Page 144 of Malcroix Bones Academy

Apparently, and to my great frustration, Graham didn’t feel like telling Draken any more than he’d already said, either. He put down his empty cup, and walked over to where Miranda and I stood.

“You ready to go back out there?” he asked, smiling as he motioned towards the dance floor. “Or do you want another drink first?”

“I’m good for now.” I held up my champagne glass. “I need to go to the loo before I tackle dancing again, though.” I looked at Miranda and Draken. “Why don’t you all go? I’ll meet you out there when I’m finished.”

Draken nodded and so did Miranda.

Draken seemed to have relaxed with me, at least. He no longer looked like he was in the mood to murder someone, and his smile even appeared genuine. Had he picked up on the fact that I wasn’t exactly head over heels about Strangemore? Listening to Graham rattle off Skyhunt statistics for the past half-hour hadn’t exactly increased my level of interest.

Strangemore glanced at me.

“Do you want me to go with you, Leda?” he asked.

“To the witches’ loo?” I laughed. “No, of course not. I won’t be long.”

I touched his arm briefly, then walked away, heading instinctively in the direction of the main doors. I’d never used the toilets in this part of the building before, but I was pretty sure I’d seen a sign near the main lobby. When I got there, however, I couldn’t find anything, and was starting to feel a little dizzy.

I walked in the direction of the east wing, and down a different corridor.

I had a class in the main building of the Mansion. Magical Objects, once a week on Tuesdays. So I knew there were toilets inthatpart of the building, if worst came to worst.

Why was I so hot?

I found a sign just before I reached the central foyer.

The door was narrow, sandwiched between two lecture halls, and looked old.

I walked in, relieved to see it was lit with those floating faery lights, and that I was alone. I used the toilet, then walked up to the sink, feeling even hotter and more dizzy than I had before.Was it the champagne? Had the combination of the different drinks gone down wrong for some reason?

I washed my hands, and glanced at my make-up in the mirror. I looked pale, even under the gold paint. I would’ve loved to splash cold water on my face, but that would be the end of Miranda’s careful make-up application.

I leaned on the sink instead, glad of the cold tile.

I was definitely done drinking for the night.

I might be done dancing, too.

Right then, I mostly wanted to go back to my dorm.

I slid back out the narrow wooden door and into the dark corridor. The music sounded far away now, and strangely distorted. The high windows on my left were blinding, with moonlight flooding through the glass and onto the stone floor.

The light was too much.

I stumbled, and suddenly found myself up against the window and glass. My hand touched the cold pane, and I was breathing harder, gasping as I tried to slow my galloping heart and breaths.

Something was wrong.

Something was wrong with me.

My mind spun backwards, trying to remember how many drinks I’d had… three? Four? I’d been dancing. I’d felt okay. Did three… even four… drinks explain this? And it hadn’t been four; it hadn’t even been three. One when I first got there. Then another when we met up with Miranda. Then a half more, with the champagne? Why had it hit so suddenly?

Maybe that champagne hadn’t been champagne.

Or maybe someone put something in it.

Somewhere in my musing, time fuzzed out.

I was outside, on a stone balcony with steps going down on either side.