The Beast Of Carnemore

CLAIRE'S POV

"You've been missing your classes, Claire." Madam Gretchen said, her gaze fixed on me with her hands folded neatly on the table.

I swallowed hard, staring back at her, and scrambling for words. When I was coming to her office, I contemplated why she wanted to see me. I even considered Zane snitching on me this morning and saying I threatened him. I thought of many things but not this.

And I should have thought of it first.

"Are you going to explain yourself, or should I write you a suspension slip?" She asked, pulling her glasses down to her nose. "And you won't be going home if that's what you think. You'll be stuck in your dorm for three long weeks."

"I've been ill," I mumbled, and Madam Gretchen cocked an eyebrow, her expression skeptical.

"Explain the degree of your illness because I obtained your medical records, and for the four days you missed lectures, you didn't report to the clinic," she snapped. "So tell me, Miss Hunter. If you were so ill, why didn't you report to the clinic?"

I hesitated, drawing in a deep breath and weighing my options. After I thought about it for a few seconds, I said, "I was attacked during shifting class and I almost died."

She paused, then exhaled when she heard that, leaning back in her chair. Her expression turned grim as she searched my face. "Why didn't you come to me?"

"I only recovered yesterday. I've been in bed, and Caius... someone was taking care of me," I answered.

"The prince?" she asked, letting me know that she'd heard me say his name. I could hear the surprise in her voice and I could understand why anyone would be surprised. A vampire prince tending to the wounds of a human girl. Anyone would have expected him to just feed on me.

"Yes, Madam Gretchen," I sighed, nodding to answer her question.

Madam Gretchen studied my face with an intense gaze. "Who hurt you?" She finally asked. "Who's this person that attacked you?

"I don't know," I whispered, keeping my head down. "I didn't see their faces, but there were three of them."

Madam Gretchen leaned closer, picking up a pen and tapping it on the table. "You know, I find it hard to believe that you were attacked and you didn't see any of their faces."

"I can show you my bruises," I offered.

"No need," she replied, raising her hand. "I can smell the blood on you."

I stayed silent, almost holding my breath as she scrutinized me. Madam Gretchen finally sighed and in a firm voice, she spoke. "Since you claim you didn't see your attackers, I can't help you at all."

"Yes, Madam Gretchen," I mumbled. "I understand."

It wasn't like I was trying to protect Skylar and her friends, but if they were going to pay for what they did to me, I'd rather dish out the punishments myself. What's the worst thing the head mistress could do? Give them detention?

No, that was too small compared to what they did to me. Like I promised Zane, I was no longer going to be that girl who was always trying to avoid trouble. I told them I would make them suffer, and I meant every word.

"Your grades are suffering, Claire," Madam Gretchen said, her eyes scanning some papers in front of her. I glanced up to look at her, watching as she slowly shook her head. "And you've missed four days of knowledge. If you don't sit up, you'll fail this semester."

"I will..." I started, but she cut me off.

"That's why a tutor has been assigned to you," she said and I pulled my brows together in a frown. What did she mean by 'tutor?' Did I really need that?

"Go to the library during lunch and get familiar with him," she continued, not taking note of my facial expressions.

Him? Who? Could it be Zane? No.

Dying with curiosity, I decided to ask. 

"Please, I'd like to know if it's Zane, Madam Gretchen," I said, really hoping it was not him because I didn't think I wanted to be tutored by someone so… I couldn't even think of the right word to describe him. 

"No, it's not Zane Ravenscroft," she answered and I exhaled softly. "I can barely handle the stubborn boy, and he's the last person I'll assign as a tutor. And especially to you."

I nodded, relieved even though I felt this familiar sinking feeling in my chest. It was similar to how I felt when Caius told me that Zane didn't check up on me while I was unconscious. 

"Can I go now, Madam Gretchen?" I asked, feeling a little lightheaded and a need to be alone.

"Yes, you may," she said, dismissing me with a wave of her hand.

I pushed myself up, ready to leave. But as I reached the door, Madam Gretchen called out my name. "Claire?" And I turned, confused. 

A soft glow gathered at her fingertips, and then it was as if a wave of warmth washed over me. Suddenly, the throbbing pain in my arm was gone and it felt completely healed.

"You're welcome," Madam Gretchen said with a small smile.

I looked down at my arm, stunned. The cut was gone. There was no scar and my injury had completely faded. I snapped my head up, staring at Madam Gretchen in disbelief.

"Thank you, Madam Gretchen," I whispered.

***************

I glanced at my watch and sighed. Ten minutes into lunch, and my tutor was nowhere to be found. Who was this person? Had they even been informed of this arrangement?

Just as I finished the thought, a voice called out behind me.

"Claire."

I turned and froze when I saw who it was.

"Lorien…" I breathed, surprised and staring at him like he had two heads. 

"Hi…." He replied dryly. "I—I'm your tutor," he said awkwardly, walking slowly around to sit in front of me.

For a moment, I was speechless, and just gawking at him. He had ghosted me, ignored me at school, and now he was just showing up as my tutor? Like seriously? 

"You ghosted me," I said, watching his face. "For weeks." 

Exhaling, he ran a hand through his silvery hair, looking embarrassed. "I know," he admitted. "I didn't mean to."

"Really?" I asked, cocking an eyebrow. "I tried to talk to you at school, and you ignored me the whole time like I was invisible."

He bit his lip as if stopping himself from saying something.

"I was really hurt, Lorien. I thought we were friends…"

"I'm sorry, Claire." His green eyes met mine as he spoke. "Honestly, I thought you were upset with me after the party."

"But I sent you messages," I pointed out. "How could you think that I was upset when you read those messages?"

Lorien shrugged. "Maybe because Zane threatened me after the party."

My lips parted in shock. "What?"

His jaw twitched. "He told me to stay away from you. Said a whole lot of crap about ripping me apart if I came near you again." He chuckled. "The way he spoke, I thought you asked him to warn me or something."

I just stared at him, stunned. Zane threatened Lorien? Why?

"Why would he do that?" I asked.

Lorien shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe you should tell me."

"He has no right to interfere in my life," I said, still in disbelief. "And if that's why you ignored me, it only makes me angrier."

"I shouldn't have ignored you," Lorien admitted. "I should have just told you."

"But why would you even listen to him?" I asked. "You have magic, and he's just Zane. What's so special about him except being the only Alpha in Carnemore?"

Lorien chuckled. "You haven't figured it out, have you?"

My eyebrows furrowed as I stared at him in confusion. "Figured what out?"

"About Zane."

I leaned in closer. "What about Zane? What do I need to figure out?"

Lorien exhaled. "Yes, I have magic, and I could stand up to him if I wanted to. But there's a reason they call Zane the Terrifier. The Beast of Carnemore." He glanced around cautiously before continuing. "He's in charge of a lot of things here… and terrible things happen to people who go against Zane."