Oh.
We arrived at The Orb and I anxiously waited for Tory to appear, glad to have someone who was in the same boat as me. The way she'd been dancing with Darius and Caleb last night had practically been pornographic and I didn't think she was going to live it down any time soon.
She appeared jogging down a path from the direction of Fire Territory, her leather jacket flapping out behind her and her face a picture of discomfort.
“Arghhhh,” she groaned as she arrived, resting her hands on her knees. “I feel like death. But like if death was a puddle of shit.”
I blew out a laugh, resting my hand against her shoulder for a second. “I feel your pain.”
“The Heirs,” she whispered like it was a horrible, horrible secret we shared. And in all fairness, it was.
Diego shook his head at both of us as if he was our disappointed father. Probably the first time we'd ever had one of those.
“Oh don't look at me like that,” Tory said. “Blame the tequila.”
“And the rum…and the whiskey. Remind me never to mix drinks again.” I rubbed my head, sure a headache was going to make a fun appearance soon. For now, I was stuck in the wishy-washy hours before I truly sobered up. After that…it was all downhill.
“How's Sofia?” Tory asked Diego.
While he filled her in we made our way into The Orb to ask about Geraldine. Though who we were going to ask, I didn't know. I gazed across the gossiping sea of students and spotted Professor Washer on the other side of the room, tucking into a large cooked breakfast.
“Great,” Tory huffed.
“It's him or a student,” I muttered and from the nasty looks we were getting from the surrounding sophomores, I guessed it was best to ask Washer. No matter how much he made my skin crawl.
“Come on, he can't perve on us while he's eating,” I said.
“Wanna bet?” Tory laughed and we headed across the room, halting in front of his table.
He looked up at us, clearly as hungover as we were. “Ah here's the tall drink of water I ordered with my breakfast.” He glanced over at us appreciatively while Diego held back, looking scathingly in his direction.
“Er right,” I said. “We were just wondering where Geraldine is? Is she in a hospital?”
“No she's in Uranus,” he said around a mouthful of food.
“Excuse me?” Tory blurted. “Our friend has been hurt and you think it's an appropriate time to start throwing jokes around?”
“No,” he said innocently. “She's in Uranus Infirmary, next to Neptune Tower?”
“Oh.” Tory turned red and I burst out laughing as she stalked away.
Washer beckoned me closer with a grin and I felt his Siren power seeping over me. I drew nearer as a flood of warmth filled my chest. “Uranus is my favourite building,” he whispered.
Diego snatched my arm, yanking me away as lust leaked into my body.
By the time I was halfway across The Orb with Diego, Washer's power left me and I shuddered violently. “God that guy's a creep. He makes everything sound filthy.”
As we headed toward the exit, I noticed Tory had come to a halt before a group of girls. I increased my pace, frowning as I joined her and discovered Kylie standing there with her hands on her hips. Her friends surrounded her and a sea of pink lipgloss smirks were cast our way.
“Wanna explain this?” Kylie lifted her Atlas, playing a video on it for us to see.
Heat invaded my body as I watched a snapshot of Tory and I dancing with the Heirs. And it was so much worse seeing it replayed in the flesh. My eyes were hooded as I clasped Seth's neck and he wrapped my leg around his thigh. Tory was locked around Darius in much the same way, his hand riding up the back of her cami and caressing her skin.
Tory gazed coolly at Kylie, her shoulders squared. “And your point being?”
Hell my sister had balls. I tried to conjure the same strength but words were failing me. I was the one draped over Kylie's supposed boyfriend in that video. But even as I thought it, a shriek of indignation hit my ears and Darius's girlfriend, Marguerite, appeared, shouldering past us to join Kylie's ranks.
Flames burst to life in Marguerite's hands as she glared at Tory. “Do you think he's actually interested in you? He was drunk and grabbed the nearest thing with a pulse.”
“Well if that's Darius's standard now I understand why he's with you,” Tory said airily and I couldn't help but exhale a laugh.
A crowd was forming around us and at Tory's words a chorus of ooohh's went up.
Diego had been jostled away from us by a few of the larger seniors and was trying to elbow his way back.
I lifted my palms and only a small trickle of power met my fingers.
Damn you to hell Orion!
“Bitch!” Marguerite snapped at Tory, stepping forward with a menacing glare.
Kylie glowered at me, looking more emotional than Marguerite. “Did you screw him?” she whispered, her lower lip quivering.
“No,” I said earnestly. “It was just a dance, that's all.” My heart twisted. I could see how hurt she was. I wanted to blame whiskey on the fact I'd shamelessly dry humped her boyfriend, but I supposed I had to take some responsibility for it too.
Kylie's hand whipped sideways and a blast of air smashed into my face in the hardest slap of my life. Pure poison poured from her eyes as if a venomous snake lived within her.
“Hey!” Tory barked as I cupped my stinging cheek with a wince.
“It's fine,” I said through my teeth, looking back at Kylie. Guess I deserved that one.
The look in all of their eyes said they weren't close to done.
“Excuse me! Move move move!” Principal Nova's voice called from behind the group as she tried to get into The Orb.
The crowd disbanded and Tory and I made a break for it, darting through the gap. Tory snatched some energy bars from the hand of a shell-shocked A.S.S member who smiled like it was the best thing that had ever happened to her as we jogged out onto the path.
I glanced back at the doors, unable to spot Diego following but not wanting to remain there any longer.
Tory handed me a bar with a mischievous grin and I released a laugh, the tension in my chest disbanding.
“Hey! We’re not done with you!” Kylie’s voice followed us.
“Wanna fight ‘em?” Tory asked with a manic smile and I was very almost caught up in that mad idea when I remembered something crucial.
“Can’t, I’m running on fumes.”
Tory sighed. “Fucking Orion. Let’s run for it then.”
We started jogging, the wind tugging our hair back and the thrill of escape dancing around us on the air. Laughter broke free of my throat and Tory joined me as we sped away from The Orb and every angry witch within its walls.
We followed the circling path all the way to Uranus Infirmary. The huge building looked more like an old manor house than a hospital ward and as we headed inside I noticed signs pointing to different classes. The place was home to Healing and Restoration magic and I wondered when we'd get to start learning skills like that. It would seriously come in handy on a campus full of beasts, half of whom seemed to be out for our blood.
In the foyer was a large fireplace with two staircases splitting off to the east and west wings. We followed signs to the ward, jogging past rows of gilded framed portraits on the stone walls. The eyes of past healers watched us go, all of them wearing blue robes and a white sash across their chests.