Page 21 of A Taste of Torment
“I thought they already had their lists up?” I ask as I browse the food options. I find the soup and rolls Stevie got me yesterday, as well as a large option of salad and fruits. Grainy breads that shimmer silver—fae food, I assume. There’s also a whole section of meats. Some are literally raw. Some steaming and brown.
“Yeah, I guess they’re making a change.”
“After a week?” I ask. “Talk about fickle.”
They chuckle.
I grab a quarter rotisserie chicken and roasted potatoes. With no Elite around to make me nervous, I can eat a nice meal with no worries.
Maybe I should be at the announcement to get an idea of the social dynamics of my suspects, but this is too pleasant to miss. We take our seats at our usual table. Stevie, Romera, and even my roommate, Corrine, sit nearby, as well as a few other Minor Hall students I haven’t met yet.
I enjoy my flavorful chicken and potatoes, and for a little bit, I can pretend everything is back to how it used to be. Liz is off with a boy somewhere, and we’re at a regular school away from the politics and dangers of the supernatural world.
I have new friends, but that’s a good thing. School is easy. I’m going to get into a great college to study politics and become someone important in the world.
That’s it. That’s the life I want.
I finish off my plate while Janet and Lola chatter about the school’s drama. Corrine pipes in a few times, hinting about a boy who’s apparently obsessed with her but only smirks when the others ask her any questions about him.
Janet eventually rolls her eyes and leans in to whisper, “She’s probably making him up.”
Belly full, I stretch and take another look around the room. The lunch period is a full hour, and it doesn’t take nearly that long to eat. I wonder what most students do with the rest of the time.
A crowd of whispering girls enters the lunchroom and sits with a group of Major students. They begin a frantic chatter, filled with joy and laughter. Someone got good news, I guess.
More students enter, a few obviously on the more powerful end. They ignore the lesser students.
“I’m gonna go grab my extra credit homework from the potions hall before it gets unruly in here,” Lola says, buzzing up to hover in front of us.
“Okay, see you after classes,” Janet chimes with a smile. Lola flutters away quickly.
“We should probably find something to do too. It’ll get a little hectic in here soon, as the Superior and Elite students make their way back. There’s always someone with hurt feelings, and they make it everyone else’s problem.”
I nod and follow. Most of the other Minor students have the same idea, and slowly, the weaker students filter out while the stronger students enter.
A tall and willowy blond girl marches past us. Her crystal blue eyes find me in the crowd and darken, a glare of utter hatred. Okay?
“What was that about?” Janet asks.
I shrug.
“That’s her,” someone whispers from a group of boys passing.
I stop walking, pulling Janet to a halt beside me.
“What the hell?” Janet mutters.
My mind jumps to my conversation with Jarron then to the announcement that just happened. My stomach sinks.
“Oh no.” I rush forward, hoping I’m wrong. I had not even remotely considered this, and I should have. Dammit, I should have realized.
“What?” she squeals, skipping to keep up with me.
I practically drag her all the way down the hall until we reach the chattering crowd standing by the list of the demon royals’ chosen inner circle. The framed lists are too far for us to read from here.
“Congratulations.”
I twist to face Bea, Trevor’s girlfriend. Her arms are crossed, and her smile is smug.
