I had no right to be upset by this. Hell, I’ve been helping them from the beginning. Selfishly going after my desires, desperate to feel powerful and secure. I didn’t plan to catch feelings for Salem, and I didn’t notice them until it was too late.
No matter how much I crave the life I was promised, it doesn’t compare to a life without her.
“She’ll be lucid enough to do what we need. And who knows, maybe that old crotchety demon in her will take over and do it for us. We know how badly it wants to be reunited with those lost souls in purgatory.” The headmaster says.
“This better work, Hart. Everything we are, is riding on this.” Leighton snaps.
“What are you going to do about the demon dog that’s escaped?” I ask.
“I suppose that does pose a problem.” The headmaster comments.
“You suppose? We can’t afford anything going wrong!” Leighton raises his voice. “I’m going out there to look for it.”
“Leighton don’t be dramatic. It’ll be fine. I have it all under control.”
“Forgive me if I don’t believe you.” He stalks out of the room, leaving me and the headmaster alone. He takes a swig of his champagne flute, draining the contents.
“Can I count on you to stay out of the way?” He asks.
“Yes, sir.” I say with a smile.
By the time I leave the room, my housemates have already left the dwindling party. I grab a ride back to the house, hoping to make it back in time before they manage to harm Salem.
The house is full of people, the music pulsing as we pull in. I run up the stairs and search through the crowd to see where Salem might be. I have no idea who the headmaster could have coerced into drugging her, so I don’t know who to be looking for.
I just hope I’m not too late.
ChapterSeventy
SALEM
SONG: LETS GO BY CLEJAN
“What do you plan on doing?” Walker asks, as I step out of my dress.
“I need to see if he’s alive.” I say. “What if he’s been down there all this time? And we’re up here living our lives while he’s going through who the fuck knows what!” Panic claws at me as I shove my legs into some jeans.
How the fuck does one dress for going into Hell?
“And what if he’s not?”
“I’ll figure it out.” I say, shoving my grimoire into a backpack.
“You’re not going alone.” He says with a sigh, planting a kiss on my head. “Don’t you dare leave without me, Salem. I mean it. I’ll be right back, just let me go and change out of this stupid tux.”
He leaves the room and I shrug on a sweater.
The house is loud as fuck with the party that Garrison organized, but I still manage to hear someone getting railed through the walls. A cry rings out that sounds just like Skye.
I smirk to myself, mentally cheering her on.
I head downstairs, my backpack slung over my shoulders.
I’m tousled around by the crowd of swaying bodies. The house was usually packed during a party, but this was starting to feel like a fire hazard. The bass thumps loudly, making the floor vibrate with the beat.
“Salem!” Jackson yells. “What the fuck are you wearing?” He says, sliding up to me.
“Hey! Where’s Javelynn?” I ask, ignoring his question. I’ve always liked Jackson, but we’re not super close. He makes my friend happy and for that he gets a pass.
