“I should get Riddle first.” I try to fight the pull within the darkness, but I can’t seem to look away. It tugs on my limbs, wraps itself around my legs and arms and pulls me forward, gently at first, like a lover’s call. Two shining eyes peer up at me from the pit.
They’re terrifying.
I try to fight against the need to enter, but it’s such a tiny part of me rebelling, I find myself shrugging the concern off and starting for the pit. I’m hard-pressed to resist. It’s not a force of will that lures me. The opposite, in fact. I want to go down, only the small voice in the back of my head is screaming to turn away. Telling me there’s a predator down there. Death. But I can’t find the logic in the words. It’s like I don’t understand them. All my body wants to do is move forward, into the darkness.
I look towards Grim, and there’s a cruel smile on his face. I’ve never seen that expression on his face before. Usually he’s the shy and introverted elemental who keeps to himself. But he’s friendly, all the same. Yet that smile... I’ve seen it before and after another second or so, it finally dawns on me.
Tor.
TWENTY-FIVE♀♥♂♂♂♂EVERLY
“You.”
Tor straightens, and a cold expression startles me, further confirming my suspicion that he’s taken Grim’s likeness. Grim’s eyes—the real Grim’s eyes—have expressions, mannerisms that are heat and passion.
This creature is nothing but cold vengeance.
But it doesn’t matter that this is Tor. It doesn’t matter because I’m headed into the darkness, regardless. I’m going to go down the stairs because I have to. There’s something down there I need.
A familiar peep calls to me from down the hall.
Riddle.
He flies up and takes one look at the fake Grim and growls. Seconds later, another figure advances from the shadows. When I look up at him, I recognize the real Grim. So does Riddle as he flies over and lands on Grim’s shoulder. I find myself swallowing in surprise.
Grim stands at the end of the hall with my golem on his shoulder. Fire blazing in his hand, his burning red eyes glow even from so far away. The same red glow echoes in Riddle’s eyes. Grim’s magnetism flows like speeding lava. The heat I felt from him the first time we met comes back full force to make me wonder how I could have ever thought Tor was the same person.
“I don’t know how I confused you,” I spit the words at Tor in disgust.
“Took you long enough to figure it out.” He melts into his usual self and grabs my arm. I pull away from him but he’s so much bigger and stronger than I am… at least physically. He pushes me and I tumble down the stairs, into the darkness. I buffer myself with magic in order to avoid permanent bodily damage.
Riddle’s roar echoes through the building, and I see a huge streak of red light pass the open doorway, crashing into Tor.
When I reach the end of the stairs, I feel myself pulled up by my armpits. A broad chest presses at my back. Whoever caught me is male and tall.
“Everly.”
My heart sinks at the breath nipping at my ear. It’s Jean-Claude’s voice, but Faunus’s words. I’m screwed.
“Let me go!” I kick and fight against him but it’s no use. He pulls me further into the room.
“I’m only giving you what you asked for,” he drawls, using every syllable for emphasis. “You wanted to find Riven, did you not?”
“Where is he?” I strike out with my elbow, but miss him entirely. “What have you done with him?” I’m suddenly afraid Riven is dead.
Faunus ignores my strikes. “He’ll be here soon, now that we have you.”
I yell and thrash, angry at the world’s harsh realities.
“Riven has no loyalty to me,” I say, trying to call Faunus’s bluff.
He scoffs. “Riven is bound by contract to protect his students.”
It’s my turn to laugh and I do, long and loud, as I shake my head. “You’ve made a mistake, Faunus.”
“Mistake?”
I glare at him. “I’m not one of Riven’s students. I’m not a student at this academy.”
“You transferred here, yes, I know.”
“No, I wasn’t even a transfer.”
He shakes his head and waves away my words as though they don’t matter to him. “Riven will still come for you,” he says, whispering the words against my ear. I shiver in spite of myself. I don’t want Faunus to see how scared I am.
“Fuck you, Faunus,” I spew the words, hoping they will shock him since they’re coming from a dryad and we don’t swear. Well, I’ve never heard a dryad swear, anyway. It’s like one of those frowned upon things that no one ever talks about. But Faunus doesn’t seem surprised.
“Shhh…” The count’s breath chills my ear. “Stay still, Everly.”
I go still immediately. Jean-Claude. That’s his voice. The real Jean-Claude. He’s still inside his body somewhere. Faunus hasn’t completely won out. But my hope cracks at the sound of Jean-Claude’s chuckle. It’s not the count’s laugh. It’s Faunus’s.
Jean-Claude’s arm goes rigid and his whole body stiffens. He hisses and spits like a cat. He’s fighting Faunus’ influence with me in his arms. But Jean-Claude is losing the fight. I can tell as much because the laugh continues, grows stronger and louder.
Through clenched teeth, the count says, “I have… wanted to do this… from the moment we… met.”
His words obviously cost him, and in the next moment, I understand why.
The count’s lips lower to my neck, and he fuses our skin together, suctioning out the air
