Darke Academy 4: Lost Spirits (8 page)

‘Can you
imagine
?’ Sara’s brittle tones drifted across from the piste, where she was fiddling with the fastening of her neck guard. Deliberately slowly, Cassie guessed, so that her words would be loud and clear. ‘Have you ever heard of anyone leaving the Academy? For the sake of some dead trailer-trash boy?’

Cassie gasped, then frowned and tried to get up, but Richard reached up and grabbed her hand again, drawing her firmly back down.

‘It’s what she wants, C. You know it is.’

‘Then that little hussy should be careful what she wishes for,’ hissed Cassie with a glare at Sara, but she subsided on to the bench once more. ‘I know you’re right. But I still want to turn her oesophagus inside out.’

‘Of course you do, love,’ crooned Richard in his calm-down-Cassie voice. ‘And visually that would be a vast improvement, but we’ve got to be the bigger people here, right?’

Cassie spluttered a laugh, earning a furious glare from Sara that gave her almost as much satisfaction as a solid punch would have.

‘I still can’t quite believe it, though,’ murmured Richard bleakly. ‘This old place won’t be the same without Bella Isabella.’

‘To put it mildly,’ Cassie said then paused, looking up as someone came over to them. ‘Hey, Ayeesha.’

The Bajan girl sat down at Cassie’s other side, tugging off her fencing glove, then running a hand through her braids. ‘God, that Sara. What a bitch, huh? So it’s true? Isabella’s really leaving?’

Cassie sighed. She knew Ayeesha meant well, but she was already tired of talking about it, and way too miserable.

Ayeesha patted her thigh. ‘I’m sorry. I understand. It’s just that it’s so unexpected.’

‘Not really,’ put in Richard protectively, ‘when you think about it. It took guts for Isabella to come back at all this term.’

‘Cormac’s devastated. I think he’s half in love with her,’ added Ayeesha with mock-indignation.

Cassie managed a grin. ‘As if he’d dare, girl.’

‘True. Anyway, you and Isabella should come and sit with us at lunch. I’d love to see her, and otherwise you’ll get stuck with a bunch of nosy parkers pumping her for information. OK?’

‘Thanks, Ayeesha,’ said Cassie gratefully.

‘Richard can come too, if he behaves.’ She grinned over at him.

‘No chance of that, gorgeous,’ Richard retorted. ‘But I’ll join you anyway. Cassie, you look like you could do with blowing off some steam.
En garde
!’ He stood up abruptly.

Cassie followed him to the piste, noting that he’d rescued her in the nick of time from an advancing trio of curious but disappointed classmates. They sat down on the bench she and Richard had vacated, muttering darkly.

‘You’re a gent, Richard. A gent with great timing.’ She slipped on her mask and lifted her weapon.

‘I may be a gentleman, but I’m still going to thrash you fifteen–nil,’ he told her equably.

‘In your dreams, Halton-Jones.’

‘Ha! I bet you haven’t practised all summer.’

‘Yeah, well they’re not big on fencing at Cranlake Crescent. It’s more of a concealed knife thing,’ she said with a wry laugh. ‘But we do know how to deal with public schoolboys.’ She drew her mask down, and thought yet again, Thank God for Richard.

Not that she’d go any easier on him. She took up her position and saluted, glad for the distraction.

‘
En garde
, posh boy!’

Evening fell so swiftly here on the Equator. Cassie leaned on the windowsill in their quarters and gazed out at the indigo night, listening to the high chirruping chorus of tree frogs and cicadas, louder even than the ocean. She could make out a few students in the grounds below; talking, laughing, drinking; some of them stealing a kiss or three. She didn’t feel like joining them down there, even when she saw a small knot of her favourite Few members clustered at a table with some sneaky cocktails in the light of an elaborately carved lantern.

Ayeesha and Cormac had been true to their word at lunchtime in the dining room, sitting at a table that accommodated only five, and glaring away anyone who dared come near Isabella. Cassie was beyond grateful, but she didn’t want to socialise tonight, even with them.

There were many Few she liked, but for the most part their friendship suddenly didn’t seem to matter as much any more. Who knew if they’d even remain friends if she managed to accomplish her wish to get rid of Estelle? Cassie sighed. She was going to miss Isabella desperately.

But she couldn’t deny it: now that the decision had been taken, her roommate seemed more at ease, far calmer. She was sitting at her desk, writing cards with a fancy calligraphy pen – must be to elderly relatives in Argentina or something, breaking the news that she was leaving her prestigious school. Feeling Cassie’s gaze on her, Isabella glanced up and smiled.

‘This is the worst part,’ she said, nodding at a card that was still resolutely blank inside. ‘Tato and Tata. They’ll be so disappointed. Tata’s brother was a graduate of the Academy himself.’ She sighed. ‘But she’ll understand, I think. At least the hard part’s over.’

‘You mean, telling Sir Alric? I thought you said he didn’t take it so badly?’

‘No. He was not nearly as scary as I expected. It was thinking about it that was the worst part; but he was really very understanding, Cassie. I suppose he knew he was never going to convince me otherwise.’

‘Hm. I’m sure you’re right.’ Given her own longing for Isabella to stay, even with all that had happened, Cassie had imagined Sir Alric would be more determined to try and cajole a last-minute change of heart. He wouldn’t be keen for a student to leave the Academy, especially under circumstances that could expose some of its darker underbelly … But in a way, Cassie thought his calm response was for the best. The decision had come too hard to Isabella and her friends for the headmaster to start giving her a hard time.

An abrupt knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, and Cassie jumped.

‘Can you get that? I’m struggling with this card …’ Isabella chewed her pen and shoved her fingers through her hair.

Cassie yanked the door open, and frowned as she saw who stood there.

Speak of the devil
.

‘Good evening, Cassie.’ Sir Alric’s face gave nothing away; he was as coolly charming as he always was on official business.

She bit back a ‘
What do you want?
’ After all, if she was right about his intentions, then she wanted the same thing too … her wishes, for once, might be coinciding with his.

‘Evening, Sir Alric,’ Cassie said pointedly, so Isabella could hear. ‘What can we do for you?’

Isabella turned in her seat, a little alarmed, but Sir Alric smiled at her directly.

‘I have something I need to discuss with Isabella. With both of you, in fact.’

‘Right …’ Cassie stared at him, trying to get a read on his plan.

‘I know it’s a little late, but this is important.’

Folding her arms, she leaned on the doorframe. ‘Go on.’

He shook his head a little and took a step back from the doorway. ‘I can’t explain here, but I must ask you both to come with me.’

‘
Now?
’

‘Now, Cassie.’ He looked past her and nodded at Isabella. ‘This won’t take long.’

What’s he up to? thought Cassie, as she waited for Isabella to replace the cap on her expensive pen and join them. If he was going to attempt to convince Isabella to stay at the Academy, why couldn’t he just do it there? Maybe this wasn’t what she thought it was. Perhaps he had some less benevolent means of convincing students not to leave … She shook her head. That was ridiculous. Though stranger things had happened around there. She went on her guard as Isabella joined them by the door.

But as they stepped into the corridor another idea slid into Cassie’s head; she felt her heart jolt again, though for different reasons. Could he … could he possibly have news of Ranjit? If he did, could it be bad news? Maybe that’s why he wanted Isabella there, in case Cassie reacted badly? A knot began to form in Cassie’s stomach. She didn’t like all this mysteriousness.

‘It’s flattering you came yourself, sir,’ she said tightly. ‘Why haven’t you sent your attack dog?’

Sir Alric closed the door behind them and led them both away. ‘You mean Marat? Ah, what a shame you’re so hostile, Cassie.’ He smiled a little. ‘You wouldn’t believe it, I know, but Marat is a treasure house of Few lore and knowledge. I know you dislike him, but he’s always been loyal to me, and I’ve never had reason to doubt him. You should have a more open mind about those you encounter – especially amongst the Few,’ he added pointedly.

Isabella was silent, anxious, but Cassie scowled. ‘If you trust him so completely, why
didn’t
you send him to get us?’

‘There are some things I don’t even want to share with Marat. At the present time, anyway.’

Now Cassie’s curiosity was piqued even more. Marat must know about Isabella leaving the Academy. Information about Ranjit, on the other hand – that could be something Sir Alric would want to keep under his hat.

Isabella was hanging back a little, so Cassie took the chance to hiss at him, ‘What’s going on? Is this something to do with Ranjit? Why is Isabella coming?’

‘Patience, Cassie.’ He gave her a strict sidelong glare, and spoke in a normal voice that Isabella must have heard. ‘This concerns Isabella more than anyone.’

Maybe he
was
going to try to talk her out of it. She turned back and exchanged a worried glance with Isabella. Darke needn’t think he was going to use Cassie’s feeding to blackmail Isabella into staying. Cassie wasn’t going to stand for that. She hoped her friend knew it, and tried a smile to reassure her. What was he up to?

Cassie blinked as Sir Alric turned to climb yet another flight of stairs. ‘Er … but your office is on this floor?’

‘We’re not going to my office. Do stop trying to second-guess me, Miss Bell.’

More irritated than ever, she followed him up the next flight and along another narrow corridor. They were in a separate part of the building now – one with so many twists and turns along the way, she was no longer sure where they were heading, and Isabella had caught up, nervous, sticking close to Cassie.

‘Where are we going?’ she hissed.

Cassie could only shake her head. Her fists were balled – partly with aggravation, partly because she was tensed for fight or flight. Where the hell was he taking them?

Cassie glanced to left and right, seeking a quick exit. Even with all that was going on, her Few instincts were kicking in. But what could she do – simply grab Isabella and abseil with her out of a top-floor window? And go where? Cassie shook her head. Whatever Sir Alric’s intentions were, they were about to find out, because there was nowhere for them to go. This new passageway led only to a single, thick wooden door.

As Sir Alric drew a key from his pocket, Cassie swallowed hard. It was a heavy, elaborate thing, carved with the same Few symbols that she’d spotted on pillars and the corners of paintings everywhere in this school; the same kind of symbol that was burned into her own shoulder blade, though in broken form. Cassie found she was holding her breath as Sir Alric turned the key in the lock, and then swung the door open.

The room was plain, furnished only with a bed and a couple of armchairs, and lined with books. And strangely, the first thing that hit her was the fresh coastal air, scented with oleander and seaweed and salt, borne in through the open French windows, light curtains billowing in the gentle breeze.

She simply didn’t believe what she was seeing; the apparent delusion was too crazy. Beside her, Isabella gave a hoarse cry, and stumbled against her. Cassie caught her in her arms, but could do nothing but stare at the figure that stood in the centre of the room.

He watched them gravely, apprehensively, one hand gripping his wrist tightly as if to hold himself still.

Jake Johnson.

T
hey stood immobile for what felt like minutes, but could only have been seconds. Jake did not seem to be breathing any more than Cassie was; Isabella was gasping for air, stunned almost senseless, weak in Cassie’s arms. Cassie thought she might actually faint.

Then Isabella tensed, breathing hard and audibly as she recovered. She drew away from Cassie, and took a cautious step towards Jake. Then she took another, studying his face with disbelieving hope.

Her next step brought her close enough to the boy to touch him, and she did, reaching out shaking fingers to his cheek. She almost flinched as she made contact with his skin, as if expecting it to be stone cold, but at her touch he made a slight sound, and she pressed her palms fiercely to his cheeks.

‘Jake …’ she breathed.

The next moment, Isabella had flung herself into his embrace, wrapping her arms round his neck, sobbing his name. He closed his arms round her, so tightly Cassie thought he’d crush her, but she didn’t protest, just held him all the closer.

‘Jake!
Jake!
Is it really you?’

‘It’s me, it’s me.’ His voice was muffled in her hair, and Cassie suspected she could see a tear run from his eye. She could only stare at her reunited friends, her heart thundering. She couldn’t look at Sir Alric. What kind of a game was he playing? This was crazy. Jake was
alive
this whole time?

After what seemed like forever, Jake gently pulled away from Isabella, though he kept his hands on her shoulders, staring at her like he’d never look away.

‘Cassie?’ He glanced over with a weak smile. ‘Cassie, it’s so good to see you too.’

Unfolding her stiff arms, she walked forward and hugged him hard. ‘Jake. What the hell?’

‘I’m sorry. I’m so very sorry,’ he murmured.

Cassie stood back, eyeing him, unable to repress her growing, disbelieving smile. ‘I … I can’t believe this …’ She tailed off and her smile began to fade as anger took over. ‘But it’s not you who owes us an apology.’ She turned on her heel and stared at Sir Alric.

He was still just inside the door, watching them. ‘Despite that, Cassie, I think I’ll allow Jake to explain. I’m sure you’d rather hear it from him.’

He’s right, she thought. She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear a word out of his mouth right now. Cassie turned back to Jake and Isabella, whose face was still buried in Jake’s neck, her arms wrapped around his body.