Page 40 of Veiled

James’ and Antonio’s heads swivel back and forth between Matt and me, and Sasha’s mouth is gaping before they all break out in laughter.

“Gods, I’m pretty sure you have bigger balls than any guy I know, Lee.” James praises before everyone starts telling funny high school stories of their own.

Once we’re all ready to call it a night, I order a lemon and honey tea to go and head back to my room, ready to do a bit more studying before bed.

How did I get back here? Nothing has changed; the cherry wood floors that I was sure would have to be replaced from all the blood, have been refinished. It still reeks of whiskey, take-out, and cheap cigars. Heavy. Suffocating.

I see his silhouette from the light coming off the TV before I hear him. My dad is sprawled out in his recliner, half-empty bottle hanging loosely from his fingers.

I don’t want to go anywhere near him, but I have to know how I got here, and why. Taking slow steps around his chair, the floorboard creaks. Dammit, how did I forget about that spot already? I look up and meet his gaze, which is glazed over but fully focused on me.

I can feel his fury, but I’m frozen in place, my pulse racing so hard that I’m sure he can hear it.

“Annalise.” His voice cuts through the silence, low and rough, like sandpaper scraping against my skin. “Do you know how much you embarrassed me?”

I take a slow step back. Interacting with him in this state is the same as interacting with a wild animal; any quick movement could trigger him to attack.

I open my mouth to speak, but no sound comes out. My throat is tight, clogged with fear.

He laughs, a sharp, bitter sound that makes me tremble. “What’s wrong? Haven’t you missed your old man while you’ve been off at that fancy academy of yours?

“You try to kill me and get rewarded.

“What, you think you’re better than me now?

“Is that it?

“I gave you everything, and you think you can just run away with that stupid boy?”

His voice gets louder with each question.

I want to run now, but my feet are glued in place, my legs trembling beneath me. My hands are shaking, fingers curling into fists that I know won’t help me. Matt won’t be busting in to stop him from killing me this time.

I manage to take a step back, but the sound of his chair scraping across the floor makes my heart jump into my throat. His footsteps follow, slow and deliberate, each one booming like a countdown to my demise.

Slap.

Pain vibrates through my face, and I feel the warm trickle of blood as it falls from my nose.

“I asked you a fucking question, girl,” he growls, his breath hot against my ear as he leans in too close.

I can’t breathe. I can’t move.

His hand grips my arm so tightly, I know it’ll leave bruises. I try to take another step, but my back hits the wall.

“Answer me.”

He’s wrapping his fingers around my neck and squeezing.

And then everything goes black.

I wake up with a gasp, drenched in sweat, my heart racing.

I’m not there anymore.

I’m at Scion.

He can’t get me here.