by Sonia Parin
Mirabelle’s orb took a turn around the room.
“You’re ignoring me.”
“I’m not. I’m merely... appreciating your lovely room.”
“Did you know about me not being able to contact Octavia... or you?” When Mirabelle didn’t answer, Lexie grumbled. “You did. Why didn’t you warn me I’d be on my own? Hey, what happens if my life is in danger?”
Mirabelle sighed. “You’re safe. This is Lauriston. Nothing can happen to you here.”
“Tell that to the wood-fired witch.”
“I have been dropping in regularly and keeping an eye on you.”
“Aha! So you’re concerned too.”
“I’m merely doing my part. Now... what were you saying?”
“I seem to have drawn the short straw and no one bothered to tell me.” Lexie rubbed her eyes. “I was saying I couldn’t get through to Octavia. It looks like we’re stuck here for a few more days. Luna and I require a care package.”
“Whatever for?”
“For sustenance. We can’t live on air alone. I’m not a porridge type of person. Bacon and eggs, pancakes, omelet... Yes. But porridge...” She pressed her lips together and shook her head. “Make sure she includes chocolate and coffee.” Lexie slurped the last of the coffee and looked up.
“All you ever do is complain...” Mirabelle murmured.
“Sorry, did you say something?”
“You get to have all the fun, while I’m stuck here...”
“Are you mumbling to yourself?”
“I’m writing down your requests. I wouldn’t want to leave anything out.”
“I knew I could count on you.” Lexie licked the last of the coffee in her tiny cup. “It just occurred to me. We’ve never met. Why is that?” She didn’t wait for a response. “I’m starting to think you exist solely as an orb.”
“I can assure you I am more than an orb.”
“So how come you don’t just click your heels and get yourself over here?”
Silence.
“Mirabelle?”
“Do you have anything else to report?” Mirabelle asked.
“Um—” Mirabelle disappeared before she could tell her about seeing the figure dressed in black the night before. “What’s up with her? Did I say something wrong... again?”
Luna scurried over to her. “It’s a touchy subject with her.”
“What is? What’s wrong with her?”
“I heard a rumor, but I can’t vouch for it...”
“I’ll take whatever you have.”
Luna looked over her shoulder as if to make sure Mirabelle hadn’t snuck back in. “She suffers from your affliction.”
“I don’t have one of those.”
Luna gave her a roll of her eyes. “You keep landing in the closet.”
“So?”
“Mirabelle finds that undignified.”
“You mean... she lands in the closet too?”
Luna nodded.
“You’re kidding me?” Mirabelle wasn’t perfect?
“Don’t tell her I told you.” Luna’s ears flicked. “I hear someone coming.”
Moments later, Claudette strode in. “Sorry, I would have knocked but I saw Ms Cornelia McGhee turning a corner and I didn’t want her to catch me.”
“Remind me who she is?”
“She’s the art tutor. I didn’t want to bump into her. She doesn’t care for the way I mix my primary colors. If she could, she would have me flogged.”
“For not mixing your colors properly? Since when did that become a crime?”
“If something is not done the right way... her way, then it’s a crime. She’s accused me of turning everything to mud. Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with the color of mud.” Claudette sat at the end of her bed and set her cat, Sasha, on her lap. For the briefest moment, Sasha appeared to be alert but then her heal lolled...
“Is this the usual fare for breakfast?” Lexie couldn’t help asking.
“Yes, no one eats it.”
“So how do you get by?”
“Contraband.” Claudette drew something out of her reticule.
“Is that a donut?”
“You look like you need this more than I do.”
Before Lexie could take a bite, Luna scampered over.
Share. Share.
You don’t like donuts.
Yes, I do.
Since when?
Since I got something that tasted like cardboard for breakfast.
Lexie broke off a piece and gave it Luna. “So what else can you get?”
“Anything.”
“I’ll have to go shopping.”
“We’re not allowed off the grounds. I think that’s why they make us wear these ridiculous gowns.”
That made sense. Actually... it didn’t. Surely they could change out of their outfits, into street clothes, and zap themselves to the store and back before anyone noticed them missing.
“I know what you’re thinking, but it doesn’t work. We’re... spellbound as in earthbound. It’s their way of making sure we don’t use our powers to cheat on exams.”
“So powers aren’t part of the curriculum?” Was that why she couldn’t contact Octavia?
“I wish. It’s all so generic. Algebra... science, history, literature... It’s not as if we’re ever going to need any of that.” Claudette pulled the drawstrings on her reticule and sighed. “Anyhow, did you complete your task last night?”
Lexie gave a small nod and without thinking too much about it, decided not to mention the dark figure she’d seen emerging from one of the rooms. The decision was a no-brainer since she suspected it had been one of the students. In any case, she didn’t have the energy to go into it. All she could think about was the contraband food she could get.
“How exactly do you get contraband in?”
Claudette touched the side of her nose.
One of the cooks? Someone else employed at the academy? Lexie gazed out the window. The grounds were extensive, but she could see other buildings beyond the high brick walls. A neighbor?
“You should hurry up. We don’t want to be late for Ms Penelope’s class.”
Elocution? In the morning...
She looked around her splendidly appointed bedchamber, listened to the peaceful silence, and wished she could be back in her apartment enjoying the sound of her dripping shower head, the usual explosive commotion coming from the street below, her upstairs neighbor strutting around in her heels... the comforting whirring of her fully stocked refrigerator...
“After that, we have a sewing circle session.”
Lexie’s eyes widened, not in surprise, but rather in terror. If her life depended on her manual dexterity...
Claudette snickered. “I’m kidding. Relax. We have a free study period.”
“Why would you taunt me like that?”
“Because you’re an easy target. Clearly, you were not cut out for this.” Claudette’s eyebrow lifted. “Which school did you attend before this one?”
“I was home schooled.”
“That makes sense and explains a great deal. Let me guess, they finally gave up on you and sent you here.”
“More or less...”
“I’m surprised they allowed you to be home schooled. As an incoming High Chair, you’d think they’d be all over you to get a proper education.”
“You... you know?”
“Sure. Everyone does.”
Lexie shifted slightly. Right... well then... shouldn’t they be bowing and scraping? Or at least kowtowing. She’d settle for that. Under the circumstances, she could do with some perks.
“I don’t suppose there are any more donuts were that one came from?”
Claudette gave her a small smile. “Maybe.”
Meaning... what would she get in exchange? She tried to think of something she could use to barter with but came up empty.
“So... how did you end up here?” Lexie asked.
“My folks threatened to c
ut me off. I only have two months to go before I turn twenty-one and my trust kicks in. This was a last ditch attempt to straighten me out.”
Twenty-one. That seemed like an eternity ago to Lexie who’d just turned twenty-five.
“I suppose I should leave you to it, but don’t be late. Oh, and be ready for tonight.”
“What’s happening tonight?”
“It’ll be a surprise.”
Not a big fan of those, Lexie thought.
As soon as Claudette left, Luna raced up to her.
“Can I lick your fingers?”
“What the heck for?”
“Sugar. I’m feeling weak. I’m sure that kibble was made of processed cardboard.”
“You’re out of luck,” Lexie said as she licked off the last of the sugar. “Oh... okay, here. There’s some left on my thumb.” Luna went to work on it. “Hey. Just the sugar. Not my thumb.”
“Sorry. I got a bit carried away.”
* * *
“We’re going the wrong way,” Luna exclaimed. “Ms Penelope has zero tolerance for tardiness.”
Lexie had hoped Luna wouldn’t notice. She set her mind to distracting her. She really couldn’t miss this opportunity. With everyone in class, this was her chance to snoop around...
“I just need to check something out. No one will miss me. Especially not Ms Penelope. She knows I’m supposed to be solving the murder. And how strange does that sound? Honestly, I don’t know what Mirabelle was thinking getting us into this business. Where did she even get the idea from?”
“You still haven’t caught on to the fact she’s delegating?”
“What do you mean?”
“As the High Chair of the British Isles, the buck stops with her. Everyone goes to her with their problems and she can’t handle it all herself. That’s where you come in. You’ve proven yourself useful so now she’s merely making the best of her resources. For some reason, you seem to have made a positive impression on her.”
“I’m not sure I like the idea of being thought of as a resource.” Lexie frowned. “Hang on... Is Morgana in on this too?”
“Your mother is an excellent delegator. She was highly in favor of Mirabelle setting up the agency to deal with all the awkward problems that keep coming up.”
“Hey, where did you get all that information from?”
“My sister, Venus, of course.”
“I didn’t realize you were in touch with her.”
“Clearly there is a lot you don’t know about me.”
“Oh, I see. You just turn your mental dial.”
“Precisely.”
“So at any given time, you can talk to Venus?”
“We chat every day but try to avoid living in each other’s pockets. After all, we are cats.”
“As in... independent creatures?”
“Yes.”
“So how come I can never shake you off? Hey, did you happen to get that insider information about Mirabelle landing in the closet from her feline companion, Venus?”
“Maybe.”
“So what do you tell her about me?”
“That’s between Venus and me.”
“I bet when you two get together you’re worse than a sewing circle. Gossip. Gossip. Gossip.”
As she rounded a corner, she looked out one of the large windows facing the gardens at the rear of the building. A flash of light caught her attention.
“What are you looking at?” Luna asked.
“I thought I saw a light flashing. You know, like a reflection.” She peered out the window, her eyes narrowed as she focused on the mansion next door. A curtain moved. Someone was keeping an eye on the school.
Out of curiosity or...
“Come on.”
“Where are we going?”
“Stop whining. It doesn’t suit you.”
“It’s a kneejerk reaction to you leading me astray,” Luna grumbled.
“You need to take some of your own advice. Embrace the indifference.”
“I should have listened to my mother and become a feline companion in a retirement home.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that, unless you aspired to be companion to a High Chair because you’re secretly in competition with your sister.”
Luna threw her nose in the air and trotted on ahead.
* * *
“There has to be a way to get to the other side of this wall,” Lexie murmured as she inspected the high wall surrounding the school grounds.
“It’s easy. Just think like a cat.” Luna took a few steps back and then effortlessly climbed up.
Ignoring the obvious bait, Lexie made her way along the wall, making sure to take cover behind every bush and tree she came across. There had to be way... or maybe a door.
“Get down from there. Someone will see you.”
“You’re just jealous because I can climb walls and you can’t.”
“You don’t have to convince me of your abilities. I know you’re good at climbing walls and... Moping floors.”
“I happen to know that’s an empty threat.”
“Oh yeah?”
“I’ve yet to see you mop the floor in your apartment,” Luna taunted as she trotted daintily along.
“How would you know what I get up to while you sleep?”
Luna stopped. “You wouldn’t.”
“Hey. I’m in luck. Look at this.” A ladder hidden behind a bush.
“You’ll break your neck and, unlike me, you don’t have nine lives.”
Lexie set the ladder against the wall and checked to see she hadn’t drawn attention to herself.
“Stop, you haven’t thought this through. Lauriston Academy ladies do not climb ladders and... and they don’t act impetuously.”
“You’re right.” She pulled her dress up as far as it would go and tied the ends into a knot.
“I mean... where are you going to land on the other side?”
“I’ll think of that when I get there.”
“No. If anything happens to you, I’ll... I’ll...”
“You’ll what? End up working as a feline companion in a retirement home? I’ll remind you of that next time you complain about being stuck with me.” Lexie reached the top rung and peered over the wall. “Well, well. Look at that.” A ladder, ready and waiting for me. Thanks for telling me.” Had she just stumbled upon the contraband route?
“You’re a day early.”
Lexie looked down and saw a young woman holding the ladder.
“And... hey, who are you?” the girl asked.
“I’m a new pupil.”
“I don’t like this.” She huffed out a breath. “You’re early,” the girl complained again, “Well, come on down and be quick about it. It’s bad enough you lot have me shopping for you, now I have to slave away in the kitchen too.”
Okay. This sounded really promising. One mystery solved. Sort of... and... did she say she’d been cooking?
Chapter Nine
“It took me two hours to find a store that sold the baguettes you all wanted,” Lindsay Leonard complained. “What’s wrong with sliced white bread?”
Lexie only had eyes for the roast beef on the counter and ears for the demanding rumbling in her stomach, but she was aware enough to realize Lindsay was the connection she hadn’t even been looking for.
“This is going to have to stop,” Lindsay continued, “My folks return from vacation next week. You’ll have to find another source.”
“What about our deal?” Lexie asked knowing there had to be one.
“I’ve held up my end of the bargain. What else do you want me to do?”
Okay. That didn’t tell her much. “I’ll have to get back to you on that. I’m only the messenger, not the decision maker.”
“No. That’s it. If I get caught, I’ll go to prison.”
Getting warmer, Lexie thought. Lindsay couldn’t possibly be referring to the contraband food. That wouldn’t be a serious enough infraction to send her up the river. Had
she had something to do with Lillian’s murder? “You’ll be out in no time.” Lexie hoped Lindsay would take the bait and tell her more...
“You go back and tell them I want more.”
More what? Okay, this encounter could prove fruitful, in more ways than one, Lexie thought, her eyes glued to the roast beef.
Lindsay put a plate in front of her and folded her arms. “And tell them I’m not going back in there again. It’s just not worth the risk of getting caught. And if you want food, you’ll have to come and get it.”
Lexie sunk her teeth into the thick layers of roast beef and sat back to chew. It took some doing to get that first bite to go down.
“You’ll need to talk to the person in charge,” she eventually remarked around another mouthful, “Like I said, I’m new here.” It was clear now. Lindsay was the missing link. She had been sneaking in to drop food off.
“You’re all passing the buck and... and hiding behind... behind those ridiculous puffy sleeves.” Lindsay raked her fingers through her hair and swirled around the kitchen. “I can’t believe I let myself get mixed up in this. My folks have always said you were all trouble. You better not do anything funny to me.”
Aha! Someone had put the fear of a spell on her. That was Lexie’s guess. Of course, Lindsay didn’t know all the Lauristonians had their powers bound.
Luna leaped up onto her lap, her eyes wide, her little tongue hanging out.
Don’t make me beg.
That’s not your begging face?
Give me. Give me.
“And why did you have to bring your cat? I’m going to have to vacuum now. My mom’s allergic to cat hair. If she starts sneezing, there’ll be no end to her complaining.”
It must run in the family. She’s still complaining.
Reminds me of someone I know...
Give me more. No bread. Just the meat. And tell her I’m coming round tomorrow morning for breakfast. I want donuts.
You? What about me?
I’m thinking that from here on end, it should be survival of the fittest.
“Why did you come over the wall? You girls never do that.”
Lindsay’s cheeks flashed crimson. If she didn’t stop her ranting, she’d explode.