mm

rphanage bunks. Instead, my fingers brushed air. The ceiling was so high it felt like it had its own

a corner of the sheet against my face. "

oo quiet. The scent of lavender and lemon

g my cheeks a sharp slap. Slap. "Ow

w crossed the open doorway. Three girls in tailored blazers were

d, not even bothering to lower her voice. "The o

ady having a mental bre

offered a weak, sheepish wave. "Morn

and turned the lock, leaning my forehead against the wood.

oed through the floorbo

, I'm going

with so much haste that I a

in a museum. I fumbled with the buttons of the crisp white

ng the navy blazer. "Don't tear it. Don

ly realized I had no idea where I was going. I spotted a group near a

ying to sound like I belonged.

king me up and down like I

in the center asked, "o

Cathedral," I stammer

cond one giggled. "Your ribbon is crooke

tered, backing

eral, gold-plated labyrinth." I looked up at the white spire in

um

e shadows and stopped dead. Two girls were holding a student down. The le

"You like attention so much? Sc

s, replaced by a hot

girls sp

d, stepping forward. My heart was trying to exit my che

tray has a bark. What are you going to do, charity case? We kn

and pleading. I pulled out my phone and held it u

was hovering over the

chest. It caught on the weave of my new blazer. "Do you ha

France," I snapped, smacking the branch aw

er snickered. "Like y

silver eyes turn gray when you beg." She reached out like she was trying to grab my face. I f

EY

ough the alley. A girl with brown, perfect curl

bella whispered.

ne Sch

like it had been draped on a Parisian runway. Her brunette hair was thick and heavy, fallin

ged her shoulders, making the fabric look like silk. Her white shirt was so crisp it looked

p, flowery stuff the other girls wore but something deep and intoxicating. It smelled like sandalw

just walked straight

he were reading a code. Then sh

lla? Did you forget th

wait! She s

e stepped closer. "Go to Student A

throwing looks at me that promised a very sho

breathed. "I

rrupted. She wasn't being kind; she was being

l on the

heir way," she said, look

"Could you... Tell me how to get to

. "You're the violinist. T

uess

en stopped. "And Isabelle? Stay out of trouble. This isn't a

efore I could

ooking at my phone. "I'm goin

screaming. I reached the Cathedral, a massive, terrifyin

ic

ck

my forehead against the cold wood. I yanked again.

trying to

and actually sounded... nice. W

hose hair actually seemed to glow in the sun. His eyes were a brigh

tor starts speaking," he said, a small smi

me. I just stood there in the shadow of the door, s

adow of the cathedral was

Pov (Th

leather, copper, and the stale bitterness of cigar ash. I stood there, my spine f

aid, the words dry and pr

o let the tremor in my chest reach my voice. "The Beaumonts wanted to re

ing to dissect me. "And the girl?

as fifteen years old. "Average talent at best, a shiny toy for the Bea

he other end spoke. Then, I watched the impossible happen. The color didn't jus

her name made the hair on my arms stand up. "You ga

cold, dark void. Rousseau had gone over my head

crack that sounded like a gunshot. "If she's who I suspect, if that face isn't a coincidence, she's a loose

esk, fixing those bl

tch every breath she takes. Every student she speaks to. Ever

al promise. He didn't need to finish it. We both kn

d, the words feeling

t let myself breathe until the heavy oak door was shut between us, cutting off

hought, my hands finally starting to shake. Because once my father looks at you