Desperate for a distraction, I unlocked my phone. The screen flashed with messages from Deborah.
“How’s the production going?” she asked. “I haven’t heard anything. I hope that means things went without a hitch.”
A half-hour later. “Hazel, are you okay?”
“Hazel, please answer.”
“A ton of cars just sped down the peninsula and careened through town. A bunch of them pulled up at my hotel. Doors slamming. People yelling. A few are being carried on makeshift stretchers. They sound freaked out. WHAT HAPPENED?”
“What happened?” I texted back. “Oh, nothing. Just your typical night at Miskatonic Prep. The god showed up at our little production and gave a performance of his own. Now there’s a weird stone obelisk in the middle of the auditorium. Oh, and I got overwhelmed and burned some shit, but we knew that might happen. We’re all fine. Ayaz is burned, but he’s slowly recovering.”
Ayaz leaned over my shoulder. “How do you have a phone? And who’s that?”
“I have a phone because I’m not technically a student anymore, so I snuck a new one in. And I’m talking to Deborah. She’s a descendant of Rebecca Nurse and she used to work with Ms. West at Arkham General Hospital. It’s a long story. I’ll fill you in when you have brain cells to spare to process it.”
A moment later, Deborah replied. “Phew. I’m so glad you’re okay. Don’t go dark like that again! Vincent Bloomberg arrived a while ago. Four men were carrying him because he’s all burned up, but he’s yelling at the other parents to join him in the woods. Do you want me to follow them?”
Fuck no. Don’t be an idiot, Deborah.I jabbed the screen so hard I worried I’d break it. “NO. Stay where you are. Lock your door. Don’t let them see you. If they recognize you, they’ll figure out we’re working together.”
My stomach tied in knots waiting for Deborah to reply. When it finally came through, it made me smile. “Okay, no amateur heroics. The dogs and I are going to lay low. If possible, can we meet tomorrow? I think you really need to see what I have to show you.”
I glanced at Trey. “Do you think you’d be up to lugging that sigil into Arkham? Deborah wants to meet. She’s still on about this important thing she needs to tell us.”
Trey leaned forward. “Does she have the dogs with her?”
He kept his voice nonchalant, but I noticed the glimmer of hope in his eyes. “Yes, they’re here, too. A bunch of the parents are staying in the Arkham Grand as well, so we’d have to wait until they leave and things have calmed down here. She doesn’t want to tell us over the phone.”
Trey nodded once, desperately trying not to betray his enthusiasm in front of me or Ayaz. Even in front of his friends, he still struggled with that need for control. If anything could break him of that habit, it would be Roger, Leopold, and Loeb – Deborah’s delightful dogs.
I typed out a response to Deborah, telling her to let us know when the coast was clear. I settled back into the pillow, placing my arm around Ayaz’s shoulders and staring down at him. Was it my imagination, or had the burns on his lower torso diminished a bit? I hoped so… a body that fine and a heart that broken didn’t deserve this cruelty.
Ayaz blinked. His dark eyes clouded with pain as another shudder rocketed through him. “I think… I should rest…”
“If you’re trying to kick us out, you can forget it.”
“Trust me, she’ll crowd you out of that bed, so you’ll need us on call to wrestle her back to her rightful place. Quinn and I are taking turns outside. Hazy, you need sleep. I know you didn’t get any last night, and there’s nothing you can do for the students right now.”
“We’ll make sure no one comes in,” added Quinn. “So close those eyes and dream of bathing naked with lots of sweaty guys in your harem.”
“A Turkish bath is called aHammam,not a harem, and it is sacred. Don’t disrespect my culture…” Ayaz murmured, but he dozed off before he finished the thought.
“Yeah, Quinn. Get it right.” Trey squeezed my shoulder. “Hazel’s the one who has the harem.”
I snuggled in against Ayaz’s shoulder, pressing my lips to my forehead as he let out a tiny, adorable snore. Trey’s eyes bore into the back of my head, his gaze hot enough to make me melt. That was exactly what he was hoping to do – melt away the layers that protected me and expose the truth.
No one could lay me bare quite like Trey Bloomberg – my mirror. In his cruel smile, I saw the worst of myself, and also the best. As soon as Ayaz slipped into sleep, Trey’s eyes had me in his grip, and he wouldn’t let go until he had stripped me back to nothing.
“Hazel.” Trey’s voice was firm. “You have to talk about it.”
“About what?” I feigned innocence.
“About what Ms. West said on stage. About your mother and your friend and the…” even Trey struggled for words. “The fire that killed them.”
“What’s there to talk about? I ignited that fire. I killed them. I’m a murderer.”
I met Trey’s eyes with the fury of my own. I poured every last ounce of rage I could muster into that stare, willing him to see what I needed him to see.
IwantedTrey to squirm in his seat. I wanted him to back away from me in horror. I wanted him to accuse me of being a monster, to tell me what my heart already knew – that I was no good. That I was evil.
