Chapter 12 12: A lot is happening

Chapter 12 12 PROXIMITY
SORAYA
"The girl died?"
"Unfortunately."
I wasn't ready for Adele's talks, so my replies were static and emotionless. A lot was going on in my head. Different questions with absolutely no answer.
The biggest one was the fact that the girl's body had been just like the person who had attacked Daryl. Lifeless and drained of blood.
I was on my way to look for the prince in question when I was ambushed by Elle Farrow.
"The principal wants to see you," Elle said, disdain dropping from her voice.
"Why?"
"How would I know?"
I met Daryl already seated, and Ethan Farrow stood behind him, his facial expression giving away nothing. I took my seat when the principal, Sir Owen, motioned for me to do so. Sir Owen gave a small smile as I did that, and then leaned forward.
"I am very sure you have heard of the tragedy, if not witnessed it yourselves, and this is why I called you here. Every finger points to who murdered dear Annie's life, points back to you, Soraya Karter."
I blinked, clearly taken aback. "Excuse me?"
"You were in her room when the incident happened..." Sir Owen began.
"No!" I raised my hands in negation. "I was there after."
"And pray tell what you were doing there?"
"I was going to ask her some questions. Harmless questions."
"There was already a clear case stated that she had mistakenly thrown the sacrum while practising for the gala night. What other questions would you have wanted to ask?"
"Obviously you don't expect us to buy their bullcrap story, Principal Owen!" Daryl spoke up, surprising me.
Principal Owen paused at Daryl's outburst, regarding the prince with what could only be described as utter dislike. "So you do not believe the elders of this academy?"
"I do not even believe the elders of this pack, Sir Owen."
Sir Owen scowled at Daryl.
"Perhaps we should also talk about how her death is so similar to the corpse found in your room just three days ago, Prince Daryl?" Ethan suddenly chimed in, and you could hear the bitterness in his voice. This same question had been ringing in my head since the incident.
Daryl glanced back at him instantly. "Excuse me? You think I killed the girl?"
Ethan shrugged. "I wouldn't put it past you now, would I?"
"Mind your words, Farrow!" Daryl growled at the Alpha's son. Anger radiated from him in waves.
"He is not wrong, though," Principal Owen reiterated calmly, ignoring Daryl's outburst.
I blinked in shock because I hadn't expected that. If anything, I had expected Principal Owen to shut the accusations as soon as Ethan had picked them up.
"You accuse your Prince of murder?" I found myself asking. Did they not say desperate times call for desperate measures? It was Daryl's time now to be surprised at my statement.
"Prince or not," Principal Owen retorted. "I am only stating the obvious facts, Miss Karter, and because of these findings. Both you and the prince..." His voice was clearly dripping with malice at the mention of Daryl's title. "Both of you will be on house arrest till the investigation is over."
"What!"
The principal continued like he had not heard our outburst. "And to avoid a repeat of something quite destructive, we are putting you two in the same house until we know what steps to take next."
Beside me, I could see from my peripheral vision as Daryl stood clearly pissed at the turnout of events. Little did he know I was just as angered.
"You can't do that!" I heard Daryl say. He was trembling as he spoke, and certainly not from fear. His voice carried so much sting it could kill. I would not put it past him to try to strangle me in my sleep.
"You are a prince, and you should know what it means to abide by rules," the principal countered calmly, dismissing Daryl with so much ease and not a tad bit rattled by the latter's anger.
I was also undoubtedly calm. So in contrast with the rage that was building up in me. Who would think that just seconds ago, we had both tried to defend each other? That just didn't change the fact that I couldn't stand Daryl Ender.
Who, even in their right senses, thought putting me and Daryl in close proximity was good for the climate? Heavens help us, because one of the two of us would be dead by nightfall. And I was so sure it would not be me.
Perhaps it was now I would finally offer his head on a silver platter to my mother.
\---
The house that the school guards led Daryl and me to was at the far end of the school building. Deserted and perhaps even haunted, that was what it looked like.
"Must be such a shame to be acknowledged so lowly even by your subject." Daryl's gaze landed on me and stayed there. If looks could kill, I would be six feet beneath by now.
"I think you should shut your mouth, Karter," he responded stiffly.
"I think you should quit telling me what to do, your Highness," I retorted sharply, my stance daring him to say something else.
Daryl clenched his fingers, his claws almost extending. "I'll feed you to the birds," he murmured and just as swiftly barged into the house without waiting for the guards.
I watched him leave, following closely behind with careful and calculated steps. The turn of events was more a curse than a blessing, but even then I had to use it to the best of my abilities.
I reached for my belt, letting out a sigh of relief when I realised that the guards had not seen the little dagger I had hidden there when they stripped me and the prince of every one of our weapons.
I would die before I stayed in the same room with Prince Daryl without a defence object.
The inside of the house was just as archaic as the outside. Smelling of dust and ash. Like some kind of burnt offering had gone on in the place.
"The left wing is mine," Daryl declared, already striding towards the door.
"You don't even know what's there. You didn't check!" I snapped.
“I don’t need to.” He glanced back, golden eyes gleaming. “Unless you’d prefer we share.”
My cheeks burned before I could stop them. I rolled my eyes. “Keep your room. And keep out of mine.”
“As you wish, companion.” His mocking tone made me bristle. It was going to be a long night.