Page 40 of Pretty Lethal
Overhead lights hum to life above me as I step into the room and close the door behind me, scanning the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and individual study tables before me. There’s an unlit fire in the grate with two high-back chairs sitting in front of it, which I imagine is a great place to sit and read in the winter.
Dismissing the comfy-looking chairs, I walk over to the closest bookcase and begin perusing the shelves.
It takes me a few moments to find the section on the history of the college, and I lift out a couple of books that look promising, along with one I find on the origins of Kappa Epsilon.
With my finds secured in the nook of my arm, I walk over to one of the individual study tables and set them down. Cracking open the first one, I begin to scan the pages. When I don’t find anything useful in it, I move on to the next one.
At the bottom of a page in the book on Kappa Epsilon’s history, I find my first reference to the King’s Elite.
Since the earlydays of Kappa Epsilon, it has been rumored that a secret society lies within the inner sanctum of the fraternity. No one knows who formed it or its aim, and it has been told that its members are sworn to secrecy. Whether this grandiose tale is true, or a mysterious story told to add an element of mystery to the fraternity and encourage students to become members, is still to be determined.
Hurriedly turning the page,my shoulders drop when I find no further mention of the society. I continue flipping through the book, but nothing else is written about them. The author has to be referring to the King’s Elite, though, right? Not that it matters either way. The small paragraph sheds no light on who they are or what they are after.
As I slam the book shut, I hear a creak as though someone stood on a loose floorboard from the direction of the door. Snapping my head in that direction, I listen intently for a few seconds, hearing nothing but silence.
Probably just the old house settling, I reassure myself.
Glancing at my phone screen, I realize I’ve been here for over an hour, and not wanting to get caught, I grab the books I lifted and return them to their rightful place on the shelves.
As I’m stuffing the Kappa Epsilon one back into its spot, I notice a small, slim, leather-bound notebook tucked between this book and its neighbor. Depositing the book, I slide the notebook out and glance at the front of it. There’s nothing written on the cover to indicate what it is or who wrote it, and I can tell by the smoothness of the leather that it is well-worn.
Curious, I carefully push back the front cover. On the first page is a crude drawing of a snake wrapped around a crown, with the initials, K.E. etched beneath it in precise penmanship.
K.E.? As in Kappa Epsilon or King’s Elite?
I quickly flick through a few more pages. The handwriting is difficult to read, but I pick up just enough to realize this is some sort of manifesto. A small squeak slips out as excitement blooms, and I cast a quick glance around the aisle before tucking the notebook into my pocket.
Sacrilege, I know, to steal from a library. Like dog-earing the corner of a book or bending its spine—something only heathens would do—and I would feel awful about it if I wasn’t so delighted to have finally found something of potential use.
On quiet feet, I hold my treasure close as I slip out of the library and lock the door behind me before silently making my way back to Wilder and Hawk.
Chapter12
HAWK
Icrack open a bleary eye, only making the pulsing behind my skull increase in tempo, as I take in the daylight flooding the room before slamming my eyelid shut again. Rolling onto my side, my face scrunches and I groan.
Never. Drinking. Again.
Fingers brush against my forehead, pushing strands of hair out of the way. “How you feeling there, grumpy?”
My only response is another groan, and I keep my eyes closed as I flick through my bank of memories from last night. Wilder talked Emilia and me into attending a college party. There was dancing and drinking. Alotof drinking. We were all enjoying ourselves.
I was meant to go to the Kappa Epsilon Library with Emilia.
As soon as that reminder crosses my mind, my eyes snap open, the sunlight momentarily blinding me. Flicking my gaze to the side, I spot Emilia sitting upright in the bed beside me, her teeth digging into her lower lip as she reads from a small notebook.
“What’s that?” I ask, my voice still thick with sleep. She glances briefly up at me, her posture tensing before she returns her focus to the notebook.
“Nothing.”
My eyes narrow, but my brain is too foggy with sleep and the remnants of alcohol to put the pieces together.
“Sorry we didn’t get to go to the library. I’ll check it out today, though.”
Her gaze once again flits my way, guilt flashing across her green irises before she looks away. It’s enough to push the residual effects of last night’s booze to the wayside, and I push myself upright as I turn to face her. Wilder still sleeps soundly on her other side.
“Emilia,” I growl, only growing angrier when she refuses to look at me.
