Page 49 of Wicked Elites

“Hazing?” she asked.

“An initiation ritual.”

She clapped her hand over her mouth. “Like the freemasons?”

I shook my head. “Just a bunch of stupid girls from the academy.”

Uncle Trevor helped her into a plastic seat. She nodded her thanks and turned to me. “You don’t want to get involved with any secret societies. Some of them are devil worshippers!”

“It was Ashley, trying to make friends with a group of popular girls. They dragged me along for the ride.”

“Why didn’t you say no?” she said.

Irritation fizzled up my gut and popped against the back of my throat. Did she think the girls approached me with an itinerary of indignities and asked whether I wished to participate?

Sometimes, I wished Aunt Hortense would wait for a story to finish before interjecting with conclusions.

Uncle Trevor glanced from me to Aunt Hortense. “Why don’t you sit outside so I can chat with my niece?”

Her eyes flashed. “Are you sending me away?”

“Please.” He held her by the elbow and guided her out of the room.

I leaned back in my hospital bed and rubbed my temples. This entire situation had gotten me so screwed up, I was directing my anger at the wrong people. I had to focus on what really mattered. My health and making sure those girls never attacked anyone else again.

Uncle Trevor strolled back in and shut the door. “Sorry about Hortense. She’s agitated because of the cramped conditions at home.” He lowered himself into the seat next to mine and stared at my clasped hands. “What’s going on at school?”

The whole sorry story spilled from my lips, starting from Prakash’s ominous warnings that I didn’t belong, to the party and the pull-a-pig game, to the events of the night before.

“It sounds to me like you might be in love with Prakash or Sebastian,” Uncle Trevor murmured. “Do either of the boys return your feelings?”

I gaped. “After everything I told you, that’s what you picked up?”

“You’re a strong, resilient girl, but something must be holding you to this academy. The Willow Evergreen I’ve known since she was born wouldn’t put up with any kind of abuse. Which one of them is keeping you there, or is it this Leopold fellow?”

I reared back. “Leopold? No!”

“Then, who?”

I shook my head.

“Willow Evergreen, I’m asking you a question.”

“You sound like Mom.”

“I should hope not.” He chuckled. “Actually, it’s something our mother used to say to us when we were young.”

“I like Sebastian. A lot. But I can’t trust anyone at Brittas.” I dipped my head. “Not even Ashley.”

“Oh, Willow.” He placed a hand on top of mine and squeezed. Thankfully, he didn’t remind me that sisters should stick together.

“But I don’t think either of them is keeping me there. I want to preserve Mom and Dad’s memory, and selling the house will erase them.”

“It won’t. They still live in our hearts.”

“But the memories will fade.”

“Do you know what I think?”