Chapter 18

VALERIA It’s wrong. I know it is. It’s unfair that I’m threatening Stefano with something that he clearly is afraid of, but what other choice do I have? The mystery of Celeste is eating at me. I just have to find out if my hunches are correct or not. Meanwhile, Stefano is staring at me as though I just punched him between the eyes. “Are you seriously blackmailing me for something you have no proof for?” My face gets hot, but I just say, “Why? Are you going to do something about it?” He sighs, and I know right then and there that I won. “I know that you don’t think this is right. But okay. Fine. I’ll help you gather data for your little research, as long as this remains between us. If we don’t find evidence within a week, I’m out, and you have to drop it.” “Deal.” I hold my hand out to him for a handshake, and he takes it grudgingly, squeezing my hand. It’s not meant as something romantic or anything remotely close, but my heart jumps when our palms touch. Heat spreads all over my body and a strange urge to pull him close invades my mind. Still, I take a deep breath to control these emotions, settling back on my seat to finish the work. Once I’m done, I face Stefano again. “Meet me in my dorm room, two p.m. sharp.” “What?” he splutters, dropping the book he’s holding. “I can’t go to the lady’s dorm, that’s against the--” “You’re the head boy,” I interject. “Make it happen.” With that, I turn around and leave before he can say anything more. I can hear him struggling for words, and it makes me smile. And what do you know? Before the clock can even strike two in the afternoon, I already hear a rapid knock on my dorm room door. Eden is not here, thankfully, so I just open it with a smile. Slipping inside the room like a scalded vampire is Stefano, his face brick-red. When he sees me laughing, he huffs. “There’s nothing funny about this! Why can’t we just meet in the library like normal people?” “Because we’re not normal,” I state, then I bring out the notebook where I put down all my notes about the Celeste case. Remembering the mess that it contains makes me hesitate, but I just open it for Stefano. “There. These are all my evidence so far.” He peers at my crazy handwriting and starts to quote what I wrote. “Took down a deer and leans in as though to drink the blood. Can compel people into moving tables without persuasion.” He faces me. “This is it?” “Well, so far, yes.” I clear my throat. “Now, I want you to tell me everything you know about her. Her family, her friends, everything.” Stefano stares at me as though I just started to speak Spanish. “Are you serious?” “Yes.” I take a pen and snatch the notebook from him, ready to take notes. “Now go on.” He opens his mouth and closes it again. He sits on the floor across from me, watching me intently. I can basically see the gears in his mind working. I know he doesn’t want to do this, but I also know that he doesn’t want to be exposed and that’s the most important thing to him right now. At the same time, I can sense him thinking about my questions. Finally, he seems to give up. He holds up his fingers to start ticking down his words, but then the door swings open just as he’s about to speak. Eden enters, all smiles and her arms full of fresh laundry. She stops in her tracks when she sees us huddled together, and slowly her smile vanishes from her face. As though it can’t get worse, she has another girl behind her, who looks just as shocked. Stefano shoots to his feet in horror. “I can explain.” Silence spreads in the room like bad perfume. Slowly, I close my notebook and face Eden. “We’re just here to study.” “Right.” Her eyes go wide, and slowly, she retreats from the room and closes the door. “Um, study well, you two.” “They’re definitely going to tell on me,” Stefano mutters. “I’m dead.” “Let them be,” I say. “Now let’s talk.” He starts to head to the door. “I’m sorry, but we have to reschedule. I have to talk to Eden and tell her to be quiet.” I frown. “What about our deal?” “We will reschedule. Just tell me the time and place.” * * * STEFANO I’m panicking. I didn’t find Eden after I left the dorm room, even though I scoured the school until curfew hit. I couldn’t risk going back to the dorm, because I might as well just sign a resignation form as the Head Boy if I did that. Now it’s Sunday morning, and I’m nervous as all hell. I don’t know if it’s just my brain, but it feels like everyone is staring at me as I eat breakfast. Mostly girls too. I can hear them whispering and giggling, and it’s driving me mad. Should I ask one of them? Or would that be too obvious? Maybe they would even deduce that I’m hiding something just from the fact that I asked. I stare at the door, debating with myself. But then, I see Valeria entering the hall. Her eyes meet mine immediately, and my body erupts in so much heat that I start to sweat. I look away, focusing on my cereal, then I feel a tap on my shoulder. “Hey.” I flinch, whipping around, ready to defend myself. But then I see that it’s just Celeste, and she’s studying me with narrowed eyes. “You alright, Stefano?” “Yeah,” I mumble. “Just . . . couldn’t sleep.” “Right,” she says after a beat, sitting next to me. She takes out a familiar folder and hands it to me. “These are the plans for the Lunar Campfire next weekend. It’s been finalized.” “Thanks,” I say, examining the contents and seeing the stamp of approval from Professor Bloom. I sigh in relief. The Lunar Campfire is an important event for Scarlet Moon Academy. It’s basically a feast for all students and teachers at the first full moon of the school year. We all gather in the gardens and have a big campfire, with performances from students and lots of food. I set aside the folder, expecting Celeste to leave, but she stays there looking at me. “What?” I ask her. “Nothing,” she says sweetly. “I was just wondering… who are you going to take to the Campfire?” For a second, I don’t know what to say. Then I remember that the Campfire has become some sort of a love hub, for couples to reveal that they are together and for students to find someone they would love to be with. It’s basically a school-sanctioned dating game. I pause to consider her question. I have never gone to a Campfire with a date, so the automatic answer is that I will go alone, but then my mind wanders to Valeria. My face heats up. “No one yet. I haven’t thought about it.” “Hmm.” For some reason, this makes her lean closer to me. Her scent fills up my nose, forcing me to look at her. “You know, I don’t have anyone in mind either.” Celeste blinks slowly, and I find myself staring into her blue eyes, noting all the specks of colors. Something in my brain is telling me to lean closer, but I catch myself. What is happening? Suddenly, my mind flashes to what Valeria said: Celeste can compel people. But that’s something that sirens can also do. I swallow hard. I look away and something catches my eye. Her school pin, her label as a Head Girl and the school's coat of arms. It’s gold instead of silver like everyone else’s. Even Valeria wears silver, and she’s a werewolf hybrid. It doesn't hurt her because she's in her human form. The only other creatures deeply damaged by silver are vampires, and it happens upon contact with them. Silver burns their skin, that's why we have silver gates. My heart starts to hammer in my chest. Why is Celeste wearing gold? Why is she avoiding silver? Celeste puts her hand on my chin and makes me look up at her. “I can be your date to the Campfire.”