“What are you doing here?” I asked, remembering too late that I wasn’t supposed to know him very well; we’d just met recently as far as Brendon knew. I covered, lamely, with, “Your fan club is over there and obviously disappointed that you shunned them.” I nodded toward the cheerleader table.
He glanced their way and blushed when he saw they were all looking at him, at least one with an angry pout. “I prefer the company at this table.”
“I thought you were instructed to stay home and recover from the accident you had yesterday,” Alec said.
“I’m fine. I have an important assignment to do and it was just a waste of time to sit home when there’s nothing wrong with me.”
“What kind of accident were you in yesterday?” Brendon asked.
Before he could answer, though, Chari stepped up to our table and dropped her lunch tray next to my unopened sack lunch.
“Sasha, why do you sit here with all these boys? I feel like it’s my duty as a fellow female to sit with you and even things out a little—although, two girls to four boys is probably overkill. We way outnumber them in brain cells.”
I laughed and Brendon threw a French fry at her.
“You interrupted,” Brendon chided. “Johnathan was just about to tell us what happened to him yesterday.”
Johnathan made up some story about falling down a flight of stairs. I really wanted to continue the conversation Chari and I had started in first period, but I didn’t know how to bring it back to that subject without causing a major downward spiral in the mood at our happy little table.
I saw we had only five more minutes of lunch left. During a short lull in the conversation—centered around football, what else?—I looked at Chari and said, “You mentioned a new Psychology teacher this morning, a Mr. Davis? What’s he like? Where’s his classroom?” I admit, I could never be a news reporter; I suck at segues.
As I’d feared, Chari’s mood darkened, but she answered me anyway. “He gives me the creeps. I was in his class at the beginning of the year, but I checked out after the first day. His eyes are weird, like his pupils are elongated or something, not round. He spent the entire hour the first day just taking turns staring into our eyes without saying anything. It was too über-creepy for me. I’ll show you where his classroom is when you’re done eating if you want.”
Elongated pupils struck a chord; Mr. Grewa had mentioned the same thing. That detail was significant; the Fae people always had something different with their eyes—be it no pupils, all pupils, no white, funny-shaped pupils—they all had eyes that deviated from the human norm. I wasn’t sure what elongated pupils meant, but I needed to find out.
“Yeah, I’m ready whenever you are. I’m not very hungry today.” I tossed my unopened paper sack at Seth. “You can have that.”
I followed Chari down a dim hallway I hadn’t known existed. It was tucked between the boys’ locker room and the weight training room—two areas where I’d never had the need or desire to explore before. We reached Mr. Davis’ door just as the bell rang. I tried the knob; it was locked, of course. Sometime since Chari had watched Ashley disappear into the inner sanctum of his classroom, Mr. Davis had covered the window of his door with thick black paper, so I couldn’t even look inside.
“We’d better get to class,” Chari said. “This whole area gives me the heebie-jeebies. I don’t remember this hallway or room even being here before this year, and I’m pretty sure there was no construction going on this summer.”
What I really wanted to do was unlock the door and go exploring. I couldn’t do that in front of Chari, though, so I settled for a quick ward-check. I placed the palm of my right hand on the door and opened my senses. I instantly felt the magical ward that protected the door. I was shocked to find I could actually see the ward, too. That was not something I’d ever been able to do before. The intricate weave was made up of hundreds of different-colored blood vessels, still pulsing with life and blood. I slammed shut my senses with a shudder. The ward was made with Dark Magic that made my skin crawl.
Chari and I walked back to our lockers together. We talked along the way, mostly about Brendon. “Do you think Brendon likes me? I wish he’d ask me out,” she said.
“What’s not to like?” I asked. “I can suggest to him that he ask you out.”
Her eyes lit up. “Would you? Maybe we can double—me and Brendon and you and Johnathan.”
I stopped. “Uh … Johnathan, huh? Why do you suggest Johnathan?”
“Oh, come on. Any idiot can see the way he looks at you, like you’re the most amazing thing he’s ever seen. Like you’re a full-course Thanksgiving dinner and he’s a starving animal that hasn’t eaten in a week. And, you watch him with about the same intensity when he isn’t looking.”
I didn’t realize my infatuation was so obvious. She had no idea how close she was to the reality of the situation when she compared me to food and him to a starving animal. All I could do was laugh and say, “Okay, I’ll see what I can do about setting you up with Brendon.”
The laugh ended when a chill ran down my spine and a strong feeling of foreboding invaded my senses. My eyes were drawn across the hallway. Mr. Jorgenson stood there, watching us. His face was partially hidden in shadow; giving it an even stronger look of evil. He didn’t turn away or even try to pretend he wasn’t staring at Chari and me; he just smiled a disturbing smile and nodded his head like he’d just had the greatest idea since iPod.
That man made me furious. I wanted to wipe that vicious grin off his face, but right there, in the middle of a hallway full of students, wasn’t the right time to do it. So, I just gave him the universal I’m-watching-you sign—I pointed to my eyes with two fingers and then turned them slowly to point at him. I didn’t even try to hide the look of disgust and fury on my face. I did succeed in wiping the grin off his face—and I didn’t even have to cause chaos to do it.
His brows drew into an angry scowl and I could almost hear his teeth grinding together from clear across the hall. He took one step toward me—yes, I still stared him down—and then turned sharply and fled the scene.
I huffed out a small, mirthless laugh and caught up to Chari. “See ya later,” I said when she turned into the doorway of her class. We were both late; the bell had rung during my stare-off contest with the principal.
“See ya, Sasha. Don’t forget to talk to Brendon.” She smiled, her cheeks a little flushed.
I really had a hard time concentrating in Pre-Calc. I just wanted to get back home and start making some real plans. I had some information I hoped would help us end this madness and I wanted to get on with it.
Mrs. Penrod asked me to answer a question I didn’t even hear, so I just answered, “Pi-R-Squared?”
She shook her head in exasperation and called on someone else.
Finally Geography, my last class of the day, and the one class I had with Seth. I slumped into a seat and waited for him. In the hallway, between classes, I found myself looking over my shoulder to see if Mr. Evil was lurking somewhere, ready to turn me into a toad. Paranoia—even when it’s justified—is exhausting to the body and soul.
In a hushed voice, I gave Seth the rundown on my earlier encounter with Mr. Jorgenson. He shook his head and said, “You probably shouldn’t have done that, Paige. None of the rest of us are even on his radar—well, maybe I am, because I’m your brother—but you’ve been on his radar since day one. You’d think you’d try to get off it, but you just keep making even bigger bleeps on his screen.”
“He infuriates me. I just want to blast him off the face of the earth.” The lights in the room flickered and then went out.
“Settle down before you start shooting lightning bolts from your fingertips.”
I looked down at my hands and saw that I was building up power in my fingertips. They let off little blue sparks of energy—not a good thing in a dimly lit room. I closed my hands into fists and placed them on my lap under the desk while I concentrated on shutting down the magi
c. I used to have such good control, I thought as I took slow, deep breaths to calm down.
The teacher opened the blinds on the windows in the room and started class as if nothing had happened. One of the students had noticed my sparking hands; he stared at me, open-mouthed, and then asked if he could be excused.
For the rest of the class period, my right leg bounced up and down at the speed of a jackhammer. Seth kept watching me like he thought I would spontaneously combust.
After the final bell, I told Seth I was going to grab my jacket out of my locker and I would meet them near the front of the school. I saw no signs of Mr. Jorgenson nearby. I grabbed my jacket and started walking. Chari came up beside me.
“Hey, Sasha. What are your plans this afternoon?”
I couldn’t tell her my plan was to go to the Underground home I shared with four other teenagers and plot the downfall of the evil school principal. That just sounded crazy. So I improvised, like I do so well.
“Umm … no plans … really, I guess.”
“Do you want to hang out and watch football practice with me?”
“Yeah, sure. That sounds like fun.” Dang it! I’d forgotten all about football practice—my strategizing session would have to wait because I knew there was no way Alec and Seth would give up one more day of their masculine male-bonding activities, especially with the knowledge it would soon be over anyway. I tried to look on the positive side; Chari seemed really fun to be around and maybe I could get some more helpful information from her.
I felt a little guilty that Halli had been alone for most of the day and would be alone even longer. I even considered contacting her through our necklace link, but decided against it. I didn’t want her to come blazing in thinking the battle had begun. Sometimes I was envious of all the cell phone junkies surrounding me.
At the front entrance, right next to the office, I felt that same cold chill I’d felt earlier—he was somewhere nearby, watching us. I walked slower and turned my head toward the office; I turned my body and walked backwards a few steps. As I continued the slow circle, I spotted him leaning against the wall opposite the office, next to the vending machines. He stared right at me. I stopped walking when his attention turned with obvious purpose to Chari. She continued a few steps before realizing I’d stopped, still talking about the football team—and Brendon, of course.
I watched Mr. Jorgenson. Even took a step toward him. The look in his eyes as he watched Chari was one of a predator who had just spotted its next kill. He actually licked his lips as he turned his gaze back to me, grinning like a psychotic clown from an insane asylum circus. He nodded again like he had in the hallway before pre-calc. I closed my hands into fists as I felt the power trying to exit through my fingertips.
“Hey, Sasha … what’s wrong?” Chari finally noticed I’d stopped walking.
Deep breath, in. And. Out. “Nothing … I’m just looking for the boys. We were supposed to meet around here somewhere.”
“Oh, well, maybe they’re waiting outside.”
“Yeah, maybe.” I continued to meet Mr. Jorgenson’s gaze until my view of him was blocked by a group of kids. I jumped when someone came up behind me and put hands on my shoulders.
“Whoa, a little jumpy there, Sasha.” It was Brendon. “What are you two doing?”
“Oh, hi,” I said. “We’re just looking for Seth and the guys … thinking about watching your practice.” I looked over at Chari, whose cheeks flamed red.
“That’s a great idea. Don’t worry, I won’t tell the other guys you’re only coming to watch my stellar skills and gaze longingly at my posterior in tight football pants.” He turned to Chari and smiled. “Maybe we can go to the diner and get shakes after practice, my treat.”
“Um …” Chari’s face turned even redder. She must have been even newer at this crush thing than I was. “That’d be great. I love shakes.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, maybe. Let’s go see if my brother’s waiting outside.” I took one more glance in the direction of the vending machines, sure my stalker would be gone. He wasn’t. He was there, leaning against the wall. Now he looked at Brendon with the same predatory look he’d been using on Chari a minute before. What is going through his maniacal mind?
Alec, Seth and Johnathan were waiting out in front of the school, next to the electronic marquee flashing the date and time of the next home football game. They must have been standing a little too close because the LED lights kept flickering off and on. Chari and Brendon walked a few steps ahead of me.
A cold gust of wind whisked my jacket from where I’d slung it on my shoulder and blew it behind me onto the grass. I walked over to pick it up. When I stood and turned back toward the others, Mr. Jorgenson blocked my way.
Anger and fear prickled my insides. I opened my mouth to ask him what he wanted and he pressed a cold, long, thin finger to my lips. “Shhh, Sasha. I just wanted to ask you how you enjoyed the party on Friday night. I heard you had quite a screaming time. Be sure to let me know when you need more.”
He smiled, and spiders crawled out from between his teeth and out of his nose … eyes … ears. I closed my eyes and tried not to scream. I was mostly successful, letting only a small hoarse cry escape my throat. I don’t think anyone but Jorgenson and Johnathan—with his hyper-sensitive ears—heard it. I felt Mr. Jorgenson’s finger abruptly leave my lips, and when I opened my eyes, Johnathan was there between us. I couldn’t see what his eyes looked like, but they must have been terrifying because Mr. Bully Principal was backing up, and his spider-infested grin had been replaced by a grimace.
fter football practice, at which Johnathan stayed within two feet of me at all times, watching for Mr. Jorgenson to reappear, we all graciously declined Brendon’s invitation to his diner to get shakes and sent him and Chari off on their own. Chari was … well … giddy is the only word I can think of. And, Brendon was totally into her, too. As we parted ways, he reached down and held her hand. She turned to look at me with the world’s hugest smile on her freckled face. I smiled back and waved goodbye.
We returned home just around dusk; the setting sun had turned the clouds into a prism of pastel colors. I took one last, long look at the beautiful sunset before descending into the darkness.
Halli was just taking off her jacket when we reached the bottom of the stairs into our home. “Where have you been?” I asked.
“At Joe’s store. I was tired of sitting around by myself, and I figured when no one was home by four-thirty or so that you’d all stayed at the school for practice. So, I went to see Joe, since he’s really the only person I know here besides you guys.”
I felt guilty again for leaving her by herself all day. “Sorry, Hal. I found out some good information today and I think we need to sit down and make a plan.”
“It’s no big deal,” she said. “I understand. I just wish I could be more help.”
“Just be ready to come to the rescue when we call for you,” Seth said. “I don’t like the idea of being in a firefight without you there.”
Halli’s lips twitched up just a little at the edges. “I’ll be there as fast as I can run. Maybe faster,” she added cryptically.
“What do you mean by that?” I asked.
“Nothing. Joe gave me a pan of homemade enchiladas. I’m going to go warm them up, and then you can tell us about your information-gathering.”
The enchiladas were wonderful and almost made up for missing another shake at Lucky’s. I told them what I’d learned that day from Chari and Mr. Grewa. Alec added some information he’d learned from one of the kids in his Spanish class—there were more than just the three lackeys that knew where to get Sentience outside of the parties. He’d gotten a boy to tell him the names of two other boys with connections.
I listened with a jealous twinge as Johnathan told us that one of his cheerleaders had seen Mr. Davis enter the door in the back of his classroom with one of those boys and only Mr. Davis came back out. She swore the kid came back later through th
e front classroom door, sweaty like he’d been running.
“So, what’s our next step?” I asked. “We need to end this before anyone else dies.”
“Agreed,” Johnathan said. “I think our goal should be to find out more about Mr. Davis and the door in his classroom. We do that tomorrow. I have a feeling that’s where we’ll find the drug. Then we destroy it.”
“And, Mr. Jorgenson and Davis along with it,” I said.
“Are you sure they’re the ones responsible for all this?” Halli asked.
“There is not a doubt in my mind that Jorgenson is the one spearheading this operation. And, I’m almost as sure Davis is in on it with him—after tomorrow, I intend to be a hundred percent sure.”
“How can you be so sure, Paige?” Seth asked, not in an argumentative way, but with concern. I’m sure he was thinking he didn’t want to destroy anyone, but if he did, he wanted to know it was truly a bad guy.
“She’s sure and so am I.” Johnathan’s face wrinkled. “He smells wrong … like darkness and rot.”
I nodded. “I’ve soul-gazed with him, remember, Seth?”
He nodded. “Okay, so what’s our plan for tomorrow?”
No one spoke up. Finally, Alec said what we were probably all thinking. “I think we’re gonna have to use Paige’s unfortunate ingestion to our advantage.” He turned to face me more fully. “You’re gonna have to solicit one of his thugs for more of the drug. Like you’re really needing it. Hopefully he’ll take you to the secret door in Mr. Davis’s classroom and you can see what’s in there. Just don’t drink anymore of that stuff, ‘kay?”
“I’d rather die,” I whispered.
“Don’t say that,” Johnathan snapped.
Silence fell over the large room—you could have heard the proverbial pin drop. I was looking down at the table thinking he was a bit of a hypocrite. Hadn’t he just tried to tell me yesterday that I should have just let him die?
Five: Out of the Dark Page 20
