Page 20 of Tear of Destiny
“Yeah. He’s just joined the hunters.” His eyes darken a little as he continues, “And I’m wondering what he’s doing in the school.” I can see in his eyes that there’s another unspoken question in his mind: What did he want with you?
“He seems really interested in key spirits and was taking a look around the school.”
Ayden sighs and runs his hand irritably through his hair. “The guy’s a total idiot. He only wound up here because he keeps getting himself into trouble. If he wasn’t a Fabrici, he probably would have been removed from the picture ages ago and left to rot in some cell. But his parents and their influential friends keep helping him out of his messes.”
“I didn’t realize it was that bad,” I mutter in surprise.
“He told you about it?”
I quickly shake my head. “No, he hinted at it. He said he was just trying to have a little fun and wound up here as a punishment.”
“Uh, you could say that. Eventually, even his family had had enough and decided it was time he focused on more useful pursuits. He supposedly joined the hunters to make a contribution to the greater good and learn some discipline. But I doubt that will happen. Even here his name has enormous influence, and that gives him certain advantages.”
“I can imagine,” I mutter. Then I ask the question I’ve been burning to ask this whole time. “What did he do to get sent here?”
Ayden hesitates, then he decides to give me a straight answer. “He organized illegal fights between key spirits. Whose spirit is the fastest? Whose is the strongest, the most powerful? There were a lot of injuries and serious accidents. Those kinds of fights are strictly prohibited, especially since they can result in damage that can’t be hidden from ordinary people. One of his fights caused a major fire that destroyed an entire city block. He couldn’t keep it under wraps after that. I guess it was the last straw.”
I’m genuinely surprised, because although Alessandro strikes me as laid back, I never figured he was that irresponsible. And he takes an interest in spirits and seems to care about their well-being. So it surprises me that he would put their health on the line just get his kicks.
“Anyway, the guy is pretty egotistical and doesn’t seem to think about anyone but himself. So be careful,” Ayden adds. He looks me up and down.
I instantly get this fluttering feeling in my stomach. My heart skips a beat, and I long to cross those few feet between us and nestle up to him. But I guess that will never happen again.
“I’m pretty tired,” he says, turning to go to his room.
I nod and take out my key. Then I hear footsteps. Vicky is hurrying down the corridor.
“Ayden, there you are. I figured I’d come and keep you company. I know you always feel pretty crappy after your sessions. I brought a few things,” she adds with a wink, holding up a bag. She finally seems to notice me but ignores me and goes to Ayden.
He’s opening his door. “Thanks, but I really just need some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
With that, he closes the door in her face and leaves her standing there. For a moment, she looks lost for words, then she turns around, glares at me hatefully, and storms off.
Chapter 9
Kate and I scan the cafeteria for a free table. Max is here too, and she glances sideways at me with such an icy, scornful look that I wonder how she managed to fake being my friend for so long. It can’t have been easy.
As soon as she sees me, she leans in and says something conspiratorially to the other girls at her table and starts giggling. The others giggle too and look at me.
“She’ll get tired of it soon,” says Kate, shooting Max an evil look. We join the line to be served, and I can feel numerous pairs of eyes boring into my back.
“She seems to be enjoying herself so far,” I reply, trying to ignore Max.
Kate and I find a table and begin to eat.
“I’ve been thinking about the retirement home,” she says quietly. “Maybe the Noctu are somehow involved, and that’s why Charles mentioned the name.”
I thoughtfully run my hand through my hair. “Possibly. We need to be on guard when we go there.”
“Maybe you could ask Noah.”
Right on cue, my phone beeps with an incoming message fromhim.
“Hey, you all good? I just wanted to say how sorry I am for forcing you to come to the temple and watch Travis being dragged through the streets. It can’t have been easy, and I guess it didn’t exactly raise your opinion of us and the Odyss.”
“Not your fault, the main thing is that everything turned out okay. I’m fine, nothing to report. How’s the trial going? Travis was in a pretty bad state at the hearing.”
I’m not sure why I’m asking this. I mean, I don’t know the guy, but I feel sorry for him. I can’t get his face out of my head.