by LJ Swallow
"No. Maeve."
A voice yanks me to a halt, and I slowly turn as the ground tremors again.
Tobias appears from the shadow and smoke surrounds his ankle, winding its way upwards. His face is difficult to make out in the dim, but he has one hand cupping his cheek.
"What’s happening?" I choke out.
He’s Tobias, not Professor Whitlock. With hair falling across his forehead, dressed in casual clothes, he's the guy who looks at me as if I’m the equal he claims we aren’t. Tobias pulls his hand from his face, revealing a deep cut on his cheek. "Where are the others?"
"Who?" I ask. "I was with Jamie and—"
He blinks. "Jamie?"
Why is he saying that with doubt?
The sound below my feet grows, a humming as if a hundred beehives were beneath the stone.
"I don’t have much time, I need—"
A roar splits the air and the floor moves again. The movement isn’t in my mind; everything is real.
I stagger to the left and press myself into the wall as the floor crumbles beneath my feet.
Vision, Maeve. You're having a vision. I hold my temples and will myself to return to reality.
The world sharpens again but I’m watching from outside the scene. The burning smell has disappeared, as has Tobias.
Blue flames shoot upwards through the gap and spread into the hallway, circling around like a tornado of fire. The noise pounds at my head and I scream as the flames roll along the hallway, aiming straight for me.
"Maeve!"
My name again, but this voice isn’t Tobias’s. I open an eye, acutely aware that I’m back in reality, as the hard floor I’m sprawled on is cool. I see Jamie’s face. No, I see three Jamies, and I can hardly see or breathe and the pain in my head paralyses me.
Jamie kneels beside me, and I prop myself on my elbows but immediately fall down again as my weakened body refuses to co-operate.
"You had a vision. What did you see?" Jamie kneels over me, and I grasp at his hand as I sink forward in relief I'm with him again.
Jamie supports me as I sit and he helps me onto a chair. My head refuses to stop spinning, as if I’ve been on a kids' roundabout for too long.
"You look awful, Maeve. Worse than usual after a vision."
I nod, tears springing to my eyes. Jamie crouches in front of me and reaches in his bag for a bottle of water. Unscrewing the lid, he hands the bottle over to me.
I drink shakily as he places his hands on my knees, watching with concern.
"Do you want to talk about what you saw?"
I grip the bottle between my hands, feeling the plastic, tasting the water, grounding myself. "This was more than a vision, Jamie. I was there again. In the future."
Jamie’s mouth parts slightly. "Where were you?"
"In the hallway. I saw Tobias and—" I pull in a deep breath. "There was smoke and noise from beneath us. Then flames and..." I trail off and take a shuddery breath.
"Shit."
"I hate this," I groan, holding my clammy face in my hands.
"Maybe I cause these types of visions?" Jamie pulls on his bottom lip. "You were with me last time this happened. The day at the cottage."
I take another deep breath. "I don't know. But I need to control this. I'm pathetic, the way I pass out like a delicate Victorian lady every time I have a vision recently."
He bursts into laughter and I scowl. "Sorry, Maeve. It’s not funny how this affects you, but you can’t fight your body."
"Or my mind, apparently," I mumble.
He stands and pulls a chair to sit beside me. "There must be something under the school. The noise you described definitely isn’t water pipes. If something might happen at the school, at least we have an idea now. I’m going to research the whole history of the building and this area. There must be a record of something."
His pragmatic speech is exactly what I'd expect from him. Gain knowledge; take control.
"I need to speak to Tobias," I say and look to Jamie from beneath my hair. "He might know something."
"And so does Theodora."
"Agreed." I swallow more water and wipe my mouth. "I don’t want to stay down here. I don’t want to come here again."
"You’re not in any fit state to walk, Maeve." He steps forward in alarm as I stand.
My face crumples as he holds his arms out to me, and I allow him to hold me tight. Fighting tears, I grip him around the waist and push my cheek against his chest. Jamie’s heart beats slow and steady, and I focus on the sound as he strokes my hair.
"I’m sorry that you go through this," he whispers. "If I could, I’d take your place, any time."
"That’s sweet of you," I say in a thick voice.
"I hate to see people I care about in pain."
"Maybe we could hold each other together," I suggest. "I know how much you hurt too."
He smiles down at me. "Deal."
In the moment, the awareness this is a part of who we are strikes me. A chair in the library above scrapes the floor, and that is enough to send my heart rate sky high.
I'm serious when I say that I don't want to come down here again.
Chapter Twelve
MAEVE
Straight after my experience in the sanctum, Jamie takes me to see Theodora, but she isn't around. The lady who works in administration checked her diary and told us to return after classes. Sofia is teaching, too. Suits me, because I'd rather see them when I've recovered a little. Put things into perspective.
But even though I attend potions class, I’m distracted as the scene plays over and over. We have a practical lesson today, creating potions we need to learn for end of year exams. I jerk as someone bangs a cupboard door closed behind me and spill the powdered wyrmroot from the dish I'm holding.
Ash places a hand on my knee. "Do you want to leave?" he whispers. "You don’t look good."
"Gee, thanks," I say and flick his nose.
He pushes hair from my face and studies me closely. "Honestly, Maeve. I think you need to rest. You’re hardly concentrating at all."
"Agreed. Let me be the one to screw up the potion," whispers Amelia.
I pull a face. "Stop putting yourself down, Amelia."
But Ash is right. Each time I move my head, the people around me spin in and out of focus. The clamminess won’t leave, neither will the nausea.
What if the vision returns or I pass out again?
"Maybe I should go to the infirmary," I whisper to my friends.
Ash is on his feet before I finish the sentence, his stool scraping violently across the tiles. "Professor, Maeve isn’t feeling well."
I groan. Thanks, Ash. My clamminess grows as every student in the room stares at me. Across the classroom, Andrei straightens and chews a nail as he watches with concern in his eyes.
"Don’t make a fuss, Ash," I whisper. "Please."
"Are you having visions again, Maeve?" asks Katherine loudly. "I hope it wasn't anything embarrassing."
"Not as embarrassing as the vision I had about you," I croak out.
Her mouth drops open. "When did you have a vision about me?"
"Did you?" asks Amelia in a hushed tone.
I unsteadily stand and Ash grabs my arm. "I’d like to take Maeve to the infirmary."
Professor Turlington nods but he’s more curious than concerned. "Of course."
"Maeve," demands Katherine. "What vision?"
Oh, there are so many scenarios I could give this girl to tease her, but the biggest tease of all is not replying to her question.
"Let’s go, Ash," I mumble.
He takes my bag and hauls it across his broad shoulders, before placing his hand on my lower back and guiding me from the room.
I rest against the wall outside. "Give me a minute," I say though gritted teeth. "I’ll be okay to walk once the head spinning stops."
"You had the vision less than an hour ago. They don’t usually affect you this long."
"Bloody annoying," I mutter.
>
Ash tugs me away from the wall with both hands. "Infirmary. Jamie should’ve taken you there straight away."
"I refused."
Ash chuckles. "Typical you." He kisses my forehead and then takes my hand. "But I won’t listen to ‘no’, Maeve Foster."
The hallway is quiet, apart from muffled voices behind classroom doors, and I pretend I’m physically fine, but the lasting effect worries me more than I admit.
"I’ll go, but I refuse to get into a bed."
He laughs again and hugs me close. "You’re a stubborn girl."
I nudge him in the side and mock pout.
"How’s Vincent?" I ask.
"Yeah."
I stare down at where his fingers wrap around mine. "You didn't introduce us."
"Shit. Didn't I?" He stops. "I didn't realise. I was a bit shocked to see him."
"Not as shocked as he was to see me," I say with a light laugh.
"Yeah."
Again, the non-committal response. "Don't hide this from me, Ash. I know he won't like you dating a witch."
"That's not his decision," he mumbles. "Come on."
I'm buoyed by his apology, annoyed that I over-thought the situation.
"Is Vincent staying on campus?" I ask.
"In the staff quarters." He gestures in the direction of the old Victorian-style house a few hundred metres from the main building. The grey-bricked home houses teachers in term time. I’ve never seen inside, but I’m curious how luxurious their rooms are compared to ours. I bet they don’t share.
"I’m happy Vincent’s here. This will be good for him."
I smile through my doubts that were sharpened by Jamie’s earlier, and the discomfort I have around him, but if Ash catches any hint, I’m suspicious he'll close down.
"Professor O'Reilly wants him involved in training too. Vince needs to use up some of his repressed energy."
"I hope he’s not too tough on us. Professor O’Reilly is harsh enough."
"When you say 'us', do you mean witches?"
"No." We reach the stairs down to the floor where the infirmary is located, and I grip the rail as I gingerly climb down.
"Vince will be impartial, or Theodora will remove him from his position."
Is it wrong I hope she does?
The January cold hits my clammy face and I shiver more. The snow melted a week ago and the sunnier day brings a welcome brightness after the dark inside the academy. Snowdrops push through the ground, heralding spring after a long, dark winter. Will the academy hold a different vibe once the dark nights shorten?
But with this hope comes the memory that my first vision where Andrei mentioned Vincent took place in the sunshine.
"Vince is having a get-together with some mates at the weekend. You should come," says Ash. "I can introduce you. Properly."
His words don't help my queasiness. "Are you inviting me to a shifter party?"
"Not really a party. Just a few mates getting together."
"That sounds worse. Who?"
"A few ex-pupils and a group he hung 'round with after he left. The people who never gave up on finding him." He blinks. "I want to prove to you he’s not as prejudiced as you think. He already knows Amelia and Jamie from…years ago. All three of you should come with me."
I watch my footsteps in the snow. How do I respond? I’m not keen, but this situation is a big deal to Ash.
And a chance to get closer to Vincent.
A normal infirmary would smell of disinfectant, but the Nightworld academy’s overpowering smell is cloves and lavender. The nurse fusses as usual, and I joke I'm becoming a regular. She points at a nearby shifter with his leg bandaged and tells me he's her regular.
I smile weakly at her joke, relieved she allows me to sit on a chair instead of forcing me to lie down. Ash stays with me and each moment he spends holding my hand and fussing, the guiltier I feel about resenting his slip up last night.
The nurse brings me a cup filled with dishwater-brown liquid, which smells of the worst cough medicine my mum would give me as a child. She encourages me to drink and when the liquid touches my tongue, I gag and almost throw up.
Ash laughs at me and I smack him in the chest with my palm. "How about you take a drink of this?"
He laughs. "I have. Many times. I know how bad that tastes."
"Drink up, sweetie," says the nurse. "I promise you'll feel better in five minutes if you do."
If this stops me stumbling around and gets rid of the dizziness, I can finish. I hold my breath so I can't smell the disgusting mix.
I knock back the remaining liquid in one gulp in an attempt to stop the potion touching my taste buds, and almost choke as Sofia walks into the room, her long skirts sweeping around her legs.
I give a weak smile, which isn’t returned.
"I believe you were looking for myself and Theodora," she says as she approaches.
I nod.
"Annabelle informed us you looked unwell, and Theodora is now anxious to see you and Jamie."
Sofia’s expression scares me—she’s worried. The woman always masks herself but something’s wrong.
"Maeve should stay here until she feels better," puts in Ash with a hesitant smile. "She had to leave potions."
"If Maeve has had a vision, she needs to speak to us before her memories fade." She tips her chin. "Perhaps you should return to class. Maeve's visions are of no concern to Gilgamesh students, Ash."
Ash's face shadows and I stiffen at her words. What the hell is she saying? My visions concern everybody, especially a guy I'm close to.
She runs her tongue along her teeth and Ash holds her gaze. "Fine," he says eventually.
How does Sofia know I had a vision? Neither me nor Jamie told Annabelle.
Sofia accompanies me from the infirmary, leaving a disgruntled Ash behind.
Chapter Thirteen
MAEVE
Inside Theodora's office, Jamie sits on the very edge of a chair, spine rigid. How heavy-handed has Theodora been with him? We've done nothing wrong—we looked for them straightaway.
"I understand you have something to tell us, Maeve," says Theodora. "I need all the details. Now."
I shrink back at her harsh tone and look to Sofia, whose encouraging expression balances out Theodora’s.
The vision is still raw in my mind, which helps me relay in detail but also drags me back to the sulphur smell and heat as if I’m there.
Theodora and Sofia glance at each other through my explanation and she makes notes on a pad.
"I do not understand. There is nothing beneath the school." She sets the pen down and massages her temples. "Blue flames suggest a strong elemental witch who can conjure the hottest part of fire in large quantities."
"Perhaps the buzzing didn’t come from beneath? Or the fire?" suggests Sofia.
"I’m sure it did," I put in.
"Maeve, this was a vision, and we know they're never precise. Perhaps this buzzing was in your mind?" Sofia taps her lips.
"We must investigate further, though," says Theodora sternly.
"I will." Jamie sits quietly through my explanation, and I forget he’s with us until he speaks. "I can research."
"Thank you, Jamie." Theodora says and rubs her temples again. "I’m unsure you’ll find anything, but we can’t rule out the possibility."
Sofia clears her throat. "I’m most concerned that Tobias was in the vision at the location of a crime against the academy, Theodora. I have warned you not to trust the man."
"He didn’t cause the fire."
"How do you know? He was present. Tobias must be involved."
I chew my lip and glance at Theodora, whose face clouds. Does she believe this theory?
"I don’t know. He disappeared into the fire. What if he died?" I blurt.
"Did you sense he did? Or see him?" asks Sofia.
Did I? The whole scenario happened quickly and confusingly. In a way, it was as if Tobias wasn’t actually there. But how could I explain that to an
ybody? I don’t understand myself.
"I shall speak to him." Theodora rises. "Thank you for giving me the details."
"Theodora, no. If he’s not trustworthy, we can’t let him know we have possible information."
Sofia’s insistence smacks of her prejudice against Tobias. I struggle to trust the man too, but Theodora wholeheartedly does, and Tobias is convincingly earnest.
"I shall speak to him alone," says Theodora. "I think that would be best."
Sofia humphs, but I’m happy I don’t need to run through my story again.
"Where is he?" I ask.
"He's indisposed and was unable to attend this meeting." Theodora waves a hand. "I will find him. Maeve, I suggest you head back to your dorm and rest."
"We must focus on Maeve untangling this vision above all else," urges Sofia. "Then she can return to working on her other visions."
Jamie makes a small noise and shifts in his seat. Investigating my vision of his death is pushed aside again.
The door closes behind me and Jamie as Theodora dismisses us, but Sofia remains in the room. I'd love to be a fly on the wall to their next conversation. What does Theodora really think about this? I've never seen her lose her cool over something—is this worry about what I saw, or that the situation leads to a cloud of doubt hanging over Tobias?
Jamie strides away before I have a chance to talk to him, and I struggle to catch up with the speed he walks.
"Jamie."
He slams open the door and steps into the night. "I’m tired. Come on."
"Talk to me."
"Later."
Gritting my teeth, I catch up and push him. "Is this because Sofia advised we prioritise this over you?"
He halts and turns to me. "Don't, Maeve."
"Her decision doesn’t mean I’ll stop working on how to prevent your death." Others may skirt around the subject with him, but I refuse to.
"Yeah?" he half spits. "Looks like I’m not important to the academy. Sure, I understand, my life isn’t as important as the number who’ll die if the school burns down, but it bloody matters to me!"
His breathing grows faster, cheeks turning pink. "Jamie..." I wrap my arms around his chest but he’s rigid and doesn’t return my hug. "This matters to me too. We can work on this together."