The next year, three days before her sixteenth birthday, Lucette tied her hair back, wrapping it in a tight bun. She might not have earned a place among the boys who were graduating today to become real slayers, but she’d accomplished what she came to the academy to do. With Tristan’s help, she’d learned to fight and to defend herself.
And now she felt somewhat prepared, should the worst happen. After Tristan left, it had been difficult to convince any of the other boys to challenge her—especially after her body developed—but following Tristan’s example, a few had trained with her after classes. She’d continued to improve and now was as good and strong as at least half of the boys graduating today. But most didn’t know it.
She looked into the mirror at her body, dressed in the clingy black uniform worn by the female students at the academy. Her breasts had taken their time getting here, but now that they had arrived, they filled out the low-cut uniform well. She still felt embarrassed, but at least this would be the last time she had to wear the hideous outfit. She had no intention of actually serving as part of the slayer army, and had stayed in school only for the easy access to the weapons and gymnasium. It had been nearly three years, and her father hadn’t found out. At least after today, she and her mother could stop lying to him about “charm school.”
Twisting to the side, she studied herself. Her body was still long and lean, and she was still taller and broader in the shoulders than any of the other girls. Now that she’d developed breasts and a waist, however, she kind of wanted her old body back. What was the point of looking like a girl, if Tristan—the only boy she had ever liked—was so far away in Judra?
Setting her graduation cap on her head, Lucette moved from the mirror to join the rest of the girls in her class, all of whom seemed very proud of their uniforms and wore enough makeup to put Miss Eleanor to shame.
As if on cue, Miss Eleanor chose that moment to breeze into the room, dressed in black herself—in fact, in the same dress worn by the girls. On their teacher, however, the neckline was cut even lower.
“You look lovely, girls. Just lovely. I’m so proud.” She walked down the line.“ Even you, Lucy. Just look at you in your uniform.” She grabbed the sides of Lucette’s dress and tugged the neckline down lower. As soon as her teacher turned away, Lucette tugged it back up. Really, there was no need to show that much cleavage.
“I have very exciting news, girls,” Miss Eleanor said.
Lucette realized she’d wrinkled her nose, so she tried to relax it.
“A very special guest will be presenting you with your diplomas.”
“Who?” asked one of the other girls, and Lucette almost wished that she cared. The others chattered excitedly, and some wondered whether it might be the slayer commander himself, or one of the handsome actors from the palace theater company, or the lute player from the musical ensemble that had entertained them all at the graduation dance last night. Lucette had attended at her mother’s insistence, but she had hung out in the back room, practicing her backflips and lunging stabs all night. It had been difficult to explain the torn dress to her mother, who’d made all the wrong assumptions.
“I don’t want to spoil the secret,” Miss Eleanor said, clasping her hands together.
Lucette yawned.
The music started, and the girls watched as the line of boys dressed in slayer uniforms—tight black fabric from head to toe, masks with hoods that attached firmly to their shirts, and virtually impenetrable neck protectors—marched into the room. Why didn’t the girls get masks, not to mention neck protectors?
A mask would help her right now. There was an uncomfortably high risk that someone from the royal court would be in today’s audience, and if anyone saw her, her father might find out. She didn’t fear for herself—he always forgave her, even when she cut off her hair. But her mother was another matter. The charm school lie weighed around her mother’s neck like a stone.
If her mother weren’t so proud that Lucette had made her way through nearly three years of school, Lucette would not even have attended the ceremony today, but her mother planned to be in the crowd in disguise. And after all the queen had done to ensure that her daughter obtained vampire-fighting skills, walking across a stage to pick up a certificate was the least Lucette could do to make her mother happy.
The girls were supposed to slink across the stage and strike a provocative pose before receiving their diplomas, but when her turn came Lucette stepped onto the stage and stopped, momentarily blinded by the bright lights. This is crazy, she thought, and in one final act of defiance, she kicked off her uncomfortable high-heeled shoes and strode across the stage, executing a high sidekick, and then a series of walking punches before finishing with a series of cartwheels—no simple feat in the clingy dress. Finished, she landed next to the mystery presenter.
The crowd fell silent, and then people began to murmur, seemingly shocked by her behavior. She hoped her antics at least had distracted anyone who might’ve recognized her. Even if they were shocked, it was better than suffering the humiliation of wearing that dress in front of the crowd.
After making a short, sharp bow to the masses, she turned . . . and looked into the glaring face of her father.
A few hours later, Lucette pressed her ear against a thick, wooden door. Behind that door, her parents were talking—more like yelling. At least they were in the same room, which was an improvement these days.
“Princess,” one of the guards said as he stepped toward her, “I’m supposed to make sure you don’t touch the door.”
Lucette gritted her teeth. As if a splinter could even get through the ever-present gloves that she was still forced to wear around the castle. She stepped back, pretending the guard had won, then leaped and kicked. Her foot passed inches from the guard’s shocked face. “Leave me alone!” she snapped.
He backed away, and feeling slightly guilty, she pressed her ear to the door again.
“This is the last straw, Catia!” Her father sounded furious. “I know we disagree about how to best protect our daughter, but how could you have let this happen?”
“Don’t you see, Stefan? The curse is inevitable—that’s how curses work. If you’d had your way, she would have ended up alone in the dark, night after night, tormented by those monsters with no way to defend herself. At least now she can fight.”
“The curse won’t happen!” Stefan yelled. “I won’t allow it! From now on, I make all the decisions about Lucette’s care.”
“No, you won’t.” Her mother’s voice rose. “She’s my daughter, too!”
“But I can keep her safe. I’ll request a meeting with Natasha. I’ll talk her into lifting the curse. Maybe enough time has passed since I last asked. Maybe she’ll see she’s punished us enough.”
“Natasha won’t speak to you.” Her mother’s voice was hard and cruel.
“How do you know if I don’t try? Unlike you, I will not take it as fate that our daughter is doomed. What kind of mother are you?”
Listening to their harsh words, Lucette’s heart ached for both of her parents. They only wanted what was best for her, but had opposite ideas of what “best” meant. And the fact that she agreed with her mother’s approach more often hadn’t helped smooth her parents’ relationship. Maybe if she’d sided with her father more often, she could’ve kept the peace.
But as long as her parents kept talking, they had a chance of reaching a compromise. She pressed her ear harder against the door. Their voices had grown quiet and she could no longer make out their words. Lowered voices were a good sign, weren’t they? Had they made up?
Hope stirred inside her. Her father had to see that her mother had only been trying to help protect her, that she hadn’t meant to deceive him. Back at the ceremony, Lucette had explained to her father how it had all been her idea, her fault, not her mother’s, but she wasn’t sure if her lie had been convincing enough. She’d ruined everything by going to that graduation ceremony and making a fool of herself. Perhaps if she’d done as she was supposed to and slunk across the stage, her father wouldn’t have gotten so angry. Perhaps he’d have been happy to see her looking feminine and pretty. The thought that she’d found yet another way to make things worse between her parents made her stomach twist.
She heard footsteps inside the room, so she backed up and checked her gloves.
The door opened and her father stepped out. He looked defeated and tired. “Lucette, will you join us, please? Your mother and I have something to ask you.”
She followed him inside, hoping her father’s calm demeanor meant they’d reached a compromise. Lucette sensed a real shift in the room, as though a big decision had been made, and her mother stepped up to stand beside her father. They weren’t holding hands, but they were standing closer together than Lucette had seen in years. Even better, neither of them was glaring at the other. There was no yelling, no fighting.
“Lucette,” her father said, “I know I’ve made some mistakes”—he looked over to her mother—“we both have. But we’ve agreed to leave this decision up to you.”
A huge grin spread on her face. Her father realized that now that she was almost sixteen, she deserved to be treated like a grown-up. It was about time she gained some freedom. She was old enough to make decisions, and without their constant sparring for control over her life, she could figure out a way to make peace between her parents. Her heart felt lighter.
Her father cleared his throat. “Lucette,” he started, “we have something important to tell you.” He paused for a moment. “We’re getting a divorce.”
Lucette staggered back as if she’d been punched in the stomach.
“What?” Her ears rang and all the blood in her body raced to her head, making her dizzy. She had to remind herself to breathe.
“Darling,” her mother said, stepping forward, “I’m moving back to my father’s estate in the country. No vampire has gone near there for centuries. You’ll be safe there with me.”
Her father stepped in front of her mother. “You’ll be safer here in the palace, with guards and slayers who will make sure nothing ever happens to you.”
Her mother pushed forward again. “Lucette, we’ve agreed that you’re old enough to choose.”
If you were Lucette, what would you do?
OPTION A: Lucette should stay with her father. Her father was so hurt by the lies she and her mother told him. She’s betrayed him so much, and living with him now would help make up for that. He’s more likely to keep her safe and ensure the curse never falls. Lucette can reach a compromise with him that gives her some freedom while still keeping her fingers prick-free. Plus, maybe if she decides to stay with him, her mother won’t actually leave. If you think Lucette should choose option A, go to section 4: Glass Houses (page 113).
OPTION B: Lucette should stay with her mother. Her mother has always supported her. If it weren’t for her, Lucette wouldn’t be trained as a slayer. Her mother might allow Lucette more freedom, but she doesn’t want the curse to happen any more than her father. Her mother will do everything she can to keep Lucette safe, too. If you think Lucette should choose option B, go to section 5: Country Living (page 147).