Chapter 11 #2
Instead, I said, “Just let me go, Enzo. Please. I won’t tell anyone what I saw.”
I dropped my chin, staring down at the copper pennies shimmering at the bottom of the fountain.
What a waste of money.
Wishes weren’t granted here. Only nightmares.
Then it happened so fast.
One second, I was considering pleading for a penniless wish, and the next, I was pulled forward.
Enzo released my wrists, and before I could even catch my breath, he plunged my head beneath the water. Ice-cold water smashed into my face, nearly swallowing it whole. Sound vanished as water rushed into my ears. I’d never felt such a sharp sting before.
For a split second, I froze.
Then instinct took over.
I thrashed my head wildly in all directions as I struggled to break loose. My hair unraveled in the water, floating around my face and blocking my vision. I tried to push myself up, palms scraping the stone lip, but they slipped off the slick edge and sent me deeper beneath the water instead.
Just like he’d said, he’d always win.
Water forced its way into my mouth as I struggled to breathe. The taste was metallic and stale, like old coins and moss.
This wasn’t a fountain for wishes. It was one for sins and ruin.
A place to drown your secrets.
My arms flailed weakly as my fingers scratched at the stone. Time stretched like I was dealing with the slowest hourglass. With each passing second, my chest felt more constricted.
As I shut my eyes, my strength dissolved. My limbs felt heavy, useless, broken. Every part of me was on the verge of collapse.
My body was desperate for air, for relief, and ready to surrender to Enzo.
To let him win. To let him own me.
At the same time that thought hit, he lifted me from the water.
My face broke through the surface, and I dragged in air like I’d just discovered what it was. Heavy gasps tore from my lungs as I violently coughed and spat up water.
His massive hand gripped the back of my head to suspend me above the water. Water streamed off my face.
He fisted my wet strands to remind me who was in control.
“Now, I’ll give you one more chance.” He tugged my head back until our eyes met. “Either I kill you or you agree to be my Fawn.”
At this point, I didn’t understand why he needed my agreement.
He’d already made my decision for me.
I choked out more water, my lungs burning, and said, “No.”
His gaze stayed glued to mine, so firm that he didn’t blink once. “If you thought I was brutal with Jett, you don’t want to find out what else I’m capable of. I’d advise you to reconsider your response with a three-letter word.”
“If I say yes …” I stopped, struggling to pull air into my lungs. “You won’t kill me?”
He cocked his head, as if he was still debating whether to do just that. “Why would I kill you? I plan to use you.”
Cold dread washed over me.
Use me.
“But you won’t kill me after?” I pressed, needing to hear that answer.
“I won’t kill you now.”
A shiver ran down my spine. I felt so drained and cold.
“Fine.” My chin shook as I wheezed out breaths.
Tears heated beneath my eyes at how easily I’d surrendered.
Enzo pulled me away from the water, making sure my face didn’t strike the stone. When he finally released me, my legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the ground beside the fountain.
He sat on the fountain’s ledge above me like some dark statue connected to it.
I shivered, staring at him as my teeth clattered.
“Good girl.” He petted my drenched hair like I was a dog who’d just learned a new trick.
I didn’t even have the energy to smack his hand away. That didn’t stop me from glaring up at him. He watched me beneath the lights, his stare rattling my core, and stroked my hair.
His fingers worked through my wet hair as his focus locked on me.
That unblinking stare of his was back.
It made me think he had more words on the tip of his tongue, but was holding them back.
He licked his lips again before biting into the bottom one, as if stopping himself, before dropping his hand.
A gust of wind hit me, and my teeth chattered harder as he stood.
I watched him, confused and in awe, as he unbuttoned his black button-up. The fabric was as wet as mine, clinging to his muscles. I flinched when he knelt to drape the shirt over my shoulders.
Suddenly, I wasn’t as cold as before. Eyeing him, I was the one biting into my lip now.
“Wear this tomorrow,” he demanded. “Make sure it’s dry and wrinkle-free.”
With that, he turned and walked away toward the steps. He didn’t look back at me as I sat there, drenched and humiliated.
My teeth rattled as I scrambled to my feet and hurried after him.
Not only did I not want to be out here alone, but I also needed heat and dry clothes before my body shut down.
We climbed the steps in silence, Enzo way ahead of me, but halfway up, I would swear he slowed so I didn’t fall too far behind.
I hated that I clutched his shirt tight around my body for warmth.
By the time I reached the top step, I was positive I’d have a nasty case of pneumonia tomorrow.
Still ahead of me, he opened the door and allowed it to shut in my face.
My shoulders sagged as I opened it again.
Just when I thought my night couldn’t get worse, it did.
When I walked inside, Headmaster Arisono stood mere feet away.
Enzo whistled and walked right past her, like her little strike rule didn’t apply to him.
“Blair, that’s strike two,” she stated firmly.
Daphne dropped her phone on the bed when I returned to our dorm. “I hope the reason you’re soaked is that you took a shower in someone else’s dorm.”
“I wish,” I grumbled, kicking the door shut with my wet sneaker and flinging his shirt across the room. My body was already sore from what happened outside. “Enzo decided I needed to taste the fountain water.”
Water slid down the sleeves of my coat and dripped from every inch of me. I unlaced my shoes and kicked them off. One hit the wall. The other landed on my bed.
Daphne sprang off her bed to grab the hair dryer from the vanity before I could even ask for it.
I peeled out of the wet clothes and changed into dry pajamas. My movements were so slow, as if the cold water had frozen my brain.
It was official. I was Enzo’s Fawn.
The only other option had been death.
Headmaster Arisono’s words brought another wave of nausea. “Blair, that’s strike two.”
Like last time, she hadn’t asked if I was okay.
She also hadn’t reprimanded Enzo. Just me.
That proved again that he’d always be in charge.
“Sit.” She patted the chair in front of the vanity.
I sank into it, my body slouching.
As the warm air from the hair dryer touched my scalp, the muscles knotted under my skin loosened. I coughed, still feeling water lodged inside my chest.
When she was finished, Daphne sighed. “Someone really needs to kick Enzo’s ass.”
I met her gaze in the mirror. “Are you volunteering for the job?”
“Hell no.” She yanked the cord from the outlet and wrapped it around the dryer. “I enjoy breathing. Plus, I need at least a few more years to have flings with royals.”
“Royals?” I glanced up at her. “You’ve had flings with royals?”
“A few actually.” Her smile nearly took over her entire face.
I smacked her arm. “You can’t say that and not provide details.”
She giggled, gently squeezed my shoulder, and flopped back on her bed. “What happened with Enzo tonight?”
My body ached as I stood, crossed the room, and climbed onto her bed. We both shifted until our backs rested against the wall, our knees angled toward each other. It seemed her bed had become my classroom for learning about the Night Sons.
“I agreed to be Enzo’s Fawn,” I said.
Her hand flew to her chest. “Blair, are you fucking nuts?”
“I was left with no choice! The asshole was literally drowning me and said he’d kill me if I didn’t!
” Rubbing my arms, I pulled my knees to my chest. “Enzo said anyone who knows about the Sons, outsiders, ends up dead.” I turned to face her.
“How do you know so much about them and are still breathing?”
I needed as much information as I could get.
Anything to help me stay alive.
With a sigh, Daphne tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I guess you’re a Fawn now, so it’s safe to tell you.”
I scooted closer.
“My mom was a Fawn, and my dad was a Son.”
My mouth hung open, but then relief trickled inside me.
Daphne could tell me how her mom had survived being a Fawn.
“Was your mom your dad’s Fawn?” I asked her.
Her eyes glazed over as she nodded before looking away.
“He’s a disgraced Son now. Banished, but, hey, at least he wasn’t killed for it.
” She shrugged as pain furrowed her face.
“I grew up around the Night Sons. My father ranked high and was very involved, so information was spoken openly around me because they expected me to follow in my mother’s footsteps.
The Night Son who selected me would marry me, and I’d live out the legacy they’d planned.
” She peered away. “But it didn’t work out that way. ”
Scooting closer, I rested my hand over hers, trying to provide the comfort she kept supplying me. “What happened?”
“Blair, babe, do you not follow politics?”
I shook my head. “I didn’t see my first TV until I was seventeen. My reading choices were very limited, so no newspapers.”
“Seriously? What about the internet?”
“Not until college.”
“Jesus! How’d you entertain yourself?”
“I grew up with strict parents.” I nibbled on my lip in guilt.
Daphne had told me so much about herself while I kept everything about me so hidden.
“My father was a senator and plotted to assassinate the president,” she revealed with a grim expression on her face.
“What?” My jaw dropped.
“He didn’t do it alone. Other government officials were involved. They paid someone to carry out the hit, but he failed and testified against them.”
I struggled to find the most soothing words I could. Even though I felt emotionally drained, I was happy she trusted me. Few people did.
“I’m sorry, Daphne.” That was what I came up with.