Favor was not a word you used lightly in the Red Court. Favors were debts to be paid, but I would do it for this.
Haley nodded. “You have until first period.”
* * *
When I got to my car, another sheet of white notebook paper was tucked under the windshield wiper. My admirer must have stopped by.
LAST WARNING. STAY AWAY FROM CHASE.
IT WOULD BE A SHAME IF YOU FELL FROM THE
CATWALKS...
Oh, God.
CHAPTER 34
A SHIVER SNAKED its way up my spine, cold and creeping. I’d grown too accustomed to being the one wielding threats, and I couldn’t seem to draw enough breath. My lungs were screaming for air like I’d just sprinted for ten minutes straight. Paranoia pulsed through me, whispering with its insidious voice that I was being watched. Whoever had left this note probably wanted to see my reaction, my fear. I spun in a circle looking in cars and through the windows of Heller.
Empty, empty, empty.
There was no one else nearby, and the emptiness seemed ominous, like it was waiting for something. Or someone.
I ducked into my car and fumbled with the radio, needing the reassurance that everything was normal—even if it was only an illusion to make myself feel better. With music blasting through the speakers, I was able to catch my breath.
In.
Someone knows that April’s accident wasn’t an accident.
Out.
Or at least suspects that it wasn’t an accident.
In.
Worst case, they know that I know the Red Court was behind it.
Out.
Worse worst case, it’s someone in the Red Court and they know what I’m doing.
Fear seized my heart, wringing it dry of every ounce of determination I possessed. I needed to collect myself away from Heller’s watchful gaze. I pulled out of the parking lot and headed home.
My house was dark when I arrived, quiet in a familiar, peaceful way. As I put the car in Park, my regular phone chimed with a text message from Gideon. Then another. And another.
I unlocked my phone and could barely read his messages before more streamed in.
Gideon: Mrs. Martin and Mr. Hall?!?
Gideon: WTF is happening???
Gideon: At the school
Gideon: Grosssssssss
Gideon: I sit in that classroom every day
Gideon: I don’t even know what to think
And then a break in the barrage of texts before one final message came through.
Gideon: Wait. Isn’t that Gigi’s mom? Was it you?
I checked my email and found a message from “A Friend” that must have gone to the entire school. The subject was blank and the only thing in the body of the email was the photo Haley just took.
“Dammit, Haley!” I threw my phone down in disgust.
There was no way to explain over text to Gideon that this was and wasn’t me. I’d have to call him later.
My Red Court phone vibrated in my bag with a message. Only one person would be texting me and her excuses didn’t deserve my attention. She promised me she’d wait until tomorrow. After the latest threat, my body was on high alert and the flash of anger only added fuel to fire that began as fear but had morphed into something uglier. I grabbed the phone to let her have it.
Haley: i’m sorry
Haley had never apologized for anything before. I didn’t think she had the word in her vocabulary. A simple apology could right a number of wrongs, but not this. I’d never forgive her.
Haley: it wasn’t me
Haley: i sent the pic as proof that the job was done but said the email to the school would go tomorrow
Me: Who sent it out then?
Haley: you know who
The Queen of Hearts.
Me: Why couldn’t it wait?
Haley: it’s not like i get explanations for everything
Haley: i wouldn’t have made that promise unless i thought i could keep it
Haley: i’m sorry about your friend
Me: Don’t pretend that you care about her or me. Leave me alone.
I turned the phone off and threw it on the floor to join the other one.
I looked up at the rearview mirror, catching a glimpse of my eyes. The furious, burning glint was startling. They were the eyes of the Red Court girl. She’d come out without me even noticing. I grabbed my journal, feeling reckless. There was one way to make sure the fear and anger left for good.
November 19
I’ve had enough of being a pawn. I’m ready to be the Queen.
CHAPTER 35
THE NEXT MORNING was cold and gray, just like my mood. I’d spent the night stewing, wavering between fury and fear. The Red Court had eyes, but I needed to be more careful than ever. My plan to draw out my admirer was working, but I couldn’t risk everything I’d worked for over it. I had to find out who was writing those notes. If they knew that April’s accident wasn’t accidental, perhaps they knew something about the Red Court or the Queen of Hearts.
The only small mercy from yesterday was that April was still at her retreat. So much had happened in the last few days, and I didn’t have it in me to gracefully dodge any questions. She was due back this evening, so I had better find a way forward.
I was the first car in the student parking lot, hoping to catch Gigi, if she was coming today at all. Other kids steadily poured into the school, jostling one another and laughing. Good-natured insults were volleyed and returned, gossip was passed in whispers, and I sat apart from all of it. I had never felt less like one of them. I finally understood why Haley had separated herself from everyone else. It was self-preservation. If you didn’t care about anyone, it didn’t matter if they were collateral damage in the Red Court’s schemes.
When the first bell rang, I finally gave up and made my way inside.
“Ember.”
I jumped at the sound of my name and spun around.
“Hi.” Gideon was stationed next to the main doors. “What are you doing lurking over there?”
“I could ask you the same thing. Why were you sitting in your car by yourself?” The hunched set of his shoulders and fierce expression did not bode well for me.
I kept my voice light and said, “I was just waiting for someone.”
“Was that person your friend Gigi? You probably had to make sure your hard work hit the mark.”
I never responded to Gideon’s messages and I couldn’t steady myself enough to call, either. He must have read my silence for what it was: guilt.