Page 5 of Ghost
His stern face demanded an answer, and I almost wanted to. But I also knew that I really,reallydidn’t want to talk to him either. If not only for the fact I had no real answer to give him.
“It’s nothing. Please leave me alone.”
His brow furrowed, and the intense air around him seemed to grow as he leaned across the desk. The urge to respond was stronger now, but my mind screamed at me to resist him even further. I loathed having this attention from my enemy.
He was strange, and I had to resist his siren call.
After a moment, a look of complete astonishment crossed his expression. He opened his mouth to say something. But before he could, he was suddenly flung backwards through the air. Crashing into the bookcase behind the desk.
The tension in the air snapped, and I blinked, stunned, as Damen’s bird-familiar thing landed gracefully on the desk. Vaguely, I wondered if this meant Damen was nearby. Or if he could send the bird off on its own. Was there a distance limit?
But at least some of Damen’s words made sense now.
However, my musings were diverted before I could come to any conclusions. Because Bryce pulled himself to his feet—clothing disheveled—and glared in the direction of the spirit.
I could clearly make out the bird’s white, delicate body. After all, to me the spirit was as clear as day. But surely Bryce couldn’t see it too?
“What in the world are you doing here?” Bryce’s smooth demeanor had vanished, and he appeared to be talking to the spirit now.
The bird didn’t respond. It only levelled an even look in his direction. His black, beady eyes almost seemed to be judging Bryce.
Bryce must have noticed it too, because he bristled slightly. “Why aren’t you at work? I’ve made sure to adjust my schedule so I’dneverhave to see you.” He sounded far from amused, and not scared or surprised at all.
Yes, he was definitely talking to Damen’s familiar.
I fought back a tired sigh. So, my arch-nemesis could also see spirits. Was there nothing he wouldn’t try to best me in?
Perhaps I was dreaming. I could even be in a coma right now. For as much as I knew, Bryce might have wacked me over the head with the ruler, and I was justimaginingthis whole situation.
How did this work? I was certain I might have to pinch Bryce or something.
I inched toward the desk to get closer to my enemy. But being sneaky wasn’t an issue, he didn’t even so much as look at me. His focus was entirely captured by the spirit. Only a few more inches and I’d pinch that annoyed and slightly-smug look right out of him.
“Bianca!” The office door flew open, causing me to jump back into my chair in surprise.
Less than a second later, Damen strode into the room. He looked surprisingly frazzled. His hair was in complete disarray, and his jacket was thrown over his arm while his tie was loose around his neck.
Upon his entrance, the bird vanished. Damen glanced around for a half-second before his grey eyes landed on me. Due to my surprise, I was now sprawled ungracefully in the chair—I probably looked pathetic. But Damen didn’t say a word. His face darkened as his attention turned toward Bryce.
Bryce, on the other hand, had composed himself.
Damen stepped between my chair and the desk, blocking Bryce from view. “What did you do?”
Bryce made an offended noise before he responded. “I have no idea what you are talking about. I think the better question is, what didyoudo? How did she get hurt, Abernathy?”
Damen’s shoulders tensed, causing the muscles in his arm and back to strain beneath his shirt. It probably wasn’t the best time to be noticing such things, but I couldn’t help myself.
Despite the situation, my mouth was dry.
“What do you mean—what did I do? You’re the problem here. She said that you were going to punish her…” Damen sounded confused.
“Herarm, you moron.” Bryce snapped. “Don’t try to deny it, I’d recognize your energy anywhere. I don’t know how you managed to get mixed up with one of mine, and I don’t care. It doesn’t matter who you are, or the position you hold, you cannot get away with physically—”
Oh no.
I jumped to my feet, peeking around Damen’s arm. Screw the consequences, I refused to let Damen get blamed for something that he didn’t do. “That wasn’t Damen, it was Finn!”
Besides, what was he going on about? I wasn’this. He was only a student-teacher.
