“Yes, listen to your master, you Turkish dog,” Courtney chirped. “Although how much longer will he be the master, I wonder? He’s been so corrupted by the gutter trash that he’s allowed threescholarship studentsto wear our most sacred symbol even though they haven’t been initiated.”
Initiated?
Another grumble of assent rose through the students, louder this time.
Of course. What top-secret elite society was complete without a pointless, humiliating initiation ritual? I glanced over at Greg. He’d shrunk back behind Andre and was self-consciously tugging down the cuff of his shirt.If it protects Greg and Andre…
I shrugged. “Fine. Whatever. If it’ll make you happy, I’ll go through your initiation.”
“Hazel, shut up,” Trey growled.
“We’ll do it too,” Greg said, his voice wavering a bit. His eyes met mine and in them I recognized my own defiance. He didn’t know what was at stake, but he was willing to trust me and to fight for himself. Andre nodded, crossing his enormous arms across his chest and glaring at Courtney, daring her to take him on.
“No,” Trey said.
I glared at him. “I didn’t come to this school asking for special treatment. None of us did. You think we’re not worthy to get in unless we complete some initiation. Fine – then prove it.”
Courtney’s smile was pure evil. “You heard her, ladies and gentlemen. Shall we set the initiation for the first party of the quarter? That should give us time to ensure it’s doneproperly.”
The warning bell rang. No one moved.
Trey nodded at Courtney, but his eyes locked on mine. As usual, those icy-pools gave nothing away.“Set the initiation.”
Ayaz’s eyes blazed as he met the gaze of every student in the room. His challenge made several step back with unease. “You all know the rules,” he growled. “I’ll snap the fingers of anyone who breaks them.”
The students filed out of the common room. Greg gave me one of his wavering smiles. “Hazel, what did we just agree to?”
I shrugged. “Probably a world of pain. But if we get through it, they’ll leave us alone for the rest of the year.”
“That’d be nice.” Greg and Andre exchanged a glance. “I hope you’ve got a plan.”
Before I could answer, Quinn wrapped his arm around me. “You’re one crazy wench, did anyone ever tell you that?”
Trey kicked the island. I yelped as the wooden cabinet splintered, the door drooping on its hinges. Inside, crystal glasses clattered.
“Fuck,” Trey gasped, pulling back his leg to kick the next door. His hands balled into fists at his sides, and his shoulders shook with uncontrollable rage. “Fuck!”
I stepped in front of him, throwing my hands up before he tore the room to shreds. I had no doubt that he would do it. My mind flashed back to the day he dumped the itching powder over Quinn’s face, how his anger consumed him, eating him up until he saw nothing but a black tunnel with no way out.
I knew a little about what that felt like.
“Trey, calm down. What’s the big deal? We’ll do the stupid initiation ceremony if that will make it safer for us. What does it involve, dancing over hot coals while reciting arcane Latin poetry?”
Trey flung himself away from me, too angry he couldn’t even answer. Quinn answered for him. “You’re taking that ancient history elective, right? You know the story of King Minos’ labyrinth and the minotaur? It’s like that.”
“Explain.”
“They drop you into one of the caves surrounding the school. You have to find your way back to campus. If you make it within a three-hour window, you’re in the club.”
“That’s it? We go on an obstacle course and we get to be in the secret club?”
“It’s not as easy as you think. There are miles of caves through these cliffs. It’s easy to get lost or completely turned around. As your sponsors, we’re not allowed to know where you’re dropped in advance. Courtney and Tillie will do their best to make sure you fail. And if you make a wrong turn… let’s just say there are things down there you don’t want to encounter in the dark.”
Chapter Nine
The date Courtney set for our initiation into the Eldritch Club was Halloween night, because of course it was. Apparently, the rich bitches needed a week to decide on just how they were going to torture us in the labyrinth of caves.
Oh, goody.
