Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 108376 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 434(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108376 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 434(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Didn’t they realise that I wouldn’t be here right now if I really had killed Belinda? It seemed logic was too much to ask from my peers. Relief flooded me when an arm linked through mine. I expected it was Peter, but then I found Ren walking alongside me. He gave a little squeeze and said, “I thought you might need some moral support. I’m pretty sure I just witnessed a student almost faint when you walked by. Welcome back, by the way.”
“Thanks. And yes, I noticed everyone’s staring like a notorious serial killer just walked into the building.”
“Give them time. If I’ve learned anything about this school it’s that something else crazy will eventually happen to take the spotlight off you.”
“I don’t have that kind of luck,” I sighed as we reached the lockers. “Have you seen Peter?”
“No, but I’m sure he’s around here somewhere. That boy is always on time,” Ren replied just as the bell rang for our first class. “I better get going but I want to hear all about your escapades at lunch.” He paused, lowering his voice when he whispered, “Grace confided in me where you really were.”
Did she now? Grace should’ve known to keep her mouth shut. “Sure. See you at lunch.”
Ren hurried off and I grabbed a few books from my locker. Sophia and Nic were both in the same class as me but neither of them had seen Peter. I started to worry something bad had happened until I spotted him walking unseeingly through the halls between classes. He looked wired yet exhausted, like he’d been up all night and was currently running on fumes. I ran to catch up with him.
“Hey, I’ve been looking for you,” I said, going up on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek.
“Darya, hey,” he replied, like he was surprised to see me back at school already. Then he smiled tiredly and it felt good since I worried he’d been avoiding me.
I pulled back, studying his odd demeanour. “What’s going on? You look wrecked.”
“I was up for hours last night researching a spell. I think it will work but I need to test it out first and—”
“Hold up,” I interrupted. “What spell?”
His smile widened, hands gripping my shoulders. “I think I’ve discovered a way to dissolve the demon mark Vasilios gave you. It’s a long shot but it can’t hurt to try, right?”
I stilled, not knowing what to say. This was the reason he’d lost sleep? Guilt immediately rose its head, while at the same time the mark felt like it might explode right out of my chest to fight for its existence. It had grown attached and it didn’t appreciate talk of being dissolved.
“Oh, um, that’s…great,” I said, unable to drum up much enthusiasm. A few weeks ago I might’ve been eager for such a spell, but now, well, the mark and I had bonded. It had become a part of me, and if it wasn’t there Vas and I might never have become strong enough to break out of the prison. I…I wasn’t sure I wanted to lose it.
The realisation was a shock.
“Listen, I have to get to class, but will you meet me at Indigo later? I had to hire extra workers now that Dad’s gone and there’s a few admin things that need to be taken care of.” He ran a hand through his mussed hair, a sign that he was stressed and trying to juggle too many things at once. I wanted to take all the stress and carry it for him, soothe it away. I certainly didn’t want to add to it by telling him I was strongly in favour of keeping the mark, so I simply replied, “Sure, see you later.”
His eyes held several emotions I couldn’t adequately decipher. He reached out, cupping my cheek. “I’m sorry I’ve been so distracted since you got back but things are going to get better soon. I promise,” he said, pressing his lips to mine.
I kissed him back briefly, then said, “You don’t have to take on everyone’s problems. You know that, right?”
“I know I don’t have to but I want to. I want to make life easier for everyone I love,” he said, kissing me once more. “I better get to class. See you at Indigo around 9pm?”
I nodded, standing in the same spot as he walked away. Indecision took over. I loved him so much and I just wanted him to be happy. Maybe I should let him cast the spell. It would prove I was loyal to him, because despite my confusing feelings for Vas, Peter was the one I wanted to be with.
He was the one I loved.
By the time lunch came around I didn’t have much of an appetite. The whole mark removal spell was making me question myself and what I really wanted. My plan was to tell Peter everything that had happened in the prison, just lay it all out in the open, then if he still wanted anything to do with me I’d let him try cast his spell. It wasn’t guaranteed to work.