Page 10 of Nothing to Fear
I’m fairly confident it will be short-lived, though. Silas only cares about twothings.
Silas and rugby.
Me? The only thing I care about is graduating from Corvus with highest honors and returning to Boston to find a job to help make life a little easier for my family. I was looking forward to my last year here being a bit of a breeze, but now my easiest course has become my most difficult. Add in the pressure and responsibility of tutoring the president’s son, and life just got that much harder.
Pushing thoughts of Silas and Professor Thorne out of my head, I pull myself together to head to Fright Night. Parker makes sure we’re at every single one, which I’m okay with. I don’t typically enjoy parties, but Fright Nights are a good excuse for a hookup.
I pull on a pair of black denim jeans, and knowing I need to layer because of this batshit crazy fall weather we’re having, I throw on a thin, tan drawstring hoodie with my jean jacket over it, forcing the fabric hood over the collar of the denim. I complete the look with my brown leather boots and a few black beaded bracelets.
After spraying some cologne, I find Parker leaning against the kitchen counter, looking down at his phone.
“You ready?” I ask as I approach. Parker looks up at me with an exasperated look.
“Took you long enough, I’ve been out here waiting,” he nags.
“Chill, Dad, I’m right on time. It’s not like we have to drive to get there. It’s around the corner.”
“I’m ready to find out what all the fuss is about. People have been guessing the theme for weeks, especially because we had to RSVP. Who does that?”
It’s definitely upped the anticipation and excitementover going.
“Yeah, whatever it is, it should be a good time. Last week’s was intense.”
Blew my mind, actually.
“They usually are, brother.”
“You lookin’ for a hookup tonight?”
“Of course I’m looking.”
“Wasn’t sure if you were done crawling back to Mia every time you get an itch.”
Parker drops his head back dramatically and lets his body sag while groaning loudly at the name drop.
“She’s gonna be the death of me, she’s seeing Leo, and he doesn’t seem down for sharing.”
“You are?”
“Dude, it’s Mia. Yeah, if she wanted it, I would share. Plus, Leo is hot as hell, which is the problem.”
“He’s worried you’ll be into him and not just her.”
“Bingo. Which, I can’t argue against, ’cause I’d totally fuck him if he was into it.”
Parker has had it down bad for his on-and-off-again hookup, but she seems to be stuck between two men who both want her and can’t commit to either. Who knows if they’ll ever get their shit together, but until something changes, his bedroom door is constantly revolving.
Two Ravens croak from above us as we exit Crimson Keep, causing me to turn and look up. They perch precariously on the edge of the arch, peering down at me. The rich hazel of the orbs is visible from where I’m standing, a light blue ring around each iris. My head cocks to the side as I study them, unmoving, unblinking, before—almost in unison—they croak again, causing me to startle. Wind bustles around me, a soft breeze that kisses my cheeks and tousles my hair. “Not haunted my ass,” I mutter under my breath as I turn back to Parker.
“You about done talking to your friends?”
“Shut up, Park. Something just feels off lately. You don’t feel it?”
“Nah. It’s just the time of year. I swear it’s like the school comes alive the closer we get to Halloween.”
He’s right about that. I’ve always been extra sensitive to energy, and something is very unsettling. And not just because it’s October. It’s sinister in nature and foreboding, an inky darkness slowly moving in over us. I can’t explain it other than I feel a shift in the air, like the school itself is talking to me. It started last Friday night and has only continued to get stronger. But maybe Parker’s right, it’s just the creepiness of the season in a place that’s almost four hundred years old.
I’m on edge as we stand outside of Grimsley Hall, looking up at the larger-than-life Gothic architecture. Tonight’s Fright Night theme, Mad Scientist, is on par with what you’d expect from Grimsley, since they’re all majoring in either sciences, psychology, or sociology.
