I put Delilah’s phone back, then placed each completed assignment on their respective desks.
Then I pushed open the classroom door and walked slowly out of campus under the motion–sensor lights.
I was used to everyone else’s disgust, but I never expected that out of the four in their little group, the one who wanted to get rid of me most…
was Alaric.
Alaric–who’d grown up with me, who I’d taken a bullet for.
When the blind regain their sight, the first thing they throw away is the cane.
He wanted to throw me away too.
But Alaric-
You know what? I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time too.
Since ten years ago, I’ve wanted to escape you, escape my father, escape the Everharts.
New York City blazed with light even at night–the streets still bustling at ten PM.
My face felt hot and itchy. I touched it and found tears.
I was crying.
The smoky aroma of street food hit me as I ordered some grilled noodles, sitting on the curb to eat slowly.
I’d never felt as free as I did today.
They were actually going abroad.
How wonderful that they were leaving.
I kept crying, but I think I was also laughing.
Soon it would be graduation–and my eighteenth birthday.
How could three such wonderful things happen at once?
I wandered around for hours before reluctantly taking a cab home.
Dad was on the phone, nodding and bowing to whoever was on the other end.
When he hung up and saw me return, he cursed.
“Not with them again? Useless! Can’t you write their homework faster?”
I could write it faster.
1
But I didn’t want to.
That way I’d have no reason to follow them around.
I ignored him and trudged to my room like a zombie.
After Mom died, he had no leverage over me. Behind my closed door, I could only hear his impotent rage.
The next day was the school festival. I planned to skip it, but Delilah texted me.
on’s Throne
Chapter 5
When I reached the backstage dressing room, all three guys were there.
Delilah wore a custom dance costume, her intricate hairstyle making her devastatingly beautiful.
Beckett and Cassian were showering her with compliments, all three fussing over her attentively.
Delilah pretended to pout: “Oh! You three stop crowding me, I need to practice!”
Seeing me approach, she waved and hurried over:
“Sel, you’re here! Boys are just useless at this stuff. I told them they didn’t need to come–look how they’re getting in the way.”
Cassian whistled: “If we didn’t come, how would you manage with those clumsy hands of yours?”
Delilah linked arms with me affectionately. “I have Sel to help me! Sel, how does my costume look today? Is my makeup too dramatic?”
Beckett snorted: “What would she know? Look how she’s dressed–like an ugly duckling.”
In the mirror, I wore all black athletic wear with a baseball cap and mask, looking pretty shabby.
“Beautiful. Not dramatic. You look perfect,” I said slowly.
“How can you say that about a girl!”
Delilah pretended to scold Beckett. “Sel would look great dressed up too! Sel, let’s ignore him!”
Beckett straightened up, glancing at me mockingly:
“She’s already ugly as sin. How could she compare to you? Even with makeup, she’d still be hideous.”
“Beckett-” Delilah frowned.
Cassian smacked Beckett’s shoulder to smooth things over. “Enough. Today’s Delilah’s performance–behave yourself and don’t cause trouble.”
Beckett quickly apologized to Delilah, making her laugh.
The topic shifted again.
I helped Delilah’s stylist with her hair and makeup touch–ups, listening to them discuss summer vacation plans.
Her skirt had a crease. I instinctively reached out to smooth it-
“Slap!”
Delilah screamed as my hand instantly swelled red!
“Don’t touch!”
The three guys immediately stopped talking.
Alaric instantly stood up and rushed to Delilah’s side, frowning at me: “What happened?”
Delilah seemed startled.
Beckett and Cassian surrounded her too, glaring at me menacingly.
Protected in the center of the three, Delilah looked up at me with a frown:
“This dress is made from very delicate material–it wrinkles and stains easily. Please don’t touch it randomly, okay?”
I quickly explained: “There was a crease there-
Delilah frowned slightly: “I know you probably just wanted to feel the fabric, but this dress was specially commissioned by Alaric from a master designer. It’s very important for my performance.”
I paused, then said quietly: “Sorry.”
Beckett glanced at me irritably, complaining to Delilah:
“I told you she’s clumsy. This low–class girl has never seen nice things–what if she ruins your expensive dress?”
Alaric looked at me: “Delilah’s costume has professional handlers. Ask before touching her things next time.”
Cassian directly shooed me away: “Delilah called you here to help with props. Go work with that teacher on the program flow–don’t come over here unless necessary.”
I crouched in the corner, half–heartedly taking notes on the schedule, glancing over casually.
My little incident seemed forgotten–I saw them say something that made Delilah laugh again.
When the festival performance began, the three guys sat in the front row waiting to watch Delilah dance.
But I had to stay backstage in the dusty prop room, watching the stage through a monitor.
Soon it was Delilah’s turn.
As she appeared like a butterfly, the entire auditorium fell silent, then erupted with students taking photos and videos.
Delilah on stage was like a peony fairy–graceful and ethereal, moving like a startled swan. Combined with the set design, it was breathtaking.
Just as the dance was ending, I finished releasing all the props according to schedule and prepared to leave.
Suddenly I heard a piercing scream!
Chaos erupted outside. I frowned and quickly ran back.
Delilah lay on stage in agony, her face pale, a prop I’d never seen before rolling by her feet!
Shocked, I rushed over to help her up.
But Alaric charged up like a madman and shoved me away violently!
I was thrown backwards, my head slamming hard into the sharp corner of a wooden frame!
Everything went black. The last thing I saw was Alaric carrying Delilah away without looking back.
I heard Beckett’s furious voice, unable to compete with Alaric:
“Who was in charge of props? Where did this damn ball come from?!”
A frightened student he was interrogating pointed at me trembling:
“Selene was in charge of props for Delilah’s performance…”
Beckett’s eyes turned red as he stalked toward me, grabbing me from the floor: “Don’t think playing dead will save you, Selene. I’m going to kill you-”
Suddenly students around us started screaming:
“Blood-! She’s bleeding from her head…!”
