Page 59 of Deck of Scarlets
Clasping her hands under her narrow chin, Thatcher’s silver hair fell over one of her shoulders, striking against her plum blazer. “Care to explain why you have zero comprehension of what we discussed today?” When I didn’t answer right away, she proceeded. “Do you know who the first Scarlet is?”
Silence was my only response. She rubbed her temples and sighed. “I informed Father Benedict of your special situation, and he has agreed to teach you the history from the very beginning.”
“Is that all?” I muttered, finding my voice again.
“Is that all?” she repeated. “My girl, do you have any idea what an honor it is to be a part of such a blessed duty?”
“I didn’t ask to be a part of some cult,” I said.
Her expression darkened. “Some cult?”
Waves of her wrath crashed over an imaginary shoreline, threatening to flood and damage anyone or anything in its path. And I was in it.
My lack of response did not sit well with her because she stood, almost knocking her chair back, and leaned in until I had no choice but to look at her.
“I have never met someone so ungrateful in my life. You’re just like your grandmother. A smart mouth, spoiled brat who was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.” She paused to judge my reaction to her harsh remark, but I kept my mouth shut, waiting for her to continue her rant. “I’m going to give you only one warning. Do not defy me and do not underestimate the power of our Lord. He may have chosen you to fight with us, but you’ll never be one of us. Now get out of my room.”
It became apparent as I left her sour expression that she truly despised me, but not because of my ‘ungrateful’ attitude. No, this came down to my bloodline.
Apparently, Professor Nora Thatcher knew Grams and hated her guts, and I wanted to know why.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Josh casually leaned outside the room against one of the vending machines, a look of pure amusement on his face. “You have a death wish, don’t you?”
I ignored his childish remark and walked toward the exit, trying to calm myself before I punched something. Although, punching Josh wouldn’t have been a half-bad idea.
He grabbed me by the waist and spun me around. “Wait.”
I pushed him hard against his toned chest. “Let me go.”
“No, Remi, not until we talk about what happened in there.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. I know nothing, end of discussion.”
His grip tightened, the sensation making me a bit breathless. He really needs to keep his hands off me, or I’m going to do something reckless. “Why didn’t your family, especially your grandmother, who is, by the way, a legend in the Order, teach you about it?”
I huffed in annoyance. “If I knew the answer, don’t you think I would’ve told you by now?”
“Have you ever asked?” His hold loosened, giving me the chance to escape.
Brushing him off, I readjusted my backpack. “Hard to ask when I had no hint prior.”
“I find that hard to believe. Why don’t you ask her?”
“Who?”
“Your grandmother?”
I froze, swallowing back a wave of sadness. “Kind of hard when she’s dead.”
Josh’s eyes widened in surprise. “Remi, I… when?”
“Four months ago.”
“I had no idea.”
“Now, I find that hard to believe if she was so legendary.”