Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CAT

I nearly caved three times during the night, my finger hovering over Tor's number to confess everything. But whenever my conviction wavered, I looked at the other phone and reminded myself why I needed to keep it secret. When I woke up, groggy and with a pounding head thanks to hours of broken sleep, I snapped a quick copy of the Virgil photo so I had it on my phone and quickly got dressed.

I didn't know which room belonged to Justin Merchant, but I did know he could be relied upon to visit the breakfast hall for a double espresso and crushed avocado sourdough toast at seven a.m. sharp. I made sure to be there for six forty-five, gratefully clutching a cup of tea between shaky hands.

Justin Merchant was a six-foot-something white guy with perpetually messy black hair, observant green eyes, and clothes that looked slouchy and second hand because they were designed to look that way. I didn't know much about him other than his parents were renowned surgeons, and his sister was a pharmacist in Dubai. Mostly because the girl who lost her Dior bracelet very loudly said I wish my sister worked in Dubai while cosying up to him a few weeks ago. I could guess how much pressure he was under to follow in his family's footsteps; that was no doubt why he broke Duncan's nose and started the rumour that he summoned Nightmare.

I sipped my tea and looked around the dining room, glad there were only a few people down at this time, most frantically typing away at their laptops. God, lectures and essays felt a thousand miles away. Honey and I both had a period of indefinite absence from classes. Presumably the friends of the other people who'd died received the same treatment. I'd go back. Eventually. Right now, I didn't even have the energy for the easy online lessons Caroline set up for me.

Caroline, who was dead and sliced to ribbons. I choked back bile, glancing up when someone walked into the room. Nerves took hold of my stomach when I saw it was Justin, looking as careless and slouchy as ever in an oversized blue T-shirt and baggy jeans, a baseball cap backwards on his head. The bejewelled cross necklace he wore negated his whole I couldn't care less vibe. No way was something that gaudy just thrown on.

"Justin," I said, rushing out of my seat and glancing at the others as I made my way to my target. No one was paying attention. Perfect. "Hey, I need a favour. I can pay."

"Not interested," he muttered, sidestepping me.

I moved back into his path. "I'm not taking no for an answer."

His green gaze flattened, eyelids heavy. "I don't want your money, Cactus."

I tilted my head, pouncing on those words with predatory intent. "Then what do you want?"

"I want my medical records cleared from Ford's system. Make that happen, and I'll do your little favour." His eyes narrowed as he headed for the espresso machine, me trailing him. "What is it anyway?"

"I want you to tell me where a photo was taken."

He scoffed. "That's it?"

"I want the exact location, and the time," I added impulsively. I only had Nightmare's word that Virgil was still—still alive. It was a bitter pill, but I had to accept the chance he might already be gone.

God, what would I tell Mum and Dad and Tannie? What would I do without my big brother? Just the thought of it made me want to throw up.

"Fine." Merchant shrugged. "Give me your phone. I'll keep it until you wipe my records and then we'll talk."

His thin smile said leave me the fuck alone. I left Nightmare's phone in his hand and left him in the breakfast hall, checking no one had noticed our conversation. The few people in the room had their noses buried in books, laptops, or breakfast, eyes bloodshot or barely open. We were in the clear.

I hurried back to my room, rubbing my arms to banish the goosebumps that covered them, feeling watched despite knowing no one had noticed our conversation. I told myself it didn't break the tell no one rule Nightmare had imposed. It didn't.

The feeling of being watched followed me all the way to my room and intensified when I found a single black feather sitting on my bed.

A chill rippled down my spine as I scanned the room for anything else out of place, any other sign that someone—or something—had been here. Was it the monster? Or was it the crows who sat and watched me try futilely to save Caroline Beaumont's life?

Swallowing the knot of dread in my throat, I hurried to the window I was sure I hadn't left open and slammed it shut. My heart quickened, thumping harder. This was Nightmare reminding me she was watching, playing her twisted games.

I picked up the black feather and hardened my resolve. Nightmare might be playing a game, but I had a way to track Virgil now. I'm playing too, bitch.

And this was one game I refused to lose.