Page 65 of Demon Hunger
“So that’s why Regina hates me so much. It’s not because of Sage. I never…” I shook my head at a loss for words.
“I suppose she imagined you stole all the things that were meant for her, things she felt entitled to.”
“What’s going to happen to her?” I asked.
“Obviously, she’s expelled. She will never be a demon hunter. It is now up to you to decide whether you want to press charges for the serious attack on your life. Dreadsnare is a capital offense.”
“It is?”
Grant nodded. “What she attempted… I would consider it worse than murder, living trapped in one’s mind as if in a coma.”
At the thought, an awful feeling twisted in the pit of my stomach. If Drevan hadn’t called me back, I would have been trapped in that nightmare forever, never able to rescue my family. Nausea rose from my stomach in a wave. I had to breathe deeply not to vomit my dinner salad on the rug at my feet.
“I can call the authorities.” Director Grant reached out a hand toward his phone.
“No,” the word was out of my mouth before I even took time to consider the choice in front of me.
“Are you sure?”
“I am.”
I couldn’t condemn Regina to a life in prison. Her dreams were already ruined, the future she had envisioned for herself… gone. She would have to live with the consequences of her actions for the rest of her life. I could only hope that she would learn from her mistakes and that I wasn’t making a mistake of my own by letting her get away with what was practically attempted murder.
“She deserves a second chance,” I said. “I got mine, didn’t I?”
“Very well. We’ll let her go,” Director Grant conceded, his brown eyes filling with understanding.
I sensed that if he’d been in my position, he would have done the same, which made me feel good about myself. Grant was a generous man, and I admired him very much. Amazing how far I’d come from the prideful brat who’d once thought of Darrold Grant as an enemy.
Five minutes later, feeling oddly light, I walked into the common room. I searched the students sitting there and noticed Sage at our regular spot.
“Where are Jenna and Benjamin?” I asked as I sat across from him in a comfortable armchair that had become my favorite.
“Hopefully making out somewhere,” he said.
I had to agree, though I didn’t admit that to him.
We were silent for a moment, which, for some reason, was awkward. Normally, we were very comfortable with each other, but Sage was fidgeting and his hazel eyes were looking at anything but me.
At last, he broke the silence. “So… wild afternoon, huh?”
“Pretty wild. I almost got put into a lifetime coma.”
“I knew she was a mean girl—just the reason I never, you know. Despite her obvious interest, something told me to stay away.”
“It’s always smart to listen to your gut.”
“So what’s going to happen to her?” he asked.
I told him about my conversation with Director Grant.
“You’re too generous,” he said. “I would send her ass to jail.”
“Maybe I’m making a mistake. Maybe she’ll get out of here and try to Dreadsnare someone else.”
“It’s a distinct possibility.”
“Shut up! You’ll make me regret what I did.”
