Emperor of Annihilation

SEVENTEEN

she was enigmatic.

🦢

"I'm going to kill him."

Autumn was beyond furious when she found out Ezekiel had landed me in trouble to say the least. She couldn't stop muttering how much she was going to kill him, how she would do it, and who'd she blame.

I told her about the stunt Ezekiel pulled that involved me yesterday that landed us both in two weeks of punishment. No, it wasn't the hair pulling or the slut shaming, or the physical and emotional abuse I suffered since moving lockers.

The discipline advisor assumed I was skipping classes to swim in the lake when in reality I was looking for Cameron and ended up running into Ezekiel—who was actually skipping, and he pushed me into the lake.

But of course she hadn't been there to witness the fall. She assumed I was taking a dip because of my damp hair and wet clothes.

I had to reapply the makeup covering the bruises on my neck right after. I didn't tell Autumn and I wasn't going to. Relying on other people might be my only opinion, but I hated doing it.

"What will they have you guys doing for the punishment period?" Autumn asked.

I fiddled with my fingers on the bench. "Tidying up the Archive, mostly." I told her just as my eyes caught sight of a flying ball. Autumn pushed my head down and the ball hit the bleachers behind us.

"What the hell?" She seethed as she got up, her fists clenched at her sides.

My eyes followed Autumn's to Amorèt, who stood at a short distance from us. Upon seeing us a scowl forms on her lips.

"Mouches ennuyeuses." Escapes from her lips, flavored with a strong French accent. The annoyance in her tone was palpable. "Sorry," She bent down to collect the ball and took her time coming back up, flashing a couple boys in the process. "Accident." A smile graces her full lips but it doesn't reach her eyes.

"I call BS." Autumn hissed, her eyes narrowed. She looked like she was ready to go to war. "Either you're lying or your aim is as bad as your attitude."

Amorèt let's out a humorless laugh. "Excusez-moi?"

"Here, I'll just say it in your own language so you can understand because clearly you're hard of hearing. Tu es une salope menteuse et manipulatrice."

I tugged on Autumn's sleeve, hoping to grab her attention. "Autumn.."

She looked down at me as she shook her head. "No, Clem, I'm tired of these preppy brats thinking they rule over you. I'm surprised you haven't broken her nose yet."

"It's fine, seriously. The last thing you need is punishment." I tell her, putting myself in the middle so I can distance the two.

No one got hurt. That's all that matters.