Haven (7 page)

“I don’t know,” Sophie said, shaking her head. “No one’s ever been able to explain it.”

I shifted in my seat, strangely unsettled by this latest revelation. “I should go,” I said, pushing back from the table. “I’m supposed to go to Dr. Blackwell’s office, if I can find it.”

“I’ll walk you there,” Cece offered, and I nodded gratefully as she stood and picked up her tray.

Minutes later I was following Cece through several mazelike halls, up a flight of stairs, and down another hall that seemed to go on forever. Finally we climbed another flight of stairs and made our way past the old headmasters’ portraits before at last reaching the carved wooden door that led to Dr. Blackwell’s office.

“Here you go,” she said, a little breathlessly. “Do you want me to wait for you?”

“No, I’m fine.” I was breathless too. Probably nerves more than anything else. “Thanks, though.”

“Okay, I’ll see you later, then. Have fun,” she added mischievously, then turned and left me there.

I took a deep, calming breath, trying to steady myself before
I faced the headmaster and the truths he’d no doubt tell. Just as I raised my hand to knock, the door swung slowly open, creaking on its hinges. “Come in, Miss McKenna,” he called out, and I stepped inside, my palms sweating like crazy.

“Sit down,” he said, gesturing to the same chair I’d sat in the night before.

I did as I was told, wiping my hands on my jeans. “Thanks,” I murmured.

“Tell me, how was your first day here at Winterhaven?”

“It was . . . good,” I said, barely able to speak. Why was I so nervous? He’d never been anything but friendly. Even now he was smiling warmly at me, his silver eyes twinkling in the firelight.

“I’m glad. Mr. Gray assures me that you will have no trouble whatsoever catching up with your coursework. All the classes were to your liking?”

I cleared my throat before speaking. “Yes, sir. I . . . um . . . unfortunately I missed my fencing class, but—”

“That’s fine, don’t worry,” he said, waving one hand in dismissal. “You’ll get there tomorrow.”

For a full minute he said nothing, and I started to squirm in my chair. Finally he spoke. “Now I suppose you see that Winterhaven is unique in more ways than one. I hope that does not make you uncomfortable.”

“No, I . . . I’m a little surprised, that’s all.” I couldn’t help but wonder what his psychic abilities were. After all, my new friends had told me that everyone at Winterhaven had them, even him.

“And you’ve read the code?”

“Yes, sir.” I reached into my back pocket and pulled it out, unfolding the page with damp hands.

“No questions?”

“No, it’s pretty straightforward. A lot of it doesn’t apply to me anyway, since I don’t really have any control over my visions. They just . . . come.”

“To the contrary, Miss McKenna. I think you will find that your visions can be harnessed, perhaps put to good use. But all in due time.”

A bubble of hope welled in my chest, and I nodded.

“Also, keep in mind that adherence to the code is very important where extracurricular activities are concerned. We want your school experience to be as normal as possible, which is why we allow our teams to participate in the All-Ivy League. When interacting with students from other schools, it is vital that you keep the COPA in mind at all times.”

“Of course,” I said. I got it—don’t let the regular kids see what freaks we were.

“Very well, if you’ve no questions, I’ll take back your copy of the code. You must sign here”—he pushed another piece of paper across the desk toward me—“to acknowledge that you’ve read it and agree to abide by it. A pact, if you will.”

I took the paper and glanced down at it, my eyes quickly scanning the words.

I, Violet Ashton McKenna, do hereby vow that I have read the Code of Paranormal Activity, herewith referred to as the COPA. My signature certifies that I fully understand the COPA and agree to abide by it at all times, at all costs. I also acknowledge that if I fail to abide by the COPA, I may be duly expelled from Winterhaven. Signed in the presence of Dr. Augustus Blackwell, Headmaster of the Winterhaven School, on this third day of October, in the village of Tarrytown, New York.

Beneath it was a blank line for my signature. Dr. Blackwell handed me a pen, and with shaking hands, I scrawled my name.

There, it was done. I stared at my signature, still a little stunned by the absurdity of the situation.

Dr. Blackwell retrieved the page and folded it in thirds before sealing it with an old-fashioned wax seal. “And into the fire it goes,” he said, taking the folded paper along with my copy of the code. He tossed them both into the flames behind him. “Secrecy is a prized thing here at Winterhaven, and we leave no written evidence of that which we wish to keep private. The contract is symbolic—a gentleman’s agreement, if you will.”

I nodded, watching as the flames began to lap at the pages, curling the edges till they at last burst into flames. A full minute later they scattered to the grate below in charred bits.

“You must understand how important strict adherence to the code is to this school’s security, to its very integrity,” he said, swiveling back to face me.

“Yes, sir,” I said, swallowing hard. “I understand.”

“Very well.” He drummed his fingers against his desk, watching me. “Some students choose to learn to block their thoughts, if need be, for privacy’s sake. If you would like to learn, we can assign you a coach.”

“Sure,” I said with a nod. It seemed like everyone else already knew how to do it, so I figured I should learn too. Particularly since Aidan could read minds, and I definitely didn’t want him knowing my thoughts when I was with him.

“I’ll have Mrs. Girard make the arrangements. I suppose our business here is done, then.” He rose from his chair and reached across the desk to shake my hand. “But do not hesitate to return, if any questions arise that Mrs. Girard cannot answer to your satisfaction.”

“Thanks.” Just as before, his hand was cold as ice.

“Can you find your way back to the dormitory?” he asked.

“Sure,” I said, though in reality, I had no clue how to get back.

“Hmmm, perhaps I should send for someone to see you back safely,” he said with a chuckle, reaching for the telephone that sat on his desk.

“I can find it, really,” I said. How hard could it possibly be? Down a hall, up some stairs . . .

He released the phone with a shrug. “If you’re sure, then. I might remind you that you are to be in your bed by eleven.” His silver eyes were twinkling again. “Good night, my dear. And good luck.” I could still hear him laughing softly as I closed the door and set off.

A quarter hour later, I was ready to admit that I was totally and hopelessly lost. I’d gone down the same hall—the one with the headmasters’ portraits—at least three times, and up the same staircase twice. I was beginning to panic when I
spied a door I hadn’t remembered seeing before.

I hurried over, hoping I’d finally found a means of escape. It led outside; I could see the moon in the square panes of glass at the top. For a minute or so I stared at the door, considering my options. I might get just as lost outside, but at least I wouldn’t be wandering these same halls.

Please don’t let it be locked,
I thought, giving it a hard push. Thankfully it wasn’t, and I found myself out in the cool, clear night.

With no clue where to go.

A grassy lawn stretched out before me, maybe for a hundred yards. I could make out the faint outline of buildings beyond the grass, but I had no idea which building housed the dorms. I had always traveled indoors between the administration building and the dorms, in connecting corridors of some sort. If I could just find the courtyard, maybe I could find my way from—

“Need some help?” a voice called out behind me, and I nearly screamed in fright.

My heart beating wildly, I turned to find Aidan standing there, leaning against the side of the building.

“Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” I asked, running a hand through my hair. It was the second time in one
day that he’d scared the living daylights out of me. Still, I had to admit I was glad to see him—so glad I was almost giddy.

With his hands shoved into his pockets, he walked over to where I stood. “Sorry about that. Happy to see me, huh?” He grinned at me in the moonlight.

It was a good thing it was dark out, because I was sure my face was scarlet. “You’re not allowed to do that, you know,” I scolded. “It’s against the code.”

“What, sneak up on you, or read your mind?”

“Both. I guess I’m going to have to learn how to do that blocking thing.”

“I wish you wouldn’t,” he said. “Your thoughts are pretty interesting.” Suddenly his smile disappeared. “You heard me today, didn’t you?”

My breath came faster, making puffs of smoke in the air. “What do you mean?” I asked, tripping over my tongue.

“You know exactly what I mean, Violet. You heard me. In your head. That makes you telepathic, by the way.”

“Really?” I wasn’t sure I wanted to be telepathic.

“Yeah, but you know what’s really weird?” he asked, taking two steps toward me. I couldn’t answer—I just stood there like an idiot. “What’s really weird,” he continued, “is that no one else can. Hear my thoughts, I mean.”

“That . . . that can’t be right,” I stammered. “I’m sure other people can. This school is supposedly full of kids who can do stuff like that.”

His gaze pierced mine. “Oh, there’s plenty of kids who can hear telepathically. They just can’t hear
me
.”

Instinctively I took another step backward. My vision had finally adjusted to the dark, and I could clearly see his face, his eyes. They looked silver now, reflecting the moon. The longer I stared into them, the harder it was to look away.

“You’re afraid of me, aren’t you?” he asked.

I swallowed hard. “Should I be?”

“You tell me.”

“Um, I guess you look pretty harmless,” I said with a shrug. I was trying really hard to not think—about him, at least. How on earth did one block their thoughts?

Without warning, he reached out and trailed a finger down the side of my face. Oh, man, but the Aidan effect was in full force—I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t speak, and my legs felt like Jell-O. How was it possible that I was scared of him and attracted to him, all at once?

Perhaps I should be afraid of you instead,
he said, his voice a whisper in my mind. His lips hadn’t moved, and yet I’d heard him, as clear as could be, the words accompanied by a weird electrical buzz in my head.

Fear settled in the pit of my stomach, and yet I wanted to kiss those pale lips of his. And the worst part?
He knew.

“I have to get back to the dorm,” I blurted out.

“I’ll walk you,” he said, and I let out my breath in a rush.

Without another word, I followed him.

F
orget it,” I said, dropping my head into my hands. “I’m never going to get the hang of it.”

My new “psychic coach” just sighed. Her name was Sandra and she showed up for our appointment wearing a blue Juicy tracksuit, as if she were a personal trainer or something. And she was
way
too perky, besides. Mrs. Girard told me that Sandra was a gifted mind reader, and I suppose she was, considering how easily she was reading mine no matter how hard I tried to stop her. I really
was
trying, but it was no use.

“Come on, Violet. One more try. You can do this, if you’d just concentrate. Visualize a wall, a barrier of some sort. Something thick and impenetrable. Do you see it?”

“Yeah,” I muttered, doing everything she’d told me to do. Concentrate. Focus. Think in images, not words. A wall. A stone wall, around my mind. It was there; I could see it in my mind’s eye, like the Great Wall of China, encircling my brain. My stomach grumbled, and all I could think about was lunch.

“A tuna salad sandwich and a Diet Coke,” Sandra said, sounding exasperated. “Okay, let’s call it a day.”

I nodded, desperate to escape the confines of my room. It was Saturday, after all. My first Saturday at Winterhaven, and I was exhausted. It had been a long week of tough lectures and awkward “getting to know the new kid” moments. I was still behind in most of my classes, even though Aidan had met with me each day after sixth period and patiently gone over everything I’d missed. Though I’d never admit it, those tutoring sessions had quickly become the highlight of my week.

Anyway, right now I just wanted to eat some lunch, take a nap, and maybe spend an hour or so in the gym, working on my parry.

“We’ll try again next week,” Sandra said.

I looked up, surprised to see her still standing there by the door. “Sure. Same time?” I asked.

“Same time. And practice, okay? You didn’t learn those fencing moves in one day, did you?”

I couldn’t help but smile at that. “Good point. Okay, I’ll practice.”

“Great. Enjoy your weekend.”

“Wait!” I called out, just as she reached for the door. I had to know. . . . “How close do you have to be to read my mind? I mean, can you do it from across campus?”

The idea of Aidan reading my mind whenever he wanted— from wherever he happened to be—made me want to heave, considering how often I was thinking about him.
Way
more than I should be.

She turned back toward me with a grin. “Don’t worry. He’d—I mean,
I’d
have to be pretty close by, at least within sight of you. A physical wall might not stop me if you were just on the other side of it, but even so, it would take some effort.”

“Thanks,” I murmured, my cheeks burning.

“Anytime. Bye!” She opened the door and trotted out, her blond ponytail swinging behind her.
Way
too perky.

I let out a sigh, then walked to the window and looked down at the lawn below. If I moved fast, I might catch up with Cece and the rest of them in the quad before they headed over to the dining hall. The sky was clear and blue and students milled about in short sleeves. I pressed my hand against the glass, surprised at the warmth. It felt more like late August than early October, not that I was complaining.