Chapter 74 WHERE IS THE STAR OF THE SHOW?
SERAPHINA’S POINT OF VIEW.
“Yes, it will be done, father,” I whispered as I held the phone to my ear while trying to keep my breathing controlled. All I wanted to do for some reason was see that stupid descendant of Queen Victoria again.
Ever since I had his tongue in my pussy, my mind hasn’t been the same way. I wanted more…and I hated the fact that I did.
“Don’t disappoint me, Sera. Ace is already doing a fantastic job at making sure the plan stays in motion. I expect nothing less than excellence from you. Watch her, and make sure everything we want happens today. That sham of a debate must happen the exact way we planned. I won’t settle for anything less.”
“Yes, Father. I won’t let you down.” I whispered, clutching the phone with tight fingers, as the sound of my heart pounding in my chest filled my ears.
Thomp, thomp.
“Sera.” He said, his voice suddenly calm, and almost…endearing. “Is everything okay? I hope you’re not... distracted.”
My face went pale, as my blood ran cold in my veins.
Does he know about Theo? Have I been caught?
It’s not even like we’re doing anything. But father always wants our undivided attention, especially when it comes to something he has us doing.
Did Ace say anything….or did he see anything worth reporting?
My relationship with my brother is… estranged. He and I had an agreement: stay away from me, and I’ll do the same.
Ever since he’d come to Ravenscroft High, I’d acted like he didn’t exist, and he’d done the same.
If he said anything to father….I shivered at the thought.
“No, father.”
“Good. I would hope your attention hasn’t been…divided.”
“Of course not, Father. I’m committed to the cause, always.”
“Good. I can always count on you, Sera.” He said, adding to the weight on my shoulders. Being the good girl was hard. Ace was already the black sheep at home, so I had to be the poster kid.
The one fit for the cameras, the press, and everything our family’s image needed to keep up the façade of the all you could ever want to be type of family.
I hated it, and Ace for it. Because he would do as he wanted, without giving a damn about anyone else. I, on the other hand, had to think of every damn thing or risk a tongue lashing from Father and Mother.
“Goodbye, father,” I whispered, and hung up before he could say anything else. I wanted to scream, to throw something against the wall, and honestly, I wanted to do something so reckless and not give a fuck about the consequences.
“Well, if it isn’t the golden sister.” His voice rang out, stopping me in my pacing.
Ace.
“What did you tell father?” I hissed, walking up to him.
“Oh, nothing.” He whispered, flicking his cigar, and took in a long drag. His face had that stupid smirk, the one he always had when he did, or was about to do, something sure to screw me over.
“Ace.” I hissed his name out, grabbing onto his arm and digging my fingers into his skin.
“Seraphina.” He mocked.
“What did you do?”
“It’s not what I did…it’s what I can do, what I might do…unless…” He trailed off, still maintaining that stupid smirk that made me want to take a tennis bat to his head.
“What do you want?” I hissed, gritting my teeth.
“You will help me with something.” He said, suddenly losing the smirk, and fixing me with a serious glare.
“What is it?”
“There’s a girl-“
“Who has the misfortune of catching your attention?” I cut in, shivering at the thought. Ace was Volatile. If any girl has caught his attention…lord help us all.
“That is for only me to know. Just focus on the plan, and I won’t tell Father about you and Vance.” He says the last part like it’s bitter.
“What’s crawled up your ass?” I asked, wondering why he grimaced at the thought of Theo.
“Nothing, just..Vance? Really? No other better names were available?”
“Vance isn’t even his real name…it’s supposed to be some kind of alias, but what can I say?”
“You better not marry the fucker.”
“Whoa…all I do is tutor the guy. Where and how did we get into marriage?”
“Okay.” He said, rolling his eyes, before moving to walk away from me.
“Wait.” He stops immediately, but doesn’t turn around. “How is Sloane? And the plan?”
“I have something coming. You’ll see it at the play. Just expect something….dramatic.”
“Would you do anything even remotely different?” I said, rolling my eyes.
All he did was turn around and wink at me before walking off.
Clutching my phone tighter, I turned the hall and listened to the speaker above me announcing the start of the debate.
“Ladies and gentlemen of Ravenscroft High! It is our utmost pleasure to announce to you the start of the biggest national debate in all of history! Our topic for this debate is: Freedom without order is chaos; order without freedom is tyranny.
On one side, we have the school’s queen bee, Roxanne! She will be going against the other candidate, and whoever wins will get to represent the school internationally. Are we ready?”
I could hear their screams of excitement as I walked. It practically shook the school’s walls.
“Well, since we’re all ready. Shall we announce the judges?”
Everyone cheered in response.
All of a sudden, the microphone crackled as the moderator stuttered over his words. “I’m sorry, what….oh! What do you mean?”
I frowned in confusion.
What’s going on?
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have to inform you that the competition will no longer be a debate. It will now be a cooking competition! The winner will still represent the school internationally and receive the sum of five million dollars! We regret to inform you of this so late, but this also sprung up on us.”
A cooking competition….would Sloane manage the sudden switch?
“Now, we make welcome the star of the competition; Sloane Bishops!!!”
I smiled at the cheers of the crowd and made sure to walk faster so I wouldn't miss anything. I hope Sloane fucking guts that bitch, Roxanne.
“I’m sorry…where is Sloane Bishops?” He called, and I paused in my footsteps, frowning.
What the hell?
“Sloane Bishop? Sloane? Where is she?” The sound of the crowd mumuring reached me from even where I stood on the other side of the hall.
“If she isn’t here in the next twenty minutes, per the rules, she will officially be tagged the loser, and the prize will be given to Roxanne immediately.”
No way.
I was about to move when I bumped into someone.
“Careful, Ice princess. Wouldn’t want you falling.”
Theo.
“I need to find Sloane,” I said, pushing him away.
“I know. It’s why I’m here, too. Lucien has all of us combing the school for her.”
“Really, where have you guys checked?”
“Everywhere but the bathroom.”
I pulled him along, dragging him by the hand as we ran to the girls’ bathroom. The sound of someone hitting the doors stops us in our tracks, as the doors shake slightly.
“Is someone there?” The voice called weakly from inside.
I knew that voice from anywhere.
“Sloane?” Theo and I called out.
“Yes, it’s me. Please, let me out.”
Fuck!