House of Silence (Poisoned Houses Book 3)

by Lyn Forester

  I reach the folding-port first and snatch it off the counter. “We should change location to somewhere safer.”

  With a nod of agreement, Felix pushes me toward the door. “Dec’s room?”

  “Can’t be mine.” I grab my satchel in passing and struggle to get the device shoved back into hiding. I promised Myrrine Nikola wouldn’t come back into our room.

  “We’ll have to kick Trevor out again,” Felix says with far too much relish at the idea.

  Nikola jogs ahead of us to hold the door open. “There’s another option for privacy.”

  Felix abandons me to bolt out into the hall as if we’re still racing. “What’s that?”

  Nikola lifts one brow as if the answer is obvious. “I no longer have a roommate.”

  Nightmares & Scares

  Nikola leads the way to his room and opens the door, giving a sigh of relief as he enters. “They already came and cleared out Garrett’s side.”

  “Efficient, aren’t they?” Hands clasped behind his back, Felix inspects the room as he enters behind him. “Too bad, though. We could have burned his sheets or something.”

  “I’m sure they’ll be washed and put back into circulation,” Connor points out as he files in.

  “Eww, why’d you have to bring that up?” Felix gives a dramatic shudder. “Now, every time I change my bedding, I’m going to question if I’m using his.”

  “You can always go the alternative route of not changing your sheets.”

  “Don’t be gross, bro.”

  I trail in last, steps slow as I let the door swish shut behind me. Never once had I considered invading Nikola’s room, and somehow it feels more intimate than when we took over Dec’s room in his absence.

  As Nikola noted, one half of the room is bare, the desk swept clean, the mattress bare. I’m sure if one of us opened the short dresser at the foot of the bed, all we’d find is school-issued linens, if even that remains.

  In stark contrast, Nikola’s side of the room holds life. More than I thought possible with the school’s restrictions.

  Colored liquid fills glass jars most likely stolen from the snack room. They sit against the wall behind his desk, stacked in a circular pattern. The holo-window, set to blue for the night, reflects through the sides of the jars to cast colorful light over the school-issued white comforter. Above his headboard, geometric shapes woven from dried leaves decorate the wall.

  How many walks did it take for Nikola to collect all those leaves? How many midnight strolls when he should have been asleep?

  He hasn’t been at APA for long, but he managed to put more thought into his space to make it his own than either me or Declan. And by the way Connor and Felix study the space, I doubt they’ve done better.

  For all the years I’ve known Nikola, I never realized he had this side to him, and it makes me realize how very one-sided our interactions have been.

  Felix walks to the closet, flinging it open to look inside, while Connor investigates the dresser at the foot of Garrett’s old bed, pulling out fresh sheets, comforter, and pillows.

  Nikola stands off to the side, not protesting as the twins make themselves at home.

  I spy a non-school-issued tablet on Nikola’s desk and wander over to it.

  The generic image on the front appears to be one that came with the device, a blue outline around the edges indicating a lock on the screen. My hand lifts, but I hesitate to place my palm on the screen.

  Right now, I can still pretend a mistake was made, that my old folding-port was set to accept Nikola’s palm, despite what the security settings said.

  My entire suite at Lonette Manor gave Nikola access, so it’s not too farfetched. I acquired my folding-port on my own and set up all the securities on it, but I put nothing past my father’s influence.

  It’s possible Felix and Connor are wrong, that a piece of me doesn’t mirror Nikola.

  A warm body comes up behind me, and even through the thick material of my robe, I know it’s not one of the twins.

  Nikola’s warm voice tickles my ear. “It’s only set to open to me.”

  When I begin to pull back, not sure I want the confirmation, Nikola’s hand covers mine, pressing it down onto the tablet. My breath catches as it unlocks, and a fine tremor runs through my body.

  “Anything of mine you want is yours.” His fingers move to settle over mine, completely covering my shorter digits. “If you want to separate us, to be the only one with this handprint, I’ll burn mine off. I’ll override it with something different. Just tell me what you want, and it’s yours.”

  The offer horrifies me, as does the gut reaction to accept it, to demand Nikola maim a part of himself so I can have my body wholly back, to be singular again.

  My hand trembles under his, and ever so slowly, he slips his fingers through mine.

  The action shocks me. Nikola has always been so careful to keep his touches impersonal. Something changed tonight to make him bolder, more confident he can get away with this level of intimacy.

  “Caitlyn,” he whispers, his husky voice filling my ear. “Would you consider—”

  “Hey, don’t think you can cozy up to my girlfriend just because she saved your ass.” Felix swoops in from the side, nudging Nikola out of the way.

  His hand slips from mine as he steps back to make room.

  Felix now wears a set of school-issued loungewear, the sweats and t-shirt fitting him surprisingly well for being stolen from Nikola. Only the hems of the pants point to their difference in height, the cuffs hitting just above his ankles.

  “Glad to see you made yourself comfortable,” Nikola observes drily. “I’ll get you a set, too, Caitlyn.”

  Over his tablet, my hand curls into a fist, revealing the screen. He last had his library open, and I notice a few familiar titles, books on light theory and energy displacement. Mixed in with those are art history books and books on halion and human philosophy. An eclectic mixture that makes me wonder which ones reflect his true interests or if he simply absorbs everything that catches his attention.

  Felix peers down at the screen, too. “That’s a lot of books.”

  He glances over at Connor, who settled on Garrett’s old bed, a stack of pillows lined up against the wall, the sheets and blanket still folded at the foot.

  Felix raises his voice to catch his twin’s attention. “Nikola’s a nerd. No wonder you get along.”

  “When did we get along?” Nikola returns with a stack of clothes in his hands. “We’ve barely spoken to each other.”

  “I simply didn’t throw a fit like you did,” Connor agrees. “Caitlyn is her own person, to do as she pleases.”

  Felix stiffens. “Or who she pleases?”

  Angry heat floods my cheeks. Not this again.

  Nikola passes me the clothes. “Vulgar as the discussion is, there’s no doing going on. Not that it’s any of your business, nor would I object if her interest took that route.”

  Felix’s shoulders pull back. “So, all that needling about being in her room—”

  “Is factual.” Nikola glares at him. “Blame yourself for your assumptions. You were an ass all on your own.”

  My narrowed gaze moves between Felix and Nikola. “If you two can’t behave, Connor and I will go back to my room alone.”

  Felix’s angry green eyes jump to me. “You’re taking his side? You know he purposefully misled us.”

  “And you let yourself be led.” I hug the soft loungewear to my chest. “I’m going to step into the closet to change. You can both decide if you want to be adults before I return.”

  Felix’s angry whispers follow me to the closet, and I shut myself inside, dropping my heavy satchel at my feet. The tight space makes me itchy, and I quickly drop the robe to the floor, then shimmy out of my wet clothes.

  My pants clunk when they hit the floor, and I crouch to pull my palm-port from my pocket, checking the screen to make sure the impromptu shower didn’t damage it. The screen turns on just fine, and I
tuck it into the side of the satchel before reaching to remove my remaining clothes.

  The shower soaked me to the skin, and I hesitate, fingers hooked in my underwear, before I push those down as well, choosing comfort over embarrassment.

  It’s not like I won’t be fully covered.

  Once I pull on the dry clothes, I realize I have a bigger problem with the size difference than Felix and roll the hem of the pants up, cinching the tie around my waist tight. The soft material of the t-shirt outlines my breasts more than I’d like, but not enough to force me back into my sodden bra.

  When I slide the closet door back open, I discover Nikola took the opportunity to change as well. Felix now sits on the bed with Connor, arms folded over his chest and chin jutted out in the poutiest pout I’ve seen from him yet.

  Exhaustion sets in now that I’m warm, I bend to grab my satchel, then scoop up my discarded clothes and walk them to the chute for facilities to take care of them. Yet another reason I love the uniforms APA provides its students. They’re all tagged with the student’s information to make sorting and cleaning easy, and they reappear in our dressers while we’re in class.

  The fact that Declan’s roommate can’t do even the bare minimum to keep his area clean is just slovenly.

  Straightening, I tiredly push the damp hair from my face, and my fingers tangle in my curls. I set the satchel on Nikola’s desk and slump into the chair, too worn-out to delve back into the forums in the slim hope of contacting Declan.

  I don’t know why I even suggested it except that the uneasy alliance forming between all of us felt borderline unfaithful without Declan here. He was our small groups’ unofficial leader, and I suddenly felt his absence like one of my light-rings had vanished mid-race. I don’t want Nikola slipping into his spot, usurping his place when he’s not here to defend it.

  Gentle fingers comb through my hair, and my eyes close as I lean back into the familiar pattern of bedtime. I resisted Nikola so much while at Lonette Manor, but he worked his way under my skin, making a place for himself that doesn’t feel right, but also doesn’t feel wrong.

  The gentle tugs against my scalp ease away my tension as he braids my hair, taming the curly mess as he tames my nerves.

  “So, you’re basically a glorified maid,” Felix teases, the sharp edges in his voice mellowing.

  I flinch, eyes snapping open to blink blearily around the room.

  For a second there, I forgot he and Connor were with us, and the bare, stark white walls on Garrett’s old side catches me off guard as my mind struggles to place the bathroom of my suite at Lonette Manor over the top of it.

  Did I actually fall asleep while Nikola braided my hair? Exhaustion weighs down my mind as if I spent the entire day racing and now hit the downside of too much adrenaline.

  “I’m whatever I need to be,” Nikola chides, refusing to rise to Felix’s bait. The sound of a drawer opening comes from my left, and a moment later, he snaps a band on the end of my braid. He touches my elbow, urging me back to my feet. “You’re tired. You should rest.”

  Back to the impersonal motions of my secretary, it feels natural as Nikola leads me to his bed. The short distance is a struggle for my legs to make, and I sway on my feet, my eyelids almost too heavy to keep open.

  Across the room, the mattress bounces, followed by Felix’s angry voice. “Hey, now, what are you trying to pull?”

  “She’s tired. It’s been an emotional day.” Nikola pulls back the comforter in invitation. “We can talk more in the morning.”

  “I should message Myrrine.” I pat my empty pockets, then glance back to my satchel where I stuffed my phone.

  “I’ll let her know not to expect you.” With a gentle nudge, Nikola tips me into his bed.

  Felix stomps up behind him. “Don’t even think you’re climbing in there with her.”

  “You’re too noisy.” Reaching out, I grab the seam of Felix’s sweats and tug. “Come on. Lay down.”

  He twists to stare down at me, lips parted in surprise. “What?”

  I wiggle farther back onto the bed until my back hits the wall. “You wanted to stay with me tonight, right?”

  “In Nikola’s bed?” Gingerly, he perches on the edge of the mattress, gaze fixed on the other man as if waiting for him to object. “What about him?”

  With a yawn, I snuggle my face into the soft pillow beneath my head. It holds the familiar scent of the school’s shampoo, and the unfamiliar scent of Nikola beneath. “He can sleep with Connor or on the floor. Let them figure it out.”

  “But...I’m not really tired...” At my urging, Felix lies down, his body stiff as I move him onto his side, back to me. “Sprinkles, it’s not even Lights-Out yet.”

  I shove my thighs against the back of his until his legs curl up, making a space for me to fit into. “Just let me rest for a couple hours. Then we can...” My nose finds the groove of his spine, and I sigh, “We can do the thing later.”

  Felix remains stiff in my arms, not moving. “Is this really okay?”

  “It’s not what I had in mind, but it’s fine,” Nikola whispers. A rustle sounds, and a moment later, he adds, “I let Myrrine know Caitlyn won’t be back tonight.”

  Connor’s low voice joins the conversation. “It’s been a while since we had a slumber party.”

  “I’m seriously not tired,” Felix grumbles even as he grabs my arm and pulls it more securely around his waist. “I’m not going to be able to sleep here.”

  “You’re welcome to go back to your room. You both are.”

  “If we leave, Caitlyn leaves.” Steel fills Connor’s voice. “We’re not leaving her here alone with you in her vulnerable state.”

  “I’d never hurt her.” Calm and steady, Nikola adds, “I’m also not planning to sleep on the floor tonight. Make room or get out, Connor.”

  “Grab your own blanket. I don’t want to snuggle with you.”

  “It’s a single bed. Resign yourself to contact.” A drawer opens and closes as he grabs a second blanket. “Help me put the sheet on that mattress. I’m already not a fan of sleeping in Garrett’s old bed.”

  “Then you shouldn’t have been so eager to stuff Caitlyn in yours.” Felix laces his fingers through mine. “Did you really see this going a different way?”

  “Hope burns eternal.” Quiet footsteps cross the floor, and a moment later, the light on the backs of my eyelids vanishes. “Lights out, kids. Time for sleep.”

  “Not happening,” Felix growls, and the other two shush him.

  I hug Felix tighter as the room falls silent, willing my exhaustion to transfer to him. I’m so tired, but as long as he stays stiff, I can’t let go of the last vestiges of consciousness.

  He shifts, settling more firmly into the mattress, and one bare foot slides over the top of mine, tangling our feet together. I keep my breathing steady, my body relaxed, and eventually, he stops fidgeting as he gives up and falls asleep.

  The others in the room breathe easily, not the patterns I’m used to, but comfortable. Something I could easily grow accustomed to. I wait for the thought to bring on panic, but all I feel is calm, like the pieces of my life are finally settling.

  The picture that forms isn’t what I expected. It’s larger, with more potential for happiness if I can just hold it all together long enough for the blocks it rests on to solidify.

  I open my eyes to find the room still swathed in the dim, blue light of night, unsure what woke me. The quiet of the other’s breathing tells me they still sleep, and the soundproofing ensures no noise drifts in from the hall.

  Sometime during the night, Felix rolled in my arms, snuggling lower under the blankets until his head rests against my chest. At another time, I might worry about my lack of bra, or the proximity of the hand tucked into my waistband right over my ass, but tiredness drags at my eyes. They flutter shut once more, the lure of sleep strong.

  In my arms, Felix flinches, a muffled whimper escaping before he settles once more.

 
Concerned, I rub a soothing palm over his back, worried about what plagues his dreams. After Connor’s revelation about Felix’s kidnapping, the horrors of what could have happened to him flood my imagination. Three weeks is a long time to be missing.

  What if they’d never found him? People vanish all the time in the lower levels. What if I never had the chance to meet Felix? What if Declan hadn’t? Would Declan and Connor have passed in the halls, never realizing their potential for friendship? Would Declan have continued to be the stuck up, prissy, rich kid Felix claimed he was? Would any of our paths have crossed without Felix?

  Heart racing, I wrap my arms tighter around Felix, half afraid he’ll disappear again.

  His breath cuts off, then returns, faster now with wakefulness. The hand in my pants delves deeper as Felix rolls us until he lies on top of me. His slender hips settle between my thighs, an unfamiliar weight that pushes my legs farther apart.

  Skillful hands move over my body, but they lack the electrifying buzz that usually comes when Felix touches me, the usual hesitation as he tests if I’m okay with what he’s doing.

  These are the impersonal hands of a professional mapping out a new body as quickly as possible.

  One hand slides up my side, pushing my shirt up as he slips beneath the cover, his breath a warm whisper against my exposed skin. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you. Just lie back.”

  “Felix?” Worried by the tranquil sound of his voice, I grip his shoulders. “Felix, are you awake?”

  Hot lips find my stomach, then lower as he tugs on my pants. “I know how to be a good boy, so make sure you feed me later, okay?”

  My heart splinters. He’s not awake, not with me. He’s somewhere in his past, trapped by memories he refuses to speak out loud. I’ve read it’s bad to wake sleepwalkers, that the sudden return to reality can cause them to harm themselves or the person who wakes them.

  But when his tongue traces a wet line toward my mons, panic sets in. I can’t let this happen. Not without him aware of his actions. Our first intimate act won’t be with him unconscious.