Page 105 of A Lesson in Obedience
PRESENT
Corrin pulled me along through the woods, realizing how much I was starting to dread the idea of having to face this head on.
“Listen, no one is in the dark about things, Riley. We know where everyone is and they’re accounted for. Lighten up. I’ve got you.” She squeezed my arm and gave me a hopeful smile.
I attempted to give her one back, but I could feel how strained it was. I heard laughing up ahead and eventually a large group of people came into my view. I felt a chill down my spine, but not so much that I needed to be on high alert, but like I was being watched and protected. I glanced over, past Corrin, in the direction I would have bet money that Grayson was.
I didn’t see anything, but I knew I was right. I looked away just to be met with three witches walking up to us. I wasn’t intimidated but I had a feeling they wanted me to be.
“Seth, Geena, Olivia,” Corrin said, casually pointing to each of them and then looking back at me. “This is my best friend, Riley. She’s new to the coven…”
“Oh, we know.” The girl in the middle, Geena, crossed her arms over her chest and gave me a once over.
Corrin clucked her tongue and pulled at one of her tight curls. “Right. I’m sure Jamie already filled you guys in.” On the car ride over, Corrin had told me as much as she could about her coven, including the interim coven leader, Jamie, who she liked but didn’t really think twice about disobeying her orders if need be.
Geena quickly snuck a glance over to the girl at her left, Olivia, before giving me her eyes again. “Mm, that’s not it. We were at the meeting when you went berserk. What a way to show off your powers, truly what a show.”
I almost started looking around to see who she was talking to. I hadn’t even said a word to them and she already had some kind of attitude towards me. “I’m sorry, is there some kind of issue?”
Corrin stepped between us and laughed awkwardly. “It’s Riley’s first day so just lay off, okay?”
A tall female approached us, a curious look in her eye. “Everything’s okay over here. We are about to begin.” She smiled over at me. “Ah, Riley, yes? I’m so happy you could join us.”
“Keep an eye on her, Jamie. Undisciplined witches are the fucking worst,” Geena snickered, biting her bottom lip.
“What is your problem?” I demanded, pointing my finger at the witch.
Jamie raised her hands up, trying to diffuse the situation. “Riley, Geena, let’s just both calm down and discuss whatever this isafterthe meeting. This coven is a family, remember?” She sounded so secure in her response, like she knew this was the most educated thing she could say at the moment.
Geena sauntered over to me, getting way too close for my liking. “Yes, and family protects each other, which is why you being here doesn’t really sit right with me. Simply being a witch doesn’t grant you access to Celica and based on what you did. I’d think you need more education in your own skills, but here you are putting us in danger.” She tsked, her lips coming together in a smirk. “Focusing on this rather than that delicious boyfriend of yours would do you good.”
I could have sworn my fucking eye twitched at her mention of River. What the fuck did he have to do with this? “I’m here to maybe get help with said powers you seem to be so scared of. You don’t know me so why the fuck are you bringing up any aspect of my life right now?”
Corrin took Geena by the shoulder and lightly pushed her away from me. “Geena, back off. Fuck.”
The other witch shrugged her off. “You caused that big scene to what? Get attention? You’re in now, so what do you plan to do?Dazzle us all with your connection to Hecate? As if the goddess would even show you the time of day.” She got close to me again, but this time her face was inches from mine. She was goading me and I hated to say that it was working.
“Attention?!”
She poked her finger into my shoulder. “Trainwrecks like you will give a bad name to this coven, no matter how hard you work. Stay, go, it doesn’t really matter to me, but you’ll always be looking over your shoulder, knowing that none of us actually trust you!”
“It’s so fucking ironic that you think you know this coven so well!”
“Riley…” Corrin hissed at my side.
I twisted my dampener ring around my finger. I tried to control my breathing, but I was too irritated, too pissed off. Fucking Lena, Chancellor Fowler and now this random bitch who decided that starting a fight with me was a smart move.
Geena snickered. “How about you give River a free pass to spend his time with someone who doesn’t become the school pariah in less than a month. The poor guy deserves so much better than a lackluster witch. You must beincrediblein bed because everything else is well,” she moved her eyes over me as if she was unimpressed, “less than desired.”
She reached up and tapped my nose with her finger and everything in front of me vibrated. It was like my whole body was shaking. My ring shifted down my finger, the transition smooth and powerful with the way I meticulously tucked it into my front pocket.
Geena started to laugh, but the sound was caught in her throat. Choking sounds came from her, her fingers digging into her neck. She tried to gasp for air but just ended up on her knees, clawing at the ground and eventually looking up at me, an accusatory stare on her face.
Her friends tried to help her, but I didn’t care. I flicked my eyes up to the tree that was beyond the crowd of people, and I watched herbody lift up from the ground and get propelled backwards by an invisible force. My invisible force.
I felt Corrin grip my arm, but I yanked away from her, shoving my way through the crowd.
“Miss Monroe!” Jamie yelled behind me.
