"No problem. I'll cover for you too, if Headmaster ever crawls out of her lair."
We shared an illicit chuckle over that before I snuck out of the kitchen and headed for the front door. A feeling of hope and excitement bubbled in my chest. I'd never left the orphanage in the middle of the day like this simply to do whatever I wanted. Other daytime excursions were either doing chores or running errands, or being cooped up inside while seized by my pain, gazing out the window on a sunny day like this and wishing my life was different.
Now my lifewasdifferent, and it was all thanks to Devereaux. He’d awakened a spark in me I didn't know existed.
There was no sign of Headmaster anywhere. She was still holed up in her office, I assumed. With my cane in one hand and Pascal's bread basket in the other, I pressed my hip to the rickety gate, ready to swing it open and make the journey to Devereaux when—
"Where do you think you're going?" a cold voice demanded.
Headmaster's voice and sudden presence startled me.
"Headmaster," I said. "Hello."
I should've had an excuse prepared, but it hadn't even crossed my mind. Since meeting Devereaux, it was like Headmaster's power dwindled every passing moment. She could upset me with her words, but that was it. She had never struck me and I didn't think she was going to start now—and even if she did, my own body assaulted me enough on a daily basis. A slap from her was child's play compared to the nerve-rending symphony during a bad flare-up.
"It's the middle of the day," Headmaster said bluntly.
"I know."
"Then I see you've given up caring about your place here at the orphanage. Should I cut your stay short?"
"Do whatever you wish."
Fury flashed across her eyes as her body stiffened. I could tell my nonchalant answers were upsetting her.
"And what is this?" she demanded, gesturing to the bread basket.
I held the basket tightly to my chest in case she grabbed for it. "Pascal gave it to me."
She narrowed her eyes. "Did he?"
I met her gaze evenly. If it was an argument she wanted, she wasn't going to get one.
"And where exactly are you taking that food?" she demanded.
I wondered if I should lie, but I figured there was no point. She didn't care about my answer either way. She was just looking for an excuse to bully me.
"To Devereaux," I said.
The mention of his name made her eye twitch. "So children in the orphanage are starving, and you're taking much-needed food to a strange man?"
"The children are not starving," I said sharply. Despite my attempts to stay calm, that comment struck a nerve. She of all people should've known how much I cared about the children. I always put their well-being above my own. To be accused of stealing food right out of their mouths angered me.
But now Headmaster had the upper hand on me and she knew it. She smirked, turning around. "Go ahead and leave, Florian. You've already got one foot out the door."
I didn't know what to do. She was only taunting me but a worm of doubt wriggled between my ribs. That was exactly what she wanted, wasn't it? She wanted me to doubt myself, to fret over my every action.
I steeled myself. For the first time in my life, I knew my conviction was correct. I wouldn't let Headmaster push me around anymore.
As Headmaster watched me closely, waiting for my final decision, I clutched the basket close to my body and I left to see Devereaux.
14
Devereaux
The day passedlike any other, except now that I knew the truth about my grotesque eyes, I wallowed in even deeper despair.
As a gargoyle, there was no hope of anyone requiting my love. That was a given. My lifeless stone form and hideous, beastly face would keep anyone away.
