All Chapters of OF HEIRS AND RUIN: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

The house was very quiet. Not the peaceful kind, it felt like the kind that listened back.I stood inside the living room, arms wrapped around myself, my gaze drifting over everything without really seeing anything. My mind only registered clean lines, neutral colors, no clutter, and no personality.“Sit.”Adrian’s voice came from behind me. I didn’t turn immediately, or make a move like I even heard him. For a second, I just stood there, staring at the glass doors that overlooked the empty stretch of land beyond the house.The evening sun was already setting, it gave the compound a ghostly look and feel. It looked impenetrable as well as inescapable.“Keira.” He called my name.I rolled my eyes, then turned slowly to meet his eyes and held them.“I’m not a prisoner.” I said, enunciating every syllable of the sentence.I didn’t appreciate how grouchy and intimidating he was trying to be.Adrian didn’t react. He only watched me for a moment before responding.“No,” he said. “You’re not.

Car rides with Adrian had to be top on my list of uncomfortable activities to do.The ride back to his place was quieter than before. I mostly tried to evade his scanning gaze.I sat stiffly in my seat. The envelope rested on my thigh heavier than what it carried. Or maybe it was just my conscience.The gates slid open as we approached the house. The same quiet stretched across the compound, swallowing the sound of the engine as he parked.I didn’t move immediately, neither did he. For a second we just sat there.“Get down.” Adrian finally said.I pushed the door open and stepped out without a word.He grabbed my duffel bag from the backseat before I could reach for it“I can carry it.” I said.“I know.”He didn’t hand it over, instead he started towards the house. I followed.Inside, he dropped my bag at the foot of the stairs, then turned to me.“Give it to me.”My heart stuttered. I wanted so badly to pretend like I hadn’t heard.“What?”His gaze didn’t shift.“The envelope, Keira.”

It was hard to focus after what had just happened. I couldn’t even take notes, my hands were clammy with sweat.Why professor Pint had done that, I had no idea. Occasionally I’d catch other students sneaking glances at me and whispering among themselves.Adrian hadn’t said anything so far. I slid lower into my seat. Struggling to concentrate was out of the question, my mind was hazy.My phone vibrated softly. It felt louder than it actually was because of how silent the hall was. I ignored it. Shortly after it began to vibrate again. This time I looked at the screen. It was a message, but from an unknown number. I swallowed and glanced around before opening it.There were two messages and two attachments. I hesitated before opening it.The first message read: ‘You should’ve let it go.’ With an attachment of a smashed flash drive. Not just any drive, mine.My chest squeezed. They knew what was on there right now. My mind went immediately to Judas. Panic that they might be caught and imp

I stood in front of the full length mirror in my room as I replayed the entire day. Night had covered. Adrian had retreated to his study. I had actively ignored him since campus.Now I had made up my mind, if I kept waiting, I would never move. I drew a deep breath and turned away from the mirror.Adrian wanted to know so bad what I was hiding? Let’s see how he’d handle just a bit of it. A game was what he wanted? I’d give him one.I scooped the envelope from my bed and walked out my room.I made my way to the study with shaky courage. I didn’t think it was particularly going to be easy work, the decision I had taken.A soft light spilled from under the door, cutting across the hallway like a thin warning to keep off. I paused outside it, feeling the envelope one more time.I knocked softly. A part of me wanting to shuffle back to my room and lock myself. I stood still.“Come in.”I exhaled slowly then pushed the door open and walked in, the door shut with a soft thud behind.This was

I soaked my worn out body in the bathtub, watching the sunlight filter through the window. Fractions of light danced atop the bubbly water.I hunched forward.Last night screened itself in my mind. The feeling was heavy, so were my eyes. I hadn’t been able close them for even a minute all night.Sighing, I stepped out, the telling chill of the late October morning made me shiver. I quickly dried off. I caught my reflection in the bathroom’s oval mirror.I had changed. Change was inevitable and normal. But the person reflected back at me had emerged from living off the edge in Blackthorn. I let out a sigh.I patted down the pleats of my butter yellow dress as I made my way downstairs. My nerves were still shaky, but I drew and let out slow breaths to stabilize them.The house itself, this morning felt like it was holding it’s breath.I let my finger brush against the rail as I descended. My mind too hadn’t rested, it had circled the same thoughts all night, replaying Adrian’s face, his