I started to get up when Avery stopped me. “We switched up the order. You’ll be going last today instead of first.”
He hadn’t thought to tell me this before now? “Why?”
“Because I requested it. I’m the coach. End of story.”
Asshole.
As the next couple of hours passed, I paced back and forth, waiting anxiously. The room emptied one by one, and when it was finally Lucas’s turn, I went out with him, turning the light off as I left. I wished him luck as he entered the ring and wasn’t surprised when, ten minutes later, he’d won.
“Selena, it’s all on you. This match will decide if we go to the championships. Don’t let me down,” Coach Avery said, clapping me on the back.
“No pressure,” I muttered, but it really didn’t bother me.
As I stood inside the ring, I waited for the other boxer to get in, rubbing the calluses on my knuckles out of boredom. I glanced over at the corner to see a boy around six feet tall talking to an older man, who I assumed was their coach.
“So, this is the Heartbreaker you were talking about?” he said to his coach, not even trying to pretend he wasn’t outright staring at me.
Oh god, that fucking name. I wanted to kill him already.
“That’s her.”
“Consider it done,” he said with misplaced confidence, and he climbed into the ring.
The intercom came on, and I stepped up to fight. Pulling my fists up into fighting position, I took one single deep breath, and the bell rang.
“Look, I don’t want to hurt you. Why don’t you just withdraw, and I’ll take you out for ice cream?”
Same old bullshit. My eyes narrowed. I threw a punch at his side, but he jumped out of reach.
“Feisty. I like it.” His blue eyes roamed over me with interest.
I sent one straight for his head, and he caught my hand.
“You really don’t want to fight,” he said in a deeply seductive voice. His eye twitched, and something weird came over me.
“Selena! Selena!” Tori yelled from the side of the ring.
I blinked and snapped out of it. “What?” I yelled, not taking my eyes off him.
“It’s Lily. She’s going to kill her!”
Without a word or glance, I turned away from him. He grabbed my arm, and I turned back.
“Withdraw,” he persisted, and I decked him—one single punch, thrown at him with everything I had, straight into his face.
I didn’t even stick around long enough to see him fall. I ran and jumped clear over the ropes and out of the ring, sprinting behind Tori. I didn’t have to go far. I found her right outside the gym.
The crowd parted to let me through. It was completely the opposite of what I’d expected. Lily had April pinned against the brick wall, holding her by her neck.
April’s face was already blue and purple from lack of oxygen, and she looked like she was losing consciousness. Her skin was ashen, unnaturally pale, and she scrabbled weakly at Lily’s hand.
The most shocking part was Lily; she looked radiant. Her normally kind brown eyes were almost black. Power came off her in waves. She was draining the life from April and into herself. That was when I knew. She had the killing gene.
I strode forward and grabbed Lily’s arm, trying to pull it off the girl’s throat. She held tight, and April gave a strangled cry.
“Lily, let go of her. Now,” I commanded.
She didn’t listen to me; it was almost like she couldn’t. There wasn’t even the slightest recognition in her eyes. April didn’t look like she had much time left. I had to stop this.
I tried to pry her fingers from the dying girl’s throat, but the effort was wasted. She gave me no choice. Grabbing her wrist and locking her arm before she could push me away, I struck down hard on her elbow and felt it give as I snapped it in two.
She instantly released April as she stepped back, rage clouding her lovely features. April drooped to the ground, unconscious. I reached down and pressed two fingers to her neck, sighing in short-lived relief when I found a pulse—faint, but there.
“What the hell was that?” My voice was razor sharp, and my sister flinched ever-so-slightly. She knew to be afraid. She knew what I was. The real question here: what was she?
“Just a fight. What does it matter to you?” Her eyes were watering, not unreasonable considering the bones in her arm were sticking out awkwardly and her blood ran free.
“What’s it matter to me? Who do you think you are, talking to me like that? I just had to leave my match to pry you off some chick, so when I ask you a question, you answer it.” I let my voice rise and advanced on her. “So, let’s try this again. What the hell was that?” I saw a look in her eye, one I hadn’t seen in months. Unease crept up my spine.
“A fight. What do you want me to tell you? She was talking crap about you, and I had your back. You should be grateful,” she spat at me.
“My back? You think that’s having my back? Well, you are sorely mistaken, then. I’m a grown woman. I can take care of myself—something you obviously still don’t know how to do. And since when can you fight? Because if I remember correctly, I told you no.” I wished now that I’d told her why. I wished she knew. I wished I’d done a lot of things differently with her.
By this point, she looked like she was going to cry. Out of pain or anger, I couldn’t tell.
“You’re not my parent, Selena. When are you going to get that through your thick skull? I don’t have to listen to you, and I’m not going to, because I’m stronger now.”
I watched in sick fascination as the tendrils that had been leaching April of life reknit her bones and healed her like she’d done for so many others. I was torn between the part of me that saw this as a way for her to finally protect herself, and what it truly meant—whatever monster lived inside me had a twin inside her.
“You call that strength? You know nothing. Lily, you almost killed her, do you understand that? Can you actually grasp the idea that you almost ended someone’s life? Because I don’t think you can. I don’t think you understand the guilt that would haunt you until the day you died. It would consume you.”
“No, I don’t think you understand. This is my power now. I’ve evolved. So why deny it? I’m stronger than the rest of them, and now they know it.” She motioned to the crowd gathered around us, sweeping her arms wide as she cackled. “One person. That’s all it takes to make a point. Why don’t you just accept that I can take care of myself? I don’t need you anymore.”
My heart sank. I was sorry for her—for what she was going through. I knew how it worked, and pushing her would do no good. Until she could see the difference between her and the monster, she would be controlled by it. I only had one choice; one chance to bring her back to me.
“You know what? You’re right. I’m done with you.”
“What do you mean you’re done with me?” She sneered, but underneath her anger, she flinched. She was on her own now. I hoped I was making the right decision.
“I mean exactly what I said.”
Even though it killed me, I turned and walked away, leaving her to suffer in her own dark glory.
Chapter 43
“Hey . . . I saw what happened,” Lucas said from the door.
I stood in the middle of the ring, pacing back and forth. Thinking. I felt him come closer. “Of course you did.” The words were mostly to myself; I knew he didn’t expect an answer. He didn’t make me bother with the normal social conventions that frustrated me.
“I know you’re upset, but I think you did the right thing.”
Did he see the monster when he looked at her? Did he see the way it snarled? The way it smiled? Did he see that in me?
“I don’t know.” I sighed. I was so confused right now. Nothing made sense.
“What are you talking about? You saved a girl’s life, and you saved your sister from the guilt of killing someone.”
“But where did I go wrong? I always taught her to be he
rself. I taught her morals, and I was there with her when she manifested. I’ve gotten her through everything up until now. Where did it all go wrong?” The truth was: I knew where it had gone wrong, and it wasn’t Lily’s or my fault. Not really. Much like me, she was born this way. Inheriting our mother’s sickness.
“I don’t know what to tell you, but I think you should focus on the championships right now and not your sister. I get that you love her, but you have your own life to worry about, and she’ll be here when you get back. It’s only two weeks.”
I didn’t have a choice. Today wasn’t enough to suppress me through the summer, and if I was going to have any chance of helping her, I needed to have my insanity on a leash. Even if it meant leaving her for a short while. The only thing worse than one monster was two.
“You’re right. I need to worry about me.” He didn’t know the half of it.
Chapter 44
“Are you ready?” Tori asked me.
“Almost,” I said, pulling a Daizlei sweatshirt on over my head. I reached down and grabbed my duffel bag while Tori opened the door.
“Good luck. I’ll keep an eye on Lily for you.” She hugged me.
“Thanks. Have fun in California.” I walked out the door.
The dorm was silent; no one was up this early on a Sunday.
When I got outside, I was disappointed to see the snow had melted, leaving damp green grass in places. The fountain had also defrosted, and water was running smoothly from the arrow mounted on the angel’s bow. As I neared the landing area, I didn’t expect to see flaming red hair and a pair of brown eyes searching for me.
“What are you doing here?” I asked her.
“I decided to see you off,” she said, yawning.
“Oh, well, thank you,” I said awkwardly, taking in her pink fuzzy slippers, pajama pants, and hot pink tank top.
“So are you ready?”
“Always. I never lose,” I said, remembering how my last match had ended. I should’ve been disqualified, but extenuating circumstances and all that . . .
“Okay, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” I twirled a strand of my hair.
“It’s Lily, isn’t it?”
“I just worry.” I sighed, when suddenly the feeling came over me. Something was going to happen. I just didn’t know what.
Breathe, I reminded myself. She’ll be all right. You have people watching her. Tori, Alexandra, even Amber . . . There’s no way she’ll get past them.
“Don’t. I’ll watch her, and Elizabeth’s helping me. She won’t leave our sight,” Alexandra assured me.
“I know.” I looked away.
See? my subconscious chided me, even Elizabeth is helping. She’ll be fine.
“It’s the feeling again, isn’t it?” she said.
I nodded. “I would just feel better if it were me watching her.” I finally bolted to the trashcan about five yards away and hurled.
“Are you okay?” Alexandra yelled, running over to me.
“Fine,” I gasped, wiping my mouth and hoping the jet would get here soon so I could brush my teeth again.
“Selena, she’ll be fine. I promise. We both know why you need to go on this trip.” She gave me a knowing look.
I nodded again and sagged against the trashcan.
“You missed some.” She pointed to the corner of her mouth.
I grimaced and reached up to wipe it away. “Thanks.”
“Did I tell you I broke up with Michael?” Well, that was a change of subject. She was watching something over my shoulder.
“No.”
“I got a new boyfriend.” She smiled.
“Who?” I was only half-interested.
“Aaron White.”
That got my attention. “You’re joking.” Word around the gym was he hadn’t dated since his ex had dumped him back in August. I wondered what had changed.
“No, and he’s, like, really fine.” She wiggled her eyebrows, and rolled the last word on her tongue.
I wanted to gag again. “Alexandra, he’s a terrible boyfriend.”
“Why? How would you know? You haven’t dated him,” she said.
I sighed. “Whatever. Do what want, just keep an eye on Lily, please?” I didn’t need to deal with this right now, not on top of everything else.
“I will.” She rolled her eyes just as the jet came into view.
“It’s about damn time,” I muttered, looking at the time on my phone.
“Okay, have a good trip. I’ll text you,” she called as she went to give her new boyfriend a hug.
I didn’t even bother trying to respond.
Aaron only kissed her on the cheek before boarding. She looked sour, and I was pretty sure she’d also noticed.
Good, I thought, climbing onto the jet after him. Keep your hands off my sister if you know what’s good for you. I took a seat and sat back, closing my eyes while the feeling washed over me for what I hoped was the final time.
“You okay?” Lucas’s deep voice rumbled next to me.
“Fine,” I lied as the plane doors closed and we took off.
The only thing worse than one monster is two, I reminded myself.
I looked out the window one last time and tried to push all thoughts of Lily from my mind.
Chapter 45
“We’re almost there,” Lucas said, waking me from my dreamless sleep.
The trip was about ten hours from Montana all the way to the Alps in northern Italy. I glanced at my watch. It was a little past eight in the evening, local time.
“How far away are we?” I asked groggily, leaning back in my chair again.
“You can see it if you look out the window.”
Spires of onyx jutted out against the lush green landscape of Italy. Perhaps more even elaborate than Versailles, these were the homes of the Council, and they had been for centuries. They were bigger and older than Daizlei, but I could see where my school’s architecture came from. There was no gate for protection, but from what I’d heard about the members of the Council and their servants, I doubted they really needed one.
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu.
“I’ve seen better.” He shrugged. The tone in his voice made me want to ask, but something told me to leave it—that I might not want to know the answer.
“Have you been here before?”
“Twice. I’ve gone to championships the last two years, but never won.”
“I really feel like I’ve been here before.” The words popped out suddenly as we got closer.
“That’s unlikely. Unless—” He stopped mid-phrase, looking at me with concern.
“What?”
“Unless your parents took you here,” he said.
I stayed silent for a moment, and he looked away.
“You do realize I’m not going to break down and cry every time someone mentions them?” He was trying to be considerate, but I couldn’t help being annoyed by the implication that I wasn’t strong enough to talk about them.
“I know that, but I also know you don’t like to talk about them.” The ice in my voice hadn’t even phased him.
“Not always,” I murmured as the plane came closer to the Council.
“Are you nervous?”
I followed his eyes to where my fingers where tapping impatiently. “More of a mix between tired and excited.” The jet touched down.
“About?”
“I’m going to the Council, a place I’ve only read about in books. I’m going to meet and see the most powerful beings that walk the earth. It’s . . . gratifying, even if I am walking into a lion’s den. I’m tired of being on this plane, and I really need a shower.” Meanwhile, my brain was replaying two words over and over: we’re here. I felt like I was on the precipice of something.
“I understand completely,” he said as we stood to leave.
As I stepped off the plane, I immediately felt out of place. Tall buildings towered over me, stuck in the
ir ancient beauty. The cool breeze lifted my hair, and the setting sun heated my pale skin. Directly ahead of me stood a garden—the smell of roses overwhelmed me, bringing me back to my childhood home and mother’s garden. I was going to have to take a walk very soon.
“I see that you find my home resplendent, Ms. Foster. I’m happy to say that your beauty alone can compare.” Aldric Fortescue came striding up, and I was struck by the assuredness that radiated from him. Such confidence—so like my own. He came from the ruling family; a Head of Council, and Member of Court—I was just a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
I glanced down at my thinning tank top and baggy sweatpants. “Thank you, but on the contrary, your home is much more magnificent than any beauty I possess,” I purred, allowing myself to take on a very formal tone. I hated having to bother with pleasantries, but I knew it would go a long way here.
“You are quite refined for someone so young. I commend you.” Such lovely words in such a dangerous place. The Supernatural Council was known for being even more brutal than I was when it came to our enemies, or those who displeased them.
“I do not believe my attire is exactly what you would call refined.” I laughed a sophisticated laugh, such a lilting sound. I hated it.
Fortescue smiled as Coach Avery came walking off the plane with Aaron.
“Mr. Fortescue, it is an honor. To what do I owe the pleasure?” Avery’s tone had also changed, and that never happened. The Fortescues were the equivalent of royalty. They’d been the ruling family for as long as anyone can remember.
“Ah, Christian Avery, I simply came to welcome you and your students to my home. My servants can escort you to your rooms. Before I leave, however, I would like to make it known to you three that wandering the buildings is not advised. I’m sure you all understand what I mean.” His smile was too cunning, too kind. It wasn’t real, and all I heard was the threat in his words.
“Thank you for reminding them. I’m positive they’ll heed your warning,” Coach Avery assured him, casting a sideways glance at the three of us.
“I have business to attend to, and I am sure you would all like to put your things down. Marcus, please show our guests where they will be staying,” he ordered the younger man next to him. With a final nod goodbye to Avery, he strode away, leaving a beautiful, tall, dark-skinned man in his place.
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