Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 89379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Elves had psychic abilities, but they weren’t as strong as dhampirs, and right then, I felt strong. I was powered by Vasilios’s magical Oreylian blood and fury that she’d denied me the simple act of entering the shower rooms.
I tilted my head at her, feigning confusion. “Nobody. I had what you’d call a sink bath.”
“You expect me to believe that? You’re practically glowing.”
I leaned close to whisper in her ear. “That’s because I fed. I’m not the weak, starving girl you picked on yesterday, so watch yourself.”
“Is that a threat?”
“Interpret it however you like. Just get out of my way.”
Her eyes narrowed, then a cruel smile shaped her lips. “I’ll tell. I’ll tell everyone who you really are.”
I reacted without thinking. My hand shot out, grabbing her by the neck as I slammed her into the railing. The only thing preventing her from falling was my vicelike grip on her throat. She gasped for air as the other elves hurried over, begging me to let her go.
“Please don’t kill her,” one woman begged. “Whatever she said to you, she didn’t mean it. Cassandra just likes to mouth off.”
I ignored them all, my gaze steely and locked on Cassandra’s. I dug my fingers in, and I knew it had to hurt by how she gurgled and struggled for breath. I leaned in close, my voice a low whisper when I said, “You forget what you know about me, or I’ll let you drop.”
Her expression showed her internal struggle, but finally, she spat a reply, “Fine, fine. I’ll forget, I promise.”
“And don’t bother plotting any payback. I might be in here, but my father is still powerful. I can have the guards put you in solitary confinement for weeks if I choose.”
Her eyes bugged, and she nodded as best she could. Happy I’d frightened her enough to stay out of my way, I released my hold on her neck and shoved her to the ground. Her friends hurried to her side, fussing over her as I walked away.
I found myself smiling, a sense of delight at how I’d overpowered her. I was swept up in the feeling of triumph before the reality of what I’d just done kicked in, and my smile fell flat. I’d acted like a monster back there, no better than a bully, and even though it was necessary to get her off my back, I worried about the part of me that enjoyed it.
I’d enjoyed it far too much.
12.
The following day, I found Vasilios and Sven sitting in their usual spot in the dining hall. Breakfast consisted of cornmeal, the same lump of dry bread, and a tiny scrap of meat of indeterminable origin. As always, I was too hungry not to eat every bite. I sat down next to Vasilios and began spooning up the cornmeal. It tasted like bland nothing, but I shovelled it down nonetheless. My attention was fixed completely on the food in front of me, so I didn’t immediately notice the silence from my two dining companions.
“What?” I asked as I glanced up. They were both staring at me, Sven with curious interest and Vasilios with something far more intense that I didn’t wish to analyse.
“You’ve been so covered in filth these last few days that I’d forgotten you are, in fact, beautiful,” Sven said. I blinked at him. What he’d said could be taken as a compliment, but his tone told me he’d stated it as mere fact. I swallowed and self-consciously ran a hand through my clean hair. It had dried into soft waves.
I’d gotten a few hours of uninterrupted sleep, and when I woke up that morning, I decided to try a new tack. I would be civil with Vasilios. At least I would try my best.
He said nothing when I turned my head to meet his gaze. I cleared my throat. “Thank you for the shower and drying and mending my clothes,” I said politely. “The barred door is still unlocked, though. You should probably try and lock it if, you know, you still have enough mojo left. Otherwise, a guard might notice—”
Suddenly, he stood abruptly from the table. “I’ll do it now.”
I peered at him as he left the dining hall, then brought my attention to Sven. “He didn’t even finish his meal.”
Sven glanced at the half-eaten food. “Don’t worry. Vas will be back.”
“Is that what you call him? Vas?”
Sven nodded. “Where is your ghost friend? I find her furious barbs quite entertaining.”
I looked around. “Must be off attending to other ghostly business still. Why?”
He shrugged and scooped up some cornmeal. “I thought I might be able to get her to reveal how she died. Vas is convinced you murdered her in a fit of rage. Supposedly, you two were enemies?”
“How many times do I have to tell you two that I was framed?” I grunted in annoyance. They were definitely gaslighting me with this. “And just to clarify, Belinda and I weren’t enemies. We went to school together, and we disliked each other. It’s not a cause for killing someone, but then again, I know you and Vas have a very different standard when it comes to what does and doesn’t necessitate a murder.”