Seven Black Diamonds (Seven Black Diamonds #1)(34)

She took the tiny branch. “They’re perfect.”

For all of his professional mannerisms when there were witnesses, Hector did relax when they were alone. Lily watched as the tension in his shoulders eased, and he told her, “I’m glad for you.”

“Two sixteen,” the headmistress said, breaking into Lily’s quiet moment with her guard. “Your suite is two sixteen. It’s the end unit on the second floor of the East Tower. We are on the ground floor, so you’ll need to ascend two levels. That is the lowest of the dormitory floors.”

“Thank you,” Lily said. Two floors of stairs was much nicer than it could’ve been. She’d requested a low floor, but the dorms went up to the twelfth level in both towers.

“When the dorms are not open or after curfew, all student access is through this building. An enclosed airwalk connects each dormitory to the main hall on the second floor.” Mistress Cuthbert paused. “Your father mentioned an aversion to elevators.”

This time, Lily only nodded. She’d known that admitting some of her quirks to the staff was necessary, but she still didn’t like it.

Abernathy Commandment #6: Never confess your vulnerabilities if you can avoid it.

“I’m fine with the lifts when I must be,” Lily demurred.

“Well, in any matter, to reach the second floor you can use the staircases.” Mistress Cuthbert paused a heartbeat too long before adding, “I feel I should let you know that your suitemate is not representative of the majority of our student body. If you find that you need new accommodations, come see me, and we’ll find somewhere else.”

Having been dismissed with that mysterious statement, Lily walked out of the office.

Daidí had requested a single room, but for all of St. Columba’s indulgences, this was their one sticking point: everyone was assigned a suitemate.

Lily could only hope that hers was bland enough not to bother her overmuch. Living with someone who trailed glitter everywhere, for example, would surely bring out her less charming side. When she’d answered the questionnaire, she’d been very clear: studious, quiet, no smokers. There were a lot of traits she could learn to accept, in theory, but she required good sleep and clear air. Those were non-negotiable.

When she reached the lift, which looked about as modern as the rest of the building, Hector folded his meaty arms over his chest. “I can walk up the stairs and carry your bags to your suite, Lilywhite.”

“No. I can handle it.”

He titled his head in disbelief. Everyone on Daidí’s staff knew that she struggled with closed spaces. Lily had always had difficulty breathing if she wasn’t surrounded by moving air. This, too, was a reason that Daidí had kept her home for so long—her fae traits were hard to hide when she was younger.

She drew several deep breaths in preparation for her few moments in the small space and insisted, “I can do this. I need to be able to pass as . . . not me, Hector.”

Hector shook his head, but he didn’t argue. He knew that she had to work to blend in when she could. Silently, he put all three of the bags into the narrow car. Before he stepped back for her to get inside it, he said, “Mr. Abernathy doesn’t want you to worry, but there were threats at home. You’re safer here. Just . . . keep your accessories in reach and try to follow the rules, okay? He worries.”

“I’ve been practicing with my accessories for years. Remind him . . . that I’m careful, okay?”

If she needed help, she’d tell Daidí, but right now, all she needed was space. Hopefully, she could tell Zephyr she wasn’t interested in whatever madness he thought she’d be into joining, and that would be the end of it.

“Tell Daidí I’m going to be fine here. Tell him . . .” Lily paused when her voice shook, but she steadied herself and continued, “Tell him that he needs to stay safe too.”

“I’ll make sure of it,” Hector promised as he gestured for her to get into the lift car.

She paused, thinking about Abernathy Commandment #9. Be kind to those who deserve it.

Briefly, she hugged Hector and nodded good-bye to him.

He watched her until the car started to ascend. It was only two floors, but she had to count her breathing in and out to cope with the narrow space.

When the lift stopped on the second floor, Lily all but leaped out. She shoved one suitcase forward with a foot and pulled another behind her. Once those were out, she yanked the third one clear of the doors.

Daidí had often said that trying the things that frighten us was how we got stronger. He’d also talked about how her mother was the strongest, bravest women he’d ever met. Iana Abernathy was a hard ideal to live up to.

Lily had tried. She did things that frightened her, strove to be like her mother, but that didn’t stop her from having moments of weakness. Today, she was smack in the middle of a day-long “moment,” so proving that she could handle the lifts was critical. Those were the tasks that stood out, the ones that were accomplished under duress, and now, she’d succeeded. She’d handled the enclosed space with no panic attacks. Earlier, she’d managed a conversation with the obscenely beautiful Zephyr Waters. All told, despite the downsides of both events, they were still victories of a sort.

With a brief smile, Lily lashed two of the suitcases together and then pulled the double bags with one hand and pushed the solo bag with the other. By the time she’d crossed the airwalk and reached the East Tower, Lily was ready to abandon one of the bags.