Part of me aches to tell her the truth, to let her know that Parrish is okay, that he’s actually looking much better today than he did two days ago. I … it looked like he might actually die that day. I choke on my own feelings and look down at the bunny, shaking my head slightly.
“Nothing,” Chasm says, and I hear Tess sigh tiredly.
“Please put on a shirt, Kwang-seon,” she admonishes, but there’s no bite to her words. No fire. It’s easy to be hopeful on day two or three or even seven or eight. But day twelve? Things aren’t looking good. “Your father’s agreed to let you stay until Sunday, but I will kick you out if I suspect that anything is going on.”
Tess turns and leaves, and we hear her office door close just a few seconds later.
Chasm glances over at me.
“At least if I’m going to get chewed out over this, I’m getting some.”
“Really?” I snap, putting the bunny back in his cage, and then turning to head back into my room. He follows me, even though he was just warned against exactly that. Chasm shoves my door closed and then flicks the lock.
My sister broke up with X? Why? Or did he break up with her?
Based on Maxx’s reaction, it’s clear that he doesn’t want to talk about it right now. I just hope it doesn’t have anything to do with … me.
“Why are you shirtless and in my room?” I ask, pausing next to the desk and looking down at Maxx’s laptop. I should get back online, make another video, another plea. Keep searching for clues in the comments. My eyes slide to one side, catching on the cover of Fleeing Under a Summer Rain, the book that Tess says is entirely fictional.
The one where a girl murders her abusive father. I reach out and tug it off the shelf. Flipping through, I try to remember some of the events in the novel, searching for some grain of truth in it. I might have to reread this, just to see.
What if there are clues here?
All of a sudden, Chasm is standing right behind me. I can feel him. I ache for him.
My eyes close and goose bumps spring up all over my exposed flesh.
He takes his hands and then runs them just a hairsbreadth above my skin, trailing down my arms and then stopping with his fingers just barely grazing my hips.
I turn around suddenly which I don’t think he expected and use the book as a shield between us.
His amber eyes are dark as he studies me before taking a step back.
“What do you want me to do tonight?” he asks, turning away and acting like he didn’t almost just grab me. “How can I help?”
I swallow hard and do my best to shake off the throbbing ache between my thighs. It seems impossible that we actually, like, fucked each other at school today. It’s weird. I won’t lie.
“Why don’t we take a look at the skeleton key?” I offer up, moving past him to set the book on my nightstand. I go to withdraw the key from the drawer and Parrish’s drawing falls out, the one with the green rose on it.
Chasm reads the note over my shoulder, speaking Parrish’s words aloud.
“I know I told you to think about what you wanted, but here’s an idea to get you started. Roses are a symbol of forbidden love. Also, it’s the state flower for New York. Thought you’d appreciate that.” He finishes and then curses, stepping away from me. When I turn to look at him, he seems like he might be on the verge of puking.
I fold the note back up and press it against my chest, using my other hand to withdraw the skeleton key. Turning it over in my fingers, I look for markings and see a faintly stamped symbol near the bow-like shape at the base of the key.
“Let’s work on identifying this,” I say, feeling queasy at the faint scent of blood that surrounds the key. I’m aware that it’s made of iron, that I’m not actually smelling blood, but I can’t seem to escape it. Whether it’s a dead maid, a murdered rapist, Parrish’s naked chest, or my goddamn period, I can’t seem to get a break from the stuff. “This could be big for us.”
Looking back at Chasm, I watch as he visibly tries to extricate himself from more personal thoughts. Believe me, if I could, I’d lay in bed beside him all night and talk. More than talk, probably. But we can’t do that. Only the bare minimum to satisfy the Slayer.
Speaking of …
I snatch my phone off the nightstand as it begins to buzz and find myself staring down at the newest text.
You still haven’t learned your lesson. I asked you to be honest with yourself, to take what you deserve. Instead, you’re still too wrapped up in your head. Princess, you will never be truly free or truly happy while you cater to the whims of others.
