“Oh—thank goodness—you came, Pádraig—you have—to help me,” she breathed, her voice hitching. She pulled her knees to her chest in a tight hug and wailed.
Hailey stood by the door, wringing her hands as they spoke.
“I brought Hailey, Jaycen,” he said, unmoved by her pleas. “…so that you can apologize…” he added when she didn’t respond.
“I will,” she moaned. “After you untie my soul…okay?”
“Are we forgetting you drove a wooden stake through my heart?”
“That was so long ago, I can’t even believe you’re bringing it up,” Jaycen muttered into the floor, as she heaved and arched. Then she curled herself into the fetal position.
“That was two years ago,” Fin corrected. “You know how long it takes a heart to work a splinter out? I’ll give you a hint. It’s longer than two years.”
Jaycen let out a howl. “Pádraig, you have to help me.”
“Alright,” he said sarcastically. “Go to church and learn how to be a goodperson.”
“I am a good person,” she said sharply, rolling onto her back and letting out guttural moan.
“No,” Fin countered. “You act like a good person. You need to learn how to actuallybeone. And when you figure that out, your soul will untie itself.”
“I can’t,” she cried. “It hurts too much!”
“Then I guess you’re screwed,” he said, devoid of sympathy. “Bye-bye, Jaycen.”
Fin took Hailey’s hand and pulled her out the door.
“Well, that was a colossal waste of time,” he told her. “Sorry—I should’ve known, but I thought I’d give her a chance to help herself by confessing and apologizing.” He squeezed Hailey’s hand. “Alright, let’s go.”
Hailey stood frozen outside Jaycen’s door. “Fin, I’m just not sure she lured me into that thing,” Hailey said. “I mean, I jumped in all by myself to help her. She couldn’t have known I would do that.”
“Look, Hailey,” Fin said, taking her hands and looking her in the eye. “Jaycen is a very manipulative person, and she’s a skilled student. She should’ve extracted herself immediately from that thing.”
Hailey still wasn’t convinced, and Fin could see it in her eyes.
He pointed emphatically at Jaycen’s door. “Jaycen is a monster. She saw you coming, and she knew you’d try to save her—Hailey, she told me all this, and she deserves what she got.”
“You don’t think Asher was a little hard on her?”
“I actually agree with Asher,” Fin said, reluctantly.
“What?”
“Hailey, Jaycen’s soul is black. She’s lucky it’s still with her. Asher saved her life by tying her up. Now, she has no choice but to tend to her soul. He’s saving her from an eternity in Hell.”
“It’s just…” Hailey shook her head. “If Asher punishes everyone that talks to me, I’ll never have any friends here.”
“You got me,” he suggested.
“You talk to me all the time,” she observed. “How come he doesn’t punish you?” Fin cast a half-smile at her and winked.
“Oh!” Hailey’s hand flew to her lips. “He does!” she gasped. “Only you heal fast—oh, I’m so sorry!”
“No worries, Hailey,” he said with an air of someone who truly didn’t care. “Totally worth the searing pain. Besides, Asher is an ass, and it pisses him off royally when I don’t do what he says.” He laughed, and Hailey tried to smile as they made their way back to Eureka, but she was just sick.
“I’m surprised you still talk to me.”
“Don’t worry, Hailey,” Fin said coolly. “Asher and I have a gentleman’s agreement now—so, no more punishments for talking to you.”
