Page 3 of A Dose of Agony
Just as I’m about to shut the drawer and give up, something shiny grabs my attention.
In the corner of the bottom drawer is one single brass key.
Here in the magical world, keys are rare. There’s no reason to lock things when magic can do a much better job at securing what you want hidden. Maybe it’s a magical key with a spell interwoven into the metal. Or maybe it’s simply a symbol.
I leave the key where I found it and give up my search, admitting that there’s no note from my enslaved sister or my nemesis. No claw marks or streaks of blood. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Part of me is relieved. Part of me is disappointed.
I want to talk to Liz so badly it hurts, even if it’s through the carefully controlled, veiled threats of the council. Instead, I’m stuck with no way of contacting her or helping her at all.
There’s no worse feeling in the world than helplessness.
My chest tightens.
I’ve never been the wait-and-see kind of person, but right now there’s little I can do. I shake my head and curl my hands into fists. The only way I can keep anxiety from suffocating me is todosomething.
My sister needs help, and I’m going to give it to her one way or another.
Even if it means breaking all the rules.
If those creatures still see me as prey, all the better, because they won’t see it coming when I destroy them.
2
Escape Plans
Backpack in hand, I slip out of Jarron’s room and quietly sneak down the hall.
There’s only one place in the school that makes me feel empowered while he is absent. It’s far from these halls and not technically the safest option for me given the circumstances.
When Jarron left for his home world, he set up several things to ensure my safety, including ensuring I do not leave Elite Hall until he returns.
I agreed to the plan willingly because he’s right; it’s not safe. I’m a target for an extremely powerful group of supernaturals.
The new headmaster, Ms. Bhatt, has also agreed to excuse me from classes until the conflicts on Oriziah are settled.
But that was weeks ago, and I’m beginning to feel trapped. Sometimes, the risks are worth the reward.
Ineedmy potions.
And this early in the morning, there are very few students up and about. Classes don’t start for almost three hours.Which means my risk of danger is low, and my risk of any of my bodyguards catching me.
The red eyes of a vampire flash at me from down the hall but slip away quickly.
Two wolf shifter girls pass by, chatting idly, and pay me no mind. It’s quiet this time of the day.
I slip down the only path I’m not suppose to enter, toward the main areas of the school.
My heart pounds like I’m breaking out of prison. Excitement just to be out of these same few rooms and halls. Fear that I’ll be found out and made to turn back to safety.
I quickly pass under the massive archway, and a thrill jolts through me. I’m out of Elite Hall for the first time in weeks!
My lips curl into a triumphant grin, and I pick up my pace—only to be halted by the flash of sharp canines.
I skid to a stop with an embarrassing gasp.
Reddish skin. Black horns. Sharp, predator fangs.
