With trembling fingers, I rip open the top, and a piece of heavy, black parchment paper falls to the bed. A lump of sharp disappointment rises in my throat. This isn’t from Benny.
Foreboding tingles within me, and the paper trembles in my hand.
I read the words written in beautiful calligraphy, the red ink glinting in the light.
Everly Marissa Anderson,
We will come for you on the Ides of March.
I rub the parchment between my fingers.
I know what the Ides of March is; it’s a warning, just like Julius Caesar received from the soothsayer before he was stabbed to death in the Roman Senate by sixty of his “friends.”
Several moments tick by as a cold gust of wind blows into the room from the cracks around the window next to my bed. I shiver and stare out at the dark landscape, searching for answers. I’m just Everly, father unknown, mother deceased. Friendless.
I can’t deny the dark intent I feel as I touch the letter. It’s an intuition, an inkling that this is very, very bad. Who is coming for me?
Outside my dorm window, my eyes snag on Professor Wells as he saunters out of the entrance and takes the stone path to the teachers’ quarters. His strides are long and confident, his body undeterred by the razor-like wind that whips in from the lake.
Did he come inside my room? How? He has no key. No, he may have strange eyes, but it wasn’t him.
The letter flutters to the floor as I shove my books aside and check the calendar on my desk.
March 15 is only five days away.
Dragons
Everly
Three days later, after much plotting and being more devious than I’ve ever been in my life, I’m in the back of the library with my head bent over a book when Tera-Kate appears, a mulish expression on her face. Dressed in the Academy black and red plaid skirt, a white button-up shirt, knee socks, and oxfords, she manages to look chic. Her hair is arranged in bouncy waves that tumble down her back, makeup on point.
I glance down at my own overly long skirt, my shirt that’s too baggy, and my shoes that pinch my feet. My brown hair is demure, braided at the crown as it wraps around my head.
I push up my glasses. “Any news?”
She gives me a scathing look. “You’re blackmailing me to get you a meeting with the Dragons. Of course I arranged it. Bitch.”
“Right back at ya.” I give her a tight smile. I don’t care for her, but I also wish I didn’t have to use her. Unfortunately, I can’t approach the Dragons of Crystal Lake without a voucher. In other words, someone who knows them has to say you’re good at paying back debts. “If you didn’t want me to know, you shouldn’t have left your vodka collection out for me to see.”
She glares at me. “FYI, I tossed the bottles. It would be your word against mine.”
“I don’t think The Hole is very warm this time of year. I hear the food is bread and water and you have to pee in a pot.”
She puts her hands on her hips and looks away for several moments, then her eyes lock on mine. I see pity there. “I don’t know what’s going on with you, but no one who asks them for help ever comes out on the good side. You have to pay them back.”
Tension zips down my spine. “Let me worry about that.”
She raises her arms in exasperation. “Remember Henrietta?”
Henrietta lives across the hall from us and called on the Dragons to help deal with an ex. They took care of him. He left school on a stretcher. No one saw what happened, but apparently, he had a skiing ‘accident’.
“How is she indebted?”
Tera-Kate sighs. “She’s just weird now, all quiet and mopey. Her boyfriend was her mate and now he’s gone. Whatever. Look—I don’t know why I’m warning you, but you seem kinda dazed most of the time, and I get that your parents didn’t explain things well or you had an unconventional upbringing. Plus, you’re going through some changes—although God knows you should have bloomed by now—so I’ll cut you some slack for being a devious bitch. Honestly? I’m shocked they even let you in this school—”
“Bloomed? What do you mean?” I frown.
Her tongue darts out to lick her lips, then she drops my gaze and glances down at her clenched hands. She opens her mouth to say something but stops.
“Tera-Kate?”
“I can’t tell you—can’t tell people who don’t know.”
“I know what bloomed means. It’s like a flower, yes?” A huff comes from me as I spread my hands apart and indicate a flower opening. “I am a woman, Tera-Kate. Older than you.”
“But…are you the kind of woman I am? I’m not so sure. Everyone here…we have a clan. You don’t fit in.” Her lips compress as she seems to search for the right words. “You need to eat more. Get out and meet people. Get your head straight, then maybe…” She swallows, her eyes darting around the library. “Anyway. They’ll meet you at midnight, in the woods.”
“Where?”
She gives me a once-over. “You’ll figure it out. Be presentable. They only entertain popular students. Don’t expect me to help you anymore. Also, he said don’t be late.”
“Who?” I ask quickly, curious about who they are, but she’s already flouncing away, garnering several lingering glances from guys at the table across from me.
A long exhale leaves my chest. The identities of these guys are secret, which is concerning.
What if it’s Rune and his crew?
What if it’s one of the other gangs?
Obviously, it’s a group of badasses…but which one?
The Woods
Everly
At precisely 11:45 PM, I exit the dorm, sneaking past the security guard as he scrolls on his phone. Someone has a freaking phone. Hello, it’s not me.
I step out to a cold wind and tug my coat around me. A weak lantern-style light emits a yellow glow and I squint into the darkness, pointing my snow boots in the direction of Duncan Hall, the furthermost building that sits adjacent to the forest.
A silver motorcycle growls down the winding road, heading to my dorm, headlights flashing off the mountains. When he comes to a stop at the end of the sidewalk I’m on, I pause. His face is obscured by a sleek black helmet.
Long-legged and dressed from head to toe in black, he places both feet on the ground and lets the motor idle.
I look over my shoulder. With the bitter temperatures and late hour, there’s no one around. It sucks that my dorm is situated near the cliffs, with only the library between it and the rest of campus. And the library is closed.
He raises a gloved hand and motions for me to come to him.
I shake my head.
He unlatches the helmet with gloved hands, his fingers nimble and quick as if he’s done it a million times. He eases the helmet up, and I inwardly groan. Bodhi. He tugs a pack of cigarettes from his leather jacket and lights one, takes a long drag, and considers me. He rakes his long hair out of his way and stares at me, smirking at my braided hair. “I’m looking for Everly. You her?”
“Who wants to know?”
“Whatever. I tried. I don’t have time for this. Tell Tera-Kate she can’t send anyone else.” He reaches for his helmet, and I dash over to him, tugging on his leather jacket.