Page 149

“The book is in the safe under the professor’s desk. I need you to convince him to open it.” She flicks something in her fingers and gives me a vicious grin. “I also have the key to the dean’s office because I finally convinced Stephen to give it to me. I need to check the ledgers and gain back control of the finances. But that will be for another day.” She runs her tongue along her bottom lip. “You have your knife hidden under your dress, don’t you?”

My eyes flit up to hers. “Yeah. Remy doesn’t let me leave the house without it.”

She pulls the mask over her soft dark hair, then reaches for my wig, making sure it’s in place. “Good.”

“What if he doesn’t let me close enough to use it?”

She snorts. “Oh, he will. He’s one of them, Diana. One of the false shadows. Don’t for one second think this man is innocent.” She lifts her hand to a strand of hair whispering above my eyes. “If you do this for me, then there will be no more tests of your loyalty. I’ll keep you forever—and I’ll keep you alive.”

I let out a deep breath. All I’ve ever really wanted was to belong somewhere. And now that I’ve finally found it, I’d do anything to stay. Especially with her.

“What if it doesn’t work?”

She squeezes my hand as we reach the fourth-floor door in the stairwell. “It will work. I know exactly what I’m doing; I’ve been planning this for months.” My stomach sinks at what that means. I loathe the thought of another man touching me.

Because if he does, he will bleed.

She turns to me, her eyes blazing. “I want to destroy the town that destroyed me, and I need your help to do it.” A burning sensation twists in my stomach as I heed her words and internalize the enormity of what she’s saying. Our eyes lock, holding each other’s gaze as the world fades away, and the sensation claws up my spine. “Once I have the book, I’ll have a clear path forward. It’s not enough for me simply to destroy them, Diana; I want to become Him. I want to be the dark god they worship for eternity.”

DIDI

Iwalk into the office, taking a few moments to adjust to the light from outside—the late afternoon rays of sun shining through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

“Can I help you?” I hear a voice through the blinding light, and my eyes finally adjust. A cruel-looking woman sitting behind a mahogany desk is scowling at me.

“I, um… I need to see Professor Crux.”

“Office hours are over.”

I cross my arms. “I’ll only be a minute.”

She huffs, chewing on her pencil, and doesn’t look up. “Take a seat; he’s with someone. If this is about your grade, then you need to talk to the TA.”

I give her a flat stare and can hear Talia scoff in the hallway. “Thank you,” I say sweetly. “I’ll wait for him.” I sit on a cracked leather seat and cross my bare legs. When I glance up, I find she is staring at my legs for longer than what is socially acceptable, then she slowly lifts her head and meets my eyes, and the color in her face drains.

I always wonder what people see in my eyes that scares them so much. Perhaps my serpent is staring back at her instead of me.

“Is there a problem?” I ask.

I hold her stare and don’t do my usual eye diversion until she’s uncomfortable enough to have the good sense to look away.

She gathers her belongings and does just that. “Professor Crux should only be a few minutes,” she mumbles, grabbing her coat and shutting the door, leaving just as the professor opens his office door.

He pauses when he sees me, and his eyes glide up to my short skirt and skin I’m showing between my skirt and boots.

He’s a portly fellow, wearing a polyester suit that’s a tad too tight for him and a tie that looks like it is strangling him. He’s middle-aged, his thinning hair parted to the side. “Can I help you?” he asks mildly irritated, glancing at his pocket watch.

He doesn’t recognize me, despite being in his class all semester. I haven’t handed in any assignments or moved from my usual spot in the back.

I let out a deep breath. “My name is Rose. I’m a student in your class.”

He still looks confused but waves me in any way. “Of course. Come in.”

He closes the door behind us, and I sit in the chair across from his desk. My heart pounds a little faster than I’d like.

I adjust my seat and uncross my legs so he can have a better view, before crossing them again, exactly like Talia said.

His eyes twitch, and I wonder how many girls he’s watched like that. He’s a product of this wicked town…fueled by greed, lust, and gluttony. Judging by his size, maybe he’s also a bit slothful, too. Evil runs in his blood. “How can I help you, Rose?”