Fingers curled into the back of my pajama shirt grip tightly and pull, causing me to crash into a warm wall. The two councilmen who are right outside the door – both of whom are right under the blaring sun – turn to see what the commotionwas. I had almost just followed them outside – right into the rays of the sun.
Fingers that were curled into my shirt shift and wrap around my neck from behind. Flaring red eyes glare right at me.
“Are you trying to kill yourself?” he growls. Actually growls – like a fucking beast. His fingers squeeze the tiniest bit harder around my neck but my heart doesn’t double. It stays the same, even beat as I stare Professor Asier directly into the eyes.
His flare a bit wider before he shoves me away –nottowards the sun lit doorway. Rubbing the back of my neck, I glance at the Dean and one of the guards behind him comes forward with my umbrella. I open it before exiting the building and everyone resumes walking.
Students around us watch and whisper. Jullia hasn’t come down from the room so I’m assuming they’re keeping her there.
They’re gonna kill me.
It’s finally come.
That’s all I can think about as my bare feet step over the pathway burning. My pajama pants are long enough that if I were standing still I could cover my feet with them, but walking as I am my skin flashes free.
There’s a slight hiss every once in a while from where the sun’s rays hit more than once and I’m unable to heal the slight burn fast enough.
One of the councilmen – this one slightly shorter than the two, with light brown hair and burnt golden eyes – glances back with lowered brows. I’d say he looks concerned, but his eyes meet mine and at my blank expression he turns back around without saying a word.
They could have at least let me get dressed or put some shoes on. Though, of course, if I’m about to be killed then it doesn’t really matter. It would be easier if they just let me burn here and now, though. I wonder why they don’t. Maybe they suspect me for burning Thorne’s rooms down and want to question me before hand? Not that they’d have proof of anything.
They lead me through halls and courtyards I’ve been through before. Students milling about before their classes gawking at the spectacle. But at a certain point, they start leading me down a way I’ve never been to before.
Rounding another corner, we’re greeted by a large expansion of space that leads to a set of double doors made of gleaming marble. They’re pulled open faster than what I would have been able to given how heavy I’m sure they are, and we all pause as dark wrath glows within golden eyes.
“What the fuck are you doing with my fated?” Something within me jerks towards him as he takes careful steps towards us. His voice had been dark and cruel but not consumed by his true devil. “Father. . . ?”
And my eyes snap to the man who had glanced back at me. His hair and eyes are darker, but now focusing on even just his side profile I can see the resemblance.
Shock ripples through the air as the devil councilman takes a step towards his son. The other one whips his head towards me and red eyes with a ring of darker red right through his iris glare at me. The expression seems so familiar. The point of his brows, the twist of his lips, the power and aura and. . .
“Let the councilmen deal with this,” a lazy voice drawls. It’s accompanied by slow footsteps and then hard red eyes look over to me.
Thorne’s face is neutral as his father whips his head to him before righting his expression. He pulls on the lapels of his suit and clears his throat.
“Thorne. Callahan. What exactly do you mean – “
“Why,” Callahan interrupts the demon chairholder of the Mage Board, his voice a deadly viciousness as his aura explodes through the space, “is my fated wearing sleep clothes and barefoot? And why do I smell burning flesh?”
I curl my toes into the floor as I grip the handle of my umbrella tighter. I hadn’t closed it even after we came inside. I didn’t want to risk someone taking it since I didn’t technically need it anymore. It would be my only physical weapon.
Pain strikes through my feet up to my legs from where blisters have formed on my feet. It’s a feeling I don’t make a face to, however I do clench my jaw against the heat. Callahan’s fuming eyes that have not left my face slit at it.
I force my shoulders to relax and twist my neck to look at the Dean behind me. I don’t bother looking at Professor Asier. For a split second I contemplate fighting my way out. I’d be able to do it, but my bones still ache. My body is just barely alive after the nightmare and the fury from Monday night.
Turning back around I give Callahan a resigned look.
“It’s fine,” I call. Ignoring his magic seeming like it wants to rip through the walls. “It doesn’t hurt.”
Which is the biggest lie I could ever tell. It always hurts.Ialways hurt. Pain coincides with existing and for so long I’veunfortunately wanted to continue on existing. Except now my time has come.
“Can someone please tell me what is happening?”
Callahan takes another step forward with all his raging power but his father steps up to him and blocks his view of me. “She’s being questioned for the destruction of Stone House, son.” His voice is gentle and comforting. “Varian is just going to ask her some questions, we’ll get some answers, and then all will be fine. If she has nothing to hide she has nothing to worry about.”
Silence greets him and off to the side I can see Thorne’s brows twitching before he’s glaring at Callahan. They must be speaking within their minds.
Two presences approach closer to my back and a hand grips my shoulder. I blink and instead of directly seeing the back of Callahan’s father’s head I’m now staring at a black t-shirt over a wide chest connected to a head with dirty blond hair and golden eyes.