A smile spreads over my face. “Your reward is having a headmaster to run the school.”
Harlow groans, then chuckles, then sighs.
My eyes go to the seat across the way. Jean-Claude’s absence is palpable. “Have you seen him?” I wave to the empty cushion.
“No.” Harlow’s mirth dies.
“Then he’s still recovering?”
“Vampires heal faster than shadow demons,” Harlow spits. I can see by the anger in his eyes that Jean-Claude’s absence pisses him off.
“It’s okay.”
“He could at least have seen you off.” He shakes his head. “Fucking cock.”
“It’s the mid-morning. I didn’t expect he would.”
“Yeah, well.” Harlow sets his elbow on the windowsill. It’s a moot point now.
The Dread train station isn’t as frightening as it was when I first arrived here. In fact, there isn’t a ghoul, vampire or incubus I can’t handle now. Necromancers and shadow demons are another story.
When the carriage comes to a stop, Harlow gets the door for me. I thank him with a smile and walk over to the Pegasus I’ve come to know pretty well.
“Thank you, Pilot. I’ll miss you.”
You are welcome, Everly. I will miss you, too.
He bumps my shoulder and I hug his muzzle. Dangerous as I’ve been told it is to be so close to a flesh-eating Pegasus, I feel safe. Pilot wouldn’t harm me.
As Harlow walks me down to the train, I feel a sense of loss and sadness. I have Riddle, of course, and that’s a blessing because without him, I don’t know what I’d do. I just… I hate the idea of leaving my friends, people who have become close to me in the space of a relatively short amount of time. Of course, I miss Jean-Claude and I am hurt that he wasn’t here to see me off. But I also understand it. There’s a certainty within me that tells me Jean-Claude doesn’t do goodbyes. He’s had too many through the course of his incredibly long life and though I don’t understand it, I know with total assurance that he didn’t want me to leave. I can feel it in my gut. But I have to. And I hope Jean-Claude understands that.
I look at Riddle and sigh. I don’t know how or why, but he’s returned to his usual size—the size of a large bird.
“Everly,” Harlow says.
I turn to the incubus with a finality that weighs down my heart. I start blinking to keep the tears from falling out of my eyes. But I have a feeling I’m going to lose the fight. “So, this is goodbye.”
Harlow looks serious and there’s a glossiness to his eyes that matches mine. I hate goodbyes and as I stand there, looking up at him, I wonder if I’ll ever see him again. He leans closer and says with a sigh, “You don’t have to go.”
“I do.”
“You think you don’t belong here, but you do,” he argues.
“This wasn’t where I was meant to be, Harlow,” I say. It’s the same thing I’ve told myself a hundred times since this morning. “This is Dread and I’m…”
“A dryad,” he finishes for me.
“A dryad,” I say with a smile.
“You’re meant to be wherever you feel happiest,” he says and leans closer, until no more than a couple of inches separate us. I look up at him and he looks down at me.
“Harlow,” I start then swallow hard.
“Everly.”
“I… want… will you kiss me?”
He doesn’t respond right away but stares at me as the battle of whether or not to touch me plays out behind his eyes. He doesn’t trust himself.
“I know you can control it,” I whisper. “I know you have the strength not to drain me. You showed as much when we first met, at the train station.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
I lean closer. “You won’t.”
And I kiss him. I get up on my tip toes and I lean forward and I put my mouth to his. And his lips are warm and soft. He opens his mouth and I open mine and then I feel his tongue in my mouth. And all those feelings of need, desire, lust begin to burn within me. I can feel my resolve melting away. Good thing we’re in public because I’m ready to give him anything he wants. Including my virginity.
I pull away. He’s panting. “Fuck,” he whispers.
“Fuck,” I whisper.
“You better get your sexy little dryad ass out of here,” he says and his eyes echo the threat.
“I better,” I answer and walk away from him, directly onto the step leading into the train car. I pause and then turn around, only to find him staring at me. I smile and blow him a kiss.
He throws one back at me.
And just as the door closes, wind blows into the car, and I feel the familiar touch of a certain vampire. For a split second, I see his translucent form before me. Phantom hands take my face, and he places a kiss on my forehead. Then he’s gone.
Tears prick my eyes, and I gather Riddle in my arms.
Funny how I came with a suitcase and I’m leaving with a familiar.
The car is empty, and I have my pick of seats, so I choose one in the front.
I’m sad. More melancholic than I thought I’d be.
You don’t belong here, Everly, I remind myself as I watch Harlow lift his hand and wave. The train blows its whistle and the chugging of the engine starts. I don’t pull my gaze from Harlow’s sad eyes.
You belong at the Academy of Enchantment, with your own kind.
But do I?
Harlow waves and I watch him grow smaller and smaller until he’s just a speck and then he’s gone.
As the gloom of Dread burns away into the bright glimmer of the sun, I don’t
