Blood Money (1) | The Inheritance Games

XLI. ivy

"So yeah, it's a fire, it's a goddamn blaze in the dark and you started it, you started it. So yeah, it's a war, it's the goddamn fight of my life and you started it, you started it. Oh, I can't stop you putting roots in my dreamland. My house of stone, your ivy grows and now I'm covered in you."

Spencer.

After hearing from my brothers the epic tails of them beating Ant Jenkins to a bloody pulp, I've healed even further. Thinking of him in even a fraction of the pain he put me through brings out something evil and sadistic within me.

I lay in my bed, flipping through this month's issue of vogue. I've tried to limit myself from using my phone lately. With Noah breaking up with me yesterday, Ant Jenkins assaulting me 6 days ago, and my eating disorder still lurking inside of me, I find myself feeling less of an urge to use it.

Today's Monday, and school was supposed to be back, but I couldn't bring myself to go. Jameson skipped, though he does that most days, and we spent time together taking a walk around the gardens. I know he has things he'd much rather be doing, but I appreciate the gesture of spending time with me.

Xander and Avery skipped too, but not to spend time with me. I'm not entirely sure what they're up to, but I'm certain I'll know soon.

I received a text from both Tristan and Thea at separate times informing me Maja and Noah both showed up, and that Noah looked like shit.

With any other ex boyfriend I'd relish in them looking bad after our breakup, but with Noah things are different. So naturally I'm worried.

I pick up my phone to call him, but I'm not even given the chance as Xander slams my bedroom door open. Shit. Someone's dead.

"Downstairs. Now." Xander pants, having ran all the way here. "Great hall. Hole in floor. Stairs. Tunnels. Straight ahead. Grate in floor. Don't you dare wear heels!" He yelps, gasping for air.

"I need to do more cardio." He groans, hunching over with his hands on his knees. "What the fuck does any of that mean?" I gape at him with furrowed brows.

"Go!" He yells, already running out of my room. I huff as I quickly slide on my shoes — heels, despite his warning not to. What am I without nice shoes?

I race out after him, he starts for the staircase leading up at the end of my wing. I begin my way up the stairs before he swings around.

"Where are you going?! I said the great hall! Hustle, woman! Hustle!" He cheers.

I sigh, shaking my head with disbelief and following his brief directions as much as I can. The great hall. I don't even need to think about what his next words were because the second I arrive, I find myself staring at a hole in the floor. I groan, realizing I am in fact getting involved in this stupid mystery after all.

I somehow make it down the short drop, continuing down the stairs as previously instructed. At the bottom, I'm met with an entrance to the tunnels that course through Hawthorne House. 

It's a straight forward path, and it doesn't take me long to notice the grate in the floor he's referring to.

I start to lift it but halt in my tracks when I hear voices below. 

"Emily could talk the three of them into anything. She held so much power over them, she influenced their every move and thought so heavily that they didn't even realize it most of the time." Rebecca's voice carries through the grate. That name alone causes a trigger in my mind.

"I mean, even professional cliff divers don't jump from the top of Devil's Gate. It would've been dangerous for anyone, but for her it was borderline suicidal. That much adrenaline? It was all just too much for her heart." Rebecca says sheepishly.