Page 61 of Of Blackened Blood (The Blackened Blade #3)

“If that really is the case, why didn’t you report this, Valor?” Mr. Griffith lifts himself from his chair, anger radiating from him in waves as his dark eyes meet Gadriel’s.

But I wouldn’t let him, or anyone, pick on the man who protected me.

“Because I asked him not to.” I step to the edge of the desk, my hands falling on its wood as I meet Mr. Griffith’s harsh glare and square my shoulders. “I pleaded for him to not say a word.”

“Why?” Mr. Griffith asks, his voice rough and curt as a questioning look fills his eyes.

“What difference would it have made here? Look at you all now ...” I look around the room, gesturing toward the other faculty members.

Even though Mr. Finch and Mrs. Brunswick were the ones accusing me in their little witch hunt, not one of the other teachers had properly stepped forward to defend me and stop all of this.

“Would you have believed me?” A weak chuckle leaves my lips.

“Over all the other students, the ones you actually like?” I shake my head.

“No ... Even if I had gone to anyone for help or told them what had happened, you would have blamed me instead. You would have said that I must have done something wrong. Why would students with status like them deign to harass someone as worthless as me, right?” I glance at Finch and Brunswick.

A frown tugs at my lips, my shoulders falling a little with the weight I carried for so many years in this academy.

“I’m tired of being wronged, blamed, beaten down, and bullied. I’ve only ever defended myself when cornered or threatened ... usually by a group of students. I’ve protected myself against attacks, but yet you always point your fingers at me?—”

“Ms. Bane.” Mrs. Brunswick shakes her head, her tone sharp as she cuts off my words, a loud sigh leaving her thin, wrinkled lips. “You cannot target or blame other students for your own aggressive behaviour.”

“Micai is not—” begins Gadriel before the old hag cuts him off too.

“Most of the students residing within these walls are respectable and good students. This is Wensridge Academy, Ms. Bane, and we have a reputation and standard that we uphold.” She straightens her shoulders.

“Your words about your fellow students are too reckless and delusional. You have no proper evidence for your claims, but there are many students who can attest to your behaviour.” She narrows her beady eyes at me, her voice falling lower as she leans closer to me.

“You cannot try to drag someone down with you just because you are already sinking.”

I look into her eyes, seeing the same look I’ve seen hundreds, if not thousands, of times before. And a small chuckle slips from my lips, and then another that grows more loudly. But it’s not a pleasant sound. Even to my ears.

“This is not a laughing matter!” Mr. Finch yells before I turn his way.

And whatever look I’m wearing has his eyes widening and him taking a step behind Mrs. Brunswick.

“Respectable? Good?” My voice raises loudly, echoing around the room as I finally snap with her words. “Three of your ‘reputable’ students tried to beat and rape me ... twice . You have such ‘good’ boys, Mrs. Brunswick.”

Her eyes widen as a few gasps ring out around the room.

But I wasn’t finished. “Your ‘precious’ Tandy Neyton tried to slash Morgan’s face with a blade covered in mountain laurel.

Did she forget to tell you about that?” I whip my head around toward the dean, whose eyes grow larger as our gazes meet.

“You also have an issue of some of your male students trying to drug girls’ drinks at academy events.

And don’t even get me started on the misogyny and abuse I’ve suffered daily at the hands of almost every male student in this damn ‘respectable’ academy. ”

I slam my hands on his desk, ignoring the voices behind me as I continue.

“I’ve been beaten, chased, locked in rooms, harassed daily, had my precious possessions destroyed ‘for fun.’ My food and drinks drugged and poisoned all for the sake of some ‘good student’s’ amusement.

” I shake my head, anger making tears form in the sides of my eyes from the frustration of my previous life’s pain.

I turn around, meeting each of their widened eyes.

“And none of you standing here said a word against any of it. Not one of you protected that fifteen-, sixteen-, or seventeen-year-old girl from that ... torture.” I turn toward Mrs. Brunswick.

“You left me to rot ... because you don’t like me.

Because I wasn’t ‘worth’ saving to you.”

A stray tear trails down my cheek and against my wishes as her mouth opens and closes, unable to dispute my words. “My magic, or lack thereof, or whatever status or clan I’m from ... shouldn’t define whether I deserve your help or not.”

I wipe away the wetness staining my cheek and straighten my shoulders.

“When did status become more important than human decency? My quality of life, or how I’m treated, shouldn’t be defined by how much I can benefit you.

I shouldn’t have to hide and run or fight every single day just to survive in this place.

That’s not an academy ... it’s a prison. ”

Silence falls throughout the room as I finish.

Mr. Griffith straightens himself, his eyes peering around the room before falling on me.

“You’re right. And something needs to be done about it.

” His eyes narrow toward Mr. Finch and Mrs. Brunswick who both flinch under his stare.

“I promise, Ms. Bane ... that I will personally see to an investigation done throughout the academy, its students, and the faculty myself. And I will not allow anyone who has wronged any of my students to walk away so easily.”

Fear takes over a few of the faces in the room as I nod slowly; Mr. Griffith’s eyes more genuine as a resolved look takes over his features.

I take a step back and then another, feeling shaky and tired and just wanting to leave this place. To go back to the abattoir where I felt safe.

I feel too raw and vulnerable here.

And these people are not my people. This is not my place.

I slowly turn around and head toward the door, no one stopping me as I open it and make my way out to leave.

I quickly close the door behind me and move down the hallway, everything fading around me as I feel the emotions of my past grow inside me, wanting to pour outward.

I somehow make my way outside and take a big gulp of air, trying to calm myself. Steadying myself and my thoughts, I take another deep breath and then another as my vision and mind slowly clears.

I shakily make my way toward the courtyard, the area quiet and empty with everyone in class as I head to the girls’ dorm.

I’ll take a hot shower and clear my mind further and then head to the cafeteria and wait for the guys to come and grab lunch. The thought of seeing them has my still jumbled thoughts and feelings instantly calming.

I take another deep breath and grab the dorm’s door handle, pulling the door slightly open before something heavy smacks into the back of my head.

I stumble sideways, letting go of the handle as I fall to the ground, grabbing my head as pain sears through me. Weakly twisting around, I see a large figure standing over me, his fist charging toward me again. Xander.