“I just wanted a walk, Gail.”
“Even so, I didn’t know. There’s awful chatter this morning.”
“I’m sure there is.”
“Did you—” she started to ask before cutting herself off. “I mean, I didn’t want to pry?”
This was what I feared. Already the gossip was starting. What was worse, it was all about some sordid thing that was true.
“Tell me what you’ve heard,” I insisted, bracing myself.
“You and Zephyr, together. You were drunk and—”
“That’s not why I did it.”
“It’s true, then?”
“Zephyr tricked me. He was masked, and I thought he was Theo.”
“That’s awful. And on the same night, Theo was nearly killed.”
We both paused. What if those two events were connected? Zephyr’s disgusting game and Theo’s attack. Were the Kings trying to hurt us irrevocably?
“Gail,” I said unsteadily, “this is going to sound paranoid, but do you ever feel like there’s some … plan, I suppose?”
“What do you mean, plan?”
“Like someone is pulling the strings in this school.”
Gail was shaking, and so was I. “I think,” she said carefully, “something very off about this place. But a conspiracy … that way madness lies.”
Madness. That seemed like an apt description of our world on that strange morning.
Chapter 14
Biba
Gail and I headed back to campus, neither of us speaking but both afraid of what ominous implications our conversation on the path had aired.
As we entered back through the front gate, we happened past a group of students standing around, chatting. As they saw me, they moved away. It was the Zephyr thing. Or maybe it was as much about my supposed role in Theo’s attempted murder?
My heart turned over. I didn’t even know if he was conscious. I’d have to ask my questions elsewhere. The house mother made clear I was on probation, pending investigation, and I certainly wasn’t going to mix with Zephyr’s following.
“I think I’ll have a rest,” Gail muttered at last. “I got just about no sleep last night, and tomorrow it’s back to the grindstone.”
I gave her a weak half-hug, perhaps due to my physical exhaustion.
The sun was shining, and the fresh air made my head feel better, so I decided to keep walking.
I cautiously approached the disused path that ran along the base of the perimeter wall. It dipped down around the school’s exterior, hewn into the rock with almost nothing separating the stroller from the deadly drop. You’d have to be suicidal to walk it. That sounded about right to me.
I couldn’t be seen as I delicately paced below the Stormcloud battlements. Creeping, step by step, I could see the tops of heads between spirals of smoke and could hear the murmur of words punctuated by loud curses. I bent low and put one hand onto the grass so I could sit down.
Spying had not been my intention, but there I was, ensconced into one of the cliffside crags, looking at the serene yet severe view. I lifted my face toward the sun, soaking in its healing rays and listening to a conversation between young men whose voices I instantly, nauseously recognized.
“Man, Zephyr, I can’t believe you got away with that. I mean, I can see why you’d want to fuck that pussy, man. Anyone would.”
I shuddered as the picture of Zephyr standing over me, his cock bobbing with anticipation, seeped back into my memory. I didn’t want to stay, but it was the only way I could maybe find out about Theo. That was, after all, paramount.
“Lay off,” I heard Zephyr say.
“But Zeph, you’ve been raggin’ on that bitch since she got here.”
“Enough!”
The speaker went silent. A tense void settled over the group.
“You guys get lost. Arvo, Sol… hang around.”
I froze, fearing that the guys would see me as they left. I didn’t move a muscle.
Zephyr’s voice was lowered, but I could still catch most of his words. “Shut down the gossip.”
“Hey, Zeph, it’s not us. Sol and I haven’t said shit.”
“Don’t lie to me, dude. I will find out where it’s coming from and when I do, people had better be ready.”
Sol spoke up. “You think she knows?”
There was a short delay. “Hell, I hope not. I put a lot of bucks into getting her here. Dad asked questions, and let’s just say he thinks I’ve fucked up.”
My throat went dry. Was Zephyr talking about me? Both Gail and I were pretty sure our parents had paid our way here. Pretty sure—I was not sure, though.
“Why?” asked Arvo. “How else could you get to her?”
“Hell, don’t be an asshole as well as an idiot, Arvo. Of course, I could have gotten to her. It just might not have been quite so… pleasant.”
“And Theo?”
Zephyr spat out a laugh. “After yesterday, he’ll have plenty to keep himself busy. By the time he knows what’s happening, I’ll have it all locked in.”
Arvo spoke again. “I’m on board, Zeph. I really am.”