A sense of calm washed over me, and for the first time I woke up, I could finally make sense of my emotions. I’d be damned if it didn’t feel amazing to threaten this bitch.
Naya trembled so much a whimper passed her lips. I plastered a proud smirk on my face. Naya was scared of me, as she should be. Judging by the silence in the room, so was everyone else. Naya knew not to mess with my pidge. And now the rest of the school knew it, too.
So help any sorry bastard who tried.
Chapter Twelve
Ava-Marie
It took me three days to come down from my psychosis. It took a few days afterthatuntil the infirmary staff was convinced I was well enough to be discharged.
I was so embarrassed. I couldn’t remember what had happened from the time I’d transitioned into delirium until I came out of it a few days ago. I’d been informed on what I’d said and how I’d acted by the nurses, and I’d felt worse and worse with each word they told me.
I walked to class with my head down, keenly aware that everyone was talking about me. I could hear them whispering as I walked by.
The voices were strangely quiet, thank the ancestors. It was nice to get a little bit of peace every once in a while. It was as if they were satisfied they’d finally been heard.
Meanwhile, the rest of my body felt exhausted and worn. My thoughts progressed as if crawling through mud. As fast and high-paced everything had been before, now it was like the world was in slow motion.
I passed by a group of vampires in the corner, Deuce among them. I had to walk by in order to get to class. Deuce’s eyes sparkled as he saw me coming.
“Would you like me to escort you to tea,Lady Elizabeth?” Deuce scorned in a corny British accent. His cronies howled, and my cheeks burned.
I went to bite back a response, but from out of nowhere, Ivy swooped in and looped his arm in mine. He threw his head back in pride as his scathing eyes landed on Deuce.
“Hey, Deuce, you should practice safe sex and go fuck yourself,” Ivy told him. “Or is your nameDouche? I can’t really tell. It’s not like you’re important enough for me to remember.”
Deuce blanched, temporarily speechless. Ivy escorted me away before anyone shot out a comeback. My hand on Ivy’s arm tightened as we walked through the hallway together.
“Thanks,” I whispered. At least someone would back me up around here.
“No one messes with my precious and gets away with it,” Ivy said. He stroked my hair back, like I was his pet.
“Have you seen Oberi?” She had remained at my side until I’d woken up, and a few days afterward, but on my last day in the infirmary she’d left to be with Charlie. I wanted her so badly my heart ached.
“I’m sure your pretty little unicorn is around, along with your beautiful boyfriend,” Ivy said, giving me a wink.
At the mention of Charlie, dread ran through my guts. I didn’t even correct Ivy that Charlie wasn’t really my boyfriend… whatever we were, we were definitely finished, after what had happened the other day.
I’d been purposefully avoiding Charlie ever since I got out of the infirmary. I already knew how this went. Once we met, he’d state the obvious and say we couldn’t talk anymore, and I’d accept it, because how could I argue? I wanted to pretend that he could still be in my life— that he wasn’t affected by the madness that infected me. So I’d draw it out as long as I could, even if it was only for a few hours more.
Even in my psychosis, I was drawn to him. I still felt safe around him. Despite being unable to recognize him, I recognized his soul, and he’d gotten me what I needed when I was at my lowest point.
I really missed Oberi, but if she was with Charlie, I wouldn’t seek her out. I didn’t know how I was going to face him again, so I was putting it off as long as I could.
Ivy didn’t drop me off until I was in front of Professor Hemlock’s classroom. I slid beside Opal at our shared desk and started taking out books silently.
“How are you feeling, Ava?” Opal asked kindly.
“I’m better now, thanks. They changed up my medication. Hopefully it doesn’t happen again,” I said.
Or, at least, hopefully it didn’t happen again for a very long time. I wasn’t sure if the new meds were working yet, but some of my symptoms appeared to be subsiding, so maybe this round would actually work this time.
“Did you talk things over with Charlie?” Opal asked.
“I actually haven’t seen Charlie yet,” I confessed. “I hope he’s not mad at me.”
“Of course he’s not mad. He was very worried,” Opal said.
