God, I don’t want to even think about what would happen. I remember the tired curve of his shoulders last night, his stillness and silence and the complicated darkness of his eyes, and it makes me burn. She’d chew him up and spit him out. I think of his scars and how Sydney would see them, like some kind of curiosity. I think of her telling everyone about them, and every fiber of my being screams no.
Luckily, I don’t see Reyn ever being interested in her.
At least, I don’t think so. I don’t even know what kind of girl he likes. Maybe he’d be into that—a one-and-done with a girl like Sydney. But he could get that from plenty of girls here, and he still hasn’t gone out with anyone since he’s been back. In fact, with all the Devil rituals, the one person he seems to be hanging out with the most is me. The thought instantly soothes away the sharp pang in my chest, even though it shouldn’t. Like Reyn had said, kissing me was a mistake.
I just don’t know which mistake he’s scared of making.
It’s so frustrating, not knowing how to approach this new shift between us. When we woke up, he was so soft and sweet. But he pushed me away when we kissed, so does that mean he just wants to be friends? I’ve never been friends with guys before, and I’ve certainly never been more than friends with a guy. How do girls navigate all these nebulous signals?
This is the sort of thing I’m supposed to have Sydney for, but she’s clearly not an option, and not only because of the Devil secrets. She’ll know instantly who I’m asking about, and by the next day, half the school will, too.
These thoughts linger in my mind as I make my way to my locker, but vanish as soon as I open the door. Inside, I discover a new black envelope, my name printed across the front, same wax seal on the back. I don’t get a chance to open it until I’m tucked away in a bathroom stall two periods later. Inside is a card with instructions.
We commend your trust and loyalty, but neither can be wielded without a pledge of permanence.
Meet your partner at Cain’s Ink, Thursday at 4pm.
“The devil’s agents may be of flesh and blood, may they not?”
Elevatio Infernum
Well, that’s vague.
Inside the envelope is a flimsy slip of paper bearing a Devil’s pitchfork, about the size of a quarter. The paper looks familiar to me, like one of those temporary tattoos we used to get when we were kids.
Cain’s Ink.
Ink. Permanence. Flesh. Blood.
Oh my god, they want me to get a tattoo? On my body? Of a pitchfork?
Emory has lost his damn mind!
I find him outside the science lab talking to Aubrey. “Can I talk to you?”
He shrugs at me before nodding a farewell to Aubrey. He pulls me next to the water fountains and asks, “What?”
“Do you really think I’m going to get a tattoo?” I try to whisper, but it still comes out sounding loud and shrill.
Frowning, he shifts me over and looks around to make sure no one heard. “I think you are if you want to be part of this.”
“A tattoo! That’s, like, insane.”
“It’s the rules, V. If you walk, that’s fine, but know the whole school will find out about your pill addiction.”
I gawk at my brother. My brother who has protected me, always. “You’d seriously release that video.”
“I don’t think you get it.” His hand clenches around my arm. “I’m not in charge of this, Vandy. I don’t even have the video. There are powers that be. I’m a recruit, just like you. Christ, I told you what we were getting into. I told you this is for life. What were you expecting?”
Something about this stuns me. I’d gotten into this to get information, to make a point, to establish myself as a serious writer, but now I’m supposed to permanently brand myself with the symb
ol of this group. Isn’t that a step too far? And using the video to make me compliant and keep my silence—that’s outright blackmail.
“Look, I tried to keep you out of this.” He looks frustrated when he steps away. “But I thought this was what you wanted—to make your own choices.”
“It is,” I weakly insist.
“Well, this is how that works.” His shrug is hapless. “Sometimes, you make a choice and you have to stick with it, even when shit gets dicey.” Before he walks away, he adds, “You better get it somewhere seriously invisible, because if Mom or Dad sees it, they will have an entire herd of cows.”