Chapter 17

SEVENTEEN

O ne word, that's all I get. No apology, nothing. Just "Don't."

I can't help but reread the text for the millionth time. What does he mean? Don't give up? Don't stop chasing him? Fuck, he couldn't have explained? No.

I have to admit that when my phone went off last night as I was lying in bed and the delivered notification popped up, followed by the read receipts showing he'd read all my messages, I felt a sick sense of satisfaction.

He unblocked me and reached out first.

Whether Alek Anders knows it or not, he doesn't want to let me go, which only makes me more confused and pissed off.

Dropping my phone to the library desk without replying, I bury my head in my hands. I've been distracted all day, which doesn't bode well for me. I have assignments due that are worth a good percentage of my grade. I need to focus on my work, on my friends, on the things that bring me happiness . . .

All I can think about is Alek Anders and the flurry of emotions he causes inside me. It's eight at night, and I've been staring at the same essay question for four hours. Giving up for the night, I start to pack up when my phone buzzes again.

I'm ashamed of how fast I snatch it up, hope blooming in my chest, only to deflate when I realize it isn't him.

Unknown: Tonight, 9PM. Meet behind the library.

Huh? I look up and around before peering back at my phone just as another message comes through.

Unknown: You didn't forget about us, did you, newbie? You're one of us. It's time for your first meeting.

It has to be Silent Rose.

Oh, well, I mean I kind of did forget about the whole secret society thing, especially since I haven't heard or seen anything after I was kidnapped and inducted. I figured it was like a one-time thing. Apparently not. It's just what I need though, a distraction, something not tainted by Alek Anders.

This is all mine and has nothing to do with him.

It's normal. It's college—well, maybe not normal, but it's college and what I should be doing.

Evan: See you then.

Finishing packing my bag, I head out to wait since there is no point in hanging around. The library is huge, so it takes me a little while to get through the old building. Once I stand outside the well-lit front, I shove my hands into my pockets and look around. There are students milling about, and I watch them for a moment before walking off the path, onto the grass, and around the building. There's a gate at the side, but it is unlocked despite the sign saying "No trespassing." The creak of the hinges is loud away from the hustle and bustle here, and I shut it behind me, almost jumping when a lock falls into place.

Okay, not creepy at all.

Shrugging it off, I carry on, my sneakers sinking into the slightly wet grass as I round the building to the back, where the campus lights don't reach. It's dim back here, almost too dark to see until my eyes adjust.

The bushes and flowers continue against the building, and I follow them until I reach the back of it. I scan the area. There isn't much, just some trees and grass stretching across to the other buildings on the other side. There's also a garbage center to the right against a metal fence, but the rest is too dark to see, so with nothing else to do, I wait.

I bounce on my toes nervously as I check the time on my phone. It's almost nine, and I start to worry. Looking around once, I search for signs of anyone, a creepy feeling building within me. What if this isn't them? What if it's a setup or something?

Biting my lower lip, I tell myself if no one is here in another ten minutes, I'll leave and pretend I never came.

Five minutes pass, and I pick my bag up, ready to leave. "I knew it was a setup," I mutter.

"Why would we be setting you up?" a voice calls, and my head jerks up as Liam materializes seemingly out of nowhere. "Evan?" he asks with a frown.

I shrug halfheartedly, deflating. I guess you can take the boy out of the small town, but not the small town out of the boy. How many times did I agree to go out with someone only for it to be a trap? I have to remind myself that this isn't the same place, and they aren't those small-minded assholes.

I'm one of them. I'm part of something.

All the cloak and dagger stuff is kind of fun when you're not worried about being killed. "So it's just us?" I finally respond.

Chuckling, he slings his arm across my shoulders and steers me over the grass. "Nah, everyone else is already here. Sorry I'm late. I was at practice and the coach made us run laps."

"No worries." I let him lead me farther still. "Um, where are we going?"

"You'll see," is all he says as he grins down at me, far too happy that we are venturing off into the dark, but oh well. If I die tonight, at least it will be a good story.

I mean, "you'll see" is definitely what a weirdo serial killer says right before they throw you in their dungeon with lotion to make a skin coat out of you. I do have very nice skin, but still, I would be a very bad prisoner. I'm too needy, but I bet I could get some good naps in. Plus, I do like red flags, and a guy going to that much effort to get your attention?

I'm about to tell him all this when we circle some trees and stop, leaving me blinking in shock.

There is a small marble structure here, statues of pine trees framing a wooden door with a huge lock across it. It's hidden well, so well that if you didn't know where it was, you would probably never find it. There's a fence to the right almost blocking it off, and the trees cover it entirely from the campus's view. It feels like a different world. The gray marble building looks like something from the past, and the plaque above the door is in a foreign language.

Intra ea cum secretis ut.

"What does it mean?" I ask softly, nodding at the plaque.

"Not a fucking clue. They told me, but I'm shitty at Latin. Ask the others, they'll remember. I don't know why they couldn't just write it in English, the dramatic fuckers." He chuckles as he heads over and pulls a key from his pocket. It's an antique brass one, and it slides into the lock. The chain drops, and he pushes the door open before turning to smile at me, then he holds the key out to me.

I gape as I turn my head from the secret doorway to a grinning Liam. "You didn't think we would leave you in the dark, did you? You're one of us now, and that means knowing the secret and getting the key to the door. This is more than a club or a hobby, Evan. This is a partnership. It's a family. A place to go when you have no one else, and it's yours now." He pushes me into the open doorway, and I stumble inside.

It's just a small room, which is disappointing, and there are busts placed around the walls on small shelves. The floor is uneven concrete, and there is a wooden table cut into the back of the marble room with candles scattered across it. Liam heads past me, the door shutting behind us with a bang, making me jump. He isn't bothered, though, and at the table, he reaches sideways, pressing on one of the busts that turns, and then there's a cranking noise.

The table lifts, revealing a dark passage. He whistles as he grabs a candle, lights it, and leans in, hitting something. Light blares within as he blows the candle out and puts it back, and I can see stone stairs leading down.

"After you, newbie." He grins, waiting.

Okay, I know what I said about being a bad skin suit and all, and really I didn't think I'd be one of those dumb blonds in a horror movie, but I'm just too fucking curious. Besides, my hair is dyed, it's not natural, so it doesn't count, right?

Heading his way, I stop at the top of the stairs. "If you decide to skin me and use it for a skin suit, please, for the love of God, at least do it in a fashionable way," I tell him as I step inside, his laughter chasing me as I descend the steep stone steps. At the bottom, I find an oval tunnel leading off into the distance, with buzzing, old-style lights hanging from ropes all the way down. Nothing else.

I hear the door slam shut above us, and then he's at my side again. It's just wide enough for us to walk that way without brushing against each other, but not much else.

"These tunnels were built when the school was founded. They were forgotten for a while before our society began, and ever since, we have used them to meet and get around. No one else knows they are here, not even the staff. People just assume it's locked and they can't get in," he offers when I stay silent. "It's useful for us. We can get to our hideout without being questioned or seen. You'll get this key tonight, and you can come here whenever you want, not just when we are meeting. What is ours is yours now—our knowledge, our houses, our families, our names, and our power."

"How often do we meet?" I ask, although it's probably something I should have asked before. "And do I need to do anything?"

He shakes his head. "We meet every month, more if we want or if there is a problem. At the end of the year, we have a big blowout as well. No, you don't need to do anything really. Just keep the secret and be one of us. If a member asks for help, you help no matter what, and that's it."

"What if it's to move a body? I'll be honest, I wouldn't do well in prison. I'm too pretty." That makes him laugh again as the tunnel curves.

"Don't worry, we've only moved a few bodies throughout the years, and we never got caught." He winks, but I have no idea if he's joking or not, but then we reach another door.

This one is metal, and there's a sliding window at the top. No lock, no handle.

Liam raps his fist against the metal in a series of knocks—great, a secret code. I'm going to need to write all of this down. The sound echoes, and when he's done, the door cranks open. It's so dramatic, but I love it.

"After you, newbie."

I step inside to find myself back where I was last time. The lights are on now, though, and there's no kidnapping. The members are spread around, drinking and chatting, so it's just like a party.

"Ah, you're finally here," Bones says from his spot on a sofa.

I nod and head over, sitting in one of the chairs while Liam grabs two beers, handing me one as he reclines on another settee.

"Okay, okay, meeting time." Autumn claps. "Let's discuss the matters we need to, then we can get drunk and fuck around."

"What matters? Oh god, it isn't to vote to change the color of the crest again, is it?" Liam mutters in annoyance.

"No, we settled on gold." She huffs as she looks around. "We were considering taking another member next month. We think it would be good to get our numbers up, but we need to vote. Hands up if you agree." Some stick their hands up, and I just sip my beer as she turns to me. "Evan?"

"Oh, um, I didn't know I was allowed to vote." I slowly stick my hand up.

"You're one of us," she reminds me with a grin. "Okay, so it's agreed we will add someone. Start scouting, and report hopeful names to me whenever you have them. We can look into those we think could fit. Next matter." Someone groans, and her eyes narrow. "Tee"—she glances at him—"is looking for an internship this semester and needs our help. What do we have?"

"My father owns a law firm," Bones says. "I can swing that if you need experience there."

He sighs. "I need it more in big businesses."

"My uncle is the CEO of some big trading company. I'll call in a favor and get you one," Ollie replies.

"Awesome, so that's taken care of. Anything else?" she calls. "Anyone have any worries or need help with anything?" Her gaze lands on me. "Evan, we heard you've had issues with some guy . . . Anders, was it?"

My eyes widen at that. Shit, how do they know? Just how closely do they pay attention to our lives? "Uh, nothing I can't handle."

"Are you sure? We could take care of it for you. I didn't look into him, but we could take his job."

"Get him kicked out of his apartment," someone suggests.

"Get him expelled if he's a student," another adds.

"Oh, um, no, no, it's fine. We are . . . friends. Just been in a fight," I offer protectively. I don't want them to touch Alek. The fact that they are so easily talking about destroying his life pisses me off. I know it's to help me, but he worked so hard to get where he is, yet they are talking about ruining it all.

"Okay, let us know if you need any help. That's what we are here for."

I nod, sinking into my seat. They are just trying to be nice. It isn't their fault they don't know about him and me—whatever the hell there is to know. I'll just need to be careful and make sure they don't go after him.

"Alright, now that shit is out of the way, let's get drunk and play some games!" Music blares as they jump up. Some head to the pool table, and others hurry over to the drinks, laughing and joking as I sit there.

What the hell have I gotten myself into?

Honestly, it's kind of fun. No one treats me strangely, and they all accept me. We drink and play games, and I start to relax. It feels more like a club than a society, but then I remember their earlier offer. They could easily manipulate people's lives to get what they want. They are dangerous, that's for sure, but it seems like once you are in, you are in. I'm one of them just like that.

Collapsing into the sofa, I sip my drink as I watch them dance and laugh loudly. It isn't even a bad thing. It's kind of nice to have a place to go and a family who accepts me. Isn't that what I've always wanted?

Bones collapses next to me, his face flushed and grin wide for once. "So are you enjoying being one of us elite bastards?"

My eyebrows rise at that. I never quite know how to take him. They say he's a brutal bastard, but he seems nice enough to those he likes. "It's different. Not what I was expecting."

"You were thinking we wore cloaks and wanted to take over the world?" He smirks, taking a sip. "That's every other month."

I can't help but laugh, and he leans in. "You can relax, Shaw. We know everything about you. There's nothing that would turn us off." My eyes widen, and he nods. "It's my job to find out every dark, dirty secret for those we might add—yours included. We know it all."

"That seems unfair," I snap out of anger and concern.

"True, but we keep folders, and you are welcome to read ours as well. Fair is fair. I just thought you should know. You're one of us. They keep saying it, but it's true. We accept you for everything you are and have been, so stop worrying. You don't need to pretend."

I didn't even know I was, but somehow, this guy knew.

"Oh, and with that Anders guy . . . we mean it. We can help, but don't worry. We won't if you don't want us to." He grins slyly. "I'd love to take him down a peg."

"I can handle him."

He smirks and presses his beer to mine. "To handling assholes. "

I toast him and take a drink. "Is that why you want to be a lawyer?" I ask.

"Partly." He shrugs. "I like the control and power, plus it means I know how to get away with things and can protect the people I love." He stands. "You can leave whenever. You look tired. We've added you to the group chat, so just drop us a message if you need anything." He wanders away, and I look around to see some people have already left.

I want to stay, but he's right. I'm tired. I down my beer and wave goodbye, heading out alone. The brass key burns in my pocket, and his words ring in my head.

What did he mean, get away with things?

Once outside the marble building, I wander back over the grass, trying to remember my way. Eventually, I reach the lit part of campus. It's late or early, depending on how you look at it, but there are still some people around. I could get a taxi, but I decide to walk home. The fresh air is nice, and the alcohol is still buzzing in my veins, but about halfway back, I feel eyes on me.

I speed up my steps, feeling like I'm being stalked or chased.

It's uncomfortable, and when I'm back in my room, I lock the door with a frown.

Maybe it was just my imagination?

Fuck, I hope so.