by W. J. May
It was a small mercy. A single touch from Carter and every thought, or dream, or secret moment they’d ever had would be suddenly exposed. Better to have a surgical strike.
“Are you ready?”
Oliver nodded decidedly, closing his eyes before he lost the nerve.
A second later, the two of them went abruptly still. He was stiff as a board, watching as the night played out before his eyes. She was leaned forward intently, head tilted to the side.
He was already blushing when they came out of it.
“See?” he mumbled. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Natasha pursed her lips, fighting back a smile. “No, you didn’t.” She glanced knowingly at Carter before shaking her head. “He’s clear.”
The headmaster nodded swiftly, dismissing him with a wave of his hand.
“Very well, Mr. Jack, you can head back to class. I apologize for the inconvenience. Mr. Hastings, you’re next.”
Aria lifted her head, staring at him curiously.
He was also wearing the same clothes as the previous night, as if he hadn’t gone to bed at all but spent the hours pacing in front of his window. He froze when Carter said his name then shrank almost imperceptibly back, staring at Natasha like she had claws.
“...I have to do this?” he asked suddenly, looking Carter in the eyes. The headmaster frowned curiously and he suppressed a sigh. “This would be a...a condition?”
Jason and Aria exchanged a quick look.
“Yes,” Carter said quietly, “it would.”
The boy breathed out hard through the nose, then sank onto the bench. He didn’t wait for Natasha to take his hands but grabbed hers—defiant, as if he had nothing to hide.
This time seemed to take a little longer. About halfway through, a little line creased between Natasha’s eyes. He yanked his hands back the second they were done, rising in the same motion.
“There. Satisfied?”
She stared at him for a moment before nodding at the headmaster.
“He had nothing to do with Dorf. He wasn’t even in the vicinity.”
Carter nodded curtly but, as usual, Aria had more questions than answers. She stared at Alexander, trying to catch his eye, but he swept back to the school without a single word.
Jason was still staring after him when Carter cleared his throat.
“Jase—you’re up.”
This time, the hesitation was much more pronounced.
“Shouldn’t it be Rae who does mine? I mean...for impartiality?”
There were covert glances amongst the agents, while Gabriel’s eyes tightened with a slight frown. Only Carter kept it together, waving him forward to the bench.
“That won’t be necessary. The same ink will suffice for everyone.”
For the second time, Jason paused—staring at his mother with a hint of dread. Only Aria understood his hesitation, but unfortunately it was a murder investigation and some things weren’t up for debate. With a quiet sigh he sank down beside her, offering out his hands.
“It’ll be fine, honey.” She gave his fingers a squeeze. “We’ve done this a dozen times.”
He tried to smile, but ended up looking sick. “Yeah. Sure.”
Even from the outside, there was something strange about their connection. Their body language was even more telling. She was leaning forward, he was leaning away. A few seconds in, her expression shifted ever so slightly. The eyebrows rose, the lips parted in surprise.
The moment it was finished, Jason yanked his hands back.
“Is that it? Can I go?”
It was an abruptly awkward moment. The agents were staring at Jason. Gabriel was staring at his wife. After a moment she nodded quickly, lips curving with the trace of a smile.
“He waited for Aria outside the library, then went straight back to the dorms.”
With a little kissing in between.
Carter glanced curiously between them, then inclined his head. “Thank you, Jason. You can get back to class.”
Mother and son locked eyes for a split second before he pushed abruptly to his feet.
“Okay. Thanks. Bye.”
He was gone before anyone could stop him, moving quickly over the grass. Aria stared after him before turning to his mother with a look of equal dread. The lovely woman was still trying very hard not to smile, staring with great determination at her hands.
“Arie,” Carter said gently, tilting his head, “your turn.”
Kill me now...
A sudden buzz of interest rippled through the agents as she took a seat. It was clear now the others had been just for show. This was the moment they’d been waiting for.
“Palms up—just like that,” Natasha murmured, taking care to avoid her eyes.
It was something they’d done before—this journey down memory lane—but Aria tensed up like it was the first time. She loved her aunt. She had confided in her a great many secrets. But this was one particular moment she would have rather kept to herself.
At the last second, Natasha squeezed her fingers. The two women locked eyes.
Then the world faded to black.
WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE the feeling of disorientation when one dives into a memory. That feeling only intensifies if you aren’t going by choice. It intensifies again if you aren’t going alone.
Aria clung tight to her aunt’s hands, feeling like she was spiraling down a rabbit hole at hundreds of miles per hour, when in reality the two of them were sitting very still. For a split second, it was almost enough to make her sick. Then, all at once, the picture came to a stop.
They were standing outside, not very far from where they were currently sitting, but the sky was dark and there wasn’t a sound from the sleeping castle. Aria watched with surreal curiosity as she emerged from the library, trailing her shoes through the dew. She watched as Jason crept up behind her, grinning like a lion waiting to pounce. She watched him scoop her into the air, watched his eyes dance with that irresistible twinkle as she spun around to face him with a breathless smile.
Natasha kept her distance—a courtesy she hadn’t known to give to her own son. Still, it was impossible not to see what was happening. The shy sideways glances. The secret grins when they thought the other couldn’t see. It had just reached a breaking point when Jason leaned suddenly towards her, unable to keep himself away. Aria watched in what felt like slow motion as his hands came up to her cheeks. As their eyes snapped shut and their lips slowly parted—
And that is when the memory suddenly sped up.
The kiss was over before it even began—just a few blurred seconds that ended abruptly when Alexander crashed through the trees. From a different vantage point, it was clear to see that he’d come from the direction of the faculty cabins. A cluster of tiny cottages used to house both teachers and agents when work was pressing and they didn’t wish to return to the city.
By the time Aria registered his presence, he was already leaving—only to be replaced by Oliver a moment later. She watched in fascination as the three friends talked. The frustration on Jason’s face was palpable, borderline comical. Then Oliver left and Jason shouted to the sky.
“Anyone else? We’re wide open!”
The image changed again, quickening as the two friends parted ways and Aria made her way inside. She was clearly distracted, smiling to herself with her head in the clouds.
Natasha watched closely as she pushed open the history building door. If it weren’t for the kiss, if it weren’t for the intense embarrassment that followed, Aria would have been watching, too. But, as fate would have it, she looked the other way...
...and saw something.
Her body froze as she squinted into the darkness, trying to make out what it was. A shadow, just a fleeting shadow. But it was there—she was certain of it. The clouded silhouette of a person streaking away in the opposite side of the history building and vanishing into the trees.
What happened next was just a blur. Aria tuned out completely, still
reeling, while Natasha followed her step by step. Pushing open the door, seeing the professor, screaming out loud.
And just like that, two agents burst into the room.
Open and shut. Case closed.
Aria blinked suddenly as a burst of sunlight exploded in her eyes. They were back in the present time, sitting together on the bench. Natasha was saying something to Carter, but she couldn’t hear what it was. Two hands were on her shoulder. At some point in the last few seconds, Rae had come to stand by her daughter’s side. She was speaking as well, looking decidedly smug.
Aria tuned back just in time to hear Carter say.
“Very well. Then Miss Wardell is free to go.”
She pushed blankly off the bench, lifting her head to stare across campus—to the tiny stretch of grass where she could have sworn she saw the attacker flee.
Did I just imagine it? Was it really there?
“Mom,” she whispered, tugging on her mother’s sleeve, “I thought that I saw—”
“Now it’s Miss Wardell, is it?”
She stopped talking, turning to Maize in surprise. Instead of skulking in the background as was his custom, the man was front and center—arms folded across his chest as he looked the headmaster right in the eyes.
Carter glanced over in surprise.
“I’m sorry?”
“All day long she’s been ‘Aria’. Now suddenly, when the stakes are high enough, it’s back to ‘Miss Wardell’. With all due respect, sir—that’s very convenient.”
The entire party fell silent as a sudden chill swept into the air.
“What are you implying, Maize?” Carter asked softly. “Do you honestly believe my granddaughter is guilty of murder? Do you honestly believe I’m in the process of covering it up?”
There was a reason why a man with a passive power was elected the President of the Privy Council. There was a reason that even after he’d been ousted for treason, he was elected again.
There was a presence to Andrew Carter that couldn’t be denied. A singular authority that radiated out of him—attracting followers, sending enemies running into the dark.
Maize blanched and took a step back, but was replaced immediately by his friend.
“Sir, he isn’t accusing you of any wrong-doing—merely pointing out that the nepotism in this situation is impossible to ignore. The woman who cleared her is the girl’s aunt!”
At that point Gabriel took a step forward, looking rather murderous himself. “You’ll want to choose your next words very carefully,” he said softly. “Particularly when it comes to making accusations about my wife.”
Angry as he was, the agent wasn’t reckless enough to go any further. Not considering the man who was standing in his path. But the damage had already been done.
Carter could use his tatù, but he was her grandfather.
Natasha could use her tatù, but she was her aunt.
Rae could use her tatù, but she was her mother.
Aria shrank back between her parents, remembering the agent’s frustrated cry.
“I know you and the royal family happen to run this town, but this is one step too far!”
It didn’t matter what she said, it didn’t matter what they did. Until the real killer was found, there would be people amongst them who thought the Privy Council was covering for one of their own. Even her own infallible parents had been called into question—heroes of the magical world.
If I tell them about this shadow—they won’t believe me. They’ll think I’m making it up as a distraction to cover my own ass. Even if the others vouch for me, they’ll say it’s a lie.
And just like that, her mind was decided. Just like that, another plan began taking shape.
Some people might not believe her, but her friends would. And like it or not, there was a killer on the loose. A killer that could strike again, as long as the PC was looking the wrong way.
Somebody has to catch them. Why can’t that somebody be me?
Chapter 4
Aria was escorted off campus straight from the interrogation, without being allowed to return to the dorms. It hadn’t been at the Council’s insistence, but her own parents’. They had taken the accusation personally and were marching her in lockstep back to the car. Halfway there, Devon doubled back to retrieve James as well. The entire family was going back to London.
“What about the others?” Aria asked quietly from the backseat. Her mother twisted around with a questioning glance. “With a murderer on the loose, shouldn’t the others go home as well?”
Rae turned back to the front, watching for her husband across the grass. “Julian didn’t foresee anything unusual on campus this week. They’ll be fine.”
The psychic must have been convinced, if he was going to allow his own daughter to remain at the school. For a split second, Aria wanted to ask if she could stay as well. Then she saw a parade of agents storming towards the history building, and she was suddenly eager to leave.
“This will be good,” Rae said with forced optimism, watching as her husband and son made their way across the lawn. “A little family time. Doesn’t that sound nice?”
Aria slowly raised her eyebrows, meeting her mother’s gaze. “Yeah, Mom. It sounds really nice.”
The others were waylaid when Gabriel and Natasha met them halfway across the grass. She was looking introspective, probably replaying the shocking moment she’d seen in her son’s mind, but Gabriel was on the warpath. While Aria couldn’t hear anything from the parking lot, he seemed to be shouting quite loudly. Judging by the hidden smile on James’ face he was cursing quite a bit, too. Flocks of birds were fleeing from the trees. His wristwatch was steadily dripping off his arm—no thanks to his metallic ink ability
Instead of stopping him or attempting to silence him, Devon looked just as upset. His eyes burned as he stared back towards the campus, and every now and then he’d nod in agreement.
“That doesn’t look good,” Aria murmured.
“No...it’s never a good sign when those two can agree on something.” Rae opened the door quickly, stepping out into the lot. “Give me just a second. Someone has to be the rational one...”
Aria watched from the backseat as her mother tore across the grass, coming to a sliding stop in front of the three men. She paused just long enough to greet her son before turning to the others with a vengeance. Sparks went flying. Miniature cyclones were spinning by her feet. At one point, when Gabriel tried to argue, a shard of ice went flying from her hand, decapitating a nearby statue. That was the end of the discussion. The two parties went their separate ways.
Aria’s lips twitched as she suppressed a smile.
The rational one. Right.
The rest of her family arrived at the car a moment later, pulling open the doors and sliding inside. Devon gave a cursory “Buckle up” as he revved the engine, while James shot her a sideways look, peering curiously through his dark hair.
“Morning, sis. Kill any history professors lately?”
Just. Drive.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE little family didn’t speak much on the way back to the city. The children were still shell-shocked from what had happened, and the adults were trying hard to calm down. As soon as they rolled to a stop in front of the house, four doors flew open and they went their separate ways. James bounded upstairs to his room, eager to text his friends and find out the ever-evolving gossip about his homicidal sister. Rae and Devon disappeared into the basement—a place that was off-limits to the children—to continue their hushed discussion and make preliminary plans. Which left Aria standing alone in the doorway, staring in silence at the suddenly empty house.
Home, sweet home.
She lifted her hand to drop her purse in its traditional spot on the floor, then realized she’d left it in her dorm room. Along with her clothes. Along with her phone. It was the phone that stung the worst, though her parents would probably be thrilled. Although they weren’t saying it directly, they were advocating a strong poli
cy of no contact with the outside world until everything was sorted out.
With a miserable sigh, she trudged up the stairs. James’ door was shut, but she could hear his fingers texting at the speed of light. She briefly considered taking a shower, then wandered into her room instead—lying in the center of the bed, wondering what people did before cellular technology.
Boredom struck hard and fast. Just a few seconds later, she was rapping on the wall.
“Hey James, you want to watch a movie or something?”
Her little brother needed no time to consider. “Nope.”
She turned back to the ceiling with a sigh, playing over the last few hours in her head.
How can they really think I did it? she wondered, remembering the way the agents had leaned closer, hanging on her every word. How can they really think I would kill someone?
There was a chance they didn’t. There was a chance they’d simply been waiting for someone in the ‘royal family’ to get caught in a compromising position. It wasn’t about the murder, it was about the Council itself. The exclusivity of it. The danger of uniting too many families by blood.
Given how long the Privy Council had been around, it was a relatively new concern. Up until a little over a decade ago, people with ink weren’t allowed to marry. It kept the tatùs under control, but it also limited the amount of influence a single person could have in the government. You didn’t have huge extended families all attending the same school. The idea of nepotism didn’t exist.
But it doesn’t exist now!
Both of her parents and each of their friends had worked long and hard to establish the reputations they enjoyed today. They’d risen through the ranks on their own merit, securing their positions long before any inter-marrying or children came into the picture. Carter had already been elected head of the Privy Council. Tristan was already dean of the school. Her parents were already supernatural legends, out saving the world. And, thanks to the PC’s new employment policy, it wasn’t like any of the kids had been allowed special treatment.
