Page 86 of Snake

Nim

Knox and Silas groan in unison, and my lips quirk up of their own. “A dance?” I try not to sound too surprised...or disappointed.

After all, if this is going to be my last night in Cinderhart, why not go out with a bang? But I guess a dance is just as good. These three are too unpredictable, anyway. A quick dance with Mason, some hot chocolate, and then a few hours of sleep before dawn breaks.

I hope Knox isn’t planning on breaking his deal about taking me into town, too. But if he does, then I’ll just have to fucking walk.

“But there’s no music.”

“Christ,” Knox mutters. He leaves the kitchen, shaking his head. Silas leaves too, going into the living room and messing around near the fireplace. I hear logs knocking against each other, and glance over my shoulder as he lights some tinder. Sharp orange light dances wildly around the room as flames lick at the logs.

Mason is still holding out his hand. I take it warily and let him lead me into the living area. There’s a large open space in front of the fireplace, and Silas rolls up the rug that had been there and props it up against the marble hearth. Then he goes and takes a seat in an armchair, holding his hands out to the flickering flames.

He’s wearing a pair of sweatpants that cling to his hips. No shirt either. So that mystery is still unsolved.

Mason curls an arm around my waist and draws me close. His breath is warm when he stares down at me and shifts from side to side. He hums, but if it’s supposed to be a popular song, I don’t know it.

Then Knox reappears, his phone lighting up his face with a cold, pale light. “Here’s one,” he says, and guitar chords start playing. Not from his phone, but from some hidden speaker system. It’s soft, not jarring at all, but I still flinch from the unexpected sound.

Mason draws me a little closer. “Yeah,” he murmurs. “I like this one.”

I recognize the song, but for the life of me, I can’t come up with the artist’s name. It might have something to do with the way Mason’s gazing dreamily down at me. I catch some lyrics, but honestly it’s taking all I have to keep my feet under me, especially when Knox comes and takes a seat opposite Silas, putting Mason and me squarely between them.

“We have to get this fixed,” Mason says, tugging gently at the chunk of hair hanging in my eyes. “We’ll take her to the salon tomorrow, Knox.”

“She...won’t be here,” Knox says. There’s a hitch in his voice, like he’s not sure if he should tell them, and when Mason and I turn, I lock eyes with Knox for a second. His dark eyes are heavily shadowed, orange light playing over his skin.

...you’re my end and my beginning...

We turn in a slow circle until it’s Silas I’m looking at now.

...even when I lose, I’m winning...

Tears prick at my eyes, and I don’t know why. I can’t be sad about leaving, can I? I hate this place. These people. These serpents.

Don’t I?

“You’re leaving?” Mason’s chest rumbles as I nuzzle my face against him, blocking out Silas and Knox. I nod against him, and he lets out another rumble.

An unhappy one.

“I thought you were braver than that,” he says, offhand, dismissive even.

I push away from him, and he lets me go without a fight. “Brave? You think sticking around to be tormented, day in and day out, is brave?”

The fire warms my back, my naked legs, as I step back from him so I can look at all three of them. “It’s not. It’s fucking stupid. No one wants me here. No one even likes me.” I glance away for a second, pursing my lips. “Romi, maybe. But no one else.” I stab in each of their directions with a finger. “You don’t. No one at school does. Why the fuck should I stay here when I can go to college in the city.”

I cross my arms over my chest, glaring at them as my heart knocks in my chest.

“Because you can’t afford to study anywhere else,” Knox says calmly, turning off the music with a touch to his phone. He slowly stands and takes a step toward me.

I hold my ground, but barely. “I’ll get a loan.”

“And how will you repay it?” Silas asks, standing too.

“With my job!” I realize I sound highly defensive, but I’m well and truly down the rabbit hole now, so I might as well commit. “Which I’ll start working at full-time.”

“You have a job?” Mason frowns at me.

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