Chapter 15

Leajka

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I hear the call of my name as though on the wind. Leajka. The way Emeric says it, I can’t resist. I spare a glance back at Tyrren who stands on the sidewalk, looking crestfallen.

Emeric has told me how historically vampires hurt the fae—during the war, Bortimal created the demons to rend fae shadows. He says that eventually, Tyrren will want to hurt me—it’s in a vamp’s nature. Yet I can’t help but be vaguely aware that Tyrren said he would never turn his back on me...yet that’s what I’ve just done to him.

We return to the clearing where the Rjoklund Games began and Emeric claims his prize—a trophy and declaration that he’s the champion. There is a feast and revels. I imagine this is the first time a fae has won the challenge.

I’m starving and help myself to sweets. But lately, I’ve been thirsty. Not for blood like the vampires, but I have a craving for the drink from the goblet during the court dance. I can’t stop thinking about it.

After I eat, Emeric draws me away from the crowd and we venture toward the woods. He wants to show me where he found the golden disk. We sit side by side, facing each other. The leaves are damp on the ground.

He stares deeply into my eyes. I bask in the soft glow of light radiating from him. He’s rescued me from the lie I’d been living. He shows me the truth of who I am.

Emeric brushes a stray hair from my cheek and I lean into his hand as he whispers my name.

“Want to break some more rules, Leajka?” he asks. His words are euphoric, leaving me feeling blissed out, just as they always do.

“Anything,” I mumble. “I’ll do anything for you.”

“Let’s skip.”

My words feel jumbled, but I say, “I probably shouldn’t miss any more classes.”

“You won’t learn anything here that I can’t teach you. In fact, I daresay you’ll learn more from me, Leajka.”

My mind is like a sponge in his presence.

“They don’t matter. None of them,” he says.

“What does matter?” I ask.

“You. Me. I think it’s time we say goodbye to this place.” He smooths his fingers down my arm.

“Do you mean go to the quad?”

“I mean leave RIP Jr.”

“Are you asking me to run away with you?” I rock back on my feet. My stomach turns queasy. Did I eat too many sweets? 

“We have to get you away from Tyrren.”

The name penetrates my awareness, lighting something up inside of me. “But he’s my best friend.”

“He was your best friend. He’s nothing to you now other than a danger.”

“We just did the Rjoklund Games together. He helped me when a demon attacked,” I say, fighting through what feels like a fog for my words, my awareness.

Emeric rubs his lips together. “Kiss me, Leajka.”

I lean closer, captivated.

He runs his hand along the edge my jaw, pulling my chin toward his. I do want to leave, but I’m afraid of where we’d go and what would happen. I’m afraid...but not of Tyrren. Images of him by my side through the challenge, through the best and worst times of my life filter through my consciousness like a highlight reel.

“You want to be with me, Leajka,” Emeric says.

He and I are a breath apart.

“If Tyrren knew the things you’ve done, he wouldn’t want you anyway. But I do. It’s okay. I understand. I’m like you. I’m bad, right down to my core,” Emeric croons.

I try to shake the fuzz out of my head, inhaling deeply. “What do you mean?” I ask weakly. This isn’t making sense. My thoughts and his words repeatedly crash into each other.

“I want you to come with me—on my side and working for me. You’re perfect. Every bit as reckless and crazy as I’d hoped.”

“What?” I ask, pushing myself onto my heels.

“Lea, you’re the poster child for our cause.”

I blink a few times, hoping my surroundings sharpen and my head clears. “Emeric, you’ve lost me. I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I get to my feet, scanning the woods, trying to remember what path led us here.

“Come with me. We’ll leave now. I’ll get you a fast car to match mine. We can drive cross country, leaving nothing but flame and devastation in our tracks.” He leans in to kiss me, his hair cascading over the muscles in his shoulders. “I know you want me. I know you want to kiss me.”

I can almost taste his lips in the air between us.

“Allow yourself to have your desires. You don’t need to reform. There’s nothing wrong with you. A good girl? It’s not who you are. You’re Leajka, wild and free. A girl like you doesn’t answer to professors and stupid trials or a loser named Tyrren.”

Whether I’m bad to my core or not, something rises up from that place and breaks the spell. “I’m not the kind of girl who’ll be told what to do. I’ll be free on my own terms, thank you very much.” With my arms folded across my chest, I stomp through the undergrowth, putting space between us so I can get my head clear.

Emeric isn’t making enough sense for me to give myself over to temptation and his intoxicating lips. Twigs snap and leaves crunch as he crashes through the woods after me.

“You could be great. This isn’t about RIP anymore,” he calls, catching up to me.

I stop short. “I’ve heard enough riddles. Explain.”

“You know what I’m talking about. Deep down. You know.”

I wait to hear what he has to say.

“You remember the rain and the alley on that late-spring night?”

Stale breath hisses in my ear, a memory of that dark night sophomore year. A quaking sensation starts in that deep down place inside of me. I force myself not to trip over his comment. It can’t be true.

“I’ve wanted you for a long time. I’m paving this planet with destruction so we can finally be free. Anarchy, liberty. You could be a part of the revolution instead of a victim to it. There’s no way they’re going to be able to clean up the mess we’re going to make. Rip Jr trashed. School, over. Have you really ever liked school? No more empty pleases and thank yous. Say goodbye to the superficial reality you’ve put up with.” He extends his hand to take mine. “You and I, leading this fight, we’re going to take over. You won’t have to answer to anyone.” Temptation threads through his voice.

“Who do you answer to?”

Emeric clears his throat. “Myself.”

I don’t believe it.

“Who sent you here? Why me?”

“You? Because you’ve been robbed, imprisoned by loss. You know what pain feels like. Because you’re fierce, fearless, you want to be free.”

“Are you behind all the X-Crew crimes?”

He smirks. “I want you to help lead. You’ll have anything, everything you want. Cars, money, a sweet crib.”

“Cribs have bars.”

“A house. Leajka, listen, whatever you want, name it.”

“What I want can’t be bought. I can’t be bought.”

He grips my wrist tightly.

The iron bracelet that Tyrren made presses into my skin.

“I want you.” He holds me fast.

“You paint a pretty picture. You are a pretty picture. Almost a fantasy. But I’m not the person you’re looking for. Your gang, causing havoc all over the country, it’s not my game. Yes, I like to drive fast, I enjoy a spot of trouble sometimes, but you can’t buy me. I’m not for sale.”

I try to get loose from him. He doesn’t let go. My hands form fists. Rain starts to fall.

“I’m trying to do this the easy way. But I have to take you back. You’re the face of the future.”

I pry his fingers off me.

“And you sound drunk on bad ideas.” Again, I start walking, more quickly.

He follows, trying out new ways to convince me to join him, just on the outside of pleading.

He grabs my arm, turning me toward him. I try to twist away, but his grasp gets tighter. Sophomore year slams into my mind. The attack. The knife. The threat. Emeric repeats my name and this time I feel myself getting pulled under, like a wave, a curtain, a veil of enchantment. Part of me begs to give in. But no, something’s not right. I swat his arms away, taking him by surprise.

“Let me go,” I bark.

“Only if you come with me.”

I kick him hard and take off running on the rain-slick ground. Branches whip my arms as I crash through the woods. I suddenly feel like I’m going the wrong way. I veer right, but the ground starts to slope. I’m lost.

Emeric limps behind me, quickly closing the space between us. His wet hair lashes behind him like angry snakes.

The thin trees and long windswept grass doesn’t look familiar. I keep running and gulping air. The wind stings my eyes as they become blurry with tears. Emeric closes in behind me. Nothing on land or in the sky orients me back to campus.

“Leajka. Stop now. Make this easier on yourself. One way or another I will get you.”

I don’t fully understand what’s at stake or the specifics of the game Emeric referred to, but I need answers.

I look over my shoulder and just as I take another step, my feet slip on loose rocks. My head hits the ground hard and everything goes black.