Chapter 46
FORTY-SIX
CASSIE
I am so excited. This has been the best week of my life and tonight I get to experience The Claiming from a different angle. As a centurion.
We are gathered in the dungeon before the challenge begins.
Siri is almost bristling with excitement beside me and whispers, “This is so fucked up. I can’t wait to disguise myself as a centurion and watch it happen to somebody else.
Both of us have been tasked with waiting in the tunnel chamber. We will be silently observing the contenders as they choose their tunnels and must be on the lookout for any centurion entering the tunnels. If we detect trouble, we are to hold up the relevant finger relating to the tunnel to the cameras installed in the chamber and it will alert the centurions who are patrolling the passageways beneath us. They will use the trap doors to intervene and my mind shifts to the moment we detected that every tunnel had one, courtesy of the map Frankie somehow got his hands on.
It made for interesting reading and we spent many nights poring over the detail.
It appears the unknown centurion dragged Abigail to the boathouse and assaulted her there, before dragging her back along the passageway toward Willow Tree house. The entrance to the house was through the basement and he obviously chose the time when the rest of the house was sleeping to deposit a drugged Abigail into her bed.
My attention shifts when Jack heads our way, with an armful of cloaks, followed by Ali, who is holding two golden masks.
“Fuck, this is really happening.” Siri’s voice shakes as Jack regards us both with a serious scowl.
“I don’t like it.”
“Back off, Jack.” Fury blazes from my eyes. “We’ve had this conversation and we’re every bit as capable as you are.”
He rolls his eyes. “I didn’t say that, Cassie. I just don’t like it. You are placing yourself in danger for a cheap thrill.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
Siri almost snatches the robe from his arms and Jack sighs. “Fine, but I’ll be nearby if you require backup.”
“You always are.”
For some reason, the way he expresses his concern tugs on my heartstrings. It’s not just about this—it’s him. He has always been there for me from my earliest memory, and a wave of nostalgia almost makes me crumble.
“Hey.” His blue eyes twinkle with concern and I swallow hard.
“It’s good knowing you’re here.”
“Cassie–” He leans in and his whisper only reaches my ears and yet before he can finish his sentence, Frankie appears with Jesse, wearing his robe, the mask trailing in his fingers by his side.
His sharp gaze finds mine and his eyes blaze, causing my heart to beat faster. God, I adore this man. I must be seriously fucked up, because the angrier he looks, the more I desire him.
“We don’t have long.”
He sweeps the room with his dark gaze and says roughly, “Remember to be vigilant. At the first sign of trouble, sound the alarm and wait for security to deal with the problem.”
I’m aware he has security in place, but he won’t expand anymore on that. I have questioned who will patrol the passageways, but he cut me down with a dismissive, “Security.”
He won’t explain who the mysterious security is, despite my endless questions.
In fact, I have learned fast that you only know what Frankie allows, and it’s infuriating.
As we all stand waiting in the ceremonial chamber, he runs over the positions we’ve been allocated.
“Jesse, make your way to the riverbank, along with Jack.”
Jack’s eyes flash and I know he’s not happy about that. He will be outside the dungeon and not able to assist if shit gets real, and I’m guessing that’s more for Siri’s benefit than mine. They have been growing ever closer and while I’m happy for them, it tugs on the place he holds deep in my heart.
I’m not jealous, more crushed because seeing Jack with another girl isn’t something I prepared myself for. I’m aware he feels the same when Frankie reaches for me and openly kisses me in full view of whoever is watching. His ownership of me is apparent, and I get a strange thrill from that. The entire academy is in no doubt that I am Frankie’s girl, and I never believed I’d crave that title as much as I do.
I love it. Not the notoriety or the envy. It’s knowing I am part of something incredible that I never expected to like.
Frankie continues. “Santi will be the master of the ceremony as before, and Ali can protect the entrance.”
“Fuck!” Santi shakes his head. “Lucky bastard.”
Ali’s smile taunts him because, knowing him, he’ll be balls deep inside a passing student by the time the final challenger heads inside the dungeon.
Frankie adds. “I will be the keeper of the cells and release the centurions. Santi will blind our challengers and disorientate them as before.”
He glances around at everyone and says darkly, “Are we ready?”
“Yes!” A collective affirmation echoes around the room and as he pulls on his mask and covers his head with the hood, a shiver of desire runs through my soul like lightning as our eyes connect.
We all follow his lead and as the mask slips into position, I relish the power it gives me. Fuck, I’m so turned on and the thrill is even greater this time knowing I’m part of the madness.
Frankie consults his wristwatch.
“Positions everyone. The centurions will soon arrive and we must robe them and lock them up, ready for the challengers.”
As we drift away to our positions, Siri whispers, “I heard Susan Harper is one of them. I wonder if she’ll fuck Ali at the door on her way in.”
I burst out laughing and as we crawl through the first tunnel, my heart beats with excitement. When I came to Rockwell Academy, I never once thought it would be like this.