MEDUSA 𓆙 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 [English Edition]

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟓 • Detention

"VIPERINE, sit next to Riven," Professor Harvey instructed, gesturing as he saw her enter the conservatory. "You two are going to catalog these herbs in the vials by scientific and popular name, and if you have caveats."

Viperine walked past the professor, rolling her eyes as she fled his sight. What would happen if a teacher saw her rolling her eyes at him? Abuse of authority? Did she get another day of detention?

Maybe detention wasn't so bad. She had peace and quiet. She could study in peace or whatever... But it would be better if Riven wasn't there.

As soon as he saw her drop her backpack on the floor and sit on the high stool beside him, he smiled smugly, inwardly celebrating having managed to screw Viperine's day the same way she had his.

"Label them all in legible handwriting," Harvey emphasized, directly facing Riven. "Put it back in the box, put it on the table with the other copies, and jump to the next tray."

Since she had nothing else to do, she took a pen from her backpack and took the first bottle, looking through the list of names with photos until she found the plant on the first bottle, then pulling the first label off the roll and writing her information.

She felt Riven's gaze on her, as if waiting for something. He snorted, picking up one of the vials and studying it boredly. It wasn't even half an hour, but Harvey got up from the counter, saying he'd forgotten to get a folder with the identification of medicinal plants.

Viperine and Riven waited for him to leave, watching him disappear and leaving two troubled youths alone in a greenhouse with poisonous plants.

"You seem to be dying to tell me something," she hissed, writing in perfect letters. "Spit it out."

"Why were you down the hall at the welcoming party?" She asked. "That student's petrified body was there. You were the last person to be seen there.

"Only you saw me," she corrected. "Do you think it was me? Why didn't you turn me in to Dowling? Or Verena or Silva? Even Harvey? Why?"

Riven didn't respond. He couldn't, didn't even know what he could say that would be an acceptable answer. The delay made Viperine roll his eyes, the screeching of the pen waking him up.

"Don't answer me. I don't think I want to hear the answer," she said, dismissing him. "But come on, I heard you were a nerd last year. Now you've rebelled and become the perfect troublemaker."

"Is it a question or a statement?" he snapped, their eyes meeting.

"It depends," he hissed. "Are you going to help me break into Dowling's office?"

Viperine smiled—not happiness, but something like it was poisonous. Riven repeated the act, two evil and troubled minds coming to a point of equilibrium.

"At night," he said. "While everyone is having dinner, meet me in Callum's office. That idiot won't even notice."

"Perfect."