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A smile I have no control over creeps over my face. The only one who has been underestimated here, is me. “No, I know all I need to about you. And you might last a couple of weeks before you’re on your knees in front of me, but Penny? How long do you think she’d last?”
People like her think that they’ve got nothing left. That they have nothing left to lose.
But people like her always have someone they want to protect.
She swallows a couple of times, and when she finally does speak, her voice is quiet. “You promised that you’d leave her alone.”
“Were there witnesses?” Royal asks. “Did you get anything in writing?”
I see the moment her resolve breaks, and it makes me wish I’d taken my phone out to record it. “The deadline is 9 a.m., Monday. Submission details are in the email. And if you try to hand in something in an effort to fail any of us, you won’t be the only one with their personalreservedtable.”
My phone starts vibrating. Without pulling it out, I know it’s going to be from another Elite senior, finding out where I am. As she doesn’t seem to have anything else to say, I turn and nod at Royal and Gemini. In silence, they follow me out of the library to the golf cart Royal parked out front when we arrived.
“You think she’ll do it?” Gemini asks.
I get in the front of the cart beside Royal. “She will. The only thing I can’t decide is who she’s going to hate more—me, or herself for doing it.”
Now, I’m ready to enjoy the evening.
Last night we opened the Crypt up to allow all members of the Elite to party. As expected, the room was trashed. Today, all the initiates were required to make the Crypt, as well as the church, spotless. The three of us checked in around lunch to make sure everything above ground, where the faculty was attending, was being properly cleaned, but overall, the responsibility fell to the seniors.
Initiations are a sacred part of joining the Elite. Most fraternities and sororities rush for a couple of weeks, some, maybe a month. Only, we’re not part of the Greek system, and none of the rules apply here.
Royal drives us up to the church, and aside from the lights inside, there’s no one around. Until we walk into the church, and I see the figure standing in front of the altar, looking up at the pipes of the organ, which hasn’t been played in decades.
Preston du Pont turns around, and he’s not smiling. “Why didn’t you answer your phone?”
The call in the library. I assumed it was a member but had never bothered to check. Then again, had I seen Preston’s name, I wouldn’t have returned the call tonight anyway. “Why are you here? The closing ritual isn’t until November.”
“A member of the Elite is always a member of the Elite, and this is an Elite event.” Preston looks between the three of us. “Why are you late? The leaders are supposed to lead by example.”
A member of the Elite might always be a member of the Elite, but etiquette dictates they do not attend campus events unless invited. As a former president, he’s allowed to disregard this, but he’s probably the only former president who has. Clearly, his position in his father’s company isn’t giving him the power rush he needs.
“Late?” Gemini asks. As I glance at him, a grin appears on his face. “But we’re the reigning executive committee. The party don’t start ‘til we walk in.”
Had he said that to anyone else, I would have chastised him—even if it would fall on deaf ears. But he’s talking to Preston, so he can be as inappropriate as he likes.
“No wonder the associates are starting to complain.” Preston steps off the small stage and walks down the aisle towards us. “You are not only members of the Elite, but you are also the president and vice presidents. That alone should be enough for the three of you to be responsible of your position.” He looks us each in the eye, one by one, stopping at Gemini. “Do I have to remind you who I am?”
Two weeks after we buried my brother, I found out what it meant to be a Keyingham. My father took me to Washington, D.C. As we stood in front of the Capitol, he told me that I would be in charge one day. At first, I’d assumed he meant that after JP’s death, I would need to take up his destiny of becoming President of the United States of America, and I would be here as part of that journey when I became senator.
I was partly right.
Then my father informed me that he—and by default, me—were members of a very special, very secret group. A group that was also all Elite alumni, but whose existence was completely secretive to anyone outside of it.
A group with enough power, money, and influence to pick the next president and push forward bills and laws of their choosing. A group that could decide which wars were fought and won. A group that could dictate how everyone in the country would live.
I didn’t believe him at first. And then he gave me a time and a date, and coordinates. Three days later, at the time and location he’d given me, a commercial plane crashed. No one survived. Including the wife of the man who was standing in the way of a private arms contract.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I see both Royal and Gemini shifting their weight. Although I remain still, I bite back my remark. It might be me who will be POTUS one day, but right now, it’s Preston’s father who outranks mine.
“Why are you late?” he asks, bringing his attention back to me.
“Just ruining someone’s weekend.”
Preston cocks his head. “This is the random girl you’ve got the members messing with? I’ve been meaning to talk to you about this, Synclair. This is not an effective use of time for members when they should be focusing their energy on the initiatives.”
“She’s not a random girl,” I tell him, curling my hands into fists beside me. “She’s Victoria Reynolds.” It’s the first time I’ve said her name aloud for some time, and it still tastes as bitter on my tongue. “Cole Reynolds’ sister.”
