Chapter 43 Riley
Riley
We landed in that same room I found myself in a while back.
The same couch, the same fireplace, the same bar cart where Chancellor Fowler had elevated the glass pieces to strike Marianne.
I shuttered, quickly letting the memories subside.
The fireplace wasn’t illuminating the room, so a few sconces surrounded us with light.
I heard the sound of coughing from behind me and I looked over at Grayson. He held his hand to his chest, another cough erupting from his throat.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, rushing over to him.
“I don’t—I don’t know. My heart is going really fast and—” He started to walk forward but he lost his footing, catching himself before he fell over. “And everything won’t stop moving.”
I grabbed his hand but it was clammy and cold, like the warmth was being drained from it. “Grayson what’s going on?” I took his face and turned it to look at me. In a matter of seconds, his lips looked dry and his body was wobbly within my grasp.
I wasn’t strong enough to hold him up, so we both fell to the ground.
“The room needs to stop spinning,” he pleaded, trying to clear his throat.
I heard a door open and multiple footsteps echoed in my ears. A voice that made my blood go cold filled the room.
“Your little shadow wielder having some trouble, sweetheart?” Chancellor Fowler bent down next to me, watching as Grayson struggled to breath and how the color started to drain from his face.
“What are you doing to him?” I seethed out.
His face turned innocent. “I’m doing nothing.
” He lifted his chin towards the girl who casually sat on the couch, tucking her legs under her thighs.
“Fluid manipulation is a wondrous thing. Slow, draining and extraction and then as you can see the dehydration sets in. No one barges into my home unless I want them to and I need to take precautions.”
I held Grayson closer to me. “Make it stop.”
“You aren’t here to do anything stupid now are you, Riley?” he questioned, curious.
I shook my head erratically, my heart speeding up.
He narrowed his eyes at me, reaching up to touch his knuckles to my cheek. I made no move to lean into it, but I didn’t shift away. His eyes shifted over my shoulder to the girl on the couch.
Grayson tried to swallow over and over, each time seeming to get easier and his skin grew less cold. He had his eyes closed still, but he was instantly looking better.
Chancellor Fowler grabbed my arm and lifted me up, leaving Grayson to fend for himself on the ground. He placed his hand on my shoulder and leaned down to be eye level with me. “Not that it’s never a delight to see you, but why are you here?”
“You hurt him.”
He pushed out his bottom lip as he considered my accusation. “You’ll have to be more specific.”
“I don’t need to be so just stop.”
He sighed, stepping around me. He moved his hand around, using his powers to lift Grayson from the floor and throw him onto the other couch. “You mean your little telepath. I didn’t do that, his father did. Horrible accident, so I heard. He’s alive so you should be grateful.”
“Your entire thought process was that you never wanted to hurt me, but everything you’ve done has proven otherwise. Everything that you do makes me the sole reason why everyone is in pain, scared or dead.”
He licked his lips, tilting his head to the side.
“Are you here to scold me? Would you like me to apologize? What you did in those woods, what you did to my mother, all of it was your own doing. You can’t keep your emotions in check, you can’t handle a little push and shove…
that is not on me, sweetheart. Your powers are tempting.
It’s so easy to let them out, know how much strength it gives you and in turn you use that strength to make people submit.
” He pinched the bridge of his nose as if I was exhausting him.
“What I am sorry for is not being there for you and helping you with that magic. I’m sorry I wasn’t more vigilant when it came to my own mother and the fact that she helped Jillian smother your powers into that abhorrent necklace. ”
He sauntered over to me, letting his fingers grasp the jewelry around my neck. “This dupe around your neck might comfort you, but you can’t go back now.”
“I know,” I spat back, planting my feet to stand my ground.
I knew what I had to do and no one that truly cared for me would like it, but…
it was my best shot. “I want you to leave them alone. The wolves, my friends, the guys, everyone. Leave my mother out of it, leave everyone’s families out of it.
Stop manipulating people to do your bidding.
Tell Oliver to back off,” I stuck my finger into his chest. “And stop stealing from the coven. Just fucking stop.”
His eyes sparkled with intrigue. “And why would I do that, hmm?”
“Because you’ll have me.”
He reared his head back, bringing his hand to his chin. “Finally admitting you need me?”
I wrinkled my nose at him. “No. But I know when I’ve had enough.”
“Riley…” Grayson slung his arms over the couch, lifting himself up. He looked at me confused and alarmed. “What are you doing?”
My insides hurt but I would find a way to fix this. I just needed to be away from them; they needed to trust me.
I cut my eyes to Chancellor Fowler. “Do you have a way to get him back to the hospital?”
He rubbed his hands together in delight. “Of course I do. Riley, I don’t want you to think you can’t see these boys. I want you to be happy. But you know I don’t tolerate meddling in my plans, so if they think…”
“They won’t,” I snapped, walking over to Grayson who sat up on the couch and grabbed my hands when they were in reach. I leaned down to kiss him, speaking against his lips softly for only him to hear. “Please trust me. Be as normal as possible and don’t do anything. Not yet.” He pulled back slowly.
Chancellor Fowler snapped his fingers, addressing the girl on the couch. “Laura, would you mind?” He waved his hand towards Grayson, and the girl quickly left the room to fetch whatever he’d silently asked for.
“We’ll have to figure out next steps. Obviously, the coven is dealt with.
That girl that bothered you is none of your concern any longer and we’ll need to move your stuff here.
I’m sure you’ll want that familiar of yours.
I’ll have to introduce you to mine and teach you how to keep them out of your hair unless you need them.
Despite her secrets, I would never keep you from your mother, so we will work that out so you two can see… ”
His ramblings went on and on, but none of what he said really surprised me. I cut him off, his incessant talking grating on my ears. “And you’ll do what I asked?”
Chancellor Fowler stood in front of me, cupping the sides of my face in his hands as if I was his most precious possession. “Yes. I promise. I will leave them alone. None of it really matters anymore.” My shoulders stiffened when he leaned down and kissed my forehead.
Footsteps sounded and we both looked to see a tall man come over.
“Take him back to the medical center.” Chancellor Fowler nodded over to Grayson.
My shadow wielder got up from the couch and started backing away from what I only assumed was another shadow wielder.
Chancellor Fowler scoffed. “He isn’t going to hurt you. I promised my daughter, no more.” He sounded proud to be able to say that, knowing that in his eyes I’d submitted fully with no ounce of backlash in sight.
Grayson looked right at me the moment I turned around to see him and I mouthed, “Trust me.”
He gave a few small nods as if he understood and let himself be shadowed away. I took in a shaky breath, “This doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven you for the things you’ve done.”
Chancellor Fowler hummed. “All in due time. Come, let me show you your new home, while I send someone to go get your things.”