A tale of fragile fate, p.36
A Tale of Fragile Fate, page 36
We find Joel, Sadie, and Quincy sitting together by the ornate stone fireplace in the lounge. Sadie, sitting comfortably on Joel’s lap, waves us over.
“How was your date last night?” she asks with a cheeky grin.
“It was fine,” I say, taking the chair adjacent to the group.
Sadie gives me a suspicious look. “Just…fine?”
Piper jumps in before I can respond. “I can tell you it was more than fine.”
Thanks, Piper.
I try my best to steer the conversation elsewhere. “Have any of you seen Reid this morning?”
All heads turn to Joel, who holds up his hands in surrender. “Why are you all looking at me?”
Sadie rolls her eyes. “Because if he and I were falling off a building, we all know you’d save him first.”
“That’s not true,” he retorts, flashing a smile. “I’d find a way to save you both.” Sadie swats him on the back of the head. “Besides, I haven’t heard from him.”
Admittedly, it does concern me that not even Reid’s best friend has had any contact with him. Being abandoned in the rain left somewhat of a bitter taste in my mouth, but I don’t want to invalidate Reid’s feelings. I just wish he wouldn’t shut me out.
The bell rings, and I follow Quincy to class. I hold no ability to pay attention. I wouldn’t even if I could. How am I expected to pay attention to Whitlock’s boring-as-hell lesson when all I can think about is literally everything else? My brother, my mother, Dixon…
A murderer. Astryn Penn’s headmaster is a murderer, and I’m just supposed to sit here, twiddle my thumbs and ignore it?
No.
I feel like all I do is ignore it. Endure it. Deal with it. I’m not doing it anymore.
I refuse to be a pawn.
Class ends, and I’m out the door in the blink of an eye. I’m up the stairs toward the third floor before anyone or myself can stop me. By the time I hit the landing, I have every intention of putting an end to this. Telling Dixon that I know the truth. Giving anyone that tries to get in my way a piece of my mind.
Reid’s right. This entire thing is bullshit. And I’m tired of acting like it’s not.
Pushing past classmates, I fight through the crowd toward Headmaster Dixon’s office doors. No more lies. No more sneaking around with my brother. No more being a silly human girl.
I want answers. And I want them now.
The first warning bell rings through the halls as my hand meets the doorknob. I have no intention of knocking. He doesn’t deserve one. Not after what he’s done.
Someone grabs my arm, yanking me out of the way. A gasp escapes my throat as I stumble back. I get lugged several feet away and shoved into the alcove around the corner, met with two clearly annoyed green eyes.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Good morning to you, too, Reid.
“I was going to go give Dixon a piece of my mind,” I respond, maybe with too much bite.
Reid looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “And you thought that was smart?”
“I’m not going to just sit by and let him destroy my family.”
“So, you were going to do what? Storm in there and admit to the man that wants us dead that we know what he’s doing? That’s your plan?” Reid throws a hand up, shaking his head. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me feel juvenile. “You might as well be handing over the locket and your brother with a shitty little bow on top.”
He’s making it nearly impossible not to take it personally, and I feel defensive before I even open my mouth.
“Did you have a better idea? I hope it’s better than the one where you left me in the rain last night.” I already regret it. I know it’s unfair to say it, but I still do. We aren’t solving anything. We’re just fighting with one another, which is the last thing we should be doing.
Reid scoffs. “I left you in the rain to figure out what we need to do, Lake. I tried to get ahold of Aunt Naomi, but she didn’t respond. I know that she knows something. She and your father—”
“Are the only two that can help us. I get it,” I reply. The second bell rings, and the hallways are nearly vacant now. “My father’s phone is disconnected, Reid. As of last night, I have no way to contact him.” I clear my throat, hearing the subtle breaking of my own voice. “You heard Dixon. He said he’d fetch him when they’re ready. Do you…do you think he has him?”
His eyes visibly soften as he leans back against the wall. “I thought of that last night. Seems real ballsy to be holding your father hostage on campus, though.”
The thought of my father somewhere, being held captive, alone, shakes me to my core. It makes me wonder if that last phone call meant more than I originally thought. The truth is that I don’t know anything about this campus. Not really, anyway. Is it possible to hide a grown man without attracting attention? Warranting suspicion?
“Let’s say he was that ballsy. Where would one hide an entire person?”
The final bell rings, indicating that we’re both late. Reid looks down the hall, a war in his eyes. I wish there was something I could do to fix this. To have the answers we both so desperately need. I can’t help but feel useless.
“I don’t know,” Reid admits, gaze finding mine again. “But I intend on finding out.”
I can’t help but frown. “I don’t want you to do this by yourself, Reid. I want to help.”
He shakes his head. “It’s too dangerous—”
“We’re doing this together,” I say firmly.
“Lake—”
“Are we in a situation beyond our control? Yes. Do either of us want to be doing this? Of course not.” I reach out for him, laying a hand on his arm. “But we are. I feel like everything has constantly been fighting against us, and I just…I don’t want you and I to be fighting, too. Please let me help.”
Reid thankfully nods in agreement. “Okay, but you need to promise me that you won’t do something without talking to me first.”
It’s not an outlandish request, so I simply agree. Reid reaches into the pocket of his jeans, pulling out my locket. He motions for me to turn, and his fingertips tickle when they brush over the back of my neck.
“I know you don’t want to wear it, but it’s safest with you. We don’t want to tip anyone off that we know what it does.”
“We don’t know what it does, though,” I point out as he clasps it closed.
“We know Dixon needs it, and that’s enough reason to ensure he doesn’t get it.”
“Miss Watson, Mr. Beckett, I believe you’re late for class,” a raised voice echoes down the hall. I’m almost relieved to find Ms. Wilson standing outside Dixon’s still-closed double doors with boney hands on her hips.
I swallow hard. “I’m sorry, Ms. Wilson, we were just—”
“I do not wish to hear about your canoodling in the hallway, Miss Watson.”
Canoodling?
Reid’s thoughts match my own. “Canoodling?”
With a rather loud huff, our English teacher begins tapping her foot. “Yes, Beckett. You pronounced the word correctly. Perhaps you may know what it meant if you paid attention in class.”
I doubt Ms. Wilson’s deathly boring lectures over literature involve the definition of canoodling, but I digress.
She motions for us to leave the alcove, and we do as instructed. Our teacher turns, mumbling something under her breath. All I can make out is pain in the ass.
Reid takes my hand, giving it a light squeeze before letting go and taking a step in the opposite direction. “I’ll see you in English. Don’t go barging down anyone’s door before then, yeah?”
I roll my eyes. “No promises.”
“You did promise, actually.” His sarcastic undertone makes me smile. It’s nice to see a glimpse of his authentic self.
“Get to class, Beckett,” I murmur, pointing down the hall.
Reid offers a devilish grin, looking me up and down in a way that makes my cheeks burn. Waving a small goodbye, he disappears down the hall. As selfish as it sounds to admit, I’m grateful I’m not entirely alone in this. I don’t know what I’d do without Reid’s help.
I hope I can be even half as helpful in finding my father.
fifty-five
By the time lunch rolls around, I’m suspicious of the severe lack of Dixon. No sign of Connor, no ear-piercing screech of Mallory, and no looming cloud of the headmaster to be seen. It only has me on high alert. Even Janice’s podium in the foyer of the main hall is vacant.
“Don’t you find it strange that none of them are here today?” I ask Reid as we head to lunch.
He merely shrugs. “I don’t know whether to be concerned or relieved.”
Reid has a point. The three of them not being here could imply they’re up to something sinister. On the other hand, they could very well be hiding, considering the outburst at the carnival. Nobody involved in the commotion was reprimanded, nor was there an emergency class assembly like the Celestia Lake incident.
They’re trying not to draw more attention to what’s to come, and it’s clear.
Stepping out into the sun, I can practically hear the grinding of Reid’s teeth as the bright sky hits his face. With every intent to hopefully make his day better, I sift through my bag until I find the black gift box from Evelyn.
Handing them over, I watch as he arches a suspicious eyebrow before taking the box. “I forgot to give this to you last night. It’s from Evelyn.”
Reid cracks open the gift, his natural smile widening to a grin as he plucks the Ray-Bans from the box. Sliding them over his eyes, he lets out a pleasant sigh of relief. “I could kiss you,” he says, pulling me into his side.
“I didn’t buy them. I simply delivered.”
“Permission to kiss the messenger?” He doesn’t wait for me to agree and presses his lips to my temple.
Reid pays for my lunch, even when I ask him not to. I’m somewhat shocked when he actually picks something to eat or, at the very least, purchases food. It’s not much, a simple ham and cheese sandwich, but it’s weird.
Sitting at our usual table, I take the open seat next to Piper, Reid taking the spot to my left. Quincy seems to be overly energetic today, practically bouncing in his seat.
“My favorite lovebirds have finally arrived,” he exclaims. Since the news broke of my relationship with Reid, Quincy has fought tooth and nail to get any information he can about us.
Sadie shoots him a look. “Gee, thanks.” Her deadpan tone is hilarious.
Quincy swats at the air between them. “You two are old news. I want the tea of new lovers. The first kiss, the first fight, everything. Hand it over.”
Joel laughs, mouth full of what I can only guess is a corndog. “Good luck with that. Trying to get Beckett to talk is like getting blood from a stone.”
Reid seems more than amused by Joel’s comment, unwrapping the sandwich on his tray. He said that human food tastes awful, which makes me wonder if this has to do with his migraines. With his dad. With me.
“Can we get something, Lake? The teeniest piece of hot gossip?” Quincy pleads.
The truth is that I have more hot gossip than a daytime soap opera, but I cannot tell anyone at this table. Even the slightest tease of something could put them in danger, and that's not a risk I'm willing to take.
I’ve never had a boy that I cared about like Reid. It’s special to me, and I wish to share it with the world. It just isn’t the time to do so.
I’d love for my life to be boring. I would trade anything for it to be boring. Normal. Anything but what it is now. But that’s not my reality, and as the days pass, I’m convinced it won’t ever be normal.
“You’re just looking to live vicariously through them so you can ignore your sad excuse of a love life,” Piper retorts, stealing a fry from Quincy’s tray. I can’t help but laugh, watching as Quincy glares at her.
“Rude,” he huffs. “C’mon…give me something. I’m good at keeping secrets.”
Reid smirks, picking up his sandwich and inspecting it closely. “Says the one that blabbed about Mallory’s friends-with-benefits situation to Mallory. Which inevitably led to a tree falling on a truck and Lake’s brother landing in the infirmary.”
“Okay, but that was one time! I learned my lesson!”
Piper snorts. “You have learned nothing.”
Reid puts the sandwich back down without eating it. I can sense his internal struggle when he grabs a bottle of water and unscrews the cap. His free hand lays on the table between us, and I not so discreetly place mine beside it.
As Quincy continues with his hot gossip garbage, I gently nudge my pinky against Reid’s. At first, I don’t think he pays it any mind, but after placing his water back on the table, he drapes his hand over mine and squeezes my fingers.
It’s new to me, considering how we’ve been extremely private until today. As we sit here, surrounded by our friends, it feels more…real…now that others can perceive us.
I wonder what others think of us.
“See what I mean?” Quincy asks, grabbing my attention. He waves at Reid and me, rolling his eyes. “You’re telling me that Reid Beckett, the guy who cracked another vampire in the skull for touching his girl, has no secrets? No drama? Just hand-holding and sarcasm?”
The mentioned sarcasm will surely come into play when Reid tilts his head. “I could crack you in the head if you want more drama in your life, Nelson.”
“Charming,” Quincy mutters, displeased by my boyfriend's comment.
Sadie jumps back into the conversation. “Why do you want drama so bad? It doesn’t do any good for anyone.”
Thank you.
He scoffs. “Because, Sadie, this school is boring, considering the amount of magic and immortals lurking around. Things only got interesting when Lake showed up.” He takes a rather large bite of his brownie, talking with his mouth full. “The last time we had a scandal was like two years ago when those seniors got caught in the clock tower.”
“What happened?” I ask, hoping to get Quincy to shift the conversation. I’d listen to him talk about paint drying if it meant I didn’t have to talk about myself anymore.
“After prom, two students snuck into the clock tower to…fool around.”
Piper laughs. “Your inability to say sex is amusing and unsurprising.”
Quincy sticks his tongue out at her, which I’m sure only proves her point further. “Anyway…mid…fooling around…apparently the guy, I think his name was Dom, found an entrance to a dungeon.”
“It isn’t a dungeon,” Piper interjects. “It’s an underground tunnel that leads from the clock tower to the library.” She turns to me. “It was designed when the school opened to protect magical texts from being destroyed in case of a fire. The guy fell six feet through the floor of the clock tower and discovered it. It’s never been used, and nobody even knew it existed until then. It’s locked now to avoid any more horny teens from falling in.”
A secret tunnel underneath the school leads from the clock tower to the library?
For once, I’m grateful that Quincy is obsessed with drama.
As I look over to Reid, who’s already staring in my direction, our eyes meet, and he nods a single time.
If a wicked man were to hide my father, there’s only one logical place to put him.
Beneath the clock tower.
fifty-six
There’s only one way into the clock tower on the west side of Astryn Penn’s main hall. That one entry is a rustic door with dark wood, rounded edges, and a brass padlock that could have easily been plucked out of a medieval dungeon.
It’s just after seven, giving Reid and me about an hour until I’m supposed to collect Daniel from the infirmary. Mentally I’ve tried to think of what to say to him when I see him, but no words seem to be the right ones. Telling him the truth could be putting him in even more danger than we already are. But not telling him leaves him in the dark, a place I know all too well to be a one-way ticket to insanity. I just don’t know how a ten-year-old who’s already been through so much will handle this, too.
“Do you have the key from Mrs. G?” Reid asks.
I fish around in my sweatshirt pocket, finding the key. Handing it over, I watch as Reid sticks it into the lock.
“How do you know the key goes there?” I question, but before he can reply, the padlock slides open.
Reid smiles, impressed with himself. “I didn’t. I just guessed that Dixon wasn’t smart enough to have two separate locks for one tunnel. I was right.” He motions for me to do the honors, and I turn the knob, pushing the clock tower door open before stepping inside.
The wooden floors of the clock tower’s main level creak with every step. Dimly lit sconces hang high on the walls. Cluttered piles of old cardboard boxes, sports equipment, and textbooks are scattered around the room.
The air is stale, my feet kicking up small dust clouds as I cross the room. I grab my phone and turn on the flashlight, using it as my guide as I sweep the room. Looking for any indication that my father was here, I quickly lose hope when I come up short.
“Can you shine that over here?” Reid asks, crouching. I turn to meet him, pointing the light to the floor as instructed.
“What is it?” I ask.
Reid runs his hand over a cut-out square in the floorboards. He sticks his hand in an oval-shaped hole at one of the edges and pulls.
“A hatch,” he replies, flipping the door open.
Hesitantly, I peer down into the pitch-black hole.
There is absolutely no way in hell I’m going down there.
Reid chuckles and swings his legs into the hole, sitting on the ledge. “All right, shoot that down here so I can gauge how far of a drop it is?”
I nod, crouching beside him and shining the light into the black abyss. There appears to be a stone floor several feet down, with cobblestone walls that form the tunnel Piper was talking about.
“Keep it right there until I get down, and then I’ll help you.”
I immediately shake my head. “I can’t jump down there. I’ll break my everything.”
