A disconcerting chill scrapes my bones at the reminder.
In truth, I’m hiding out because I didn’t know where else to go. As people meet up with friends from previous semesters, it’s hard to not feel like the odd one out since I’m joining midway through the yearandas an older student.
Not that there’s an expiration on the age at which someone can attend college, but still. Most of the students are fresh out of high school. There’s no denying that or the fact that there’s a difference between me and them in general.
Avernia’s primary demographic is residents of Fury Hill and surrounding cities. I spent the last seven years in LA, and while breaking into a community there was tough, once you did it, you had friends for as long as you wanted them.
Here, I’m not sure trusting anyone outside my family is a good idea.
I’ve seen the sorts of trouble caused in the forest’s shadows, and I know everyone thinks we’re villains coming to ruin their school.
It’s safer to stay here, where the only judgment that can be passed is Quincy’s. I learned to tune hers out long ago anyway.
My sister exhales, closing the ledger in her lap and pushing a stack of spiral-bound notebooks to the corner of her desk along with a few hardback books. She arranges them neatly, setting the ledger on top—the plain black cover of which hasA Short History of Fury Hill, New Hampshire: Primarywritten in bold text across it.
“Did setting fire to the dean’s house lower our stock value?” I ask eventually, when she doesn’t offer more commentary. It’s scary how long she can go without speaking, just like our father.
She adjusts the rings on her fingers. The one on her thumb has a small obsidian bat in the middle, while the others are mostly solid gold bands or have abstract gemstone patterns.
“It’s not about value, it’s about paranoia. In general, people here will act like you’re some kind of god to your face and plot your demise behind your back.”
“So… How am I supposed to make friends if I don’t know who believes in the curse and who wants me dead?”
“You’re not.”
“Oh, well, good. No regrets over enrolling then. So glad you convinced Mom and Dad this was a safe place to be.”
“I’m not trying to scare you,” she says, getting up and walking to the bookshelves framing the one window in the room, which overlooks the garden her student organization is working on. “I just want to make sure you’re adequately prepared. Avernia isn’t Hollywood. There are real, active threats to heed.”
“Should I be wearing armor to class? You don’t think anyone would try to Julius Caesar me, do you?”
She narrows her eyes. “Did you see Uncle Kieran before you came here? That’s his humor to a T.”
“He might have stopped by the Asphodel with Aunt Juliet and Eden a few times.” I tilt my head, smirking. “Why, jealous I got to see her?”
“Hardly.”
“It’s okay to miss your first lo?—”
“Noelle,” she says between gritted teeth. “That’s none of your business.”
“Well, sure, but man is a curious species, right?”
“Curiosity kills. Something you’d do well to remember.”
“You say that like you think I’m gonna do something stupid.”
“I’m just saying. You’re a student first and foremost, but you’re also my sister. Your actions will directly impact me.”
Glancing down at my chipped nail polish, I nod. “Okay. I get it. I promise not to tarnish your reputation more than it probably already is.”
“Hilarious,” she drolls. “Speaking of reputations… Are you ready to talk about why you left Hollywood yet?”
My stomach drops.
No. No, I’m not ready. I doubt I ever will be.
“I had my reasons.” Lifting my chin, I shoot her an annoyed look. “What’s with the third degree? You sound an awful lot like Mom right now.”
