Page 63 of The Honor Society

“Julianna Hale, drugged four times, and finally killed by way of Carbon Monoxide poisoning all before being hung for the world to see with a bag of pills at her feet.” I shrug. “Two witnesses and plenty of evidence.”

“That bitch!” He roars.

“Ah, careful. There are rules.” I nod to Charlie. “Read his account.”

She repeats what she read in the car.

I slowly pull my obsidian blade from my pocket and flick it open. The edges are so sharp I imagine if a raindrop chose to piss me off I could cut through it. “Jude.” I command. “It’s time. For you to take your seat. As Conquest.”

“NO!” Edward yells. “I fought for this seat. I killed the old man for it as per The Honor Society rules. I did everything The Honor Society asked of me to become Conquest.”

“And many things it didn’t.” I finish. “The Society is aware of your many sins, too many for my simple ledger.” I hand the knife to Jude. “Blood must be paid. Take your seat. A life for a life. It is after all, the rule.”

Jude looks like he’s going to be sick. I know he hates his father, but it’s still his father. I kick Edward’s legs out from underneath him then grab him by the neck and shove him to his knees in front of Jude. “Do it now!”

“No!” Edward shakes beneath my hand. “I can fix it, whatever it is, I can make it right. It’s a mistake, son.”

Ah, there it is.

I hiss. “How manipulative to call him son now that you need him when yesterday he was simply asshole or bastard, hmm Jude?”

“You knew.” Jude whispers, his eyes never leaving mine. “About this.”

“I did.”

“You planned this?”

“No. The Honor Society does not plan for husbands to kill their wives, marriage, like friendship, like trust, is sacred. He has broken that bond. He cannot be trusted and his account is due.”

Jude lifts the knife.

“Take your place.” I order.

He lifts the knife higher and then lowers his hand. “No. Because then I’m just like him, blood staining my hands when all I want is to refine the Hale bloodline.”

I smile behind my mask. “Good choice, Jude.” I hold out my hand, he gives me my knife back and that’s when I turn my full force of justice towards Edward. “Just because he won’t doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. The Ledger demands it, and I am the only one who can resolve the accounting.”

“Make it fast.” Jude turns. “He doesn’t deserve to be cut up so pretty.”

“Noted.”

Edward’s eyes widen just as I shove the knife directly through his windpipe until it’s up to the hilt, then I jerk the blade out as blood surges from the wound. He grabs at his neck, it’s no use. I give him my back and then give Jude a slight bow. “Welcome Horseman, to The Honor Society. We hope that our future exchanges with Conquest will be less exciting.”

Tears well in his eyes. Don’t cry Jude, not now. Later, save it for Lilah. For later. As if he can hear me, he sucks the tears in and holds out his hand. “Thank you, Proctor, for resolving our debt.”

“Famine.” I call her out in front of them all. Gasps are heard around me. “Please wipe the slate clean for Conquest and any remaining offenses of the family.” More gasps are heard. “All outstanding balances have been officially purchased by the price of the life of the old Horseman.”

“Thank you, Proctor!” A man jumps forward. “My date was next month.”

“Thank you, Proctor.” Another man limps towards us. “She had cancer and I didn’t know what to do so I took a loan and⁠—”

“—All is forgiven.” I pat him on the back and step over Edward’s dead body. “Looks like the Seahawks won. How lucky for us. Let’s go, Famine. I’m hungry.”

18

Nine Days Until The Convocation

CHARLIE