I wondered if Lisabelle could see black-clad figures face. Did she know who the darkness premier was?
The smoke never turned red, and I was pretty sure I saw smugness on Lisabelles face as she looked at the premier.
Ms. Quest is nearing Public, said the premier, not acknowledging the smoke at all. Will you wear the black ring of the Nocturns and obey our rules therein?
Lisabelle stepped forward and extended her right hand. Her veins were so blue that they shone through her pale skin like lines drawn on paper. Her hand was steady.
The premier reached over and picked something out of what looked like thin air. If I squinted I thought I might see a table there, but it was too dark to tell for sure. It was only now that I realized that the premier wore gloves, hiding every part of his hands. Or hers.
Do you agree to follow the laws of the Nocturns? No matter what old friends you will have to destroy? The premiers voice rose with something that sounded a lot like satisfaction.
I will follow the laws of the Nocturns, said Lisabelle, her voice emotionless.
I wanted to yell out and tell her one last time not to put that ring on her finger, but I knew she couldnt hear me, and I knew it was the only way to get Sip back. Going to Golden Falls had been the biggest mistake we could ever have made, and now we were living with the consequences.
Lisabelle held her hand steady as the premier slipped the ring on her finger. It was black on black, with one big jewel in the middle and black gold as the band. In that moment I hated that ring more than anything else in the world.
Once the ring was on Lisabelles finger it glowed black, and it continued to glow as Lisabelle looked at it. In fact, the intensity of the light grew, filling the air around the two dark figures.
And so it is done. May you always follow the right path, no longer working against the common good, said the premier.
Lisabelle nodded once, her eyes burning brighter than the ring.
I tore myself out of bed and landed with a thud on the floor.
Ouch, I muttered, rubbing the elbow I had landed on.
Sip was about to be dropped off at Public by demons. That couldnt possibly go well.
I stumbled to my door and flung it open with a thud. Dashing into the hallway I quickly made the decision to wake my friends and all the sleepers in the foyer.
As I ran down the stairs taking them two at a time, Lough came out of the kitchen. He saw me running and frowned. Whered everyone go? he asked. He was wearing sky blue comfy pants and a white t-shirt. His blond hair was tousled. At least he had tried to sleep.
Instantly, I knew what he was talking about. All the sleeping bags were empty. The students had gone to defend Public against Sip. Oh, please, no.
We have to hurry, I said wildly, grabbing his arm. Demons are dropping Sip off. I imagine theyre going to be attacked, which is exactly the point. We cant let Sip get hurt.
Lough dashed forward and we ran together out of Astra. It was still the dead of night. There was no way Id been asleep for more than an hour or two.
Over there, he pointed. Orange and yellow lights lit the sky as if a ma.s.sive bonfire was blazing.
Were too late, I cried.
Can you do anything about it from here? Lough called over his shoulder.
Not while Im running, I said. I had to concentrate if I was going to send my power into the earth. I still couldnt do it from very far away.
We have to run faster, I said.
What do you think we are? Cheetahs? Lough was panting. We dont have physical powers. You can just create lightning.
The lights were coming from the bottom of the large hill at the far end of campus. I had completely forgotten how tired I was and how much my head hurt. The demons were bringing Sip in, hoping that her own paranormals would mistake her for an attacker and kill her.
Chapter Five.
Stop, I cried, when the battle came into view, but it was too late. Three demons, or whatever the creatures were that we had seen pulling the carriages at the start of the semester, were suspended in mid-air, just floating. Below them was every single paranormal on the entire campus. I couldnt make out their faces, but I was sure Professor Dacer and President Oliva were at the front of the crowd, and it was likely that Professor Erikson was there too. I wasnt sure how I felt about seeing Kellers aunt for the first time after what her sister had done, but I couldnt worry about that right now. I had to save Sip. Otherwise Lisabelles sacrifice would be in vain.
Stop, I yelled again. The demons were holding something, and I had a horrible feeling it was Sip.
Why dont they know who it is? Lough yelled.
Probably spells, I yelled back, coming to a stop halfway down the hill. Yelling was useless.
From the watching paranormals in front of us came two more bursts of power directed at the demons. The dark shapes moved, but slowly. It was like they were goading us into a ma.s.sive attack, one that was sure to kill Sip.
You have to do something, Lough cried frantically, coming to a halt next to me.
May the paranormal G.o.ds forgive me, I said. I closed my eyes.
My powers were still a dull remnant of what they would normally have been. The battle at Golden Falls and the stress of everything that had happened since then had taken a lot out of me. I had slept for a little while, but not restfully, with dreams of Lisabelle bombarding me. I wasnt sure when I would ever be at full strength again.
Use Astras old power, Loughs voice advised from somewhere far away. Just save her.
Astra, the old dorm that Queen Ashray had cared so deeply about, was the biggest concentration of elemental magic left, and Lough was right to remind me of it. When I called, the very floors of my dorm answered. Old magic, long forgotten, seeped out and rolled over the gra.s.s of Public, coming to my aid. From under my feet I felt the earth start to roll.
Why is the ground hot? Lough asked in wonder.
Because Im moving it, I said, my eyes still closed.
Of course you are, said Lough in squeaky voice.
Shush or Ill loose my concentration.
Somethings wrong, said Lough. I dont know what it is, but somethings not right.
I stopped the wind, I said. Well, rather, the wind stopped itself.
Lough stumbled and I heard him start to fall. Still with my eyes closed I reached out and steadied him.
Here, I said, pulling him next to me as the ground started to roll, come stand next to me.
Happily, said Lough, his voice strained.
From below I heard cries of fear as the rolling earth reached my fellow students and the professors of Public.
The sounds of battle and the explosions happening behind my eyes halted in the wake of a shaking earth. I sent air to the demons. I felt their bodies, at once lifeless and hot, high above us. I also felt another body, vital and alive. I wanted to sag in relief, but I couldnt let myself, not yet.
A pair of rough hands grabbed my shoulders, but I wouldnt be stopped; I made the earth shake right in front of me. The hands gripped tighter, the fingertips bruising, but they were finally forced to let go. I heard a series of curses, but still I refused to open my eyes.
Zervos showed up, said Lough, looking right as rain. Surprise surprise.
But not even Zervos, who had a lot to answer for, would make me lose my concentration at this point.
I think shes okay, Lough said in my ear after a long time.
The earth was heaving as if there was a rolling pin under the gra.s.s, moving back and forth, making the ground uneven, but I finally ordered it to quiet. This was Publics ground, and it wouldnt do to have Martha angry at me.
To my surprise, the earth resisted. It wanted to keep moving and fighting. Slowly, I calmed my magic. I couldnt go around attacking my own all the time; I had only done it this time to save Sip. The cries of my fellow students had stopped a long time ago. There was just a pulsing, cold silence.
Chapter Six.
Now, slowly, I opened my eyes. The night was lit up by a hundred tiny blurry fires. I blinked several times, clearing my vision from the magic Id been guiding.
I saw Vanni and Trafton holding their rings out, little fires of silver or white or blue burning. The vampires did the same, only their fires were red. And so it went, on down the line of paranormals. Each was standing there staring at me, mouth agape.
I looked at Lough, but he had already broken into a run.
Sip, he cried. She came down over there, he said, pointing to the tree line. SIP!!!
Looking up at the sky, all I saw was stars. Nowhere did I see any sign of the demons.
I started to run after Lough. I ran right past Zervos, who was talking furiously to Oliva and Dacer. The vampire professor gave me a dark look as I rushed by.
I knew Dacer would be angry, furious even. Hed been in the middle of doing magic and I had interrupted him, but I couldnt help it. I had had to save Sip, and there had been no time to explain.
Well, Charlotte, youre getting much more bada.s.s, said Sip. There was no humor in her voice. When I met her eyes I saw how dull the purple was, its usual sparkle dimmed. She stood in front of us, looking exactly as she had when the Happiness Enforcement Officers had taken her away, only more haggard.
Lough stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Sips thin shoulders. I heard the werewolf almost chuckle.
Nice to see you two, she said, letting herself get bear hugged. Over Sips shoulder I saw the other Public students, all staring in our direction. President Oliva, Dacer, and the other professors were nowhere to be seen.
Id have to worry about that later.
The students started dispersing, not looking at us, except for Trafton, who gave me a thumbs up. I smiled tiredly at him.
Sip looked around and sighed. Its nice to be home, she said. My mom and dad will be happy.
Hyder and Helen Quest had just one daughter, and Sip was their pride and joy.
Slowly, a frown replaced Sips smile. Wheres Lisabelle? she asked.
Loughs mouth dropped open, but nothing came out.
She didnt get hurt, did she?
Dawn was rising behind Sip, but the pale sky offered no relief to the darkness that now covered Public. As the wind returned to normal and the ground gave its last heave, I looked at my friend.
She raised her eyebrows as she continued to look around.
Shed better not be in our room decorating, said Sip, showing her first signs of life. I wasnt gone for that long, and I dont approve.
Loughs lip started to tremble. I didnt have the words to tell her.
I was too slow. I should have been the one, but Dobrov beat me to it. He strode up the hill, his legs longer than I remembered.
Sip, he said, without warmth. Glad youre back.
Sip just looked at him, her eyebrows raised.
Why are we wasting time? she asked me. Lets get to Airlee, before she screws everything up.
We arent going to Airlee, Lough said quietly.
Sips face fell a little. Now, suddenly, in the warm morning, a morning that should have been more beautiful than heart-wrenching, Sip started to realize that something was truly wrong.
What happened? she asked softly. Please, what happened? Tell me shes okay! Sip started to look around frantically. Where is she? What happened? she cried. She didnt die fighting the Golden Falls Happiness Officers, did she? Theres no way theyd take her down, she breathed. No way.
She didnt die fighting them, I croaked. I couldnt stand watching my friend in pain.
You just have to tell me, said Sip, meeting my eyes. Just tell me.
She traded herself for you, said Dobrov. Thats why youre free and she isnt here.
He didnt stop there.
They took you, but she fought her way out. By the time she was in the clear, you were gone. I know that after they all fought their way out of Golden Falls, with a little help from a few dragons and faeries - obviously - she brought Charlotte back to Public. After that, Charlotte couldnt stop her. You shouldnt blame Charlotte, and Lisabelle had no choice. Theyve always wanted the power Lisabelle has within her. What shes doing is very brave.
Sip changed into a werewolf before I could blink. She let out a single howl before tearing off into the night.
SIP! I cried, racing after her, but it was useless. I had expected some kind of response like that, but I was still powerless to stop it. None of us could keep up with a werewolf unless we used magic, and there was no way I was going to use magic on my best friend.
I vaguely heard Dobrov yell that he was sorry, but I ignored him.