They all fell silent.
“Sunni, Blaise.” Lorimer pressed his palms together. “This is huge. I can imagine how excited you are. But I can’t let you go inside again.”
“But Mr B!” Blaise screwed up his face. “Munro let us go and he owns the Oculus.”
“Yes, but he’s a guest on Blackhope Tower property and he should know better.”
“Nothing happened to us,” Sunni cried out.
“Your flesh and bones were transported – by Corvo’s sorcery – into a light projection. I can’t even begin to imagine what that might have done to your systems,” said Lorimer, his voice rising. “And I’ll bet your parents haven’t a clue what you’ve been doing.”
Blaise gave Sunni a look. “This isn’t fair, Mr B. We’re old enough to look after ourselves.”
“Not quite,” said Lorimer.
“We’ve got to go into the third projection.” Blaise’s face clouded with anger and disappointment.
“No, Blaise, and that’s final.” Lorimer ran his hand over his shaved head. “I think you should both go home now.”
“But we can’t just leave it like this, Mr Bell!” Blaise exclaimed.
“I’ll talk to Munro,” said Lorimer. “You’ve told him everything you told me?”
“We didn’t have time,” said Sunni, her mouth drooping. “He knows Corvo’s clone was in the first projection. That’s all.”
“Fine,” said the teacher. “I’ll sort it out.”
“But you don’t understand,” Blaise murmured under his breath.
Lorimer let out an exasperated breath. “Come on, time to go, guys. You’ve been here long enough and I must be getting on.”
Blaise picked up a stray wick from the floor and placed it next to the Oculus, eyeing the magic lantern longingly.
Sunni was halfway to the door when she paused and turned to her teacher. “You’re not going to tell our parents about this, are you, Mr Bell?”
“If you’re both sure you’re all right, no, I don’t have to mention it. But if you feel any adverse effects later on, they’ll have to know what you got up to. Whether they’ll believe it or not, I don’t know.”
“I could take my dad into the projection,” muttered Blaise, “and prove it!”
“You’re not going back in, with your dad or anyone else,” said Lorimer, herding them to the door. “This whole thing is one of Corvo’s secrets and it’s best to keep it that way for now.”
“Thanks, Mr B,’ said Sunni.
“Yeah,” said Blaise. “Thanks a lot.”
Lorimer gave them a strained smile. When they were a few metres down the corridor, Blaise turned and caught a glimpse of the teacher’s back, his fingers scraping nervously at his neck, before he heard the Mariner’s Chamber door slam shut.
Chapter 11
Blaise was still fuming as he and Sunni crossed Blackhope Tower’s entrance hall.
“I feel so ripped off,” he said in a low voice. “If only Mr Bell hadn’t come in.”
“I know,” said Sunni.
“We’ve got to talk to Munro before he does.”
“I bet Munro won’t have anything to do with us now,” said Sunni. “It’s over, Blaise. We won’t get another chance at the last projection.” She twisted round and tried to see the back of her trousers. “My back pocket got ripped by one of those weirdos in the tavern. Does it look really obvious?”
“Nope, I don’t think so,” he answered.
She tried to smooth her hair down. “Do I look semi-normal?”
“Yes, you look semi-normal.”
“Rhona doesn’t miss anything so I’d better keep my back to the wall when I go home.” She pushed the main door open and a gust of wind swept her wavy hair up over her face. “Oh, wonderful.”
The sun had vanished, giving way to grey clouds scudding across the sky. Most festival visitors had sought refuge inside the heated marquees or the castle, except for a few who braved the chilly breeze.
“Blaise!” A shout came from the entrance to the food tent, where Iona stood sipping from a plastic cup. “Over here!”
“Hey.” He strode over to her side. “How’re you doing?”
“Fabulous.” She stroked one of the skeleton-shaped earrings she wore. “Where did you get to last night?”
“I looked around and then I had to head home. Did you get the Great Hall decorations finished?”
“Oh, yes,” she drawled. “It looks amazing, if I say so myself.”
Sunni appeared at his side, still trying to keep the flying hair from her face. “Hello.”
“Hiya,” said Iona casually. “So are you coming to the fancy dress party tonight, Blaise?”
“I doubt it,” said Blaise.
“We’ll be there,” said Iona. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
Blaise could tell by the way Sunni stood so stiffly that she was not happy. “Iona, you know Sunni, right? Sunni, this is Iona.”
“Hi,” said Sunni tonelessly.
“Sure.” Iona gave her a sweet smile.
“How you doing, Blaise?” asked James, looming up behind Iona and tousling her sleek copper hair.
“Good, yeah,” he answered.
“Some mad people in there,” said James, jerking his thumb at the Mysteries and Curiosities tent. “Phew.”
“Aurora’s my favourite,” said Iona. “She’s wired to the moon, but lovely.”
Munro walked past with Lexie cradled in his arms, deep in conversation with someone. The cat eyed them but her owner seemed not to have noticed them at all and Blaise’s heart sank. Sunni was right. He probably wouldn’t want anything to do with them now.
“Speaking of mad,” James said under his breath. “Munro’s another one. Have you seen his transport? It’s an old hearse.”
“That cat’s just as bonkers,” said Iona.
“And his photos are totally spooky,” James said approvingly. “They look like normal pictures but there’s always something off about them and you aren’t sure what it is at first. And then you notice a face in the background that shouldn’t be there, or a hand floating in mid-air.”
“I’ve got to go,” Sunni said from somewhere just behind Blaise.
“Yeah, me too.” He shook himself into action. “Catch you later.”
“Wait.” Iona tapped something into her phone and showed it to him. “That’s my number. If you change your mind, James or I can leave you tickets at the door.”
Blaise fumbled with his phone and punched her number in.
“Now call me so I have yours,” said Iona. When her phone buzzed a moment later she announced, “Done. See you.”
“Maybe later,” called James.
“Thanks. Bye.” Blaise scurried after Sunni. “Hey, wait up.”
“Stay with your new pals if you want,” she said when he caught up, and then began muttering something under her breath.
“I hardly know them. I was being polite,” he said, catching her by the elbow. “What’s the problem?”
“Ever since we got out of the projection I’ve had Lady Ishbel picking at my clothes and whooshing round my ears!” she exploded. “I think she wants to drive me crazy. If only I could get her back into Arcadia so she’d leave me alone.”
“Why didn’t you say?”
“I’m trying to ignore her, like Munro said, but it’s impossible in the Mariner’s Chamber. She’s really strong there.”
“Maybe because that’s where she died. How are things now?”
“Better. I don’t think I’ve shaken her though. She seems to come and go.”
“Sorry, Sunni.”
“I just want to get home.”
They walked through the swaying trees along the old Blackhope Road that meandered into town. Blaise knew Sunni preferred this because fewer cars drove this way and there would be less chance her stepmother would see her. One day he was going to challenge Rhona and find out what was so bad about Sunni being with him, but not today.
Right now, all he wanted
to do was get home and figure out what he could do about Corvo’s last slide – if there was anything he could do.
“What are you up to tonight?” Sunni asked.
“I don’t know. Nothing.” Blaise felt a sudden niggle of displeasure. “We might have been in and out of the last projection by now.” He kicked away a clump of leaves that blew against his leg.
“Let it go,” said Sunni. At the crossroads before the Wee Cuppa Café, she gave him a tired smile and turned to go into her street. “What a day. I’m knackered actually.”
“I’m not,” said Blaise. “I’m wired.” He sighed. “We came so close.”
Sunni shrugged. “Give it a rest.”
“Have a good night, Sunni,” he said softly.
“You, too.” She walked away slowly, as if she were carrying a burden, with locks of her hair still blowing up even though the wind had died down.
A razor-thin chill ran down Blaise’s neck as he watched her. He didn’t need a cat or goggles to know that Lady Ishbel was getting to Sunni and there was nothing they could do about it.
It was dark when Sunni woke from her nap. She could smell food cooking and she knew it must be close to teatime. She was getting out of bed, relieved at how much brighter she felt, when her phone rang.
“Sunni?” Blaise sounded breathless on the other end. “How’re you doing?”
“All right. What’s up?”
“Something’s happened.” He was jumpy. “I’m going to the fancy dress party at Blackhope Tower. Can you come?”
A thrill ran through her. “Okay.”
“What about Ishbel? Are you up for dealing with her?” he asked.
“Yeah, if I have to.”
“Can you get out of the house?”
“I’ll find a way. What’s going on?”
Blaise lowered his voice. “It’s not good.”
“Tell me.”
“I can’t. Look, the party doesn’t start until later, but we have to go soon. Can you meet me back at the old Blackhope Road in half an hour?”
Sunni only hesitated for a couple of seconds. “Yes. I’ll be in a ghost maiden costume. Just so I don’t freak you out.”
Blaise cursed. “Oh man, I still have to find a costume!”
“Just wear anything. It doesn’t matter.”
“My dad might have something. See you in half an hour.” He hung up abruptly.
Sunni sprang into action, pulling on her white wig and gown and applying her pale make-up in record time. Her mind was occupied with concocting the best story she could because it was going to have to be convincing.
She presented herself in the kitchen, where Rhona and her dad were dishing up supper and calling for Dean to come down.
“Well, well, well,” said her dad. “You’ve gone all pale and interesting, sweetheart. Who are you meant to be?”
“Just a ghostly maiden.” Sunni adopted her best girly excited voice. “I’ve been invited to the fancy dress party tonight at the Enigma Festival.”
“Really?” Rhona had her suspicious face on. “Who by?”
“James.” She almost faltered. “James Ross.”
“The James Ross whose photo was in the Evening Sentinel the other week?” Rhona’s eyebrows rose. “Whose father is a doctor?”
“Yeah.”
Rhona gave Sunni’s dad an approving smile. “Well, Sunni, this is a bit of a surprise. You haven’t said anything about him before.”
“I haven’t known him that long.” She squeezed two fingers together into a cross behind her back, even though everything she’d said was true, sort of. It was more about what she’d left out.
“Is James picking you up here? We’d like to meet him,” said her dad.
“Um, no. I’m meeting him and some other kids from school.” She beamed them a hopeful smile. “In ten minutes.”
“We’re about to eat. You can’t go out on an empty stomach.”
“There’s going to be food at the party, Dad,” Sunni wheedled. “Please?”
Rhona gave him a knowing look and said, “Maybe we can make an exception this time, Ian, don’t you think?”
“Well, I suppose. Will this boy be bringing you home, by the way?” her dad asked.
“Of course. I’ll be fine, Dad.” She heard Dean clumping down the stairs. “But it might be a bit late.”
“You know when you’re supposed to be in,” he replied firmly, but smiled.
Dean plunked himself down at the table. He wore a ripped striped shirt with a leather vest over it and a black patch over one eye. A pirate hat was perched jauntily on his blonde head.
“You going out?” Sunni asked.
“Yeah. Halloween party.” He drummed the table with his fork and spoon. “Where are you going, ghoul girl?”
Rhona winked at Sunni in a girl-to-girl kind of way that nearly made Sunni faint with surprise. Going on a fake date with James was the first thing she’d ever done that her stepmother seemed excited about.
“She’s going to the fancy dress party at Blackhope Tower, Dean. And you can’t wear that awful jacket, Sunni.” Rhona vanished into the hall cupboard and came back with her own long knitted white cardigan. “This is more ghostly looking and quite warm. Just keep it clean please.”
Still in shock at being lent one of her stepmother’s things, Sunni pulled it on and made for the back door. “Thanks, Rhona. This is amazing.”
She hurried to the crossroads and the dark turn into the old Blackhope Road, where a lanky figure stood in a long tatty cape. Blaise swung round and finished a phone conversation when he saw her approaching.
“Wow. You look…” His voice trailed off.
“Ghostly?” she volunteered.
“Beautiful,” he murmured. “You look beautiful.”
They stood still with the breeze swirling round them. Sunni waited, her heart thumping. He said I’m beautiful. It didn’t matter that she had white hair and white lips and sooty smudges around her eyes. He said I’m beautiful.
But Blaise didn’t move from the spot. He seemed to be holding his breath and just smiled stupidly.
Come on, Blaise. Don’t stop there. When she twigged that he had frozen and wasn’t about to unfreeze, Sunni asked in a hushed voice, “What’s so urgent?”
His face suddenly changed from gormless to serious. “That was Iona on the phone again. No one can find Mr Bell.”
Chapter 12
Sunni stopped by the entrance to a path marked by a crooked tree.
“You want to cut through the woods instead?” she asked.
Blaise squinted uncertainly into the dark. “No, let’s stick to the road. What did you tell your parents?”
“Don’t ask,” said Sunni. “Now what’s going on?”
He followed her pale figure along the footpath, dead leaves crunching underfoot and his mildewed velveteen cape swishing as they walked. Every so often he looked back to make sure no one was following them.
“Iona called me and asked when I last saw Mr Bell. I told her and said to call me back if they didn’t find him,” he answered. “And I had this funny feeling they weren’t going to.”
“And she just phoned you back.”
“Yup. No one has seen Mr B since he went to find Munro for Aurora.”
“So we’re the last people who saw him,” said Sunni. “But he was right behind us, wasn’t he, when we left the Mariner’s Chamber?”
“I don’t know,” Blaise said. “I heard the door slam but I didn’t see him leave.”
“Me neither. And that was hours ago.”
“Yeah,” he said. “So I told Iona we’d head over to Blackhope Tower.”
Cars’ headlamps flashed across Sunni’s white dress as they drove past, and even in the darkness she almost glowed under a fine crescent moon. With the woods beside them crackling and creaking with the wind, and the hint of wood smoke in the air, Blaise could believe that Lady Ishbel’s wasn’t the only spirit let loose in Braeside.
His thoughts swung back and
forth between Sunni and Corvo and Mr Bell. Once again he’d blown it with Sunni. Blaise cringed as he imagined what she’d thought when he’d said she looked beautiful – not as she normally was, but when she was dressed up as a dead girl. Nice.
If he wasn’t such an idiot, he could have added something like you’re beautiful all the time and stepped forward, suavely, to envelop Sunni with his cape like Dracula. No, she probably would have squirmed away, wanting to know what he was playing at. Blaise sighed. Just as well he hadn’t made any moves then.
“I meant to tell you,” he said at last. “While I was home I looked up the Emperor Rudolf who was living in Prague in 1582.”
“And?”
“He was called Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II. And get this. He collected tons of art and weird curiosities from all over the world but he didn’t like to travel. So people either brought him treasures or he sent out scouts to find paintings for him.”
“That fits,” said Sunni. “The clone said Corvo couldn’t wait any longer for the Emperor’s delivery guy to come and get the three paintings so he took them to Prague himself.”
“And something else,” said Blaise. “Rudolf was totally into magic and alchemy and was looking for the secret of eternal life.”
“So he would have really wanted Corvo’s magical paintings,” she said.
“Yeah, but he never got them. And it looks like he never received the Oculus either.”
The old Blackhope Road wound round and brought them out a short distance from the main road and the entrance to the castle. The lions at the gate were specially illuminated from underneath, making them look as if they were ready to leap off their plinths, and the long drive was dotted with jack o’ lanterns grinning into the night.
Two torches burned like beacons on either side of Blackhope Tower’s entrance and every window in the castle was lit. Blaise had never seen it looking so grand, as if horses and carriages ought to be pulling up outside.
Inside, the atmosphere was tense. Aurora Midnight, dressed in a floating, moss-coloured fairy queen outfit, was pacing back and forth across the entrance hall clutching a phone to her chest. James burst from the spiral staircase dressed in a tuxedo and his purple paws, carrying his furry headpiece under one arm. Iona, in a glamorous witch costume, and several other pixies, punks and ghouls milled about at the front desk.
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