Matthew, I mean, Teacher escorts me back to the table. My face is neutral, at least I think so. Is that what he meant by 'natural'? I'm not sure what he expects. Being shoved back into Near Elysium was jarring, like being born into an apocalypse.

Nearly paradise my ass.

Every so often I have to remind myself this isn't hell. And past that, I have to remind myself I can leave whenever I want to. And Matthew said he'd come with me, didn't he?

Who am I kidding...I'm not going anywhere. If I haven't yet, I doubt I will now. The harassment will stop soon, and if we leave, someone else will take over as the dean of discipline. That would be horrible for the academy. And then there's Theron still running around.

It'd be stupid and selfish to go. It's not like Topside is Heaven anyway, even if he were there.

God! Where is my head? Why the hell am I thinking of this now?

We approach our table and he holds out my hand to Hercules.

"Careful with my student," he says.

Hercules grins, taking my hand into his heavy one. It sends a shiver up my spine. The same painful tingle that comes from jumping into a freezing pool and the fear that hits when you remember you can't swim.

First ripped from his mind and now his hands. It's like he's giving me away...

And it hurts.

Why does it hurt so much?

Because we were close. Because we were in Wonderland. And now we're here, nearly together but not quite. Together in minds and bonds but nowhere else. And that's where it ends, there's not even the possibility of it going anywhere else. No chance to explore these feelings making me a nauseous, jealous mess.

Piper is all over him. And he's acting natural. Pretending to enjoy her company even though I know he can't be. But maybe he is. He let me go and gave me away. Now he's with her, as if she needs anything else I've been told I can't have.

"Squirt?"

I blink twice and look up at Hercules. We're in the middle of the dancefloor, and once again, I've gotten here without realizing it.

"Sorry, Hercules. Ready for that dance?"

"I should be asking you that," he says and takes hold of both of my hands. His eyes light up and suddenly I remember that thing Teacher said before at brunch.

This man is going to get me killed.

We're completely out of sync with the music, not that I'm in control of any of it. My feet hardly ever touch the floor as he swings me around enough to make me dizzy. He laughs louder than the music as we bump into other couples. Of course, no one complains, and the band must notice the chaos because their tune suddenly changes and the tempo increases.

Hercules drops his hands to my waist and lifts me upward. It's insane how strong he is and his attitude is contagious. I can't help but laugh while he launches me into the air. His muscles really are impressive and they always seem strong enough to lift me from whatever hole I've put myself in.

He brings me down and before he gets the chance to swing me again, I wrap my arms around his neck.

"Did I break you?"

I laugh. "Apparently it'd take a lot more than that to kill me."

Too much more, really.

"Yeah, I noticed. You're pretty strong, Squirt. Considering."

"Considering?"

He looks around but he's cleared out all of the space surrounding us with his erratic dancing.

"Tell it to me straight. How do you feel about Matthew?"

I swallow hard. Of all the times I could be asked this, it had to be now, just minutes after our dance. But I was asked this earlier, I can do this.

"He's a self-absorbed, lying smartass," I say quickly.

"Then do you love him?" he asks.

Why the hell is that always the follow-up? Who would love a guy they describe like that? Do Hercules and Luanne think I'm insane? What does it matter anyway...he's my facilitator, for now and until the end of time. No point in looking deeper into it.

"That's an insane question, Hercules. You remember you're talking about my facilitator, right?"

"Can't forget. You not answering my question is a good reminder. He said the same thing."

My throat goes dry.

"Be careful. That's what I told him too."

I take a deep breath and try to relax. Teacher said the same thing...but I wonder if he meant it like I did.

I can't bear to look into Hercules's face and have him see how mixed up I am. Past his shoulder are Piper and Teacher dancing in slow circles. She has a hand nearly in his hair, and she's close, too close. I catch Teacher's eyes and we stay connected for three steps before I look away.

This is how it has to be, isn't it?

We're stupid for looking for anything but what's in front of us. Past an eternity wondering "what if" are people who already care about us.

Just focus on that and make the right steps here.

"Thanks, Hercules, but you really don't have to worry. We know where we stand."

The song ends with us walking off the dance floor in separate directions. Hercules, Piper, and I heading to the table, and Teacher off elsewhere.

"How was your dance?" I ask Piper.

"Magical, but...well he had to go find something to drink because he got a little dizzy."

"Dizzy?"

She nods.

"He stepped on my shoe once, but he said sorry, so I'm sure he'll make up for it. Maybe during the closing bonfire dance, wouldn't that be romantic?"

"Sure, if he doesn't crush your toes again." The snarky words are out before I can stop them.

"Trust me, Elizabeth, when a guy like him gets nervous, it can only mean good things."

She isn't wrong, just not right in her situation. But I'll keep that to myself. It wouldn't help me any to get deeper into whatever she believes.

We get back to our table as the sheets float by with their gloves filled with plates. Everyone is given a plate featuring a fillet, roasted vegetables, and fondant potatoes. Classy. Another ghost delivers two bottles of wine to our table. Hercules leans over and snags one for himself.

"Finally! I was getting a headache," he says with a toss of the cork.

"Don't you usually pre-game before you show up?" Luanne asks.

"Well yeah, but my delivery was short today."

Oh, right. Forgot about that. But it's a nice change of pace so I won't apologize for it. It isn't as if Teacher would let me drink anyway, so having a single bottle for him and Luanne should be more than enough. Now that I think about it, where is that guy? I scan the room for him but come up empty.

Hopefully he comes back before his food gets cold.

We all delight in the food in front of us, with Hercules and I scarfing ours down first. I wish I could have savored it a bit more, but it was just too good. One of these days I'm going to have to figure out how Chef Floy does it, and maybe buy a pan from Henry. I've seen mushrooms growing wild in the woods near the library, I wonder if that's what he used. Hell, for all I know, those mushrooms are poisonous, but it's not like the stuff will kill you here anyway.

"Lizzy, you aren't thinking of eating Matty's food, are you?"

I didn't even know my head was turned in that direction.

"No, of course not."

"I am," Hercules says. "Where the hell is he anyway?"

We all look towards Piper, who shrugs.

"I'll go find him, I'm through eating anyway."

It's easy enough work. I just follow the red string on the floor past some tables and the now empty buffet. There's a bar set up in the corner where Mr. Tanoka, the biology professor, is eating his dinner. The string turns here, but Mr. Tanoka notices me, so I approach him.

"Evening," I say.

"Ah, Elizabeth, good evening. What would you like?"

"You know how to mix drinks?"

"Truth be told, not quite, but biology is seen by the staff as being chemistry adjacent, which apparently, is also seen as being bartender adjacent. I'm not too keen on the logic, but it's easier around these parts to do what you're told. Besides," he tells me. "I get out of dancing this way, and as long as folks who come up here get drunk, they don't care much. It's a win-win."

That makes about as much sense as giving him the job.

"That's great but I'm not really thirsty, um, have you seen my facilitator?"

"Yeah, he headed outside."

I follow his thumb and the string at my feet outside one of the side doors. The cold air hits me with the sharpness of a wet towel. This side of the building is bare, and the grass that usually makes up this area has been scraped away. The benches are still here, all set up around the bare dirt. In the center of the patch is a gigantic pile of sticks and logs. That must be where the bonfire is going to be, it's a little close to the building for my taste, but I guess heroes like to live dangerously.

I rub my hands over my arms. At least it'll be warm whenever they start it.

"What are you doing out here, Elizabeth?"

I turn to see Teacher leaning up against the building with a bottle of water in his hand.

"I came to find you. They already served dinner and yours is getting cold."

He sighs.

"I'm not hungry."

"Look, you can't act like this. Someone is going to notice and wonder what's going on."

"But they won't say anything about us both disappearing, now will they?" he scoffs and takes a quick drink from the bottle. "I just needed some air."

"Well breathe deep and get back inside. Act natural, remember?"

"I will. As soon as I go back. I'm going to act as I wish out here."

Damn moody prince. I huff and join him slouching against the wall. He looks down at me with an eyebrow raised but doesn't say anything. He doesn't need a strain and I don't need a tie to know what we're both fixated on. After a moment of shivering and watching his fingers twitch, I finally take the bottle from his hands and take a heavy gulp from it. If this is how we'll always be, always a foot apart, then I'll take the indirect kisses.

Wait.

I was going to say something cool just now. Something to get his butt back inside but, that water...it's...

"The one from Topside. I put it in this bottle and kept it in the kitchen's fridge. It makes me feel better," he says with a shrug. "Now that you've had your kiss, how about we go back inside?"

"Hang on, I came out here for you, not that!"

"Yes, yes, now come on, before anyone thinks anything scandalous," he nudges my shoulder towards the door.

Thank you.

I sigh and give him a small smile. At least he seems somewhat better. He finishes his water and tosses the bottle.

"After you, Princess," he says as he swings the door open. I saunter past him and Mr. Tanoka's makeshift bar before I turn to see if he's following me. He's a few feet behind me when I crash into someone.

"Oh! Sorry!"

I take three steps back when I see his face.

"I don't mind." His voice slithers like the snaky black locks of his hair. "I wanted to ask you for this dance, may we?"

In classic fashion, Theron takes my hand without my permission. But he knows I can't deny him. It's a cruel reminder of how he gets away with everything.

"Just a moment!" Matthew says and comes up beside me.

"Evening, Matthew, something wrong?"

"Yes actually, Elizabeth is already-"

"You don't mean to tell me she's going to dance with you again, is she? Isn't that a bit odd, for a facilitator to dance with the same student twice in one night?"

Matthew goes rigid.

"Of course, you're new to this, so I'll assume you just didn't know," Theron says and begins pulling me away.

I want this to stop. I want to go back with Matthew. I want...

I blink once and a million strings stretch around us. But even if I want to, I can't grab any of them. Everyone would see and they'd know I have a strain. There's no way out of this and now I feel a chill coming from the tie on my finger. I freeze and something darts in front of me, breaking through every string. A steak knife that goes in one side of Theron's neck and out the other.

I jump back as blood drops to the dance floor and nothing else. His body is already gone, dead before he could even hit the ground. All that's left of him is a pool of red looking no different than a spilled cup of wine.

The entire hall has gone still and I can't stop myself from looking up at the council's table. A few of the members look slightly amused at the spectacle, if not completely shocked.

I look over to where the knife came from and see Hercules standing next to his chair with a grin spread over his face. Did he really...?

A shiver runs down my spine and I glance back at the council. At the only one whose stare bothers me. The furious glare of Councilman Kane.

"Someone clean this up, we have an announcement to make," the dean calls out.