Page 64 of Brimstone Academy: Semester Two
She frowns. “Maybe I did it wrong. Let me try again.”
I nod as she steps back into the classroom. The second she closes the door, a cloud of smoke billows down the hall.
“Hey, Sadie,” I call.
The smoke rolls closer.
I pound on the door. “Sadie.”
I turn the handle.
It’s stuck.
I jiggle it.
Nothing.
The smoke fills the hall and I cough. Is something on fire?
“Sadie!”
I don’t care what kind of monster she brought, I want her out of here.
“That’s not going to do anything, darling,” a cold, smooth voice cuts through the smoke.
Chills run down my spine and I freeze. I know that voice. It haunts my nightmares.
“You can’t be here,” I say. “You’re in my head.”
“Have I been in your head?” The king says. “And here I thought you were more interested in fucking my son.”
“I’m not interested in fucking you, if that’s what you’re getting at,” I say.
“Oh come now, Harper. Would it be so bad to have a taste of real power?”
“You’re not here,” I say. “You must be the monster Sadie summoned. A shape shifter or something that takes things from my head.”
“No, darling. I’m real. And your friend did summon a monster, only she didn’t realize I was the monster who would hear the call,” she says.
“You need to leave,” I say.
“You need to stop with these games,” he says.
The smoke shifts and he emerges through it. He’s chillingly handsome. Fair hair and dazzling eyes. There’s not a single resemblance to Liam.
“I’ve been watching you, Harper,” he says. “I don’t like you risking your life on these silly games. I already told you that you have no chance of winning that pass. Your time here is a gift. Your last taste of freedom before I claim you forever.”
“That’s not going to happen,” I say.
“You will not summon anymore monsters,” he says. “Do you understand?”
“Now I want to summon all the monsters,” I say. “I’d rather take my chances with them than you.”
“I could just take you now,” he says. “I’d rather you come to me on your own, but I could.”
I’ve wondered why he hasn’t done that yet. The only thing I’ve been able to come up with is the audience he had when he said I could have my three terms at Brimstone. Though, he seems to have rushed my timeline. I suppose he’ll tell his audience that I asked to leave. I know my time is limited. I know how much power he has.
“I’ll stop if you do something for me,” I say, making a decision. He has no reason to play any games with me. But I sense my opportunity. I get the feeling that I’m going to lose this either way. If I can get something out of it, I have to try.
