Page 72 of Dark Embers

All of the forces in my life had boxed me in, beaten me down, thrown shit at me over and over, but I was still standing strong. I wouldn’t be broken by this latest storm. I’d weather it and rise above it. And I would be damned if my abusers saw even an ounce of weakness.

Straightening my posture, I smoothed my hair and schooled my expression until it was an aloof mask. Then I picked up my overstuffed bag, slung it over my shoulders, and left the shelter of the bathroom to face the onslaught with pride, heading for the avian common room.

If there was only one person at this school who wanted me around—and would let me bunk with them—it was Ashlyn. And if anyone at the avian wing had a problem with it, they wouldn’t dare risk triggering Ashlyn’s fiery temper.

As I approached the avian wing, fewer and fewer eyes were on me. Avians didn’t care too much about the drama the mer caused, so they usually bought into the gossip the least of all the groups. I had made the right choice.

“Um, you’re not supposed to be in here,” a bespectacled harpy girl said to me when I entered the common room. The girl looked more puzzled than territorial.

“Oh, er,” I hadn’t quite figured out what I was going to say if someone tried to stop me.

“It’s okay, Leya,” Niko said, getting up from one of the couches and coming to my rescue. “She’s just here to see Ashlyn.”

The meek harpy merely nodded and carried her books off to another part of the large room.

“Thanks, Niko.” I was grateful for the save. If the avians also barred me from their wing, I didn’t have a Plan C. “Is Ashlyn around?”

“Uh, no, I think she’s training with Mr. Summers.” His eyes lingered on me in a way that said he knew about the rumors, and what he said next let me know he didn’t believe them. “But you’re welcome to wait here for her if you want.”

I casually nodded like I gave no fucks. “Thanks.”

I looked around the common room, fingering the strap of my bag as I pondered what to do with myself while I waited for Ashlyn.

Niko put his hands in his pockets and rolled his shoulders. “I don’t know if you’re into video games, but Brett and I are about to kill some zombies. Want to play?”

I looked at the couch Niko had risen from and saw Tobias and Brett sitting there. Brett already had a controller in hand.

“I’m not much of a player, aside from Candy Crush,” I replied with a shrug. “But I can watch.”

“Sure, we don’t mind an audience,” Niko said. “Do we, Brett?”

“Not at all,” Brett called back. “You’re the one who’s gonna lose. Now get your butt over here so we can start.”

Niko chuckled and nodded at the couch before jogging over and reclaiming his seat beside Brett. I followed and sat on the armchair catty corner to the couch, next to where Tobias was sitting. I set down my bag as the boys dove into their game.Gunfire and splattered blood lit up the big screen TV in front of us.

I watched the pixelated action with mild interest, distracted by the street warfare that was going on in my mind. I considered trying to find Kendall and getting him to talk some sense into Cora, but the mer wing was the last place I wanted to be. Maybe tomorrow. For now, some space from my kind was what I needed. I had never felt like one of them, anyway.

Maybe a permanent removal from the wing was best… Or, maybe a removal from the school completely. It wasn’t like I was excelling here. Maybe I was better off not being at the school, just as Cora had said.

But I wouldn’t be eighteen for a few more months, and with my absolute refusal to go back to my house, where would I go? I guessed I could find a shelter or something. I could get a job somewhere, anywhere, and save up until I could legally rent an apartment. Then, when the house went into my name, I could sell it and find something smaller.

My eyes wandered over to Tobias, who had been very quiet all this time. His chin rested on his hand, his jaw clenched. His eyes were fixed on the screen, and I got the impression that he was purposely avoiding looking at me. Did he believe I was allied with vampires? Was that why he was shutting me out today?

Ugh, why do I care?!

Unable to help myself, I leaned forward and said in a hushed voice, “So, I’m sure you’ve heard about Letti.”

He nodded without looking at me. “The whole school has.”

I nodded and looked down. “Then I guess you’ve also heard the rumors Cora started. She blames me for what happened, which is just insane. You don’t…believe it, do you?”

My eyes found his face again, almost begging him to give me the right answer.

He shook his head and pursed his lips in a noncommittal expression. “Everyone knows Cora is a hateful bitch. Whatever she’s saying will blow over in a day or two.”

I kept my gaze on him, not missing the fact that he still hadn’t let his eyes slip in my direction.Come on, I know you’re not that interested in this stupid game. Just look at me!

I wanted to push the issue, to make him give me a real answer. Because from the way he was acting, I definitely got the feeling that he blamed me for it, too.

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