Page 5

VIOLET

Although we’re not wearing bloodied clothes, we’re shabby and dirty as we sneak back into the academy early afternoon.

Most students and teachers are in lessons, but we can’t avoid informing Mrs. Lorcan about our return and must do so before others see us.

Holly’s reappearance will certainly cause some waves through the student masses, and I’m concerned whether Holly is physically and mentally well enough to face the social melee.

Therefore, Holly and I must face Mrs. Lorcan in our current state before we encounter students, while Rowan and Leif sneak back to their rooms to clean up. People may’ve missed their short absence, but if all four of us descend on Mrs. Lorcan’s office, she’ll ask questions.

Not that we’ll avoid them now.

One positive aspect? Mrs. Lorcan dislikes Dorian’s involvement in the academy and is unlikely to contact him straightaway.

I hope.

Exhaustion rims Holly’s eyes with dark circles, but it’s the dullness that’s returned to them that concerns me.

“How are your injuries?” I ask as we make our way along the hallway toward Mrs. Lorcan’s office.

“Physical or mental?” She side-glances at me.

“Physical. Must I prevent people from touching you now?”

Holly wrinkles her nose as we wander into the quiet administration area. “I’m sore and my head hurts from… earlier. Such a shame you don't have healing abilities.”

“To go along with the death-dealing ones?” I ask.

She pulls a face. “What if Mrs. Lorcan calls my parents straightaway?”

“That is a risk we must take. If you don’t want to leave the academy, your mother and father would be unwise to forcibly remove you.”

“Mmm.” Holly chews on a fingernail revealed by a missing artificial one.

The first day I saw one of Holly’s nails fall off, I panicked, positive she’d bleed and pass out—until Holly explained the human desire to wear fake nails.

Humans spend a lot of time faking.

Holly suggested I ‘try them out,’ as she often does when attempting to embrace me into her world, but I explained the false attachments would fall off if something triggered my vampire half, when my real nails become claw-like.

Holly never asked again.

I’d held concern that Mrs. Lorcan might not be in her office, but as we round the corner toward the administration area, she’s standing in her open doorway, watching a man and woman walk away. Teachers? They’re out of sight before I catch a closer look.

Is the headmistress, in her houndstooth skirt suit and pinned-up hair, part of a plot to destabilize the academy?

Or is the witch with the warmth she bestows on almost all but me merely a victim of outside forces?

She dislikes my father, but she is at pains to maintain the harmony that’s rapidly evaporating from the student houses and academy.

Mrs. Lorcan stares as we approach, for once fixated on my friend more than me. “Holly?”

“We would like to speak with you, Mrs. Lorcan,” I say, and pointedly look at the retreating couple. “If you’re free now.”

We exchange one of our unwavering, equally inscrutable looks before the headmistress’s attention returns to Holly.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you at the academy this morning, Holly. Or at all.”

“Holly and I made a snap decision to return from Scotland,” I say, gesturing into her office. “Shall we?”

As I walk into the room, Mrs. Lorcan hurries past me, toward her messy desk.

She sweeps papers into a pile and places a small, burgundy bound book into a desk drawer.

I catch a glimpse of a silver object inside before she hastily closes it.

No key, although her fingers rest against the bronze handle for a few moments.

Sealing spell?

Intriguing.

I turn my attention to the intricate gray gargoyles above her unlit fireplace rather than risk her noticing my scrutiny. Holly sidles in beside me, and Mrs. Lorcan closes the door.

“A student informed me that you were in Scotland with Violet's family for recuperation, Holly. Although I’ve no idea how that place and its horrific past could recuperate anybody.”

“Correct. But we had an altercation with my father and left,” I say.

“An altercation ?” She studies me. “One that involved lying in the dirt? The pair of you are covered in muck.”

“A misguided blood rune spell,” I reply with a tight smile. “We emerged in the woods and not Thornwood campus.”

Mrs. Lorcan scoffs. “A mistake ? By you ? Surely not.”

“We can all make errors of judgement, Mrs. Lorcan.”

She glares. “Your three male companions missed class today. A coincidence?”

“Grayson often misses class.” I swallow down the panic at the thought of him. “As for Leif and Rowan, I am not responsible for their whereabouts. None of them joined us in Scotland; Dorian doesn’t like my male associates.”

“Hmm.” She pivots to face Holly. “Do your parents know where you are now?”

“No,” she says softly. “But I expect Dorian will tell them that I left his estate.”

“And inform your parents that you’re missing from his promised protection?

Unlikely. That would involve admitting weakness and failure.

” Mrs. Lorcan shakes her head. “Sorry, Holly, but I can’t afford to cause issues between the academy and humans; we have too many students leaving.

I must communicate to your parents where you are. ”

“No!” Holly clears her throat. “Please. I want to stay at the academy with my friends and have my life return to normal.”

“I don't want more attention on Thornwood than there already is,” she replies.

“Such as the full moon rumors?” I ask and the headmistress looks at me sharply. “What steps are you taking?”

For a moment, Mrs. Lorcan doesn’t reply, our gazes locked. “I believe your father plans extra security measures around the academy on that night. Should I expect his arrival soon, especially considering Holly’s return?”

“I hope not,” I say with honesty. “Dorian might remove me from Thornwood. He’s of the opinion that the academy isn’t the right environment for me. I hold grave concerns that I may be forced into another human high school.”

“A normal school may be the best place for you , Holly,” says Mrs. Lorcan.

“Not until we uncover those responsible for the attack,” I say.

“But wasn’t the shifter involved in the attack on Holly caught?” Mrs. Lorcan frowns. “Therefore, Holly would be safe.”

I suck my lips together and will Holly not to mention Dashiell. “Yes, but there’s the possible connection between the attack on Holly, and Wesley Willis’s death. Whatever the humans say, I don’t believe we’ve located all the culprits.”

The room takes on an eerie silence, and Mrs. Lorcan glances at the seat Mr. Willis once occupied. I itch to creep into her mind and uncover her thoughts on the matter. The woman shares my skill in pulling on a neutral face when needed, but wouldn’t a sorrowful look be more appropriate?

“Can I stay at the academy for one night?” interrupts Holly. “Don’t tell my parents that I’m here until tomorrow. Dad would leave straightaway to collect me, and we live six hours away. He can’t drive in the dark.”

“Does his car not have headlights?” I ask.

“No. In the dark . What if something happens on a lonely road? A supernatural attack?” I fight a smile at Holly’s borderline theatrics. “And I haven’t seen my friends for days. Let me spend one evening with them? Please .” She pauses. “I’d cause suspicion if I disappeared from campus straightaway.”

“Why? Do other students know you're back?” asks Mrs. Lorcan.

“Nothing remains a secret at this academy for long. Well. Apart from well concealed ones,” I say to her. Another withering look at my pointed comment. “And I agree that Holly should remain for a night rather than call her parents straightaway.”

“Please,” urges Holly.

“Unless there’s a reason you’d rather she didn’t?” I suggest. “I personally don’t think it’s correct for you to send Holly unprotected into the human world. If anything were to happen?—”

Mrs. Lorcan inhales and walks stiffly to the door. “One night. But if Violet's father discovers?—”

“Unlikely,” I interrupt. “He has more important things to worry about than an insignificant human.”

“Insignificant?” Mrs. Lorcan straightens. “There’s nothing insignificant about Holly.”

Aha . “What do you mean?”

“That every human at this academy is significant, Violet.” She turns the door handle. “And I’m sure that Holly is especially significant to you considering the help she’s given you.”

“Help?”

“Her assistance with integrating with your peers.” She pauses. “Or attempts to. Holly, please return to my room at nine a.m. tomorrow, and we shall contact your parents together.”

“And Dorian?” I ask as Mrs. Lorcan opens the door. “Will you speak to him today?”

“For once, we’re in agreement, Violet.” She waves a hand to usher us out. “I don’t require or desire Dorian Blackwood’s interference in the academy and my decisions. He’ll arrive in his own time, and soon, but not due to my contacting him.”

I nod as I pass Mrs. Lorcan, Holly breathing her thanks to the headmistress as she follows. The door clicks closed behind us, and I pause. “Mrs. Lorcan is hiding something,” I say quietly.

“Yes. She definitely has secrets.” Holly pulls at my hand. “I need a shower and clean clothes. Come on.”

My eyes remain fixed on the door. “No. Mrs. Lorcan is hiding something . In that room.”