Page 87 of A Lesson in Deceit

“Oh, you are so confused, and it hurts my heart to think you have just been wandering this world in the dark.” He placed a hand on his chest. “She is the reason for all of this, but I’m here to correct it. The thought of Thomas will hurt a little less every day…”

“You’re crazy and a murderer,” I spat out.

His eyes turned cold. “Oh, well, you should blame your mother.” He casually moved his hand to the side and I was thrown backwards. Marianne reached for me, but Chancellor Fowler held her in place, so she wouldn’t move. “So stubborn.” He said before moving his hand up and the glass pieces from earlier lifted from the bar cart. He crooked one of his fingers and all of them came flying at Marianne piercing her body.

Blood immediately gushed from the deep wounds. Too many pieces were in her neck and face. Her knees hit the ground first and she looked at me, her mouth moving like she was trying to speak, but nothing came out. Her eyes that always had so much life, descended into pure nothingness. The cry I let out was piercing and hurt my throat.

“Unless you would like to see your sweet mother and father in the same way, I suggest you grab her.” Chancellor Fowler told Grayson as I started to run to Marianne’s body. I felt ropes around my body, holding me tight. Black shadows intertwined themselves together to hold me upright. “Oliver, see to it that the school is in one piece. I don’t need that to go to shambles when we’re just getting started.”

Mr. St. James nodded, walking out of the room. I pulled and squirmed, trying to tear through Grayson’s hold. “Grayson, stop!” I pleaded, watching the thick, red blood pool around my best friend’s body. Tears streamed down my face as I sobbed,begging the person I thought cared about me to let me say goodbye to my best friend.

Chancellor Fowler stepped up to me, grabbing my hand and slipping a ring on my finger. Through my tears, I realized it was a dampener, and I felt all the magic that I had become dormant. He smirked at me, heading to his place on the couch again. He motioned towards the other couch and Grayson lifted me within his shadows and placed me in front of it. The black ropes unraveled themselves, their usual warm feeling, now distant and something I couldn’t recognize.

The Chancellor stared at me from where he sat. “I hope we’ve come to an understanding. Now then, Riley…. sit down.”

I slowly descended to the couch, casting a glance at Marianne’s body. My vision was shaky since my entire body hadn’t stopped vibrating. How would I explain this to her mom? How would I get over this? Maybe he would kill me too and none of that would be something I had to worry about. “What do you want?” I said in a low voice.

“I want to get to know you.”

I scowled. “I don’t want to knowyou. You killed my best friend.” I clutched at the fabric of the couch. “You killed my dad.” I flicked my eyes to Grayson who had his head down, almost like he was too ashamed to even give me his attention.

Chancellor Fowler balled his hands into fists and then unclenched them. His voice got louder with every word he spoke in my direction. “Your powers have been hiding in that ruby around your neck since the moment they manifested! I don’t know how she did it, your mother, but it’s also concealed you from me for years! The minute you stepped onto this campus I could feel you, but I just couldn’t find you. She kept you simple and human for far too long! ” He jolted from the couch and grabbed my arms tight, the feeling almost like he was burning me. My eyes widened at his closeness. “You were not born totwo commonplace humans, Riley! Your mother may be a plain human woman, but Thomas is not your father!”

I blinked, the air in my lungs nonexistent.

Chancellor Fowler gave me a small, crazed smile. “I am.”