Hawthorn Academy- Year Two

by D. R. Perry

  "Don't let her bring Dylan back to New York with her." He sighed, closing his eyes. "I went at Thanksgiving. It was all downhill from there."

  Logan and I stood silent and staring. His jaw dropped. Had his gut crashed too, like mine? The danger was clear to both of us, at least.

  "But how?" I finally managed. "He's barely talking to most of us."

  "I have some ideas," Logan said. "Whatever we try, we'll do our best."

  "Thanks for the snack, Pierce. Now leave me alone. I'm going back to sleep."

  We parted ways upstairs, with Logan heading back to his room. It had something to do with those ideas, which he didn't explain to me. I spent the rest of the day in the gym, running the track and doing drills. It was the only thing that came close to quelling my new and unwelcome sense of foreboding.

  Everyone spent the last week before break studying. Lab didn't have exams, but we'd be tested on lecture material. The second-year students worked overtime on catching up. We'd been awfully distracted. Dylan refused help from everyone except Logan, who became his constant companion. Dorian gave them space, tagging along with me instead.

  It eased my fears about winter break. I'd come to trust Logan Pierce like family. He’d do his best to convince Dylan to stay on campus for the winter. Alex's untold story hung over our heads like razor wire, and my fraying self-control made my hands glow at random. The last thing I needed was to stir up any extramagus hatred.

  I wore myself out physically, both at the gym and in the baths, swimming morning and night. If I was too tired for anxiety, maybe it'd leave me alone. Faith noticed. She must have squealed on me to Izzy because she showed up on Wednesday night, towel in hand.

  "Have you tried meditation?" She gave me a hand out of the pool.

  "No. The last thing I want is more time to think."

  "It's not like that." Izzy tossed the towel at my head. "I do it all the time. At least try it. I don't like how thin you're getting."

  "Excuse me?" I blinked.

  "You've lost what looks like ten pounds in a week. I can see your ribs."

  I stood at the mirror. Hip bones jutted under the hem on my tankini, which draped a little in front. I agreed to try meditating but during break. I stopped swimming in the mornings and added protein smoothies at breakfast and lunch to appease her.

  The exam on Monday was the least of my worries. I answered every question with little trouble. Much of it was on topics we’d studied on our own time.

  People leaving campus packed and prepared. Most were heading out on Tuesday, with extramural students taking a detour by their campuses before traveling out of town. Alex's flight back to Greece was a Monday night red-eye, so he left campus after lunch. I waited ten minutes, then helped Logan gather bags for Bubbe's, which was our pretense for leaving when we did. We'd meet Alex at the Witch's Brew.

  "How did it go with Dylan?"

  "He's staying here." Logan pulled the door to the hallway open. "But I didn't convince him. Noah did."

  I blinked. We continued down the hall, pushing through the exit into the street. We paused to put on gloves and hats, and Logan continued as we walked down Essex Street.

  "Your brother asked Dylan to play some gigs with him in town over the break. Paying ones." Logan paused, adjusting the strap on his satchel. “Apparently, Tempe bought that Paul Reed Smith guitar Dylan’s had since the talent show. Noah made it clear he didn’t like that.”

  I nodded. “I guess Dylan respects him, then.”

  Alex stood outside the coffee shop. He'd been inside though, because he had hot chocolates for both of us. When I asked why he bothered, he said, "It's only money."

  We went the rest of the way down Essex Street, turning right on Washington toward the train station. The streets were largely deserted, the only people hurrying through the cold on brisk errands. He made sure nobody was nearby before speaking.

  "She wants to make an example of a lesser extrahuman."

  "’Lesser?’" I stared at him.

  "Look, I don't know how else to say what that means." He sighed. "I'm not sure who or how, but whatever she does to them, it’ll be extremely humiliating. Probably painful, too."

  "Any idea who she might choose? Or when she’ll do it?"

  “The Craft Expo, maybe?” Logan asked.

  "Spirit Week and Bishop's Row are both higher-profile events. Probably during one of those." He shuddered. “She knows how to bide her time.”

  "Was she always planning this?"

  "If so, she didn't tell me until after Thanksgiving." He reached inside his coat, stroking Asceco's head. She hissed softly in response. "When she had leverage."

  "Did she poison Clementine? And Seth?"

  "Yeah. Somehow, she used poison that felt just like her roommate’s. I don't know how she did it because she insists she’s not an extramagus."

  I nodded. "I've got that figured out."

  “Can you sense each other or something?” Alex blinked. “On second thought, don’t answer that.”

  "Did you know she had a secret boyfriend?"

  "Oh, gods, yes. Asceco smelled him on her all the time. I didn't care." His breath caught in his throat. "I was never into her, but I was okay with us using each other. Tolerated all her lying. But then she—"

  "We know she hurt you." Logan patted his arm. "Faith told us how bad she could be."

  "She's half my size, but her magic's like a tsunami. And that grundylow." He shivered. "We were lopsided from the start, but once she had the upper hand, it got brutal."

  "What did he smell like?" Logan asked. "The boyfriend, I mean?"

  "I don't see how that’ll help. Dragonets and mercats don't have the same senses as a basilisk."

  "Noah's got a tallin," I offered.

  "Oh, gods, he's not in on this?” Alex’s attempted laugh turned into a sob. “Not after what I did to him last year?"

  "My brother holds crazy grudges, so no." I sighed. “We’re trying to find out who he is.”

  "I can talk to Asceco," Logan said. "I’ve got a weird ability. If that's okay with you."

  “Rare. And yeah, okay.” Alex nodded, opening his coat again. Logan and Asceco peered at each other for almost a minute, sticking their tongues out a few times in the process.

  "All set." He nodded. "Thanks, Alex."

  "No.” He shook his head. “Don't thank me for throwing a thimble of water on a house fire I helped set."

  "I don’t take returns on thank yous." Logan grinned. "It's a big gesture, coming from you."

  "We're even now, so don't expect any more."

  "Noted." I jerked my chin at the train, which had just pulled in. "That's your ride. Don't miss it."

  He nodded, then turned his back on us and headed up the stairs to the platform.

  "Have a good break," Logan called after him.

  He threw one hand up in farewell and got on the train. After that, Logan and I headed to Bubbe's, where we stowed his bags in the spare room. She was busy with a patient, so we only said hello and goodbye before heading back to campus and having dinner with our friends.

  The next day was a flurry of goodbyes. Arick and Lena went to the airport at the same time since they were on the same Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt, where they'd catch trains to Bergen and Genoa. Hailey and Bailey caught their Acela to New York, the same one Temperance took, though they got on a different car. Kitty and Eston left together, headed to Portland so he could meet her mothers. They all departed after breakfast.

  Faith stayed on campus that year, along with Hal, Dylan, Lee, and Grace, who promised to keep her from getting bored. Dorian got on the commuter rail after lunch. Providence wasn't far and he missed his parents, but he promised to let us know when he was on the way back so we could meet him at Salem station.

  Elanor stayed longest, leaving while the rest of us were on the way to dinner. She was almost at the door, where Noah waited to walk her out. I thought she’d leave without saying goodbye, but she turned and sprinted toward Logan, lifti
ng him off the floor in a bear hug. Their eyes were bright and shiny, though they didn't weep.

  "You take care of my baby brother, Morgenstern," she told me.

  I nodded and she was gone.

  Noah came to me in the living room after breakfast on the third day of break. Logan and I were playing video games.

  "I'm in love," he said. "With Jonah Arnold."

  "That's awesome." I hugged him. "I'm so happy for you!"

  "We're going on a date tonight, to the movies."

  "Cool!" Logan smiled. "We're walking around to look at everyone's holiday decorations."

  "So, you two?" Noah raised an eyebrow. "Like, alone together?"

  "No." Logan shook his head. "Most of the gang from school, plus Izzy and Cadence."

  "No Crow?" He didn't ask about Dylan, who hadn't been over yet.

  "They broke up again." I shrugged. "I kinda hope they stay that way," I said, and I told Noah about what I'd heard at the Lyceum.

  "That's the Merlini family business for you. Cadence can do better."

  But she didn't. They got back together that night.

  Most of break went on the same way, hanging around with friends and doing whatever the weather and our budgets allowed around Salem. I kept offering Logan some of my allowance, but he refused.

  "I'm working for Bubbe. She's paying me. It's only a little, but enough for pocket money."

  Noah and I invited everyone still at Hawthorn over for the first night of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. And Jonah, who couldn't share our meal with us or come until an hour after sunset. Mom, Dad, and Bubbe agreed to have dinner first, despite our usual tradition.

  Hal and Faith were in Boston at the hospital, but everybody else showed up. Even Dylan, who seemed happy to be there all through dinner. That made sense, considering how much he loved food.

  "These are amazing!" he exclaimed over dessert. "What are they?"

  "Sufganya." I passed him another fried confection of jelly-filled dough. "Noah made them."

  "Even better."

  Since the holiday was all about hope and endurance, I wanted him to have a good time. So I went to a lot of effort, making another batch of sufganya. He said he wasn't hungry anymore, but put most of it in his backpack for later.

  After that, I made sure to include him in the group playing dreidel. The rules were simple enough for everyone to follow, though Grace confused the letters on most of her spins.

  "That was Nun." I tapped the Hebrew letter. "You get nothing."

  "Sorry, thought it was Gimmel." She put back the pile of foil-wrapped chocolate gelt she'd raked in by mistake.

  "Easy mistake to make." I shrugged. "They're similar. Noah used to deliberately mix them up."

  "Hey!" he protested. "I was six."

  "Yeah. You're all grown up now." Dylan grinned, watching his spin. "Hei, right? That means I take half?"

  "Uh-huh." I nodded.

  "Do they all mean something?" Lee picked the top up, turning it in his hand to look at the letters before taking his turn.

  "Nes gadol hayah sham." Noah chanted.

  "A great miracle happened here." I translated. "After Judah won the temple back, the oil lasted eight nights instead of one. It’s why we make all the fried food.”

  "Why didn’t they just make more oil?" Lee spun, watched, then shrugged. "Nun." He passed the dreidel to me.

  "They couldn’t let the light go out, or the temple would have stayed desecrated." I spun. "Shin. Put one in."

  I tossed a piece of gelt into the pot between us and passed the dreidel, but before Logan could spin, someone knocked on the door. Noah jumped up, opening it to let Jonah in. They hugged, pecking each other on both cheeks like they do in Europe, but they held hands as Noah led him out of the living room and into the kitchen to meet our parents.

  After that, Dylan's mood soured. He collected his things and made excuses, preparing to leave. I tried to stop him.

  "At least stay for the Menorah."

  "Yeah, Dylan," Grace added. "Remember what we talked about?"

  He blinked. "All right, fine. But as soon as that's done, I'm going."

  We gathered in the dining room by the window facing the back yard. Dad set the candles out beside the matchbook, one for the first night and the other the shamash, which was the candle in the middle that brought light to the others. On the first night, we said three blessings.

  "Baruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech haolam asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu lehadlik ner Chanukah," Dad sang.

  "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light," Noah murmured beside Jonah, squeezing his hand.

  "Baruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech Haolam sheasa nisim laavotenu bayamim hahem bizman hazeh," Bubbe sang. Logan joined in, pronouncing the Hebrew almost exactly like my grandma. He must have asked for her help practicing.

  "Wow," I said. He blushed.

  "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our forefathers in those days at this time." Dylan recited under his breath, arms crossed over his chest. "I studied too."

  "Shh." Lee elbowed him.

  "It's okay. I remember what it was like, learning these when I was your age. Right here in this room, too," Mom said. Then she sang the third blessing. "Baruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech Haolam shehecheyanu vekiyimanu vehigianu lizman hazeh."

  "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion." I translated for Grace, who sighed, nodding. I figured the third prayer, said only on the first night, would resonate especially well with her.

  My father struck a match, lit the shamash, and touched the flame to the wick on the first candle. It sat vigil for a moment until Dad set the shamash in the middle. The flames stabilized, pushing the darkness back from the window if only just a little.

  The flames guttered, flickering briefly in the wake of Dylan's passage. He left without saying goodbye. Grace and I both glanced over our shoulders, listening to the front door closing behind him.

  "I apologized. We're good."

  "What's his problem, then?"

  "Beats me. Ask your brother. They hang out all the time."

  I didn't. Not because I spaced and forgot to, either.

  It's because you don't want to. Not really.

  Being with my family and friends let me ignore the Evil Inside Voice for a good while longer.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Classes should have gotten back to normal after the break in January. Everyone was back, including the extramural groups from the other schools. Something felt off, though, like the stillness ahead of a Nor'easter. I resumed my frantic levels of physical training from the week before break. This time I avoided Izzy so she wouldn't notice.

  Dylan trained at the same time, conjuring and throwing orbs in the middle of the gym. I circled him, running around my crush in an ironic parallel to avoiding my emotions. I'd ruined last year's team dynamic with relationship drama. Fear of the same outcome stopped me.

  Maybe it wasn't for the best. I hadn't felt this unstable since I’d first started hearing the Evil Inside Voice and randomly conjuring solar magic. I needed something to control, and training, especially with Bishop's Row coming at the end of February, was the most constructive option.

  I'd have to stick to a strategy of steady meals. That shouldn't have been hard at a boarding school with scheduled dining, or so I thought.

  The unease I'd witnessed in Professor Luciano had grown so much that even Dorian noticed. Usually sharp and quick like Ember on a sunny day, our teacher reminded me of flat soda. By Monday of the third week, I couldn't stand it and headed to my room after Lab. I sat cross-legged on the floor, clearing my mind to see what showed up. Instead of visualizing him or any classmate, I got the Evil Inside Voice.

  It's the poisonings. You forgot to meet with the headmaster.

  "Crap on a
crap cracker."

  I stood up so quickly I got dizzy. Leaning on my desk, I waited for the feeling to pass. The moment it did, I rushed out of the room, Ember flapping along behind me until she managed to grab my blazer and cling on. In moments, my feet carried me down the stairs, which I'd activated for an even bigger speed boost. The lobby flew by in a blur.

  A convenient column helped me turn the corner ahead of the academic wing, which led to the headmaster's office. I skidded to a stop, reaching out to pull the door open. As my fingers made contact with it, I heard a voice from the shadows to my right.

  "That was fast." Hal stepped forward. "I just sent Nin to your room to fetch you."

  "She's there alone, then." I panted to catch my breath. "Because I'm here for my own reasons."

  "Hmm." He tilted his head. "That might get complicated. My dad wants to ask you a few questions."

  "As long as it's not about Professor Luciano."

  "It is, actually. He's already in there." He sighed. "I've got to fetch Nin. Good luck in there, Aliyah."

  My hand trembled as it reached to open the door, almost like it wasn't part of me anymore. The wood was feverishly warm, or maybe my hand was cold, but I pulled it open anyway.

  Once inside, I sat in the chair to the right of my professor. The other one was already occupied by Professor DeBeer.

  "Miss Morgenstern, perhaps you can enlighten us."

  "I'll try, Headmaster."

  "Professor DeBeer thinks she saw Professor Luciano in the café after your last period on the day Clementine was poisoned. Hal tells me that you were the last student to leave the laboratory that day. Do you happen to remember which way he went after closing up the room?"

  "I don't." I sighed. "I didn't see him lock up."

  "Then we're at an impasse, I'm afraid. Unless you know anything that could help us clear this up."

  "I might. What sort of thing do you mean?"

  "The whereabouts of any ice or poison magus, especially if you saw one of each together near the cafe it would be helpful, in addition to any troubling statements they might have made."

  My brain went into overdrive. Alex had come down from upstairs. Dorian and Lena had gone straight to the infirmary with me. Dylan was working in the café but they already knew that and had cleared him. Were there any faculty besides Luciano with poison? And what about ice?