Chapter 35
Poison
All black
“M erry almost Christmas , GenCre. Tonight is the night of the dance that our very gracious Headman granted to us, so let's make the most of it, students and staff. Reminder Rampages, no interference with the party, you have your own celebration to attend to after Stygian day.
Now, let's start the night off with our chant...”
––––––––
I adjust my tight as fuck tuxedo tie while I burst through the command room. Bedford is standing up from his seat wearing a Navy-blue suit and chunky sneakers. I glare at his outfit.
“The color code was black, and silver; didn't you get the memo?”
He shrugs. “You know me, I don't conform with the society's ideals and limitations set for a single person or group. I will not be confined because the rules say so. I'm as free as a bird, dear father.”
My brows crunch as I tug my tie again to loosen it. “What the hell are you talking about?”
He jerks his hand out to my suit. “I mean, look at you, you're an uncomfortable Neanderthal just to please someone.”
Anita, actually. I only agreed to this because she said to be my date. Speaking of, I should've seen if Anita knew what to do about this tie situation, but she was nowhere to be found this morning or afternoon. She’s been distant, and now I’m worried, after our unexpected moment, that I scared her off. What if she doesn't want me now because of my fucked up trauma?
“Did you just call me a Neanderthal?”
He scoffs. “Here.” Bedford takes my tie and my brows pinch deeper. I could shove him off, and handle it myself, but it's clear that I can’t.
I raise my chin. “You speak anything of this to anyone, I’ll kill you, then fire you,” I say with a deadpan expression as he finishes.
Bedford snickers and flies to his seat. “Aye, aye Headman.”
I tug my suit jacket and nod. It does feel better. “Did you find anything on the chip I gave you?” I made sure to investigate Richard's brains, even though brain matter was splattered everywhere. He was reaching for something with his knife, and my curiosity grew. What was he doing?
While Anita and Mal handled the cameras, I found a little black fragment, attached to the cerebral cortex of Mr. Mayor's head, that remained intact despite the explosion of brain matter.
Bedford looks at me with a sly grin. “I did. It took some testing, and I even had to bring in the neuro-tech team to investigate it since it was so fried.” The close-up image of the chip shows on his screen, black arrows pointing at different parts of the tiny device that looks like a torch got to it. “There's no trace of where it came from or who's made it. No initials, nothing.”
The image turns and flips around to show dents and burns on its surface. “Not even a company.” I shake my head. “I haven't heard of anything of chip implantation besides a few who have tried but failed.”
This makes me question everything. Even Henley's death when he jumped from that window. Was he trying to escape? Or did he know that the chip would siren in his head and that why he offed himself before us and the chip could?
Then why run from us if he was as good as dead?
“It's remarkable that one small device can blow up someone's head. Which made me wonder...”
He narrows in a piece that's burned and teeny tiny wires are sticking from the edge of where it is snapped apart. “If it was set off by someone.”
“Like some controller?”
Bedford nods, pointing his finger at me. “Correct.” I shake my head, trying to piece everything together.
He picks up his pen and taps it on his chin. “My only question is who would willingly have a chip implanted in their brain if it would kill him?”
I chew on the inside of my mouth. “Feels like a suicide mission.” I tilt my head. “Or the initiation is so deep that it's the only way to be accepted.”
“I’m not sure how much money is worth adding a death chip in your brain.”
Maybe they didn't know...
My pants vibrate, and I grab my phone from my pocket, hoping that it’s Anita. The excitement drops when I notice it's an unknown number.
My brows pinch, and Bedford continues to talk in the background. I click the message and green digits type along my screen.
Unknown number: Nothing is as it seems. Do not spread this message. Or else...
— Frog
The muscles in my face loosen, and my stomach twists in a subtle knot. What the fuck? Who dares have the audacity to tap through my phone and message me with this. Heat blazes over my face, and I lift my gaze, but there's no one in the command room besides Bedford and me. I blink, then stare back at my phone, hoping it's a stupid ass joke and nothing is there.
Nope.
The message is clear and bold, laughing in my face. I peer at the name ‘frog,’ and nothing in my mind registers who that is and how that name correlates with me.
I almost handed over my phone to Bedford so he can trace the carrier, but the ‘or else’ stands out too much for me to risk that.
Me: Who are you?
They could be a part of this centipede cult for all I know.
Unknown: I am not your enemy.
Me: You're the enemy until I say otherwise.
Bubbles appear and then disappear.
“Alright, I’m out of here, I have a party to attend.”
I snap away from the “Yeah. Yeah. Alright.”
Bedford pauses and looks at me curiously. “What's eating your grapes?”
“What?”
“You rarely say ‘yeah,’” he says with an unsure expression. “It's a dance, not a wedding. Mercy, pull yourself together.”
I glower at him with a stiff jaw as he strolls away from me with an amused grin and some chuckles to go along with it. Bedford is the only one I would allow to talk to me that way, and he knows it, that's why he continues to be a pain in my ass.
I shake my head while stuffing my phone back into my pocket. Before I head off, I glance at the screen once more and stare at the device that has me questioning the severity of the situation. I want to know now more than anything, and if we go after the other people who are involved, will they get the same fate as well?
My phone vibrates again, and I growl in frustration, turning away and walking off to head to the dance. I look at my phone as I walk out the room, and my stomach clenches at the name.
Calling: Papai
There are so many things I want to do and say to him. One of them is to ask how the fuck did the mayor know about my mother's suicide? However, I know he won't give me the answer I deserve. Or maybe they're close and needed someone to vent to, but I kept my mouth shut all these years, killing my soul to hide the truth, so why couldn't he?
I let the phone ring until it stops, and then a message comes through instantly.
Papai: You never came to the house, but I understand you are now too busy for your family. It's almost Christmas, and I would like to spend time with my son. Both of you.
I blow out a harsh breath through my nose as I reread the message. Is it wrong that I don't care? There were so many times when I wanted to have that bonding moment with him, and he never graced me with it. Why should I be the one to push aside all the years of abuse and disdain because he wants to be indifferent now?
I lock my phone and continue on my way, forgetting about the pain, and focusing on who I wish to be with the most.
My sweet Venom.
***
I pull up to the home I built; it’s deep in the woods behind the school, tucked between the vines and loose leaves left on the branches. You won’t notice it much since GenCre and the trees block it out.
I exit my truck, the dead leaves crunching and cracking under my shoes. The frigid air burns my cheeks from the slap of the wind. I slam the door shut and make way up the steps, leaving my bags. It's a place I rarely come to because it was intended to be an escape, but I felt more at home when I was at the academy than I did when I was here.
It’s visibly dark when looking at the glass, but once the lights are on you can see clearly into the house—unless the black-out blinds are closed. I prefer either way, but tonight it’ll be open. It’ll be cathartic, absolutely incredible, fucking her under the dark skies and burning stars.
Once inside, I prepare everything because I intend for tonight to be a night she never forgets. She says she's never had this kind of experience, and I’m here to be her first, her first date, her first real, passionate but chaotic kiss. The one to place the rose on her neck because I've never done this either.
Which is why I’m hoping she didn't run off from me.
As I’m grabbing the gift I got for her off my dresser, my phone vibrates to see a message from Mal.
Mal: It turned out great! No blood was spilled. And the lights are ready for you.
I take note of a photo of her beaming halfway into the camera and the background showing the view of the Christmas tree and wonderland set up.
I nod. Good . Because that’s all for them. My students, who so desperately crave a piece of normalcy.
Before I make my way out the house, I walk over past the living room to the table set up and fix the vase, then I place the gift on the edge of the square table. My heart pumps a little harder than normal and a small amount of sweat forms in my hands. I review it, as my bones rattles a tiny bit under my skin.
I’m not a romantic, hell no. But for her, I can try to be. In my own type of way. It's not like I had any example of a loving couple in my childhood, so I have to do what I think she would like.
I shift on my heels, ignoring my palpitating heart, and head on the trail to the academy. I click on the lanterns as I stroll, remembering to thank Mal when I see her.
It’s a good walking distance and despite the cold ass air, which is numbing my fingertips, the breeze actually chills down my jumpy bones.
I’m not nervous.
She probably left.
That thought has me fear creeping in, and texting Mal quickly.
Me: Have you seen Anita?
Mal: No, I haven't seen her since yesterday. Ask Bedford.
––––––––
T hat doesn't help me at all. Not one fucking bit. I breathe in the cold air to mask the troubling beat in my heart, but it continues to rise. If she left.
I’ll track her down expeditiously and force her to come back. She's not leaving me. I'm too far gone when it comes to her.
Now my mind is still as I open the double doors at the back of the academy, the music echoes annoyingly in my ears and lights from the decorations radiate the squared windows. The back entrance has an arch of black and white balloons, ornament chandeliers and strings are attached to the ceiling and hanging into the space. The normally dark brown woods transform into shining fairy lights trailing along the baseboard and alcove leading to the main area.
Music thumps louder in my ears, the noise growing louder and louder. The moment I walk into the open area of the ballroom, I'm hit with a wave of teens dancing and other teachers standing around supervising. The large black Christmas tree is set against the wall, tall, broad, and almost as high as the ceiling. Presents of all sizes sit tucked under its limbs, wrapped in only black silver or white.
I walk further in with my hand clasped behind my back scanning the room to see if I find a black angel standing in the shadows somewhere.
“Headmaster Ronan,” Dean Cabale chimes skipping up beside me. I look at her out of respect, but I want to keep looking for her . Cabale’s eyes are wide, and her lips spread with an overly bright cheer. Her coil hair brushes up against her cheeks and forehead as her head shakes from excitement.
“You have done a great job, sir. Thank you, it turned out superb.”
Don’t thank me, thank the one person that convinced me and also the designers. They probably won’t be coming back after I had specified for each other to be blindfolded on the way here and back and only allowed in one area.
“It was for the kids. But thank Ms. Velz she was the one who made it happen,” I say, directing my gaze away, and I continue scanning the room hoping she pops up.
Nothing.
So, I look back at the dean with a dying heart. She doesn't see that the inside of my chest is caving in, and my blood is running cold. She doesn't see how uninterested I am in her conversation.
“I wanted to ask. Is Ms. Velz attending?”
“I don't know,” I mumble.
“Does she intend to be a part of the school's program now? What’s her stance on—” Her words drown out as I flick my eyes to the entrance. My heart shuts down then comes alive again and skips to my throat, blocking my airway as my stomach does something of what I can now identify as flutters. Actual fucking flutters .
The thumps beat rapidly against my ribs when Anita steps through the arch, her presence alone filling the room with a magnetic essence.
I've lost my ability to breathe, and I’m stuck in place, like stone. Her eyes search the room for a second until she locks eyes on me. That only makes my head heat up and my belly to flip over, crashing down like a wave.
So, this is what it feels like.
Anita smiles at me and does something I thought she would never ever do. She dips her head with a slight bow with a raise of her hands at her midsection.
She signs the letter ‘G.’
Hell has frozen over, or it's blazing above in a fiery bliss.
I release a ragged breath, and my heart to slam against my chest. My hands unclasp from behind me as I smooth down my tie that fills a few inches tighter.
“Fuck,” I choke out.
“Sorry?” The dean says confused. Shit, she’s still here. I place up my hand respectfully, moving myself from her.
She hoods her eyes with a gentle grin, her smokey eyeshadow translucent to her black lipstick, giving her a full-on beautiful glow like the goddess of death. My eyes follow her as she strolls over to the tree with a small box in her hand. I trace the path of her exposed shoulders and dip to her back, down to her curvy waist along with her heart-shaped ass.
Before I know it, I find myself floating to her like a magnet, luring me into her black cloud of delicious chaos. By the time I make it to her, she's staring up at the height of the tree, holding this mysterious box. Her back to me, I loom over her like a shadow, ready to absorb every inch of her. Her shoulders relax, and she twists around.
“Oh,” she says startled, jumping back, but I wrap an arm around her waist before she hits the tree. My hand resting more above her ass.
“Did I spook you?” I say close to her ear so she can hear me over the music. My dick hardens as she shivers in my hold.
She rests a hand gently on my chest, cocking her head back to see me. A gleam plays on her brown eyes that’s even darker due to the black color.
“No,” she continues to smile bright like the sun feeding a sunflower field.
I expect her to push me away since we’re in public. She doesn’t.
So, I take advantage of this moment and slide my hand up her back, enjoying the fabric of her dress, but I would rather get a touch of her skin. The dress is entirely gorgeous, but I’m suddenly jealous that it’s able to cling to her skin when that’s what I want to do.
“You scared me,” I admit.
Her brows pinch slightly. “Why?”
I swallow, wondering if I should say or leave it. I go with it. “I thought I scared you away, and you left for good.”
She sucks in a light breath as her lips part. “I’m not afraid of your demons. We’ve become the best amigas.”
A cute smile grows on her mouth, and I shadow her movement because I remember saying that exact thing when she held her gun to my head.
I skim over her face and hair like a sculpture. Her normally wild hair is high up, providing a full depth of her subtle cheekbones and slender jaw line. I’m fighting the urge to not kiss her in front of the entire student body. But my professionalism is slowly creeping away.
“You're beautiful, amor.” I dip my head back to her ear, taking in her intoxicating scent. “And I missed you.” My admission sends a gallop to my heart like a horse is kicking it.
Due to her high heels, she stands almost near my nose now, making it easier for her to lean into my ear and brush across it. The tease spikes a tingle in my balls.
“I was gone for a day.” She tilts her head back to look at me again, flushing her thigh against my zipper.
“A day too damn long for me,” I twist my head, so the students can’t see me as I lick the hilt of her lobe.
She turns her head slightly to the side, her lips against the stubble on my cheek. “Maybe you can show me how bad you missed me. And I’m healed enough. No worries.”
Something vicious sparks up my spine, the feral in me ready to bust through this door with her.
I dig my fingers into her back before backing away, shifting to the tree so I can hide my visible boner.
Her arms brush against mine. “I got you a gift.” She raises her hands with her black nails, and I see the box. A grin curls over my lips. The fact that she went out of her way to get me a gift when she didn’t have to only makes me appreciate her more. No one has ever gotten me a gift, not since my mother passed. I glance at her with a stiff expression, hoping to hide the unsettling emotions that are sneaking up on me.
Her smile is hesitant, like she’s not sure if it was the right thing to do. It was.
I lean over to her ear, my fingers finding her lower back again. “Why did you get me a gift?”
She looks back at the box, her shoulders tensing. “Let’s say I was in the Christmas spirit.”
A tingle opens in my chest. “I guess we both were.”
She snaps her head at me with an indescribable smile. “You didn’t have to.”
My thumb plays on the crease of her back. “I don’t have to do anything. But I wanted to.” I want to show you how special you are.
She blushes, tucking her lips into teeth as she focuses back on the tree.
I lower my hand between us, my fingers tap against hers, threading them into her palm with a feathery touch, tracing the lines under her palm. An electric tingle vibrates up my arm from the tiny connection. Her breath catches, and she glances at her hand then at me.
Heat trails down my back when I swallow the brick in my throat. I lean down to her again. “Come with me.”
She smiles softly. “Lead the way.”