Sip also hadnt talked about what had happened to her. I figured shed tell us when she was ready. When Trafton came back and he and Lough started to argue about some arcane magical dream giver spell, Sip stepped closer to me.
I also have to write a missive for the Sign of Six, she said thoughtfully. Now I have a lot to say.
Then she pulled me aside, into Lisabelles half of the room. I want to put a message in the missive, said Sip conspiratorially. For Lisabelle.
How are you going to do that? I demanded. Hows she even going to read it?
Code, said Sip excitedly. Ive been reading up on them. Brilliant things. Im very excited about it. All I have to do is put a basic word cypher in the text.
Sh.e.l.l notice? I asked. Without you two having talked about it?
Sip grimaced a little. That Im not so sure about, but Im hoping she will. Ill have to make the first one obvious.
Okay, I said, thinking fast. You need something that only she would know is you.
Yeah, said Sip, so tea is out. Everyone knows I love tea.
I grinned. Right, everyone does, because you offer it to everyone all the time.
Sip shrugged. I like to be friendly. She paused and thought for a minute, then her face lit up and she said, Oh, I have the perfect thing.
What? I asked. We didnt have personal codes or anything, and if she used something obvious, like her name, it would be spotted in no time. What is it going to be? I asked, impatient to know what had gotten her so excited.
Neon, said Sip, beaming happily. Im going to put the code neon in there. Next time sh.e.l.l know to look for it. Who would be crazy enough to put something like that in there if not me?
Good point, I said dryly. Im sure Lisabelle would agree.
We were still in the middle of our conversation when there was a knock at the door.
I told Rake to come over at some point, Sip explained. Probably him. She hopped up to answer the door, and indeed, there stood the big vampire, his large frame blocking out most of the light from the quiet hallway.
Come in, said Sip, nodding a greeting. What took you so long?
The burly vampire smiled and ducked his head under the doorway. He waved a greeting to Lough and me, then sat in Sips desk chair.
Whatd I miss? he asked, looking around.
Im worried that Mound will have a field day once he finds out where Lisabelle is and why shes there. Because he will find out, I explained, not wasting any time.
Do you think h.e.l.l know? Rake asked curiously.
I think the story is getting around campus, I said. Its only a matter of time before he hears about it and starts putting it into print.
Im surprised the Tabble is still active, said Rake, frowning. Im surprised the Nocturns havent taken it down yet. Im sure theyd love to.
Sip nodded. Thats another thing we cant let happen. We have to communicate with each other.
Im not sure they want to take it down, said Lough. Im not just arguing with you for the sake of it. Im arguing with you because youre wrong.
The demons might be just as interested in keeping the Tabble operating properly, said Sip thoughtfully. The Tabble at this point has devolved into nothing much but fearfulness, and with Mound spouting off all kinds of stuff about supporting Malle and giving her a job, they probably want it to go out to paranormals every day.
Thats a scary thought, said Lough. It almost means we should close the Tabble just to stop the spread of propaganda.
We cant give in, said Sip vehemently, hitting her fist against her hand for emphasis. Other paranormals need to know whats happening, and they need to stay strong. They have to support President Caid and the Sign of Six.
The conversation started to die down, but there was one more thing I was fretting about.
Im afraid Lisabelles sacrifice is my fault, I said quietly. I worry that if I dont push my other friends away I wont have any friends left.
You cant think like that, Sip cautioned. It hurts too much. Lisabelle is the most independent of all of us. If she wanted to go, shed go.
Shed never have had the idea of going if it hadnt been for me, I said bleakly. You know its true.
I know no such thing, said Sip hotly. Stop being foolish. Shes said it herself. Without us she would have gone over to darkness a long time ago.
Maybe, I said. It was true. I couldnt see Lisabelle as a housewife.
Alright, said Sip, squaring her shoulders and straightening her spine. She suddenly looked more confident and powerful, older. Were all going to get some sleep - in our own dorms. We arent all going to sleep in the same place because weve been cowed into fear by the demons. Charlotte can take care of herself. She controls lightning, for paranormals sake. Tomorrow, when weve all had a little rest, Im going to try again to get into the library. Im sure President Oliva will want to speak with us, and hopefully Professor Dacer will have some time as well. Its going to be a busy day.
Charlotte, said Sip, turning to me, I know itll be hard, but we should also try to discuss Malle with Professor Erikson. She might have an idea who the darkness premier really is.
Alright, I said, anything is worth a shot at this point.
It was still mid-afternoon, but we all looked desperately tired. Sip disappeared for a short time and came back with snacks: apples, grapes, crackers, cheese, and a.s.sorted cookies.
Wonderful, said Lough with delight.
We all dug into the food. After what wed been through, we should have taken the time to sleep for days. But with everything we had to do, an evening and a night would have to suffice.
One last thing, said Sip, looking around the room at each of us, her eyes dimming. Has anyone seen Bartholem?
My stomach clenched. I hadnt even thought of Bartholem. How awful was I? How could we have left Lisabelles cat behind?
Sip must have seen how stricken I looked because she said, Dont worry. Im sure hes fine. He got himself in there. I bet he got himself out just fine and is on his way back to Public even as we speak.
But who will take care of him? I asked, my lower lip trembling. You cant have a cat with you over the summer, not with all those werewolves around.
Sip pursed her lips. Id like to see the paranormal who tries to make me go home this summer. I dont know. We can figure it out.
If they make us go home, said Lough, stepping forward, and thats a really big if, I can take him. Dream givers usually get along famously with pets.
What happened with you two, then? Rake asked dryly.
Lough glared at Rake as if he was a bug hed like to stamp under his foot.
I dont know, he said. Then he grinned at Sip. Maybe I just cant get along with any paranormal that has purple eyes, or with cats.
Sip grinned, then said primly, Im sure thats not it. Fine, Lough can take him if it comes to that. Im sure Bartholem will be thrilled to have a good home.
We filed out. Rake offered to walk me to Astra and I took him up on it. I had no idea what Dobrov was playing at, but I didnt want to see him again. Ever.
Chapter Nine.
I had never been so grateful for sleep, or so fearful. Whenever I thought of Lisabelle I thought of that horrible saying: darkness calls to darkness. Lisabelle had been called home, which was exactly what we had fought against so desperately. Now it had happened, and Id been powerless to stop it.
I wanted to dream of Lisabelle, as strange as that seemed; the waking dreams were now my last connection to my friend. But this time I didnt. I rested, if fitfully.
When I woke up in the morning I got dressed in a hurry, because I wanted to talk to Dacer before anything else. I wanted to know when we were going after Lisabelle. If there was a force heading to Vampire Locke to win it back and take away the power center the Nocturns were trying to create, I wanted to be with that, too. There were difficult times and difficult decisions ahead.
The mornings were still a little chilly, so I pulled on jeans and a blue hoodie, which on top of fleeces was what my wardrobe mostly consisted of.
I was hurrying out of Astra, intent on reaching Dacers before breakfast, when I saw the vampire walking toward me. Once again he was dressed more casually than he had once been. An elaborate scarf was wrapped around his neck several times, a sort of pea green that stood out against the forest green of his shirt. His pants were white. When I got closer to him I saw that his nails were painted pink, to match his pink eye shadow.
h.e.l.lo, Professor, I said, coming to a stop on the path.
Charlotte, he said. Dacers eyes were shadowed, and my insides instantly started to churn.
What is it? I asked. Is your mother alright?
Dacer smiled a little. Yes, shes in fine fighting form. Said you were wonderful. Its not that. He sighed. I told Oliva I wanted to speak with you first. . . .
I c.o.c.ked my head. Youre scaring me, I said, frowning.
Dacer shook his head. Charlotte, what you did last night. . . . He trailed off again, as if he couldnt find the right words.
What I did last night was for Sip, I said hastily.
Dacer nodded slowly. I do believe that you thought you were doing the right thing.
I was doing the right thing, I said, crossing my arms over my chest.
Lets walk, he said, motioning for me to follow him. Maybe have some coffee.
I dont like the dining room coffee, I said.
Dacer smiled. No, it isnt ideal. However, the professors have access to a coffee cart that is rather delicious.
Sips a big tea fan, I said thoughtfully.
Dacer nodded. Yes, she does tea as well.
Who is it? I asked.
Oh, a little werewolf, said Dacer with a toss of his shoulder. Sip probably knows her. She was very offended when she heard that Martha was coming to Astra and baking. She thought you should eat her baked goods.
Dacer led me toward the Long Building.
She insisted on having her own cafe after she heard that Martha had her own kitchen, said Dacer with a little chuckle. So much of the Long Building was unused that she was given s.p.a.ce there, though she was advocating for s.p.a.ce in the library. At least she was given that part of the building thats closer to campus, so the professors can have easy access.
No students allowed? I asked suspiciously.
Dacer smiled. Well, seniors are allowed, of which you are one now.
I looked at Dacer with surprise. Id barely thought about that, but he was right. My junior year was over. It was summer, and I was now, as far as Paranormal Public was concerned, a senior.
We arent going home, though, are we? I said, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice. Theres no way we can all just leave for the summer. Vampire Locke fell. Its not safe anywhere else.
Dacer shrugged. The demons are congregating at Locke. Since it fell there have been only a few attacks across the country. Besides, the Paranormal Police Academy is about to turn out its first cla.s.s of fighting-ready recruits.
I mulled that over, then changed the subject. What is it you wanted to talk to me about?
Lets get our coffee first, he said, then we can discuss it.
Am I also going to see President Oliva?
Yes, he said, I do believe you and Ms. Quest would profit from a discussion with him.
I didnt know what that meant either, so I didnt ask.
Is Caid here? I tried to keep my tone neutral.
Dacer grinned at me. Always so curious. Thats what makes you a joy as a student.
I hadnt been over to the Long Building in a long time, and seeing it made me realize how much I had missed it, at least the part of it that housed the Museum of Masks.
We havent had time to move, said Dacer, or to finish construction on the new building, or really, to do much of anything that doesnt involve fighting Nocturns.
I know what you mean, I sighed. I sniffed the morning air. Mixed in with the bursts of new life that come with summer was the smell of fresh coffee.
The werewolf that runs this place is named Sabel, said Dacer. He grabbed one of the doors for me and held it open, and as soon as he did I smelled the delicious aroma of baking. It reminded me of the baking Martha did in the Astra kitchen, but this was more intense.
Delicious, I said reverently as I moved past Dacer into the coffee shop.
Sabel had obviously put a lot of work into making the place light, airy, and comfortable. The walls were a creamy color and the floor tiles were light blue and pink. All the tables and chairs were white, while armchairs of a navy blue were placed here and there in pairs.
Directly in front of us was a long white counter and bakery case, and on one end of the counter were more coffee pots than I could count. They were all different colors, from gray to intense yellow and everything in between. There were pots the exact same color as the blue floor tiles, and others that matched Dacers pink eye shadow.
I can see why only seniors are allowed in here, I said. Its nice.
She wanted to create a place where professors and students could interact in a less formal setting, Dacer explained. She believes strongly in communication.