Paper-Thin

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Paper-Thin

FLINT

Heeler dismissed class early. By now, the entire school is on fire about Bellwether's duel. I have a swollen face to prove it. Verity stepped in the moment he struck me dumbfounded. Which seems to add fuel to the swirling rumors of a relationship that doesn't exist. I don't know why she intervened, but I can't say I'm not grateful. Bellwether would've kept swinging till my skull was in pieces.

I take a seat at the entrance of Hortus Gardens. Community hour starts in ten minutes so I settled on waiting for Piper outside. The boys and I agreed to spend Community hour at Dybbuk stadium. Blake and Andrew said something about teaching me the ropes which earned Donnic's muffled groans. Once I told Sasha and Piper, they insisted on joining us. But Piper's schedule is the only one I've remembered briefly. So now I freeze my ass off with a bloated bruise for a face feeling sorry for myself.

Any thoughts of surprising Piper flew out the window when she threw her weight on my shoulders in a hug from death. I can't imagine ever finding myself annoyed with Piper's bubbly personality. It sounds weird referring to a vampire as being welcoming or remotely normal. In all honesty, she's a breath of fresh air in a school of moody brute mythicals. Piper tucks a strand of blonde hair behind her ear as she makes her way to stand in front of me. Her infectious smile fades when she sees my face.

"Strike me dead," Piper gasps. "What happened to you?"

I chuckled, stuffing my hands into my pockets. I'm surprised the news hasn't hit hortus yet. "You know, training."

She shakes her head furiously. "No, that's not training."

I sighed. The last thing I want to do is go over the last hour in the snow, but I tell her anyway. I'm sure everyone gets tired of my mountain hill of questions. It's only fair that I answer them when they ask their few- despite the embarrassment. I go over Bellwether and his clear act of hatred. Piper nods, listening patiently with a stern face until I mention Verity. She looked up and her eyes shone brightly.

Piper clears her throat once I'm done. "Verity stood in for you, and took his arm?"

I nodded. Her tone didn't sound surprised. More like she just wanted clarity of the situation beforehand. Her smile returns at the notion. Her fangs peek through the warm smile I've grown fond of. It's always a good day to see her infectious grin.

Linking arms together, Piper led me to Dybbuk Stadium. Community hour really is just a fancy term for free time. Grimm allows students to venture as long as they interact with fellow students. No one is allowed to go alone or play solo. I bet Verity and Donnic hate this event. I turn my attention to Piper. I'm surprised by the devious smile Piper offers when she presses into my arm. She chuckles quitely. "My girl. She always keeps her word."

I don't bother asking what she means. Knowing Sasha, she probably made Verity do a blood pact to not touch me with Piper as their witness. It'll kill her when she finds out what kind of person her friend has become over time. I don't want to be here when it happens.

We pass a surge of students making our way to Dybbuk Stadium. Piper leans in to tell me to ignore the mumbles and perplexed stares. If things were different, I'd probably be one of them. Laughing at the poor sap that crossed a high fae's path. It doesn't seem quite funny when you're the idiot they're devouring. For now, I'm nothing more than a human-dragonling. A fleshy sac of virgin rumors and speculations that my peers find as savoring entertainment unfolding before their very eyes. I haven't spoken to the majority of the school's population yet everyone knows who I am.

Dybbuk stadium is a lot different than I expected. I suppose I pictured it to be a bone graveyard with mythicals drenched in blood, snow and debris altogether. But the stadium surprisingly looks like a hundred yard football field. There's nothing here that insinuates anything extraordinary like magic-filled sports. It reminds me of Amherst.

Back home, Friday nights at the football stadium and hockey rinks were magic to us mortals. Each bench was filled to the brim with family and friends who waved your number highly with seeping pride. The success of winning became a tradition for the residents in Amherst. You knew everything about your teammates' families and loved watching someone's eighty-year-old grandma tear into a referee. My favorite moments were often in a stadium like this. Dad would drag Myers to my games and the two would melt away from their rough interiors into something more genuine. Two brothers infatuated with the high of sports they used to play together as kids. I miss them more than anything in the world.

I should check with Sasha to see if Myers wrote a letter yet. Or maybe I could. I miss that bourbon asshat.

Andrew waves us down from the center field. Blake and Donnic are beside him, busing themselves with their mesh pads and knee-caps. The three of them are sporting bulky shoulder pads and shin guards. They look like they're embracing the journey for a draft or something deadly. Piper and I cut through the field. My stomach turns into knots from the attention Piper pulls to herself naturally. Players from all over where now watching her every move with saliva dripping from their chins. The students are watching her like a predator does when the prey comes out from their hiding. I don't think Piper noticed. If she did, she never shows a sign of it. We don't stop until both of us are in front of the three.

"Hi boys!" Piper said cheerfully with a subtle wave. She releases my arm and tucks her hands behind her back.

Donnic grunts something, slapping his shoulder pads onto his body. Blake begins to greet her, but he's silenced by Andrew. It doesn't surprise me to know what the two were thinking. Blake was going to ask if Sasha was joining us and Andrew will try to win Piper over for a little fruitless mating ritual. Donnic, however, is difficult to read. He's painfully reflective, unpredictable and yet reliable at the same time. I never know what to expect from him. He's the wild card of our newfound group.

"Hey Pip," Andrew said, knocking Blake from her view. Real smooth, Devonni.

Women are confusing. Their thought process is never the same and the hormonal imbalances are chilling. I'm left dumbfounded when Piper rolls her eyes at the guy she was drooling at a week ago. Andrew, much to his ego, looks stricken by the heart when she disregards his presence.

"Are you guys practicing for the tournament?" Piper turns her head from him. Her gaze falls on Donnic and we watch her in disbelief as she unlinks herself from me to join the scrawny Devonni twin. Donnic gives his brother a smug look before accepting a hug from Pip. Unphased by the brothers, Blake asked. "Is Sasha joining us today?"

Piper flicks her thumb across her spine and holds it open to read her messages. "Sasha said she's finishing up her bio project. She'll join us when she's done, hotshot."

Andrew strides to his brother's side with a smirk on his face. He's inches from Piper when he questions if she's upset with him. He earns another eye roll from the blonde beaut who snaps her scroll shut. The thin parchment swats the bridge of his nose and sends him stepping away from its master. I've never seen Piper hostile. I get the sense Sasha or Verity's mannerism is rubbing off on her.

"Cheryl is still waiting for a call from you." She sneers. "-You know, the girl you hooked up with the first night back. She's been crying for a week."

Andrew shrugs it off. I notice Donnic tenses when Piper's fangs emerge. The sharp white ends of her teeth could shred an artery in a pinch. This is the first time I've witnessed Piper angry before. Out of all the girls in this school, I never thought I'd witness Piper extended fangs or nails. Her eyes could torch Andrew to ashes any given moment. She's terrifying in her own blood curdling ways. "Just say you want a ride," he has the guts to wink at her. "All the ladies know I don't commit."

"Tell that to my roommate and cousin, shitbrick." She scoffs at Andrew. Disgust consumes Piper's expression.

I groan into my hands while Blake laughs. Andrew's actions come with biting consequences that the rest of us have to dwell in. Meanwhile, the asshat couldn't be bothered. His lack of response only pisses her off more. Piper walks to me, removing my bag from my shoulders swiftly. "I'll be at the benches. Enjoy yourself, Flint." I think she's trying to sound friendly to me but her words come out in a low snarl. Her fang is nearly chomping on her bottom lip at this point. She pats my shoulder, "knock some decency into your roommate. Either head works."

Holy shit. I swear. Women at Mythicae are entirely deranged beauts.

The four of us watch her stomp off the field. Blake smacks Andrew's shoulder with a laugh. Donnic, however, glares at his twin. Part of me figured that Andrew would say he'd make it up to Piper. That's how I would rationalize it at least. I was wrong. He joins Blake's laughter and shrugs it off as though it couldn't be helped.

"Let's teach Flint the basics of Dybbuk before she sets her blood on fire," Andrew said with a toothy grin.

There's no shame in this guy. Impressive.

"Right," Blake said while Donnic fetched safety gear for me. "Good thing you have the captain as your roommate. You'll be a pro in no time."

I stuff my hands into my pockets and scoff, "so do we fly through hoops or what? None of you asshats have explained Dybbuk to me."

This earns a devilish smile from the three of them. Donnic slaps my shoulders pads on and hands the rest to me. The materials fumble in my hands. This shit feels like stones. I reach down to pick the fallen contents and freeze when I hear Donnic's laugh. The tone is full, dripping with sarcasm and pity. I didn't know he could laugh.

"I think it's best we just show you the ropes."

Sweet molasses. Those three fuckers are going to get me killed.

…

VERITY

Grimm's office is conveniently placed in the collections tower above Hart's Building. I used to find the stone structure and velvet interior to be gorgeous. Draped in the finest materials with vintage furniture placed in the nooks and crannies of its spacious layout. Now it's a rubble of cobwebs, foul arrangement of misplaced odors and dust. Grimm should at least hire focariae to tidy up the place. Alas, the headmaster isn't the kind of creature to accept help in the slightest. I figure he's just scared or irritated by focariae. They can be difficult if you don't know how to approach them.

I suppose Heeler has a smug look on his face at the moment. He didn't bother trying to hide the lipstick smudged on his collar or his absence. The wolf is incompetent.

I glide my hand against the railing as I make my way up the spiraling staircase. Grimm's office is on the top floor. The balcony attached allows him to overlook the students from afar with the attached view of a warning sun. The further I go, the stronger my senses are wafted with fresh blood. My stomach knots at the thought of who that could mean. Ayron is the first image that comes to my mind, but I hope I'm wrong.

Two large gargoyles are placed on each side of the office door. Their statues are stone with sharp spears in a claw. Grimm's personal bodyguards. Their beady eyes follow my movements as I wave to them before knocking on the headmaster's door. Behind the heavy door is a saturated voice that chills my bones.

"Come in, child."

I hold my jaw straight and reach for the handle. The gargoyle to my right breaks his mold cracking a pulled smirk on me. I cut him a side-eye. "Piss off, Gary."

He chuckles at my words before returning to his placement. It seems that I've made it a ritual to make my way to Grimm's office due to noncompliance and "attitude problems". I'd blame it on losing Cal, but I feel free when I'm like this. Despite the void I carry because of the reasoning behind my actions. I find myself smiling as the door widens to touch its frame like a lion's mouth. My nostrils pinch at the rich stench that consumes my senses. Grimm has the curtains pulled tightly to prevent the smallest rays of light from seeping into his office. I step inside the musty room.

"Verity, my dear." Grimm huffs, motioning me to sit at the red cushioned seat in front of his mahogany desk. I comply. "Heeler has summoned you into my office due to-" He pauses to pull the thin beaded string for his lamp. "an accident on the training field."

This is our secret exchange. Callum used to be Grimm's apprentice and leader of Farouts. I remember the times my brother would come home with flushed cheeks and vibrant eyes. He looked up to Grimm and cherished his guidance. I was grateful for my brother's ability to see the light in bleak matters. He found wholesome qualities in someone like myself and Grimm.

So when Cal passed, Grimm approached me to take over in his honor. I denied it at first. I couldn't stomach taking what used to be my brother's beloved path. That was until I found Callum's messages. The intricate puzzles he left behind and riddles followed soon after. I disowned the family name and started living at the school in secret. I had no reason to play a part when Cal died.

I knew it wouldn't last forever, but I went from high fae to nobody overnight. When Grimm discovered me, he suggested a different arrangement. Drop out of mythical beast ops and join dominus armorum in order to train and take Callum's place as Farout's leader. In exchange for my competence, I'm allowed to live at Mythicae until I graduate and receive a generous stipend for my efforts. Grimm looks the other way when I create chaos as long as I hold my end of the deal.

"Yes sir."

Grimm taps his long nails on his desk sighing heavily. "You're paper-thin, child. It's important you make an effort to eat for strength."

Typical. He's the last person to tell me I'm looking sickly.

"Yes sir." I force a smile, crossing my legs. "Shall we focus on pressing matters? Your greyhound lacked presence in class today. His absence left a window of opportunity for a student to attack the human, Flame."

Grimm chuckles at this, "Flint, my dear. His name is Flint Anderson."

I nodded. I don't care to remember his name or frutil information about the halfling. My motives are tainted in every cruel way possible. The less I know about him, the better. "So I stepped in before Bellwether could take things further."

Grimm leans his jaw into his open palm humming at my words. I explained the events that unfolded after I intervened. I left out the information about Heeler's marking and that I didn't care when I noticed him on the field to begin with. I aimed for his ear. I needed to see it for myself. I finished with telling him that Heeler partnered me with Flint as punishment. Headmaster Grimm sits on his throne for a moment. His brows knit together in concentration.

"I know," Grimm said finally. "Mythicae reports to me at any given moment. I watched the fight myself. Give Heeler time to adjust as your new professor. I must add, your skills are improving remarkably. As for your new relations with Flint- Heeler didn't arrange for the pairing." He clears his throat. My nails press into the cushions. Don't say it. My thoughts ripple at my desperate pleas. "I did."

He doesn't have to hear the words I'm screaming in my head. The display of disgust is blatantly on my face. He continues, "I know that this is difficult considering your circumstances. But I fear for the human's safety at times. We have probable evidence to believe he's being targeted for his heritage. You're the only student I can entrust him with. It's vital that you guide him on his journey to build strength. Your presence alone will keep others at bay."

I smile at this. The headmaster is entrusting me to help the coven's weapon flourish in a school designed to kill him. They suspect that someone is after him yet the idiots conveniently placed their pawn piece into my lap. Bloody fools. It can't be this easy, can it?

"I will do my best to please you, headmaster." I get up, ready to dismiss myself. Grimm watches until I'm inches from the door.

"One last thing, child."

I always hate this part. I'm frozen in place with small corrupted eyes observing me. He doesn't have to say it. I know the reality we live in. It's why Ayron hid the truth from me and everyone else on the team. Farout members are the less fortunate students tied together on a tightrope. Each one of us is struggling with lack of financial support, family absence or everything in between. When an aldarar infects you, you don't come back. There's no cure for it. The coven decides how to dispose of you. It's a risk we have accepted as a slow fate but try to ignore.

"I will be holding an assembly tonight to discuss our rigorous issue with aldarar after dinner. From there, we'll hold a farewell candlelight vigil service for Ayron and wish him well on his journey. It seems as though we may have an infestation upon us." Grimm sighs to himself, "I need Farouts stationed in the grand walkway. After tonight, no one is permitted to walk alone or venture off. Ayron should be the last student to succumb to such beasts of curses."

Hot tears brim my lashes. Ayron's gentle laugh comes to mind, and I'm left with the memories of someone who shouldn't be gone. The nights we soar together in frenzy chases and bandage each other when things become too much come to mind. Ayron was a rare breed. He was one of the few who could see past my grief and approach me even when I had my boiling points. I never returned his kindness in the end. I failed to see him for his pain and fear.

"Sir, if you suspect an infestation then a vigil won't be ideal. What would Mythicae benefit from- " the question burns in my mind. I can't help but ask. "-if the students were attacked?"

"Ayron's infection was not a mere accident, I'm afraid. As you know, aldarars are beasts that feed on impulse. The coven is up my hide trying to find answers regarding its suppressed conscience. But here lately, it seems they're evolving. There have been reports from the southern and northern states of said planned attacks. Something is happening that not even the coven is prepared for. That is why, my dear, I'm entrusting you to protect your peers. You know the coven is-" he pauses, his claws dip into the wooden desk. "-Relentless with their antics. We need to resolve the issue before they shut down the school."

I know the coven better than you think, old man. "Understood."

Ayron was Callum's right-hand man when he was the commander. It only felt right that Ayron was promoted to join my side. He was a kind mythical. Never met a stranger or faced a challenge too big until it was the bitter end. Ayron was a lot like Callum in ways. It only makes sense that this hellhole claimed another victim.

"It's time to find Ayron's replacement. He's gone."