Part 3 (1/2)

The dorm was quiet, which I expected. Mila was pretty upset by what I said to her. I didn't want to hurt her. I didn't want her to think her obvious infatuation with Gabriel was wrong, because it wasn't.

”Mila?” I called, closing the door behind me.

The bathroom door opened slowly and a red-eyed Mila stepped out. ”You're right.”

I covered the distance between us and pulled her into a hug. ”I'm sorry ...”

She pulled away from the hug and crossed over to her bed. ”I should stop spending time with him.”

”Mila, I haven't been totally honest with you. I keep giving you these speeches about how wrong it is to like someone who isn't like us, but it isn't wrong.”

”It's more complicated than that. I love him, Ruby.” She sniffled.

”Oh.”

It was all I could manage to squeeze up my throat. I knew Mila was into Gabriel but I didn't know the full extent of it.

”... and he loves me, too.”

I threw myself down on the bed.

”s.h.i.+t ... Mila.”

Her saddened puppy eyes glanced at me before hiding behind a piece of tissue again.

”Okay ... you two need to keep things on the low until I can figure something out.”

”Ha! Please, we're doomed to marry someone we don't want to, a G.o.d. Don't waste your time trying to fight the system. Many have tried and failed. At least you have Hunter, your problems are solved.” She sobbed, sitting next to me.

I scrunched my face at the sting of her words. My problems weren't solved. They were magnified by tenfold.

”Eli.” Immediately I regretted the word the second it fell from my lips.

”Eli what?”

”I, he, we -”

”Oh my G.o.d.” She gasped. ”You have feelings for Eli De Luca?”

”Stop.” I spoke in a hushed tone as I pushed the palm of my hand against her mouth.

”Does he know?” She giggled, slipping out from underneath my hand.

Should I tell her more? What if it gets out? I can't be the reason he's sent back to wherever they took him last time. Telling Mila everything was a risk my heart couldn't bear to take.

”No. He has no idea.”

Mila's expression filled with disappointment. I rose from her bed and moved to mine.

”I'm going to nap, but when I wake up, we should really discuss things about you and Gabriel.”

Mila nodded before getting comfortable on her own bed, I guess she wanted a nap as well.

I forgot all about this morning's drama and sleep overtook me rapidly; my brain was entering repair mode, along with my liver and kidneys. When I woke up, I needed to speak to the one man I trust, one who can give me advice on how to help Mila, and maybe it could end up helping us both.

Secrets.

”Ruby wake up. We're late for lunch.”

”Hmm?”

”We overslept. C'mon, before Uncle sends half the school's guardians down here to get me. You know he's looking for excuses to get me back in the house.”

I climbed out of bed and headed for the door. I didn't want to go back to being alone in a room. Since I've been sharing a room with Mila, I haven't had a single panic attack and my depression has yet to make a return.

”You aren't going to fix your hair?”

I didn't need to look in a mirror, I could tell by her face that it must have looked wild. I pulled the black band that was holding my long hair up and unleashed the beast. My hair was glossy and long, like the hair you see on those shampoo ads. Lucky me! I was hoping that I looked like I was trying to 'style messy.'

”Not bad.” Mila chuckled. ”If I have my hair tied up and I pull it out I have to re-brush it. My hair is so thin it tangles easily.”

It was hard for me to picture Mila with tangled hair, it always seemed so perfect, even more perfect than my 'shampoo ad' hair.

Just as we reached the steps of the dining hall, we were stopped by a group of guardian angels. Mila shot me a 'told you so' look.

”Miss Aleksandrov. Your uncle wants to speak with you, immediately.”

I couldn't help but admire the way guardian angels work, they were so quick and professional. Guardians on duty wore an all-black army looking get up, whilst off-duty guardians wore anything they wanted. Guardians were always so stern and serious; it was unusual to see them laid-back.

”Miss Moore. We suggest you go and be seen before anyone suspects you are up to something again.” The man's deep voice was intimidating and the tone he used annoyed me slightly.

Most guardians still resented me, I don't know how much longer it will last, but for now, what I did was still fresh in their minds. I nodded and entered the hall. The usual lively chatter circled the room and I spotted Eli almost immediately, and saw him exhale in relief as I entered. I suppose everyone would be relieved I'm still drifting around Sage Sanctum. After all, it did mean I'm not out being killed or causing people to be killed.

I sat down with a garden salad at the end of a table. It was nice to eat alone for a change, and since my headache no longer dominated my brain, I was able to think properly.

”Can I sit down?” Rylan asked.

There went my quiet meal and thinking time.

”Fine,” I said, putting a juicy cherry tomato into my mouth.

”So Raina -”

”Rylan, please tell me you didn't come here to chat about Raina. I neither care for her, or your love life.”

”No, it involves Eli -”

”Everything does, apparently.”