Page 43 of Messenger of Death (Ouroboros Academy #2)

M ost of the academy was crowded into the pub for the vigil that was being held for the missing and dead students. Even the professors and Headmaster Mykene were here. I knew we were supposed to be doing something magical to honor the dead, but I couldn’t help looking at all the faces here.

Who wasn’t here? If I was a murderer, would I show my face at the vigil?

My eyes landed on Lola and my hackles raised.

Most people here were solemn, but Lola looked like she was holding court like several students weren’t dead or missing.

Only a few of us knew the missing students had been consumed by the void, but everyone else was worried and looking sad.

Except Lola.

Mazen was glaring at her and Radames was buried in his phone. The three of them were always together, but I hadn’t figured out that relationship. I knew Mazen was with Lola, but Radames was closed down tight. I couldn’t get a read off of him.

Everyone from my side of the school was here, at least, the ones from my class. Morgana and Saffron were sitting with us, as were Ivar, Ari, and Alexios. Petros and Elliot went where Morgana went, so they were with us, too.

The night started out with a group of sirens getting up to sing. Liam wouldn’t tell us either way if he’d been approved to sing. We didn’t know for sure until a very old siren nodded at Liam. That had to be Old Jingo. Liam reached under the table and came up empty.

“What the fuck?” he said.

Petros whipped a guitar from under his chair and handed it to Liam.

“Sorry, couldn’t help myself.”

“Dunno how you lifted an entire guitar mate, and I’m proud of you, but don’t touch my guitar again.”

Petros blew a raspberry at Liam. Liam grinned and flipped him off. Liam got up there with his guitar. Everyone had been really respectful so far, but everyone who had gotten up to sing had been really talented.

And then there was Liam. He never bragged about music or that he wrote it, but he was really good.

He nodded to a siren who caught his eye.

She darted on stage and started accompanying him on the piano and singing harmony on the chorus.

A werewolf went up there with the two of them and started playing the bongos.

The melody was beautiful and so was Liam’s voice. The lyrics were sheer poetry. Lucian’s breath caught in his throat.

“Shit, I didn’t know he had that in him. He’s really good.”

Liam was the last to sing and when he wrapped up, Professor Gefn joined us at our table.

“The Horned God being that good at music is going to change the world,” she said. “Are you getting any more trouble?”

Ivar shrugged.

“Nothing we can’t handle. It’s mostly just my class.”

“We could settle this, but it would involve spilling fairy secrets,” Saffron moaned. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Professor Gefn said. “All the various elders have secrets and there is usually an excellent reason. This might have happened much sooner. As of right now, we just need to find out who took the bones and where they put them while the rest of us deal with the living reincarnations. We obliterate the bones and they can’t reincarnate again. ”

“Should we be talking about this in public?” I asked.

“There’s magic if you don’t want to be overheard, especially in a room full of beings with enhanced hearing. I took care of that as soon as I joined you. I usually would have taught your class that by now, but some of you can’t behave and we need to listen in.”

“Fairies can do it, just not inside,” Saffron said.

“I’ve been doing it whenever you’re with me,” Morgana said. “I was waiting for you to be taught, but it sounds like there’s going to be a delay.”

Professor Gefn just snorted.

“You’re pretty much the best student in any of your classes.

You could probably teach here, eventually.

I’m not supposed to teach the freshman class that trick until the threat is gone, but no one said you couldn’t teach friends you trust. I’ve got to get back.

I mainly wanted to check in with Ivar and Ari because bad things will happen if anyone tries to get violent with either of you. ”

“Hey, does this listening spell effect electronics?” Lucian asked.

“No, just people eavesdropping. The most you can do with your electronics is locator spells if it gets lost or someone steals it and turns off find my phone,” Morgana said.

“Learned that one the hard way,” Petros said.

“I want to know how you stole my guitar,” Liam said.

“Trade secrets. You like stabbing people. Let me have my petty theft.”

“You’re eventually going to steal from someone stronger than you,” Professor Gefn said right before she left.

Petros just shrugged like he didn’t give a shit. The pub was starting to thin out, so we got up to leave. The reincarnations of Hemlock and Harami had some gall. They were here at this vigil for their victims.

I needed to find proof Lola was Hemlock and that should lead me to Harami. But how was I supposed to do that when I’d already asked Lucian and Liam to look and they didn’t find anything?

And no one else had brought up they suspected her.