Page 35 of Phantom Flower

Knee to the side, boot to the shin, methodical.

He dropped to the ground sobbing, limbs bent at wrong angles, blood from his nose mixing with tears.

I crouched down beside him, lighting a cigarette while he cried.

“Next time you see Rei Kurosaki,” I said, exhaling smoke, “you crawl on whatever’s left of your broken body and apologize. And if you ever look at him again, if you even breathe in his direction, I’ll come back and finish what I started. Understand?”

He nodded frantically, snot and blood running down his face. I stood, crushed the cigarette under my boot, and walked away without looking back. Ilya could handle cleanup if needed. I had more important things to do.

The principal’s office was next.

The man nearly pissed himself when I walked in without knocking.

He knew the name.

Everyone in this city knew what Morozov meant.

“M-Mr. Morozov. I wasn’t expecting—”

“Rei Kurosaki,” I cut in. “Suspended. You are going to take that back.”

The principal swallowed hard, Adam’s apple bobbing.

“Of course. I’ll… I’ll speak with the board immediately.”

I smiled, all teeth. “Good. And Principal Hargrove?” I leaned forward, planting both hands on his desk. “If I hear one more word about Rei being in trouble because of this, I’ll personally make sure your career ends in a very unpleasant way. We clear?”

He nodded so fast I thought his head might fall off. “Crystal clear.”

I left.

Then I pulled out my phone as I drove toward the Kurosaki house.

Dimitri:

Come out.

Little Fairy:

Why would I?

Dimitri:

Come out. Don’t make me come get you.

The typing bubble appeared. Disappeared. Reappeared. I could picture him in his room, probably pacing.

Little Fairy:

I am grounded so I can’t.

Grounded. The word tasted like shit in my mouth.

Someone else thought they had the right to cage him? Even if those people were his parents, I still didn’t like it.

Dimitri:

Come out or I’ll come inside and this time through the front door where your mom can see me.