“Okay?”
She checks my temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, shines a light in my eyes, listens to my breathing, asks me about any pain or symptoms of note, asks me if I know what day it is. Other than being thirsty?—
“I feel fine,” I insist for the third time. The cat watches as she examines me, refusing to move even when she palpates my stomach, hissing when she gets too close. She backs away quickly.
“What’s with the cat, by the way?”
“… I’ll let the Headmaster explain. He should be down shortly.” With that, she closes the door behind her, leaving me alone with the furry menace.
“You’re kind of a butthead,” I mutter, reaching out to let it sniff my hand. It rubs its cheek on my fingers and tilts its head back for chin scritches, and I scoff.
“Fine, maybe you’re not so bad.” It stands on all fours and stretches, reaching up my stomach and kneading the fabric hard enough for me to feel the prick of its claws. It’s not long before I hear another knock on the door, and then the Headmaster andProfessor Brandt come in followed by Esmé, who closes the door behind her and takes a seat in the corner of the room.
“Ms. Byrke,” Headmaster Church starts, “how are you feeling?”
“Like I told Dr. Mercer, I’m fine. So… why am I here?”
Church looks over to Brandt, who sighs and smiles at me.
“What’s the last thing you remember, Nyx?”
I frown, but try to recall like he asked as the scenes play out in my head.
“I had Taxonomy Studies. And then Physical Training. We were on the field.”
“Anything else?”
Memories start to trickle in. Memories of sparring with Luther. Of his blank, panicked stare. Of being pinned beneath him.
“Luther attacked me while we were sparring. But he was—there was something wrong. He just… lost it. Is he okay? Did something happen to him?”
“You could say that. Based on witness accounts,” he nods to Esmé, “it appears that during the incident yesterday?—”
I crook my eyebrow and interrupt with a deadpan voice, “You mean the part where he was moments from killing me in front of dozens of other students who werecheering him on.” I turn to Church with a glare, “And Coach Carrick wasnowhere to be found? That incident?”
Church hangs his head and sighs before meeting my eyes again. “Yes, Ms. Byrke. I have spoken with Coach Carrick at length, and on behalf of the school would like to offer you my apologies for this lapse in judgment.”
“With all due respect,Headmaster, given that I’m waking up in a hospital bed becauseyouremployee fucked off when he was supposed to be teaching, your apologies don’t mean jack shit.”
“Nyx—” Brandt starts, but I ignore him.
“On my first day, you told me I’d be safe here,” I accuse Church with the reminder of our first conversation. “I’d just been abducted from my home and had my world turned upside down not 24 hours prior, and you held access to education, food, and housing over my head so I’d stop asking questions and comply. You told me I’d be safe.” I emphasize, clenching my fists to keep my eyes from watering from the sudden sense of betrayal. Not just from him, but Celestine.
Shepromised.
I hold his gaze with a cold stare and whisper, “Do you have any idea what that cost me?”To let myself hope that I had any chance at a better life, where I was finally safe?
Of course they fucking don’t. And they don’t care. Why would anyone care about me? My fist presses against my chest unconsciously, trying to smother the rising ache?—
“Nyx,” Brandt says sternly, and my vision blurs as my eyes snap to his. “I need you to breathe.” My jaw clenches, because why can’t they see?
“Nyx,” Esmé calls out softly from the corner as the cat headbutts my hand. “I know,” she nods with a sad smile. “I know.”
I flinch at her kind tone, and start to shake my head?—
“Ow!” I yelp as the cat bites down on my thumb, and I yank my hand away as the little shithead just stares at me and purrs.
“Nyx—” Brandt starts as I rub the bleeding puncture marks. “We think your epiphaneia was triggered yesterday as a defense mechanism.” When I freeze, he takes the opportunity to continue. “Do you recall what I told you before Samhain?”
