Chapter 18
I wake up with a massive cramp in my arm.
Possibly because the little girl is nestled tightly between me and Willow in my single bed.
Not the best night of sleep I’ve ever had, but no matter.
Carefully, I edge off the mattress, trying not to wake the other two, then shake some blood into my dead limb. The girl shifts and curls into a tiny ball, her fist white-knuckled around Willow’s sleeve.
Stepping into the main basement, Ludo’s eyes immediately fly open.
“Hey," I whisper. “Just heading up to the loo.”
—I’ll keep watch here—
“Thanks.”
I navigate the dim foyer in the pre-dawn gray light, then head upstairs to attend to my business. After, I stop by Willow’s room, make a trayful of cocoas, then shove several of her granola bars in a pocket.
When I return, the shower is running, and the basement is filling with steam. I put down the mugs and hand out granola bars.
“I’m going to help her get clean,” my bestie whispers. “And encourage her to have a good lengthy pee down the drain at the same time. I realized the poor little mite must have been crossing her legs for hours!”
Gods, of course. I’m so thankful for her common sense.
It gives me an even deeper sense of certainty that the plan we came up with last night is the right one.
—I will go procure a commode—
“Thanks, Lu. Have you and River arranged a time to meet?” I ask Willow quietly.
Wills assured us her brother, River, would come to the rescue.
As a senior, he can leave the academy under certain circumstances. That’s how we’ll smuggle the child to Southernhampton. Though Mr. and Mrs. Bloomhower have no idea they’re about to become guardians to a traumatized kid.
“We’ll finesse the details at lunch break.”
Willow nods. “Ok, I’m taking our mite for a shower.”
I immediately dial into Alexis’s wavelength. —Hey, professor…you awake?—
—Yes…are you alright? Problem?—
—No, no. We’re fine…but can you work on an overnight pass for River? I think it will have to come from the dean, so I’ve no idea how you’re going to manage it—
I can almost feel a chuckle coming out of Alexis in my brain.
—That won’t be a problem—
Glad he’s so confident.
So until River can leave, we just have to keep the kid hidden.
—Morning, Tee. How’s everything at your end—
Donovan!
—Good. Making headway with the plans. You’re up early—
—Fateball practice with Johnny. Wanted to let you know that we saw some goons putting up cameras all over the grounds. Max said they are motion-activated—
Shit.
I make a new connection to all my people.
—Hey, all—
—Sparkles!—
—What time is it…did I oversleep? I’m hungry…ooh, Theo is in my brain—
Classic Dunc.
—Theodora—
And then there’s Cosmo.
I quickly report on both the plan with River, and the new information about camera surveillance.
—I’ll see if I can find a way to block the feed— Duncan replies immediately. —Though I doubt a simple wi-fi jammer will work. Maybe I can…—
—Little bro. Let’s you and me put our heads together—
—Right, good idea, Max. What do you think about…—
I interrupt before this thread gets completely taken up by technical brainstorming.
—Let’s have another brain meeting after Wills has talked to her brother—
—Sounds good, pulu. Everyone try and act like model students today—
—Paragon is my middle name, Sparkles— Max replies.
—I thought it was Elias?—
Oh, Donovan.
—Speak soon—
It’s on the tip of my tongue to add ‘love you’ but I remember in the nick of time that I’ve people other than Ludo, Alexis and Dono ‘on the line’.
Willow emerges from the steam cloud, helping the child to get dry. “Can you find clean clothes for our girl?”
“Will do.”
As Wills gently starts to detangle the kid’s hair, I raid my dresser and try to find something half-suitable for our poor little waif.
I come up with cropped lime green leggings and my white sweatshirt with a massive, glittery unicorn on it. Maybe it will bring a smile to her face. I also find my smallest socks but shoes? Oh! I have new strawberry-patterned foam shower shoes that Willow bought me.
I grab a boxcutter from Ludo’s toolkit, then cut them down until the soles are half the length. They’ll be better than nothing.
Ten minutes later, we have our charge dressed and eating a nut bar.
After the last mouthful, she strokes the iron-on unicorn transfer of her new shirt.
“You like it?” Willow asks. “Theo always has the most fun clothes.”
No reply.
Willow sighs and strokes her hair. “I’m going to go get dressed, but then I’ll grab Duncan’s game-tab. Maybe it will make the day pass quicker for our little guest.”
Ludo appears out of the tunnel carrying a white plastic seat with built-in-toilet
—I will now go and find another cot. You are not comfortable all in the same bed—
“And bring one for yourself,” I tell Ludo. “No more sleeping on the concrete.”
He shrugs, and puts a hand on my cheek. —I feel no discomfort in the service of you—
Ludo disappears into the gloomy passageway, and Willow heads upstairs.
I’m not sure how much the child is taking in, but I try to explain everything anyway as I pull on my uniform.
“Willow and I have to go to classes, but Ludo will be here. I’ll come back and check on you at lunch. I’ll bring food, is there anything you don’t like?”
I don’t get an answer.
“That’s OK, I’ll get a selection. Why don’t you get tucked up back in bed for a while?” After a pause, I add. “You are being so very brave, but I want you to know you’re safe with us. We’ll never let anything bad happen to you again.”
She kicks off the shower shoes and crawls into my bed, then covers herself completely with blankets.
I knot my brown tie and try to turn my mind to mundane stuff like classes.
???
The smell of pond water and capsicum usually makes me gag, but today, the familiar stench of Beginning Potions is oddly comforting.
A little normal in a world that has become anything but.
I’m mechanically swirling a test tube, watching it fail to change color, when Donovan’s brain echoes into my head.
—How’s your morning going so far, Tee? I’m in my Sigil & Syntax class—
—Sigil & Syntax? What’s that?—
—Your guess is as good as mine. I’ll just copy Wes’s assignment like normal and not understand a thing—
—How is he?—
There’s a pause, then I can hear the tenor change in Donovan’s thoughts. —Like a ghost. I miss him. And really I miss you, Tee. Fuck this curfew, I’m sleeping in your basement tonight—
—I love the sound of that, but it’s too risky. I’m supposed to be all hypnotised and a good little student remember? And then there’s the cameras…—
—I’m not a happy bunny— Donovan tells me. —Also…I had this idea that…—
Sadly, I don’t hear the end of his thoughts. The overhead speakers in the classroom suddenly start blaring.
“Attention all students. Attention all students.”
The robotic message is replaced by the dean’s voice. Her tone lacks all of its usual chirpiness.
"Good morning, students. Effective immediately, as instructed by the Conclave, our Validus Vale housing is going to be optimized to reflect the Conclave-ascribed magical hierarchy. Restructuring notifications are being pushed to your tablets now. The rest of today’s classes are cancelled to facilitate the moves…
” A deep sigh sounds over the loudspeaker.
“...which must be completed by curfew tonight.”
The classroom goes deathly silent for a beat, then, a chorus of digital chimes erupts.
My tablet, sitting on the workbench next to a pile of shriveled sage leaves, flashes urgently.
I don't even need to swipe. The notification is there, in huge font, on the home screen.
REASSIGNMENT: WILSON, THEODORA
CURRENT: DEFECTIVUM
NEW: ELECTUS (HIGH TOWER - SUITE 3B)
What the! No! I’ll be separated from the girl—and Ludo.
Shivers run through my body. And I’ll be in with all the Elites.
At least it’s not as terrifying as it would have been a few weeks ago. I’ll have Donovan and Max close.
And Cosmo.
And Wes.
“Theo…”
Willow is staring at her own screen, eyes wide. "I'm being moved to Communis," she whispers. “What about you?”
“Electus.”
“Darn it!”—What about the kid? We can’t abandon her—
We both look across the classroom to where Dunc sits with his lab partner, then slide out of our seats to go to him.
"I’m staying put," he grunts, slumping his head on the desk then angling his face towards us. “The Conclave obviously don’t think I’m worth promoting.
My family has money, but not the squillions that Havengard Elite respect.
And neither of my parents are involved in anything important or political. ”
Willow pats Duncan on the back. “This hierarchy stuff is all bullshit. But honestly, I’m relieved you’ll still be there. You’re going to have to…”
I finish her sentence internally.
—You’ll have to be in charge of the girl. You and Ludo—
Duncan swallows. —I don’t think children like me. Shit. What do you say to kids? I hope she likes video games—
Willow pats his arm. “You’ve got this.”
A thought occurs to me. “And I think you should move into my basement room,” I murmur.
A flicker of resignation passes over Duncan’s face then he nods. “Yeah, that will be for the best.”
My phone vibrates in the pocket.
I pull out the cell and see a text from Alexis.
ALEXIS: Newsflash- I’m now Electus House supervisor—see you at check-in.
Before I have a chance to reply, he changes to telepathy.
—Let the others know that the Conclave is introducing a new magic signature biometric scanner. Students will only have access to their assigned houses—
So, good news—having Alexis in charge of the Elite wing.
And bad news—fraternization with other houses is going to be difficult, if not impossible.
My anxiety spikes. Willow and Duncan will be so isolated.
Dr. Proctor, the potions professor, taps on a test tube to get everyone’s attention. “Clear up, students. Once all the supplies are back in the chemistry closet, you’d better get on with your moves.”
Five minutes later, Duncan, Willow and I are out the door.