“No!” I shouted.
The strike drew the breath from my lungs as a line of pain screamed over my shoulder blades. “Sit back down! There is no hiding from me.”
I whimpered and fell back into my seat. My spine shouted in agony, and I was sure I’d have trouble sleeping on my back or side for the next few days. But it was better than spilling my secrets and dying because of them. It took effort not to gasp in pain as I lowered myself back into the chair.
“Good,” Lady Cardinal chirped, returning to her place. “Now, that you’ve hopefully learned your lesson, Onyx, look at me.”
I did.
“Is it true that you were saying unsavory things about myself and a staff member?” She scooted the fake crystal closer, and I tensed, praying she wouldn’t feel the difference in weight. Lady Cardinal folded her hands on the table and rested the stick beside her.
“Yes,” I said since any other answer would reveal what I’d just done.
Lady Cardinal’s lips pressed into a thin line, telling me she’d punish me later for gossiping about her. “While you're here, do you know anything about why Prince Preston Kallan vanished from Nocturnal Academy?”
My heart leapt. Perhaps Lady Cardinal could read lies. I let out a breath and eyed the fake blood crystal, as I had no doubt she was compelling me to, judging from the pressure on the top of my head.
“No,” I said as calmly as I could. I’d heard somewhere that avoiding eye contact revealed a liar, so I flicked my gaze to Lady Cardinal. She frowned in disappointment. It was clear she’d expected a different answer from me.
“Have you heard any rumors?” She glowered. “It’s obvious you believe every rumor that you hear.”
“None, Headmistress.”
We stared at each other for what felt like an eternity. “Very well. We’re done. Report to the dining hall.”
I fought the urge to jump. I was still supposed to be under the influence of the blood crystal. “Why?” I asked with fake calm.
Lady Cardinal scooted the crystal to the side. The interrogation was done. “Report there immediately.”
I stalled, knowing I had to switch the fake crystal with the real one or have my cover blown when the next fae didn’t react to the blood crystal’s mind manipulation.
“I have PE. Mr. Chad wanted me to return after I was done here. Why do I need to go to the dining hall?” I asked, even though a terrifying suspicion was taking shape in my mind.
She grinned, enjoying my terror. “Report, Onyx.”
“Tell me. Please.” I braced for another blow.
And I got it. She rose, seized the stick, and once again circled the desk. “You must really like corporal punishment. You will not be disappointed in your future.” She vanished behind the huge potted plant as she circled.
I leaned forward and grabbed the fake crystal from the ground, then whirled around once more with my back to the desk. “I’m sorry.” I switched the crystals and ducked again. I had a split second to decide whether to return the fake one under my chair or hold on to it. I decided that if I left it here, it would get discovered for sure and start up another round of investigation, so I kept it.
The second blow was even more horrific than the first, drawing a scream from my throat. Lady Cardinal waited as I seethed, unable to straighten.
“Dining hall,” she ordered. “Or I will have Mr. Chad drag you.”
I rushed out, clutching the fake blood crystal tight against my stomach. Headmistress Cardinal was too satisfied with her handiwork to notice.
Even giving the fake blood crystal back to Thorsten didn’t quell the sickness in my gut. He said nothing as I dodged into the girls’ bathroom to vomit. I knew what was going to happen and there would be an audience to boot. At least I got my lunch up, aided by sheer nerves, and I wouldn’t throw up in front of the staff and assembled students.
Knowing hiding was futile, I headed toward the dining hall. The scent of burgers and fries filled the air. The gong went off to end PE and whatever other classes were happening, and I realized with horror that I’d serve as lunch entertainment. People filed into the cafeteria while guards came in and moved the tables to the side. Thorsten wasn't among them. I stood there as Lily stared at me, her face scrunched up with worry.
With so many guards in the room, moving around me, I couldn’t say a word and I didn’t dare to take a step toward her, in case that would get her punished too.
Lady Cardinal strode in with Lord Sullivan and Mr. Chad, and my throat dried as I spotted the whip in Lord Sullivan’s hands, wrapped around his wrist like a thin, black snake. Lily hugged herself, trembling like a leaf, and even Virgie turned green before she glanced away.
“Students,” Lady Cardinal boomed, and silence fell over the cafeteria. “Rumors about staff members as well as insulting staff will not be tolerated at Nocturnal Academy. Our staff work very hard to ensure that each one of you is prepared for your future. One student has engaged in ungrateful behavior today and must be punished. Watch. This is what happens when you break the rules.”
The smell of food made me want to vomit as Mr. Chad approached with iron cuffs, slapping them around my wrists. Though as a half fae iron had never bothered me, the cuffs were sturdy and heavy. He dragged me over to a table and pulled me over, holding my back exposed. I wished I had my uniform. My tight PE leotard would offer no protection and possibly make things worse. Behind me, I heard the whip unfurl and hit the floor with a quiet thud. No one in the dining hall spoke. I was glad for the view of the table. At least, I wouldn’t have to watch Peony’s glee.
“Three lashes,” Lady Cardinal ordered.
The whip whooshed through the air and rained down on me, exploding agony. I thought I knew pain from being bitten and from her attack earlier, but I was wrong. My entire back screamed as the whip seemed to go through my spine and my muscles. A shrill sound filled the room, and I realized it was my own scream. The air smelled of blood. A few of the vamp students snickered. Spots danced before my vision. I hoped they did the next two quickly. Or that I’d pass out. Or that they would kill me already.
Pain exploded with a crack again.
And again. My knees quaked. I gasped for air, convinced I was underwater. The ringing in my ears turned to a roar, and sweat covered my body. I really was going to pass out from the pain. Colors shifted all around me. Let unconsciousness come.
Lady Cardinal brought her face close to mine, a wicked grin spreading across her thin lips. “Get used to this. Gregory Vulthus plans to buy your contract.”
Chapter 13
Lily was an angel. She took me to the small infirmary to clean and bandage my back wounds. I didn’t know how I would’ve managed without her. Students sent to the infirmary had to figure things out themselves since there was no nurse on hand. At least, the tiny room had plenty of regular first aid kits, bandages, antiseptic, and pain relievers. The vamps didn’t want their slaves to get too damaged before graduation.
Lily worked quietly as I lay on the cot. I didn’t want anyone to make me say the truth out loud. Not yet. I was glad she was so observant and would likely figure it out on her own.
“There,” she said, putting on the last bandage.
I let out a breath. “Thanks.” As the physical pain became more bearable, thanks to a bunch of Advils, the emotional terror set in. Sure, Cardinal liked to scare the shit out of us, but she was also true to her word. If she said Vulthus was planning to buy my contract, it was the truth. Plus, he had confirmed it himself at that damn party.
I had to find a way out of this dark swamp before it swallowed me whole. But how? He was rich and obsessive. If I got other vamps to bid on me, he’d probably only want me more. I was a game he intended to win.
I sat up as my wounds screamed. Lily and I looked at each other. “We still have detention,” I croaked.
“I know.” She frowned.
I reported downstairs with Lily, leaning on her as awkward silence continued. A vamp guard showed us to a
utility closet and told us he’d be back at midnight to check that all restrooms were sparkling clean.
“Onyx, please don’t worry about this. I can manage on my own,” Lily said with a sympathetic frown. “Just sit down. Keep the sponge next to you, so that you can pretend you were cleaning if anyone walks in.”
I shook my head. “No, I won’t let you do everything by yourself. I was whipped, not…” I didn’t finish the sentence as images flashed through my mind of my bloodied, naked body, and Vulthus laughing with glee.
Lily sighed, pulling me back to the present. “Okay. I'll give you the sinks.”
“Thank you.” I felt guilty making her do the dirty work, but my fear over the burning wounds on my back getting worse from the constant forward leaning stopped me from offering to do half of the toilets.
I scrubbed down the sinks for what felt like hours, trying to come up with a solution to Vulthus and failing miserably. I didn’t see a way out. I couldn’t escape the academy. I couldn’t find a richer, different buyer. All I could do was hope that Vulthus would forget me, which seemed impossible.
But what if I found a buyer who Vulthus respected, someone he wouldn’t outbid? I thought hard. The only vamp families I knew of who might have a shot were the Wus and the Steinbergs. The Wus might be interested in me if they found out about my ice, or they might throw me to the wolves, telling my secret to everyone. Going to them was too risky. They weren’t trustworthy. That left the Steinbergs. Were they more powerful than Vulthus? Thorsten wasn’t being treated with too much respect, but his sire had a lot of power, right? He must if he came to judge our Placement Tests and given Mei Wu’s obsession with him. After all, Thorsten mentioned that Lady Cardinal had owed the Steinbergs a favor. That was why he was a guard here at school.
I snorted to myself. What if that favor was the Steinhergs covering up her and Lord Sullivan's little fling? A fling that maybe the other vampires didn't approve of? If either were married, yeah, then Lady Cardinal owed Thorsten's family a favor.
I exhaled, deciding that I would have to beg Thorsten to ask his sire. I tried not to worry too much about my pitch. Asking Thorsten to pimp me out to his “father” was disgusting and would make him lose the morsel of respect he still had for me. But what was my other choice? I doubted Griffin Steinberg could buy me as a servant. The academy had placed me into the courtesan category and from Candice’s lessons, I had learned that we sold for at least twice as much as the servants, which meant no one would purchase me for setting their dining table, even if I learned to make swans out of cloth napkins.
By the time Lily and I finally finished with the cleaning and the vamp guard allowed us to go to bed, I didn’t dare search for Thorsten, even though a tingle of desperation filled my limbs. There was no reason for me to roam the halls after midnight, and the last thing I needed was a vamp to bite me and drink my blood for my disobedience. My bandages were crusty. I had lost plenty of blood for one day.
The night lasted forever. It took hours to fall asleep and even when I did, it felt like I was waking up every fifteen minutes. Hot pain lingered on my back. When the alarm clock went off, I felt groggy.
I didn’t want to return to the cafeteria, since not only the memories of the pain, but Peony waited there. But with my back aching and a long day ahead of me, I needed the nourishment. Plus, if I hid forever, relying on Lily to bring me food, that would only make me look weak. And weaklings got picked on at Nocturnal Academy.
I didn’t make eye contact with anyone but strode purposefully to the breakfast bar and grabbed a bagel, cream cheese, and a coffee. I exhaled as I reached my table and sank into my chair, Lily putting her tray down next to mine.
The other fae ignored me. Maybe my punishment had told most of them that I wasn't a traitor to our kind after all, that I wasn't trying to be like the vamps. Or they just didn't want my influence to creep to them.
That wasn’t too bad. We ate in silence for a few minutes. I focused on my chewing, counting the bites so that I didn’t have to think too much about the day ahead. All of the vamp teachers would’ve heard about me badmouthing Sullivan and Cardinal. They would make me pay for the rumor I had started. And Peony...I didn’t even want to think about her.
I was halfway through my bagel when a shadow fell over my plate. I turned slowly, knowing whoever it was, this wasn’t a friendly visit. Peony grinned at me, flanked by Kristen and Virgie. Kristen was as cheerful as Peony, but Virgie’s face was void of an expression, and she refused to meet my gaze, staring at a point above my head.
“That was quite a show you put on for us yesterday.” Peony wound a blonde curl around her index finger.
I balled my fists, reminding myself that whatever she said, I couldn’t give into the ice gathering in my veins.
“I hope you liked making a spectacle of yourself.” Peony leaned closer. “I hear Vulthus likes to show off his girls.” She tilted her head. “You see, he doesn’t think that carnal pleasures should be done in private or with only one person.”
I felt the blood drain out of my face. Who else besides Peony knew about Vulthus intending to buy my contract? And was what she said true? If so, my situation was getting worse by the minute.
Mei joined the trio. Checking her nails, she added, “You’ll get exactly what you deserve.” She snapped her fingers. “Let’s go.” Peony and Kristen trailed behind her while Virgie took up the rear. Together, they created a diamond shape. Virgie didn’t look back.
“I’m sure they’re exaggerating,” Lily said in a trembling voice.
I let out a laugh devoid of mirth. “I don’t think so.” Vulthus was a sadist. I could easily imagine him prostituting his courtesans, basking in their public humiliation, and forcing them into orgies.
“You should talk to Thorsten.” Lily dropped her voice. “He seems fond of you.”
I was too tired to deny her observation, so instead, I put my tray away and followed her to German class.
Thankfully, Thorsten didn’t comment on the previous day. He went about his class, paying me no attention. As I wrote down the new adjectives we learned, I wondered what would be the best way to talk to him.
Perhaps I should’ve waited, found him later in one of the hallways, but my anxiety was stronger than my rational mind. I needed to at least make a request, and now.
That’s how I found myself going to his desk after the gong rang, safe in the knowledge that Candice’s class was next and that unlike the vamp teachers, the kind fae wouldn’t give me detention for arriving a minute late.
“Excuse me. I have a question about the adjectives, the female and male form.”
Thorsten nodded, his gaze scanning behind me. Other fae shuffled out of class.
I pointed at my writing and said in a low voice, “I can’t have Vulthus buy my contract. Is there any way your sire would consider buying it?”
Thorsten’s blue eyes turned to stormy clouds as he gripped the side of his desk for one long moment. Then he let go.
“I’m really sorry to be asking this, but I don’t see another way out.” I moved my finger down a line, noticing from the corner of my eye that the classroom was empty. It was a good thing Peony didn't take this class. But just because I couldn’t see anyone didn’t mean we were alone, a lesson I had learned the hard way.
“No.” Thorsten packed up his books. “I’m sorry, but I know he won’t do it.”
I nodded slowly, having expected this answer.
It was over. I had survived Preston. I had survived Ms. Rutherford who turned out to be his fae sister Petra. But I wouldn’t survive Vulthus.
Sooner or later, I’d become another sad statistic.
With heavy steps, I lumbered to the door, hoping Thorsten would call me back, tell me that he had a plan, tell me that he’d try, but only silence followed.
Darkness engulfed me, and the walls closed in. My chest tightened, and when I reached Candice’s classroom, I had to hold on to my desk as I sat, afraid my legs would give out.
<
br /> I stared at Candice as she taught, not taking in a word of anything she said. Half of the class passed, but I couldn’t be bothered to take any notes. Thankfully, Candice didn’t call me out on it.
It was when the gong rang once again that an idea came to me. It was farfetched. It was foolish. Maybe impossible, but I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t at least try.
I walked up to Candice, intertwining my trembling hands.
“Onyx, how may I help you?” Her face shone with sincerity. Perhaps it was stupid to ask a woman so dainty, who spent all of her time pleasing others for advice, but I saw no other way.
“I was wondering.” I swallowed hard, gathering my thoughts. Candice wasn’t wicked like the rest of the staff, but she might be compelled to reveal this interaction, so I had to tread carefully. “Last term we had Ms. Rutherford teach us Home Décor. Well, she was actually Petra and had disguised herself as the real Ms. Rutherford. Is this common? Can any fae use glamour to pretend to be someone else?” I thought of my failed attempt to disguise the fake blood crystal.
Candice blinked, clearly taken aback by my question. Her face softened a beat later. “You don’t have to worry. Using glamour requires a lot of magic, skill, and practice. It’s a skill that has been almost forgotten by the earthbound fae. I doubt anyone will use it to come after you.”
She might be talking about Peony. Peony loved to spread her poison everywhere and even Candice seemed to have heard about it. The hope within me wilted, but I refused to let it die. “But it’s possible? Or does one have to be a full-blooded, Summer Court fae like Petra?” I was treading into dangerous waters. “Like a certain student, perhaps?”
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