The graduates did not stand a chance. Claire jumped up, throwing her arms into the air.
The race had been won, and just like that, the richest girl in town became richer.
When I saw Bryon running towards us, I shrugged back. Claire crawled onto his back and he took her to the track where the musicians played in an upbeat rhythm.
The races would not be over, as other grades had their own disputes to settle, but the undergraduate athletes flooded the gymnasium and celebrated.
Disappointed faces approached them with pouches of coins, some were laughing and some were cursing. It was transparent who hadn't been able to afford the bet in the first place.
Bryon and Claire collected their winnings and strode past us.
“We’re going first,” she said, holding the pouches over her chest and shaking them, “drop these off.”
Bryon roared before he sprinted away, almost letting her fall from his back. I heard her laughter screech in the distance.
Tonio stood up and offered me his hand. Being close to a panther made my knees shake, but I got up by myself—baffled by the performance.
I thought nothing could ruin this evening until Kress joined us.
10. Intentions
Unlike yesterday, the poised Siren wore a broad grin between his cheeks. Even though he was still wet from swimming, he didn’t shiver, and when I looked at his arms, I found scales—like silver coins that reflected the sun. He stretched his hand out to me and I took a step back, where Tonio’s hand guided me forward and prevented me from running away.
I avoided contesting Kress’s victorious mood and kept quiet.
“I’m very sorry, please, forgive me,” he said and stepped closer. He was trying to catch a breath but couldn’t stop smiling. It was like meeting a completely different person, but I didn’t forget the pain he had caused.
Still, I took his hand and shook it. I understood that to him I looked like a threat. A foreign girl, almost as tall as him, had attacked him while he was enjoying a laugh with a friend. My emotions had spiralled out of control and so did his.
I nodded at him. “Me too,” I said, and he hugged me.
“You were trying to protect her, that was your first instinct and I get it.”
Tonio tapped him on the shoulder.
“Right,” Kress said, “I‘ll go get dressed for the party, let‘s start over when we meet there.”
He ran to the pool and jumped in one last time, splashing the gawpers around him.
Meanwhile, a carriage had been waiting for us outside of the gate. I hadn’t used one before, and it was more uncomfortable than I thought it would be. The wooden wheels rattled against the cobblestones and occupied my ears with excessive noise. It made me sick, but it ended when we rode through a mixture of mud and sand.
“You talked to him,” I said, and Tonio plunged himself beside me, with his boots placed on the opposed seat.
“Surprised?” he laughed. “Kress doesn’t need a lot of talking to—only reminders.”
“To stay calm?”
“Of his priorities.” Tonio ran through his hair with his fingers and leaned back. “We’re trying to figure out yours,” he added and watched me, prepared to analyse my reaction. This time I couldn’t escape the interrogation.
“My priorities?”
“Let’s phrase it like this,” he explained, “we’re like a family beyond bloodline. Instead of identical heritage, we have the same goals. It‘s up for debate if you’ll become part of it. Claire is undeniably fond of you. One of my priorities is to keep her sane and satisfied. Taking you away from her has unpredictable consequences.”
My throat stiffened, unable to swallow down my nervousness. “That sounds like a cult,” I said and prepared to deny his offer.
He laughed out loud. “We’re all heirs to big names and positions. You too, Volkov. It’s smart to tighten the knots between us, instead of fighting and dragging each other down. There are ways where all can win. That, of course, depends on your goals and willingness to play by the rules.”
“I’m not sure if I can help.” I removed myself from the picture. “My priority is to study and stay out of the way.”
Instead of backing off, he seemed to like my answers and his smile got lavish. “Then you already meet the most important requirement—the ability to mind your own business.”
He looked like the guy you’d bring home to your parents, but when he spoke behind closed doors he sounded like a criminal. A cult leader, in this case. Without giving out much information, he bought me with compliments and affirmations. I didn’t know if he wanted me to be Claire’s babysitter or get rid of a dead body for him. The secrecy behind his words angered me.
“Can’t you just say what you want from me?” I asked as my patience ran out.
He leaned over me. There was no air left between us to breathe. “I appreciate how you take care of Claire and would like to keep it that way. Stay close, maybe remind her to take her medicine. Bring her home, occasionally. That’s about it.”
Glad he didn’t plan to get rid of me, I agreed to it by nodding. I believed it was a way to make sure no one would leech off them through his naïve sister. It was her first semester, while Tonio had studied for thirteen years, and I figured this must be one of the reasons. Also, I realised that she was not in on this conversation. The action seemed to happen around her, silently.
“She doesn’t think she’s crazy,” I said.
Tonio laughed and leaned back with his hands crossed behind his head. “Isn’t that exactly what crazy people do?”
When I remained silent, he put his arm on the backrest behind me.
“She’s not crazy. That’s just her way of naming things she doesn’t understand. From a medical stance, she’s disabled. Highly sensitive, easily obsessed and intense when overstimulated.”
“What happens when she’s overstimulated?” I asked.
“Meltdowns, followed by staying in her room for weeks, sometimes months. Doesn’t want to
