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I furrowed my brows. Was he really going to ditch my question like that?
“I’m not worried about anything. It’s just baffling to me that someone who is a hybrid and has a human daughter would support such a law. I mean… if it weren’t for humans, we wouldn’t exist.”
“Or maybe, we would. We would’ve been born anyway, but instead of being half-bloods or… no-bloods,” Ouch! That stung. “...we would’ve been pure-blooded supernaturals. Maybe, you would’ve even had powers of your own.”
Well, I couldn’t deny that sounded nice. As someone who’d wondered all her life what it was like to have powers, I couldn’t argue with his logic. But at the same time, I knew it didn’t make any sense. A Mila with powers would’ve been a different person. Not me. I had come to like me for me, and I’d never thought I’d say this, but having no special skills or powers had made me stronger, had made me fight harder and be better. I was where I was now, almost at the top of the worth scoreboard, not because of my name or my parents’ fortune, but because I was one stubborn bitch who wouldn’t give up even when faced with horrible bullying and the promise of death lurking around every corner. If I’d been a supernatural, I would’ve most certainly been a spoiled brat. Just like Lorna, Pandora, and… let’s face it, Pazuzu and GC Apis. At least, being who I was, I had a fair chance at liking myself. I wasn’t sure these people liked themselves very much.
“We aren’t, though,” I said. “You’re still a hybrid, and I’m still a human. And that’s okay, right? I mean, look at you. You’re the most powerful Grim Reaper of the twenty-two. I learned about you in History.” I didn’t mention I’d studied him outside of the History class, too. Looking at him, I couldn’t help but wonder why I’d been unable to find any pictures of him. He was legit handsome. When I’d asked Mrs. Morgan about it, she’d just said Valentine Morningstar didn’t like having his picture taken. “And I’m the only human who’s ever received an invitation to apply to the Academy.”
A dark shadow fell over his face. “And why do you think that happened?”
I gulped. He does have a point. “Because I’m your daughter…” My voice suddenly turned meek.
“No.” Everyone at the table was looking at us. They were so focused on our exchanges, so eager to catch every word and every inflection, that they were barely breathing. “Many supernaturals have children with humans, and those children are human, with not a bone of angel, demon, or vampire in them. Yet, you don’t see them at Grim Reaper Academy. Try again.”
Oh, the time when he’d call me “daughter” and tell me how much he missed me was long gone! And it had only been a few hours…
“I don’t know.” But I did know. The prophecy. Grim Reaper Academy, and maybe the Council even, wanted Valentine Morningstar removed. And who could be a better candidate than his own daughter?
He was silent for a long moment. The tension was so thick that one could cut it with a knife. It hung in the air, heavy and suffocating, like cigarette smoke in a cheap bar on game night. No one at the table said a single word. No one in the entire dining hall whispered, or even breathed. Thirty seconds. One minute. He finally relaxed back in his seat and gave me a bright smile.
“You know what? Headmaster Colin will excuse you tomorrow.” He looked at Mason Colin, who nodded. “I’m taking you out. Have you visited Salem? Lovely little town.”
I took a sip of wine, hoping the cold liquid would help bring back my voice.
“I’m not comfortable missing a whole day of school. It will be hard to catch up.”
“Nonsense! You’re the smartest student here! Just ask your fellas to lend you their notes.”
“I have Anthropology with the RDC.”
“So, ask someone else.” He stood up straighter and looked over the dining hall until he spotted the RDC table. “Miss Chiaramonte, you will lend your Anthropology notes to my daughter tomorrow.” That wasn’t a question, nor a suggestion. It was an order. “If that’s okay with you, of course.”
It was Lorna’s turn to play the deer-caught-in-the-headlights part. Honestly, seeing her so scared and confused made me feel better about myself. I really didn’t want her notes, though.
I leaned in to whisper in Morningstar’s general direction. “I don’t want to…”
“Shh. Lorna is more than happy to help!”
“Y-yes,” Lorna finally managed. “I’d be happy to share my notes with your daughter.” Her pale face turned an angry shade of pink, which showed just how humiliated she felt. In other circumstances, I would’ve enjoyed this victory. Except it wasn’t mine. So, naturally, I didn’t want it. Maybe I was more like my father than I wanted to admit.
“Marvelous!” He turned to me and raised his glass. “Tomorrow, after breakfast. You, me, and the town of Salem. There’s something I want to show you. You’ll love it.”
Would I? I s
tole a glance at Headmaster Colin, looking for a sign. Any kind of sign. He simply nodded then averted his gaze and poured himself more beer. Funny. I hadn’t seen him drink beer before.
CHAPTER NINE
My father owned a black Lamborghini. I never thought I’d say the words father and Lamborghini in the same sentence. Like… ever in my life. Valentine Morningstar wasn’t Stepan Lazarov. There were moments when I couldn’t decide who was worse. Because, for damn sure, neither of them was any good for me.
All hell broke loose after dinner last night. He’d popped up out of nowhere and turned my world upside down. Not that I was a fan of my social status before the whole school knew I was his daughter, but the sudden one-eighty the other students pulled on me in the span of a few hours freaked me out and might have scarred me for life. Now, Sheba and Sammy, who seemed to be joined at the hip, smiled at me every time I walked past them in the hallways. What. The. Fuck. Some guy from the RDC flirted with me at breakfast. I didn’t even know his name. He knew mine. At the VDC table, everyone wanted to sit as close to me as possible. Next to me was just not an option, since GC and Paz were – to their sudden, mystifying despair – still in the picture. Klaus had managed to demystify some of their behavior after breakfast, right before I was supposed to meet Morningstar at the gates.
“You can choose whoever your little heart desires now. You’re Valentine Morningstar’s daughter! You don’t have to settle.”
I laughed. “That’s ridiculous! We’re talking about GC freaking Apis and Pazuzu freaking Eremus. How am I settling?”
He shrugged. “You’ve been dating them for a few months. Maybe you’re bored.”
