Page 51 of A Dead Man's B-Side
She seemed to consider this as she held his stare for only a moment longer before releasing a sigh and leaning back into her seat. Although a bit pettily, might I add, from the way she’s plastering herself as far away from me as possible.
Thaddeus rubbed his temple before speaking again, “If you succeed in meeting my expectations this year, you will be spending the better part of your adult lives in each other’s orbit. Complete faith in each other’s abilities is crucial. Because of this, I am also requiring that the seven of you have weekly dinners at The Gallery.”
Wolf shifted. “What if we’re busy? Or have other engagements.”
Thaddeus offered him a smile; one I didn’t understand. “Think of it as a mandatory team-building exercise. Your prior priorities are simply that. Prior.”
Marigold seemed to be worried about something else entirely. “Isn’t T-The Gallery… a high-end restaurant?”
Thaddeus turned his smile towards her, but it wasn’t the same. “Do not fret. I will handle your reservations and expenses.”
When no one spoke, his brows furrowed, not at all pleased by our reaction. “Oh, come on… this will be fun.”
I wasn’t worried. If I couldn’t pay my own bill, the credit card I’d stolen off of that loud-mouthed bastard on the plane will, assuming it worked. But as insurance, Thaddeus’ watch will pawn off nicely.
Perhaps he shouldn’t attract so much attention to it.
Ajax was nodding slowly. “So, from this day forward, we have to like… trust each other and stuff?”
For a child born in wealth, he reminded me so much of the kids I grew up around. “Well, I assumed, from my words, that was a given. I wasn’t exactly being subtle.” Thaddeus clapped his hands together and let out an exhausted breath. “Alright, we’re almost done. I just need a vial of blood.”
August reared back, and though I didn’t move, that was my internal reaction as well. “I’m sorry, what?”
The words were spoken so casually that even I had overlooked the meaning of them almost entirely. Thaddeus rolled his eyes and spoke reasonably, “Oh, don’t say it like that. It won’t be yours.”
The other six students, along with me, seemed to shuffle as much as we could away from him. Leaning as far back in our seats as possible. Paris pressed into me as though, if push came to shove, she wouldn’t be the first person I’d use as a decoy. Or perhaps Rain deserved that title more.
I was sure the smell of urine would be wafting in right about now.
August nodded vigorously, letting a nervous, breathless laugh pass through. “Yeah… I assumed my reaction indicated as much.”
A vial of blood. A vial of someone else’s blood.
The dark turn this conversation had taken made my head spin.
Growing up, I’d seen my fair share of the thick, red liquid, and although it wasn’t something that made me nauseous, the idea of draining an innocent person for a vial of their blood at the request of a secret society was something sure to make me a little light-headed.
What would he even do with it?
Adrenaline filled me, but I wasn’t feeling giddy like I’d felt moments prior. It was thick and made me want to curl myself into a tight ball, press my hands into fists, my head between my legs, and justsqueeze. The dark edge in Thaddeus’ eyes returned, and he tapped his crossed leg in a rhythm of twos. “It is something required of all classes. An insurance of sorts. An incentive held against you to remind you that–”
“That you own us?”
Thaddeus met my wide gaze, and a sense of foreboding filled me. My heart began to beat too loudly in my ears, and an itch to run, stronger than I’d ever felt, grew under my skin.
“No. We cannot own what holds up our future. The consequences would be damaging. Simply, we wish to know where your limits lie.”
Ajax shook his head and leaned forward, tensing his muscles in preparation for a fight. “That isn’t any better.”
It seemed Thaddeus was holding back, and the ugly monster living within him rearing its head. “Did you assume we wouldn’t do our research on a topic so crucial? Do not mistake yourselves, I knowevery single one of your crimes. This… will be the least of them.”
Not a single word was uttered after. Guilty and shameful expressions filled the faces of those around me, and I knew then, I wasn’t alone in the sins I’ve committed.
I’ve birthed the Baba Yaga for my sins.
Thaddeus knew everything. Everything.
Everything?
