Trials in Walls of Ivy (Triskelion Trilogy Book 1) by Deborah Jayne Pye Page B

coming down the stairs before Warwick slammed open the kitchen door. “What the fuck are you screaming at me for?” He grunted, clearly hung over.
    I folded my arms. “I’m screaming at you because this is my house too. We all have to live here, and we all have to work together. So, I’m laying out some ground rules.”
    I watched him as he slumped himself into the chair beside Bree.
    “First rule, no shagging on the settee!” My voice cracked with the embarrassment of having to say it aloud.
    Owen’s head snapped up from his paper. “What?” He looked to Karissa.
    She erupted in laughter. “Not guilty.”
    “I mean it,” I continued, “we all have to sit in that room. I don’t want to sit where you’ve been doing it the night before.”
    “Who were you with?” Owen asked.
    Warwick shrugged. “Think she was called Kate. Or Kath, could have been Kathy.”
    Bree slapped his arm. “You don’t even know her name? Women aren’t toys, you know.” She shoved herself away from the table and stood beside me.
    “It’s not like she knew my name either. What’s the problem?” He leaned back in his chair and put his arms behind his head.
    “The problem,” I interjected, as Bree was about to lunge at him, “is that you have your own room. Why use the settee?”
    “Sometimes, your room’s just too far away.” He laughed and bumped fists with Owen, who seemed to find this hilarious.
    Bree leaned toward him and slammed her fist on the table. “Well next time, you’ll just have to manage it. Or you’ll be picking up the girls with your eye swollen shut. You hear me?”
    Warwick slid from his chair and bolted through the door. “Bloody lunatic,” he shouted, as he fled the scene.
    I put my hand on Bree’s shoulder. “You okay?” I asked. She seemed angrier than I was and I was the one who had to see him.
    She shrugged me off. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just hate guys who use girls as toys.”
    “From the sound of it, she was using him too,” Owen said, barely holding back a laugh. He lowered his eyes back to the paper when Bree shot him a glare.
    “Aren’t you angry about this?” I asked Karissa.
    “None of my business. We were only ever a one nighter. He’s fine to see who he likes, and so am I.”
    She grinned at me, like I was ridiculous for being so upset. I sucked in a breath to protest, but then thought better. It wasn’t my business.
     
    *   *   *
     
    The following few weeks at uni went by with a mixture of fascination and terror. Through each lesson we would learn how to manipulate situations, convince people that we were on their side and how to recognise when it was being done to others. But, there was the constant realisation that we were being prepared for a life of shadows and secrets. I loved the idea of being a part of an organisation which worked to protect our country, and was kind of enjoying knowing there was going to be danger too.
    Our lessons seemed all the more real when I entered the room marked, Mole . I had been looking forward to this lesson, as I knew this was where I would be specialising. I took my seat not caring where in the room I sat. I noticed a few of my fellow students were now sitting together, only speaking to their own clique. It didn’t bother me that I wasn’t included. For the most part, I noticed we seemed to be mixing groups in most lessons.
    Dr Llamp walked through the room and immediately began placing a sheet of paper on each desk.
    “It is time for your first task as Moles. I have just randomly provided each of you with a target.”
    The sound of rustling paper filled the room as we all studied the new sheet. I looked around at the other students sheets discreetly, mine looked to be similar to the others, but all seemed to have unique differences.
    “You each have twenty four hours to complete this task and submit it officially.” She stood at the front of the room in her familiar stance, arms behind her back. “Complete it in whatever manner