"Go ahead."
"What is underneath my blindfold?"
Argon summoned me closer with his scaly hand. I approached him until we stood at the edge of the fountain together. I could not help but be curious about his hand. My gaze strayed towards it. The scales were deep purple on the back of his hand, then blended into a lighter shade towards his fingertips. His black claws were at least four inches long. They reminded me of my own talons when I was a motionless gargoyle. I did not think Argon was a gargoyle—so what was he?
"I never intended for you to hide your eyes forever," Argon mentioned. "Actually, I was a little surprised that you never took the blindfold off."
"I thought it was there for a purpose."
Argon let out a huff of amusement. "It is. I put it on you when your human form was first created because your eyes are… special."
I still did not understand what he meant. When he gestured for me to remove the blindfold, I wasted no time taking it off. The leather knot untwisted and fell away. My vision did not change, but now I could feel the cool breeze across my eyes.
Argon gestured to the water. "If you want to see what you look like."
Now that the moment had finally arrived, I hesitated. I was afraid of what would greet me in my own reflection. Even more so, I was afraid of what Florian would see when he looked at me.
I looked down at the water’s surface. I instantly lost my breath.
I did not have eyes at all. In the sockets where two human eyes should have been, a pair of sapphires glinted in their place.
The revelation appalled me. I gasped and staggered away from my reflection, horrified. My heart sank to the pit of my stomach. This was worse than I ever imagined.
Argon was right. I truly was a monster.
"Don't like them, huh?" Argon asked. He sounded like he expected this response and felt sympathy for me.
I did not know what to say. All I felt was despair. I picked the blindfold back up in a desperate flurry and returned it to its proper place. Florian could never see me without it. If he did, I had no doubt he would cut off all contact, never visiting the courtyard again.
13
Florian
The dayof my flare-up passed in a haze of pain. I didn't eat or do anything except lie in bed all day wishing my nerves would stop being on fire.
The following morning, the pain finally broke like the sun after a storm. My body still ached, but it cooperated enough for me to stand up and walk around without feeling like I was going to keel over.
A pleasant aroma filled the room, making my stomach growl. My mood brightened when I saw a fresh loaf of bread on a white handkerchief on my bedside table. Accompanying it was a note from Pascal.
Hey Florian, made this just for you since you weren't feeling well yesterday. Hope today's better! Pascal
I smiled, happiness squeezing my chest. I didn't know what I would do without him. Sometimes it felt like he was the only person in my corner. At least, up until I met Devereaux. Now there were two whole people in the world I felt safe and happy with. I was so lucky. I folded the note and tucked it in my pocket.
After graciously devouring the bread up until the last crumb, I got dressed and ready for the day. I knew from the quality of the sunlight filtering in through the dusty window that it was still morning. On a normal day, I would've spent my time tending to Headmaster's every demand.
But today wasn't a normal day. Today was when I stopped listening to Headmaster.
The argument we had yesterday pushed me over the edge. I'd spent my whole life giving her the benefit of the doubt, but now I realized that was a waste of time. She didn't care about me or Pascal or the children. Until she changed her selfish ways, I wanted nothing to do with her.
Devereaux was the one who’d helped me realize that. He gave me the confidence I needed to push back against Headmaster, to know that I was more than the awful things she said about me. Pascal had been with me through thick and thin, and we always supported each other, but he and I were peers. Neither of us had more power than the other. In comparison, Devereaux was an alpha who exuded strength. When he spoke, I listened. When he stood in front of me, I craned my neck to look up at him. Yet despite his strength and stature, I never once felt like he was using his size to intimidate me. I normally felt uncomfortable around alphas, but I felt safe and secure with Devereaux. That was how somebody ought to use their strength—to protect others—not like Headmaster, who used hers to control and abuse everyone below her.
I wasn't able to visit Devereaux yesterday because of my flare-up. But today was a new day. I was going to see him again, and this time neither my body nor Headmaster could stop me.
Pascal and the kids were huddled in the kitchen. They were helping him knead a new batch of bread. They all looked so happy right now.
When Pascal noticed me in the doorway, he grinned and ran over. "Hey, you're up! You feel better this morning?"
"Much. Your special delivery helped a lot. I ate the whole thing."
