Page 31 of Renata Vitali (The Five Syndicates)
It took a moment, but he finally nodded. “I can take you home.”
I agreed, grabbed the empty water bottle I’d chugged earlier, and forced myself to take steps toward the gym to get my coat from the coat check. A rivulet of sweat trailed down my cheek. I swiped at it with a hand that felt like lead.
My body swayed into Damian’s as we entered the gym.
He caught me and steadied me just as he returned. “You okay?” When I nodded, his hand still on my elbow squeezed. “Stay here. I’ll go get your coat.”
I stumbled to the refreshments table a foot away, my dry mouth begging for a water bottle.
Laura met me at the table, a smirk pasted on her cherry-red lips. “Still thirsty?” She looked at the empty bottle in my hand, then the row of water bottles with one missing. Mine.
It took me a moment too long to piece it together. That fog in my head pressed down with each second. She’d put something in the water bottles, water bottles only I drank from. Everyone was in on it.
Was Damian?
I shook my head and swayed again.
Like earlier, Damian caught me. “Ren?” When I didn’t answer, he turned to Laura, his arms still around me. “Laura? Care to explain?” The hardness in his tone eased my worries.
He didn’t know.
I let myself check out as they talked.
Laura crossed her arms. “I-I…We were just having fun.”
Damian’s head brushed my cheek as he turned to look at the water bottles. “You drugged her? What if I’d drunk from a water bottle? Would you have drugged me?”
“One of us would have stopped you!”
“Are you insane? She’s a Vitali, Laura. Her family could have us all wiped from existence!” The gym had quieted, and Damian’s shouts rang across the gym as he addressed the entire student body. “Have you all gone fucking insane?! Why would any of you go through with this?!”
Silence.
“Someone better fucking answer me. Now!”
“Laura said it was your idea.”
I didn’t know who spoke up, but he sounded like a chipmunk. I’d never loved chipmunks, but I’d always loved animals. Why didn’t I love chipmunks?
My knees buckled again, and Damian all but carried me now. “Your punishment will be given tomorrow, Laura.” He raised his voice. “As for the rest of you, you’re all fucking idiots.”
I looked up at him. “I’m an idiot?”
He closed his eyes, sighed, and opened them again. “No. Now let’s get you home.” He bent down and carried me bridal style.
My head lolled back. “I feel like a princess.”
“You are a princess.”
“But I’m a Knight. I do the saving, not you.”
“Consider me a fellow knight. We’re in a battle together. I’m doing what any knight would do and helping a fellow knight.”
“Damian?”
“Yes?”
“I don’t know what we’re talking about.”
