Page 16
FIFTEEN
IMOGEN
One minute this is as natural as breathing and the next he reminds me how wrong it is.
I’ve got whiplash as I attempt to dull my emotions.
It’s impossible though, because that kiss alone sparked something inside me I never thought was there.
Lust, desire and desperation mixed into a cocktail I would happily call my favorite from here on in.
It’s as if the kiss sparked more than lust though, because the tension in the car is stifling.
It appears that Drake is choking on it because his breathing is hard and there’s an award atmosphere I can’t define.
He initiated the kiss, demanded it even, and now he’s acting as if what happened is dirty somehow.
I almost wish I had never come and sink lower in my seat as I sip the coffee in an attempt to regain some kind of calm.
“I haven’t been honest with you.” His voice is husky and laden with regret and I tense as I anticipate change.
“In what way?” My voice is dull, reigned even, and he leans back in his chair and groans.
“I’m not a teacher.”
I wasn’t expecting this and stare at him in shock. “Then how did you get the job?”
My heart resembles a menagerie of butterflies as they flutter around a cage in panic mode.
“If I tell you, it must remain a secret.”
“Then don’t tell me.” My eyes flash as I face him. “Whatever is going on, I would rather not know. It’s obvious you lied to me and I’m not happy about that. Take me back to Rockwell, Drake, and spare me the details.”
I’m angry. Fucking livid in fact, because it’s obvious Drake is writing his own agenda here and none of it is good judging by his tortured expression.
“Listen to me.” There’s urgency in his voice that sparks alarm and my fingers tighten around the cup as I wait for the ax to fall.
“You’re in danger, Imogen and I was sent here to protect you.”
I wasn’t expecting that and my mouth drops as I stare back at him in confusion. “I don’t understand.”
My voice shakes as his eyes gleam with anger.
“Have you heard of an organization called The Serpent Society?”
“No.”
“So, nobody has told you about it.”
He appears almost angry and I’m confused. “Why would they, and who are we talking about?”
“Cassie, Jack and–” He pauses before adding, “In fact, most of your friends.”
I digest this information, something tearing at my heart as I face the fact I’m the only one in the dark about this and it’s not a good place to be knowing my friends are involved in something that may be a threat to me—or them.
“Then perhaps you should enlighten me.”
I take a deep breath and he nods, switching the atmosphere to a business one.
“It’s run by a man called Christian Duprey. It’s not a society you would want membership of but his recruitment campaign extends to Rockwell Academy.”
I say nothing and let him speak and he says dully, “Jenna Sloane is one of his recruitment officers and even though she was fired from Rockwell, she is still working nearby.”
“What has any of this got to do with me?”
“Nothing directly but indirectly you are involved more than most.”
“But I’ve never met the woman, so why would it concern me?”
“Because Jesse is currently signing the membership paperwork.”
“Jesse?” My eyes widen and he nods, a grim set to his jaw.
“She has been working on him for several months, feeding him drugs to control him and trapping him with depraved sex.”
I feel sick and yet it’s all slotting into place. It explains a lot, and I fall silent as Drake continues.
“Jesse’s initiation involves controlling another student. He must prove he has the capability to dominate and drag another person under his command, much like Jenna is doing with him.”
“And I’m the chosen one, I’m guessing.”
I state the obvious fact and he nods. “Yes.”
“But I’m not controlled by him. To be honest–” My words falter as I face the fact I’ve kept to myself until now.
“If anything, I want out. He, well–”
I stop, heaving in a deep breath as I whisper, “I’m a little scared to be alone with him.”
“Why?”
His voice is dripping in anger as I admit, “The night Willow Tree House was flooded, Jesse was, well, pushing me into something I wasn’t ready for.”
He is silent, and my voice quivers. “I’m not saying he was forcing me, but well, I changed my mind.”
“And did he?” His voice is tight, angry even, and I whisper, “No. The sprinklers calmed the situation.”
“Thank fuck.” He heaves a sigh of relief and then surprises me by chuckling softly. “Apparently it worked in the nick of time.”
“What did?”
He appears almost guilty as he grins. “I couldn’t be certain, but saw him enter Willow Tree House, and I knew you were vulnerable because of your ankle. It would have been the perfect time for him to make his move because you were unable to fight back and when?—”
He stops, and a chill hangs in the air as he whispers, “When I heard what was happening, I had only one course of action without blowing my cover and I activated the sprinklers.”
“Wait, what?” I stare at him in shock. “When you heard what was happening!”
“Yes.”
I can’t even describe the betrayal I’m experiencing right now as I stare at the stranger beside me, who now sparks fear in my heart.
“You’ve said enough. I don’t want you to say anymore and for your information, I’m done with this and I’m done with you.”
I make to leave and as the door struggles to open, realization dawns. He’s locked me in and for the first time, I face the fact the only danger I’m in is from him.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16 (Reading here)
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53