Page 24 of Hell House
“A burnt eggplant maybe.” Skye says, and I shoot her a look, which only makes her chuckle.
“So, you don’t need help with… anything there?”
“Thanks, but I think I got it.” I bite out in no mood for his barbs. I stand up, removing the still vibrating burnt toy from behind my back and click it off. Thankfully, Pierce doesn’t say anything, but his face gives away how amusing he finds this.
Skye hands him a suitcase that he takes without complaint, and we all trudge down the 12 flights of steps. At least we won’t have to make that trek everyday, even if I loved what it was doing to my backside.
By the time we make it across campus, my clothes are damp with a mix of perspiration and rain. Hell House jumps out from behind the densely packed foliage just as dark and foreboding as I remember. The house is eerily empty, but then I remember that most everyone is in class. We’d been excused due to our special circumstances.
We take the front stairs. As we ascend, I notice that each rail is intricately carved with a cherub figurine. Creepy. It felt like they were staring at me as we ascend to the second level. Pierce stops at a room that doubles ours. My mouth drops open a fraction at how ornate and detailed the room is. It houses two twin beds, but half of the room seems to be decorated already with several band posters tacked up around the walls and an art desk strewn with sketches.
“This one looks occupied.” Skye says dropping her things down. Her space-buns are a tangled mess, and she has purple smudges under her usually bright sky-blue eyes.
Pierce drops her bag and leans up against the doorframe, his damp blonde hair sweeping against his forehead. “This is Lukas’s room.” I see Skye’s eyes widen and I have a feeling that mine look similar right now.
“It’s this or the servant’s room. It’s small but those are the only options, unless you want to take the communal couch.” I scrunch up my nose thinking of all the grinding I’d seen going on the night of their back-to-school party.
“We’ll take the servant’s room.” Skye says, going to pick up her items.
Pierce rubs his chin. “Well see, the problem with that is the servant’s room only has space for one twin bed.”
I catch Skye’s panicked eyes. “It’s fine, I’ll take this one.”
Pierce seems to glare at me for a split second, before I catch Skye shaking her head. “No, no it’s fine. You deserve to have a space to yourself. You lost more things than I did.”
“Are you sure, Skye? We can see if there’s somewhere else for us to stay. Maybe somewhere off campus.”
Pierce lets out a chuckle. “Good luck with that. This is a small island witch, unless you can conjure up a house with some sticks and whatever voodoo magic you hold in that black heart of yours, you’re stuck here.”
I fix him with what I hope is a withering stare, but with how tired I am it could probably pass for mild annoyance. “Fine.” I say too tired to argue. “Show me to my room.”
He gestures opening his arms wide and I leave Skye to settle into her new digs. I wonder if Lukas is any better than his asshole twin.
We pass through a dank corridor that rivals the west wing in the Beast’s castle. I take in several cobwebs, a musty smell hangs in the air. I follow close behind and up around a spiral staircase that leads to a room at the top. By the time we crest the last step, I’m ready to pass out. Taking in my new room, I feel like I’m Rapunzel tucked up away in her tower. There’s one tiny window that looks over the back of the house. I can faintly make out the ocean in the distance.
“This is it. The guys come in and out all day, but at least up here, they shouldn’t bother you too much. Graham usually makes us dinner around 7, if you’re brave enough to join us for it. It’s some of the best food and there’s never leftovers.” He’s being far too nice for my liking, making me feel on edge, like he’s up to something. I let go of my mere possessions and my knees crumple beneath me as I reach the bed.
“Get some rest witch.” He says gripping the door on his way out.
“You’re not going to lock me in here, are you?” I mumble to Pierce, sleep already clawing at me as I lay down, not even bothering to take off my borrowed clothes.
“I make no promises.” Pierce says his face is full of mischief as he closes the door behind him. I let out a groan of frustration. I guess I lived here now.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Lukas
“You’re fucking kidding me?”
“What? Yours was the only room with an extra bed.” Pierce says shoving a burger in his mouth with a messy chomp, making crumbles of food dribble down his chin.
“You’re telling me I have to share a room with Skye Dannon? There’s no where else for her to go?” Fuck my life. How was I supposed to share a room with her? I couldn’t even be in the same room without getting hard or having my mind imagine the filthiest scenarios- all of which involved having her naked in one way or another.
Normally I’d be jumping at the chance to make my desires come to fruition, but something about this insane attraction I felt towards her scared me.
“What are you worried about? Her finding your stash of porn you keep under the bed?”
I clip him on the back of the head.
