Unfamiliar (Unfamiliar Series #1)

Chapter 49

"Astrid?"

I am frozen in place as I glance over at Tessa and Indigo. They're a few paces away and staring down at her, their postures rigid as they don't move either. I can feel my pulse in my fingertips, like someone has cut off the circulation before letting the blood flow again. 

Dread claws its way up my throat, wild and ugly. 

She has to be okay. 

I sit up, keeping one eye on Flora and the other on Astrid. With effort, I crawl over to Astrid, who lies prone and try to roll her onto her side. She makes a choking noise as I grab her by the shoulder and fear digs its sharp claws into my back. 

What-? 

I gently turn her, though I stop before I can get her on her back.

Blood is staining her shirt to the point that it nearly looks black.

Fear is a metal spike driven squarely into my chest as they air is stolen from my lungs. I can't make a noise, all I can do is stare at her, slack jawed. 

Just like Finn and Sophia.

'He was cursed, which killed him quickly, but no doubt painfully', I wince. Beneath me, I know Astrid is dying as she writhes weakly on the ground. Her jaw clenches as she squints up at me, her brow furrowed deeply with confusion and pain. 

'There would have been no way to save him, even if someone got to him in time, the curse was advanced and could only be reversed by the caster-,' the memory of Astrid telling us what had likely happened to Finn floats in my mind.

"Save her," I hear myself yell, but I don't remember moving my mouth to say the words.

Headmaster Hallewell moves his head a fraction of an inch to the side, just enough that I can see his eyes looking back at me. He keeps part of his attention trained on the wild cat that is perched on his chest. There is a long pause of silence, broken only by Astrid's weakened breathing that is growing softer.

"Why should I?" he rasps.

Something flares inside of me, hot and molten as my vision flashes red. 

I don't say anything.

Instead, Flora angles her head so her canines are centimeters from his flesh. He pales as she moves and he closes his eyes for a second. Like he's preparing for the final, crushing pressure of Flora putting her teeth around his throat.

Something inside of me basks in that. 

Do it. 

It's a gleeful, untamed thought. 

I can hear Tessa gasp softly, but she's not of my concern. 

I could do it. 

I could do it easily. 

Astrid shudders as she draws in an uneven breath and tries to speak, her mouth opening and closing but no sound comes out. I resist the urge to cringe away from her. I feel her blood starting to soak my hand from where I press it down on her chest to try and staunch the bleeding.

He deserves it. 

"Save her, now."

Something changes in my voice, making me pull up short. It's like I'm standing in a cave and there is an echo.

But there's not an echo at all.

There is something that has moved in the air between myself and the headmaster, something that has changed.