Chapter 7: Olivia

The door closes behind them, but the threat rings in my ears.

​

*Trust me, human. I haven’t even begun with you.*

​

All I wanted was to meet Talon, and the person who was meant to introduce me to him just walked out with the wolf that assaulted me.

​

My chest constricts with panic. What if there is no Talon? What if Ryker lured me here to mess with me?

​

“Is she… breathing?” Someone asks above me.

​

The music blares on, but no one is dancing anymore. I'm too scared to look up or peel myself off the sticky floor.

​

“What do we do?” Someone else whispers, and there’s a chorus of confusion that makes me want to die.

​

Finally, a girl drawls, “I say we learn more about the human, just like Axel.”

​

A chill washes over me, “please don’t-“

​

Sharp nails wrap in my blonde hair and yank me forward till my neck snaps. I face startling, icy blue eyes and a scrunched nose.

​

“Do you speak?” The girl breathes in my face.

​

Afraid, I nod.

​

Her lips crook into a snakey smile, “Good. I’m Clarissa, and I couldn’t give less of a fuck who you are.”

​

People in the crowd laugh. Sweat beads over my lip, and I dart my eyes around, hoping for someone to help me.

​

Of course, no one does.

​

Clarissa takes a long whiff and gags, "Cinnamon and Strawberries? Really?”

​

She throws me across the floor till my head slams into a wall with a crack. Blinding light blurs my vision.

​

“Fuck her up, Clary!” Someone screams, and people cheer with their red cups in the air.

​

I choke down a sob as Clarissa stares down at me, fake concerned, “I’m sorry, you’re not having fun?”

​

She turns to the hungry-looking crowd, “Let’s not ruin the party for her, I say we get the human something to drink.”

​

She snatches a red cup from some girl, then kneels down by me, showing her ass-crack to the entire party. Someone wolf whistles.

​

“Here.” She says, sickly sweet, stretching out the drink to me.

​

I shake my head, pushing myself further into the wall like I could melt away. I’ve never wanted to be back home as desperately as I want to right now.

​

Clarissa tills her sleek black hair, “Rejecting my kindness? How fucking rude.”

​

She yanks my hair again till my scalp throbs, and with her dagger-sharp nails, forces my jaw open.

​

Fucking shit.

​

“Chug! Chug! Chug!” The other people chant. Their camera lights blind me nearly as badly as the pain banging in my head.

​

Clarissa’s eyes darken into black, empty pools. “You heard the people.”

​

She shoves the harsh, sweet liquid down my throat. It burns as I’m forced to swallow, causing my eyes to water. I push her with all my might, but apparently, I’m not strong enough.

​

The liquid settles like a stone in my stomach.

​

Everyone cheers as Clarissa gives me a fanged grin.

​

“Pathetic.” She spits in my face, then throws me back into the corner I was pressing myself against.

​

I get on my knees, gagging the liquid but not throwing up. I’ve never had alcohol. Rick told me humans can't stomach wolf drinks.

​

The second my vision blurs, I understand why.

​

“Goddess.” I gasp, clutching my stomach as my breakfast threatens to make a reappearance.

​

The crowd closes in on me, and every hair on my arm stands alert. Even if I wanted to fight them off, everything is becoming too lopsided. I can barely see my hands in front of me.

​

People laugh around me, probably at me, but I’m too wiped out to really care.

​

No way it ends for me at a college party after all I’ve been through. I’d be too embarrassed to show my face in the afterlife if some college queen bee was the cause of my death.

​

But I'm letting loose and giving up the fight against my will.

​

The last thing I hear before black dots appear in my vision is a familiar growl: “Get out of my way!”

​

Despite myself, I smile.

​

“Hunter.”

​

I hit the floor, and the world fades to black.