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“What?”
“An ancient secret society? What the hell is this place? Are you people brainwashed or something? You let three monumental assholes run this place without question, or what? They dump piss on you?”
“Biba—”
“They call you a slut in the halls? How can everyone in this place be so … cowardly?”
All at once, Theo flung my hand aside and stood. He was pissed, his eyes bulging and his hands balled in fists.
“The Kings are more than bullies, Biba,” he barked. “Can you please take this seriously?”
“Then, why were you sitting with them that first morning at breakfast?”
Theo averted his eyes. It seemed I had struck a nerve. “That, I can’t tell you,” he whispered.
I sighed. “There’s so much people can’t tell me, I guess.”
Theo took my hand. “I can try to intercede on your behalf,” he said without much conviction. “I can’t promise anything, but … maybe I can convince Zephyr. Please, though … do what everyone says and lay low in the meantime.
I sighed deeply and smiled with resignation. “Okay. Thanks.”
“Good. Okay, I’ve gotta go. You’ll be okay. I’ll see you at dinner.”
Nodding, I suddenly remembered. “Gail.”
“Who’s that?”
“A new girl. She just started today. She’s from England, and we got to talking during our hike. I invited her to sit with me.”
“You think there’s room for one extra person?”
“Of course,” I blushed. “See you then.”
“Remember your promise to me,” he said as he was closing the door.
He was gone before I pushed out the words, “I’ll try.”
Chapter 8
Biba
I found myself looking forward to dinner with Gail. She was the first person I’d met at Stormcloud with whom I felt any kind of kinship or mutual understanding. I didn’t belong with this well-heeled group of pampered brats. She understood gratitude, and she understood loss. If anything, I felt braver than her, and that made it easier for me.
We met up at the entrance to the dining room and went to the back to get our meals together. When we emerged from the cafeteria line into the dining room itself, I sensed immediately that something was wrong. Something was different. Then I realized what it was.
Zephyr and the entire student body in the room were sitting quietly—not a smile, not a movement, just the power of their combined stares right at Gail and me. It was a totally creepy feeling, and I looked away, focusing instead on our table where Theo quietly waited. He was calmly eating his dinner, slicing carrots with a knife and fork in a concerted effort to appear nonchalant. I knew better.
We reached the table, and I introduced Gail to him in a somber voice. We sat down and began to eat, but the silence remained unbroken. I had no clue what I’d done to warrant this newest perverted attention, but it was all I could do not to get up and run back to my room and lock the door.
“Steady,” came the words low and beneath Theo’s breath.
“What the hell is this?” I whispered, “Performance art?”
“They’re testing you. Ignore them.”
“I thought you were going to talk to him.”
“I did. Right after we parted ways. It … could have gone better.”
Our eyes met, and then I looked at Gail and saw her face. Eyes wide, she was frozen in absolute terror. I looked to Theo and then back at Gail to draw his attention. He nodded.
“Gail, tell me about England,” he invited in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft.
She looked petrified, glancing over her shoulder at the silent, leering faces. “I… I don’t think now is the time. Something seems to be off.”
“It’s okay. This isn’t about you,” Theo assured her. “It’s Zephyr. He’s commanded everyone to do this because he’s angry with me. Just slide around and turn your back to them.”
“Go ahead, Gail.” I wanted to encourage her to give her some bravery.
If she buckled under now, she’d never recover, and her entire school life would suffocate her. There would always be a Zephyr to instigate that sort of behavior.
“Well, if you’re sure. Let us see, where should I begin? I grew up near the sea. My village sits on a steep cliff, and you’re able to see the waves from nearly every house in the area. My father was well-respected, a doctor. My mum was his nurse and ran their office. We knew everyone, and they knew us. My dad said I should leave the village when I came of age, see more of the world, learn what people were all about. You see, he was educated abroad and a highly intelligent man.”
Gail’s voice started warbling, a sob welling up deep inside. I knew exactly how she was feeling. All it took was the mere mention of your lost parent, and you started blubbering uncontrollably. It’s physical, this grief.
“Let’s change the subject,” I suggested.
