Page 12 of House of Ruin
Alecto hadn’t thought much of Jack Riverblood being dead. But she sure as Hel knew she wasn’t going to be mourning his passing. That asshole had had it coming.
The tension in the air was thick, though. Even Professor Fallo didn’t hold the same airy elegance about her during the first History of Sexuality of Witches lecture of the second trimester.
“So, this trimester, we’re going to continue with the previous conversation about soul mates and sanguilian bond.” There were a few moans around the class, which only prompted a smile from the professor. “But this trimester I want you digging into another view of love and romantic relationships, the darker and more obsessive side—pain and revenge.”
Well, isn’t that perfect timing?Alecto tried really hard to suppress her smile.
Professor Fallo pointedly glanced around the classroom, as if searching for something. Then she snapped her fingers, and a book from one of the many pine bookshelves from behind her back floated into her hands.
“Mistress Devon Venefica,” Professor Fallo announced, flicking through the pages of the bloodred tome. “One of the greatest witches in Inathis’s history, the founder of the Venefica Academy we’re in today, and one of the most notorious criminals in history. Does anyone here know why Mistress Venefica was sent to Kelthazane almost a century ago?”
Alecto glanced around the classroom, where a few groups were whispering amongst themselves, but no hands rose to answer.
With an exasperated sigh, Alecto rolled her eyes. She was not going to be the one to answer as always. Right before Alecto had the time to duck her head, Professor Fallo caught her eye.
To Alecto’s luck, the professor probably read the plea in Alecto’s eyes and, with a subtle smile, turned away to question another student. “Miss Frone?” Professor asked. “Can you answer me?”
Jolene lifted her head from the textbook, blinking rapidly. “Yes,” she finally managed before clearing her throat. “Mistress Devon Venefica poisoned her lover, Governor Regan Storm, along with his whole council.”
“That’s right,” Professor Fallo agreed, nodding. “It was a scandal that rocked the whole of Inathis when it happened. Most people speculated that Mistress Venefica did that because her lover didn’t love her anymore. But that’s not the full truth. Could anyone tell me the full story?”
“Mistress Venefica punished Governor Storm for cheating on her?” Jolene tried, pouting.
“Partly, yes. Governor Storm was sleeping around while he was with Mistress Venefica. But so was she. It’s not mentioned in many texts, but they both found satisfaction in jealousy, riling each other up by seeing and knowing the other one was with someone else.”
“That’s sick,” Andro chimed in, scrunching his nose. “How does that relate to the sanguilian bond, though?”
“Mistress Venefica and her lover were bonded,” Professor Fallo explained, closing the book and placing it on her desk behind her. “And the reason that drew her to commit the mass murder was Governor Storm’s promise to another witch that he’d one day bond with her.”
A wave of whispers went around the class, plus a few laughs and scoffs. Some students were horrified, the others amused. Alecto wanted to find out which poisons Mistress Venefica had used.
She wasn’t sure she could poison Blaze, even if some days she believed that wasexactlywhat he deserved for everything he’d done to her in the past.
That night Blaze left her in the Cursed Forest stayed with her, even if they had moved on.
There is something you half-breeds are good for after all.
That cold look in Blaze’s eyes when he’d rejected her, moments before they’d found out about Rogue’s betrayal, also stayed with Alecto, haunting her thoughts.
You’re just a little girl jumping from one asshole onto the next one, desperately trying to find your own worth in men who want you for nothing more than your body.
Alecto understood Mistress Venefica better than anyone else in class.
“So, because Mistress Venefica heard the rumors, she decided she’d rather kill her sangi and suffer the pain of it, which isgreaterthan anything else in a witch’s life,” Professor Fallo emphasized, looking around the class, “than risk such a betrayal.”
“I wanna be her when I grow up,” Val cooed, smirking, and a few laughs went around the classroom.
Professor Fallo grinned. “Indeed, Mistress Venefica is a woman many aspire to be. Now open your books to chapter thirteen, and we’ll discuss the meaning of the passage once you’re done. I’ll give you ten minutes. It’s not a long text.”
With a sigh, Alecto opened the book, flipping the pages to chapter thirteen. Once she found the page, she brushed a hand over it, cracking the spine. Out of nowhere, there was a silentwhoosh, and a small piece of smoldering paper appeared between the pages.
Alecto muttered a spell to stop it from burning up, holding the paper to read the words messily scribbled on it:
Thinking of you is a form of torture I like to indulge in often.
—Yours
Afucking love note? Seriously?
