Page 46 of The Vipers and Their Venom

My mouth opens, and I fold over, my fists clenched, and let out a silent roar. It sounds pathetic, a wheeze or a whisper not a shout. I launch to my feet, needing to let this rage out. I pick up the chair and throw it onto the ground, then pick it up again and smash the legs on the floor. It splinters, and I continue to pound it against the floor. It’s not enough. I stalk to the counter in the small kitchenette that makes up the left side of the living space in my room. I sweep the glasses and cups onto the floor. I punch the cupboard doors, over and over until my knuckles bleed, relishing the pain.

It's not enough.

I storm into the living space and upend the couch. There’s a part of my mind telling me to stop. The rooms at this college cost a fortune. Because they felt sorry for me, and were trying to make me feel better, my parents upgraded me and paid for top level accommodation, and I’m ruining it. I can’t stop.

The couch is on its side.

It’s still not enough.

I pull the bookshelf I made from the wall, the books going flying and the crash making a heavy thud that reverberates. I bet next door will come knocking soon.

Sure enough, the door opens. The kid next door is a scrawny little creep who is always answering questions in lectures and trying to get on the good side of the faculty.

With a soundless growl, I pick up a heavy ashtray and throw it at the door. I miss the dark head entering the room by an inch. I realize it’s one of the twins, not my creepy neighbor, and my stomach lurches. Fuck. I could have cracked his skull open.

It’s Saint, I realize when I look closer. He’s got ever so slightly sharper features than Lex. Again, only something I notice because of how much I really look at people.

“Jesus fucking Christ, Zane. What are you doing?”

He walks to me, which is pretty brave of him, given the mood I’m in right now. Lex follows him into the room and stands there, eyes wide as he takes in my destruction.

Bending down, Lex picks up the letter and unfurls it. He reads it, and his gaze softens.

“Shit, Zane. I’m sorry, man.”

I don’t want their pity. I push past them and out the door, ignoring their voices as they shout after me.

I want to hurt someone. Make someone pay. I want to give someone else this pain.

As I stagger down the corridor, one face fills my mind.

Venom.

26

VANI

Lunch with my new friends went well.

Though I’m always awkward with people at first, they made the conversation easy. They seemed to be really interested in the club where I grew up and asked lots of questions about what it had been like.

I did my best not to pry into their lives, aware they must come from families with crime backgrounds, just like mine. Most people don’t like talking about that stuff, which is completely understandable.

The only person who was quieter was Faith. I think maybe she’s a bit shy, like me. Plus, Angelica and Jarena are both super loud, and confident, which sometimes makes it hard to get a word in. They’re good company, though, and, as pathetic as it seems, I’m grateful to them for adopting me.

After we’ve eaten, everyone has to go their own way—mainly to different classes. Because my schedule is different than most of the other girls’, thanks to my dad, I tell them I’ll clear up and let them go. I want to find the room where my sister is staying. I don’t know what I’ll say to her, if she’s even in. Hell, maybe that’s why I want to go there now, because deep down I know there’s a good chance she’ll be in class. I just want a moment tostudy the door, try to get a feel of the person behind it. Perhaps she’ll have stickers on the front of it, something that’ll let me know what kind of things she’s into. Maybe I’ll even catch her coming or going, and I can just get an idea of what she looks like rather than approach her straight off the bat. It’s a coward’s way of doing things, but truthfully, I don’t know how she’ll react to my news. My insides squirm at the thought of telling her I’m her new ‘bonus’ family. She might not believe me, or she might reject me. Either option is heartbreaking.

The food had been delivered in a couple of large paper bags, so I fill them with the wrappers and empty soda cups. This setting is so beautiful, the last thing I want to do is litter it.

As I’m bent over, scooping up a straw wrapper, I become aware of a presence behind me. I glance over my shoulder to find Zane standing there. His expression is fierce, his shoulders bunched, and blood drips from his knuckles.

I let out a squeak and drop to my knees then scrabble away, trying to put space between us. Was he bleeding that badly after the fight in the cafeteria? Why hasn’t he cleaned himself up yet? I was sure he’d been standing with one of the college’s professors when I’d run out of the cafeteria. Surely, they’d have made him bandage his fists if he’d been bleeding that badly.

Does he blame me for the fight? For getting him in trouble? Is that why he’s come to find me?

The surge of adrenaline makes me dizzy, and I feel like I can’t breathe. I hold out my hand in defense. “Please, don’t hurt me.”

He takes a step forward and his brow furrows in confusion, and he stops. He shakes his head.No.

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