I collapse in a sobbing heap on my bed. When the worst of it abates, I realize how bad things could get if I were caught with the evidence and immediately send the video to an email I don't use then delete it from my phone.
I don't know how I can explain any of what went on to the police, and first I would have to get off campus as I'm positive being here when it went down wouldn't go well. Who knows who all is on it. If there's any chance to bring it to light, surely something of this magnitude would break my contract and put away all of them involved. Except I don't know who several of them were as they never took their robes off.
While I debate the morality of waiting and trying to find out more, I shower, trying to scrub the feelings from my skin. A niggling voice is telling me that these men are powerful, and the police could very well have been there tonight for all I know. The reach of the university is no secret, and I'm directly under their thumb.
I go to bed where I have a hard time falling asleep but don't dare take any medication in case something else happens. I'm beginning to connect the dots, but they don't quite make a full picture, and I'm not sure exactly where I fit into this other than I'm determined not to end up like Olivia— raped and throat slit like a slaughtered pig.
Chapter Ten
The next day I'm on autopilot, feeling much like a zombie after my restless night. I'd heard the guys come in sometime around one in the morning, and even though their manner is subdued, they're radiant. Their hair and skin glow almost luminously, and I somehow know that they hold that girl's life force in them. It's her energy they stole and utilized for themselves. And with those scales on her, and them, and on Kael— I know there's something they're hiding, something other. I act as normal as possible when I have to interact with them, all while I make plans to find out what exactly they've done.
After classes are over for the day, Ash drives me to my appointment back in the city. It's a silent drive with him sneaking glances my way every few minutes that I ignore. My therapy appointment doesn’t go quite as I'd thought it would. While I'm doing better, I'm not getting a full release yet. I hadn't expected one, but my recent activities with the storage unit and packing up my apartment, not to mention since I've been at school, have set me back some. The physical therapist is worried about swelling around my breaks, especially my leg, and concerned that my back pain might be an issue with my kidney instead of just sore muscles. I couldn't exactly tell him that I'd been out spying on an evil, magical, cult— I'd get a referral directly to the psych ward. The silver lining is that it gives me more opportunities to get off the school grounds.
When I'm done setting up my next several appointments, I go up to the third floor where they have rehab for long-term in-patients. I sometimes volunteer my time here and know I can't stay long with Ash waiting on me, but I still want to go up and at least say hello.
Debbie at the front counter smiles and waves at me. "Go right on ahead, Cora. We've been wondering when you were coming back."
"Thanks, Debbie!" I return her wave and walk into the room at the end of the hall. Sitting down in the chair next to the bed, I smooth the hair back off the occupant’s forehead; it's grown out quite a bit.
"Don't worry, baby. I'll find out what they did to you, and I'll make them pay," I promise Kael as I place a soft kiss on his sleeping face.
***
I'm fidgety, and trying to hide my frustrated anxiety on the ride back to school. I absolutely hated having to cut my visit short with Kael. Debbie had looked a bit surprised that I didn't stay longer but gave me a sympathetic smile when I briefly summed up my situation. She's a doll and promised to send me regular updates.
Ash, noticing my restlessness, asks about my visit. "Did it go okay? You seem off."
The last part elicits a snort from me. Who wouldn't be off in my shoes? "Actually, it didn't go