Lucas led them to a spot where fallen stones had made natural steps up to the top of the old castle wall. At the top, it was about three feet thick, and for a moment they all stood in a row, looking out over the other side where a giant bonfire blazed. Students sat around it like a coven, talking and laughing.
As they walked up to the group, Katie bounded over to Allie. ‘Hey, you made it.’ She wore a ski jacket and white cashmere hat. ‘Welcome. There are drinks passing around and marshmallows, of course.’ Her smile was disarming. ‘Come on over.’
As she hurried back to the fire, Allie dropped behind to whisper to Jo. ‘Katie’s broken. Fix her.’
‘When did she stop hating you?’ Jo looked as baffled as she felt. ‘Why didn’t I get the memo?’
‘I don’t like that girl,’ Zoe said before spotting somebody she knew and running off.
As they reached the fireside, Allie instinctively glanced around for Carter but didn’t see him. As her eyes swept the crowd they alighted on Sylvain. Aside from a few marks, his face had largely returned to normal. The bruise across his throat had taken the longest to heal. He sat with Nicole, who looked glamorous in a long black coat and earmuffs. Seeing them together made Allie’s chest hurt – they seemed perfect together. And now she wasn’t perfect with anyone. When Nicole saw her looking at them across the flames, she waved a champagne bottle at her and smiled.
Allie held up her hand in a tentative wave.
Jo pulled her to the front where the fire was warmest and they sat on a large flat stone that had once been part of the castle structure. Zoe joined them and they watched as someone nearby held a long thin stick into the fire. When the marshmallow on the end toasted, the air began to smell of candy. Allie breathed in deeply, inhaling the scent of camping trips and childhood.
‘Want,’ she said, in a piteous voice.
‘Lucas,’ Jo called over authoritatively.
Glancing over at her he arched one eyebrow.
‘Marshmallowy stick thing, please.’
From the stack on the ground behind him, he pulled a whip-like length of freshly cut twig. Someone passed a bag of marshmallows over.
Bottles of wine and champagne made the rounds as well. Some people had plastic cups; others swigged directly from the bottle. When one was handed to Jo, Allie held her breath. But to her relief Jo waved it away.
‘I’m like a saint now,’ she told the person who’d tried to give it to her. ‘Haven’t you heard? St Jo of Not Drinking.’
Allie passed on the wine as well. After what had happened at the summer ball she wasn’t interested in losing control.
Jo stabbed another fluffy marshmallow on to the end of the stick.
‘They’re so good but I can only eat three,’ she said pleasantly. ‘And then I want to vom.’
Someone threw more wood on the fire and it flared brightly, casting the woods around them into darkness. Its heat seemed to curl soft woolly tendrils around them. Leaning back, Allie looked up at the ruined castle tower that loomed over them, its crenellated roof like jagged teeth and tiny archers’ window slits like eyes.
‘I wonder if there’s any truth to it,’ she murmured, thinking aloud.
Jo looked over at her enquiringly. Allie could just make out the blue of her eyes in the firelight.
‘The story of the lady being murdered, I mean,’ Allie said. ‘I wonder if it really happened.’
Jo held her marshmallow just above the dancing flames. ‘My brother said he saw her ghost when he was at school here.’
Allie leaned back doubtfully. ‘He was just trying to scare you.’
Looking uncomfortable, Jo shrugged. ‘Maybe. But I don’t think so. Tom isn’t scared of anything, but whatever he saw that night, it did seem to scare him.’
Other students were listening to their conversation now.
‘What exactly did he see?’ Lucas stood next to her, a champagne bottle in one hand.
‘He said he and some friends were up here for the winter bonfire – just like we are now – only they were actually in the tower. At midnight, they heard footsteps above their heads. He said the wood floor creaked clearly with every step. Only there are no wood floors, no floors at all. Just empty space.’
The group had fallen silent now. Allie swallowed hard.
‘So they all decided to get the hell out, you know?’ Jo continued. ‘They took off running. But just before they went down the hill they looked back and they could see her.’
‘See what?’ somebody asked.
‘A woman in a long grey dress standing and watching them go.’ She pointed at the top of the tower. ‘Right up there.’
There was a collective exhalation, like a long sigh. Someone giggled nervously.
‘He probably imagined it,’ Katie said, pouring champagne into a plastic cup.
‘Maybe, but … Oh, bugger!’ Jo’s marshmallow was on fire and she blew on it fiercely, but by the time the fire went out it was a blackened lump. She scraped it into the flames. ‘He never came up here again.’
Lucas took a swig from the bottle before passing it to a friend. ‘I’ve been up here plenty of times and I’ve never seen …’
At that moment a log in the fire popped so loudly it sounded like a gunshot and they all jumped. Several girls screamed then dissolved into giggles.
‘I do not like ghost stories.’ Nicole sounded disapproving. ‘It disturbs the dead when we speak of them. It’s dangerous. They should be left in peace.’
‘Do you believe in ghosts then?’ Lucas asked.
‘Of course!’ She seemed to find the question absurd. ‘I am from Paris. The city is full of spirits. It would be arrogant to say something doesn’t exist simply because you don’t understand it. I don’t understand how the television works and yet I still admit that it’s there.’
A murmur swept through the group as they considered her logic.
‘This conversation is a total buzz killer,’ Katie said. ‘Let’s play a game.’
A burst of derisive laughter followed. ‘What should we play?’ somebody asked. ‘Snakes and ladders?’
‘How about Truth or Dare?’ she replied without missing a beat. ‘I haven’t played it in ages.’
‘That is a risky game.’ Nicole leaned back against Sylvain.
Allie noticed how his arm rested with familiar ease around her narrow waist. But when her eyes drifted to his face she saw he was looking at her. Something dangerous fluttered inside her.
When she tuned into the conversation, Katie had taken command. She stood up on a fallen stone so everyone could hear her. Her hair was the same colour as the flames behind her.
‘OK, here are the rules. Anyone who has been asked a question can ask someone else a question. You can decide after the question is asked whether you want Truth or Dare.’ A roar of dissension followed but she raised her voice to be heard above it. ‘This makes it safer. I know it’s kind of cheating but …I’ll get the ball rolling,’ she said. ‘Alex. Have you ever been given a blow job?’
‘Gross.’ Zoe wrinkled her nose.
Glancing at her, Allie remembered that she was only thirteen and wondered if she should suggest they leave together before this all got out of hand. It was making her uncomfortable, too. This wasn’t how she remembered Truth or Dare. But Zoe seemed more curious than disturbed and she didn’t want to embarrass her.
A tall blond boy who Allie recognised from Night School stood up, a bottle of wine loose in one hand.
‘Truth,’ he said. The crowd fell silent. ‘Yes.’
They hooted in disbelief and someone threw marshmallows at him, which he swatted away. ‘Once,’ he insisted. ‘I swear to God.’ He grinned lasciviously. ‘I can’t tell you the details because I’m a gentleman.’
‘I doubt that. Now you ask a question,’ Katie said, taking the bottle from him.
‘Pru,’ he called out.
‘Present!’ A giggling blonde girl stood up.
‘Is it true that you lost your virginity on a y
acht?’
Laughter and gasps greeted the question as, wobbling a bit, Pru considered her options.
‘Dare,’ she said finally. Her friends howled with laughter. Alex considered what to ask. ‘Take off your top and go into the tower alone for three minutes.’
Pru looked nonplussed. ‘I don’t want to go to the tower.’ ‘It’s Truth or Dare, Pru,’ Katie said, her voice stern. ‘You know the rules.’
With a sigh, Pru unzipped her ski jacket then pulled off her thick sweater. Underneath it she wore a tight, pink T-shirt. Without the slightest indication of inhibition, she pulled it over her head revealing a lacy white bra. The boys cheered.
‘For God’s sake, girl,’ Jo muttered. ‘Have some self-respect.’ ‘Bra goes too,’ Alex insisted but he needn’t have, she was already taking it off.
‘To the tower! To the tower!’ the crowd chanted.
As she disappeared, weaving and laughing, breasts bouncing, into the dark depths of the stone building, Allie decided she would leave and take Zoe with her as soon as everybody was too busy to notice. This wasn’t her kind of party.
‘Somebody really should go with her to make sure she’s safe,’ Alex said. ‘I volunteer.’
‘Don’t be vile,’ Katie said above the jeers. ‘This isn’t a porn film. I’m timing this.’
As they talked and laughed and passed bottles around, Allie leaned towards Zoe.
‘If you want to go, say the word,’ she said, giving the younger girl a significant look.
‘It’s kind of fascinating, in an anthropological way,’ Zoe said. ‘I haven’t ever done anything so I would always take Truth.’
‘Time,’ Katie shouted. ‘Pru? You may return to your clothes.’
A long moment passed, and everyone fell silent, as if they thought she wouldn’t reappear. But she bounded out of the tower and ran back to her seat, shivering. She wasn’t smiling now.
‘Bloody hell it’s freezing in there. I should have taken Truth.’
‘Your turn, Pru,’ Katie said.
‘Lucas.’ Pru zipped up her coat and pulled her hat down over her head. ‘Have you ever shagged someone inside the school building.’
Allie felt Jo flinch beside her and glanced at her curiously; she was staring down at the ground.
‘Truth,’ Lucas said, without smiling. ‘Yes.’ The boys around him applauded sardonically. He didn’t look at Jo.
‘My turn.’ Lucas swiped a bottle someone held up to him and took a deep drink. ‘Katie.’
The crowd cheered wildly as the redhead stood up, her expression fearless.
‘Truth or Dare,’ Lucas said. ‘Have you ever shagged someone on the school grounds. In, for example, the summer house, after curfew?’
‘Truth,’ she said, a hand on one hip. ‘Definitely.’
The group laughed.
‘My turn,’ she said, turning towards the fire. In the light of the flames her face looked unearthly. ‘Allie.’
Allie was so surprised she jumped. With a sympathetic look, Jo squeezed her hand.
A chorus of ‘oohs’ greeted the choice.
Slowly, Allie stood up and turned to face her. Dread formed a tight knot in her stomach, as she kept her eyes on Katie’s fire-lit face.
I knew I shouldn’t have come.
She waited to be asked about sex or blow jobs or all the things she hadn’t ever done. But Katie’s question was completely different.
‘Are you Lucinda Meldrum’s granddaughter?’
Time seemed to stop.
A puzzled murmur swept the fireside. Allie was aware of the hot fire cracking and snapping behind her. Jo’s fingers slipped from her hand.
Stunned, she stared at Katie in disbelief – all she saw in her face was triumph – she knew the answer already. Finally, Allie found her voice. ‘Dare.’
Whispers swirled around her. She wished Jo was still holding her hand.
‘Kiss Sylvain.’ Katie’s words hit her like icicles. ‘Passionately.’
TWENTY-FOUR
‘No!’ Allie took a startled step backwards. ‘That’s not … He’s with Nicole.’ She felt sick. Like she’d stumbled into one of those reality TV shows where you’re forced to do things you don’t want to do.
‘It’s OK,’ Nicole called out merrily. ‘It won’t bother me.’
Katie didn’t take her eyes off Allie. ‘You have to. Or everyone will know you’re a coward as well as a liar.’
A hiss of concern passed through the crowd. When Allie turned towards Sylvain she saw he was staring at Katie with open contempt.
She didn’t know what to do. Whatever happened now, she knew would stay with her for as long as she was at this school. It seemed as if everyone held their breath, waiting for her to move.
Her legs felt numb, and it took all her strength to make them carry her through the crowd to where Sylvain and Nicole sat. Students moved to clear a path, as if she were royalty. Or tainted.
Standing in front of Nicole, she held out her hands helplessly.
‘I don’t want …’ she said, before stopping and trying again. ‘He’s your boyfriend, this isn’t right.’
Leaning forward, Nicole placed her lips against Allie’s ear to whisper. ‘Sylvain is not my boyfriend.’ She sounded a little tipsy. When she straightened she gave Allie a significant look. Then she spoke loud enough for everyone to hear: ‘I know what to do.’
She leaned towards Allie again. Confused, Allie at first thought she was going to whisper something else but, instead, Nicole grabbed her scarf and pulled her closer, kissing her on the lips. Allie was so stunned she stood stock still. Nicole’s lips were soft and tasted of champagne. She smelled like jasmine and roses. Being kissed by a girl wasn’t bad exactly, it was just … peculiar. Especially when Nicole’s long hair swung down and brushed her cheek like feathers.
After a second, Nicole stepped back and turned to face the crowd with a sophisticated little shrug. ‘Now it is fine for you to kiss Sylvain, because I have kissed you.’
As she sat down, appreciative applause and laughter greeted this gesture, but Allie could sense the confusion beneath the noise. She knew everyone was thinking about Lucinda Meldrum and why Katie had asked that question.
She could hardly breathe as she turned to face Sylvain. His anger was clear in the tight set of his shoulders and the way his hands clenched at his sides. ‘It’s a foolish children’s game, Allie,’ he said. ‘We don’t have to do it. Katie,’ he raised his voice, ‘is just causing trouble as usual.’
Looking into his eyes, sapphire in the darkness, she thought her heart would explode with pain and longing. Trust Katie to devise the most perfectly focused torment for them both. Of course she would know there was attraction between them; she would have heard the gossip. She would also know how much this would hurt Carter if he found out, but she wouldn’t care about that.
Tears of confusion stung Allie’s eyes. Stepping closer to him, she whispered so quietly only he could hear. ‘I can’t … Carter …’
At Carter’s name, he recoiled as if she’d slapped him. Allie’s breaths were shallow and her heart pounded with rage and shame and loss.
I have to get out of here.
If she didn’t, she was going to kiss Sylvain or hit Katie or have another panic attack. None of those things would be good.
Pivoting she strode back to where Zoe stared at her, openmouthed. Next to her Jo watched the fire, avoiding her eyes.
‘Come on, Zoe,’ Allie said hoarsely. ‘We’re going. Neither of us belongs here.’
There was a split-second pause as the younger girl seemed to process this, then she scrambled to her feet and hurried to follow Allie away from the fire.
As they walked into the darkness, Katie called after them, her voice echoing off the castle rocks.
‘You should have chosen Truth.’
*
‘I thought you were kidding about kissing with tongues.’ Zoe hopped to keep up with Allie’s pace as they headed down the hill away from
the castle.
They moved so quickly the beams from their torches swung wildly, bouncing from rocky path to tree branches to dark sky.
‘So did I.’ Allie’s reply came through gritted teeth as she skidded on a stone. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, she slowed her pace. After that they walked for a while in silence, the sound of their feet on the earth the only noise in the silent forest.
‘Allie?’ Zoe’s voice was quiet.
‘Yes?’ Allie said, although she knew perfectly well what the question was going to be.
‘Is your grandmother really Lucinda Meldrum?’ Zoe was looking at her with something like awe.
An owl hooted in the woods nearby – Allie stopped walking. ‘Did you hear that?’
‘An owl.’ Zoe nodded. ‘Somewhere close.’
‘I love the way owls sound.’ Allie had lowered her voice to a whisper as she peered at the branches above them. ‘They sound like they know so much.’ Silence fell between them as they waited. The owl hooted again. ‘Yes,’ Allie said, still staring at the trees.
‘Yes?’ Zoe looked at her, puzzled.
‘Yes, Lucinda Meldrum is my grandmother.’
Allie started walking again. After a second, she heard Zoe follow.
‘But how …’ Zoe hopped over a root that bulged in her path. ‘How could nobody know you’re her granddaughter? Everybody knows who everybody’s families are.’
They were at the base of the hill now, making their way around the walled garden.
‘I really don’t want to talk about this right now,’ Allie said, her voice grim.
Zoe seemed to accept this, and she changed the subject. ‘You kissed a girl.’ There was admiration in her voice.
‘Oh God.’ Allie thought of Nicole whispering, ‘Sylvain is not my boyfriend.’ ‘Yes I did.’
‘You’re going to be famous,’ Zoe said as the school building appeared in front of them.
Rachel was half asleep when she answered her bedroom door to Allie’s light tapping. Her white pyjamas seemed too big for her, and her normally glossy hair hung across her shoulders in tangled curls.
‘Allie?’ She looked bleary-eyed. ‘What’s the matter?’
Night School: Legacy Page 23