Page 13 of Alamort

“We sign your paychecks that keep your lifestyle and …. Extracurricular activities sustained. Don’t think the nurse is the only one we know about. You’re replaceable.” My voice turns cold to solidify the end of our conversation.

The door clicks shut behind me and I pull out my phone to update Saint on my progress and whereabouts. If I were to respond to Crew’s million texts, it would take away the satisfaction of driving him crazy bynotanswering. I roll my eyes at his latest batch of texts, asking if I’m ignoring him. I take my time exiting out of my brother’s texts to click on “Nehalem,” smirking at the nickname. I think I’m pretty clever. It’s suitingwith the whole biblical shit the school has been going on with for years. Nehalem, the spawn of an angel and demon.

“Headmaster” is aware and enlightened. Keep an eye on him, something isn’t adding up.

You mean the dean? Is it bad?

Is it bad? No, it’s nothing Saint couldn’t handle. No matter how much I secretly despise Saint for taking my brother away from me and inserting himself as mytwin’sbest friend, he still is the one that holds us together. Malice, he’s the extra baggage that came with our long-time friend. He kind of grew on us, like herpes. Sometimes people forget it’s there and thenboom!It just pops up out of nowhere, reminding us he never left just, slumbering temporarily. That’s what Malice is. That little bugger just keeps popping up and we can’t get rid of him. On the other hand, he’s helpful, more times than he’s not. He can stomach the part of our job that Saint could never do.

He seemed … sweaty, I think he’s doing something. And not just the nurse. He might be a problem, let Crew know.

Got it, I’ll look into it.

Wait, why can’t you let Crew know?

Before I go into more detail, a small body bounces off of me, and my arms automatically shoot out. “Watch where the fuck you’re going.” I growl. Taking my agitation with Brian’s slippery self out on whatever unsuspecting soul has crossed my path.

My arm wraps around a tiny waist. The other steadying her to keep her from tipping over. A whiff of something floral and clean with a hint of coconut. Summer.

“Whoa, there. Are you okay?” When I realize who it is, I switch my tune to mock concern. Wide, bright, teal-colored eyes with green near the iris stare up at me.

“Oh my gosh. I’m so sorry,” Priya sputters.

My hand travels up to finger a piece of curled chestnut colored hair. Her body tenses at the contact. The pulse point in her neck is fluttering, affected by our proximity. Her hair is like silk. The feeling is pleasant, almost comforting. She’s a tiny thing. I tower over her by almost a foot. I contemplate on how to play this. Being sweet would reel her in faster or I could off the bat be an asshole. The former would work better in the long run.

“Where are you headed to in such a rush?” Crew set up her meeting with Brian. I’m just here to play a part.

“I have a meeting with the headmaster. I’m running late.” She answers shyly. Refraining from rolling my eyes at Brian’s self-appointed title of “headmaster” because it sounds more opulent to him. Instead, I focus on her. Freckles dot her nose and cheeks, her full, pouty lips pull down into a frown. She has an ethereal beauty that reminds me of innocence and purity. Like an angel.

But even Eve sinned for Satan.

My thumb makes circles on the small of her back, attempting to entice her.

My next move usually does the trick. I give a half smile, enough to where my only dimple on the left side shows and look at her lips before moving in a little to close the distance. She licks her lips and gently clears her throat before anger enters her delicate features.

“You can let go now. Thank you…” Asking for a name without asking. Taken aback by her request, I give a rough tug on thestrand of hair I have wrapped around my finger when I really just want to wrap my fist around it, then carefully release her and take a step back. I can still save this.

“I’m Bennett Demonio.” Her eyebrows raise.

“That makes sense.”

My brows furrow confused, “What does?”

“The fact you think your charm or your looks would get me to do anything other than thank you.” She finishes with a scoff. I can confidently say I’ve never been turned down, regardless of single or not, young or old. I’m easily able to manipulate people into doing what I want, mimic who they need me to be.

Challenge accepted.

Giving my million-dollar smile that’s gotten me far and move out of her way with my arm out like a grand gesture.

She brushes past me. “Your girlfriend wouldn’t appreciate that.” She mutters under her breath. I let out a little of the hatred I have for her show through my eyes. She wants me to be an asshole.

“I’d be careful who you run into. Everyone is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It’d be a shame to see you broken so soon,” I murmur as I walk towards my one true love, Mindy.

Speak of the Devil and he shall appear. After the initial shock of face planting into Bennett, it quickly morphed into annoyance. The warmth of his hand seeped into my tense muscles. The rubbing luring me to a false sense of security. Having daddy issues followed by lack of physical affection, it seems I’ll take any “nice” touch.

Shaking my head, I may want love and attention, but I’m not stupid enough to go after someone who sleeps around with anyone who has a vagina. I’m better than that. After going without sex for all my life, I’m not about to give it up to the first person who shows me an ounce of attention. The audacity of him, being that close when he’s dating Amber. Makes my blood boil.

I’m pretty sure this violates Amber’s rule of “leave my boyfriend alone”. But to be fair, he ran into me. I didn’t ask for his nearness to linger any longer than a deserved “sorry”. The shock on his face that I didn’t just drop my panties was hilarious. It must not be a response he gets often. He’s manipulative. Slipping on different masks. I don’t care to know what all of them are.

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