Page 42 of Tear of Destiny
At that moment, the door flies open, and somebody bursts in. “Mr. Collins, I assure you, the damage in the corridor wasn’t my fault. Just because I’ve organized a few competitions in the past where…” Alessandro breaks off mid-sentence and looks at me in surprise. “Excuse me, I didn’t realize you were in the middle of a meeting.”
“Knocking wouldn’t have been a bad idea. Then I could have told you,” Mr. Collins grumbles.
“Is Teresa here about her gift?” Alessandro asks bluntly. “Of course she is. My family would like to take her under its wing. Mr. Cunningham has already expressed an interest, as I’m sure most Council families have. But nothing’s been decided yet, and Teresa should meet the members first.”
I look at Mr. Collins in surprise. “Make it sound like I’m a racehorse being fought over.”
“Mr. Fabrici is slightly misrepresenting the situation,” says the principal, shooting him a reproachful look. “No one is fighting over you. The Council would just like to get to know you and find out where you’re at so that we can support you.”
“To begin with,” Alessandro corrects him. “But don’t worry. If you’re not interested, they can’t do much without your agreement. So, just enjoy the attention and exploit the advantages you’ll get out of it. Could be worthwhile.” He winks at me. “That would be my approach, anyway.”
I can tell that Mr. Collins disapproves of Alessandro’s candidness. I stifle a grin. He can be so direct.
“Also, my family would like to host the party. Surely you have nothing against that?” Alessandro asks Mr. Collins.
“Of course not. If the other members agree.”
“I wouldn’t worry about that. My mother can be very persuasive,” says Alessandro. “We don’t want Teresa to feel like a zoo animal on display. We want it to be an informal get-together where she has the chance to form an impression of the Council members. Students rarely get an opportunity like that.” Alessandro turns to me with a friendly smile. “So, what do you say? Will you come to a little soiree? Could be fun. Anyway, I’ll be there, so it’s guaranteed to be entertaining.”
I shake my head in amusement. Alessandro is a real character. On one hand, I have absolutely no desire to go to an event likethat. Especially if I’m going to be the center of attention. But on the other hand, I’ll have a chance to form an impression of the Council members, and then I can decide whether I can even see myself doing that kind of training under the guidance of one of them. Plus, I have the feeling that I don’t really have a choice. I’ll have to agree to a meeting like this sooner or later. So I may as well get the whole thing over with.
“Okay, I’ll come.”
“Great, I’ll let my parents know.” He grins exuberantly and heads for the door, then he remembers why he was here in the first place. “About the water damage in the corridor… Mr. Cayman hasn’t come to see you about that?” he asks Mr. Collins.
The principal shakes his head. “No, not yet.”
“Good, then it’s probably best if you just forget I said anything. It can’t be that bad if you haven’t been informed about it.”
I don’t know if I’ve ever witnessed someone so bad at talking their way out of trouble, but since the principal is already in a meeting with me, he lets it slide, at least for now.
Alessandro raises his hand in farewell, winks at me, and leaves.
Mr. Collins sighs. “I wish the invitation could have been presented differently, but I’m glad you agreed to attend. It’s time you met the Council. And its members need an opportunity to form an impression of you too. Then together, we’ll decide which direction to take and the best way to determine your strengths.”
I still feel like a guinea pig about to be run through a lab test. But there’s no way I’ll allow myself to be enlisted in their cause against my will.
I thank Mr. Collins and say goodbye. My thoughts are swirling, and I try to convince myself that there’s no harm in getting to know them. Where that will lead is yet to be seen.
As I’m getting ready for bed, I look at Yoru, who’s curled up in his favorite spot on the carpet beside my bed with his eyesclosed.
“I wish I could be that peaceful,” I murmur. “Who knows what the Council really has planned for us? But I won’t let them bully us into anything. And working with the hunters – can you imagine that?”
This makes me think of Ayden. Embarking on the same profession as him, continuing to live in the same building, and maybe even having to work with him… That would inevitably rub salt in the wounds, over and over again. Plus, most of the hunter’s I’ve met weren’t very friendly. No, I definitely don’t want to go down that road.
I flop down on my bed and stare at the ceiling. As if I don’t already have enough problems.
At that moment, my phone beeps. It’s Noah.
“We can try solving the riddle now. Are you ready?”
Chapter 18
Noah meets me at the bus stop near the hospital. He looks tense, but he tries to play it down with a warm smile. He sets off at a brisk pace, and I struggle to keep up with him.
He makes a beeline for a dark alley where we can’t be seen from the street. Perfect cover for us. But I can’t shake off the uneasy feeling that such deserted, derelict places trigger in me. I hear a sound, and I’m instantly on high alert. Yoru appears at my side, keeping a sharp lookout, his fur standing on end.
A figure walks around the corner of a building, and I exhale with relief.