Page 76 of Black Onyx
“Right, now that we’re not going to get interrupted, do you want to tell us why you’ve persistently tried to set us up?” Killian asks. His tone is deceptively calm.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He insists.
“Lie,” Reaper growls.
“This is going to go a lot better for you if you just tell us what we want to know.”
“You can’t do anything to me,” he scoffs; his derision gets cut off when Killian tightens his hand around his neck.
“I don’t need to. Have you ever wondered what I’ve been up to all these years? I can promise there are people that can take care of the problem for me.” Killian threatens.
“Sh-she saw you come in!” the Headmaster replies, starting to sound less sure of himself and grasping at straws.
“She did, but she also saw us come back out, and you tell her that there was nothing to worry about and to go back to work,” I reply, my smile smug as even the guys look at me questioningly.
“Th-that’s not possible,” he mutters.
“Sure it is. Now, are you going to tell Kill what we need to know, or do I get to play where does the Headmaster bleed from the best?” my smile turns feral.
It’s silent for a brief moment as my words hover in the room. The threat is clear, and to make the point that I’m not messing around, I pull one of my favourite daggers out of its hidden sheathe and start twirling it through my fingers, the feral grin never leaving my face.
“If that doesn’t convince you . . .” Reaper trails off as his eyes glow and his fingers suddenly shift into the deadly claws of his dragon.
All colour drains from the Headmaster's face as he stares in horror at Reaper, clearly thinking that his dragon is on edge and he’s about to shift. I swear I can hear Ryu’s chuckle in my head though, and I know that Reaper is in perfect control and Ryu isn’t trying to push his way forward.
“Fine.” He concedes eventually, his voice shaky.
Killian lets his feet land more firmly on the floor and loosens his hold around his neck so that he can talk.
“Good, we’re listening,” Storm states firmly.
“You’ve probably gathered that I’ve known about the games for longer than even the other teachers here; as the Head of Black Onyx academy, I’m kept in the loop. However, the other person that knew before many others was your father, Farren.” He starts.
I hold back my groan; I should’ve fucking known that it had something to do with that fucker.
When I don’t outwardly react the Headmaster carries on, “Literally the second I hung up with advisors from the palace, I got another call on the stone from him. I can only describe him as being in a panic-fuelled rage, and because he was panicking, I think he gave me more information than he intended. He told me that you could not be allowed to compete in the games. When I said that it was completely out of my control, his anger grew, and with it, his control over his words. He told me, well screamed, that Farren could not be in the games. It would be the end of him and kick into motion the events that will lead to war.”
I have no idea if I believe what he’s saying and whether that is the true reason behind my father's anger, he is a master manipulator, but it’s concerning, to say the least.
“That’s a hell of a lot to put on one person who has no choice in joining in the games,” Rival points out drily.
“Get to your involvement in it.” Storm orders.
The Headmaster gulps slightly, “He offered me a lot of money and, more importantly, some hard to get spells if I tampered with your jobs so that he could have you taken out.”
“He wants her dead?” Loki growls.
“Yes, as far as he’s concerned, that’s the only sure way that she won’t be in the games and start the events that will lead to war and his death.”
Well fuck. Okay, so I’m still not positive about his true motives, but I have always been more valuable to him alive than dead. If that’s suddenly changed, then he definitely thinks something big will happen if I go into the games, which is inevitable, and he will stop at nothing to have me murdered.
“Is that everything?” Storm’s voice is cold, deadly, even as his horns light with blazingly angry fire.
“Yes,” he replies.
Storm looks at Reaper, who nods that he is telling the truth.
“In that case, Rival, could you make the call?” Storm asks.
