‘Well, we don’t know what it was,’ Allie said. ‘It crashed through the garden and … chased us, I guess. We thought we heard it growling, or something. What do you think it could have been?’
‘Sylvain suggested it could be foxes. We do have rather a lot of them around,’ Isabelle said.
Frowning, Allie tilted her head to one side. ‘We have foxes in London, but I’ve never heard one of them growl or seen one chase people.’
‘Well, this is the country,’ Isabelle said. ‘Foxes are wilder here – the ones in London are practically tame. A vixen can be very protective of her cubs. I’ve asked the ground staff to look out for any other sort of animal but I can’t think of what else it could have been. I’m very glad you are both OK.’
She sounded sincere, and Allie was gratified that she hadn’t made her sound like an idiot.
Isabelle was moving on to other issues now, though.
‘How are you, really? Are you making friends? Sylvain tells me you’re doing well, and that you and he are getting along famously, and I’m glad to hear that. He is one of our best students.’
Allie blushed. It was weird to think that Sylvain, who flirted with her constantly, discussed her with the headmistress.
‘I’m OK,’ she said, sliding down in her chair a bit. ‘I’m friends with Sylvain and Jo, and I’ve met a few other people. Everybody’s been sort of nice except …’
She bit her lip, and Isabelle looked at her encouragingly. ‘Except who? It’s OK to tell me.’
‘Oh you know.’ Allie crossed and uncrossed her ankles. ‘Katie Gilmore? She’s a bit bitchy.’
Isabelle sighed. ‘I will be honest with you, Allie. Sometimes I think Katie is one of the trials I was put on this earth to deal with. She’s been spoiled her whole life – I fear I’m being very unprofessional telling you this, but I think I can trust you. Because of her childhood, she has a hard time interacting with students who are not as privileged as she is – she’s been too sheltered by her family’s wealth. However, she is not immune from punishment, no matter how powerful her parents, so if she goes too far tell Jules or me.’ Isabelle polished her glasses with a clean cloth. ‘I wouldn’t mind seeing her working in the garden for a week. It would do her a world of good to get her hands dirty.’
Thrilled that the headmistress was being so honest with her, Allie giggled at the image then stopped herself. But Isabelle chuckled too so she knew it was OK.
‘Anything else aside from that?’ Isabelle grew serious again. ‘Your coursework is looking fine. You’re certainly doing very well in my class. Any problems academically?’
Allie shook her head. It was true the work was hard, but it was more interesting than the work at her last two schools and she found that, actually, she enjoyed it.
‘What about home life?’ Isabelle asked. ‘I’ve noticed that you haven’t asked to phone your parents since you arrived. Would you like to phone them? I’m happy for you to talk to them.’
Again Allie shook her head – more vigorously this time. ‘I don’t want to talk to them right now,’ she said, avoiding Isabelle’s eyes. ‘I want some time without them.’
When she glanced up, Isabelle’s expression was hard to read, but something told Allie she understood.
‘Of course,’ she said, adding, ‘but if you ever change your mind, come to me.’
The conversation had now skated onto thin ice for Allie, who fidgeted in her seat, hoping she’d soon be released.
Nothing escaped the headmistress’ attention and she stood up with another weary stretch.
‘Well, I suppose I should free you to have lunch and enjoy the rest of your weekend.’
Needing no more invitation, Allie leapt to her feet and headed for the door but Isabelle’s voice stopped her just as she was about to open it.
‘Please, Allie,’ she said, ‘don’t ever be afraid to come to me with any problem, however small or large. I am here to help you. I am absolutely not here to get you in trouble. You are safe with me.’
Her words seemed heartfelt and Allie smiled shyly. ‘I will,’ she said before hurrying out.
She could feel Isabelle’s knowing eyes following her down the hall.
‘Oh God. Please make the torture end.’ Jo fell face down onto her biology book.
Sitting across from her at the table in the library, Allie threw a pen at her.
‘Yep,’ Gabe said, closing his book, ‘we need a break. I’ve still got a bit more to do, but nobody’s saying I can’t do it later. It’s Saturday afternoon, it’s a beautiful day – who wants to go outside?’
Without raising her head from her book, Jo stuck her arm straight up in the air. ‘Me,’ she said, her voice muffled by biology.
‘Allie?’ he asked, stacking his books.
She shook her head. ‘I’ve had enough of the great outdoors today, thanks. I think I’ll explore the building.’
Jo’s head popped up; her blonde hair stood on end. ‘The building’s cool. Ask Eloise to show you the study chambers. They’re wicked.’
She seemed largely recovered from the night before; the cut on her cheek was closed with two flesh-coloured butterfly stitches, and there were no other visible wounds. Allie hadn’t yet had a chance to talk with her about what had happened – she was dying for a few minutes alone but Gabe had scarcely left Jo’s side all day. Now he stacked her books with his, and the two stood up to leave.
‘See you at dinner if not before?’ Allie asked hopefully.
‘Defo,’ Jo said, smiling.
When they were gone, Allie stretched and looked around. The room was mostly deserted.
She walked towards the librarian’s desk. Behind the high, polished wood counter Eloise was filing in an old-fashioned library card file.
‘Uh … hi?’ Allie’s voice was hesitant.
‘Oh Allie. How wonderful to see you again,’ Eloise said, straightening. ‘How are you?’
The librarian’s dark hair was pulled back in a loose style from which tendrils escaped; purple-framed glasses perched at the end of her slender nose.
‘I’m fine, thanks. I was studying, over there,’ Allie pointed in the general direction of her table, ‘and I just thought I’d come say hello.’
‘Are you here for those books I told you about?’ Eloise set the card file down. ‘I’ve set them aside for you.’
Reaching under the desk, she pulled out a stack of books with a card on top reading ‘For Allie’.
‘I believe it’s extra reading for your English class,’ Eloise explained.
Allie had already forgotten about the books the librarian had mentioned that morning and, frankly, she thought she had enough to read already.
But still …
‘Oh good,’ she said politely, putting the books in her bag. ‘But actually, I was just going to explore the building and Jo said there were some cool study rooms or something in here?’
Eloise looked blank for a minute, then brightened. ‘You must mean the carrels in the back. They’re quite something. Let me get the keys.’
She removed a crowded key ring from a hook behind the front counter. Allie followed her along what seemed like hundreds of years’ worth of Oriental rugs, and past endless rows of shelves.
‘This place is huge,’ she said, looking up to the ceiling.
‘Just be glad you don’t have to dust it,’ the librarian replied chirpily. ‘Mind you, if you get detention again you might get that chance.’
Allie couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Please, no.’
‘Don’t worry.’ Eloise smiled. ‘If you’re good it’ll never happen.’
They turned a corner and the room changed slightly. There were fewer bookshelves in this section, and more tables and leather chairs.
‘This area is reserved for advanced students,’ Eloise explained, choosing a key from the ring in her hand.
‘Here we go.’ The walls were panelled with elaborately carved dark wood. Eloise inserted the key into a lock so skilfully hidden in
the woodwork that Allie couldn’t see it at all, and a door that until then had been virtually invisible opened silently.
‘Wow,’ Allie said. ‘A secret door.’
‘Wow indeed.’ Eloise looked at her over the tops of her glasses. ‘These study rooms are in the oldest part of the building. We’re not at all certain what their original purpose was. But, well, take a look.’
She clicked a light switch and stepped back. Allie walked into an illuminated room about eight feet wide by six feet long. Inside the windowless space was a desk with a lamp, a leather chair and a small bookcase. Dominating it all was an elaborate mural covering the walls. Stepping into the centre of the room, Allie turned a slow circle to take it all in. The painting seemed to tell a story: men and women armed to the teeth and fighting in a field, overlooked by enraged cherubs under a stormy sky.
The scene was chilling, Allie thought.
‘How does anybody study in here?’ she asked. ‘I’d spend the whole time ducking for cover.’
‘It doesn’t seem to bother anyone.’ Eloise looked at the swinging swords, her eyes unreadable. ‘But I can’t say I disagree with you.’
She stepped out of the room. After a last glance around, Allie followed, and Eloise locked the door behind them.
‘Are they all like this?’
The librarian nodded. ‘They’re very similar. The paintings in each room tell a different part of the same story. This is the main battle painting. It seems to be the last in the series.’
She walked down to the end of the panelled wall and unlocked another hidden door. Turning on the light, she gestured for Allie to follow and they stepped into the small study room. This room’s paintings showed the same people, the men in hats and formal attire, then women in elaborate long dresses. They appeared to be talking in a circle, in front of what looked like a smaller version of the building she was in now.
‘We think this is the first in the series,’ Eloise said.
‘Is that Cimmeria?’ Allie asked.
‘Before the expansion,’ Eloise said. ‘The painting is of that time – early eighteenth century.’
‘What’s it all about?’ Allie asked. ‘Some kind of war?’
Eloise was studying one of the faces. ‘Nobody really knows any more. The school lore is that the building was originally built by a single family. Some kind of disagreement divided them, and they essentially went to war with one another – the winning side kept the school. But none of that is recorded in the school records, and let me tell you, if it was I would know. I’m the school historian.’
As they walked out of the room, Allie was lost in thought.
‘Weird,’ she said. ‘I mean, how could something so important just get lost?’
‘Things do,’ Eloise said. ‘Especially if nobody wants to remember it.’
‘I really do not want to study in those rooms,’ Allie said firmly.
‘Luckily, you’ve got another year before you’re advanced enough to sit back here.’ Eloise gave her a bright smile. ‘So you’re safe for now.’
SEVEN
As Allie walked out of the library and down the hall to the classroom wing she was still thinking about the strange library paintings. With classes out, the rooms were empty and silent as she idly climbed the staircase past the familiar lower rooms and up to the second floor. Only advanced classes were held up here and she’d hoped it would have some air of mystery, but she was disappointed to find that it looked exactly like the lower levels – a wide hallway with a polished wood floor and classrooms on either side. With the lights off, it was lit entirely by daylight filtering through classroom windows.
Her rubber-soled shoes rendered her footsteps nearly silent as she peeked through open doors at empty classrooms where desks waited in patient, ghostly rows.
She wasn’t sure when she first heard the voices – perhaps midway down the hall. It was a low murmur that caught her attention only when it momentarily grew louder.
She stopped walking.
Someone shouted and there was a crashing sound, followed by a concerned wave of voices that seemed to be trying to calm things.
Allie was poised to turn back when a door at the end of the hall opened and a figure stepped out of the shadows.
Instinctively she ducked into the nearest doorway and hid in the shadows behind the door, listening. At first she could hear nothing but the sound of her own breathing, then, after a moment, she could hear the faint sound of footsteps heading her way. She counted her breaths.
… ten, eleven, twelve …
The footsteps paused.
She stopped breathing.
‘Allie?’ Carter whispered, his voice harsh. ‘What the hell?’
He reached in and grabbed her arm, pulling her roughly towards the stairwell. She was too surprised to protest and stumbled alongside him. He hustled her down the stairs to the first floor landing, where he turned her to face him.
‘What were you doing up on the second floor?’ His fingers dug into her upper arm.
‘Exploring,’ she said, trying to free herself. She tried to appear calm but she knew she sounded defensive.
‘Exploring what? The classrooms?’
Feigning nonchalance, she shrugged. ‘Yeah. Sort of. It’s not off-limits or anything, is it?’
‘Allie, did you ever actually read the information you were given when you started here? Do you think rules are just optional for you?’ Sarcasm dripped from his voice, and now Allie could feel anger growing in the pit of her stomach.
What is wrong with everybody at this bloody school?
‘I read enough to know it was boring,’ she snapped. ‘Now will you just stop being a psycho and let me go?’
‘The second floor is for advanced students and Night School only,’ Carter said, as if he were talking to a child. ‘You could get into serious trouble if they catch you there. You must never go up there.’
She wrenched free from his grip. ‘Bloody hell,’ she said, rubbing her shoulder. ‘Overreact much? You’d think I killed someone.’
His expression did not change. ‘Seriously, Sheridan. I’m starting to think you like getting in trouble.’
Turning on her heel she stomped down the stairs, firing over her shoulder, ‘Well, from what I hear about you, West, that’s a bit pot, kettle.’
He didn’t reply.
Allie waited outside the dining room that evening, fidgeting as she watched the students stream in. Katie passed by, glowing ethereally. She whispered to the cluster of acolytes who always surrounded her and they all giggled. Allie saw Jules among them, unsmiling.
Unable to help herself, Allie crossed her eyes and stuck out her tongue at them, but they only laughed louder.
‘What an idiot,’ she heard Katie say, and she flushed.
A few minutes later Jo and Gabe appeared, bright stars in a constellation of friends. Jo was laughing at some unheard joke. Allie waited to be noticed, trying not to care whether or not they saw her. But a few seconds later Jo looked up and gave her an enormous smile. She bounded down the hallway and grabbed her hand, dragging her into the group.
‘Allie! There you are. Come with me – you need to meet everyone.’
At the table, Allie sat on Jo’s left, Gabe sat on her right. In the raucous rumble of pre-dinner conversation, Jo raised her voice enough to be heard.
‘Everybody, this is Allie. Allie, this is everybody.’
‘Come on, Jo, you could be more specific.’ The heckler was about Gabe’s age, and sat across the table from Allie. His glossy light brown hair was just long enough to fall fetchingly over his right eye. He smiled flirtatiously. ‘I’m not everybody. I’m Lucas.’
The others hooted derisively, but his smile was contagious and she couldn’t help but smile back.
One by one the others at the table laughingly gave their names. There was a slim girl named Lisa, with long, straight fair hair and a hesitant smile. Ruth was athletic and unsmiling with messy shoulder-length, dark blonde hair. She
sat next to Phil, who was cool looking with very short dark hair and trendy glasses. Allie got the feeling Ruth and Phil liked each other.
There was an early excited buzz of conversation (‘been hearing all about you …’ ‘What do you think of Cimmeria?’ ‘Isn’t Zelazny a …’ ‘Shhh! Careful, he’s right over there …’ ‘Do you like it here?’) before everybody moved on to other subjects.
Distracted by the day’s events, Allie played disinterestedly with her food, which wasn’t, she thought, very good tonight. She could just make out the sound of rain against the windowpanes. The weather had gradually turned grey, and now it was pouring down. She was so deeply entangled in a complex net of her own thoughts that bits of the conversation floated by her like flotsam.
‘Twenty pages by Tuesday!’
‘Most amazing smile …’
‘What is this meat, anyway?’
‘Mystery meat.’
Laughter.
‘I heard a teacher say it’s supposed to rain for the next three days.’
A chorus of groans.
Allie looked up.
‘It’s so boring here when it rains,’ Jo explained. ‘The common room will be packed. We should get there early.’
As soon as they’d finished they hurried out and down the hall. Jo claimed a sofa in the middle of the room, kicking off her shoes and tucking her feet underneath her. Allie sank into a deep leather chair across from her. They were just settling down when Gabe walked up.
He, like Allie, had seemed distracted that evening. ‘I can’t stay,’ he said now, looking at Jo apologetically. ‘It’s this stupid project.’
He kissed her, whispered something in her ear that made her smile, then hurried out.
Finally, for the first time since the previous night, Allie and Jo were alone.
‘What should we do now?’ Jo asked. ‘Do you want to play Trivial Pursuit?’
‘Not right now.’ Allie scooted forward in her chair and leaned towards Jo, lowering her voice to a whisper. ‘Jo, what was that last night? What does Gabe think?’
‘Well, there was some sort of crazy fox or something … I don’t know,’ Jo said. ‘It all happened so fast.’
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