Page 58 of Fractured Fates

“Yep. That won’t be a problem. Fiona’s a bit of a bitch but she’s so preoccupied with being popular, she can’t be bothered to toy with the likes of me.”

“I hope Tristan will be the same.”

“I’ve never actually spoken to him,” Winnie whispers with reverence. “He’s like a living god in this school. His parents own half of Los Magicos. His dad’s on the council and Tristan has won every academic prize going for the last two years. He’s extremely talented and–”

“Good looking. Yeah, I noticed. You’re not helping, Winnie.” I don’t want to feel intimidated going to speak to some other kid my age, but Winnie’s building him up to be some superstar.

“Do you want me to come with you?” she asks, not so convincingly.

“No, I’ll be fine. But where am I likely to find him?”

“In the Venus common room.”

I roll my eyes. There’s a common room? That would’ve been nice to know.

Before dinner, Winnie sets off to find Fiona and I go in hunt of Tristan. I expect to find the Venus common room somewhere in the mansion, but when I study my map, it’s hidden in the gardens behind. I haven’t walked through them before, and the floral aromas of the blossoms hanging in the trees and the flowers littering the beds has me thinking of home. Is it homesickness then stirring in my belly as I approach what looks like a summer house tucked under trees and out of sight, or is it that eerie feeling of déjà vu?

I consider turning around. Déjà vu never works out well for me.

Before I can make up my mind though, the door flings open and a group of the bouncing bunnies come trotting out, all giggling excitedly and muttering Tristan’s name. My eyes flip to the open door and the dim gloom inside, sultry music weaving its way from within. I wonder what the hell I would’ve interrupted if I’d rocked up ten minutes earlier.

One of the bouncing bunnies, Aysha, spots me hovering outside. Her face immediately descends into a frown.

“Eww, pig girl, what are you doing here?”

“Visiting the common room,” I state, even though that’s obvious as hell.

“I doubt you’ll be welcome. Tristan won’t want your stench infecting the place.”

I give her a cool stare but she simply swishes her hair over her shoulder and the girls move as one, like a pack.

I remind myself how badly I want to go into Los Magicos tomorrow, and knock on the door frame, even though the door’s open. It’s quiet inside apart from the music.

“Aysha, I thought I dismissed you,” a voice drawls from within.

I peer into the gloom, taking a cautious step inside. The room is like some hippy love shack. There are big floppy sofas and cushions all over the floor, colored gauze shrouding the windows, lanterns hanging from the ceiling and a haze of smoke drifting in the air. Over by one wall a double bed dominates the space, dark cushions and throws draped over the mattress, and Tristan Kennedy resting against the headboard.

His shirt hangs open and he’s wearing dark blue chinos, his feet bare, his outstretched arm resting on one bent knee, a joint burning in his fingers. His golden hair is ruffled around his head and I swear he has a bite mark on his right pec.

“It’s not Aysha,” I say, stepping further into the room. “I’m Rhianna, Rhianna Blackwaters.”

He lifts the joint to his mouth and takes a long suck between his plush lips, the tip glowing red and embers darting from the end. Then he blows the air out slowly from between his parted mouth, gray smoke curling upwards.

“And?” he drawls.

“I’m a member of your house and–”

“And you finally decided to make the effort to come and show yourself. How gracious of you. Didn’t think about presenting yourself earlier?”

“Presenting myself? Excuse me?”

“To your head of house.” He jerks his thumb his way. “I like to check out the new meat.”

I remember what Andrew warned me about staying on the right side of my head of house. Although this dude is an asshole. A hot asshole. But still an asshole.

“Right,” I say, ignoring his words, as his gaze crawls down my body, lingering on the bare flash of thigh between my skirt and my stupid socks. Damn this ridiculous uniform. Damn the stupid way his gaze warms my skin. “I’ve come to ask for a pass to go into Los Magicos this weekend.”

He rolls the joint in his fingers and considers me. “And what will you give me in return, pig girl?”