Page 17 of The Honor Society

Shit. Who was here before us? It may not have even been a Calloway. Is there a mole then? Someone getting information at the same time Rhodes is? Nobody else has The Ledger, not even Rhodes, so how would anyone know I was making this call, other than the guilty person knowing that their debt’s been called up?

Maybe he asked for help from the family. But that would mean both The Chancellor and The Proctor would have eyes on them. Would they be ballsy enough to chance it I wonder?

“Jenner,” I call. “Where you’d you go? Need you to call this in to Rhodes. We’re going on a hunt.” Silence. “Jenner? Stop fucking around.” Still no answer. I walk out of the office to a still empty museum. Jenner wouldn’t wait outside. He was my right hand, he helped me carry out every execution. Jenner was my War. The hell?

My phone buzzes in my pocket. Shit. That can’t be good.

I look down at the screen.

Unknown

You lost something.

A photo’s attached.

It’s Jenner, face covered in blood, eye already swollen shut. Whoever got to him works fast. They’re probably close then. Maybe even in the same building.

Me

I replace men the way most people replace socks. Did you need something? I’m busy.

Unknown

Cold. Even for you, Proctor.

Another picture. This time of his raven tattoo on his hand, revealing who he is to me, why he’s important. Why I’d kill for him. Bleed for him. Burn the world for him.

Unknown

War wants back what belongs to War.

Me

He doesn’t belong to you.

Unknown

Blood disagrees.

I snort out a laugh and keep walking, checking the perimeter for signs of a struggle.

Me

Silly. Blood doesn’t define ownership.

The East hallway is clear, I move towards the gift shop in the front.

Unknown

The Ledger does.

Fuck! I stop walking and stare down at the text.

Unknown

Midnight, bring the Calloway page. A trade. A life for a life. We don’t need a bastard. We keep our heir, you keep your pet.

I read the text twice before a smile crosses my features. They slipped. They don’t want to kill Jenner, they want to make sure he doesn’t inherit. If I kill the heir, I can invoke Jenner’s bloodright to the Calloway throne. How terrifying…for them.