by LJ Swallow
I’m relieved when he sits back down. “Fine,” he mutters.
The Petrescu group achieve their aim, as the whole common room focuses on the loud exchange happening between the two groups. Ash becomes more agitated, and I’m on the verge of walking over to calm him when Professor O’Reilly appears in the doorway.
He has a not-so-quiet word with the six guys and Petrescu slink away, mouthing insults behind the professor’s back. The professor pulls Ash to one side and speaks to him alone, before gesturing at us.
I watch the squat man limp away as Ash approaches. His cheeks are flushed from what I think is anger at the Petrescu kids until he speaks.
“Theodora wants to see us. And Andrei.”
My stomach lurches. “All of us?”
He nods.
“Shit,” says Jamie and his mind leaps to the same conclusion as mine. “Has she found out about Halloween? Who told her?”
“This could be about something else,” I say, trying to convince myself.
“Really?” asks Jamie and frowns at me. “What else could concern the five of us? We don’t usually spend time together—only our trip to Maeve’s old school.”
I shush him.
“I bet Tobias said something,” grumbles Ash.
Amelia sits staring ahead, face pale, but doesn’t speak.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
MAEVE
Tobias stands beside Theodora, face grave and hands behind his back. I immediately look at Andrei, who’s already in the room, and mouth “what the hell?”
Andrei’s horrified look tells me my answer: Tobias betrayed us after all, because he’s standing with Theodora. Not with us.
The five of us sit on a row of wooden chairs in front of Theodora’s desk—no comfy sofas or kind smiles today. I’m used to stern looks from teachers, but this woman’s shadowed expression reaches from her tight lips to her dark eyes as she looks from one of us to the other. Each time, her gaze remains long enough to make us squirm in our seats.
Perspiration breaks out along my back when it’s my turn for the frightening stare. She looks away, and I glare at Tobias, pissed off by his impassive expression.
“Professor Whitlock has informed me about a serious situation that must be dealt with.”
Omigod. I stare ahead, mind racing. Ash and Andrei must be terrified—what if they’re accused of injuring the humans?
“Confederacy representatives have contacted Tobias regarding problems with hunters.” She looks at Ash. “Did anything unusual happen over half-term?”
My chest tightens, and I attempt to meet Tobias’s eyes, to read what’s in them and to challenge him. What the hell has he done? Is this because I upset him?
“I’m not sure what you mean,” Ash says, and I’m impressed how steady his voice is. “I was at my parents’ pub, working.”
“Yes. I know. That’s what I’m asking about —did anything unusual happen when you were home?”
Ash shakes his head.
“We believe there are hunters around your village currently. Were you aware of that?” Theodora stares at him and I look at the ceiling.
“I was not,” he says, sitting straight and to attention. “Or I would’ve informed somebody.”
Finally, I relax back. Tobias has a different motive here, but what?
Theodora takes her place in the high-backed leather chair behind her desk. “Following rumours that hunters are in the area, the Confederacy have your town under surveillance by soldiers, in order to establish whether these men are hunters or not. We now believe they are.”
“My parents have lived in the town for over twenty years,” Ash says. “They’ve kept themselves well hidden. Why are they being targeted?”
“We’re unsure. This could be connected to Vincent’s death, or could be completely unrelated.”
Ash’s expression sours at Theodora’s theory. “Related, I’ll bet.”
“I’m unsure if you know, but there was also an incident around Halloween involving an unsanctioned attack on hunters,” she says.
Even though my heart races with fear what might come next, I focus on maintaining a neutral expression. There’s an undertone here—is Theodora fishing?
“An attack?” I ask feigning surprise. “What happened?”
“The incident has been investigated and we’ve concluded that the attack was by rogue Dominion. We’ve no indication this was anybody linked to the Confederacy,” says Tobias.
I can’t help but glance at Andrei, who’s struggling to keep his expression impassive. Tobias didn’t take the blame?
“There’s a possibility the hunters who were attacked are the same people seen around your home, Ash. The two towns are close together, and they wouldn’t know if their attackers were Dominion or Confederacy—we all look the same.”
“With all due respect,” puts in Jamie, “I understand why you need to speak to Ash about this, but I’m unclear how this involves us.”
Her quiet gaze unnerves me, and I stare at my shoes.
“Tobias will explain. In the meantime, I’ve spoken to the shifter council,” says Theodora. “They have agreed to remove your parents from the situation while we deal with the hunters.”
Tobias clears his throat. “I have asked Theodora for permission to take some students on a field trip.”
My head spins at Tobias’s words. “A what?”
Field trips at my old school involved visits to museums, or stays at camps, all designed to further our education. Not hunt humans.
“Some lessons need a practical element, Maeve,” explains Tobias. “There’s a finite number of humans working at the academy for students to practice mental magic on. On occasion, I take students from the academy to use their mental magic skills ‘in the field’.”
Every time I feel I have a handle on how this academy works, something else comes from the blue and knocks me sideways.
“Tobias mentioned that he struggled with you when you met him for tuition with mind control,” says Theodora. I try to catch his eye again. He’s focused on Theodora, but a muscle twitches in his jaw. “Human minds are weaker, and he believes that you may be able to practice controlling them.”
“A hunter?” I half-squeak.
“With my help,” says Tobias, and he finally looks at me. “I will be on hand to ensure nothing untoward happens. We believe your new power needs working on. I want to see what happens if something triggers it.”
Omigod. I think I’m going to be sick.
“This is part of the term’s assessment for you all,” he continues.
“I have my doubts about allowing this,” says Theodora, “But as Tobias believes you have the requisite skills, he has requested three of you accompany him.”
“Three?” I ask.
“Any more would arouse suspicion,” Tobias explains. “Ash naturally accompanies me, and I would like Andrei and Maeve to come too.”
“What about me?” blurts Jamie.
Theodora sighs and rests her arms on the table. “I will not discuss this situation with you again, Jamie. You are not to leave the academy at night until we have full details from Maeve’s vision."
I duck my head. The day Theodora discovered we’d told the others about my vision, she was unhappy, but not surprised.
Jamie scowls. “This is unfair.”
“Amelia will remain too. Much as I trust Tobias, it appears your group are loose cannons. We’re aware how unpredictable your magic can be, Amelia.”
Amelia’s face falls and she looks down.
I want to ask ‘why me?’ as fear and relief mingle inside. I can fix my mistake from Halloween if we use mental magic on the hunters, but what if I fail?
Tobias nods. “I persuaded Theodora this will solve two problems—the hunters, and the immersion in our society that Maeve needs. I think all professors agree she still hasn’t wholly accepted her position here.”
“I am trying,” I protest.
“Do you think she’s sufficiently a
dvanced to be included in this activity?” asks Theodora. “You know I have my concerns.”
Tobias stares at her for a moment. “I understand, but you also know that Maeve will be safe with me. It is not in my interest to let anything happen to her, is it?”
His pointed comment confuses me. Tobias mentioned his instructions from the Confederacy to watch over me, something he still needs to explain. But this suggests more.
Theodora nods but doubt remains in her eyes. “Jamie, I suggest you forego any temptation to follow. If you leave, I will attach a tracker spell to you, and every movement you make will be followed. Including inside the academy.”
His mouth turns down. Jamie won’t take well to this threat, but I hope he listens.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
MAEVE
We stand at a quiet end of the cloisters away from the doors to the dorm rooms, minutes after leaving Theodora’s room.
“What the hell was that?” mutters Ash. “What is Tobias doing?”
Andrei pulls up his hoodie against the wind whistling through the space. He remained silent through the meeting, as he often is around Tobias, but now finds his voice. “Saving our backsides.”
I pull my blazer sleeves over my hands as I try to keep them warm. “How?” I ask.
“Maeve knows. Suspicion was headed my way, which would’ve opened the whole can of worms,” he says. “Tobias deflected, as I said he would.”
“Does he really have that much power?” I ask Andrei. “I know he’s keeping an eye on me and has links to the Confederacy, but what else? Do you know anything?”
Andrei shrugs, his noncommittal ‘I’m not telling you’. He knows something, but what? “He’s arranged for us to deal with the hunters who escaped and to end the matter. Isn’t that enough?”
I rub my forehead. A lot doesn’t add up here. Surely Theodora can see this too. “If these people are the same hunters,” I say.
“I’ll recognise them,” growls Ash.
“Yeah, me too,” adds Andrei.
“I’m worried I’ll fail,” I admit.
Ash rubs my arm. “If you stumble, I’m sure Tobias will help. He said he would.”
Andrei chuckles. “I’m sure he will.”
I glower at him as Jamie makes a noise of agreement.
“I’m happy I don’t need to go,” says Amelia. “I wouldn’t want to confront hunters unless I had no choice.”
Jamie takes a deep breath and sighs loudly. “Better than not being ‘allowed’ to go, like I’m a stupid kid who can’t be trusted.”
“Jamie,” I say softly. “It’s for your protection.”
“I don’t bloody need protecting,” he snaps. “You all know that.”
I cringe at his immature comeback, but I’m unsurprised by his response to the situation. When we planned Halloween, he was annoyed he wasn’t included. Now, he’s excluded a second time. Theodora’s threat about tracking spells at least gives a reason for him to obey the rules.
“You can’t exactly tell Theodora why you don’t need protecting,” retorts Amelia.
He huffs. “I guess I’ll spend the time in the library. As usual, I’m the one who takes on the majority of work for group projects.”
I bristle at his pointed comment. “I spent all afternoon working on our History of Magic assignment.” To prove a point, I dig around in my bag looking for my notebook. “Crap.”
“What’s wrong?” Andrei’s eyes widen as if I’ve found a small demon in my bag.
“I left my notes in the room after my latest dumb committee meeting with Katherine.” Jamie arches a brow. “It’s true! I wrote the whole introduction to our presentation.”
Annoyed at his doubt, I fasten my bag and straighten my shoulders. In the midst of everything happening, a few class notes shouldn’t bother me, but Jamie’s disbelief does. “I’ll bring them to your room, should I?”
“Ha!” Andrei pushes Jamie in the shoulder. “Nice work, dude. How many girls do you invite to your room with notes to show you?” Andrei makes inverted commas with his fingers around the word ‘notes’ then adds, “Such as Katherine?”
We all look to Jamie, who shakes his head. “You’re such a stirrer, Andrei. You’re worse than a girl.”
“Ahem!” retorts Amelia, smacking him hard in the chest. “We all know Jamie helps Katherine with her assignments.”
Ash blinks. “I didn’t. Dude, why?”
Jamie hoists his bag further up his shoulder. “I’ll catch you all later.”
He strides away and we fall silent. Ash looks between Jamie and Andrei, who pulls on an innocent look. “What?”
“Leave him alone, Andrei,” I snap.
Andrei shakes his head. “You guys. No sense of humour. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.” He runs his tongue along his teeth before adding, “Unless you want to also show me your notes later, Maeve?”
Honestly, I wish the Andrei I met by the fire would return. His sarcasm is draining—he’d better leave it at the academy when we head out on our field trip.
I laugh to myself. Field trip.
I head back to the History of Magic classroom to retrieve my notes. I’m annoyed with myself for forgetting—I wish my brain would allow me to remember everyday things instead of obsessing over the other events happening around me.
The hallway is quiet, and I half-expect Katherine to spring from nowhere and question me about Ash’s and my relationship. I find the notes in a folder beside the book I was studying. Relieved they’re still there, I gather both and tuck them into my bag.
I pass a cleaner in the hallway, a middle-aged man with a mop and a bored look. He eyes me with curiosity then lowers his gaze before stepping into the English classroom. My shoes leave footprints in his freshly mopped floor, and I apologise as I pass. He grumbles and swipes his mop back over.
The scent of disinfectant is normal amongst the mingling herb scents that usually fill the academy hallways. What do the human staff think about this strange place? According to Amelia, nothing, once they’ve left. A combination of potions and mental magic clouds their memories and wipes their minds of the time working here. The academy has a large staff turnover in order to limit curiosity.
Nearby, a door clicks, and I pause as I see Tobias opening his classroom door with his phone pressed to one ear. I don’t want to speak to him almost as much as I want to grill him about his motivations, so I turn. I pretend to read a poster for the Winter Ball pinned to the magnolia-painted wall.
This academy is the weirdest mix of supernatural and normal. I understand that the kids also need to learn to blend in with humans, but winter dances and sports teams? Odd.
“I’m sick of this bullshit,” growls Tobias’s voice and I widen my eyes in shock at his tone. “I don’t have time to deal with hunters, so I don’t understand why you’ve told me to take these kids to some bloody shifter town. Andrei is fine.” He huffs at the person’s next words then continues, “I already fixed this by persuading investigators that the attack was Dominion—if anybody found out that I’d planted those thoughts, I’d be bloody strung up again.”
I steal a look. He rests against the wall with his legs outstretched in front of him, eyes to the floor as the person he’s talking to responds.
“What do you expect me to do? Kill the hunters?” He pauses as somebody responds. “Are you serious?” I can’t see his face, but Tobias’s usual slicked-back hair falls into his face as his head stays down. “Look, I always do what you instruct, but I won’t be a fucking assassin.”
He drags a hand through his hair, and I wish to hell I could hear what the person on the other end of the conversation is saying.
“You know I’m taking a future-sighted witch, don’t you?” he snaps. “I’m not supposed to touch her mind, and I don’t want to screw things up.”
Crap. This is one conversation I shouldn’t listen to—and don’t want to. I already wish I could forget half of what he’s said. Slowly, I back away. There’s an exit into the libr
ary from the other end of the hallway. If I’m quiet, I can sneak down there and out the building that way. Tobias’s intense conversation has him fully focused and unaware of his surroundings.
Move, Maeve, before he sees you.
I hurry back along the hallway and through the freshly mopped floor. This time, I don’t stop to apologise.
Chapter Thirty
ASH
Tobias isn’t happy I wanted to stop at the pub, but I can’t come back to my town and not visit the place. My parents are away; it’s my duty to check on everything. He relented and said we could visit for an hour. I argued that if the hunters do appear, I’ve saved us time.
The cosiness of the small brick building I grew up in always fills me with a warm glow. Little has changed over the years in the small bar and lounge area. The upholstered stools and round wooden tables are marked by years of use, re-polished many times. Dad’s proud of the collection of memorabilia on the walls—pictures of the town through the decades and old horse brasses shined to perfection. I sometimes tease Amelia about her love of the human world, but my parents have fully embraced theirs.
They blend in, but still the real world catches up with them.
Tobias surveys the room, scrutinising every face, but few others are in the pub tonight – a couple of old guys who’re regulars sitting in their corner with drinks, playing dominoes; a family dressed in walking gear, and some younger kids. Not many for a Saturday night, which isn’t good for business.
Andrei pulls out a stool and sits while Maeve stands uncertainly in the doorway. “Wait here,” I tell them and move to the back of the bar area, where a room behind leads to stairs up to the flat—my home.
The small living area above the pub smells of the fruity oils Mum puts in her fancy diffuser. I smile—the one I bought Mum for her birthday last year. When I was younger, the flat filled with the stench of stale cigarette smoke that clouded up from the bar area. With smoking now banned in the pub, the stench has gone. Thank god.
