The Key of Light lay where I had dropped it, on top of the open chest.
My cracked lips broke into a small smile; the White Ring was gone. Carefully, I picked up the Key and slipped the chain around my neck, hiding it under my shirt.
No sooner had I done that than there came a thud from above, then another. Someone was trying to break through the fireplace.
I took a deep breath. I was taking the Key of Light back to Astra. I didnt care what Oliva wanted with it, and I certainly didnt care about my team winning Tactical, not with Daisy and Camilla as part of it.
Trying to ignore the fact that I wanted to collapse, I looked around for somewhere to hide, but I knew it was useless. Fading into a corner wouldnt work. I had to confront whoever had come after me.
While I was trying to figure out what to do, another section of the ceiling fell in. With a cry I threw myself into the boxes along the wall, again landing with a thud as dirt and chunks of ceiling rained down on me. If I hadnt had my magic, I surely wouldve been crushed. As it was, I was able to create a coc.o.o.n over my head to protect myself from the worst of the debris.
Hows it going down there? Facis nasty voice called out.
I coughed and didnt respond.
Charlotte, dear, youd be much better off just coming up. Its over now. Youre alone. There isnt anything you can do. That was Camilla.
My heart sank. I had wanted to get the Key of Light back to Astra to open my mothers chest, but that looked out of the question now.
Get her up, Faci ordered.
I scrambled to my feet. My hands were cut from where Id landed on them, and a plume of dust came up around me.
Dobrov jumped down into the pit and landed near me, cushioning himself somehow with his own magic. He was silent as he came toward me.
Dont struggle, he said, getting closer. I braced myself. I was no match against all of them.
He came up right in front of me, so close it was all I could do not to step backward. But I would not show fear; I would not give them the satisfaction. With a speed that surprised me, though, Dobrov leaned forward and whispered, Give it to me. Quickly. Ill get it back to you as soon as I can.
I stared at him, trying to read his expression. Knowing I didnt have a choice and understanding that he could very well be lying, I quickly removed the necklace that had been mine for so little time. I placed it in Dobrovs hand and it disappeared into his pocket. He nodded and stepped back, then grabbed me bodily. Faci had dropped a ladder, and Dobrov pointed for me to climb it first.
Once we were both in the living room of Malles old house, I looked around at Faci, Camilla, and Daisy. Rain still lashed the windows.
Isnt my brother wonderful? Daisy asked dreamily. Always does what hes told. She patted Dobrovs cheek, while he remained impa.s.sive. I held my breath, waiting to see if hed give them the Key of Light, but he said nothing.
Well, where is it? Faci demanded, holding out his hand. Give it over.
I dont have it, I said.
Facis eyes burned and his lips, already almost non-existent, got thinner.
Of course you have it, he hissed. Give it to me. Now.
He reached for me and I stepped back, right into Daisys arms. I flinched at the contact with her clammy hands.
I glanced around. Outside it was pouring, so thick and dark and fast it looked black outside.
Theres no help for you, said Faci, taking a menacing step forward. You may not have the Key, but theres still no help for you.
Camilla raised her hand to strike me, but just at that moment, with no warning whatsoever, the door burst open and Sip came crashing in.
I gasped as Sip bounded forward, placing herself between me and my attacker.
The werewolf growled.
Get out of here, werewolf, Daisy said, glaring. We have work to do.
I wanted to tell them to stop this, that they couldnt hurt me because the game was over, but that would mean admitting I had found the Key and revealing that Dobrov had it now.
Werewolf magic wasnt like other magics. Sip didnt cast spells unless she was forced into it by the most dire circ.u.mstances. I rarely saw her ring blaze, unlike the four black rings that surrounded us now.
But werewolves had power, and Sip was never lacking in fight.
Her purple eyes sparked, heat radiated off her back, and she lunged at Camilla, who toppled backward.
Sip, NO, Lough cried, bursting through the door, quickly followed by Rake and Trafton.
A full-on battle raged between my friends and the attacking Nocturns, here in the most random place of all, Malles old office.
Faci squared off with Lough and Trafton while Camilla challenged Sip. Dobrov tugged me out of the line of fire. No matter how hard I tried to pull my arm out of his grip, he was stronger than I was.
Come on, he said, no use getting killed.
Faci had Trafton by the neck, and it was looking grim for the dream giver when a familiar voice, in very unfamiliar circ.u.mstances, interrupted our battle.
What is this meaning of this? The voice was cold, colder than I had ever heard it before.
Keller Erikson stepped through the doorway, his black hair wet and his beautiful blue eyes scanning us, his voice as cold as a blast from an ice mage.
We were led back to Oliva, who was surrounded by professors. Keller walked in front of us and stopped to stand with Goffer. I felt like I was being arrested. Faci, Daisy, Camilla, and Dobrov were all allowed to go free. They werent the ones who had started it, claimed the Academy officers who had broken up the fight. Goffer stood silently, his eyes hard. I could see Cale, studiously ignoring me. There were other senior paranormals there, many more than there had been when the session of Tactical had started.
My friends kept giving me furtive glances, looking to see how I was taking the news that Keller had returned to Paranormal Public without telling me, that he had come to break up our fight, and worst of all, that instead of letting us go he was turning us over to Oliva.
My breath was coming in ragged gasps and I felt sick and confused, thats how I was taking it. I might be glad he had broken up the fight, since Faci was strong and he lacked the grip on reality the rest of us possessed, making him all the more dangerous. But I wanted Kellers eyes to light up when he saw me, as they used to. And as I had dreamed theyd do again.
But it had been the exact opposite.
Whats happening? Lough demanded.
Shut up, one of the officers ordered.
Oliva stepped forward.
Was the Key found? We do know that the White Ring was breached.
Facis eyes sparked with rage.
No, said Keller evenly. It wasnt.
The rain had subsided, but it still drizzled, making me shiver. Or maybe it wasnt the rain making me shiver.
Oliva gave me a hard look. I kept my head down, but I could see Dacer standing off to the side, studiously indifferent. His mother, on the other hand, was having none of it.
This is ridiculous, she said sharply. These are children and they were doing something that they were a.s.signed to do, ordered even, and now theyre being treated like criminals for it!
Professor Dacer, Caid barked, why dont you escort your mother back to your home?
I was stunned. Caid had just dismissed Dacer and the Unforgiver. We were heading down a dark, dark road.
Get them out of here, Oliva said, pointing to us. Now.
But it was already too late. There was a hum of energy in the gathered crowd. I just now realized that I should have been wondering why the crowd was gathered in the first place, and I took a sharp breath. Keller was here. He was working for Malle. I glanced at my ex-boyfriends shoulders, where he stood with his back turned to me as he squarely faced the President of Public.
From behind Oliva a figure emerged.
Cynthia Malle had returned to Paranormal Public.
I didnt lunge. I didnt move, I just let a numbness take over my body. I should have wrapped my hands around her throat and demanded to know where Lisabelle was, but we were hopelessly outnumbered. I looked to Dacer. He gave the smallest shake of his head.
Then I was pushed away, and my friends and I were led back toward the dorms.
Sip and Lough were taken to Airlee despite their protests. I was taken alone to Astra. I watched Keller the whole time, hoping for any sign that he missed me, that he wanted to talk to me, that his heart ached half as much as mine did, but there was nothing. Nothing at all.
Chapter Thirty-Six.
It took us almost a week to recover from Tactical, and we spent most of that week in Astra. I had one more visit to make for Dacer now, and I couldnt wait, presuming he was even going to let me go. I hoped that with Malle showing up Dacer had changed his mind and realized that danger was everywhere, even within the walls of Public. The night Tactical ended I still nursed a tiny hope that Keller would come talk to me, but it quickly faded.
I cant believe Keller didnt even talk to us, Sip said for the millionth time, as the three of us sat in the Astra sitting room. The weather was still terrible. It was raining harder than ever, with what seemed like egg-sized drops pounding against the window panes. Lough sat huddled under a blanket, his eyes filled with concern. Theyd left Airlee the minute theyd been allowed, while I had just stayed in Astra, not wanting to miss Keller if he came.
Over the past three years Sip had become friends with Keller too. His ignoring us in favor of Malle had hurt her, but she masked her pain with anger.
I stared hard at the fire, wondering how much more I could take. Even the end of the semester wasnt going to offer any relief. I missed Keller and I missed Lisabelle, and it hurt me deep inside that they were so close and yet unreachable.
We should have our own hybrids, she said, that would show all the darkness mages.
Someone doesnt want to talk to you, so you invent evil monsters to have them killed? Lough said. Sounds about like a girl.
Sip took a sip of tea. Shed been furiously boiling water, letting the tea steep, adding honey, and pouring it for the last twenty minutes. Now she sat on her sofa, cradling the steaming mug and glaring ferociously.
Weve now lost both of them, said Sip sadly. I never thought Keller would go over to darkness.
I spun around.
We havent lost either of them, I said. Keller was only doing that because he had to. h.e.l.l come!
Sip looked troubled, and Lough didnt say anything. h.e.l.l come, I insisted.
Charlotte, said Lough quietly, they already left. Malles delegation. It was only a handful of Nocturns and they didnt stay very long. They talked with Goffer, Oliva, and Caid, and then they left. Once they knew Oliva didnt have the key, they didnt wait around.
I swallowed hard. I felt like there was a ma.s.sive hand pressing down on my chest and keeping me from breathing.
What about Dobrov? I asked. Have you seen him?
Sips face got even darker. Not since the end of Tactical.
I had told my friends that Id given Dobrov the Key. At first Lough been appalled, but he quickly realized that I had had no choice.
Now, though, Dobrov was nowhere to be found.
Charlotte? Sip asked. Keller will come back. He didnt go over to darkness. Its just that he didnt have a choice either. She looked at me pleadingly, so I nodded, feeling numb.
Lough looked at me with worry in his eyes. Are you okay? he asked.
I looked at my two friends, the only two friends I had left in the world, or so it felt.
I shook my head. No, I said. No, Im not.
By the end of the week it was clear that Dobrov wasnt going to come either. I had risked my life for the Key of Light for nothing.
Chapter Thirty-Seven.
The end of the semester was near. I would have thought that the ache of missing Lisabelle and Keller would have eased with time, but it hadnt. Instead it was getting worse, and Lisabelles absence was feeling less and less like she was taking an extended vacation and more like it was permanent. Seeing Keller had done nothing to help my sleeping, or my mood.
We had one more strengthening task to carry out for Dacer, and he had decided to let us risk it. Over the course of our previous excursions, Sip and I had become more efficient at putting the Power of Five into effect and then returning to Public, and it seemed to make sense for us to try this last one.
I was having a hard time concentrating on anything, including schoolwork, so I was relieved when it was time to leave campus. Public had become stifling. Everywhere I went the students either ignored me entirely or gave me dirty looks. I didnt much care, but it made for very unpleasant cla.s.ses.
We didnt think it was a good idea for Sip, Lough, and I to all just disappear for the weekend, but when Lough grumbled, we got Rake to look after Astra and the three of us set off together for our last mission of the semester.
The house we were a.s.signed to this time was unlike the others. Dacer had mostly sent us to cl.u.s.ters and families where there were lots of children with unusual talents, like the Tempest, or rare and special animals at risk of going extinct at the hands of the demons.
But this house was on a hill far out in the middle of nowhere, and it was too small to contain any children. Dacer said that an old woman lived there alone, and that she had once been a professor at Public. Maybe that warranted protection, but I wasnt completely convinced, and neither was Sip.