Chapter 31

Arya

I stood in front of the mirror, turning this way and that. I wore a blue knit sweater that brought out my eyes and skinny jeans with knee-high boots. I left my hair down but kept pushing it behind my ears.

"Are you sure this looks okay?" I asked Ashlyn, who was lying on her bed flipping through a magazine while I put on my finishing touches.

Ashlyn looked like a rock star in her off-the-shoulder white sweater dress and mint green leggings. Her legs were swinging to the beat coming out of the headphones draped around her neck.

Ashlyn looked up at me with a smile. "You look great! Tobias is gonna die when he sees you."

I frowned and scoffed. "We're just going as friends. I would've said no altogether if he hadn't made that big announcement to the whole school. Now I just feel like I owe him. Besides, it would've been weird for just Tobias to go with you guys. Talk about a third wheel."

Tobias's impromptu announcement over the PA system had caused quite a stir around campus. The mer bullies had stopped pestering me, although that probably had more to do with Celeste's enraged lecture at the entire mer wing than fear of upsetting the dragon royal family. But the look of reverence that replaced the smug suspicion on the faces of all the other students was directly out of respect for the Dracul protection that had been placed on me.

On the one hand, I kinda liked that security. On the other, it made me feel like he now owned me. I was no one's property. I should have said no to double-dating with him, but really, I owed Ashlyn more than anything. I had considered asking Kendall to go with me instead, but he had been strangely absent since Letti's attack. Figured.

"Yeah, that would have been super awkward. Only slightly better than having my dad chaperone." Ashlyn rolled her eyes, then sat up and perched on the edge of the bed. "I still can't believe Tobias went on the intercom for you, though. That's quite the gesture."

I ignored Ashlyn's insinuations. I had no desire to dwell on Tobias's motives, and there were other things weighing on my mind.

The thought of going outside the Dome made me a little nervous after what happened to Letti. I still hadn't had a chance to visit the mermaid laid up in the nurse's office. Despite Celeste's intervention, I was still wary of purposefully going anywhere the mer were if I didn't have to. Not because I was afraid of them but because I just didn't want to deal with that bullshit.

Celeste had insisted I come back to my room in the mer wing, but I requested to remain with Ashlyn—at least until Letti got better. Celeste had allowed it, but she clearly wasn't happy about it.

"I think I'm going to swing by the nurse's station to see how Letti's doing," I suddenly decided.

Ashlyn's face scrunched up. "Really?"

"Yeah. Things have died down a little. I just—I feel like I should visit her."

I couldn't shake the strange feeling that it should've been me lying in that bed. But maybe the harpy nurse had been able to make some progress with her healing. It would help to get some answers.

"Want me to come with you?" Ashlyn asked, tossing the magazine aside.

I shook my head. "Nah. I'll be fine. It'll just be a quick visit before we meet the guys."

"Okay. But you better be in the common room at noon." Ashlyn gave me a firm stare, then melted into a smile. "I need my wingman. Or girl. Or should it be fin-girl, since you're a mermaid?"

I laughed. "Let me know what you come up with."

Ashlyn saluted as I slipped out the door.

The halls were abuzz with students enjoying their time off. Caesar had instated half days for the rest of the week as several of the teachers were still investigating Letti's attack. It was a helpful change because the new curfew meant all students had to return before sunset, which on a normal school day would make it pretty much impossible to leave campus at all.

I stopped just outside the nurse's office, hesitant to go in. Cora had been by her side most of the time, acting as gatekeeper to any potential visitors. If she was there, it just wouldn't be worth the effort.

But thankfully, it was quiet. I entered, wondering if maybe Letti had miraculously recovered, but she was still there, her eyes closed and skin pale.

The scars on her neck were the worst, though. They had gotten her to the harpies too late to avoid them. It reminded me too much of my mom, seeing her with those two small holes in her neck, her eyes vacant. It was almost enough to make me turn and leave.

"Arya!" Letti murmured, her head thrashing back and forth.

I froze, her behavior striking terror right through me, paralyzing me.

Ms. Heather dashed past me in a blur of blonde frizz. She put her hands on either side of Letti's head and spoke in a soothing tone.

"I'm sorry," I blurted, turning to leave.

Ms. Heather spoke over her shoulder. "No need to be sorry. It's gotten less frequent, though I think she still dreams about what happened. Might do her some good to hear your voice."

I took a deep breath and approached the bed as Ms. Heather stepped away. It took a few moments for words to come to me as I stared down at Letti, who looked so small and frail on that gurney.

I dug the toe of my boot on the tile, feeling weird and out of place. "I'm sorry. I hate that this happened to you."

Letti whimpered softly, but she didn't start thrashing again. I took that as a good sign.

"I know we've had our differences, but I hope you get better soon. I almost miss your, um—" I glanced at Ms. Heather, who had her glasses low on her nose as she looked over some paperwork.

"—your motivational speeches."

Letti fussed again, her fingers curling into the sheets. She began to whisper, and it took a moment for me to catch what she was saying.

"Looking for you…"

Chills skittered up my spine and across my scalp. I looked to Ms. Heather for her reaction, but the nurse didn't seem to notice.

I glanced at the clock. I had five minutes to get back, and for a moment, I almost didn't want to go. But Ashlyn's hopeful face popped into my mind. I couldn't leave her hanging.

"Alright. Well, I have to go. Get better soon." I nodded at Letti as I turned to leave.

"Take care, dear." Ms. Heather's gaze flicked to me, and she smiled before turning her attention back to her paperwork.

I moved swiftly through the halls as I headed for the avian common room. My heart was racing, and even though I wasn't actually alone, I felt spooked. I was eager to get back to my friends—and admittedly Tobias—so that I could feel safe.

How was I supposed to react to Letti's ramblings? Was it just nonsense from her comatose nightmares? Honestly, I'd have to be an idiot to believe that. My mother had been killed by vampires on the rare night I had been away, and a mermaid who looked like me had been attacked by them and was now mumbling my name.

Her mutters weren't nonsense. They were a warning.

Niko, Tobias, and Ashlyn were all in the common room by the time I arrived. I was a little out of breath, and Ashlyn raised a brow.

"Are you okay?" Ashlyn asked, handing me my coat.

"Yeah. Sorry, I lost track of time and had to sprint back here." I gave everyone a nervous smile, willing my breathing to slow. I wanted to get the subject off me. "How was detention with Mr. Suzuki?"

As punishment for Tobias and his friends hacking the PA system, Caesar sentenced them to early morning detention with the math teacher every day for the next week. He seemed like a funny guy in Calculus—kinda like a dorky dad despite his relatively young age—so I imagined that detention with him couldn't be too bad.

Tobias gave me a small grin and a shrug. "It was fine."

"No, it wasn't," Brett complained. "It was torture! He made us scrub tiny nuts, bolts, and tubes, then he made us put them together! My fingers hurt so bad I don't think I'll be able to play for days. How the heck am I supposed to entertain myself with you four shacking up?"

The four of us smirked and collectively decided to ignore Brett's whining.

"So, what's the plan?" I asked.

"I was just saying we should go see a movie before we go to Mack's Diner," Niko said.

"Do we have time for a movie?"

Niko grinned. "Of course! I've got it all mapped out. There's a subway entrance right by Mack's that'll get us back here quickly."

I nodded, but the butterflies just wouldn't leave. Although, at the moment, I couldn't tell if they were from the idea of being out too late or the way Tobias's chest looked in that snug black sweater.

"We can't decide," Ashlyn said, taking Niko's hand. "Should we see ‘Always for You' or ‘Into the Dawn?'"

I chewed my lip as I took a moment to think about it, but Ashlyn's tone definitely hinted at the first option. I thought I remembered seeing something about that movie. I was ninety-nine percent sure it was a romantic comedy, which both intrigued me and made me grimace. The last thing I wanted to do was watch a rom-com with Tobias.

But this was Ashlyn and Niko's date. Tobias and I were just along for the ride.

"I've heard ‘Always for You' is a good one," I said at last, and Ashlyn pumped her fist.

I flashed an apologetic grimace at Tobias, who nodded once. It looked like he was okay with that. Or at least as okay as a guy watching a rom-com on a friend date could be.

We made our way to the main entrance, but as we got closer, we found a line of students waiting to get out.

"What's going on?" Tobias asked.

A guy in front of us turned around. "Extra security. You guys have your smart clothes on, right?"

Everyone nodded except Ashlyn, who paled. She shrugged. "What? It's not like I can shift anyway."

"They don't just keep you covered, you know," Tobias said, his tone matter-of-fact.

Ashlyn groaned. "Fine. I'll be right back."

"Hurry!" Niko called after her, smiling as he watched her run down the hall.

I crossed my arms, directing my attention to Niko. "I guess this is the moment I'm supposed to tell you that you'd better not hurt my friend."

Tobias raised a brow. "I think Ashlyn's the more dangerous of the two of them."

"Hey, she's doing great with her fire...stuff." I wasn't sure what the official term was.

"She's only dangerous if you get her fired up." Niko's grin was far too wide, making Tobias and I groan in unison. "But she's in good hands. Gentleman's honor."

He held up his hand, an earnest look on his face.

I smiled, satisfied with his response. I didn't know Niko very well, but from what I'd seen, he was the most gentlemanly of his friends. I didn't get the sense he was anything like Tobias.

We shuffled forward with the slow-moving line, and soon Niko began tapping his foot, casting backward glances.

A few more students piled behind us before the sound of shoes pounding on tiles announced Ashlyn's arrival. She skidded to a stop, taking deep breaths.

"Just in time," Niko said, draping his arm around her shoulders.

Her already red face flushed brighter, and she beamed at me. "Sorry. That thing's not easy to get into when you're in a rush."

Our group was finally next, and as we stepped forward, Mr. Summers crossed his bulging biceps. Niko removed his arm from Ashlyn's neck, giving Mr. Summers a curt nod and a smile. Ashlyn clenched her jaw, a warning in her eyes as she tried to stare down her father.

"Going out, are we?" Mr. Summers asked.

"Yeah," Niko said, standing a little straighter. "Movies and dinner."

Mr. Summers's hard gaze stayed on Niko a little longer than the rest. "You all have your smart clothes on?"

Everyone nodded.

Mr. Summers sighed. "Make sure you're back before sunset."

"Yes, sir," we all mumbled.

Mr. Summers softened a little as he turned his attention to Ashlyn. "Be careful out there, okay? Stay together. Be smart. There are monsters lurking everywhere."

We all nodded again, but my heart rate spiked as we were waved through.

We'll be back before sunset . Everything will be fine.

But I couldn't quite shake the ominous feeling hanging over me like a cloak.

We piled into the train with the other students. The car was crowded, and I realized this was the busiest I'd ever seen it. The doors hissed closed, making the many conversations even louder.

The seats were all taken, so Tobias and I grabbed onto a pole while Ashlyn and Niko held onto another one.

I could feel Tobias behind me, his breath warming my hair. It was almost painful being this close to him, reminding me of our handful of intimate encounters. And with the claim he'd very publicly staked on me, his nearness was both enticing and repellent at the same time. He was even more like a magnet to me, flipping his polarity almost constantly, pulling me, and then pushing me away.

I looked over at the happy new couple, Niko with his arms draped around Ashlyn. They looked cozy and happy, wrapped up in their own private world. I was happy for Ashlyn, though I did feel a pang of jealousy.

Tobias and I just didn't work as a couple. That much was perfectly obvious after our last date. I really resented him for not being as secure as Niko.

But even those thoughts weren't quite enough to distract me from the clock I had ticking in my head.

I watched the water slide by as the car sped toward the secret platform.

The place they found Letti .

I shook my head, trying to dislodge the image filling it. Letti almost looked like she was just sleeping in the nurse's office, moments ago, but that didn't keep my mind from creating the blood and bruises I was sure Letti had sustained, as bad as she'd been beaten.

To distract myself, I began counting the hours it would take to do everything Niko was planning. It didn't help that the extra time it took to get out of the Dome had pushed our plans back even further.

I couldn't shake the feeling that going out was a bad idea, Mr. Summers's admonition echoing in my head. But there was no sense getting worked up about monsters, when they only came out after dark.

And we'd be back well before dark.