Page 17 of Heartless Legacy

I can’t renege on my oath and leave The League of the Daggered Raven. Not without hurting my family or Finn’s, but that doesn’t mean I’m just going to accept how things are any more. I can’t do anything about The League, but the members of Zeta Nu aren’t so insulated.

If Thea comes back, this campus will be safer for her. I’m gonna expose and purge that sorority of each and every Eloise clone. Then, I’m moving on to the guys that were there the night she was attacked, and anyone else who knew, heard or suspected what was going on and kept silent.

Finn

I lasted a week sitting at my regular table, before I couldn’t do it any longer. Holden locked himself in his room and isskipping meals, which left me dealing with Eloise and Pax alone. Yesterday, I finally moved to the other side of the room.

I sit on Austin’s right, across from Thea’s favorite chair. It’s a sacred spot, just like the one at the end of the legacy table. After hearing me yell at Eloise’s friend, Rachel, everyone has taken to leaving the end seat empty. The first day I approached this table, LJ put her backpack in Thea’s chair to block me from trying to sit there. Smart girl. I wouldn’t dare try to put my ass in it, even if it would have made me feel closer to her.

I’ve already eaten. Don’t ask me what, I barely tasted it. I’ve got time to kill, so I’m just sitting here whetting my knife while everyone else eats. I’ve just shaved off another minuscule layer of metal when Austin asks, “What do you mean he took a leave of absence?”

LJ answers, “That’s all I know. He turned his clients over to Tank for the summer, but then last week he sent a message to Dean Gibson that said he wasn’t coming back. I heard from one of the TA’s in the math department that the football coach said, Coach Wolfe took a leave of absence for this semester. I don’t even know if the school’s still going to offer Physical Enhancement classes.”

I lift my head from my task when LJ mentions Coach Wolfe’s gym. I vaguely remember that she went there sometimes with Thea, but I didn’t realize she was actually training there, too.

What has Deacon Wolfe been up to this summer? He’s Thea’s mentor, so the High Council questioned him about her disappearance. Is he avoiding work, for the same reason I’m not interested in going to classes? This campus sucks without my girl roaming the halls.

I don’t even care if I don’t graduate on time or my ranking slips with The League. What good will rankings do me anyway, when the only reason I wanted to be the best was to help my Trium be the best? Look where all that team spirit and solidaritygot me. With an axe plunged into my back by the very person who swore to always watch it.

If it weren’t for Holden, I wouldn’t even be here. School is an outlet for all his genius energy, so I’m here supporting him. Otherwise, fuck this shit. Who cares about learning? I’d much rather go on a stabbing spree.

I look up and see everyone at the table staring at me. Connor and Austin have horrified looks on their faces. I must’ve said that last part out loud. LJ gives me a pity smile. “We all miss her, Finn, and if you feel like you need to stab some people to cope, you go right along and do that.” Her eyes flick to the table where I used to sit.

“Thanks.” I settle back in my seat, returning my attention to my knife. Austin and Connor might think I’m crazy, but my outburst didn’t scare LJ one bit. She gets it. Probably because her best friend is team stabby too.

Holden comes through the door, eyes flicking around the dining hall as he walks to the head of the line to order his food. I see the indecision on his face when he spots me. He’s trying to decide where to sit. I’m not surprised or upset when he chooses our usual table. He’s methodical about everything he does, and unlike me, he’s perfectly fine with sitting there and not interacting with anyone.

He’s glued to his tablet while he eats his lunch. My phone pings and I glance at the notification about Albright Financial, in Ohio, filing for bankruptcy. My gaze swings over to Holden. Somebody’s been online with his little hactivist friends, ruining billionaires again. It’s how he’s coping with the changes. Although, I’m sure this is no random billionaire or company.

The downfall of the one-percenters has followed a theme this summer. They’ve all had ties to the legacy family of a Zeta Nu member. Tomorrow, all the ladies of Zeta Nu will wake up to an email asking for the names of the people who were involvedin Thea’s attack on Mayhem Night. It’s the same email they’ve received all summer.

After a week with no response, the next billionaire target will find his funds magically depleted, or evidence of his financial or humanitarian crimes made public knowledge, and the email to the Zeta Nus will follow.

I admire the sorority members keeping quiet, but pretty soon one of Holden’s targets will hit too close to mommy and daddy’s checkbook. It’s only a matter of time before someone cracks, and when they do, my knives and I will be there, taking notes.

Chapter 11

Holden

Iwalk into chambers like everything’s the same between me and my friends. A million questions go through my head as I take up position against the wall, further away from where I usually stand. Does the council recognize the strain between us? Do they care?

I hate the tension between us. Pax and Finn are both too stubborn to make the first move to get us past this problem. That means I’ll have to do it. I take a step towards Pax, just as Eloise squeezes in beside him in the space where Finn usually stands. I turn my head and find Finn staring at them, his hands balled into fists at his side.

His reaction isn’t jealousy. It’s anger. Anger that Eloise is in his spot. Anger that Pax let her be there, and anger because the girl we think should be at our side isn’t here.

I’m used to being stuck in the middle of these two. I usually try to remain neutral over whatever their disagreement is. There’s no room for neutrality here. Even if I could put my feelings about Thea aside, Pax is still in the wrong.

He should have talked to us instead of springing his engagement on us in chambers. He made us look like fools. Him having Eloise at his side right now is still making us look likefools. It signals to everyone that he chooses her over his Trium. That shit’s embarrassing, disrespectful, and it hurts. I won’t pretend otherwise.

Eloise turns and sees me looking, a smug smile on her conniving ass face. She’s happy with this turn of events. Pleased with the wedge she’s put between us, when she never could before, but she’s misjudged the situation. She thinks she’s on top now, because Pax gives her a direct line to a member of the high council.

Finn’s grandfather and mine might not sit on the top level of the dais, but that doesn’t make them less powerful. The positions they hold were choices they made long ago, for reasons we were told we’re not allowed to know. But theyareon the dais, two seats below the highest council members, and they arestilla part of Malcolm Senior’s Trium.

I turn my attention to the dais, easily picking my grandfather out from the bodies filtering into their designated slots. He nods at me in acknowledgment, then shifts his attention to Eloise. He taps the oldest Finley on the shoulder to get his attention and he, too, turns his gaze towards where Eloise and Pax are standing.

The two men press their heads close and whisper to each other, gazes still locked on the couple. Eloise lifts her hand in a wave. They turn their backs without acknowledging the gesture and move to their assigned positions. On my left, I see Finn’s shoulders shaking. I guess he caught that, too.

I feel a little better than I did when I walked in. At least there are two men up there that still believe in the oath they pledged.

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