Igor's POV
"Here he is."
I heard the whisper before I even reached the end of the hallway.
Another girl giggled.
"He looks dashing, but don't forget that looks can kill too."
"Even if he kills me, I'll die for him a hundred times."
I finally glanced in their direction. The speaker was a red-haired girl who looked at me as though I'd just stepped out of one of those ridiculous romance novels she probably spent more time reading than studying.
I almost smiled.
Almost.
People were always fascinated by things they didn't understand.
They saw my face, my clothes, the way I carried myself, and somehow decided they knew me.
But they didn't. Nobody did and I preferred it that way.
"Die for me?" I murmured, loud enough for everyone around us to hear. "When death comes, you won't even remember the name Igor."
The excitement disappeared from her face.
"You monster!" another girl snapped.
The red-haired girl's eyes filled with tears.
For a moment, I wondered if I'd actually hurt her then I remembered that wondering about people's feelings had never gotten me anywhere.
I looked away.
You could have been nicer.
Lycan's voice drifted lazily through my mind.
I frowned.
I could have.
But you weren't.
Exactly.
Lycan went quiet.
He knew better than to argue when I was in one of my moods.
The truth was, I didn't enjoy hurting people, I simply didn't know what to do with affection. People wanted things from you when they cared about you.
Attention.
Loyalty.
Trust.
And eventually, they wanted pieces of you that you couldn't afford to give. I'd learned that lesson young, so I kept people at a distance. It was easier to be called a demon than to let someone get close enough to discover what was underneath.
"But I like you, Igor," the red-haired girl pleaded.
I looked at her again.
"No."
Her expression fell.
"No?"
"No."
I kept my voice calm.
"You don't like me. You like the person you've imagined me to be."
She stared at me, confused.
I continued before she could answer.
"You've decided I'm mysterious, dangerous, and handsome, so you've created a version of me in your head that doesn't actually exist."
A few students exchanged glances.
The girl swallowed.
"But I love you."
I sighed.
"You don't even know me."
She opened her mouth but nothing came out. For once, she had no answer.
"Shouldn't you be concentrating on your studies instead of wasting your time on me?" I asked. "I'm afraid I don't have the patience for foolishness."
A murmur travelled through the crowd but I ignored it. They could call me arrogant, cruel and heartless.
I'd heard and seen worse. Besides, being hated was safer than being loved. At least hatred came with distance.
Then a male voice cut through the whispers.
"This demon thinks he can treat my sister like that?"
I looked up.
The red-haired girl's brother was pushing his way through the crowd.
"Leon, don't!" she cried, grabbing his arm. "Please. You'll get hurt."
"Eva, let go of me."
He pulled away and marched toward me, apparently determined to prove something.
I studied him for a moment.
That's Leon, right?
Yes, Lycan answered.
I almost smiled.
Poor Leon.
He raised his hand.
I caught his wrist before it could reach me.
His expression changed instantly then I tightened my grip just enough to make my point.
He winced and the hallway went silent. Then I released him and straightened my jacket as though nothing had happened.
Leon clutched his red arm.
I stepped closer.
"You shouldn't raise your hands at people unless you're prepared for the consequences."
He stared at me but the confidence he'd walked in with was gone.
I lowered my voice.
"Next time, think before you act." then I stepped back.
I wasn't interested in humiliating him and i'd had enough of people trying to prove themselves to me. For five seconds, nobody moved. Then the students rushed toward Leon.
I looked around at them.
"What are you all staring at?"
Nobody answered.
I scoffed and walked away.
You enjoyed that.
Lycan's voice carried the faintest hint of amusement.
No.
You did.
I enjoyed watching him realize he was wrong.
That's the same thing.
I ignored him, he was becoming far too comfortable inside my head.
Unfortunately, my day was about to become considerably worse.
My phone rang, I took it out and glanced at the screen.
Mr. Dakota.
Every trace of amusement disappeared from my face and my stomach tightened. Dakota never called without a reason and whenever he called, there was usually someone else paying the price.
I answered.
"What do you want?"
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"I'm on my way," I warned him. "And don't you dare lay your dirty hands on her."
A quiet laugh came through the phone.
"You have ten minutes."
I stopped walking.
"Be at our usual spot. Exactly at 6:10."
"And if I don't?"
His voice hardened.
"Then say goodbye to your little sister."
My grip tightened around the phone and for a moment, I couldn't breathe, Then
"Brother... don't."
That was Abby's voice muffled and terrified. She sounded as though she'd been crying and something inside my chest cracked.
"Abby?"
"Dakota!"
The line went dead.
I stared at the phone.
Nothing.
No call back, No signal.
Just silence.
My jaw tightened.
He always did this. Whenever he wanted to control me, he used Abby and every single time, I hated myself for letting him.
I shoved my phone into my pocket.
"Dammit!"
I kicked an empty can across the hallway. It struck the wall and rolled away.
Igor.
Lycan's voice had lost its teasing edge.
I know.
We're getting her back.
I closed my eyes for a second.
"We are."
Because whatever else happened today, one thing was certain. Dakota could threaten me. He could manipulate me, he could make me look like his obedient little weapon but he didn't get to keep my sister.
Not forever, not now.
I opened my eyes and the cold expression returned to my face.
"Abby comes first." Then I hurried toward the basement.