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Alfredo’s father nods. “Miss Cunningham’s final test takes place in three days. You’ve accompanied us to all of them so far. It would send a clear message if you were our guest at the last one too.”
Should I do it? I see no reason why I should do them the favor. Wouldn’t it be better to let the family’s reputation flounder? Although Mr. Fabrici made it clear that this is their condition for allowing me to move out. I’m pretty sure they couldn’t actually stop me, but it would take time and probably cause conflict. And I don’t want that. Why waste energy on something so unnecessary? It’s only for a few hours, and then I’ll be free again.
I nod. “Fine, I’ll do it.”
Mr. Fabrici breathes a sigh of relief. “I’m so glad. We’ll provide you with a dress for the occasion. Of course, it’s up to you whether you want to wear it. I’d like you to meet us just before eight o’clock outside the entrance and …”
I shake my head. “No, I won’t stand out in the cold waiting for you. I’ll be in the foyer of the hunters’ wing at eight. We can go through together from there.”
I can tell he doesn’t like it. But he too comes to the conclusion that it’s not worth fighting over. So he nods. “Alright, we’ll do it that way. I look forward to it.”
“Good,” I look from one to the other of them. “Then I’d like to go and pack up my things and take them with me.”
“I’ll have them sent to you,” says Mr. Fabrici. “But not until the day after the test; I’m sure you understand.”
“Whatever.” This is not worth a fight either. So I nod to them both and say goodbye.
I feel their eyes on the back of my neck as I walk to the door, turn the handle, and leave the room. I slowly close the door behind me, and only then do I exhale slowly. It’s done.
I lean against the wall with a sense of relief and my gaze wanders up to the ceiling. I’m no longer their prisoner, finally. That makes me think of Noah, who’s somewhere in the house. This is probably my last chance to talk to him again. I don’t want to waste it.
I quickly straighten up and start walking. I hurry along the corridors, praying I won’t run into any of the staff, who will want to know where I’m going. I expect they’ve all been informed that I no longer live here. But I’m in luck. The corridors are empty, and I don’t meet a soul.
It still takes me a while to find the room where Noah’s staying. I’m suddenly swamped by a thousand questions. What do I say? How will he react? How can I convince him not to continue down that road? I can’t answer any of them. But one thing spurs me on: my intense desire to see him again. Even if an army of Fabricis were standing in my way, they couldn’t stop me from going to him.
I knock softly, hoping he’s there.
“Yes?” I hear him say, so I quickly slip into the room.
Noah’s lying on his bed with a book in his hand. He’s startled and sits up when he sees me.
“Tess? What are you doing here?” Then a thought seems to occur to him. “If you’re here to try and change my mind again, then …”
“Did you hear about what Alfredo did?” I ask. I’ve been asking myself this question. Does he know that Alfredo’s left town? Did the family maybe even let slip that they were intending to punish me? I search his face for answers, afraid of what I’ll find there. What if he knew about it and stayed loyal to them anyway? Would he really do that to me?
He notices my uncertainty and crosses the room with a few steps. He almost seems like the old Noah that I know so well, whom I loved and will always care about.
“Did something happen?” He reaches out and touches my arm. But his fingers only stay there for a split second. He pulls them back as if he’s burned himself, then looks at me apologetically. “What’s up?”
“Do you know why Alfredo had to leave town?” I can’t discern the answer from his face. I can’t even tell if this is news to him. “He followed me to the Odyss when I went to see Frida.” I tell him everything and expect to see outrage in his face. Instead, he just looks shocked and becomes as pale and motionless as a statue.
When I’m done, I wait for him to say something. But he just stands there staring at me.
“Did you know about it?” I hear myself ask quietly.
He slowly shakes his head. “No,” he replies. “And believe me, this is not easy for me to hear. Just thinking about what you had to go through …” He runs his hand through his hair and murmurs, “I didn’t know he wanted to use the room on you.”
I stare at him incredulously. Did I just hear right? “You … you told him about that room?”
He hesitates and then nods. “That was their condition.”
I can’t look him in the eye now. The pain of betrayal wells up in me. I don’t recognize Noah anymore.
“How … how did you escape?” he asks. If it weren’t for the note of concern in his voice, I wouldn’t answer him.
“I didn’t,” I say contemptuously. “Ayden and Mr. Cunningham found me.”
The icy glint returns to his eyes, and I feel him closing himself off to me again. As if there’s an impenetrable wall between us that’s shielding his heart and making it cold and hard.
