I can’t just stand here and watch this happen, I rush over to them but Simon’s stare stops me in my tracks.
“Remember the lesson I taught you, Five. Do not interfere. I don’t care if you’re claimed, I’ll happily teach you another lesson on the correct way to behave.” Visions of what went on in his bedroom swarm in front of my eyes and I feel as though I’m going to throw up any second now.
“Fuck off, Five,” he says low and I don’t think I’ll ever forgive myself as I look to her one last time and then just… walk away.
I make it around the corner before I run. I don’t even know if I’m heading toward the kitchens or not, all I can think about is that poor girl. I guess it serves me right for not paying attention as I slam into a hard, firm back. My obstacle turns around and I stare up into Emmet’s eyes, and he lifts one brow as he stares right back.
“Star, what’s going on?”
“Please, Emmet, help her.” I grip hold of his hand in my own and he glances down at them before looking back at me.
“Help who? What’s going on?” I shouldn’t be doing this, but I have to do something.
“Craig, h-he’s going to hurt her. Please Emmet, I couldn’t… I just...”
“Get out of here, Luna. Academy business doesn’t concern you.” My heart stops, I don’t know why I expected anymore from him. I guess this is what I get for trying to see the best in people, I imagine it’s truly there.
I wipe at my eyes before hanging my head and I continue to the kitchens, but for once, the urge to bake has abandoned me. I don’t know what I’ll do now, other than sit in this corner and will the hours to fly right on by.
The assembly is here and I’m sitting up front and center with D sitting beside me. I think it’s out of our ranking than actual desire, but it doesn’t matter. Nine isn’t here, and I can’t get her face out of my mind. The fear I saw written all over it and bleeding out into her voice. I just let it happen. There wasn’t anything you could have done. That may be true, but it doesn’t help, I guess the truth can’t always set you free. Because that is my truth, and yet, all it’s doing is weighing me down.
A hush descends throughout the hall as Crystal walks out onto the stage and takes her place behind the microphone. Ms. Vanderbilt never needed to use one, but then again, she was a force very few reckoned with.
“Good morning. Today’s assembly is to prepare you for a few changes that will take place when the school year comes to an end. Luckily for you, Sir Harkwright has deemed you worthy to hear about said changes from himself. Be quiet.” Yeah, she really isn’t menacing enough to pull that warning off. Not that one is needed where Sir is concerned.
She saunters off the stage and Sir takes her place, moving the microphone out of his way, while sending a glower at her departing figure. I don’t think she’s in his good books right now.
“In a few months, your second year will come to a close. Well done to those who have made it this far. Now, you have been called here because the Three spot is still open and we must fill it. Consider it a free-for-all, anyone could take it. That being said, very few of you are up for the challenge, by what the boys tell me.” I wonder who will take it, and it still feels strange hearing someone address the men as boys. “There will also be a position in the marketing sector opening up within my organization and I will offer the position to one of you. Again, it may not go to any of you if you cannot prove yourselves worthy of such a position, but it will be there when you graduate. Another assembly will take place on the last day of term, and I recommend you come well rested and ready for anything.”
That’s a strange thing to say, at least, I think it is. Why would he say that to us? Is he trying to scare us even more than he already does? Probably, he comes across as a narcissist.
“Now, before I go through the claims that are being cancelled today, I have been informed that one boy wants to address me. Come along, Craig. the stage is yours.” His eyes are narrow as Sir looks at him. He definitely doesn’t seem as confident as he makes his way over to Sir and bows his head in what I assume is reverence.
“Thank you, Sir, I want to put in a formal complaint against…” his voice drops too low for me to hear, who is he complaining about? It can’t be Nine. He already took care of her.
“Speak up, boy, or sit your worthless backside down.” A chill runs through me at his icy tone, and I’m glad I’m not on the receiving end.
“Emmet, I want to issue a complaint against the Prince of the Academy.”
A loud gasp travels through the room as we do it in perfect synch. What the fuck is he playing at?
“Sir is going to annihilate him,” D says under her breath and I have to stop myself from replying. I can’t believe she did it, Sir would castigate her, if he was aware of her transgression.
“Oh really? Well come on, boy, spit it out. Tell me why you would dare to do something like that against my heir, and your future boss.”
“He interfered in matters that didn’t concern him, I was handling an issue and Emmet forced me to stop. I was disrespected and told no by one of the girls. He had no right to step in.” His chest is heaving as his jaw grinds from side to side, even his face is turning a shade of scarlet.
He seems to have forgotten who he’s addressing. I don’t think it will take long for him to remember. Not by the smile that is spreading across Sir’s face, or the way he is loosening his tie, and undoing the top two buttons.
“Emmet, my boy, why did you interfere?” He doesn’t look away from Craig, and I feel safe in my assumption that he is the only one not staring at Emmet right now.
“We are running out of girls, Sir. We have already lost too many and I did not feel it was necessary to lose a perfectly suitable one because of his impulsiveness. She has been punished thoroughly, and I know she will not make the same mistake twice. We already have some psychopath running around and incapacitating girls, let’s not add to it ourselves.” He didn’t even stand up to answer his father. How can he be so unruffled by all of this? Unless he knows something that I don’t, which is more than likely given the circumstances.
I can’t believe he helped her. I honestly thought he was going to walk away and leave Craig to destroy her. I feel conflicted and unsure of what I should say when I next see him. Should I bring it up or pretend it never happened?
“There you have it. Maybe next time, you will take your grievance to him before bringing such petty matters to me,” he tuts as he moves closer, and Craig flinches as he takes a step back. “Never do it again.” His fist connects with Craig’s eye socket and his head flies back, right as he delivers another punch to his stomach. The last one connects with his jaw and blood slides down from the corner of his mouth as Sir wipes his hand on Craig’s shirt. He steps back to his previous position. Like nothing happened at all.
“Now then, I am rushed for time because of that petty matter, so things will have to be done on a more… informal basis. I am rather displeased by this turn of events and Craig will have to answer for that as well. Be that as it may,” he glances at his watch one last time before looking toward the guys, “Bradley has henceforth released his claim on Miss Daria Lewiston. She will not be claimed for a minimum of twenty-four hours. I will have Miss Martins play the standard message for a claiming, but Miss Caitlyn Banners and Miss Lisa Weathers, make your way to the stage for your claiming. From here on out, Caitlyn will be claimed by Sam and Lisa will be claimed by Jake. That is all I have time for, Miss Martins, play the tape.” He walks over to Craig before driving his foot into his ribs and then wiping his shoe across his side.