Page 14 of Dancing With Demons

“—are confined to the west wing.” He snapped his fingers and Tristan was gone.

Just like that. No shout. No time for argument. He winked out of the room and I crashed to the floor, picking up no end of lustful, leering smirks as I scrambled to my feet.

“Anyone,” Erlik said, his gaze piercing me through, “who violates the new rule and crosses into a wing that is not their own—will be expelled from Abaddon Academy. And just so there is no confusion, girl,” he spoke to me and only me. “Expelled means executed.”

“B-but—” I rasped. “I—”

“And considering what a temptation you’d be for one professor in particular,” Erlik went on, “Radu will also be confined to the south wing, so all of you prepare yourself for a new instructor, and purge all the lies told by the one before.”

My bowels loosened. If I’d had a chance to eat or drink anything before these announcements, it would all be leaking out of my shorts.

Not only was Tristan gone, but now the only other person in this school who was interested in me staying alive was gone too.

“But, sir!” I burst out.

“Classes are out for the rest of the week.” Erlik turned away, dismissing me like I was no longer there. “To give our new lady students time to transfer and settle in. Now fuck off.”

I fucked off.

Tearing out the door, I raced to my dorm and barricaded myself in like there were demons on my tail.

Because there were.

Chapter Three

Ispent the rest of the week holed up in my room—surviving on water from the sink and the leftover snacks Lucifer packed in my suitcases. My only lifelines keeping me from dissolving into fear were studying my textbooks for any mention of hallows, fire, water, wood, or wind. And talking to Tristan on DeadDrop.

Finding his username was easy since it was literally his name. Back and forth, we talked about easy, simple things like our lives before meeting in Abaddon Academy. I appreciated that for what it was—an attempt to distract me from what awaited me when I finally walked out that door.

Sabrina said it herself, I thought as I flipped through History of Hell for the second time. You can’t expect to stay enrolled in a school if you’re not going to class. She also said holing up in some corner of the manor won’t work either. I have to go to class, or I have to leave Abaddon Academy.

I flicked to my phone for the fiftieth time, jaw clenching as I remembered the only other username allowed to receive messages from mine.

SlthPrncRonin

Whether by accident or on purpose, the unseen headmistress cut me off from one friend, and one scheming vampire bastard. Ever since, Ronin’s promise to help me whenever I needed it rang louder in my head. From day one, the other demons have run scared of him. They don’t look in his direction. They don’t breathe when he’s sleeping. One word from him, and they won’t touch me.

But that word comes at a price, a voice whispered. A price you are not paying.

I tossed my head, shoving my phone away. I can’t trust Ronin Belphe. He’s had power over me before, and he did not use that power responsibly. What would he do to me when he had me under a spell I couldn’t break?

No. Ronin isn’t the answer. The answer is figuring out who the hallows are, collecting their weird-ass clues, and then getting my sister back.

My phone beeped. A message from Tristan flashed on the screen.

Tristan: I searched for your snake. I picked up the scent, but it’s weeks old. She left the area a while ago, and most likely returned to House Lucifer. No one but those loyal to Lucifer can follow her there.

I groaned, head falling back on my pillow. This news wasn’t too much of a surprise, but I have to admit I was hoping for a miracle. Sabrina was the reason I survived in this place for as long as I did. Without her, I felt even more vulnerable and exposed than I already was.

Me: Thank you for trying.

Gooooonnnnggg!

I about jumped out of my skin, dropping my phone. With classes out for the last few days, the gong hadn’t been rung signaling we had to get our butts moving if we wanted food before classes started. If they were ringing the gong again, that meant classes were starting again—

—and I had to leave this room.

I climbed off the bed, but didn’t take another step. My feet stuck to the carpet—sinking deeper and holding faster as their braying, animalistic cries echoed in my ears. What would happen to me if I went out there? Did I really have to risk it? If I was thrown out of Abaddon Academy, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe—