Chapter 9
Watching her was a mistake, following her even worse. But here I am following behind her keeping my distance as she walks through the halls, it’s only her second day but already I can tell being here is the last thing she wants.
Things regarding Tenley were complicated, she’d once been a part of Monarch prep, long ago before her father took her away from us.
Silas and the others were too caught up in her beauty, I’d admit she was, no is fucking beautiful, but we shouldn’t so easily trust her.
This wasn’t her world anymore, we weren’t. Fuck.
I shouldn’t trust her, I didn't trust easily. Silas, Neo and Jagger were the only people I'd even let close to me, no one knew the real me, as much as they liked to think they did.
Tenley stops up ahead, looking over the old photos that cover the walls.
I can tell the second she finds a photo of each of us, her face falls giving away the emotions pawing they’re way through, what is she feeling seeing a younger version of us?
Does she remember us? She swallows swiftly as if she’s trying to avoid showing emotion out in the open.
Colton and Zion walk past her, each turn slightly taking her in, their gazes roaming over her body until they lift heads, their gaze met by my murderous one, they knew the rules, knew she was ours. Without a word they walk away from Tenley, looking back at her, her head is down avoiding their gaze.
Finally she lifts her head, our eyes connect, I don’t miss the way it feels as she stares at me, her gaze burning deep into mine. It’s been a long time since I last saw her, we’d been kids the last time we’d even been in the same room. If you didn’t count my late night intruding while she slept.
Clearly she didn’t remember me.
Fuck.
Would she ever remember me?
I didn’t blame her, her father did everything to erase this place from her memory after they left.
I wouldn’t put it past him to try everything possible to erase us.
Tenley tilts her head watching me, I don’t budge, placing my hands into the pockets of my pants as I hold her gaze.
My lips twitch, watching as she moves a strand of hair behind her ear avoiding my gaze. I scrub a hand along my jawline before I lift the corner of my lip giving her a slight smirk, before she turns and abruptly stalks off. Of course I follow her. What kind of stalker would I be if I didn’t.
Keeping my distance I walk behind her watching as she takes in everything.
Monarch Prep is impressive, high ceilings with stainglass windows and expensive as fuck chandeleirs that scream money.
Even the hardwood is expensive, the bell chimes over the speaker before the mandatory spill that plays every fucking day fills my ear.
At Monarch Prep, we thrive for greatness, we achieve what we are born to and without greatness we fail. To be a true Monarch is a reward.
Gag.
Jesus, fuck!
Tenley lifts her head listening to the words as they flow over the speaker for a second time.
Her brows furrow slightly and her mouth turns down.
I’m betting Cranford spoke those same words to her on her first day here.
Wouldn't surprise me, the egotistic asshole expects her to follow along like a sheep.
Hearing these words every day for the last three years is still the shittest thing about this place because they were all lies.
Something Tenley will discover eventually.
She glances toward where I’m standing, her brows once again dipping.
My phone vibrates in my pocket pulling my gaze from Tenley.
I pull it out, opening the text from Silas.
Silas: Stop doing your stalker shit.
Me: But it’s so fun and she’s too good not to watch.
I reply, watching as the bubble shows and disappears while he writes his reply. Lifting my head to check Tenley, I see that she’s gone.
Fuck.
Silas: It’s Jagger.
Fuck. That only means one thing, Jagger’s old man is a mean fucking asshole, just like mine was.
Last year he’d beaten him so bad he’d been bedridden for a week.
Abandoning my plans, since I’ve lost Tenley anyway I head back the way I came.
Slamming the door open I’m met with Neo flipping his knife, he looks up, lifting the side of his mouth before continuing with his knife.
Silas comes into view, his arms across his chest giving me a look before I shove past him pushing him out of the way.
Jagger sits on the bed, holding a cloth to the left side of his face, he lifts his head when he hears my footsteps, I’m murderous when I see the blood dripping from his lip, a bruise already forming on his right cheek.
“That mother fucker, I’m going to kill him.” I yell. Dropping between his thighs I slowly pull the cloth from his face to take in the damage.
Jagger’s left eye is swollen, dry blood coats his skin and I don’t miss the tear as it slides down his cheek.
“Let me guess,” I say as I lift his arm, placing the cloth back to his eye. “You’re a disappointment.” he nods slowly. The outcome is always the same, our father’s were no different, all cut from the same cloth, I guess in reality we were all the same.
“Let me kill him.” I say again needing him to give me permission.
“No,” Jagger simply denies me, swallowing before he moves to lay back on the bed, fixing the pillow under his head before he closes his eyes and doesn't say another word.
I turn my gaze back to where Silas is leaning against the door jam, Neo joins him watching Jagger.
I stand going toward them, running my hand over the back of my neck and grinding my teeth before I say. “I’m done holding back. Let me take him out. ”
Holding his hand up Silas stops me, “In time, you know the deal. In time they all pay but for now he lives.”
“And we keep letting him hurt him.” I snap.
Silas sighs heavily. “I don’t like it either Zephyr, trust me I’d rather watch as his blood drains from his body but for now we keep a lid on our revenge until the time is right.”
Throwing my arms up I stalk through the door between them and slam the door behind me as I exited the room.
Everyone clears out of my way as I storm through the halls, except one kid who walks right into me and slams into my shoulder, before he can respond I scruff his shirt and slam him into the nearest wall, knocking the wind from him as I do.
He just about pee’s his pants when I get in his face.
“Get out of my fucking way.” I growl. Breathing heavily as I stare him down.
“Woah man, chill I didn’t mean to.” He utters holding his hands up in surrender, I drop him letting him fall to the floor beneath me, he scurries away like the worm he is and then without looking back I turn and before I do something that’ll have Cranford on my back I shove the doors open letting them slam behind me as I head toward the one place that forces me to shut it all out.