. What do you want me to do?”
Preston was silent for a long moment, then he finally said. “Take revenge on those who put Blair in the situation she’s in. Hurt the twins.”
My mouth dropped open. I wanted the twins to pay for what they’ve done, but… “How?”
“Rich and influential vamps have something called a blood crystal. Steal Kassius's and Kayden’s, and we’ll be good.” He lifted an eyebrow.
I remembered seeing in the headmistress’s office a pinkish-red crystal that looked as if blood had congealed in the center and merged with the stone. The crystal had thrummed with some kind of energy that had made me dizzy. I described the object to Preston, and he nodded.
“Yes, that’s a blood crystal.”
“What does it do?”
Preston crossed his arms. “We can't waste time.”
Hot shame hit me, and even though I longed to know why Preston wanted the crystal, I didn’t dare to ask. He had made it plenty clear that he didn’t trust me after the stunt I pulled with Blair. Blair had already received a lashing because of me. I wouldn’t harm Preston as well. “I’ll do it, but how do I get into the vamp tower and their room?”
Preston smiled. “Leave that to me.”
Preston’s plan was genius, I thought for the nth time as I sat in the cafeteria while Peony argued why the school should perform A Midsummer Night’s Dream and not Romeo and Juliet. Not just fae, but all the vamp students and the teachers had come to decide what school play we should perform in the fall. Preston was dutifully writing down all the suggestions as well as the pros and cons. Most students were presenting good arguments. Only the twins didn’t take this seriously, screaming lascivious comments and suggesting a night of striptease.
For once, I didn’t mind their disgusting commentary. They would pay for their behavior dearly before the night was through.
Making sure that everyone was engaged in the latest debate, I slipped out of the room. Preston choosing the cafeteria for this discussion didn’t only ensure that everyone fit into the room, but also g
ave me the opportunity to slip out undetected as I opened and closed the door. The fae, of course, had to sit in the back of the room.
The hallway was empty, and I prayed that the vampire tower would be also. I had reached the beginning of the staircase that split into two when a voice brought me to a stop.
“What are you doing?”
I turned around slowly to come face to face with Virgie. I exhaled, telling myself that this was no big deal. It could’ve been much worse. I could’ve been stopped by Peony or a teacher.
I gave Virgie a sweet smile. “I need to use the bathroom.”
She pointed behind herself. “You passed them.”
My smile became more strained. “My period just started, and I need to get a tampon from my room.”
She stared me down, and for a second, I was wondering if this hadn’t been the smartest lie. Virgie didn’t seem as crazy as Peony, but who knew, she might go through the trash to check if I was telling the truth, especially if Peony commanded her to.
“Was what happened to Blair not enough for you?” Virgie asked calmly, each word tearing into me like sharp claws. “What needs to happen for you to learn your lesson?”
I backed away from her. “You don’t know anything about me.”
She shook her head. “I know you’re still searching for a way out of here. I know you’re fighting your fate.”
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