His eyes shot up as he set his ale down, his brows so thick and heavy they appeared to be resting on his eyes. “But you have agreed with whoever recruited you? You understand thatNightfall’s an extremely private society that’s been hidden for hundreds of years? There are many rules that you must agree to in order to enter.”
I shrugged. “Yeah, I guess. What rules?”
Davos sighed dramatically. “I always hate when the recruiters don’t do their job. Alright. Within the walls of Nightfall, you’ll find yourself immersed in a world of exploration, beauty, research, and rigorous coursework, all whilst experiencing the comfort of fine living alongside the charming qualities of a wholesome village. You will no doubt spend your first days adapting to the norms there, but once you do, you’ll begin to appreciate all that it has to offer.
I raised a brow. “It sounds like any other university.”
Davos spluttered as he gave me a scandalized look. “My dear, no. There’s a reason Nightfall is by exclusive invitation only. Think for a moment about the person who told you about Nightfall. Does this individual seem like the kind of person who would attend a university?”
Derrick’s grim expression popped into my head like a sour-faced anime character. He most definitely did not. I guess he had a point.
“Ah,” he said, his expression relaxing into a smirk. “See. While there is much secrecy surrounding Nightfall, those chosen to attend are selected for a reason. While you may not understand now, there’s no doubt a part of you does.”
My pulse quickened. He was right. There was something about Derrick that was always off.
And so was I.
Off in a way that made it hard to relate to others, hard to engage in the things they cared about, like sports and gossip. Off in how I was always looking for a connection that just wasn’t there.
He gave me a stern look. “Now, on to business. All new Initiates must prove themselves upon arrival. There are tasks you must pass to prove you’re a good fit.” He smiled in a forced attempt to make me comfortable, and it didn’t work.
“Tasks? What kind of tasks?”
“You’ll find out when you get there, but I’m supposed to inform you that there’s a serious risk of injury, or possibly death,” he said.
“Hold on—possibly death?” I said, laughing at the absurdity of the whole situation.
He grimaced. “Yes, but that’s not likely. Few perish in the tasks. You’ll be fine. Probably. Now, should you still seek admittance, you’ll need The Nightshade Delight from Hilda at the bar.”
His face was serious with no hint of amusement. There was no part of this guy that was kidding.What. The. Fuck. Was Derrick pranking me?
“The Nightshade Delight?” I asked. “Does it have Nightshade in it?”
He frowned for a moment. “Well, yes, but just a pinch.”
“Nightshade’s poisonous,” I said. “I’m not drinking that.”
"Yes, it is. That’s what makes it work,” he said. “But when mixed with other ingredients, it becomes a powerful sedative.”
“And you want me to drink it?” I asked.
Was he crazy?
“Yes,” he said. “Don’t worry, it’s delicious. After the first few glasses anyway.”
I deadpanned, shaking my head. “You want me to drink something that’ll knock me out? And then what?”
He smiled. “Then I take you to Nightfall. Or, very close, to be exact.”
I glanced over as Hilda approached and slammed down a pint of a purple bubbling liquid foaming over the edge of the glass.
“It’s not goin’ to kill ya, girl,” she said, rolling her eyes, her accent so thick I had no idea where she might be from.
I pursed my lips as she stood there momentarily before heading back to the bar. The purple sludge spilled over the edge with the consistency as mud. It smelled like overripe fruit and something burned, and I was already fighting the urge to gag.
“She’s right,” Davos said. “Hilda’s the best brewer in all the Appalachians. You’ll hardly know you were out.”
My head was beginning to throb. I was getting nowhere.
