AllFreeNovel
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“Now do something with it. ”
“What?”
“Do something with it,” I repeated.
She looked around as if she might find the answer inscribed on the worn upholstery of the student lounge couch. “Like what?”
“I don’t know. Clean your nails or something. ”
The room had quieted a bit. Chatter still came from across the room, but I felt how a handful of Initiates had begun to watch us.
Emma mouthed the words, My nails?
I had to hand it to my friend—she really trusted me, and I loved her for it. I gave her an encouraging nod, and she began picking at her nails. I don’t know how she did it without drawing blood. It really was an ugly blade, looking more suitable for boar skinning than an impromptu manicure.
Trinity’s voice rang clear across the lounge. She was outraged. “Have you forgotten your place?”
I adopted an innocent tone. “So, cleaning your nails is forbidden now?”
One of the Initiates began to stand, and Trinity shot a brief look to stop her. She brought her attention back to me, stabbing her weapon deep into the arm of the chair. “Watch out, Acari. Because soon we’re going to finish what we started. ”
Other weapons appeared in the Guidons’ hands—mostly blades, but some weird stuff, too. A needle-thin stiletto. Brass knuckles. One girl slid some arrow-tube-looking thing from her sleeve, and I made a mental note not to cross her.
I didn’t know where my guts—or stupidity—came from. All I knew was, I’d stood up to Guidons before and had been all but rewarded. Vampires appeared to be big fans of the whole survival-of-the-fittest thing.
“Promises, promises. ” I eased my hand closer to the throwing stars I kept tucked in my boot.
Trinity didn’t like my bravado—I could tell by the way her porcelain cheeks flushed red. But her voice remained cold and even. “Maybe next time we’ll strip you completely naked. Unless the sight of you in your training bra scared the boys off for good. ”
The other girls tittered.
“You’re seriously going that route again?” I pulled my shoulders back, sitting tall. I was not flat-chested. Not entirely. “At least I’m not a clench-jawed Connecticut poor little rich girl with the intellect of a Happy Meal and the heart of a virago. ” I glanced at Emma. “It’s like if John Cheever had written horror. ”
“The fuck?” Trinity was on her feet. “What the fuck does that mean?”
I bit my lips not to laugh. I’d known Trinity wasn’t the brightest bulb, and now more important, I’d just learned how much she hated it.
I sensed someone plop onto the arm of the couch. “Language, dollies. ”
Amanda had appeared, but Trinity’s glower didn’t budge from me. “Whatever. ”
Our Proctor scanned the room, taking in all the weaponry. The line between her brows told me she’d grokked what was going down. “Toys away. ”
Emma complied, but the older girls only glared in challenge.
Amanda stiffened. “I said weapons down. ”
One by one, all the sharp things were stowed away—however reluctantly.
“Brilliant. ” She turned her attention to the Guidons, her attitude a sort of forced business casual. “I came for you third-years. Priti says class isn’t at the gym today. She wants us to meet her at the cove. Something about medium-range combatives. In the surf. ”
There was grumbling as the girls dispersed. I was glad I was sitting, because I was sure a few of them would’ve shouldered me on their way out.
Amanda remained, standing over me and regarding me with a sort of stern appreciation. “Acari Drew, you have got to learn when to stand down. ”
I nodded, but in my heart, I completely disagreed. All of this—the hazing, the posturing, even the flirting—was a part of some greater test. I was almost certain now.
Because there was only one group on this island who could demand total submission. And it wasn’t us girls.
