章 26: Quite a Mess

Music blared from my speakers as I put away the boatload of clothes Lucy talked me into buying. They filled up three rods in the giant walk-in closet, while the plaid skirts, white blouses, and navy sweaters of my school uniform filled the last. Tomorrow I’d start at St. Mary’s Academy and, according to Knowles, that’s when I’d start my training. Whatever that meant.

My mind flashed to Akaros. I wondered what he’d be doing without me to torture day in and day out. I was pretty sure I was the only creature in Hell capable of giving him a good workout. I didn’t think anyone else could survive his particularly violent form of exercise.

When the first screams filtered through my open windows, I sighed, releasing all the tension from living in a world I didn’t understand. Screams I understood. I’d never gotten used to them, but at least they were familiar.

Screams have a life of their own, a brand, a flavor. You can tell a lot from them. Male, female. Angry, surprised. Fear. Pain.