Page 99 of When Darkness Calls

I’ve never felt like this before. Like I’m seeing things from new eyes. I feel reborn. And it’s not just from the orgasms…as many and as fucking intense as they were.

I’m living again. I stuck with my plan and it’s succeeding. My shell has cracked, pieces crumbling away into the wind blowing round me as I take the long winding path to Corvin Hall.

Shadow’s “restricted” identity aside, I think my mom would be proud of me. I think she would be happy to know that I’m finally finding the parts of myself I had lost with her. That I’m finding that fierce, fearlessness she fostered in my soul.

And while it may manifest a little differently than before, her loss altering so much, I’m happy. At least a version of happiness I’ve hoped for since she passed.

Campus is peaceful today. The wind blows gently rustling the trees that are in various stages of fully turning into bright yellows. Corvin Hall stands tall above the highest branches, casting a harsh shadow on the small hilltop. Wooden benches dot the leaf covered, brick pathway.

This area of campus is one of a few that feels like it transports you to a different time, a different world. It’s much quieter away from the heart of the school around the fountain, secluded even from the majority of traffic noises that can usually be heard on the edges of the grounds.

The shift in atmosphere is also probably due to knowing, thanks to the Orientation Week tour, that Corvin Hall is one of the oldest buildings on the school grounds. Other than Corvin Hall, the administration building, the archival library, and one of the buildings that had been turned into dorms about fifteen years ago are all that is left of the original college that became the university.

I’m about to sit on one of the benches, to just allow myself a few minutes to soak in the magic in the air, these quiet whispers of fall’s arrival, when someone calls my name.

I don’t even have to turn my head to see who it is. The bubble of joy that had been surrounding me for days bursts, each droplet landing on my skin sending chills spreading through my limbs, coursing down my spine.

My head turns his way, the smile I plaster on pulls tight, too tight, across my face. Ethan looks the same as he always does–aside from the fading bruises on his face– and that does little to comfort me.

“Hi, stranger. If I didn’t know any better, I would say you have been avoiding me, Dani.” His tone is even but I know the calm is to cover for the accusation.

He knows I’m avoiding him, like a plague I might add. I haven’t answered any of his calls or texts since the date, if you could call it that.

“Why would I do that?” I ask, trying to keep my voice light.

Because he makes me feel like I’ve dove headfirst into an ice bath and swallowed something too sour at the same time.

He tsks, lifting his shoulder absently. “I don’t know. I was hoping you could tell me.”

“I apologize if you’re offended. To be honest, I wasn’t really sure how to go about this, considering you kind of abandoned me on what I thought was a date?” I raise my brow, but he just smiles. Something about it feels wrong, not as placating as usual. Like his mask is slipping, or maybe it’s his patience.

“Well…if I remember correctly our ‘date’ was crashed by a couple of guys you seemed to be very familiar with. I was afraid I would intrude, especially since you didn’t seem to be enjoying our night the way I’m accustomed to with other dates.” His dark eyes narrow as he steps closer.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I step back, gripping the strap of my bag tight.

“Oh, just that I thought maybe you weren’t used to that kind of attention, but perhaps I was wrong, and it was just me? You did appear awfully familiar with them.”

“They’re my brother’s friends.”

What the fuck is he getting at?

“So?” He blinks slowly. “There isn’t really a law against fucking your brother’s friends is there? I think I would know if there were.”

My eyes widen. Shock is an understatement for how I feel. What the hell is going on? Yeah, he gave me a weird vibe the other night, but fuck, this is a totally different ball game. He just stares at me, a knowing gleam in his eye that I don’t understand.

“I think you have the wrong idea, Ethan. But regardless, I think it’s best we pretend that date never happened, okay? It’s clear we’re better off sticking to the assistant and student relationship, at most friends.”

There’s a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth and he tilts his head but says nothing. Seconds pass and he stays silent.

I guess that’s my cue to go…

I dip my chin, turning away. I guess I can kiss my wishes of sitting in peace good-bye now. There’s no way I can sit down and he’ll just walk away. My feet shuffle a few feet on the brick path before I’m tugged back, hard.

His face comes back into view. The hand gripping my arm is tight, bruising. I try to jerk from his grasp, glaring up at him.

“What the fuck!?” I growl.

“Oh, don’t be that way, Dani.”