Part One
Smoke and Mirrors
1
Niko
Niko, naked on camera last Thursday, 11:56pm
Username: Dragonfly
“Any requests?” I ask into the webcam, knowing there will be many.
497 people are watching as I slowly stroke myself. I’ve been edging for an hour already. I can feel their eyes glued to their screens.
It’s like I have them under a spell.
And this is the one place in my life where I have power like this.
Hercules2210: You’re taking requests now?
I adjust the iridescent mask covering my face, moving it up enough so he can see me blow him a kiss.
“Anything for my followers. What do you want from me?”
I shouldn’t be here.
I know it so clearly, like a hot, blood-dark bruise thataches at the slightest touch. The type of bruise I inflicted on myself, with a blow so hard it could kill.
Thanks, past me.
Fuck you, too.
A new school can be a clean slate, a fresh start, or a way to shed your old skin and start over, defining yourself as something you always wanted to be.
Crimson College isn’t going to be anything fucking like that.
I’m here in the entryway of Onyx House, surrounded by the thrum of music, chaos, and exceeding amounts of wealth.
It even smells expensive, like some aura of liquor, faint incense, and old wood, all purchased by college guys who have a taste for the finer things and access to parents’ credit cards. The music in the main room is so loud I can feel the bassline reverberate in my bones, and I watch people dance, drink, and grind.
Typical frat house, with a better setting.
Sorry.
Societyhouse.
Because Onyx, and all of these so-calledeliteprivate school college guys have to be special. Calling themselves a normal fraternity isn’t enough.
I run my fingers through my hair, pulling out my phone to text Sev.
Niko: Remind me again why I said yes to this?
Sevan: Do the words “free ride” mean nothing to you?
I’m here, despite everything.
And your dear, dear brothers got you in, despite your awful grades.
