Cloudtree nodded.“We shall converse, yes.If the blood yoke that’s been placed on you even permits you to use your tongue.”
“Uh-huh.”Theo slung his bag over his shoulder.“Wait right here.”
Cloudtree nodded.Theo hurried toward the restrooms, and once he’d rounded a corner, stopped to peek around it.Good, he hasn’t followed me.Who is that guy?Did he say magical descent?Like witches?
For a moment, Theo wondered whether this was some sort of hazing that he wasn’t aware of, some art student going out to find someone who’d be gullible enough to believe a made-up story, but he was very doubtful anyone would wear what the guy had worn.Besides, if he was talking about witches, he was probably a supernatural.And if he was a supernatural, then by bloodsucker, he meant Peter.Did he think Peter compelled me?
Theo wasn’t going to wait to find out.He headed past the restrooms to the emergency exit and rushed down the stairs, focused on getting out of the building.I probably shouldn’t stick around to find out.
Chapter 10
Thestaircasewasechoey.It made Theo conscious of how loud he was, and he forced himself to keep calm, keep his footfalls as light as possible.
He had Uber on his phone.He hadn’t used the app much, not when the tram was normally faster and he had Peter, who insisted on driving him more often than not.But he booked a ride even while he was still on the stairs.
At least stuff like this doesn’t freak me out.Should stuff like this freak me out?I’m going to miss the fucking seminar and the screening, and that freaks me out a little.I don’t want to have to ask Peter to compel my professor.
Theo was going to cross that bridge when he came to it.He pushed the emergency exit open and hurried outside, keeping his steps measured as he headed toward the pickup point the app was directing him to.It was past the linguistics building, close to where Peter always dropped him off, and Theo kept casting looks over his shoulder while blinking against the sunlight.
Once he was in the car, he continued to look over his shoulder for a good five minutes, but when he didn’t see the Cloudtree guy following him or running after the car, he relaxed and texted Carl.
Hey, you at the Boudoir?
I am.
Coming in now.In an Uber.There was a strange guy at the cafeteria.
ETA?
Theo checked the app.
About 10.
Are you being followed?
Don’t think so.
Did you call Mr.Collins?
Theo fiddled with the shoulder strap of his bag before typing,
I might be overreacting.He’s busy at work, and this is fastest.
Understood.I’ll meet you right in front of the building.
Right in front of the building meant they’d be there to get him right out of the car.It was a security measure.Celeste was strict about that to begin with—if you even had a feeling someone was following you, you were supposed to take a cab and text the Boudoir.The Boudoir would cover cab fare, no questions asked, and in some cases, security would even take you home after work, or so he’d learned during training for his first job there.
Theo sagged back in his seat, letting his phone go dark but keeping it in hand, just in case.The ten minutes went by quickly, and before long, the front entrance of the Boudoir came into view.
He straightened in his seat and looked out the window.It wasn’t just Carl waiting for him, but also Kira.Kira was usually on duty inside.Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and she wore a black suit much like Carl’s.
When they stopped, Theo thanked his driver and opened the door, though Carl caught it and held it open for him.
Theo got out, and the Uber left.
“Are you okay?”Carl asked, his eyes searching Theo’s face.
Kira was watching him too, and Theo was beginning to feel silly and wondering whether he’d overreacted.It was entirely possible that he had fallen for some student’s art project and that what Cloudtree had said was actually innocuous.I’m biased, right?Of course I would think he was talking about vampires.I’d think the worst instead of the most likely… My Occam’s Razor is broken.Yeah.I’m being silly.
