What do I have to lose, then?Before I could suck up the guts to open my mouth, we arrived at history class. Kotar waved at the door, which was her only form of communication, before she continued walking. I watched her tiny form as it disappeared around the corner.
Well, that went well.
Entering the classroom, there were a few students seated already. Jero was in his section. Aria, the leggy redhead, was nowhere in sight. I noticed Derek, the glasses-clad guy I’d met at lunch yesterday, already sitting front and center, a bunch of textbooks open in front of him. That was one serious-about-his-studies dude. No doubt he would be valedictorian of our year.
“Princess, over here…” Jero’s loud call drew everyone’s attention. I headed straight toward him. I had no problem sitting with this particular Darken.
He draped an arm around me and there was barely a sliver of discomfort. I had mixed emotions about this step forward. I didn’t want to forget my parents – I would never be able to do that – but I wanted to hurt less. I’d survived, through some miracle. My psychiatrist told me I suffered from survivor’s guilt. I didn’t disagree. I had no idea why I had been the only one to make it out alive; we should have all gone as a family. But we hadn’t. I knew my parents would not want me to beat myself up over my stroke of … luck. I still wasn’t sure if it was good or bad luck that I had lived, but it was luck nonetheless.
“Ready to learn about my illustrious family?” Jero hadn’t removed his arm, and I got the distinct feeling he was leaving it there as a warning of some kind. Or maybe he was just a tactile kind of guy. He was certainly flirty enough.
“House of Darken today, right?” Mr. Perkins had mentioned that we were going to start on the founders straight away. “That should be illuminating. Do you get an instant A?”
He chuckled, both of us staring toward the door as the classroom started to fill. As more students stepped inside, more gaping faces were directed toward us.
Jero showed not an ounce of discomfort. “They have most of the facts incorrect,” he said, picking up the conversation about today’s topic. “But that’s not the teacher’s fault. Humans only know the history we allow them to know. You’ll have to come to us for more accurate information.”
“How long do you think I’ll have to stay with you guys?” I asked. “Like glued to your sides?”
Some of his humor dried up. He leaned back in his chair, letting his arm finally fall off my shoulders. “By the end of the week we should have an answer. The council is full of ancient, powerful, think-they-know-everything bastards. The members are chosen from all four houses. They have been known to take a long time to reach decisions, but this has a sense of urgency about it. They won’t screw around.”
It was Tuesday, which meant I was stuck with them for five more days. I wasn’t sure I could handle five more days of this. I needed answers. I needed them now.
I leaned in so as not to be overheard by the dozen or so students fixing their gazes on us: “Is there anything we can do? Places we can search? Surely there’s a way to track my guardians’ last movements.”
The Darkens had been pretty confident in their abilities to keep information off computers and the internet. If they were that good, surely they could trace Michael’s last online activities. He would kill me if he found out I let anyone touch his computer, but I’d deal with that. As long as he was alive, the rest was inconsequential. There was very little I wouldn’t do to get my family back.
He patted my arm. “I’ll talk to Lexen. We might be able to try something on our own.”
I sensed Jero was just placating me. And … it worked. For now.
“So … what happened to your parents?” He blindsided me withthatquestion.
I swallowed roughly, took a few deep breaths, and when the tears were under control, said, “They were killed in a fire … last New Year’s Eve.” I kept it to basic facts, which was an additional help with the tears. “I must have crawled out into the yard, even though I don’t remember a thing before waking up on the pavement out the front.”
I had tried to go back in, screaming for my mom and dad, but some of my neighbors who had arrived to help held me back. They’d seen what I refused to: there was no way anyone was still alive in there. The house had been fully alight, and by the time the firefighters finished there was nothing but death and ash remaining.
“I’m really sorry, Emma.” He used my name. He sounded sincere. My chest tightened. I pressed my hand to it to ease the ache.
“It’s o—” I choked on the word. Because it wasn’t okay. There was not a single okay thing about what had happened to me and my family.
“I’m dealing,” I finally managed.
Jero sat a little straighter in his chair as he whipped his phone from his pocket and slammed his fingers against the keys. “We’re going to find your guardians. You’ve lost enough.”
It was still hard to talk around the lump in my throat. “Why are you being so nice to me?” My words were shaky. “I’m not … one of you.”
He dropped his phone back into his pocket, shrugging. “I know what it’s like to be dragged into a world you don’t want to be part of. I know what it’s like to lose someone. I understand the burning hellfire of pain and regret which are no doubt churning within you right now. We’re not as different as you think.”
All conversations around us died off then as Mr. Perkins entered the room. Jero and I both faced the front, but my mind was roiling with everything he’d just said. Before I could stop myself, I reached out and grabbed his hand, squeezing it firmly and quick. I wanted him to know that I appreciated his kindness, his support. I was probably only dealing as well as I was because of the Darkens. All of them, even Lexen. Last night he had offered me comfort I’d sorely needed.
Something I never expected from the elite. In fact, most humans I met were far less kind than these … supernaturals or whatever they were.
Mr. Perkins drew my attention then. “Today is a very exciting day. It’s one of my favorite parts of the curriculum. House of Darken.”
I heard the low exhalation of breath from Jero, but I was too busy listening to turn to him.
“We will learn much about this magnanimous house, about its illustrious leaders, and the generosity of their family. We will spend the rest of this week, and some of next week, on Darkens, and then you’ll have a small assignment to complete, a paper summarizing your thoughts on their lives, charitable works and such.”
