Page 17 of House of Pain
“You’re going to get us all expelled,” Andro agreed. “Or he’s going to get us killed.”
Alecto’s head was going to explode. As if the fact that she was hungover wasn’t enough, as always the Inner Circle were determined to argue with each other.She sighed, rubbing her left temple.
“I can’t kill or harm the witches I’m bound to in any way,” Rogue chimed in, rolling his eyes.
Alecto bet he found their little bickering amusing.For them, it was their futures on the line. Their lives.
The Game was serious. The future of the House of Snakes lay with their generation now. And Alecto wanted to win badly. Sheneededtheir House to win.If they lost another year, they might not be in the top four for much longer.
Ifthe House of Snakes were not in the top four, their power would dwindle. And the prestige and protection that came with it.
The only reason why Alecto even agreed to go to Venefica was because she belonged to the House everyone feared. If nobody respected the Snakes her life might as well be Hel. Even more than it was already.
“Be smart about it,” Val continued, her voice surprisingly calm. Her tongue slid down the length of the paper, wetting the sticky strip right before she sealed it. As she lit the blunt, sweet smoke filling the air, she added, “We’re guaranteed to win the Game this year with his help. And anyway, it’s not as if we can go to the Dean and say that we have a demon we didn’t summon on our hands. He won’t believe us. So the only way I see is going along with it.”
Alecto didn’t want to admit it, but of course Val was right. It was a slippery slope, and a game so dangerous Alecto wasn’t sure any of them would be able to play. But maybe…
“Can anyone guess that you’re a demon?” Alecto asked Rogue. “Can anyonesenseyou? The Dean or one of the professors?”
A wolfish grin graced his face. “Not unless I want them to.”
“Are you seriously entertaining this, Alecto?” Jolene asked.
Alecto just stared at her.
“You can’t be fucking serious,” Jolene growled, turning her back to them. “You’re the last person I expected to be on Val’s side in this madness.”
Neither do they have it in them to be cruel or merciless.
It was easy for Jolene to object, when her life wouldn’t change if the Snakes lost. Maybe Jolene, just like the others, didn’t believe Alecto had the guts to do what needed to be done.
It was time Alecto proved them all wrong.
“Why don’t we give it a spin, mm?” Blaze asked, leaning against the wall next to Rogue.
“I vote for giving it a little spin,” Val said, lifting her hand with the blunt in the air.
Alecto also raised one hand, Blaze catching her gaze before lifting one of his.
There was no mistaking the smirk dancing at the corner of his lips or the way his eyes flickered.
Alecto bet he also didn’t believe she had it in her to stand up for herself and her House. To actually do something that went against the rules to help them win.
“Fine,” Andro said, sighing heavily as if the burden of the whole world weighed on him. “Let’s see where this gets us. But I’m warning you right now—if the Dean finds out, I’m throwing you all under the carriage.”
Alecto snorted. Of course Alessandro would be the first one to bolt.
There was only one more vote left.
“Jolene?” Val drawled, her voice sweet as honey as she started singing the old mortal song. “Jolene, Jolene…”
“Please just agree before she sings more of that goddamn song,” Alecto said, placing her palms over her ears.
Alecto hated mortal country music.
Val continued to sing the next line.
“FINE,” Jolene almost screamed, lifting her palms in the air. “I’ll agree. Just stop fucking singing.”
