The door opened. Phew.
A girl—not Nalli—poked her head out and jumped, her green eyes widening when she saw me. “What are you doing here?” she barked out.
Talk about another welcoming reception.
“I came to talk to Nalli.”
She scowled. “She’s not here.”
Okay. “Do you know when she’ll be back?”
“Never.”
Sounded permanent. “Why not? Did she change Coven rooms?”
“Left campus.”
“For a break?”
“For always.”
Strike three and I was out. I exhaled, shooting my bangs up into the air. “Well, I guess I’ll just…”
She snatched my arm and hauled me into the room. “Get in here.”
I tumbled inside, tripping over a dark blue mat. While I acted as if I’d executed my swan dive on purpose, she shut the door and leaned against it. Her arms linked on her chest. As she studied me, her high cheekbones flushed. The intensity in her gaze reminded me of when I’d gifted Beatrice with a bowl of deep-fried pickles. Like she couldn’t decide if she wanted to thank me or smack me.
Since boundaries didn’t seem to be this girl’s thing, I studied her, as well. Her long, thick black hair had been fixed in a high ponytail, and her green eyes accentuated her tanned skin. She wore the requisite school uniform and had a similar build to mine except she was taller.
“You weren’t…sent here by anyone, were you?” she finally asked.
Why did she sound frightened about the possibility? “I wanted to talk to Nalli.”
“About what?”
Like I’d share my investigation with a stranger? “I don’t imagine you can help me.”
Her arms tightened around her ribcage as if she hugged herself. “Why not?”
“Because my question relates to Drea.” No harm in sharing that much.
“Not to me, then,” she said harshly.
My hands splayed wide. “Why would I come here to talk to you?” This conversation had jumped off a cliff the moment she dragged me inside the room, but now we’d smacked on the ground below. Was it just the door or was the room itself haunted? “I don’t know who you are. I didn’t know you existed until two seconds ago.”
“Tria.” Her hand jutted out for a shake.
Cool. Clammy. Why was she nervous?
“Transferred from California,” she said. “Just moved into Earth Coven today. I’m a Second Year student.”
“I’m also in Earth Coven. First Year.”
“I knew that.”
Frowning, I leaned against a desk. “How?”
“How else?”
We were getting nowhere. I butted off the desk and aimed for the door. “I should go. Since Nalli has left the Academy, I’ll—”
The color in Tria’s cheeks went splotchy, and her hands twitched. “You’re leaving already?”
“I’ve got…things to do.” Like escape this odd conversation.
“Don’t go yet. We…just met.” For the first time since I’d been pulled inside, her lips cured up in what felt like a real smile. Shoulders loosening, she waved to one of the desk chairs. “Take a seat. We can talk.”
Why not? With Nalli gone, my research had stalled. Sliding the chair around to face her, I perched on the wooden surface while she settled on the carpet and leaned back against the wall with her legs outstretched.
“You don’t happen to know which bed Drea used, do you?” She waved to the bare mattresses and a pile of blankets spread out on the floor between them. “I don’t want to sleep in whichever was hers. Bad karma, you know?”
“I don’t. Sorry. I haven’t been here before.”
“Huh. I guess I thought.” She blinked a moment before her face cleared. “Oh, right. You came to talk to Nalli about Drea, you said.” Her head tilted. “What about? Maybe I can help.”
“But you said you just moved here.”
“Yeah, but I can sense things.”
“Your skapti is empathy? Someone else I know has the same skapti.”
“Sort of.” Her fingertips slid along the base of her neck. “Not really.”
This conversation…Jeez. “So, you’re not an empath, then.”
One corner of her lips quirked up. “Sometimes.”
Was it me? Did I have a stamp on my forehead that encouraged everyone around me to give the vaguest replies possible? I inched forward to the edge of the chair, ready to bail. “I should go.”
Her hands dragged down her face before she stared up at the ceiling. “I’m doing it again, aren’t I?”
“Doing what?”
“Acting strange, driving someone away. It’s my thing, I guess, Fleur. Being weird.”
“You’re not…too weird.” Who was I kidding? This entire situation was weird. Why had Nalli left? I needed to be pursuing that or leaving. “It’s not you. I really do need to go study. Do you know why Nalli left?”
She shrugged. “Didn’t ask. What’s your skapti?”
Here it comes… “I don’t have one. Yet.”
“Bummer.”
“I have a few options, though. Fire. Healing.”
“More than one?”
“Maybe. That’s what the Headmistress thinks.”
“Interesting. Not many multi-skapti wizards around.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“Healing sounds cool but what could you do with fire?”
“Good question.” Once I figured it out, I was going to owe everyone an announcement. “You said you’re from California? What made you move here?”
“My mom and dad took a job with the Council in Grathe, in the accounting department. They’re both Level Four number skaptis.”
“Math must’ve been easy for them, huh?”
“Definitely.” Her lips twisted. “Wish I’d gotten that skapti.”
I laughed. “Don’t we all.”
“I take after my dad instead.”
Who she’d mentioned had an accounting skapti. This wasn’t only weird, it was confusing. I stood. “I hate to keep you from—”
“Nothing.” She stared down at her hands twisting on her lap.
A quick glance told me she’d yet to unpack. It must be hard moving to a new school six weeks into the semester.
“I’ve been sitting here talking to myself,” she said bleakly. “No friends’ll do that to a girl. Which is why, well, I was excited to see you at the door. But I am weird, keeping you here when you want to leave.”
While she might be odd, she seemed like a decent person. And I sure understood being lonely. “You’re not completely friendless. You’ve got me.” Sorta. I’d hang out with her if she wanted, if only to commensurate about feeling out of place at the Academy.
A look of pure happiness flicked across her face before it went neutral. “Thanks.” She rose to her feet. “Glad I got the chance to meet you.”
“You, too.” I pulled open the door but, rather than leave, I turned back to face her. The intensity on her face made me long to smooth my hair. Make sure I didn’t have a zit on my nose. “You want to meet up with me and my roommate for breakfast tomorrow?”
Her voice went bubbly. “That would be great. Thanks. What time?”
“Around eight outside the cafeteria? We’re flitting to Grathe after. First shopping trip of the semester. You can come with me and Patty if you want.” With Donovan, as well, assuming he could get away from Niles.
“I’d love to, but the Headmistress hasn’t approved off-campus travel for me, yet.” She leaned her shoulder against the doorframe. “Maybe next time?”
“Okay.” I stepped out into the hall. “I’ll see you in the morning, then.”
“Breakfast.” Tria finger-shot my way. “See you then, Fleur!”
As the door swung shut on its own, I caught her mouth curling downward. Sad that she was alone again? The thought almost made me knock on the door again so we could talk some more. Not enough to do it, however.
As I
stood in the hall, the maroon lips perked up. “Don’t forget to mention—”
“Got it.” More than got it, actually. Wished I hadn’t gotten it at all. “I won’t forget.” I’d never be able to forget. How did doors… I shook my head. Really didn’t want to know.
It was only after I’d flitted to my room that I realized I hadn’t told Tria my name.
Chapter 19
“So, um, Beatrice,” I said. “Can I ask you something?”
Our room’s brownie sat next to the bowl I’d filled with spaghetti. Extra sauce. Plenty of parm. She lifted a long strand of pasta into the air and inched it into her mouth. Munch, munch, munch, until her cheeks bulged. A swallow swept it away.
After glaring at the remaining strands in the bowl, she smacked her tiny lips. “Me likey more this next time.”
Nothing like treats to keep a brownie from turning into a boggart.
“You talking to me?” Patty asked, poking her head out the bathroom door, her mouth full of foam as she brushed her teeth.
“Nope,” I said. “Just mumbling to myself.” I was tempted to tell Patty about my investigation but if anyone got into trouble, it would only be me.
“K.” She ducked back into the bathroom, her electric toothbrush whirring.
“Beatrice.” I lowered my voice. “Can you tell me more about Sirra? The naiad.”
“Tricksy.” Another strand of spaghetti was eaten. I couldn’t figure out where she put it. She could consume more than me in one sitting yet was only about five inches tall.
“She sure is tricksy, as are her friends.”
“Sisters.”
Didn’t know that but it figured.
“Say someone needed a favor from Sirra,” I said. “How could they talk her into doing it for them?”
“Favor?” Patty ducked her head through the bathroom doorway again. She’d spread a purple mask on her face, an interesting combination with her bright pink hair—which was natural due to her part-pixie heritage. “You need a favor? You just ask.”
“Nope, just…mumbling to myself again.”
Crossing to my side, she laid her palm on my forehead. “You okay? Not coming down with anything, are you, ’cause I can ask my sisters, Prentiss and Pauline, to take a look at you. Or Christian, who’s also a healer.”
“No!” Calm down. “I feel fine.”
Her frown went on too long as she studied my face. “Okay.” She shook her finger at me. “One cough, and someone’ll flit here two seconds ago.” She darted back into the bathroom, calling out, “Yes, Alys, I’ll be done soon. Jeez!”
It sure wasn’t easy for four girls to share the same bathroom. I could only imagine how challenging it had been for Patty growing up with so many sisters.
Beatrice’s next strand of spaghetti halted mid-descent. “You tricksy, too.”
“Huh?”
“Tricksy with friend.”
Oh. Caught. She meant telling Patty I was talking to myself, not quizzing Beatrice for clues about Sirra. Wincing, I rubbed the back of my neck. “It was just a little fib.”
“Not so.”
“I’m sorry.” Heat rose in my face. “You’re right. I lied.”
She huffed and I had the feeling my fate wasn’t decided yet. Her tiny hand flicked toward the sole strand of pasta lying curled in the bowl. “More parm.”
I dumped a mound as big as a snowball on top.
She dipped a tongue-licked finger into the creamy fluff, then licked it off.
“So, back to getting on Sirra’s good side. Any ideas?” I asked.
“Ideas about what?” Patty asked, striding into the room dressed in her PJs. She hopped up onto her bed and dragged a hand-knit afghan over her legs.
“Nothin’.”
Her concerned glance took in Beatrice. “Is Fleur coughing?”
Beatrice snickered. “Maybe?”
While I knew she was teasing, my grunt told her to behave. The last thing I needed was for Patty’s family to descend, thinking I was sick. When Patty caught a cold, at least fifteen of her siblings flitted here and hovered over her, spooning in soup, covering her with blankets, and basically making it a challenge to move around our room.
Patty’s brow drew together. “I’m watchin’ you.”
“Feelin’ great.” Other than the nausea caused by nerves.
Patty stared forward. Her smile rose, telling me her nightly family convo had begun. Phew. Busy with them, she’d forget about me.
I used to be jealous of her big family, how they loved and supported her and wanted to know every detail in her life, but lately, I felt more complete. I had Patty, teachers who I considered good friends, and the Outling Club. And Donovan.
Beatrice’s belly bulged and the bowl sparkled. I needed to get an answer out of her before she left.
“Tricksy vain,” Beatrice said. “Pretty hair.” She fluffed her own golden locks. “Tail pretty.” Leaning sideways, she patted her butt. “Her everything pretty. Make sisters jealous.” Her head tilted, and she tapped her temple. “Try there.”
In other words, more thinking out of the square. A litany here lately.
Beatrice blinked from the room, leaving everything tidy in a flash.
Out of the square. Out of the square.
Oh!
My eyes widened as an idea popped into my head.
Chapter 20
“I’ll have waffles and bacon and a mushroom swiss omelet and…” Tria shot a bemused look my way as if she expected me to protest. Nope. I’d had days when I couldn’t decide, too, so I’d ordered everything.
“Whipped cream and berries, dear?” the cook asked Tria.
“Yes, please. Raspberries if you have them.”
The cook’s brown eyes twinkled. “We have everything.”
Plates appeared on Tria’s tray, and she grinned. “Thanks.”
“You, dear?” the cook asked me.
The barbed wire in my unsettled belly suggested it would poke through the sides if I dumped anything into it. Was there any hope Niles would leave early? “How about hot tea. Dry toast, maybe?” I kept my voice low, hoping Patty wouldn’t hear and call her healer siblings.
“Rough night?” the cook asked.
“Rough life.”
Her brow crinkled. “Let me mix you something special, then.”
I shrugged. “Sure.”
She passed me the tea and a steaming bowl of oatmeal topped with a drizzle of honey and fresh blueberries. “Try this. If you still want that dry toast,” she grimaced, “I’ll make it for you.”
With a nod, I took my tray and shuffled sideways while Patty ordered.
We found a table near the window and sat.
“Patty, Tria. Tria, Patty,” I said with a flick of my fork.
“Pixie?” Tria asked, bracing her arms on the table.
“Part,” my roommate said. “On my grannie’s side.”
“Mattia coinnuethadh triut.”
“Ah!” Patty slapped her hand over her mouth, and her eyes brimmed with tears. “I haven’t heard anyone speak pixie since my grannie died. Thra shu uamhavath.”
Color filled Tria’s face and she stared down at her plate for a moment as if she needed to collect herself. “Thri ’aunntaich ma pixie dho madiabh.”
I grinned, watching them, happy to see them getting along. Like I’d set up a puppy play date, though I wasn’t sure what variety of pup Tria was. Pit bull? Patty was a golden retriever, for sure. Her tail never stopped wagging.
They chatted in pixie a few minutes while I sipped my tea and nibbled my oatmeal which, fortunately, my belly didn’t reject.
“I’m sorry,” Tria said with a laugh my way. “I could teach you some pixie, if you want.”
“Me, too!” Patty said.
Tria grinned. “Then we can talk together.”
“That would be fun.” How cool would it be to be able to greet Patty’s family in their language!
“The forest is beautiful,” Tria said, squinting through t
he window behind me and Patty. “But I sense something…” She frowned, “dark there?”
I explained about Professor Mealor, the slake draining magical power from Moira and Cloven.
“Wow,” Tria said. “And you and…Donovan, did you say? You two killed the slake yourselves?”
“They did,” Patty said, dropping her head on my shoulder. “She was so brave. Can’t imagine doing anything like that myself. I’d hide.”
“Were you scared?” Tria asked me.
“Always. But I was more worried about Cloven and—”
“Cloven?” From the way her face scrunched, she almost tasted the name.
“Professor Spires. He teaches here at the Academy. He’s also the Headmistress’s assistant.”
Tria’s fork, filled with a chunk of waffle, paused mid-lift to her mouth. “What’s he like?”
I must be mistaken, because I didn’t hear longing in her voice. “Kind. Caring.”
“I envy you.”
“Why? I mean…” I rubbed my hot cheeks. “I’m not sure what you’re saying.”
Diverting her gaze, she traced her fork along her food. “Nothing. Really.” She busied herself with her omelet, stabbing mushrooms hard enough her fork pinged when it hit the china.
“Are you going to the city with us?” Patty asked Tria.
“Can’t. I just arrived two days ago. The headmistress thought I should acclimate here first.”
“That makes sense. Maybe next time?”
“With…” Tria glanced between us. “You both?”
Before I could say anything, Ashton stopped beside our table. His interest wasn’t in me and Patty, since he showed us his back, but directed at Tria. “I wanted to welcome you to the campus. I’m Ashton, Prefect of Wind Coven.”
So far. If he kept pulling pranks like the one with the snipped nightlace, he might find himself demoted.
“Nice to meet you.” Tria’s words came out curt, short, not the gush Ashton always received. Lips twisting, she rolled her eyes at me.
“We’re—well, some of the Second Year students of Wind Coven that is—we’re having a party tonight. Wanted to tell you you’re welcome to come.”
“I’m busy tonight.”
Crystal Wing Academy- The Complete Series Page 37
