Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Five: Know Your Place

Christina's Arc: Bend or Break

I sat across from Kanna, who was covered in bruises across her face and down her neck. But no one said anything, like it didn't even happen. Kanna pretended it was nothing, too. But she wouldn't look at me. Her left eye was swollen.

I bit my bottom lip.

I balled my hands into fists.

"Well, is this all you do here, hani? Just stare at each other until the bell rings?"

"What the hell did you do to her, Christina?"

They all flinched.

Christina scoffed.

"Ugh, I didn't do anything to Shirogane. I was with you all day—"

"Not during homeroom."

Christina sighed.

"That's because you wanted one class to yourself, but even then I didn't touch her, or she would be dead. Just ask her, your damn self," she said, pointing at Kanna.

"It's okay, Antwon," Kanna said.

Christina glared at her.

"Who the hell did this to you? You were fine when we left, Kanna."

Kanna fidgeted in her seat. Then she looked away.

JT sighed.

"Her oldest sister did it, Carter, and no, I don't know why she did it. Shirogane wouldn't say when we met before school."

This is all pissing me off! I know it was Christina's angry ass, or maybe she got one of her freaking guards to do the dirty work. But I can only guess.

I could make another deal to force her to tell me, but I don't know what I could offer that wouldn't cross a boundary.

"Well," Mirei said. "I don't know if anyone feels safe playing with the Queen of the Iron Fan Court in the room. Um, no offense, Your Highness, but you are scary."

Christina flicked her hair back.

"Who is this sister, Kanna? I'd like to pay her a visit," I said.

"Well, you can't," JT said. "Her sister is a royal guard, and even though you've got the Queen of Iron with you, I don't know if the Crimson Queen will care."

…

"Christina."

"Yes?"

"Aren't you, I don't know, related to Jade?"

…

"Why would you ask that?" she said, crossing her arms.

"Your grandfather—"

"That would give the current queen closer ties to the Crimson Veil…"

Oh, so that's how it feels to get cut off.

But why did she cut me off? I just wanted to know how close she is to Jade, so I could figure out if Christina had something to do with Kanna's injuries. Maybe she knows…

"Mr. Carter, I think it's best if we begin, if that's okay with you," Nakamura said.

"Why are you asking me? It's JT's club—"

Christina giggled.

"Shut it!" I said, staring her in the eyes. "If you don't want to be here, just go somewhere else."

Christina stood up, so I stood, too.

"I think you've forgotten your place, hani—"

"I know my place!"

…

The tips of my ears burned.

Then, someone knocked at the door.

"Pardon my intrusion," Jenie said.

Why the hell was she here? I'm losing my shit, and she's just adding fuel to the freaking flame.

"Now's not a good time, Nocturn—"

I watched Jenie walk over to JT in my peripheral vision.

My eye twitched.

"Where's your place, hani?"

My heart pounded.

"Who are you?" JT asked.

"My name is Jenie Nocturn, and as of today, I will be joining your club because my bro no longer wants me beside him in Claim Law."

JT and Kanna gasped.

"Did you just say your bro?" Mirei asked. "Why is everyone hooking up with a boy but me?"

Shut up, Mirei.

"I'm still waiting, Antwon."

Kanna stood up.

"Why didn't Kai want you with him?" Nakamura asked.

"Can you all just shut up!"

…

I sat back down.

…

"I can't think because of every freaking thing going on."

Christina took my arm and led me into the hallway. I watched as everyone sat petrified. Everyone except for Jenie.

Then the classroom door closed.

I guess I really messed up this time.

"Okay, I understand that you're upset because your little friend was beaten by her sister, but you've crossed a dangerous fucking line, hani, and I do not appreciate this shit. So, give me one good fucking reason I shouldn't turn this shabby little room into a nerd bloodbath—"

She held her hand to my face and pretended to squash something between her fingers.

"Because I'm this fucking close to doing it."

I need to calm down before I get someone killed, but I need to calm her down, too. How the hell do I regulate her emotions if mine are all over the damn place?

"So, I'll ask again. Where is your place?"

I looked around the hallway: empty.

I sighed.

"Someone hurt my friend, Christina. Do you know what that's like? Someone hurt my friend, and I can't do shit about it. Even if I could find her sister, what then? I can't fight her because she's stronger than I am, and I only know how to hurt the people who have hurt those I care about."

"Well, you'll just have to find another way, okay?"

I pressed my back against the wall and stared at the ceiling.

"Yeah, I got it."

"So, your place?"

I looked at her and frowned.

"I belong in hell, Christina, because I hurt everyone who gets too close to me. Just like I'm going to hurt you."

Christina touched my cheek.

"Oh, hani," she cooed. "I'd walk through the fires of hell to drag you back into life. Now, don't look so sad, okay? I'll tell you what I'll do to put your mind at ease: I'll talk to Shirogane and figure out why her sister did that to her. Will that make you feel better?"

"Yeah, I think that would, Christina. But don't hurt her."

"I promised you I wouldn't." Christina's hand slid from my cheek to my chest. "Now, I'm not her sister's queen, but I think I can ask Jade to ensure this never happens again."

"Okay."

She stood on her toes and gave me a kiss on the lips, and I didn't pull away.

She moved her hand from my chest and tapped me on the right arm.

"Now, go get her. I'll wait out here."

"Okay."

I walked back into the classroom and over to Kanna, who still wouldn't look at me.

"K-Kanna," I whispered.

She finally looked at me with anger in her eye, but then she softened into something else.

"Kanna, I'm sorry. JT, Mirei, Tiffany, I'm sorry for ruining your game club. I just wanted to find a space where I could be me, but being me is what gets people hurt."

Warmth wrapped around me, and my vision blurred.

"I-I'll leave your club before—"

"No!" Kanna shouted. "I'll take a million more beatings to keep you with us. I can handle it. Just please don't cry anymore."

Kanna moved the desk and tried to hug me, but I backed away, putting my hands up.

"Don't, Kanna. I don't want you to get hurt anymore."

She looked at the floor.

"Christina wants to speak with you; she's waiting in the hallway."

***

Damn, damn, damn! I was so fucking smooth with the way I kept my cool. By the fucking goddess, he even let me kiss him without a fight, and now my hani is bringing my prey to me.

I covered my face to hide my smile. Then I touched the wall Antwon was leaning against.

I told Jade to ensure none of it could be traced back to me, so even Ema Shirogane wouldn't know I orchestrated it. Damn—

The classroom door opened, and I peeked through my fingers. Shirogane had stepped into my corridor.

"Well," I said, "looks like someone got to you before I could. Such a shame."

She glared; at least her open eye did.

"What? Don't fucking look at me like that. If you can't do it with both eyes, look at the fucking floor."

Her head dropped.

If she had been this agreeable from the fucking beginning, she wouldn't be blue and purple. I guess some bitches have to learn the hard way.

I walked over to her and took her by the chin. She didn't fight back.

"Well, your sister really didn't let up, did she?"

I lifted her chin toward the ceiling and pulled her collar to see how far the beating went. She had bruises leading to her stomach.

Well, I wouldn't have gone that far, but it's better to be safe, I guess. What did Jade tell her sister?

I let go of her.

"Alright, here is the deal, Shirogane. My consort doesn't want to see you get hurt, so I'm going to see what I can do to keep this from happening," I said, pointing at her face.

She glanced at me.

"Do you understand?"

"My sisters have bullied me in the past, but they've never gone this far—not until your threat, Christina Tetsusen," Shirogane said with defiance in her voice.

Good, easy prey is boring.

"I don't know how, but I'm sure this is what you wanted, Your Grace."

"No, what I want is for you to keep your hands off of what is mine, so I can stop weakening my position to put assholes like you in their place. Really, do you know how disrespectful that was, holding his hand like that? What if someone was holding the boy you claimed? Would you stand idle while some other bitch paraded him around?"

Her eyes dropped to the floor.

At least she knows shame.

"Now, once again, I will try to prevent this from happening, but know your place."

She closed her good eye and bowed her head.

Such a pathetic sight.

"Enough of that; off with you."

Now, this fool knows her place.