chapter 15
Selene sat on her usual bench and studied for finals, while Alex and Ellie kept watch beside her. It was mid-December now, and there was snow on the ground. But Svatura and Vyusher weren’t quite as affected by the elements, and Selene liked being outdoors.
Someone had been with Ellie twenty-four hours a day for the last several weeks. Everyone except Griffin. No one had seen him since the night he’d walked out of Hugh and Lucy’s house.
Ellie had tried to reassure her that it was okay… that Griffin was just figuring a few things out and needed some space. But Selene caught the worried look on her face. Even Alex seemed concerned.
During the time she’d been under surveillance, there hadn’t been any more attacks and she hadn’t had the nightmares. But she wasn’t sure if this was good or bad. There were just too many questions about this entire situation. And while Selene was happy that no one else had been hurt, she almost hoped something would happen just to give them a chance to figure it all out.
Ellie straightened in her seat, drawing Alex’s and Selene’s watchful gazes. “Something wrong, baby?” Alex asked, placing a hand on Ellie’s shoulder.
Ellie paused then shook her head. “No, nothing’s wrong. I—…I think I need a Coke. Come with me?”
Alex frowned. “What about Selene?”
“We’ll only be gone a minute or two, and we’re not going very far.” Ellie took Alex’s hand and pulled him to his feet.
Alex shrugged. “Sure…whatever. Be right back, Selene.”
Selene nodded and watched them walk away, momentarily curious at their odd interaction. Then she returned her attention back to her books.
“I thought it would be a good idea if we had a talk,” a deep voice sounded behind her.
Selene froze. So that was why Ellie had rushed off with Alex. Selene didn’t know if she wanted to hug her new friend… or strangle her. For once, she hadn’t noticed Griffin approach. He must not’ve been using his power.
“About what?” she asked, her serene voice masking her inner turmoil.
Griffin approached the bench and sat down beside her. “I thought we should talk about forgiveness.”
Selene met his gaze. “Forgiveness?”
Griffin let out a deep sigh. “Yes… to be honest, I don’t know if I will ever be able to forgive your part in my family’s deaths.”
Selene looked back down at her notes but couldn’t see the words. Pain stole her breath as her worst fears were confirmed.
“But,” Griffin continued, “I think I understand your involvement. And I do appreciate your attempts to help Ellie and me. So I accept your apology.”
Selene paused.
“My apology?” she asked, her voice cold.
Griffin shifted in his seat and gave a small smile. “Yes, for what you did to my family.”
Selene frowned. “Let me get this straight… you’re accepting an apology I haven’t offered yet?”
“It was implied,” Griffin said, oblivious to her irritation.
“You think I implied an apology for my behavior?” Selene asked.
“Of course. Isn’t that why you showed us what you did?”
Selene fumed. How could he be so dense? “Any apology, implied or otherwise, was for what my brother did,” she seethed through gritted teeth. “For the pain he caused you that I couldn’t stop. For what he made me do.”
“But what about your part?” Griffin’s jaw clenched as he stared at her. It was becoming clear he’d misread her.
Selene didn’t respond. She simply closed her books and packed up her belongings. She rose regally to her full height and turned to face him, head held high. “I’m so incredibly grateful for your forgiveness. That being said, next time you accept an apology, be sure someone is actually giving one.”
She paused and gave him a haughty once-over, disgusted with herself for misjudging him so badly. “Since you’re obviously still confused,” she continued, “let me clarify something for you.... I risked my life to protect you and your sister. I survived over a hundred-and-fifty years of mental and physical torture inflicted by my own family and was forced to do unspeakable things against my will. So I am so incredibly sorry for doing everything I possibly could to help you.”
Selene hitched her backpack over her shoulder and glared at the grass, unable to look at him anymore. “When you have reconsidered your words,” she said quietly, “I’ll be ready to accept your apology.”
She stalked away, and Griffin jumped up and stared after her retreating form, dumbfounded.
“Sheesh, Griff,” Ellie said, coming up behind him. “Could you have screwed that up worse?”
Griffin’s shoulders slumped. “Shouldn’t someone go after her?”
“Lila’s on it. Don’t worry. She’ll be able to calm her down.”
Griffin sighed and sank down to the bench. “I was just trying to patch things up with her.”
“I know.” Ellie sat down next to him. “But you did it by telling her that everything was all her fault, despite all she’d endured to protect us.”
Griffin frowned and shook his head. “That’s not what I meant, though.”
“Don’t tell me that. Tell her.”