I grabbed the body and slung it over my shoulder, sagging only a moment beneath the enormous mass of oozing flesh while I spelled the head to follow me through the soldiers.
The next morning Zach pounded on my door. I knew it was him because he quoted nursery rhymes, replacing certain words with profanity that made the poems more interesting. I threw open the door, ready to bash his face in, when I saw that someone else had beaten me to it. He stalked past me without waiting for me to recover, and that meant that I had to entertain Zach in nothing but black silk pajama bottoms.
“She thinks it’s my fault. Why would Lester and Barry fighting be my fault? I had nothing to do with it. You were there, you saw the whole thing.”
I shook my head slightly. “You have no proof that I was there.”
“Rats don’t have green glowing eyes. You were always far too good at transfiguration. My point is, I didn’t ruin her date, Barry did.”
I frowned at him. “It didn’t look very ruined from what I saw of it.”
Zach glared at me. “When she got back she said… I talked to Lester. He’s not going to date her again. He turned her down. I had nothing to do with it. He was completely unmoved by my threats. He said that he doesn’t have time for witches.”
I grinned at him and slapped his shoulder. “If you had nothing to do with it, why did he shatter your glamour, and how did he do it?”
Zach shook his head. “Can you fix it?”
I sighed deeply. “That’s why you’re here, so I fix your face? What have I been doing lately to give people the idea that I care? What will you give me in return?”
He cocked his head, that one deep blue eye unnerving in its intensity. “I will tell you that Penny Lane did this to me. I know you completely lose all your rational thoughts at the mention of her name.”
I raised my fingers and traced over his skin, trying to sense her. Yes. There. In the dent on his cheekbone, emotions and anger, a hint of tiramisu and hot chocolate. I opened my eyes and gestured to the couch. “You have awakened my curiosity. I will do what I can. It’s in pieces. All the layers of your glamour are completely shattered. What did she use?”
He settled down and put his feet up. He looked so strange with that cracked face. “I don’t know. It’s a mystery to me and I was there. I’ve never experienced that kind of force.”
“She just looked at you and crack?”
“She punched me.”
I pulled a blue powder that smelled like lightning out of a cupboard that looked like part of the wall. “What did you do to deserve that?” I asked, dumping two teaspoons into a glass. I filled it with brandy while he hesitated. “Was it worse than last time?”
“I didn’t do anything. She just came in furious and took it out on me. She pulled out my hair before I got up a silicone glaze.”
“Wait, her punch went through a glaze and your glamours? I don’t suppose you discussed it afterwards.”
He scowled at me. “She needed some space.”
“After Lester dumped her.”
He shrugged. I handed him the glass and he downed it, wrinkling his nose, but almost immediately, the top glamour smoothed out over his face, leaving one eye only slightly darker than the other.
“That’s as good as I can do.” I went to the door and held it open. “I have machinations to plot.”
He got up and gave me a glance. “I owe you for that.”
I studied him. “I’ll put it on your tab. Get out.”
I found Lester eating breakfast in the lab. He was studying a yellow rose petal that was crumpled and dirty where it sat above his plate, tubes forgotten and pushed to the side. I sat beside him and began without preamble. “Why did you dump Penny Lane?”
He didn’t look at me, only shook his head. “I didn’t realize she had intentions towards me. I thought she was with you. Why isn’t she?” He turned his head to stare at me, searching me like only a Sophis mage could.
“Let’s just say that seduction while immediate doesn’t give me the long-range outcome I desire.”
He shook his head, looking back at the rose petal. He brushed it with his black stained fingers. He’d been working on something all night. “She’s tempting. If my course weren’t so firmly set with the Brotherhood of Glee, I would…”
I slammed my hand on the table. “Surely it would be beneficial to create alliances with witches while in school whatever your plans after you graduate. It isn’t as if she tried to seduce you.” If she had tried to seduce him, I would crush him.
My heart pounded while I stared at Lester and he stared at the rose petal before he finally raised his eyes to mine. “The girl asked me what I thought about marriage. Why hasn’t she asked you? Perhaps she thinks that you aren’t serious enough to consider as a husband. Maybe you aren’t. You should know that her intentions are far beyond a simple seduction. She wants a mage who can be her partner. I saw that in her eyes, the measurement and deciding that I would be acceptable. It was like applying for an internship last summer with the Brotherhood.”
I unclenched my fist and forced myself to take a breath. “I take it your internship went well.”
He nodded and I unclenched my other fist.
“Excellent. In my business, healing is of great importance. If you’re ever in need of funding, feel free to apply to me directly.”
I turned and left the lab, my heart throbbing in my chest with every step. It made sense for a witch to marry young if she wanted to have children before she went mad and murdered them all. Penny would adore children. I stopped walking and leaned against the nearest wall, opening and closing my hand. Beneath the glamour was a scar that throbbed sometimes before a storm. Lester had given me information he could have kept. I was a businessman. I did not punish those who worked with me. But she’d found him acceptable when she didn’t even consider me an option.
A crackle of fury spun through my veins. I smiled charmingly at the next group of witches I passed. If she didn’t think I was good enough, I would show her how right she was, but only after it was far too late.
In Business class she sat, chin propped on her hand while she stared into space. I almost grabbed her and shook her, dragged her somewhere dark and dangerous and made her look at me until she saw how truly despicable I was. Of course, that wouldn’t work. I gave her my most charming smile when she finally noticed me.
She just stared emotionlessly instead of the usual blush when I caught her looking at me.
“Penny. Any big plans for the weekend?”
She cocked her head at me. “What do you think about marriage?”
I froze. “Marriage?”
She inhaled sharply. She hadn’t meant to say that out loud. Had she slept at all last night? She looked as smooth and flawless as usual, but a little vacant, missing her charming sweetness. “I assume you’ve heard of it.”
I sat in the desk at her side. Anger and madness swirled with disappointed expectation. Maybe she wasn’t thinking about marriage the way Lester assumed. Just because he was a Sophis mage didn’t mean that he knew everything. “I have heard rumors that marriage happens, sometimes even between witches and mages, but I’m sure it’s grossly exaggerated. How did your date with Lester go? I hope you noticed that I wasn’t there.”
She nodded, her lips pressed tightly together. “Thank you. It’s not your fault that it was a disaster.”
I smiled charmingly. “How strange. Ah well, I’m sure I’ll ruin the next one for you.”
She sighed and slumped back down, staring at an empty notebook. She was vulnerable, her defenses low while her emotions were so overwhelming.
I would take full advantage of her weakness. “What do you think of marriage, Penny Lane?” I spoke soft and gentle, like I might startle her.
She curled her lips. “One out of two isn’t terrible, I suppose.”
“I don’t follow.”
She looked up at me. “My mother. My father was her first husband. Revere was her second. What do you think
about marriage?”
My heart beat rapidly while she gazed at me, beseechingly. Did she want me to reassure her, tell her that marriage was fabulous, or did she want someone to commiserate with, someone who knew marriage for the pain-filled pit it was?
“Drake, you said something about not wanting children, not ever marrying, didn’t you? Why not? Haven’t you ever seen a good marriage?”
I nodded while my head spun. We were in the middle of Business class, not exactly the atmosphere for a serious discussion, particularly when my temper was still extremely high and I wanted to smash everything until she stopped talking about marriage and dating other mages.
“My aunt is very happy, but her husband is a human, a banker actually.”
She cocked her head. “Oh. I’ve never thought of that, marrying a human. Doesn’t he bore her?”
Was she going to date humans now? “Mickle? He’s actually an outstanding human. My father can’t stand him, so that says something.”
“Your father doesn’t like humans?”
“He doesn’t like Mickle. He doesn’t like being lectured about how he should raise his son instead of wasting his life on inconsequential pleasure.”
“I thought he was dead. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t say that.” She shifted, her nails picking on the corner of her notebook.
I raised my eyebrow. “Why? Oh, because of Jasper? No. He hired Jasper when he realized he wouldn’t be a good father. It was the last responsible thing he ever did.” I winced like the memory was painful, like I needed comfort and coddling. Like I was a wounded animal.
After a moment, she slid her hand over mine. “I don’t remember my father.” She rubbed her thumb over my skin while she stared at me, her eyes large and dark. “Are you going to the Makiss tourney tonight?”
I swallowed while my heart pounded. She touched me so rarely. I cleared my throat. “No. I have a lot of work to do. Are you?”
She glanced around again. “No. When I think of my father I think of tourneys. I used to think that maybe if I were a famous tourney star, like Pitch, he’d want me.”
“Only an idiot wouldn’t want you.” I turned my hand and gripped hers hard, but she didn’t flinch, just squeezed back, staring at me with those enormous eyes, green and gold while I tried not to think or move.
Our teacher cleared his throat behind us. Apparently, he’d decided to walk down the aisle between us. I closed my eyes and didn’t cut off his legs. He wouldn’t like that, but Lester could grow them back for him.
Penny pulled her hand away and glared at the desk. Maybe she would smash his face like she’d done to Zach.
After class, I put my things together while she hovered, like she wanted to talk. I gave her a charming smile and gestured her to go first. I followed her out of the room then when she turned to me, waited patiently.
“Drake, are you still okay with the thing tomorrow?”
“The Chemiss tourney?”
She bit her bottom lip and shook her head while her eyes shone with tears. Ah. She still felt so much from Lulu’s death.
“At one so we should leave here at twelve-thirty. I’ll meet you by the car.”
She gave me a trembling smile before she backed away. “Thanks. I might cry.”
“I’ll take that into consideration when I dress.” I stared at her then gave her a gentle smile and took her hand, tucking it into my arm and walking towards her History class. If she was looking for a gentleman, I could certainly pretend. Maybe. My blood still boiled. My hand was too tight, my arm stiff as I smiled, my teeth cracking from the effort not to snarl at the mage who looked at Penny’s legs for a little too long.
I dropped her hand and smiled at her. “Until tomorrow,” then turned and stalked the other mage. We’d turned the corner before I grabbed him and took him to Darkside. The alley was dark and the mage attacked with a bright explosion that singed my suit. Good. It wouldn’t be any fun to hurt him without some resistance. After a few minutes beating my fists against the mage, I knocked him out of the alley and into a group of Darksiders.
They growled and cracked their fists. I glanced at the mage, Terrell, and he grinned at me through bloody lips. I grinned back and then in unison we screamed our battle cries and attacked the filthy Darksiders. I had such a nice time, that after we staggered back into Dayside, I promised him a position starting in the next night’s tourney.
After I cleaned up in my room, I stepped out and Ian fell in beside me. I glanced at him and he gave me a polite nod, like this was a coincidence. I sighed. I still wanted to smash things.
“What?”
“Wit would like a conversation.”
“Promise me that you’ll attack me if I look like I’m about to lose control.”
“That good?”
I shook my head. “Worse.”
“But you smell like Darkside. Haven’t gotten it out of your system?”
I turned to stare at him. “It’s never out of my system any more than seduction is out of yours. Lead me to your mistress. Quickly before I change my mind.”
He walked briskly, leading me into the Sacred Grove. Everything was curved, white, organic looking, which made Wit and her extremely calculated sex appeal even more obtrusive and stark. Not that she wasn’t lovely in her way. I shook those thoughts out of my head because any thoughts about Witley’s person would lead to thoughts about how she used that person to destroy mages, which would only make me want to hurt her person in one way or another, and I didn’t have time for that sort of distraction.
She lounged on a white tufted couch with a curved back, her black waves falling like a curtain over her bare shoulders. The strapless top and extremely short skirt were not her typical lounge wear, but maybe she thought I liked legs. I did, just not hers. I looked at them anyway. There was absolutely nothing wrong with them. Nothing right, either. Nothing of any distinction at all. Penny would have a bruise somewhere if you caught it in the light just right, even under her extremely good makeup. And her knees were ever so slightly bowed, kind of knobby, particularly after the last time she forgot to eat for a week. Witley’s legs were too kept, like the rest of her, pampered with a thoughtless expectation of perfection. Her legs didn’t get kicked and tripped as she walked down the hall.
“Witley, your legs look exceptionally dull today. Are you going to give them some character in the Makiss tourney tonight?”
She raised an eyebrow over her exquisite blue eyes. “I am. Will you be watching me and my legs?”
She flirted while I scratched my throat and felt like my collar was strangling me. “Not tonight. I have business.”
She smiled sharply. “So devoted to your family fortune. I’ve heard that you won’t be fighting in tomorrow’s tourney.”
“No?”
“Not if you’ve given starting positions to Pete and Terrell. I suppose you could be someone’s second.”
Ian snorted then coughed and straightened up. He was supposed to be invisible.
I glanced at him then at her. “Everyone takes their turn behind the scenes.” I crossed my arms while I waited for her to make it worth my time. She wouldn’t waste my time, would she?
She slid off the couch to her feet and swayed towards me like I was her lover or something. If she touched me, I would take off that limb. “I have discovered that your little friend, Penny Lane is none other than our school’s founder’s granddaughter. Why didn’t you tell me? Did you think I couldn’t keep a secret? Now I understand why you, Stoneburrow and Viney have been so accepting of her. She’s practically royalty. I want you to know that I’m going to put a stop to all those jealous little witches who allow their emotions to get the better of their heads. Penny’s legs won’t be so bruised anymore, at least not unless she joins the tourney. Do you think she will?”
I stared at her. This was not what I was expecting or guarded against. I was so unbalanced that I let her slide her hands around my shoulders as she walked around me. “I don’t know. You could invite her.”
/>
She whispered in my ear, “I would, but only if she had something I wanted to win. You don’t know of anything she has that I want, do you, Drake?”
Oh, this. My chest ached where Penny had written her name in my skin. Yes, she did, but I certainly wouldn’t tell Wit. “I don’t think that she’d risk anything she possesses for the sake of her pride. She has a stunning lack of pride, don’t you think?”
She laughed breathily, the warmth of her exhalation on the back of my neck making my hair stand on end. I trembled, aching to turn and destroy her. “Stunning.” She stepped away and I finally turned to face her. I loathed having her behind my back where I couldn’t see every diabolical move she made.
She smiled at me brilliantly before looking up at Ian. “Let’s go in to dinner, shall we? I love to watch you choke.”
And then I was left in the Sacred Grove, empty besides the four fountains one facing each direction. Wit would do her best to use Penny against me, or use me against her. Either way, any weakness we had for each other would be easy for her to exploit. I shrugged and tossed a penny in the east fountain. It would be very pleasant to watch Penny break Witley’s face, as she’d done to Zach. I would take care of whatever mages Witley brought against me. In battle, I did not lose.
Chapter 22
Witch
I moved through life like it was in slow motion, everything buzzing distantly except for Drake whose green eyes pierced through the darkness. When I woke up Friday morning, Pitch had a message for me on my mirror in my almost black lipstick.
It’s more fun to break things together.
I left it there and headed to class. I shouldn’t have hurt Zach. Usually I funneled that energy into my hurters, but he’d stood between me and that. It didn’t matter. It wasn’t his fault that I’d picked someone without doing a little more investigation than a five-minute internet search. I had a migraine from channeling all that energy. It was worse than screaming for five hours. Which I knew from experience. That day drifted into the next, until it was time to get ready for the funeral. In my state of mind, I probably shouldn’t have gone. Maybe I’d hurt someone, but I wanted to say goodbye when she wasn’t walking around like a broken puppet.
Dread Delight: Rosewood Academy for Witches and Mages (Darkly Sweet Book 2) Page 20