“Not a test. This was real life, and you failed.” He sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Cyrus steppedbetween you to distract her. Do you know how much he…” He stops his words, clearly upset.
“I don’t understand what I did wrong,” I admit.
“It’s simple. As a young vampire, you need to avoid danger. You did just the opposite. You opened the door and walked right in.”
I stare at the lycanthrope. “She walked up to me! You left me alone in a room full of vampires, lycan, and witches. How was I supposed to know what was expected of me or what was dangerous?”
“You stop thinking like a human and use the instincts you’ve been given.”
“What difference would that have made?” I spew.
“You would’ve known who to steer clear of and who was safe to talk to. Talking to Victoria was a beacon to Aurora. You might as well have waved a flag straight in her direction.”
Tears fill my eyes. “How was I supposed to know? I was human a few weeks ago. I never asked for this. I never wanted to be a vampire.” I wipe a tear, cursing it on my cheek. “I should be in New York, designing clothes, not trying to figure out who I can and can’t talk to, because heaven forbid, it might be a trick or a lesson.”
“It’s safe to assume that everything is a lesson. Stop thinking like the helpless woman who was tricked into becoming a vampire, and step into your power.”
“I want to go home,” I whisper, wiping another tear.
Simon sighs. “I’ll drive you.”
“No. I want to go to my house. I want to go to New Orleans.” Tears begin to flow freely. I can’t stop them from falling.
“You know that’s not possible.” Simon’s face softens. “Violet, I’m sorry. Cyrus brought you here in hopes you would allow those instincts to kick in. It’s not something you can be told to do. It’s something that has to come naturally. If I had told you, it wouldn’t be natural. Any thoughts you had, you’d question. Any feelings you had, you would’ve manufactured. This was his plan, and it’s what works.”
“What do I need to do?”
“Here? Nothing. We’re done.” He offers me his arm. I wrap mine through his and allow him to lead me down a narrow staircase onto a wooden deck overlooking the swamp. My mind plays through how I could’ve done anything differently, still not completely understanding what I did wrong. I’m ashamed to say, I don’t know.
Simon opens the back door of the familiar car, helping me inside. “What about Cyrus?” I ask, looking back toward the castle.
“He won’t be back for a few days.” Simon’s words make me even more sad than before. We drive back into town, neither of us speaking. I don’t want to think about what Cyrus will be put through tonight. My mind plays through all the reasons for Simon’s anger andCyrus’s need to protect me. None of my thoughts helps me understand the cause.
“We’re here,” Simon says, holding my door open. I was so deep in thought, I hadn’t noticed where we were. He offers me his hand. “Come on. I’ll get you something to eat.”
His fingers link through mine as he pulls me through the garden and into the house. He sits me at a large table in the dining room before disappearing into the kitchen. Moments later, he returns with a glass bottle of familiar red liquid.
“I don’t feel hungry.”
“You need to eat. It will help.” Simon pushes the bottle closer. I drink the liquid slowly, surprised that I’m not gulping it like usual. “I’m sorry, Violet. I know how hard this must be for you…”
“Do you?” I stand, knocking the chair over with my movement. “How could you, Simon? You’re a lycanthrope. You were born knowing what you were and would eventually become. I was born human, living a very mundane human life. You have no idea how hard this is for me.” I stomp off in true human fashion, heading toward the stairs.
“Where are you going?” he asks.
“Fuck you, Simon,” I spew, continuing my trek. I can’t believe that word just left my mouth. Instead of the disgusting feeling I always feel when hearing it, I feel empowered.
“Good, Violet. That’s a great start.”
TWELVE
again? really?
After changinginto something more comfortable, I sit on the bed long enough for the sun to rise. My mind has reeled through everything that happened at the party, trying to make sense of the test and how I failed it. Is the rest of my life going to be one big test?
It’s not until a beam of light pierces my eyeball that I move. My stomach rumbles, sending me on a quest for blood. There are no sounds in the house other than my own movement and stomach rumbling. Did Simon leave me alone? I scoff at the thought. If he did, I’m sure it’s a test of some sort. Probably one I’ll fail.
I find what I’m looking for and slowly sip the red liquid as I walk into the living area. Other than the kitchen, my bedroom, and the living area, I haven’t explored much of the house. Closed pocket doors arethe first thing that piques my interest. Mother always said I was nosy. She wasn’t wrong.
