by Sophia Shade
“Sorry about that,” he says, not looking at me. “I forgot you grew up on the other side of the veil.”
“It’s seven in the morning. I’m not even fully awake yet, and I have no idea what’s going on.”
“Back there,” he says, shoving his thumb over his shoulder to point to my dorm room. “You looked like you saw a ghost when I walked in.”
“Because I wasn’t dressed… I don’t know why Dannika even opened the door. I’m mortified!”
Caleb puts his arm around my shoulders, pulls me against his warm body, and then kisses the top of my head. “I know. It’s cute.”
We start heading down the hall, and I get the feeling that I’m missing something. “You just stood there,” I say finally. “I was in my underwear!”
“If it helps, you look good in your underwear.” His voice is silky, delving into an absolutely R-rated growl when he adds, “Probably even better without them.”
It makes goose bumps race up my spine, and my cheeks burn so hotly it reaches my ears. I don’t even know how to react to that.
“But,” Caleb laughs, “pretty much everyone here has seen everyone else in their underwear. It’s not a big deal in here like it is where you’re from.”
And, there it is. Of-freaking-course. “I feel like an idiot.”
“Well, you don’t look like an idiot,” he says as we turn the corner to head toward the breakfast hall. When I first started school here, I hadn’t realized the sleeping quarters weren’t actually individual houses, but were actually connected to the school itself. “But if it makes you feel better, I’ll let you see me in my underwear later.”
That thought makes butterflies erupt in my stomach. I didn’t think the heat in my face could get any worse, but apparently, it can. I’m also not sure how I feel about any of it. It might be normal in this realm, but as Caleb pointed out, that’s not how things go back home. Seeing someone in their underwear is intimate. And Caleb and I just aren’t there yet, no matter how intrigued the idea makes me.
But we could be.
Once we reach the dining hall, Caleb finds us a table, then leaves me to grab us some food. When he brings it back, he doesn’t say anything else about my embarrassing morning. He just hands me a plate of food and a drink, taking the seat across from me.
I don’t want to sit here saying nothing the whole time, so as I butter my croissant, I ask the first question that comes to mind. “So, what is this about a Winter’s End Ball?”
“What?” Caleb asks, nearly choking on his juice and dribbling some down his chin. I can’t help but giggle a bit as I hand him a napkin.
“You know, the ball you and your friends were talking about at dinner last night.”
“Oh, right, that,” he says, dabbing his face dry. “What about it?”
“Do you have a date?” I ask.
“No, I don’t have a date,” he returns, a deer-in-the-headlights expression instantly forming on his face.
“Are you going to ask…someone?” I finish, even though the way he’s acting tells me I don’t want to know.
“Imogen,” he starts, reaching across the table and taking my hand. “I really like you, but I can’t bring you to the dance.”
“That’s fine,” I say, glad to realize I actually mean it.
“Really?” he asks, surprised.
I don’t care if he doesn’t take me, but I do want to be clear that I don’t want him taking someone else.
“I’ve been told the Unseelie Court might not accept me,” I say. “I hope they will eventually. I mean, what’s the point of you being my boyfriend if we don’t have at least a chance at a future together? But I know it will take time for them to accept us.”
“Right,” he says. “Yeah, it’s just too soon is all.”
“But I did have something about the Unseelie I wanted to ask,” I continue. “I’ve noticed the only people who have gotten sick have been Seelie Fae. Do you think there is anything to that?”
“The Unseelie aren’t evil, Imogen.” He’s instantly on the defensive, red creeping into his cheeks. He pulls his hand off mine, and stares down at his food. Apparently, I hit a hot button.
“I know that,” I soothe. “I’m not saying they are. I’d be asking the same thing of the Seelie if it were Unseelie students who were getting sick. I swear. But I told you that if I had any more questions about the Unseelie, I would come to you.”
He’s silent for a moment, but I can see he is calming down.
“Given the circumstance,” he finally says slowly, “I can understand why you might think an Unseelie might be behind the illnesses.”
He goes quiet again while he seems to ponder this. I stay silent, letting him talk to me when he is ready.
“I don’t know why someone would be putting a hex or curse on the Seelie students,” he says. “It could honestly be anything. Grudges between the Seelie and Unseelie court or between Seelie and Unseelie families go back ages. This could just be a personal vendetta or something much larger. I have no way of knowing.”
“I see,” I say, not knowing what else to say, but wanting to encourage him to keep going nonetheless.
“And that’s if the motivation is court related at all,” he continues. “We don’t know that it is. It could just be a coincidence that the sick Fae are Seelie. There could be something else connecting them. Have you looked for any other similarities?”
“No…” I squirm, almost ashamed to admit it. “It just stood out so prominently I wanted to follow the lead and either prove it or rule it out before looking elsewhere.”
“Well, maybe start looking for other similarities while ruling out that this is a court issue,” he reasonably suggests before he stands and picks up his tray.
He leans down, kissing me on the top of the head as he passes by. A shock of heat runs through my whole body. “I have to get to class. See you later.”
“See you,” I return, trying to hide my delight at the gesture, but uneasy at the abrupt departure.
He hadn’t eaten much, and I’m certainly not done. I hadn’t expected our breakfast to end so quickly. It doesn’t take a Fae scientist to figure out what happened here.
Jeez, we haven’t even been boyfriend and girlfriend for a day, and I’ve already made him mad. He held his cool, though, which is awesome. I seem to be the only fire Fae with a temper. Of course, I’ve seen what happens when I totally lose it. I bet most fire Fae spend their whole lives learning to control their emotions so they don’t burn their houses down. This is something I need to work on. I’d ask Erick about it if he hadn’t ended our tutoring sessions.
I wait a few more minutes before bussing my tray. The cafeteria is nearly empty. Everyone has gone to class. I should probably get to mine. People will notice if I skip. But at the same time, this could be my only chance to investigate the other students’ rooms for clues.
I make my way back to Pyralis Hall, but stop on the second floor where Ferria’s room is. I know it’s crazy to even be thinking of breaking into her room, but she is the only connection I have. It could be any Unseelie behind the poisoning and the attacks, but I’m betting Ferria is either involved or knows who is.
I knock on her door, and when no one answers, I try the handle.
Locked.
Of course it is. I lock my room when I go out, too.
Now what? What exactly had I planned? I’ve never broken into anywhere before. How am I going to get into her room?
I bend down and look at the lock. It’s pretty simple. I bet I could pick it pretty easily if I had something to work with. I’ve seen it done on TV before in a variety of ways. I don’t have a credit card, though, so I’ll need something else.
I sigh and lean against the door. I might have something back in my room I can use. Maybe I should bring a knife from the dining hall at next meal.
As I start to walk away in defeat, I slip my hands into my pocket. My fingertips graze the paperclip I “won” at the faèdahunt. Thank you, brownies.
I imagine it will work a lot better than a knife.
I trot back to the door, looking both ways to make sure the coast is clear before I kneel in front of it. Even without experience, how hard can it be? I unfold the small clip, forming a little hook at the end. Once I slip it into the lock, I start twisting it around, hoping it will catch on something.
After a few minutes of messing around, my heart in my throat for fear of getting caught, I’m about to give up. I start to pull the paperclip out from the keyhole when I hear an audible click. It unlocked!
“Yes,” I jump up and exclaim.
I slap my hand over my mouth, darting anxious eyes around to make sure no one is around to have heard me, but I don’t see anyone. I gently turn the handle, open the door, and slip inside the room.
The room is rather unremarkable. It is set up just like mine, with two beds, two desks, and two trunks at the foot of each aforementioned bed. There is a large closet on one wall. I have no idea which bed or desk belong to Ferria, but I figure it doesn’t matter. Her roommate is probably just as involved. I go to each bed and run my hands under the mattresses and pillows, looking for clues.
Nothing.
Then I go over to the desks. There are some interesting things on them: various bottles and books. The bottles aren’t clearly labeled. Some seem to have letters or just one word written on them, but they don’t mean anything to me. They could be poisons, or they could be moisturizers, but I’m not able to tell the difference.
Turning to the books, I open the top one, but it is written in a language I can’t read. If it was written in Fae, I should be able to read it, since that’s supposed to happen automatically, even for halflings who have never been taught the language. It has to be something else. But what, I don’t have a clue.
I wish I had my phone. That way, I could take a picture and ask someone what it says, or at least what language it’s written in. I check the next book, and the next. I can’t read any of them. I sit down on the bed, frustrated, before hurriedly jumping back up. Not wanting to leave any evidence I was here, I straighten the covers and make sure the desks don’t look rifled through. I’m sure they aren’t exactly as they were, but hopefully no one will pay attention.
I’m at a complete dead end. There is nothing here of any use, and I don’t know where to look next.
Okay, let me think.
Why did I think the attacks on Ohdows and the sick students were related? Oh, right. Ohdows is the hall of the earth students, and the sick students are returning to the earth. Maybe they are related, but not in the way I think. Maybe there is some feud going back and forth. The fire students attacked the Ohdows students, and in retaliation, the earth students have created a curse that returns their enemies to the earth. That would make sense, right?
But the students who are sick are from all different halls, not just fire, which means Caleb is right. I need to find a new connection between the sick Fae besides just their court. But what? The sick students are all different types of Fae. They are in different years. They aren’t related. Of course, I don’t know any of them very well. Are they in the same clubs? Are their parents connected in some way? I’ll need to talk to Ella and Dannika about this. They might know something I don’t. Heck, they always know something I don’t.
I pace the room before opening one of the closet doors. It is packed to the gills with clothes and shoes.
I’ve been in Fae for almost four months. I realize I have now been in one place longer than I have in probably two years. Yet, I still haven’t collected even a fraction of what these girls own. I also haven’t really unpacked. I keep all of my belongings in my bag in the chest at the foot of my bed. My school books are the only things on my desk. I’m still ready to go at a moment’s notice, even though I’m not planning on having to leave. I guess it will take me a lot longer to get rid of old habits. Habits that keep me unsettled.
Maybe that is why I am looking into this so hard when no one else seems concerned. I’m looking for a reason to be unhappy here, a reason to leave. A reason to run. After I attacked Ferria, they would have been within their right to expel me. Damon seemed determined to see me kicked out on my butt. But I took the risk, anyway. It was so dumb. I finally have a home, friends, a place I can stay for the rest of my life, and I almost threw it all away. And that wasn’t the only time I put my placement here at risk. What the hell is wrong with me?
Voices echo from the hallway. I jump, fear making me break out in a cold sweat. Crap! Is class over already?
I run to the door, and put my ear to it. I can hear them more clearly, along with footsteps and doors opening and closing. I don’t know if Ferria and her roommate are among them, but I need to get out of here.
I lock the door, backing away in dread. My mind is racing. I open the closet and try to jam myself in, but there is just no room. The trunk is too small. The beds go all the way to floor, so there is no space to hide under them.
“I’m just going to get my gym bag,” I hear Ferria say. Oh, gods. She’s coming!
I throw open a window and look out, but there is nowhere to go. There are no balconies or trees I can reach. I’m on the third floor. If I hit the ground, I’ll surely break something, or worse. Not to mention that it’s between classes. There are lots of people walking around. Someone is sure to see me if I jump.
I turn to the door, and I see the handle turn.
But there’s nothing I can do.
I’m trapped.
Seventeen
I’m a few seconds away from being caught in Ferria’s room, and it is so not going to end well. I’m left with two completely sucky choices. Either let her find me in here, or make the jump, risking being seen by others and getting hurt.
Somehow, a broken leg and a few witnesses sounds like a better bet. After all, there’s always Fae magic to heal any sustained wounds.
Still, I’ve broken bones before. I really don’t want to repeat that experience.
Maybe there’s another way. I can try distracting her.
Heart pounding, I spot a tree nearby. Summoning my fire, I send a blast straight toward it. I don’t stick around long enough to see if it hit its target. Racing across the room, I stand right next to the door. When it swings open, I’m now standing behind it.
Please don’t close the door! Please don’t close the door!
“Hey, Ferria,” I hear someone say. “Did you get my note?”
“I did, but I lost it,” she says. “What did it say?”
“No wonder you missed the meeting,” the other voice says. “We need to start practicing much harder if we want to be the chess champions.”
Chess?
“I know,” Ferria says. “Those other players are just so good, though. Maybe we can learn from them.”
“Anyone in our way is an enemy!” the other girl interjects. “We need to take them down.”
Ferria laughs. “Chill, girl. Your competitive nature is going to get you k—”
“Fire,” someone yells. “Fire in the quad!”
“Oh, jeez,” Ferria says and runs out of the room, leaving her door wide open.
There are a few more yells and a scream. The running of feet as people leave the dorm to see what is happening. I wait a minute for things to clear before I attempt to make my escape. I don’t want anyone to see me leaving her room.
I dart from behind the door to the other side, risking a peek into the hallway. Relief fills me at the sight of the empty hall, and I book it up to my own room as if my own tail was on fire. When I get there, Dannika is looking out the window.
“Imogen,” she calls when she sees me. “Where have you been? Have you see the fire?”
“What’s going on?” I ask, as if I don’t know. I walk over, peering outside. The whole tree is engulfed, and people are working to put it out. There are many wee Fae folk gathered around, looking distraught. Some of the Fae who can use water or wind to fly are zipping around the tree, rescuing the wee folk who are trapped in the up
per branches.
“So tragic,” Dannika says. “I hope everyone got out. That tree is hundreds of years old. Some of the wee folk have been living there for generations.”
Like a zombie, I shuffle to my bed and sink down, putting my head in my hands. I’m going to cry or throw up. Either way, I feel sick and disgusted with myself. I just destroyed that tree, along with the homes of countless creatures to save my own ass for breaking into someone else’s room.
Chess enemies! Who calls a chess opponent an enemy? What a drama queen!
No, I can’t blame my stupidity on her. I read way too much into that note, I had no business breaking into Ferria’s room. I messed up. Bad. Again.
“What’s wrong?” Dannika asks, coming to my side. “You aren’t sick, are you?” She puts her hand to my forehead when I glance up, but I bat her away.
“I’m fine,” I snap. “What are you, den mother?”
“Sorry…” She’s taken aback by my tone, but chooses to ignore it. “I’m just a little on edge. Another student fell sick today in class.”
“Who?” I ask.
“Finch,” she replies.
“Finch?” I ask. “Finch Ashfire?”
“Yeah,” she says. “Why?”
“But Finch is Unseelie,” I say.
“Yeah, but why does that matter?” she asks.
“All the other students who were poisoned were Seelie,” I point out. “Or, who I thought were poisoned. The other students who were ill.”
“Oh right,” she says. “That is the angle you were pursuing.”
“Then what’s the connection?” I’m frustrated, starting to feel hopeless. “What do all the students have in common if it isn’t their court?”
Dannika shrugs. “They all go to school here.”
My entire world is falling apart. No, that’s not even right. The Fae realm isn’t my world. It’s my father’s world. I’m just visiting it. Visiting it and ruining people’s lives in the process.
Dannika stands back up, once again studying the fire. “Whoever was attacking Ohdows has certainly ramped things up.”
My face goes hot. “You think whoever set the tree on fire is the person behind the attacks on Ohdows?”
