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Chapter 79: Counting Your Losses
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2024-10-29 19:42:56
VictoryAnne ViceBut where did she go...?
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[Lily]Spending my evening with Link has been a blessed relief. He is just here for me, as a friend who cares, and he has worked hard all night to keep my mind carefree as we talk about everything from favorite books to movies that we hate.It has been a great distraction from the burning stare I feel along my spine. I can feel that Atticus is watching. But every time I start to look nervous or grow sad, Link has sensed it and taken me somewhere else, out of Atticus' path, or found some new way to distract me, to keep me from falling apart, or worse, into Atticus' arms. He even shields me from the spiteful energy radiating off of Evie as she glares at me right before screaming her relationship woes all over the dance floor, spewing hatred at Atticus. I will need to give Nyx a very big hug later. "So I was thinking," Link smiles as we take time to admire the ridiculously ornate and well-stocked food area, "Actually I was wondering if you have any plans for the upcoming holiday brea
The Bully Games Chapter 1: The Academy
[Lily] My mother said she loved me, but then she died when I was 13 and left my care to the devil. I'm supposed to call him "grandfather" but "devil" suits him better. Grandfathers are supposed to be compassionate and kind but Andrew Adare doesn’t understand the concept of kindness. I didn’t even know he existed, or that my real last name was “Adare” until he came to me at my mother’s funeral and claimed to be my family. He didn’t even give me a chance to say goodbye to my friends or my old life, I wasn’t even allowed to take a single memory with me. He just swept me off in his private jet, and as soon as he could, shipped me off with little explanation. “You look so much like her,” was all that he said to me. The only words that I heard from his mouth before disappearing and leaving me to the care of nannies and cooks and butlers. I don’t know why he bothered to take me if he doesn’t really want me. He hates me so much that he can't wait to get rid of me. As soon as summer ends
The Bully Games Chapter 2 : Atticus Preston
[Lily] “Hello Ms. Adare,” he purrs, his smile growing sickly sweet as he grins almost too brightly. He must be up to something because he’s a little too happy to have me in his arms. “I’m so glad to have run into you this morning.” He looks back at the other Legacies who nod in agreement, except for Evie Carter, Atticus’ girlfriend, who is staring daggers at me, her face growing red with repressed rage. Bending down low, he places his lips on my ear as he brings me in closer as if what he has to say is a secret between the two of us. Wrapped in his arms it feels too intimate as he murmurs, “We have much to discuss. I hope you will join us for breakfast.” My body freezes. Breakfast? Did he just invite me to dine with him, and the Legacy Seven? I must be mistaken. “Meet me at the stairs tomorrow at 8 am sharp,” he instructs me quietly yet firmly as if I have already agreed to this arrangement and he is just seeking confirmation. “I’ll expect to see you waiting for us at the base o
The Bully Games Chapter 3 : The Target
[Atticus] “Let me go, Ace,” Evie screams. Even after dragging her away from Ms. Adare, she is bubbling over with the heat of her anger. “I am going to scrape her eyes out and then I’m going to shove them up her….” I laugh as I hold onto my girlfriend. She’s always had such a short temper. When we first started dating in middle school, she almost got suspended for hitting another student in the head with an algebra book because she didn’t like how she ate her taco. It’s a good thing that she has me to help keep her balanced. Otherwise, she would have already burned the school down by now because she didn’t get exactly what she wanted when she wanted it. “Easy there, Tiger,” I joke as I loosen my grip just enough that she doesn’t feel confined while also keeping my arms around her in case I need to clamp down again. “She tripped and I caught her. Nothing else happened.” “That’s not what it looked like to me!” her beautiful blue eyes are sparking with anger. With her long black hair
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[Atticus]Laz records the results, documenting this decision in the meeting log and we move on to the next element of the game--choosing the method. As last year’s winner, I get to choose. “I thought we’d go a bit ‘old school’ for this year’s game,” I announce as I stand and pull an old deck of cards from the pocket of my jacket. “My father told me about this one year where he just picked 7 random cards from a simple deck, labeled the cards with a word related to the theme, and then everyone picked a card. Because there are always seven of us, they’d try to pick a theme that had seven options. One of their favorite themes was a game they called the ‘Seven Deadly Sins.”I separate out 7 cards and a pen. Laying them out before me, I write a sin on the top of each card, putting “LUST” on the ace card and going in order from there. “Just like in previous games, our actions will be scored by the other 6 Legacies based on a simple point system. I pause, to make sure everyone understands
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[Lily]The rest of my day was completely uneventful and went by quickly, thankfully.By the time Nyx and I woke for breakfast the next day, everything from the day before felt like a distant memory, something we could laugh about now that we had survived it. “Did you see how her eyes bulged,” Nyx acts out Evie’s face from the morning before and I try not to laugh too loudly as we make our way to the counter holding all of the dishes and cutlery. “I honestly thought she was going to kill you.”“You’d think that the school would have kicked her out by now,” Nyx carefully looks both ways before she mumbles almost incomprehensibly beneath her breath. “Everyone knows she is a danger to herself and others. How she has managed to stay out of prison is a miracle.”“Miracle,” I snort, rolling my eyes. “More likely it was a deal with a lesser-known demon.”Nyx laughs loud enough to make some poor freshman drop his glass of milk.“Sorry,” Nyx winces, feeling bad. Nyx is my best friend, and I lo
The Bully Games Chapter 6: The Offer
[Lily] The first thing I notice is that Evie is absent. Which is probably why there is room at their otherwise full table. Atticus sets down the tray and places our food at the two available spots while the rest of the Legacies shuffle to make room on the bench. This situation is too perfect. Which means something is not right. “Are you sure this is okay?” I ask, looking around to see if Evie is hiding somewhere or peeking around the corner, ready to strike at me for daring to talk to her boyfriend. “What about Evie?” “She had a very long night,” Atticus assures me, his face deadly serious. “Too much celebrating. She woke up feeling sick so we probably won’t see her today.” “Oh, what a bummer.” Realizing that sounded a little cold, I add, “Hopefully she’ll feel better soon.” Veronica rolls her eyes and snorts. She knows I don’t care about Evie. She’s Evie’s best friend, so I don’t expect her to believe me.“So Lily,” Atticus smiles. “Welcome to the Legacy table.”I just sit th
The Bully Games Chapter 7: The Tree
[Lily]By the time I made it back to where Nyx had been sitting, she was long gone. There isn’t even a trace that she has been sitting here. I checked our dorm room, but there was no sign that she had made it back there yet. If seeing me sitting with the Legacies irritated her this badly, there is only one place she would go. And that is exactly where I found her. She is sitting underneath the only walnut tree on school property, a giant of a tree, both wide and tall, it has branches that extend in all directions, creating a large canopy of shade in the summer and a wealth of walnuts in the fall. Once upon a time, the land the school sits on was a walnut orchard with walnut trees in all directions, as far as the eye could see. But they were all chopped down to build this school. They somehow missed this one.Like us, this tree is a survivor.Without saying anything, I take a seat next to Nyx who is on the ground, her head upturned and her eyes closed. Our backs resting against the b
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The Bully Games Chapter 80: Taken
[Lily]Spending my evening with Link has been a blessed relief. He is just here for me, as a friend who cares, and he has worked hard all night to keep my mind carefree as we talk about everything from favorite books to movies that we hate.It has been a great distraction from the burning stare I feel along my spine. I can feel that Atticus is watching. But every time I start to look nervous or grow sad, Link has sensed it and taken me somewhere else, out of Atticus' path, or found some new way to distract me, to keep me from falling apart, or worse, into Atticus' arms. He even shields me from the spiteful energy radiating off of Evie as she glares at me right before screaming her relationship woes all over the dance floor, spewing hatred at Atticus. I will need to give Nyx a very big hug later. "So I was thinking," Link smiles as we take time to admire the ridiculously ornate and well-stocked food area, "Actually I was wondering if you have any plans for the upcoming holiday brea
The Bully Games Chapter 79: Counting Your Losses
[Atticus]It was a relief when Evie finally left me alone. Her presence grates on my nerves, and her kisses leave a foul taste in my mouth like wine turned to vinegar. Loving Liliana has taught me how kisses should taste. Sweet like honey candy, not bitter and cold. But how do I tell her how I feel? Will she believe me?I wouldn't if I were her, not with how I've treated her over the years. Even these last two months, with how close we've become, I could understand why she'd take a moment to pause and consider that it might all be one big trick. The sad thing is, she wouldn't be entirely wrong. This whole escapade started as a cruel way to make a brilliant soul dark, corrupting her fully, before tearing her apart like some kind of pagan sacrifice. We wanted to lift her above everyone else before we took her down so fast and so low that when she hit bottom the pain would be more excruciating.And it was all my idea. And I can't say anything about it or I not only risk my spot as a l
The Bully Games Chapter 78: The Equinox Ball (part 2)
[Evie]"Can you believe the nerve of some people," I grumble in Ace's ear as I pull him into the tent? "Bringing the riff-raff to OUR ball as if...""He's hardly the riff-raff, Evie," Atlas cuts me off, "He's your cousin," he pulls away from me. "You know, if all you're going to do tonight is talk about Link, I'll find something else to do with my time."Ace puts his hands in his pockets and stands there, staring at me, his blonde waves flipped over one eye. He looks bored. Or I should say, distracted. All night he's been looking over at her thinking I wouldn't notice. Fine. Two can play that game. "You know what, Ace," I hiss. "If hanging out with me is so boring, maybe we should BOTH do something better with our time," I take a step away from him expecting him to reach forward and apologize like he usually does. But Atticus doesn't move. He stands there, his face as hard as stone. "Go on then," he urges. "Go bother one of your friends. I don't care what you do with yourself, Evie
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[Lily] "Link!" I run around the other Legacies, who all give me strange looks as I ruin the perfect line of their precessional. I don't care about their sneers. I only care about my friend, who I haven't seen since that strange weekend in New York. "Lily," he opens his arms. "I am happy to see that you are happy to see me," he gives me a rakish half smile, before looking down at the corsage in his hand. "I wasn't sure if you'd be happy to see me or not." My face falls hearing the note of uncertainty in his voice. He's been nothing but kind to me, but I've been a terrible friend. Link and I have been corresponding via video chat and email, but I stopped calling when Atticus and I began our nightly study sessions. Part of the reason was because I was just too busy to make the time. But the bigger part, the part that makes my heart stop in my chest, is that it felt like I was cheating. Even though Link and I have never been anything other than friends, I know he likes me, and I gue
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[Lily]Atticus has been conspicuously absent this week leading up to the ball. I haven't once seen him enter or exit his room, nor is he taking meals with the rest of the legacies. "Does anyone know what happened to Ace?" I asked the crew the second morning he didn't show up. Nobody responded with words, but Evie gave me a whithering look, and Veronica's eyes opened wide with warning. The message was clear enough, even without anyone saying a thing: Don't ask. That afternoon, I responded to his invitation and slid it under his door. By now, I'm sure he's seen that I will not be going with him, but that I am also not going alone. Instead, I'll be tagging along with Nyx and whomever it is she is taking as a date. Nyx has been so secretive about the identity of this date, that I can't help but bubble over with anticipation and curiosity. I can easily say I am more excited about the idea of who she is taking than I am about whatever little surprise she has in store for me. Friday nigh
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[Atticus]I am in no mood for this meeting. Especially not with the way Evie is acting, like she's already won something.She has a plan, I know she does. She hasn't set it off yet, but it feels like I'm waiting for something, something big to happen. I promised Liliana that I'd protect her. But how do I protect her while still following the rules of the game? One of the biggest rules is that we do not tell anyone else outside of our tight circle of seven what is happening.This is why we are meeting in Laz's room, the room furthest away from Liliana's, to have this final meeting before the Equinox Ball."Alright, the first order of business," Laz starts. "Does anyone have anything to report?"Evie is the first to raise her hand. "I'd like to give Simon kudos as far as gluttony," Evie points to Simon who grows very red in the face, I'm not sure if it is from embarrassment or some other emotion. He almost looks mad. "His work at the club was a prime example of gluttony. Of course, it w
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[Lily] By now, Atticus knows I received the invitation. There is no way that I didn't not with how everyone else at school is chittering in corners about it. Which is why I'm not surprised to see him waiting for me at the base of the legacy stairs. "Liliana," he stands, reaching for my books. "We need to talk. About the invitation, about everything." "Then talk," I say a bit more gruffly than I had intended as he follows me up the stairs. "Not here," he gives me a meaningful look and I shake my head. There is no way I'm going back into his bedroom. If he gets me in there, I'll end up in his bed, and then he'll find ways to distract me. I need to keep my mind clear and I can't think straight when his hands are on my body. I wish I never knew what it felt like to be kissed by Atticus Preston. "I don't think it is a good idea for us to be alone together," I wait for him to reach me at the landing and then lean in and hiss, "Somebody saw us this morning, Atticus. We weren't care
The Bully Games Chapter 73: Yes or No
[Lily]The poor freshman looked terrified as he handed me the invitation. "Thank you, Ms Adare," he bowed as he backed away as if I were some kind of royalty. People are so terrified of Legacies that even a "not quite" Legacy like me is a person to fear. The envelope is cream and embossed with gold and overly fancy like everything else at this school. He must have planned this because my name is engraved on the invitation. That isn't a last-minute detail. This isn't a reaction to my behavior this morning or a way to apologize for being an ass. He had planned to ask me. He wanted me on his arm at the biggest school event of the season. I pause. Was he telling the truth when he said he does care about me? Could it be..."This changes nothing," Nyx insists. "So what if he planned to ask you out before you dumped his sorry ass if you can even call it dumping him since you weren't really in a relationship," she points out. "So what if he wanted you to be his date? You know it probably
The Bully Games Chapter 72: Confessions
[Lily] It doesn't take us long to get cleaned up. I borrow one of his shirts so I'm not naked in the hall, and he gathers up all of our clothing to be washed by his cleaners. I always feel a bit weird after these sessions. I'm not sure if I should be thanking him, or pretending like it didn't happen. While my body is finally relaxed, getting all the pleasure it craves, my heart is more confused than ever. One moment I feel alive, like my whole body is afire. The next, I feel lost and a little ashamed. I let myself become Atticus' dirty little secret. What would Nyx say if she knew? She'd be disappointed. Never mind Link--we aren't technically dating but we do correspond. What would he think of this little "arrangement." Just because we aren't technically having sex doesn't mean this isn't a betrayal of sorts. What am I doing if this means nothing to him? Atticus stops me as I reach for the doorknob. "Liliana, talk to me." It's a struggle, but I make myself turn and face him. "At
