At least cla.s.ses were starting to go better, as long as we spent all of every evening studying. Sip was happy with that arrangement, but most of the rest of Publics students, the people who were scared for themselves and their families and didnt like school to begin with, were not.
It had led to something of an underground movement. There was less academic work getting done and there were more parties, which Sip and I didnt usually attend. By evening I was tired, and she either worked on her thesis or wrote for the Tabble. Besides, although my fellow students werent openly hostile to me, it was very clear that they considered me an outsider, if not an outright danger.
The only bright spot in our cla.s.ses was that we rarely saw Faci and Daisy. They tended to stay away from us. If we were in the same cla.s.s they would sit in the back, their heads bent together, plotting who knows what. Unfortunately, Camilla was a different matter. She confronted us every chance she got. She was furious that I had seen Cale and that I had saved his life. She somehow managed to take it as a personal insult.
Dont listen to her bl.u.s.ter, Lough advised me one night after shed been particularly nasty in a Zervos cla.s.s, and true to form, the vampire professor had done nothing about it. She had accused me of cheating on our first quiz of the year. I hadnt, of course, but just the accusation made other students, who were already looking at me warily after Caids calling me out for being friends with Lisabelle, look at me with anger in their eyes.
Shes going to get me in real trouble, I said in frustration. Oliva already doesnt like me.
The next day we were in advanced spells when Professor Erikson again ordered us to pair off.
Tomorrow, she said, we will be naming our Tactical teams. Today I want you to pair off again, no friends please, and lift your partner into the air. Youve been practicing. I expect you all to perform this spell admirably.
I made a face. I hated it when she didnt let me pair with Sip, but once again I found myself staring at Darrow. He smiled shyly at me.
Hi, Darrow, I said.
Hi, Charlotte, he said. Sip gave us both a questioning look.
I had no idea, so I just shrugged. We had a good cla.s.s. Every student lifted another, although Sip, who was paired with Camilla, did her lift a little more violently than was technically necessary.
Sip threw her bag down in frustration. It had been two weeks since we had been in the archives. Sip had gone several times, but she had never been alone. Other industrious seniors had always been present.
Not able to make any progress on that front, we had turned our attention to the question of where Lisabelle was and when Dacer would send us on our first a.s.signment.
There has to be more, she said heatedly. Why arent you dreaming?
We were in our new hangout, the smallest living room in Astra. I liked it because it had three couches, one for each of us. Sip liked it because it had a fireplace, and Lough liked it because it had a big window. Well, really because it was the closest lounge to the kitchen. I honestly think it was because he was hoping that one day Lisabelle would come walking up and he would see her coming along as if shed never been gone. I didnt have the heart to tell him I didnt think it would happen.
You think I know? I demanded. I was sitting cross-legged on the couch with a book about advanced spells propped open on my lap. You dont think Id like to be dreaming of Keller?
Sorry, Sip muttered. She hopped onto one of the other couches. Lough got held up. He and Trafton had something Professor Erikson wanted them to do.
I shook my head. What will they do next year when all the dream givers graduate?
Well, Trafton is threatening to travel the world and find more, which doesnt even count the fact that he has several siblings. I think Lough would make a good professor, but hed never do it without Lisabelle.
Lough came in just then, muttering something about being in need of a m.u.f.fin, and at the same moment the Astra doorbell rang.
We all exchanged looks.
No one ever rang our doorbell. The professors summoned us to them, and friends just walked in, because they knew I didnt have a dorm mother anymore.
I scrambled off the couch as Sip went to start a new pot of tea. Whoever it was, the visitor deserved tea.
Lough stretched out on the couch and closed his eyes.
I flung the door open, and there stood Darrow. He held his hat in his hand, turning it over and over in his fingertips. His eyes, already wide set, looked even larger in the moonlight. He was also staring at me.
Hi, I said, not quite hiding my surprise.
Hi, he said. We stood there awkwardly for a few breaths, until I heard the door to the kitchen open and Sip appeared at my elbow, peering at Darrow.
Oh, hey, she said. I could tell she was just as surprised as I was to see him.
Hey, he said, smiling in relief. Somehow he was more comfortable with Sip than with me.
Come in, said Sip. Are you here to commiserate about Professor Erikson?
Darrow looked confused. No, he said. I mean, I dont think so. I like Professor Erikson.
Sip looked slightly disappointed, but she recovered quickly. Dont worry, she said. You can come in anyway.
Um, thanks, said Darrow. We let him in and he whistled in wonder.
This is amazing, he said, looking around. You have this whole place to yourself?
Sip stays with me now, I said. I dont have a dorm mother.
Im sorry, said Darrow. He followed us into the living room, and Sip disappeared to get the tea.
Lough cracked one eye open and stared at Darrow.
Hi, said our visitor, looking uncertain again. He glanced at me, then continued talking about how cool Astra was.
Loughs eyebrows rose higher and higher as Darrow continued to talk. Sip returned with the tea and offered Darrow some.
He shook his head. I dont drink tea.
Sip stared at him. Who doesnt drink tea?
I just find the taste odd, he said. Sip looked deeply concerned.
I have just the thing. Ill be right back, she disappeared.
So, Darrow, said Lough, sitting up straight. Hows it going?
Good, said Darrow.
Youre very into paranormal architecture, arent you?
Darrow nodded. Im hoping to get more schooling and then make a living from it.
That sounds fun, said Lough. Are you concerned that the demons might make it so that there arent enough paranormals left to employ you?
Sip returned, carrying a fancier teabag than I had ever seen before. She plunked it in one of the teacups and waited, staring intently at it. Darrow gave her a questioning look and then returned his focus to Lough.
I was glad my friend was trying to discover what Darrow was doing here, because I had no idea.
So, anyway, Charlotte, said Darrow, clearly summoning his courage, could I talk to you alone for a minute?
Um, sure, I said. Sip handed Darrow a cup of whatever tea she had specially brewed for him, and he followed me back into the hallway, carrying the cup carefully. I didnt turn around, because I knew Sip and Lough were staring after us in shocked silence.
I scrubbed my hands on my jeans, suddenly nervous.
Darrow was shaking so badly he couldnt keep his teacup still.
So, homecoming is soon, he said, not looking at me. He scuffed his foot on the ground.
I hadnt even thought about it, I said, a bit heedlessly. From the time I was a Starter, homecoming had never gone well for me. This year, without Keller, I had been actively avoiding any mention of it.
Darrow smiled shyly at me again, but he looked a little disappointed. To hide it, he took a great gulp of tea.
I have to go, he said, quickly handing me the tea. Tell Sip that was good, he said as he hurried out.
I stared after him, holding the cup. Sip peered around the door from the living room.
Charlotte, Sip asked, her voice filled with amus.e.m.e.nt, did he like my tea?
Yeah, I said, frowning at her, but he left in a hurry.
Did you reject him? she asked, grinning at me.
Why would I reject him? I asked. He didnt ask me a question.
Sip frowned at me. None at all?
I followed her back into the living room.
He likes you, said Lough, taking a sip of his own tea. He had gotten into tea drinking, much to Sips delight.
No he doesnt, I said. He just asked about homecoming, and I told him I wasnt thinking about. . . .
Oh, light bulb, Lough teased. He totally likes you.
I stared at them in shock. Sit, Sip advised, pointing to the couch I had claimed as my own.
I sat heavily and stared at them. Likes me likes me?
Um, yeah, said Sip. It happens.
I guess, I said. Im just not ready. I miss Keller too much.
I dont know, said Lough. I like Keller, but you havent heard from him in months. Maybe its time to move on.
I curled up in a ball on the couch. I dont want to talk about it anymore.
The next day we got our Tactical teams. I hadnt thought I cared whose team I was on until Zervos placed me on a team with Daisy and Camilla.
He definitely wants me dead, I said to my friends.
You think you have it bad? Lough asked. Im with Faci.
No one had said what this Tactical would be, or if it would be similar to the Ultimate Tactical wed had previously. Once our teams were formed Zervos disbanded us, saying that Oliva would tell us more the next day. I was fine with that, because I had a meeting with Dacer at the coffee shop, and Sip was coming with me.
It did not comfort me that as we walked away, Faci, Daisy, and Camilla came together and started to whisper, their eyes never leaving me and my friends.
Chapter Twenty-Seven.
I have your first a.s.signment, said Dacer pleasantly.
I was relieved; I was so frustrated at Public I was ready to scream. All summer Id been desperate to return to campus, because nothing was happening in Maine except that I felt closer to Ricky, but now all I wanted to do was leave again.
Adventure, Sip cried gleefully.
Dacer gave her a stern look. This is important, and serious, he said. Theres a camp of paranormals about an hours run from here - he was giving time in terms of werewolf speed - and Charlotte, you can fly. They have a Tempest, which is very rare. The demons are trying to kill her, and shes just a little girl. I want you to go there this weekend and help strengthen the Power of Five.
Will the other paranormal types be there to help? Sip asked.
Dacer shook his head. They have found the other types to do it separately, since it is infinitely more dangerous for you to be traveling if several other paranormals have to know about it. This way, no one knows but me.
So, we arent even going to see this Tempest? I asked.
Not if everything goes according to plan, he said. Of course, since nothing goes according to plan, I did tell her mother that you were coming. She is planning to leave the door unlocked.
Alright, I said nervously.
Good, said Sip, finally were going to be doing something useful.
By the way, I said, trying to sound as casual as possible, have you heard from Risper?
Dacer pursed his lips. I could tell he didnt like that I was asking the question.
I havent, he said, carefully. Why?
Just wondering, Sip and I chorused at the same time.