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Chapter 9: Into the Woods
Last Updated:
2024-03-20 12:03:37
VictoryAnne ViceSorry for the long delay. I will be better about updating this one. I am trying to make sure that each chapter is high quality and reads smoothly. I appreciate your patience. I will write more regularly soon.
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[Lily]“Nyx! Wait up!” I shout as I follow her back into the school. The lights overhead are starting to glow as the sun slowly sets. I hadn't realized it, but Atticus and I had been gone all day.“I can’t believe I was worried about you! Do you know who told me where to find you? Evie! Of all the people in the damn world to have more of a clue about where you were than your best friend, to think it would be that soul-sucking, foul-mouthed succubus girlfriend of his!”Nyx is out of breath as she spins on her heels, stopping her march just long enough to give me a cold, hard look over her shoulder. “By the way, if I were you, I’d start walking these halls with some type of weapon hidden in your jacket because you’re going to need to defend yourself if she ever gets you alone.”“Shit,” I swear, cursing the name Atticus Preston inside my head. He said he had taken care of Lily. He lied. Of course, he did. It was probably all part of his plan. “He told me it would be okay,” I whined and t
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[Atticus] I’m not sure why I took our target into the woods. My goal had been to impress her, while also making her feel so overwhelmed and out of her depth that she’d feel like she had no choice but to cling to me like a life raft in a sea of sharks. That’s why my original plan involved taking her to the La Fleur Bluet and then showing off my wealth with a little high-end shopping. The idea was, that once she realized that she had no choice but to depend on me to know what to do and not look like a fool, I’d have her exactly where I wanted her. She would NEED me. Or at least, she would think that she did. Easy prey. But easy also isn’t fun. What is the point of playing a game if it isn’t fun? The reason I wanted her as the focus for this year’s games is because she has been unbreakable. The ultimate challenge. I like a good challenge. And a challenge isn’t a challenge if you know with certainty that you are going to win. So I did something different. I tried to be her frien
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[Lily] There are things in this world that I wish I could unsee. The color of Evie’s thong is one of them. I had come out into the halls in hopes of finding Atticus so that we could clear the air between us. I am so confused about what he wants from me. Is it friendship, or is it something else? And then I turned into the main hall and I got my answer. I also found Atticus. Positioned between her legs, Atticus was grinding himself into her, pressing Evie against the wall to the Legacy staircase as she moaned loud enough to wake the dead. It was such a display I couldn’t help but gasp. I had never seen something so intensely primal before. They were not just making out, they were moments away from rutting like wild animals in front of the whole school. Atticus was so wrapped up in his seduction that he didn’t notice me at first, but Evie…her eyes were wide open and she was looking directly at me. So I ran away. I didn’t tell Nyx about what I saw. I simply curled into bed, t
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[Lily] Call it a moment of weakness or maybe a chemical reaction that caused a rush of stupid lust, but I met Atticus behind the gym. It was a stupid move, since again, it is a place where nobody can see us. Anything can happen behind the gym, which is why it is such a popular rendezvous for lovers. Atticus and I are not lovers. Not even close. And we never will be as long as Evie is breathing down our necks and I manage to maintain even the smallest amount of self-respect. But Atticus, to his credit, is a perfect gentleman. “Listen,” he begins his apology. “I’m sorry you had to see that thing between Evie and me. That wasn’t my idea.” He shyly rubs the back of his neck, a nervous trait that I have come to realize signifies discomfort at telling an awkward truth. He chose to wear the traditional school uniform today with the jacket and tie and crisply pressed trousers and as he talks he also fiddles with his tie, which is refusing to stay in place. “Stop,” I order him. The tie
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[Lily] “Are you sure this is necessary?” “Do you want to be a legacy or not,” Atticus laughs. “Trust me, this is necessary.” “But how often am I going to need to walk in 6” heels across a slippery floor,” I try to turn to face him but I can’t. We have been working on my posture for the last three days and each time he comes back with even higher heels. I’m pretty sure that I’ve seen shorter stilts. “The key is to tighten your core and bend your knees,” Madison coaches. “Step on the front of your feet and think tall thoughts.” I am trying so hard to not roll my eyes at these instructions, but I’m also exhausted. I’ve been a legacy for a week, and already I’ve been given instructions on how to dress, how to talk, how to eat, and how to sit. Now it’s how to walk like a circus performer on a tightrope. Okay, maybe not. But walking in these ridiculous heels sure makes me feel like a clown. Especially since the entire Legacy Seven is here to watch me fall on my face. A few of them ar
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[Lily] As he holds me tightly to his chest I feel safe, even though my brain says that I shouldn’t. My brain is smart but my heart is an idiot. So to appease the warring parts of me, I keep my eyes open while I take comfort in how it feels to have his arms wrapped around me. I am, after all, only human. And although he is a total bully and a complete jerk, right now he is treating me with so much tenderness and care I don’t know what to think. Could I have possibly misjudged him this entire time? No. Nyx wouldn’t lie about her story. I am sure every word of what she said about her pain and her suffering was absolutely 100% true. Looking up at him, the sunlight from the high windows in school makes his hair glow with bright golden light but casts his face in a dark shadow. Much like his personality--part angel, part devil. This makes his expression hard to read, although, from the set of his jaw, I can see that he is worried. Worried about what? He's a Legacy--he can do whatever he
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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
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[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
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[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
The Bully Games Chapter 74: Bully for You
[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
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[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
