Chapter 25

I slept, but not for long. My guilt plagued my drunken dreams of monsters, and Tancred who was causing a hurricane and my safe little house was ripped up around me, I was flying in a hurricane, my screams too soft to reach Tancred's ears over the 100mile an hour roaring winds. The pressure forcing me down to the floorboards, wind whipping over my head as windows busted out. Glass rained down on me, I covered my head with my arms and forced onward. I army-crawled to my bedroom door and down the stairs. I swung open the front door; wind knocked me back on my butt. My screams were no louder here; I crawled to the edge of the door and screamed. Wind overtook me and I flew across the room. I slammed in the window and broke through.

I was now spinning out of control, with nothing but solid earth 150 feet down, I was free falling. My stomach lurched, as my mind filled with what I knew would be my last. Tancred, I'm sorry! Tancred I love you! I never meant to hurt you! I'm so sorry. I love you, please forgive me. Please. My body hit the earth with a sickening thud, I died on impact.

I jolted awake, not recognizing where I was at first. The night came flooding back, a sickness filled my stomach. I jumped out of Manfred's bed and ran to the bathroom. I puked multiple times before brushing my teeth with a new toothbrush that I found in the cabinet. I washed my face and still couldn't get the feeling of being properly clean. I decided to shower, hoping the steaming water would wash my guilt away.

It didn't work. I emptied the remains of my stomach contents into the toilet, praying that this would be the last time. I brushed my teeth and hair quickly, and changed into the sweatpants and hoodie that Manfred had gotten for me. I slipped out of his apartment and office, intend on heading to my dormitory. Halfway there I ran into Billy Raven, he was coming to find me or Manfred to tell us that Charlie and some of his friends were having a secret meeting in the music coatroom.

Against my better judgment, I raced across the castle with Billy. I stopped to dry heave several times, but luckily nothing came up. All too soon we neared the coatroom, we slowed to a walk. We crept in the coatroom and looked around. Like in the drama coatroom, there was also a hidden back room. Billy and I settled into hiding places, holding our breath and waiting.

Charlie's voice floated in the room, "Emma, why aren't you watching out for Tancred? He was found in front of his office again. We can't risk Manfred finding him standing there! We'll lose him forever! We're already losing him!"

"Don't blame Emma Charlie. Tancred isn't Tancred anymore. He's heartbroken and Manfred has him all messed up." The deep voice of Lysander Sage boomed in the quiet darkness.

I inhaled sharply, and listened harder.

"I believe that Manfred is hypnotizing him when none of us are around. But little by little so we don't notice and then one day, he snaps." The quiet tones of Gabriel said. "I always feel something off in his clothes."

"That could just be stupid Athena in his thoughts!" Emma retorted.

"Emma, I understand that you don't like Athena, but I really do believe that she's got something all planned out. She loves Tancred, I know she does." Lysander said, silencing Emma.

"Speaking of, has anyone reached out to Athena to see what she knows?" Charlie asked. Sharp silence filled the air. "How do you guys expect to stop Manfred's plot if we don't know what it is?"

"We will Charlie." Olivia said I could practically see her nudging Emma. I rolled my eyes.

"Guys please remember, never leave Tancred alone, he's a danger to himself." Gabriel warned, his voice drawing closer.

"Let's hurry, it'll be light soon." Emma said, and they all began to file out. I waited until they were gone before turning to Billy.

"I will discuss this with Manfred. Come find me with any more information. Okay?" I asked, slipping money in his hand.

"Yes, Athena." He disappeared. I headed back to my dormitory, looking for medication to kill the monster headache that was forming. I quickly took it and prepared for the day. I left for breakfast when all my other roommates were just beginning to rise. I noticed that Olivia and Emma's beds were empty and made.

My mind fluttered back to the conversation that I heard early this morning. Gabriel'slast words rang in my ears, "Never leave Tancred alone, he's a danger to himself." They expected me to have a plan to get us out of this mess. A plan to save them, myself and most importantly Tancred. Now all I had to do was think of a plan.