Fire & Flood (Mythverse #1)

Chapter 30

Chapter 30

I have more important things to do than get ready for a dance. I don’t know who my father is. I’ve never properly mourned my mother. I’m suspected of setting fire to my classmates, and am more than likely a pawn in a war pitting gods against monsters.

But what am I doing?

I’m worried about clothes and makeup because it’s the day of the Spring Fling.

Val continues to play my fake suitor. It has helped make things a little less tense around campus. After saving Fern, Val is a hero. Having him vouch for me—and Fern backing him up—has taken away most of the suspicion. Even better, Tina has refrained from murdering me. Sure, she looks at me like she’s imagining my death, but doesn’t say a word. Val must have spoken with her.

In the meantime, I’ve gotten used to Val at my side all the time. Every day we cycle through multiple awful pet names for each other. I’ve started studying a thesaurus at night just to give myself options for the next day.

Overall, as far as fake boyfriends go Val isn’t too bad. Actually, he’s pretty great. The worst part is reminding myself it’s fake. Every day, though, it’s more difficult. I’m afraid I’m starting to fall for him.

I’m actually grateful for the stupid double date. If I was going with Val we’d end up slow dancing—probably more than once—and I don’t think my little heart could take it. Right now my plan is to stick to Greg like a burr.

Unfortunately, Val seems to have forgotten what I told him ages ago—that I’m going to the Spring Fling with Greg. I realize this when he slides into his now usual seat beside me at lunch and asks, “So what time should I pick you up tonight, my little pigeon?”

I sigh. He’s been on a bird name thing lately.

Greg isn’t amused either. He’s gotten in the habit of sitting across from me so he can be better positioned to glare at Val. “Excuse me, Val. But tonight Edie is my little pigeon.”

I generally try to ignore Greg and Val when they get into these little cockfights, but I have to straighten one thing out before this goes any further.

“I’m not anyone’s little pigeon. And you knew about this, Val. I told you that day in Kratos’ class.”

Val looks from me to Greg and then back to me. I could almost swear he looks a little bit hurt, but then he smirks. “That’s right. The pity date.”

Greg’s whole face falls. “I should go. Wanted to be early for class, talk to the teacher—you know.”

He stands and grabs his full tray at the same time. An apple rolls off and Val catches it with one hand and then takes a big noisy bite.

“Greg, wait,” I say, but he’s already gone.

“They cancelled afternoon classes so we could get ready for the dance,” Cassie, who witnessed this whole thing, finally pipes up.

“Maybe he forgot,” Val drawls, looking not the slightest bit contrite. “You know, he can be a little…batty.”

I smack the apple out of his hand. “Why are you being such a d**k?”

“Oh c’mon,” Val picks the apple off the table and takes another bite. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen him eat anything and it’s a little bit distracting. The way his teeth slice through the apple—it’s like watching one of those infomercials for a super sharp knife. “It’s not like you actually want to go with Greg.”

“Yeah, well did you ever think that maybe I don’t want to go with you either?”

“Oh?” Val’s eyebrows raise and again I almost imagine hurt there, but then he smiles. “You’re right. I didn’t realize. I thought…well, I assumed I was the only one bored with this relationship. It seemed churlish to break up with you when you’re already at such a low point. The shifter who can’t shift. With only days left in the assassination class. I had planned…well, never mind that now. It’s much better this way. A clean break on both sides. Ending it before it gets ugly.”

He brushes his lips against my cheek. A there and then gone kiss with a cold that lingers. “Good-bye little chickadee. It’s been fun.” He stands and leaves with all the grace that Greg lacked.

I watch him go, unsure of what just happened.

Apparently, I’m not the only one. Cassie leans across the table and whispers, “Was that a fake breakup or a real one?”

“Real thing, I think.” I swallow, my throat tight. For a fake boyfriend, that felt like a very real dumping.

Cassie stands and holds out a hand. “C’mon, let’s go up to the room so you have time to cry and then put a cold washcloth on your face afterwards so you’re not all puffy for the dance. And I’ve got some great concealer you can try out because, trust me, I cried a lot before you showed up.”

“I’m not going to cry,” I protest, but I take her hand and let her lead me out of the cafeteria. Around us everyone is chattering with excitement about the dance and I just want to get away from them all. Throwing open the door, I walk straight into Darcy. Our heads knock together and we both stumble back.

“Oh no, are you okay?” Cassie rushes over to Darcy while I blink and see stars.

“I’m fine.” Darcy jerks his chin in my direction. “Sorry, Edie. I wasn’t watching where I was going.” He laughs, but the sound is strained. “It’s been a weird day. Someone sent me this threatening note. I took it to Themis and she thought it was just a prank. But I don’t know.”

“Threatening note?” Cassie says in an odd high-pitched voice.

Darcy pats her arm. “It’s okay. Themis is probably right. Just someone’s idea of a bad joke.”

Cassie gulps. “Can I see it?”

Darcy hesitates and then shrugs. “Sure.” He digs into his pocket and pulls out a creased piece of paper.

Cassie quickly reads it and says, “Oh.” She passes it over to me.

Watch your step at the dance tonight. You’re the next to die.

“It might not be a threat. That could read like a warning, or a pre—” I stop short, realizing with a horrible blinding clarity who must have sent that note. I glance at Cassie who grimaces back at me, confirming my suspicion.

Apparently, she finally decided to tell Darcy about her vision. And in the worst way possible.

“Well, we’ll definitely have your back tonight,” I reassure him.

“Yeah. Totes. Def,” Cassie echoes my sentiment. We make plans to meet outside of the grand hall where the dance will be held, before heading in opposite directions.

As we walk away, I look at Cassie and she shrugs sheepishly. “I probably could’ve worded that a little bit better, huh?”

“You think?” Despite my fight with Val I laugh. “Well, at least Darcy will be on his toes tonight.”

“We won’t let anything happen to him, right?” Cassie asks in a scared voice.

I squeeze her hand. “Of course we won’t!”

There’s no more putting it off—it’s time to get ready for the dance.

“So we just wear our uniforms?” I ask.

“Yeah.” There’s a light knock on the door. Cassie screeches and runs to it and I am absolutely confused until she opens it to reveal a fully healed Fern.

“Oh my gods, Fern!” I yell. “I’m so glad you’re okay.” She looks good as new. No burns. No scars. “We tried to visit you but we weren’t allowed.”

“No one was,” she tells me, stepping into the room. “Cassie invited me to get ready with you guys, hope that’s okay.”

“Of course it is! But don’t you have a witch crew you’re a part of?” I realize at once it’s the wrong thing to say.

“They’re not really talking to me right now.”

“What, you almost died! Why are they mad?”

“Well, it came out that I was with Marguerite and…”

“They’re upset you’re a lesbian?” I ask.

“Nothing so pre-historic. They’re upset I’m with a vampire.”

“Oh.” I guess I’m lucky all my friends are really accepting of inter-species relationships.

“Well, we don’t care who you date,” Cassie assures her.

“Yeah, Cassie is in love with a fish,” I add, teasing.

Cassie laughs. “Whatever. At least I’m not in the bloodsucker fan club.”

Fern and I exchange a glance. “So you and Val are an official thing now?”

“We were. Kind of.” I throw up my hands. “He broke up with me at lunch. I think. It’s super complicated.”

“Dating a vampire always is. Marguerite was so cool in public, but when we’re alone—she’s fire. I haven’t spoken to her since the accident. I hope she realizes that I’m not lying about…” She pauses and it gets quiet for a minute. We’d all heard the rumor that Fern knew nothing about who her attacker was, even when a healer tried all of their restorative memory charms on her. I hope it wasn’t Hepatitis who tried, for Fern’s sake.

“You still can’t remember?” I ask, but Fern shakes her head.

“Okay, gods, let’s change the subject.” Cassie butts in. “It’s time to get ready.”

I look around. “Aren’t we suppose to wear our uniforms? Aren’t we already all ready?”

Fern and Cassie look at each other, then burst out laughing.

“I’ll go first,” Fern says and she closes her eyes, her lip twitching. When she opens them she is no longer wearing her uniform but a beautiful flowing ball gown. It’s silver and sparkly and suits her lithe figure perfectly.

“No. Freaking. Way.” Our uniforms can change? Why did no one tell me this?

“It’s only for tonight,” Cassie answers my unasked question. “They tweak the spell for dances. The idea is that your uniform can change into what represents you best, whatever you are—or whatever you most want to be—deep down. Look, I’ll go next.”

She closes her eyes and when she opens them she’s in an aqua blue mermaid tail cut gown. It’s beaded to look like scales.

I bark out a laugh. “Really playing up the merfolk angle,” I tell her.

“Is it too much?” she asks.

“No! You look awesome. I should have said that first.”

She grins. “Okay, now you. Close your eyes and think about how you want to look…or how you want to feel.”

I close my eyes and try not to think of Val, but that’s where my mind goes. Why is he such a d**k!? I shake my head. I don’t want to impress him. I want to look amazing for myself. I want to…I open my eyes.

Fern and Cassie gasp and I look in the mirror. My dress is blood red. It’s low cut, sleeveless and hugs my body. A slit in the side shows off my long legs.

“Damn, girl.” Cassie whistles.

“It’s okay?” I ask.

“If I wasn’t a taken woman…” Fern jokes.

“Okay, okay,” I say, embarrassed. “Let’s go meet our dates.”

Dressed to kill, we head to the dance.