by LJ Swallow
Chapter Six
ELOISE
I walk into Angus’s room with my heart banging in my chest; I’m confused and terrified what Ravenhold’s next move will be. When Marcus isn’t in the room, the panic subsides—a little. I’d worry Francesca might be here too, but following the attack and her betrayal, I doubt she’s capable, or on the island. Or still alive.
Angus sits behind his desk and a man stands beside him. He’s younger than Angus and his magic aura tells me he’s a witch, which makes his age easier to determine. Early thirties? Closer to Angus’s age than ours, anyway. His face is almost as pale as a vampire's and for a moment, I fear this is another hybrid. His long, thick hair doesn’t quite reach his shoulders and has a slight curl. He’s old school too—dressed in a vintage-style blue suit with cufflinks emblazoned with a family crest that I don’t recognise.
Confederacy?
Zeke sits in a chair opposite Angus, hunched forward with his elbows on his knees. His hands are lacerated, and cheek bruised, and my heart bangs harder when I see Ethan slumped in a chair beside him, arms tightly crossed over his chest and face obscured by his curls. At least he isn’t visibly injured—and is here.
No Dorian.
“Eloise.” Angus’s tone is softer than usual, but he can’t hide the harsh edge. “Good to see that you’re well. Sit, please.”
Please? Wow. This is serious. I edge towards a third chair and catch Zeke’s eye. He smiles and nods, although he’s pale. Ethan remains hidden and doesn’t look at me.
“This is Raul. He is here on behalf of the Confederacy to offer apologies and reassurances.”
A derisive noise rumbles from Ethan.
Raul smiles and half-sits on Angus’s desk, whose face sours at his move. “Events within the academy have come to our attention and greatly concerned us. You have information.”
“Concerned?” I blurt. “A boy died. One was seriously injured.” Zeke shifts in his seat. “I heard Francesca and Marcus discussing what happened—that these kids were experimented on.”
Air hisses through Angus’s teeth and his expression darkens.
Raul stiffens. “Marcus and Francesca’s actions were not approved by the Confederacy and the individuals have been removed from Ravenhold.”
“Removed by bears?” I ask, not caring how impertinent that sounds.
Ethan jerks his head around and stares at me. “Bears?”
“Security,” snaps Angus. “We reprimanded Marcus along with Dorian and Ethan, but could not find Francesca.”
“She’s a selkie,” I say quietly. “She probably hid in the sea.”
Zeke bursts into laughter that has an edge of hysteria, then snorts. I scowl at him. I’m right—what if she ran from the bears? She could still be alive.
“We didn’t want to leave the island,” I say to Raul. “You threw us out there and then set bears on us!”
Raul’s jaw hardens. “Marcus put yourself and Zeke on the island. The bears—shifters—arrived with me yesterday and were there to help you.”
I snort.
“Took you long enough to find us,” mutters Zeke as he cocks his head. “The island isn’t that big.”
“You hide well,” says Angus gruffly.
I laugh loudly. “That’s bullshit. You left us out there.”
Raul ignores me. “The Confederacy made a grave mistake.”
I study his face. A mistake in allowing deaths—or a mistake in failing to hide their actions? Oskar Petrescu is a high-ranking Confederacy member and I overheard Francesca and Marcus mention his “scheme.” He’s involved somehow, but I’m keeping my mouth shut for now.
“The three of you were unfortunately pulled into a situation triggered by Marcus’s and Francesca’s actions, and I need to address this,” continues Raul.
Angus mutters something and rearranges papers on his desk.
“Four,” I put in. “Where’s Dorian?”
The two men exchange glances. “Dorian is and always has been a unique case,” says Angus.
“What does that mean?” I swallow. Did they manage to kill him?
“We’ve segregated Dorian until we can assess the effects of Francesca’s interference on him.”
“What interference?” asks Zeke sharply.
“The meditation bullshit,” says Angus gruffly. “Her new age crap was infusing powerful magic in an attempt to reveal the strongest students for Marcus to recruit.”
“Unfortunately, the effect on some was too great and damaged their minds.” Raul nods at Zeke. “Samuel was a victim of this. You all were.”
Ethan breaks his silence. “Is the Confederacy recruiting students from Ravenhold, Raul?”
“No. Neither are we killing them. Rehabilitation has always been our aim.”
“Apart from shifters,” continues Ethan. He shakes hair from his face and his eyes burn. “I don’t know one shifter who returned to society once they were of age—every shifter goes to Nighthold. Their incarceration continues.”
“The Confederacy make the final decisions,” says Angus. “I would not treat shifters differently, since I am one.”
Raul falls silent. “Release procedures are not something I’m involved with. I’m merely here to assess the current situation.”
“I can’t exactly take my concerns to the Confederacy, can I?” retorts Ethan.
“Something is brewing,” says Zeke in a low voice. “I’ve heard from new inmates that the division inside Ravenhold between shifters and the other races is growing.”
“Students,” says Raul. “You are not ‘inmates’.”
“Yet,” puts in Ethan.
“Dorian is,” I add.
Raul tips his chin. “I understand that you were heavily influenced by Dorian’s abilities, Eloise. Rest assured that we will keep you safe. He has little time left here before he’s of the age to attend Nighthold.”
“You won’t keep him in that place,” says Ethan with a laugh. “You’re insane if you put the most powerful supernatural creature in with a group of corrupt and pissed off inmates, and with guards who don’t give a shit.”
Raul gives him a tight smile. “The Confederacy have the situation under control.”
“Like you had the situation at the academy under control?” I ask.
Raul turns to Angus. “This is worse than I realised. The girl is under Dorian's influence.”
“I am not!” I say, pissed off with him talking as if I’m not here. “Do you know Marcus asked me to kill Dorian and I said yes?”
“What?” asks Ethan. “You actually tried?”
“Yet he stopped you,” continues Raul. “Dorian controlled you and came dangerously close to taking the Trinity witch’s blood. I can fix the academy, but I cannot fix the situation created by your presence here.”
My stomach flips over. “Are you sending me away?” Raul shakes his head. “So, what? You’re putting Dorian in solitary and throwing away the key? Or is he on the island now?”
Raul pulls himself from the desk and walks to Angus’s window, with his hands buried in his pockets. Rain falls and clouds the day—what’s the time? How long did I sleep?
“Currently, Ravenhold is the most unstable we’ve known. Francesca’s magic has created mental and physical changes within students that would worsen if not controlled. We need order. Yes, we removed Marcus and Francesca and their influence, but their actions reverberate.”
He turns back.
“There is nowhere else to house this number of Ravenhold residents, and the Confederacy council are against sending the worst to Nighthold unless absolutely necessary. In time, these changes created by Francesca will fade as we strengthen the wards and bring in suitable new staff.”
“Fine, but what does that mean for us and Dorian?” I ask.
“Dorian keeps the academy in check,” says Raul, and Angus growls something beneath his breath. “After witnessing Zeke’s behaviour two nights ago, many are also frightened of Zeke. He once had control that nobody qu
estioned. Zeke and Dorian can help the academy return to normal while we fix the issues.”
“You’re putting the students in charge?” Ethan barks a laugh. “Dorian? You guys are fucking nuts.”
“A student hierarchy has served Ravenhold well. Dorian enjoys his position and this distracts him. We can watch him carefully.” Raul crosses his arms. “Zeke. I’d like you to continue your influence over the shifters and report any issues to me.”
“Make me Head Boy?” he mocks.
“You almost killed a student, Zeke.” Raul’s voice lowers in warning. “You have not been punished for this, but that could change.”
“You’re blackmailing him?” I gasp.
Raul doesn’t respond but tips his head at Ethan. “I suggest you maintain your role on the edge lest something triggers you. We wouldn’t want any other students to die.”
Ethan’s jaw clenches at Raul’s words. “I won’t kill.”
“No. Quite.” Raul chuckles and looks to me. “And you can keep your boys under control.”
My mouth parts in shock. “Excuse me?”
“Don’t look so insulted. That puts you in a powerful position.”
“You’re fucking crazy,” mutters Ethan. “You’re handing control of the academy to students. Angus?”
Angus practically grinds his teeth. “You will be closely watched. You work for me.”
Ethan’s right. These people are either insane or there’s another motive hidden from us.
“Ha!” Zeke sinks back. “You’re still asking us to work for the Confederacy? Nice try.”
Raul sighs heavily. “There is one thing Marcus told you that we believe is entirely true. Your families orchestrated for you to come together in the hopes you kill each other.”
“Yeah. We guessed that,” says Zeke.
“And that won’t happen,” adds Ethan.
I straighten. “This is your real reason for allowing Dorian Blackwood back into academy life. You think I’ll change my mind. I won’t kill him.”
“That’s evident, based on your infatuation,” says Raul.
“What?” I half shout. “I am not infatuated with him!”
He runs his tongue along his top lip and looks to the others. “Boys. What do you think? You’re both infatuated by her.”
“Whoa,” says Zeke.
“That isn’t a denial.” Raul smirks. “I’m sure you can help break the hold Dorian has over Eloise. We’ll assist and keep him from her. Between us, we can keep Eloise safe.”
I take a deep breath. I can keep myself ‘safe’. But I’m suspicious—Raul thinks I’m dangerous and then speaks as if I’m weak. Is his reason for keeping me from Dorian also to keep me from growing more powerful?
“Are you refusing to help?” he asks us in an even tone. “Do I need to take other measures?”
“You are blackmailing us!” I retort. “After everything that’s happened!”
“This is our apology with the understanding that you will not speak to anybody else about what happened to you yesterday. If you were to go... elsewhere, the unfortunate events that occurred here may be discovered. Including how rehabilitating you appears impossible.” His eyes fix on Zeke.
As with Marcus, there’s little sense and strange undertones to his requests and demands. One thing’s sure, this centres on Dorian.
And me.
Chapter Seven
ELOISE
As I step outside Angus’s room, I almost bump into a mid who stands opposite, ramrod straight. He’s one of the weirder-looking guards, with yellow reptilian eyes and patches of green scales on his bulging forearms.
“Move along,” he says in a gravelly voice and jabs a finger towards the main part of the academy.
The three of us obey and walk along the hallway, but not before Zeke says something that causes the mid to step after him. Zeke dodges with a laugh. I pause at the end of the hall and the moment I turn the corner, Zeke grabs my arm and spins me to face him.
“Are you alright?” I haven’t finished my nod before he holds my face in both hands and seals his lips over mine. My arms dangle by my sides in shock at his sudden move and when I don’t respond he steps back, hands still on my face. “Did the bear hurt you?”
I splutter out a laugh.
“Eloise, why is that funny?”
“I don’t know... it just sounds weird.” From the corner of my eye, I see Ethan watching impassively. “Sorry. I’m exhausted and confused.”
“I didn’t know where they took you after… the bears. I lost my shit,” he says and his fingers tighten on my face. “They shut me away again until I calmed down.” I place my hand over Zeke's and his skin no longer feels like fur. “They told me you were in the infirmary and safe.”
“You had control?” asks Ethan.
He's hiding behind his hair again, and I wish I could see his response to Zeke’s kiss.
Zeke looks at him. “Yes.”
“And are you okay, Eloise?” he asks. I nod. “Thanks for taking care of her, Zeke.”
Zeke drops his hands from my face and shrugs. “You would’ve done the same.”
Ethan pushes curls from his face and as his burning eyes meet mine, a shiver trips down my spine. “Yes. I would.”
“How did you avoid a stint on the island?” asks Zeke.
I look to Ethan, eager to hear the answer. “When mids came to take Marcus, I helped them pin the bastard down. I was too messed up to see what happened to Eloise and lost my shit, but because I helped with Marcus and Dorian, they locked me in my room instead of solitary.”
“You shifted too?” Zeke runs a gaze the length of him. “What are you?”
“I didn’t shift,” he says in a cold tone. “I don’t need to. I’m strong enough. Too strong.”
Ethan strides past us. “Wait!” I call after him. “We need to talk. All of us.”
“I’ll see you at lunch,” he calls back. “Enjoy your reunion.”
“Huh.” Zeke’s arm snakes around my waist and he draws me to him. “I’ll keep control from now on. I’ll need to if I want to protect you.”
“And so this Raul guy doesn’t hand you over to the authorities.”
Zeke’s warm breath strokes my skin as he laughs, before running kisses along my cheek towards my mouth. “He won’t. I don’t know his exact motive, but we’re still valuable.”
“Do you believe that Marcus and Francesca are mavericks? What happened to her?”
“No. Francesca was definitely not Confederacy. She was taking us somewhere without permission.”
“Was?”
He presses his lips together. “Was. As far as I know, she died.”
“I can’t believe you were prepared to go with her!”
“The bears stopped me,” he says with a half-smile.
“What would you’ve done if they hadn’t appeared?”
“I don’t know,” he murmurs and teases my lips with his tongue. The sensation sparks across my face and I wrap my arms around him, and as he holds and kisses me, I realise how much I needed his affection.
Will Zeke stay like this with me or return to his old treatment?
Chapter Eight
DORIAN
Fuck, I’m bored.
Even my restricted work-outs to pass the time bore rather than tire me.
Seriously, when I get away from this fucking place, I’m going to make whoever runs Ravenhold suffer.
And if that arsehole Marcus is still around, I’ll start with him.
Blowing air into my cheeks, I run a hand across my head. I’m tempted to do something to him as soon as I’m out of here, but if I kill inside the academy, I can kiss goodbye to walking the halls. I’d be stuck down here permanently.
I’ve no idea of the time when I receive a visitor to my new digs. A man I don’t recognise stands in the doorway; old-fashioned suit, long hair, witch vibes. Instead of disgust—the go-to expression for most witches—he looks at me with interest. The woman with him wears a short blue s
kirt and a white blouse, her dark hair scraped from her lined face, and she’s holding a cup.
“Something to drink? How about something to eat?” I ask her. The woman’s face reddens.
“Hello, Dorian. I’m Raul.”
I pull a ‘do I give a fuck?’ face.
“I’m visiting the academy to smooth over recent events and get things back on track.”
“You Confederacy always speak in bullshit terms. Cut the crap and explain what you intend to do with me.”
He sighs loudly and deliberately. “Return you to the academy and request you maintain your control over the students.”
I’m too stunned to respond at first, as I'm blown away by the man’s stupidity. “Roam the halls? With my powers returning?”
“Ah.” The man turns to the woman beside him and holds out a hand. She hands him the cup and I frown as he extends his arm. “That needs reversing.”
“Uh. You expect me to drink that?” I laugh in his face.
“Or you could stay here.”
“You just said you needed me, mate.” I tuck my hands beneath my arms.
“Zeke can always assist; I’m sure he’d like to return to the position he held before you arrived.” He swaps the cup to his other hand. “Did you know that he has his claws in Eloise?”
I jerk upright. “Zeke hurt her?”
“No.” Raul smiles. “They make a powerful couple.”
My hackles rise as readily as any shifter. Fuck that.
“Actually, maybe we don’t need you. With Ethan too, the three of them will take things in hand.” He holds the cup back to the woman. “Stay here until you’re ready for Nighthold. How long until you're old enough? Six months?”
I glare at him and then the cup. Even if that shit—whatever it is—works, the dumb bastards are letting me out to get close to my real source of power.
Eloise.
With a huff, I snatch the cup and gulp down the contents before retching at the taste. I’ve tasted witchy herbal crap before, but this goes beyond disgusting—aniseed, wood, and tar. As the taste fades, I detect another beneath.
