***THE NEXT MORNING***

"How was your night, Tyler?" Amy asked him as he joined them at the large castle dining hall, where Soudin's family ate. Greta and her parents were already seated. Lena entered with the servants, coming from the kitchen and directing each of the servants to serve them blood in a bowl.

"Good, I guess," of course he was lying; he'd had great difficulty sleeping. He didn't know that the memory of that tragic day at the punishment room had lingered on his mind until yesterday, when he'd slept alone. He looked over at Greta; she had sleeping bags underneath her eyes; the same problem had also affected...