“It’s a feeling you have, then. Okay, I can appreciate that. And you might be a great telepath, but your feeling something about your BFF doesn’t make it real.” BFF. I liked that.
“What if it wasn’t just a feeling? What if it was… I don’t know…” she looked up at the ceiling as if the right words dwelled there, in the dust around the faint light bulls. “Prophecy. That’s the word.”
“Really?” I stopped to stare at her, and she stopped, too. We were in the middle of the corridor between the west and the north towers. “I just told you I’m embarrassed about this whole ‘maybe I’m special after all’ business. And you say the word ‘prophecy’? Okay, this is payback for Paz, isn’t it?”
She laughed. “No, it’s not! I’m over that. Come on, you have to admit. Prophecy. It’s a good word.”
“Yeah. It sure sounds nice. And useless.” My eyes caught a movement farther down the corridor. The lights were so dim there, that I could barely distinguish something, but it did look like two people were walking together, hand in hand, toward the north tower. “I thought there were no more students.”
Patty turned on her heels and followed my gaze. “Maybe it’s Paz.”
“Didn’t look like Paz. Oh, it’s Francis!” The couple walked under a bulb that happened to have been changed recently and gave off more light. I could recognize Francis’s brown hair and rigid stature anywhere. “But who’s the girl?” She was tall (taller than him, actually), with long blond hair and beautiful curves. She giggled as he pulled her farther, then up the stairs to the dormitories. “She’s not a student here.”
“I don’t think so. She doesn’t look familiar.”
“Why is Francis back so early? And is he even allowed to bring in someone from outside the Academy?”
Patty shrugged. “Don’t know, don’t care. Come on, I tried a new recipe for cinnamon rolls today, and I need your input.”
“Sure you do.”
She took my hand and pulled me in the opposite direction. My stomach rumbled at the thought of cinnamon rolls, and I forgot all about Francis and his mysterious guest.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Winter vacation was almost over, we had classes in two days, and the Academy halls were starting to get crowded again. With Paz lurking around every corner, I’d spent the rest of my week holed up in my room, or in the kitchens, with Patty and the staff. I was looking forward to going back to class, but I wasn’t looking forward to having Sariel and Lorna around. I kind of dreaded my reunion with GC, too. After what had happened between me and Paz… I didn’t know if I could look him in the eye. We’d texted all through the two-week holiday, but that was different. From behind a screen, I could pretend I was still the Mila he knew. It was stupid, really. It had only been a kiss that I hadn’t even initiated. So what if I’d felt something when Paz had pressed his body to mine, when his tongue had entangled with my tongue? I was eighteen! And a virgin! No one could blame an eighteen-year-old-virgin for being horny. No one… Well, okay. Apparently, I could. Not even Patty was blaming me, but Patty was Patty. She was too good for this world.
“So, how was your Christmas vacation?” Klaus caught up with me as I was rushing to the north tower to change before dinner. “Let me guess. You lost your mind alone between these… too many walls.” He waved his hands around in a funny gesture.
“Not really. I needed the peace and quiet, and I got almost enough.”
“Almost?”
“Paz was here, too,” I growled. “His parents wouldn’t have him for the holidays because he broke his engagement to Pandora.”
“Oh, I heard about that. Juicy gossip. Some say he did it because of a certain blue-haired human.”
“Please don’t spread that bullshit around, too.”
“So, it’s not true?”
I bit the inside of my cheek and walked faster. It was nice to see Klaus, I’d kind of missed him, but if he was going to be a pain in the ass about this, then I didn’t want to stick around.
“It is!”
“I didn’t say that,” I mumbled.
“Oh, sister, your silence says more than your words ever could.” He laughed as he turned around and headed to the dining hall.
“Idiot,” I whispered. But I wasn’t sure if I was referring to him or me.
No, it was me. I was the idiot. I was currently rushing up the spiral staircase because I’d just realized GC would arrive right before dinner, and I was wearing the most boring sweater and my oldest jeans. After two weeks away, I couldn’t possibly let my boyfriend see me like this. Also, a bit of makeup wouldn’t hurt. At least, I’d been inspired enough to wash my hair in the morning, after I’d dyed it again.
I reached the landing, stopped for a second to catch my breath, then hurried down the corridor, avoiding the students who’s already arrived and were chatting in front of their dorm rooms. I caught a glimpse of Francis before he disappeared into his bedroom. He seemed to be alone. I didn’t see Sariel or Lorna, and if I was lucky enough, I wouldn’t see them until dinner, when GC would be by my side. It was never a good idea to come face to face with my two tormentors when GC wasn’t there. And especially not now, when they both knew I was the one who’d ruined Sariel’s scythe performance. Well, Lorna knew. I was sure she’d told Sariel.
I turned the corner to my sad, narrow corridor, and cursed under my breath when I saw who was leaning against my door, blocking my way. Fucking Pazuzu.
“Please move,” I said, and I hated the note of defeat in my voice. Two weeks of following me around the Academy, and he’d worn me out. I just couldn’t wait for him to make a new obsession for some other girl and leave me the hell alone.