Page 67 of A Mastery of Monsters

The morning after our failed stakeout, I adjust my backpack on my shoulders as I walk toward Humphrey Hall.

All the pretty autumn leaves have come and gone.

The weather has descended into a dry chill, and the puffy jackets have come out.

I’ve begun to almost exclusively wear sweatpants in a desire to both keep my legs warm and expend as little effort as possible.

When I get to the side door of the building, Virgil, Corey, and Margot are already there.

Henry sent us a message that we were required to attend his office hours today.

Something I haven’t been ordered to do since the beginning of the year.

And from their grim faces, I expect that he’s not going to be asking how our classes have been going.

“Wow,” I say. “Everyone looks so cheery.” Though I’m sure my expression isn’t any better. I’ve been turning over what Jules said in my mind incessantly, and I’m no closer to figuring out what it means than I was when he said it.

Margot squares her shoulders and says, “When I updated Henry on the situation last night, he said that we were not to go. I obviously didn’t listen—”

“Oh my God,” I gasp. “You didn’t listen to Daddy?!”

“August!” Virgil gawks at me, aghast. “Really?”

“I’m sorry, was I not supposed to acknowledge the strange pseudo-parent thing you all have going with him? Okay.”

“May I remind you that this was for your benefit?” Margot says.

“And I appreciated it!” It’s kind of wild. I thought she had this unflinching and complete loyalty to Henry. Then again, she’s also had times where she didn’t seem to trust him. So maybe not.

Margot continues, “I figured it was best for plausible deniability to simply not tell the rest of you what he said. This will be a dressing down. Just let me take the lead, because it’s for me.”

“But what is he actually going to do? Turn us over his knee and give us a good spank—”

“Please stop,” Virgil groans. “Henry is helping us, remember? We’re operating under his good will. We kind of want to keep that.”

“Yeah, but he’s not going to stop helping. Because of his reputation or whatever, and he’s literally your guardian. We’re just going up there so that he can yell at us and feel a bit better.”

Corey hunches like being yelled at is, in fact, the worst possible thing she could experience. Virgil’s not far off either.

I guess it makes sense. None of them are used to letting people down. But I’m a pro. “Let’s just get it over with,” I say, taking the lead and walking into the building.

When we reach Henry’s office and knock on the door, Laira greets us with a grim expression. Which is basically a confirmation that we are about to be yelled at.

The four of us file in like naughty schoolchildren. At least Margot keeps her head high like me. Corey stares at the floor and Virgil does that thing where it’s like he’s looking at you, but really, he’s looking at something to the left of your head to avoid direct eye contact.

Henry sits in his chair with his hands resting loosely on top of the desk. “Explain.”

Margot sets her shoulders. “There isn’t any explanation that I think you’d find satisfactory.

I assessed that August’s brother might be in real danger, you told me not to get involved, and I chose to do so anyway.

I didn’t tell the others what you said. They operated under the assumption that everything was fine. ”

I open my mouth, and Henry throws me a sharp look.

“You don’t talk. Do not say a word until I ask you to.

” I scowl, and the pleading look from Virgil is the only thing that stops me from speaking.

I stand by what I said. Henry’s not going to do anything.

This is about the illusion of punishment. It only works if you feel guilty.

I press my lips together and mime zipping them.

From his expression, Henry doesn’t appreciate the gesture. He turns back to Margot. “Have I ever, in the history of us knowing each other, forbidden you to do something when it was not in your best interests?”

“No,” Margot says.

“Have I ever advised you in a way that you felt was not in your best interests?”

“No.”

“Then what would possess you to go against my instructions?!” He rises from his chair so abruptly that it rolls back and hits the wall.

Margot doesn’t flinch. “We are on the brink of taking the first real steps to achieving the sort of freedom and liberation that you told me you dreamed of for Isaac. And you are running around creating conflict with QBSS and getting involved in this unregistered monster conspiracy theory for what?” He points at me. “For her ?!”

“Henry—” Virgil starts.

“Did I ask you to speak?!”

Virgil stands straighter and keeps going.

“It’s her brother. They were going to kill him.

If Margot hadn’t been there to intervene, they might have.

You don’t think she has a sort of sympathy considering that she joined the society to save her own brother?

You think it would be acceptable for us to step back while August might lose a member of her family?

Shouldn’t you of all people know how precious family is? ”

I stare at Virgil, my heart rate faster than it was a moment ago, but he’s focused on Henry.

Corey doesn’t say anything, but she steps up next to her friend, nodding to show her assent.

Henry stares back at Virgil, unblinking, then he throws a venomous look my way.

I see everything in it.

The fury at himself for letting Virgil choose me. The anger at watching his pseudo-children disobey him for my sake. The rage at not being able to get rid of me without losing Virgil.

Adam said that Henry uses everyone. Sees them as pieces to move in his game.

A wild card. That’s what Laira called me the first time we met. The unaccounted-for piece that’s thrown his careful arrangement out of order.

If he comes down hard on me, if he pushes that stance of not helping my brother, then he risks losing them all. Maybe at the start this was just about a bargain. But it’s different now. There’s loyalty in play.

I try to pull it back, but I can’t. The corner of my lip twitches into a slight smile.

Henry closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

“Can I talk now?” I ask. Not because I care. More because the speaking is technically breaking his rule. But, like, in a polite way.

He doesn’t open his eyes. “Fine.”

“I appreciate how you’ve helped me and Virgil in the candidacy.

Even I know that we’d already be out of the competition if Violet and Bryce hadn’t been encouraged to help us.

And I know that both Margot and Corey are committed to helping you.

But I think we’ll all be better served to work together on the two things we want: for Adam to win, and for my brother to be safely removed from this shitty situation he’s gotten into.

Besides, Adam himself said he doesn’t think what I do is feeding into his reputation anywhere near as much as you think it is. ”

That makes his eyes open. “When exactly did Adam say that?”

I shrug. “He gave me a ride home after the first test. We had a chat.”

Henry’s face goes still. It takes him another few moments before he speaks again.

“Here is what we will do. I will continue to focus my efforts on Adam’s campaign and success.

And you four can do whatever you want. But do not expect my support or assistance in this business.

I have told you, multiple times, to wait until the election is over to sort this out.

I promised my help. I promised Adam’s help if you would only wait.

Clearly whoever is using the boy needs him.

He will not be killed. I can see this for the distraction that it is, and I will not fall into this trap.

But if you want to, fine. And if, in the process, this pursuit affects your performance in the candidacy, then that will be your burden to bear as well. Dismissed.”

I look at the others. “Does that mean we can go or—”

“Dismissed!”

The four of us leave the room, and Laira follows. “I’ll escort you out,” she says.

We know the way but don’t fight it.

“I think that went well,” I say.

Virgil shakes his head at me. “Better than it could have, I guess.”

I ignore the fluttering in my stomach. Virgil talked back to Henry. For me . He wasn’t just saying shit on Halloween. He followed through.

“How do you think it went?” Margot asks Laira.

The older woman shrugs. “I think he just wanted to yell at you and feel a bit better about you disobeying him.”

“That’s what I said!” I throw my hands up.

Laira grins at me. “He does usually like a bit of pushback, though. Appreciates the critical thinking and all that. But I think the election has him too stressed out. He just wants everything to work neatly now. But of course, people aren’t like that.

” She pats Margot on the shoulder. “He’ll be fine. You’re still his favorite protégé.”

Margot scowls. “If he would delegate more, then he would have less on his plate.”

“But then he’d have to share his secrets,” Laira says. “And here we are!”

We file out the door, and when I look back, Laira is still standing there with that smile plastered on her face.