Page 79 of Rockwell Academy: The Twist

Cassie nods. “The centurions have the disadvantage of their mask and cloaks. I’ve done it and the cloaks catch on the floor and tangle your limbs and the mask is uncomfortable and slips over your eyes. We hold the advantage and my advice is that when you see them coming, don’t make it easy for them.”

“Why not?” Grace says in surprise.

“Because every man should fight for his girl. Why give it up at the first opportunity? It’s more fun that way.”

Kennedy raises her glass. “I’ll drink to that.”

As we hold up our glasses, my thoughts turn to Luca and I shiver with expectation. I wonder what will happen between us—if he catches me at all.

36

LUCA

Iam so ready for this. It’s as if it’s been a long time coming and from the moment I set eyes on Summer Majerio on that first day in the corridor outside the principal’s office, I knew our destinies were entwined.

Now I’m waiting like a hungry dog for the game to begin. Dressed like a centurion, locked behind bars in a cold and damp cell. It’s archaic, depraved and so dark it matches my soul perfectly. I almost growl with anticipation as the door opens and the girls file inside.

I restrain myself from grasping hold of the bars on the cell and panting like an angry dog in heat. Instead, I maintain my cool and observe from behind the golden mask. Searching for only one girl—the one who is mine.

She follows the others, the last in the pack, and I love the brave incline to her jaw, determination flashing in her eyes as she ignores the centurions monitoring her progress.

Jesse is in the cell beside mine and has his heart set on one woman. The other three were warned off from chasing them.

I carefully register the clothing each girl is wearing for identification purposes, noting the bright red sneakers thatSummer chose. Imogen’s are black along with the other girls and I smile behind the mask. Even now, my girl is different and it makes identifying her in the dark tunnel easier.

It pays to have friends on the inside because my fellow Elusive house members assured me they will direct me to Summer’s tunnel when the time comes. I’m not sure I trust Frankie though. He has a vested interest in seeing me fail, after all.

However, even Frankie has come around to the notion this is the best thing for all of us. Summer will be under my watchful eye and cared for, as if she is a precious jewel. I assured him of that, and I meant every word. I’ve never had a girl before, not one who is mine and until Summer, I never wanted one. I will treat her right—well, as right as I can treat a girl I physically ache for. She will not escape my interest when the light dims and the darkness falls. That is when the devil comes out to play and I am so ready to play the game I’ve been training for my entire life.

The girls pass and we wait—an interminable wait that causes Jesse to whisper, “Fuck, have they forgotten us?”

“Relax, the outcome will be the same.”

I reassure him and Eric whispers from a couple of cells away, “Headsup, I’m making for Grace. I’ve always liked her and her participation is a gift.”

“I’m going for Serena.”

Colton stakes his claim and Jed groans. “So I get Molly I’m guessing. Fuck my life.”

“Why?” Jesse asks and Jed huffs.“She’s my sister’s best friend. This won’t end well.”

It offers light relief to a situation that is growing in tension by the second.

“Good luck with that, although–” Eric laughs. “I wouldn’t want to be Luca right now with Frankie watching him attempt tocapture his sister. Fuck, you must have balls of steel to take up that challenge.”

Jesse chuckles. “Agreed. I’ve watched him beat up guys for merely talking about his family. You must have a death wish or something, Luca?”

“I’ll be okay.”

I don’t let on about my agreement with Frankie. Jesse is unaware of our liaison with Jenna Sloane and he won’t find out from me. Frankie and I are operating together as allies rather than enemies in our joint best interests. We are keeping a close eye on Miss Sloane under my uncle’s instruction. He will soon possess what he needs to end The Serpent Society but to guarantee his success he can’t alert them to discovery.

So, for now, we bide our time and Jenna Sloane lives another day, but she is discovering that Rockwell’s well is drying up because her chosen ones have now got other plans.

After what feels like hours, another centurion approaches from the main chamber and silently unbolts every cell door, freeing us for the chase.

The fact we’ve all staked our claim on a particular challenger takes away the urgency to be first into the tunnels.

As we reach the main chamber, I register Santi regarding us from his position by the stone altar, two flaming torches on the wall on either side of him that burn brightly, illuminating the dark creepy space sufficiently to reveal the tunnel through to the main hunting ground.

---