Page 254 of Blood & Betrayals

I glance at the television again. Another news story is playing, but it barely registers. “Something about this feels off,” I murmur, my gut twisting with unease. Now that I’ve unburdened myself, unloading the lies, or at least some of them, I’ve freed up some space to think more clearly about the press conference.

“What do you mean?” Max asks.

I look back at him and shake my head. “Nothing. Thanks, Max.”

“No problem.” He lifts the bottom of his shirt and wipes the tears from my cheeks. I smile at him, and my phone pings again.

Alice

The headmaster is here. In our dorm.

“I have to go.”

Max wipes my face again. “Okay, you’re good.”

I smile at him and squeeze his arm before hurrying out of the gym. The conference plays on repeat in my head all the way back to Kelpie Hall. My mind doesn’t quiet until I burst through the door into our dorm and see the headmaster. I am surprised to see him sitting on our couch while Alice paces. Alice warned me he was here, but nothing could have prepared me to see him sitting in our space with a cup of what looks like the most awful coffee I’ve ever seen.

He stands the moment he sees me. “You heard the news,” he states.

It’s not a question, but I nod anyway, knowing my eyes are probably still red from crying. “Yes, sir.”

He gestures for me to sit, and I perch on the edge of one of the armchairs.

The headmaster sits down again. “They found your clothes, some of your trash, and photographs of you all over his room. He also had a manifesto that supposedly proves his guilt.” His lips flatten, and he looks down at his hands. “It seems it is over, tied up with a neat little bow.” I am not sure he is actually talking to me. It seems he is more just thinking out loud.

“Something feels off,” I say, watching his profile.

He meets my gaze, intrigue lighting his silver eyes. “Off?”

“I can’t explain it,” I say cautiously.

The headmaster rubs his hand over his jaw. “There was an incident this morning after the stand-off withEli. The authorities claim it was accidental, but it doesn’t feel accidental to me.” He runs his hand over his eyes wearily. He seems exhausted, and I realize it is the first time I have seen him look… mortal. “A fae female was found at the bottom of the stairs in the astronomy tower. Her head was completely turned around, severing her spine. A beheading without cutting the skin.”

I swallow. “Did she… she look like me?”

He meets my gaze again. “Close enough. Though since it wasn’t a mutilation, the authorities have deemed it accidental.”

I feel the color drain from my face.

“It is just too convenient, in my opinion,” he says.

I nod in agreement.

“The authorities will be withdrawing from campus within the next fortnight.” He looks away, thinking. “Nothing about this sits right with me. This killer was far too careful. They were far too meticulous and clever to be caught on some simple forged documents.” He pauses for a moment, and I know he is deciding if he should tell me the next bit. “There is something missing from my vault. Something that was not found in his belongings, but the investigators are insisting I just misplaced it.”

“What is it?”

He sighs. “My father collected many mystical artifacts, intent on taking them out of circulation. He stored them in the school, and further creation of such items was outlawed. Someone has taken a single item from the entire vault.”

“Just one?” Alice asks, finally stopping her pacing.

He nods. “Just one. The Helm of Darkness. It makes the wearer completely undetectable.”

“Oh. I’ve read about that,” I say.

“It originally belonged to Hades, the Greek God of the Underworld. It was his before the gods left this world.”

“Why didn’t you destroy it?” Alice asks.

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