"Don't talk about Florian like that!" Pascal snapped.
Headmaster sharply turned her head like a barn owl, shooting Pascal a stern look. "And why shouldn't I? You must think I'm stupid. I know Florian has been sneaking out at night and now you've just confirmed my suspicions that he's been sleeping around with strange men." She turned her disdainful glance on me. "Of all the people, I expected better from you. Though I suppose I fell into your trap after all. You want everyone to think you're a meek, fragile little omega who can't do anything wrong. Then at night you show your true colors, spreading your legs like a common whore."
Her accusation was so jarring I didn't know how to react. I'd never done anything of the sort, but when Headmaster was convinced of something, there was no swaying her opinion. There was nothing I could say to make her think differently.
But Pascal was like a terrier dog—hardworking, earnest to a fault and always ready for a fight.
"Don't say those kinds of things about Florian!" Pascal said. "He's not like that."
"Then who is Devereaux?" Headmaster demanded. She said his name venomously. I hated it.
"None of your business."
That angered her. "Everything and everyone under this roof is my business," Headmaster stated. "And if you have a problem with that, Pascal, I suggest you leave. Maybe you can take your slut friend and slum it out on the streets together."
The name-calling didn't bother me, but her suggestion chilled me to the core. I didn't care what Headmaster did to me, but I'd hate myself if I was the cause of Pascal's troubles.
I saw him gearing up to snap back at her. Pushing through the agony, I grabbed Pascal's wrist.
"Don't," I muttered.
I felt his pulse racing angrily. "But—"
As Headmaster watched us like a hawk, I suddenly realized something. She reminded me of those two young men in the courtyard who were trying to pluck out the gargoyle's eye. She was so sure of herself, so sure what she was doing wasn't wrong. She didn't care who she hurt. Right now she sensed our weakness like an open wound and wanted to pick at it.
Having this revelation turned me cold toward Headmaster. I put up a mental wall between us. I no longer wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, because when had she ever done the same for me? She'd never treated me with the respect and kindness that Devereaux showed me. He made me recognize I was worthy of that, at the very least.
Pascal glanced frantically between us, unsure of what to do. I didn't have anything to say to Headmaster, and she was clearly waiting for an opening to hurt us again. When I didn't give her anything to work with, she focused on Pascal.
"You have chores to do," she said. "I suggest you leave that streetwalker and get busy."
I felt Pascal tense up in my grip. I silently begged him not to fall for the bait, but he was too loyal to let it go.
"If you don't stop calling him those names, I'll—"
Headmaster crossed her arms. "You'll what? Do tell."
Pascal ground his teeth, then let out a frustrated huff. He couldn't threaten her. He wasn't the violent type, no matter how angry he got.
"That's what I thought," Headmaster said coldly. Before turning to leave, she shot me a glare. "Your days at the orphanage are almost up. Don't think I've forgotten."
"I know," I said quietly.
Pascal was shaking. I'd never seen him so upset. He looked like he was about to scream at Headmaster when the floorboards creaked softly and a familiar face peeked into the room. Kip blinked at all of us, taking in the scene.
"Pascal?" Kip said. "I'm hungry..."
Usually it was Pascal's job to cook and my job to feed the children, but Kip must've seen me laid out in bed and known I was having a bad pain day. It wasn't the first time it had happened and it wouldn't be the last.
I felt a pang of sadness. It wouldn't be my last flare-up, but it would be the last in the orphanage. My time here was running out.
Pascal forced a smile. "I'll be there in a sec, okay?"
"You'll go now," Headmaster commanded.
He stiffened, glaring at her, then went to escort Kip to the kitchen. I was alone with Headmaster. The tension in the air was thick.
But for some reason, I wasn't nervous. I was already out of a home in a few days, and my own body plagued me with pain. What else could she possibly to do me?
