73. Thea
Chapter 73
Thea
A nother night, another legacy party. I crack my neck, trying to ease the tension I’m carrying around there and in my shoulders. It’s been a busy few weeks. I’m juggling too many realities. School student, friend, phoenix spy, girlfriend, daughter, granddaughter, cousin, enemy, recovering victim, league prospect.
It’s the last one that takes up so much of my free time. Every challenge I accept entrenches me deeper into the clutches of The League of the Daggered Raven, and further’s someone else’s agenda. Their trust is a good thing. The more they trust me, the more access I have for information, upping my chances of finding something to use against Malcolm. On the outside, I look like I’ve got it all together. Inside, I’m holding the pieces of myself together so tightly the cracks are leaving cuts in my hands.
Finn smiles at me from across the room, and I fight the urge to roll my eyes or smile back. Just like he promised, he showed up at the dorm with a full debrief on what he learned from the guy in his trunk. It wasn’t much. Someone anonymous reached out to him to participate in Mayhem Night, promising to pay him for being there and taking video. He never got his money and the website he was told to upload his video to went dark the following morning.
Finn promised to keep digging. I didn’t tell him to continue, or tell him to stop. I’ve got other things to worry about. Like the two-month leaderboard review, which could happen any day now. I drift around the edge of the room. Tonight, I got a few smiles and had to fight back the urge to cringe when people asked where Joshua is. Thankfully, he’s out of town on business, which delays the conversation I’m sure they’re thinking about having with him.
I don’t want to go back to being a companion, but I’m also not a fan of the high council deciding that part of my punishment for my absence is to attend league events alone. I’m the prospect they’re using as a cautionary tale of what happens when you get caught committing a crime and run away from your responsibilities as a companion.
Eloise laughs loudly, trying to draw more attention to herself. I ignore the sound and snag another glass of champagne off the tray of a passing server before stepping outside for some air. I wander around the grounds sipping my bubbly, and come across a topiary hedge maze at the end of the garden walkway. I walk towards the entrance, hesitating briefly before stepping inside. This’ll be a much more interesting way to pass the time.
I’ve made five wrong turns to my three successful ones when I feel it. That sensation snaking along the back of my neck that says I’m not alone. I tell myself it’s fine. That I can’t be the only one drawn to the structure. Of course, other people will probably want to try it out too. Only, I don’t hear any footsteps. I look at the nearly empty glass in my hand. Maybe it’s the champagne going to my head.
I walk a little longer and still can’t shake the feeling. I could turn around and retrace my steps to see if I’m alone, but I want to make it to the end. I’ve made another successful turn when I finally hear what sounds like gravel crunching under a shoe. I’m met with silence when I stop to listen. The kind of silence that means someone’s trying not to make any noise.
I turn, walking a few yards back the way I came, and catch sight of a shadow slipping around a corner. Another crunch of the gravel comes from the path I was just on. I whip around just as another shadow darts out of view. Someone laughs behind me. A dark, hollow, distorted sound.
I’m being hunted and I don’t know by who. It could be anyone. The party’s full of people I don’t trust. Why did I think it would be a good idea to come out to a maze alone in the dark, while drinking champagne? I’ll tell you why, because I didn’t actually think anyone else would risk getting their fancy suits and shiny ass shoes dirty.
My time in that place has rewired my fight-or-flight response, so instead of standing my ground to fight, like my mind is telling me to do, I run. Adrenaline spurs me on, flooding my system with panic. I’m not making smart choices. I’ve hit four dead ends and have to retrace my steps; each time bringing me closer to whoever is in the maze with me.
“Run little girl, run.” The voice calls from somewhere on the right. There’s at least one wall of hedges separating us, but I don’t know if the path I’m on will lead me to him or farther away. Again, I don’t think of a route. I just run.
My heart pounds in my chest, my breath comes out in gasps and my dress clings to me from the sweat on my skin. I pause, hand against the maze wall, trying to catch my breath. I ditched my shoes so I could run faster, but the pea gravel under my feet isn’t the most comfortable feeling.
I’m pulled through the shrubbery wall. A gloved hand wrapped around my mouth smothers my yelp.
“Caught you.”
My feet kick up gravel as they flail around, trying to break his hold. My wild hits and struggles don’t faze him. He maintains his tight hold on me, dragging me deeper into the maze.
When I’m thrown onto the ground, I scramble on my hands and knees, trying to get away. My captor grabs my ankle, turning me over, and quickly binds my hands with a tie before shoving a handkerchief into my mouth.
“I know I saw her. Where did she go?” Someone asks from the other side of the greenery.
The guy clamps a hand over my mouth. With the other, he holds a finger to his lips. Shaking his head, he warns me not to scream. “They aren’t your friends.” He whispers. “They don’t want to help you.”
Says the guy wearing a mask and holding me down. He must read the thought in my eyes. “Yes, I am here to help you. I’ll always help you.” He pushes his mask up, revealing storm grey eyes.
I gasp around his hand for air. I can’t seem to get enough of it in through my nose. Holden’s taking this chase thing too damn seriously. I’m running for my life out here, and now that I know it’s him, my mind and body are conflicted about how they feel about it. On one hand, I’m relieved it’s him, on the other I’m scared shitless.
The other voices drift off, but instead of moving away, Holden shoves my dress up and rips my panties, his hand muffing my screams. I’d rather take my chance with whoever else is out there. I tremble, shaking my head, silently begging him not to do this. He pulls off one glove, shoving his finger inside me.
“Dry as a desert.” He tsks. “Your body is tense. Do I disgust you?”
I nod. He does. Everything about this disgusts me. I try blinking back the tears in my eyes. I feel the loss and hopelessness of it. I’m never gonna enjoy this kind of sex again.
He shakes his head. “No, I don’t think it’s disgust, Thea. You’re mad, and fighting it, but I’m gonna make you remember just how good being hunted and used by me can feel.”
There’s no way for him to do that.
“I can see you doubt me. It’s okay.” He spits on his fingers before shoving them back inside me. “I’m gonna have so much fun proving it to you.” He looks down at his hand. “You’re not gonna enjoy this tonight. But I will.” I can’t move. He’s too close. His weight too heavy on me. He leans closer, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. My eyes widen when he says, “I’m gonna put you to sleep now. When you wake up, you’ll be covered in my cum.”
I scream. Don’t. Against his hand. Fighting and trying to get away. Not this. Not like this. The pinch of the needle burns as he injects something into my neck. I feel my limbs loosen. My eyes grow heavy as he pushes my hair off my face.
I try to make my mouth work, hear my words slur, “Wh-why?”