by Holly Ice
I shrugged it off and pushed open the oversized wooden door that opened onto the school drive.
A large black car was running by the front steps, headlights off. Shauna got out of the passenger side.
So who was driving? I squinted. Could be Ivy. Shivers prickled my skin. She’d grill me on Avery’s every cut, bruise, and hair.
Shauna glanced at Inzi, then crossed her arms. ‘You said she’s on the run, but you have to know more than that!’
I would’ve told her all I knew if she didn’t say she was on her way, demand I keep ‘calling’ Avery, then hang up.
‘I only connected for a moment. She was in the woods, running barefoot. I think she escaped.’
Shauna paced in front of me. ‘Is she okay?’
Acid raked my throat. I swallowed hard, the sound of panting dogs tickling my ear.
‘She gave birth a week ago at most. She wasn’t dressed for the outdoors. And dogs were chasing her.’
Shauna cursed spectacularly and then held her hand out.
I stared at it.
‘Touch it, you idiot.’
Right. My heart thundered in my ears. She wanted to see if I’d get a vision. That explained the mad dash over here in the middle of the night.
I touched her, but nothing came to me. I dropped her hand and shook my head. Sweet relief flushed my cheeks. I wasn’t ready for another dark vision.
‘Sorry.’
She wrenched open the driver’s-side door and grabbed Ivy’s hand. ‘Try her. She worked last time.’
Ivy was glaring, a funny expression with her fluffy pink pyjamas, but she didn’t object.
I sucked in a deep breath. This one was more likely to work.
I touched my hand to hers.
The cold metal of Avery’s ring pushed against my fingers.
I wondered where she might be, how we could find her and help her. But I got a whole lot of nothing. I shook my head.
‘Did you connect to her again?’ Shauna asked.
‘I’ve tried. I think she’s too busy running to maintain the connection for long. Any slip in concentration at the wrong moment…’
Shauna nodded and shoved her hands in her pockets. ‘Ivy, shut off the engine.’ She turned back to me. ‘You are going to try to connect to her once every fifteen minutes. As soon as she gets somewhere safe, she’ll let you in and she’ll tell you where to find her. We need to know where she is the moment she tells you.’
‘So you want to wait in the academy?’
‘Not your room,’ Inziya said.
Shauna inclined her head. ‘Then wherever is convenient.’
I rubbed the already pounding ache in my temples. The library it was.
* * *
It was around five in the morning, and the library lights were eating into my eyes.
Each thought stomped through my bruised mind. I sipped water, willing it to soothe my throbbing head. No luck.
The wingback chairs were so comfy. All I’d have to do was turn my head, draw in my knees, and I could repair the damage I’d done flinging myself against Avery’s walls.
But I bit my lip until the extra pain woke me enough to try again, and slipped into the meditative state.
But this time, I couldn’t find Avery’s light.
I sent the cast out farther. She might have hitchhiked or found a bus or some other way to move more quickly through the landscape in my mind’s eye.
But even with Lyall’s help, pushing the boundaries as far as we could, I couldn’t find her.
‘You were gone longer that time.’ Shauna said, leaning closer.
The matching smiles on her and Ivy took the air out of me. They didn’t deserve this news.
‘We have a problem.’
Shauna frowned. ‘I thought you got through.’
‘I couldn’t find her.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘She’s not there to connect to. I assume she’s out of range.’
‘Look harder. You’ve found her every fifteen minutes. She can’t have gone too far.’
‘Maybe she got a lift, I don’t know, but I can’t see her. I’m sorry.’
‘Typical,’ Ivy muttered, her hands raking through her hair.
‘I’m sorry. I’ll keep trying.’
But the missing thread between me and Avery in my gut, tugging me forward, felt cut. I focused on its ragged end, wishing I knew whether this was final.
Bee…
Don’t. I wasn’t ready to hear it.
Chapter 11
After many more failed attempts to reach Avery, I woke to a crick in my neck from the library chair, and hot sun on my cheeks. Lazing in the day’s blanket was tempting, but it was too quiet.
I opened my eyes.
Ivy and Shauna were missing.
I gripped the arms of my chair. I didn’t even have Inziya. A shudder ran down my spine. I jumped to my feet and looked for them.
Nothing.
Did something happen?
Finally! You’re awake. Lyall hopped into my lap.
What happened?
I didn’t think Shauna and Ivy would leave unless Inzi made them. They were so certain I’d find Avery.
Where did everyone go?
Inziya got a call. Shauna overheard most of it. She made her own call, then made a beeline for the door. It’s not good news.
I swallowed hard.
Back in a sec.
I slid into my meditative state but came back into the chair quickly.
Avery still wasn’t out there, no matter how much I raked over the ground I’d already covered. And if she wasn’t out of range… That cut rope dangled in my mind’s eye.
I’m sorry, but Ivy was battling tears when they tore out of here. Avery’s dead.
My head spun. I grabbed my phone from my pocket and dialled Shauna’s number. It went straight to voice mail.
‘Shauna. I’m so sorry. What happened? Let me know if I can help.’
I bit my lip and locked my phone, pacing in front of my chair.
I should have done more. If I’d known more about my ability, if I’d asked the right questions, she might still be alive.
Where’s Inziya?
If the other two had left of their own accord, she should be here, giving me the rundown.
She tried to wake you, but you were out cold, so she snuck into the librarians’ break room. She thought coffee might wake you.
Coffee would be perfect. My brain was fuzzy, chugging along on maybe two hours of sleep. Too foggy to work out what happened to Avery. My heart pinched. She deserved my best.
A whiff of roasted caramel tickled my nose, and it was getting stronger. I followed it to the checkout counter.
Inziya was chatting with the librarian.
The bampot was eyeing her curves. Maybe he thought looking for a wife in books was stupid, but he could ogle pages a lot longer than a highly trained witch.
From the speed she tapped her coffee mug, Inzi was about to poke his eyes out.
‘Is that mine?’ I pointed to the extra mug at her elbow.
She handed it to me.
I took the cup and inhaled. My mouth watered. The sweet sugar was exactly what I needed. I sipped, ignoring the slight burn.
‘Lyall told me what happened.’ I glanced at the librarian. He hadn’t gotten the hint yet. ‘Did the Delvauxs say anything?’
Inziya nodded to the doors. ‘I’m sorry, Will. I need to get Bianca to her day guard.’
She pushed through the main doors and walked towards my dorm room.
‘Shouldn’t we talk before you take me to him?’
She spoke out the side of her mouth. ‘Everything has to go as normal today. The body was found on school grounds.’
The caramel frothed my stomach, like it might come back up.
‘How is that possible?’
The WMCF had added and updated all kinds of protective magic to the academy before I’d returned.
‘It’s Avery?’
‘The woman recently gave birth and had cuts all over her feet. Black hair, green eyes. It fits.’
‘Why didn’t Shauna or Ivy wake me?’
She eyed me, and I understood. They’d been too swept up in the news.
I rubbed my throat. My stomach still hadn’t settled. ‘I need to see her.’
After all I’d gone through with Avery, I had to see how it ended.
‘That’s a really bad idea.’
I’d be a suspect, and being there would make them look at me more strongly, but…
‘How about later today? Or maybe someone can listen in, find out what happened?’ I gave her my best pleading eyes.
She clenched her jaw. ‘I’m not helping on this one. You’re little good to us back in jail.’
Peregrine waited by my room, arms crossed with his best glare. ‘You’re late. Today’s not the time to break the schedule, Inzi.’
‘Sorry. She fell asleep studying,’ Inzi said, pushing me towards him.
Perry grunted. ‘Keller wants to see you, then you can clock off. Security are cracking down again.’
‘Okay. I’ll go now.’ Inzi waved. ‘Be good.’ And she disappeared.
I didn’t have the energy to work out how. I gulped down the rest of my coffee, praying it’d kick in soon.
Though Perry would never let me see Avery’s body, or tell me what happened. So maybe… I eyed my door, my eyes already slipping shut. Sleep was the best way to fix my addled brain.
Peregrine edged in front of me. ‘Up most the night or not, you have class.’
‘But.’
‘No buts. My job is to get you there and keep you safe. Slacking off under a compulsory guard does not look good. For me, or you. Especially with what was discovered this morning.’
I raised an eyebrow. Keeping me safe was new. Maybe he was more protective now there was a body on campus, and he knew I didn’t kill them?
‘Fine. But I need my bag.’
He stepped aside. ‘Be quick.’
I tried not to gaze longingly at my bed. But something out the window caught my eye. A group of people had crowded around the tree line. It couldn’t be… It was.
Whoever killed Avery had left her within easy view of my window.
Shauna and Ivy were talking to the man in charge, marked by a shirt and slacks rather than the usual all black or the techs’ white coveralls. Shauna spoke animatedly, but Ivy was mostly sniffing and wiping her eyes.
I squinted, trying to work out exactly where the body was, but large barriers and a white gazebo-like structure covered the tree line.
My throat tightened. Her light hadn’t been close enough for her to die here. I would’ve been tugged straight to her.
‘Bianca!’
I grabbed my bag and swung open the door. ‘Happy?’
‘Very.’
He followed me to my Air Magic Specialties class. The teacher barely flicked her eyes at me, but I felt the other students’ stares like knives.
A wave drew me to the back of the room. Shane saved a desk for me.
I sat beside him, blowing out my breath.
He nodded. ‘Some morning. Where were you? I went to your room.’
‘Right, sorry. I was up all night, looking for her.’
‘With our friends?’
‘Aye.’
He reached across the aisle and stroked my arm. ‘It’s not your fault.’
I shook my head. I could’ve done more.
‘Welcome to my class. I’m Liv Cooper.’ Our teacher tapped the wall. ‘No, I don’t have notes. This class will be almost purely practical in form and assessment, so I hope you’re ready for sparring lessons.’
My heart jumped, but Shane nodded at my quick glance, letting me ken he’d spar with me, keep me safe.
A sharp knock interrupted our teacher’s next instruction, and a man in bulky black WMCF gear barged in.
‘I’m looking for Bianca Nash.’ His eyes swept the room and settled on me. ‘You’re needed. Come.’
A stone slid into my belly.
Shane pushed back his chair and made to stand, but he couldn’t argue a summons.
I held his eyes. ‘Check in with you later.’
I’d feel safer with him by my side but I wasn’t going to admit that to the WMCF.
The officer led me and Peregrine out the front of the school, then around to the tree line.
He marched across the grass, right for the man the Delvauxs had spoken to earlier.
I swallowed hard. What had they told him? I’d promised to help them, and now Avery was dead on the academy grounds. They had more reason than most to bear a grudge.
He clicked his fingers and waved us over. I squinted to read his name badge: Keller.
‘Where has she been for the last twenty-four hours?’ he asked.
‘Under constant observation from myself or Inziya, sir.’
Keller’s lips thinned. ‘I see.’
This must be Peregrine’s boss.
I searched the bustling officers and techs for Shauna or Ivy, but they’d already left. And they still hadn’t called or messaged. Inzi had disappeared, too, but she was good at that.
‘Are the techs done?’ Keller’s voice boomed over his crew.
A voice carried from behind the barriers. ‘All photographed, sir. We’ll need the body in the lab for full testing.’
‘Good.’ He turned to the man who’d brought us. ‘Send in the trackers.’
‘They didn’t get anything earlier, sir. They’re unlikely to–’
‘Did I ask for an opinion?’
He scurried into the crowd and ushered three older witches, two with Animalis familiars, behind the barrier.
‘And you…’ Keller shook his head. ‘Have her look at the body.’
‘What?’
He’d already turned away, to order someone else around.
‘This way,’ our escort said, not meeting my eyes.
My insides seemed to crawl up my throat, but I had wanted to see her. Maybe this would help me put her to rest? I bit my lip and followed him around the barrier.
Acid bubbled through my veins.
Avery had been carefully arranged for maximum impact, curled in the foetal position, arms covering her face.
Bites and slashes tore her skin, and her throat was ripped out, the jagged edges clear around her arms.
Her feet were shredded, some scratches penetrating deep into the flesh. And her stomach was swollen with the extra water weight from the birth.
The lack of blood felt wrong, like she was a mannequin rather than a person.
I put my hand to my mouth and walked around the body, skirting the forensic markers.
My morning coffee almost came back up. It was awful to finally see her, to be so close. This was the woman I was trying to help in the flesh, and this was proof I’d failed her. Spectacularly.
‘Anything yet?’ the lead officer called.
Our escort narrowed his eyes. ‘She’s a bit green.’
‘Not her, you idiot.’
‘Right,’ he muttered, turning to the trackers hovering over Avery.
I followed his gaze.
The crouched trackers had closed their eyes, their familiars beside them. One frowned hard. Another’s nose twitched in wee, repetitive sniffs.
The frowner looked much like I imagined I did when I sent out my net for Avery.
Is this something I can do?
Not yet. Tracking is an advanced air skill. And this isn’t a basic case. She was moved here, and moving a body isn’t easy. They’re heavy, so they probably used a car, and that speed dilutes the trail.
I tried not to think about Avery, slung in the back of a car like a suitcase, and shook my head quickly to free the thought. I was done here.
‘Can I go now?’
My escort raised an eyebrow. ‘Sir, can Ms Wildes leave?’
‘It’s Nash.’
He side-eyed me.
‘Let her out!’ Keller said.
I hurried inside, before they changed their mind and asked questions while I was reeling. Seeing her hadn’t put her to rest. It’d helped her set up residence when I closed my eyes.
Chapter 12
I touched the cold library window as the techs packed up for probably the last time, their white coveralls almost glowing in the moonlight.
Avery’s body was removed quickly, but the rest of their work took days, and rumour was they hadn’t come close to finding out where she was killed or held.
‘Stop staring,’ Shane said.
‘Like you weren’t looking.’
Shane’s lips pinched. ‘It wasn’t your fault.’
His voice was raspy, desperate for me to hear him, but bitter guilt still swirled through me, like it had when he’d made me birthday cake two days ago.
I couldn’t brush Avery’s death away. I was too involved. But we’d focused enough on me lately.
‘How are your family? Are you talking more?’
His hand twitched. ‘They’re fine.’
Inziya unzipped her bag and popped the seal on a box of cupcakes. ‘Help yourselves. I’ll go get coffee.’
I took a cupcake with a huge dollop of pink icing.
‘Don’t let her get dead!’ Inziya called over her shoulder.
Not exactly subtle at making herself scarce, but I’d take it.
I swallowed a mouthful of icing. ‘Do you regret siding with me for the trial?’
His eyebrows shot up. ‘No. Of course not! Why would you even ask that?’
I shrugged. ‘You don’t talk about your family anymore.’
I bit my lip, worry cutting my breath short. He had to be hurting more than he let slip. Letting my mother go… I swallowed past the lump in my throat, blinking back hot tears. He shouldn’t lose his family for me. I clenched my hands. I wasn’t going to let him.
He rubbed his neck. ‘There’s nothing to report. They’re still… as they were.’
‘And that’s not getting to you?’
I’d hoped things would be better after the trial. But maybe he needed to reach out.