Page 53 of Snake

Knox

The day of the Feast of Ashes dance is always a fuck up at Cinderhart Academy. None of the students are even remotely interested in learning anything, and the teachers couldn’t be bothered to teach those that are. Some classes, especially those after lunch, are canceled due to general lack of interest, and the ones before lunch usually become homework sessions.

So it’s no wonder Nim’s not where she’s supposed to be. I mean, fuck, I’m supposed to be in class and instead I’m by the stables, tacking a pony so I can practice footwork. At least, that’s what I’d planned to do before Mason and Silas tracked me down. Now I’m standing near one of the picnic tables, smoking a cigarette as they each have their own particular kind of meltdown.

“What do you mean she’s gone?” Silas snaps.

“Not quite sure which bit you’re not getting. I checked everywhere, and I can’t find her. Conclusion? She’s gone.” Even Mason sounds a little testy.

Nim never gave us an answer on the dance, so we don’t know if we’re going stag. I think that’s worrying the guys more than it should. The past two years, guys have made a statement out of going stag. And our reputations can certainly handle a little “will they, won’t they” bullshit.

“Eliza’s got something to do with this,” Silas says.

“Obsessed much?” I ask dryly, flicking ash from my cigarette.

“She hates Nim,” Silas says. “She hates all of us. Wouldn’t fucking surprise me if she made Winters disappear.”

“Let her come,” Mason growls. “We’ve been dealing with her bullshit for years.”

There’s a beat of silence before Silas says, “We have. Nim hasn’t.”

“This works in our favor.” I run my hand through my orange-and-black hair before crushing out my cigarette on the heel of my riding boot. “If anything happens to Nim tonight, her sponsors will intervene. I’d rather have Eliza face their wrath than us.”

Silas looks like he wants to argue, but his scowl softens as my words sink in. “You’ve got a point,” he admits grudgingly.“Is everything else in place for tonight?”

I nod. “All systems go. Nim won’t know what hit her.”

“Unless she doesn’t go to the dance at all.” Silas’s sour expression tells me exactly how much he’s dreading that outcome.

“Then we find her,” I say, pointing at Mason. “And we make sure she’s coming to the dance.”

“I told you I couldn’t find her,” he says.

“Because she’s probably not on campus anymore.” I kick my foot up on the edge of the bench, leaning in and resting my wrists over each other on my knee. “See if Romi’s car is still in the lot. Those two are thick as thieves lately.”

“And if it’s not?”Silas asks.

“Then she’s heading into town already.” I shrug. “We’ll find them there. At least, you will.” I grimace. “I have to stop off at the house. The monsters need me.”

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