Hell House: A Kildale Academy Novel, page 21
I get to the top, noting that we’d been there for morning yoga not that long ago, remembering that Pierce and Lukas had crashed our session, leering at our asses in downward dog like the assholes they were. They’d been hiking this same trail, I realize.
The way down was infinitely more difficult, and I silently pat myself on the back for choosing the Doc Martins for this. I carefully hoist myself over a fallen tree, barely missing its jagged bark that leaves a light scratch mark up my arm. Shit.
The trail leads out to a hidden cove near where we’d picnicked. The same sense of familiarity niggles at the base of my skull. Getting down the path took longer than I anticipated, and the sun is already starting to dip down in the sky. I hurry my pace along the beach, coming to the opening of the cave.
A shiver worms down my spine, stealing me of all my warmth. I’m filled with the sense of foreboding like the very ground I’m standing on is evil.
My toe has barely crossed the threshold when I hear a voice calling me from behind.
“What are you doing here, Pierce?”
“I could ask you the same thing.” He looks good. Too good. His dark blonde hair flutters in the breeze, sweeping across his forehead making me want to reach out and push it back, but I don’t. I pretend that I haven’t seen every inch of this heartthrob in front of me.
“Come on, let’s go back to the house. Tide is coming in.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “I’ll leave when I’m ready.” I turn on my heel and head into the dark cave with Pierce boring his angry green eyes into me.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
Pierce
This fucking girl. I don’t know how I’d gotten so attached to her so quickly, but I need to protect her from what she was about to stumble upon in this place. I was addicted, even though I shouldn’t be. She didn’t know who I really was. What I’d done. Sometimes I could forget that I’d done it at all, but the knowledge was always right there, waiting to eat me alive. Threatening to have me removed from her forever. She didn’t know I was her enemy, needing her for whatever power lay in her veins.
“Salem.” She ignores me, swinging out her phone as a flashlight, illuminating the darkness of the cave. The light reflects off the puddles and rocks that line the ground.
I look back at the mouth of the cave and notice that the sun is quickly approaching the horizon.
“Salem.” I say with more urgency, scrambling to keep up with her pace.
“What the fuck is this?” She stumbles backwards, coming to a halt.
I grab her by the arms and look at what has her so shaken.
Her toe sits just outside a crudely carved out circle in the sand complete with a pentagon and several large rocks dotting each point. It looks fresh enough that whoever made this, must have just been here. Or maybe still be here. I scan the area, listening for anything that could be out of the ordinary.
“Salem, let’s go.” I pull her by the arms hoping she follows me, but as she takes a step back her flashlight collides with the cave wall. She shrieks, dropping the phone, cracking the screen with a loud crash.
“Why are there skulls?” Her entire body is shaking. I pick up her phone and slide it into my pocket.
“Baby, let’s go.” I urge, feeling a surge of power washing over me that quakes my knees.
She finally snaps out of it, and grabs my hand, rushing us towards the cave entrance. The waves are breaking through quickly, the tide coming in and covering a part of the beach. If we waste anymore time, we’ll be completely shut in. The sun has set, and a chill lingers in the air, the harsh wind biting into my face.
She’s close behind me, Doc Martians slapping loudly as we step through the current. We’re almost there when Salem slips, bringing me down with her. My knees hit stone and the water rushes at us wrapping around our legs and attempting to drag us out to sea.
“Hold onto me.” I yell, gripping her by the forearm and hoisting her up. She’s completely drenched and shivering, sputtering sea water out of her mouth.
“My phone!” She whips her head back to the cave.
“I’ve got it.” I assure her, trying to hurry her stubborn ass out of here. Being trapped here could be deadly in more ways than one. We manage to hit a dry part of beach and haul ass up the path and out of the stronghold of the ocean waves.
“Are you alright?” I wrap my body around her soaking wet one. She’s shivering and here I am again, offering her my warmth.
“F-f-fine.”
“Goddammit, baby. Let’s get you warmed up.”
“I d-don’t need your help.” I push her back looking straight into her glassy jade eyes.
“I’m not letting you drown, or freeze, although it seems that’s the way you want to go since you’ve tried that several times since I met you.” She lets out a little laugh, wringing out the wetness of her sweatshirt.
“Come on, let’s get you back to the house.’’ She lets me put my arms around her as we hurriedly trek up the dark path. We make it back in record time. The house has died down some, with most everyone up in their respective rooms or playing games in the game room. I wrap a blanket off the couch around her and set about making her some hot chocolate.
She has a far away look as I hand her the pipping hot liquid. I sit next to her, but she’s lost in her thoughts. We’re silent, both too focused inwardly. I feel out of place. If she had touched that wall of skulls tonight… I shudder at the thought.
I’m in so deep with her that I don’t know what my role in this plan is anymore. Do I fulfill the Headmaster’s wishes, using the girl I care for as a pawn to open a veil into purgatory just to free me and my fraternity brothers from this curse, or do I choose Salem? Choose to stay locked with this demon inside of me for eternity?
“Goodnight, witch.” I say leaving her as I turn my thoughts inside out. I don’t know how to fix this. I don’t know how to choose, and that kills me.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
Salem
Skye cinches up my corset, until I can scarcely breathe. “Oh- my- God, not- so- tight.” I say gasping between words. After Pierce and I got back from the cave, he let me go to sleep off the shitty night. I’ve avoided him since. Those skulls and pentagon gave me a feeling of dread that settled deep in my stomach. It didn’t help that since then, my nightmares had been plaguing me, becoming more intense. I was sure that the cave was the one from my dreams, I just didn’t know why. What did it all mean if anything?
“Whoops. Sorry.” Skye says attempting to loosen the black ribbon so I can breathe. “I’ve never done this before. Okay. How’s that?” She asks, stepping back putting her hands on her hips, studying me.
I take a tentative breath in and am happy to find that my diaphragm is allowed to move this time.
“Much better. Blue isn’t really my color- I like my oxygen too much.” She laughs, stepping closer wielding a deep red lipstick in her hands.
“Pucker.” She says. I obey, letting her apply this last touch to my look. She hands me a tissue to blot my lips together. Once I feel that I’m sufficiently blotted and not in danger of swiping my lipstick into an accidental Joker look. I stand taking a glimpse at Skye’s phone she’s holding out for me to get the full effect.
“Wow.” I say, taking a step forward. The dress is heavy, but even more beautiful than it was online. It could have gone the other way. I was no stranger to online shopping disappointment.
Skye takes a few pictures from different angles before I fix my mask to my face with some adhesive. Its black lace matches the lace on my corset and is sprinkled with several rhinestones so that it glitters when the light catches it.
“Looks like there’s a blood moon tonight.” Skye says as she scrolls on her phone. I tug at the top of my dress, not paying attention.
“Do you think this will hold, or will the girls come popping out if I do one too many hops in The Cha Cha Slide?”
“I doubt this is the kind of event where you’ll be doing The Cha Cha Slide.”
“Well, that’s the only dance I know, so maybe I’ll get lucky and just graze the snack table until I can slip out.”
“Don’t act like you’re not excited. I could tell by the look on your face when you put on the dress. You owe it to this amazing dress to take it for a spin around the dance floor at least once.”
“Well, I can’t argue with that logic.” I give a little twirl and can’t help that it makes me feel all kinds of girly. Shit, I didn’t know I had it in me.
It’d been a bear of a week, crammed full of tests and papers drowning me in schoolwork. I’d successfully avoided Pierce and hadn’t heard much from Walker other than to keep practicing my chords, and only saw Emmet in passing while grabbing breakfast. I’d have to face at least two of them tonight, which made my stomach knot with nerves. Those two certainly knew how to work my emotions. I found myself almost missing them.
“What are you going to do?” I ask Skye.
“Probably just study or hang out in the common room.”
“Thanks for coming up and helping me get ready, the mirror in here is a joke and the bathroom was overflowing with testosterone.”
“Ugh, don’t I know it. I’m holding my bladder right now, waiting for them all to leave.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
Pierce
“Luk-ASS! Let’s go, or you’re going to make us late.” I knock on the door and fiddle with my bowtie, wishing I could chuck the thing in the fire. Only ventriloquists and pedophiles should wear bow ties. I knock again, only to have Lukas yank the door open on my second knock making me stumble. My body ached from the away game we’d played last night. Our field and stadium were still tore up from the freak lightning storm. We’d been forced to forfeit that game, putting us at a disadvantage. It ate at me knowing I would never find out if we could have scored those last needed points. Our coach was taking the loss out on us by having us run extra drills in the gymnasium.
“Bro, chill.” He says, his vape hanging from his lips.
“Dad is going to kill you.” I say, yanking the vape out of his mouth.
“Hey! I was using that.”
“I’m saving you from Dad’s criticism. Don’t say I never did anything for you.” Lukas’s bow tie still sits around his neck limp and untied. I sigh, grabbing the fabric and making a quick and tidy knot. I could fold these in my sleep for how many black-tie events we’d been forced to attend growing up.
“Ready to get this over with” he says pulling at the tie back and forth across his Adam’s apple. I let out a breath of frustration.
“Don’t ruin that.” I say crooking my finger at him. I push my hair back off of my forehead, as he rolls his eyes at me.
I’d offered to accompany Salem, but she was back to not speaking to me. I’d wear her down before the night was over though. I felt like shit after the cave. I needed to know she was okay.
Most of our housemates, except for Skye, Emmet and Sloan were headed to the alumni ball since we were all legacies. I didn’t understand the school’s archaic rules about it, but here we were following tradition. I take a trip to the bathroom before we head out, ensuring that ever strand of hair is in place. I don’t want to give the old fucker anything to bitch about tonight. I fix my black devil horned mask in place and sweep my tongue over my teeth.
We arrive at the ball and wait in a line of the academy’s most prestigious alumni and current student legacies. Helicopters and ferries have been running all evening, making sure that everyone arrives on time and in style. My cummerbund digs into my side as we wait outside Bracken Hall, the air heavy with a cool mist.
“Stop fidgeting.” Lukas says, his hands shoved in his pockets. He’s wearing a matching devil horned mask, only his has faint roses carved into it.
“How long is this thing again anyways?” He asks, bouncing gently on the balls of his heels. The line moves, allowing us a glimpse inside. My eyes scan the crowd, snagging on the drink table. Well, I know where I’ll be headed first. We’re finally let through and are blasted with a whoosh of hot air as we walk through the vestibule into the ballroom.
I make a beeline for the flutes of champagne only, as I’m about to sweep one off the table, a large foreboding figure steps in front of me. “Pierce.” The deep timbre of my father’s voice hits me.
“Father.” I say, lips tight.
“Ah and your elusive twin. Where have you been hiding Lukas?” His words sound light to anyone listening, but the gleam in his eyes looks murderous.
“Nowhere.” Lukas says, walking around him to swipe the goblets of wine that sit on the other side of the table. He swirls the deep red liquid around before slugging it back in one large gulp.
“Really Lukas, must you make such a scene.” Our father’s voice scolds, his grey bushy eyebrows pulling together to form a deep frown of disapproval.
“I expect you two to be on your best behavior.”
“We know the drill by now.” Lukas spits out. He’d been moodier lately, and I made a mental note to ask him why later.
“Don’t embarrass me. Mark my words.” He stalks off, plastering a fake as fuck smile on as he greets some similarly important former alumni who look just as fake as he does. Is this our future?
I pull at my bowtie wishing I could rip it right off my neck. The sensation of having it around my throat feels more suffocating by the moment. I can’t wait to get this evening over with.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
Salem
This dress may be gorgeous, but it was not made for this weather. The trek amongst the graveled path while wearing heels was not the best decision. I almost twist my ankle at least four times as the mist turns into a light sprinkle, then quickly changes to fat droplets that saturate my skin. I pick up my pace, knowing that my hair is ruined. I should have brought an umbrella, but I’m too far down the path to turn around now. I silently chide my stubbornness at not taking Pierce up on his offer to accompany me to the ball. I’d be irritated, but at least I’d be dry.
I’m thoroughly chilled by the time I make it to Bracken Hall. The doors have been closed and I rap my frozen knuckles on the ornate wood. A few minutes pass when someone opens the door in a fit of giggles.
The party seems well underway as I squeeze past the woman and her beau that are so lost in each other that they don’t pay me any mind.
I’m welcomed by a gust of hot air that warms me to my numb toes. I look around wondering where the closest bathroom might be. I don’t have any classes in Bracken Hall, so it takes me a minute to find my way through the throng of people milling about the entry and hallway areas.
I take in my appearance and attempt to fix my water whipped hair. Ugh, Skye and I spent so much time on that. A few girls funnel into the bathroom behind me, loud and obviously several drinks in.
“Aren’t you the girl who burned her room down, so she’d have to live at Hell House?” A high-pitched voice asks. My hand stops midway through combing. I can’t believe people are still spreading that stupid rumor.
“I didn’t burn it down.” I say, not turning to face the girls and continuing to detangle my hair. I was almost done. Just a few more strands and I could leave this bathroom.
“Not that I blame you, I mean I don’t judge. Those guys ARE hotter than sin.” Her friends snicker behind her. My fingers release the final knot and I squeeze my hands around the bottom of my limp hair, expressing several drops of water on the ground.
I must not be giving this girl the reaction she wants because she continues, “But, come to think of it, I’m not sure why you think they’d go for someone like you. Seems like a waste.”
I’m reminded of all the high school bullies I’d endured over the years. The ones who’d giggle that I was named Salem in the town of Salem. That my hair was darker, that I dressed how I wanted. As much as I acted like their words didn’t hurt, they did. This girl’s needless attack opens up those wounds I’d thought long buried. Instead of folding in on myself and ignoring her like I want to, I stand up straight and turn on my heel. I tower over the petite bully who’s red hair is done up in an elaborate braided crown, her white mask affixed on top of her cerulean eyes. I had absolutely no tolerance for mean girl energy.
“Actually, my room burning down on accident, ended up for the best. I really enjoy all the sex those hot guys have been giving me. I didn’t know that their cocks would be that big, or generous in bed.” Her crimson painted lips pop open, and I exit the bathroom as fast as my aching feet will carry me, my lies licking at my heels. If she wants to spread rumors, she could have at it.
“Big cocks, huh?” Pierce’s voice makes me jump. I instinctively put my hand over my heart, then scowl at him. Of course, he had to overhear me saying that. He takes in my appearance with a lazy flick of his eyes down and my traitorous body lights up underneath his intense gaze.
“What did you do? Jump in the ocean on the way here?” He lifts his black devil mask, setting it on top of his head with a frown as he grabs my damp hair with his free hand, tucking it behind my ear. His close proximity to me sends a shudder down my spine, remembering how his hands felt on me, the imprint of his lips.
“No, moron. It’s raining.”
“Well, if you had come with me, you could have avoided that.” A challenge lies flickering behind his eyes, and I square off in front of him, nearly toe to toe, chest to chest. We’re so close that my breath mingles with his and a waft of champagne and mint simmers between us... His eyes go from challenging to a hint of lust, heating with desire as I lick my bottom lip.
“If you weren’t such an asshole, maybe I would have.” I put my mask on, determined to not show how much he affects me. This night seems destined for a lot of annoying interactions, I might as well get it over with. As I go to walk around him, Pierce grabs me gently by my elbow.
