Ms. Quests presence is also requested, Zervos added.
Sabel had again appeared out of the back in case Zervos wanted to order something, but he ignored her. Turning on his heel, he gave us all one last nasty look, then marched back out of the cafe and into the spring sunlight, his dark robes contrasting with the green of the gra.s.s as the door swung open.
Sip, Lough, and I exchanged glances.
And so, I thought sadly, we must separate again.
I met Sip outside of Olivas. I had returned to Astra to pack, facing the inevitable, and then realized that I really wouldnt be taking much home with me. A couple of pairs of shorts and another history of Queen Ashray was about it. I went in search of Sigil, but he was nowhere to be seen. An unusually large amount of cookies was missing, though.
I thought of Lisabelle and the dream Id had about her. I still hadnt had a chance to tell Sip about it, and that bothered me. I knew why Oliva wanted to see me, but I was worrying about why he wanted to see Sip. I a.s.sumed she was being called to this meeting to recount what had happened to her when she was kidnapped from Golden Falls, explaining Lisabelles absence, but underneath I was worried that things were not - again - going to go the way I expected.
Chapter Eleven.
I wondered how my mom had dreamed when she was alive. If I had living dreams, had she had them as well? Had she been able to dream the past? Lough had said it was very difficult to dream the future. He couldnt do it and he had tried. But there might be a paranormal out there who could.
I hurried down the path from Astra and found Sip already waiting for me when I reached Olivas. We didnt even have time to greet each other before a familiar female voice from the library called out to us to enter.
Professor Erikson and Professor Oliva? Sip whispered to me. I feel like Im in trouble.
According to Dacer, lots of senior paranormals think we should be punished for what happened at Golden Falls, as well as for what I did when the demons brought you back to Public, I said, just as quietly.
Sip shook her head. Either were children and we dont know what were doing, or were adults who have fought demons and should be listened to. Oliva and Caid should make up their minds.
I agreed wholeheartedly with my small friend.
Was Lough upset when you left him at Airlee?
Sip grinned in the sunlight. Not really. He was just trying to explain things to Bartholem, who showed up this morning and scared Lough half to death. Of course hes just fine. But theres a good chance they wont both make it out alive by the end of the summer.
I chuckled, thinking of Lough trying to take care of Lisabelles feisty and independent-minded feline.
Poor Lough, I said.
Poor who? came Professor Eriksons voice.
She and Oliva were sitting in the chairs in his garden. He had a book closed on his lap, as if hed been reading before she arrived, while she held a large leather-bound stack of papers. Her lips were drawn into a thin line and there were crows feet around the corners of her eyes that I didnt remember being there the last time I had seen her. The war was taking its toll on us all.
Ah, Ms. Rollins and Ms. Quest, please sit, said Oliva. He wore green robes to Professor Eriksons white. Sip and I took two garden chairs that faced the committee members.
President, I said politely, Professor.
Professor Erikson nodded. Were just waiting for Professor Zervos, said Professor Erikson, then well get started.
I felt a pit in the bottom of my stomach. Of course Zervos would be joining us; as our chaperone from Golden Falls, he was in the best position to explain what had happened. But I still dreaded it.
Here I am, said Zervos, sweeping into the back garden. There wasnt a fifth chair and he didnt have much choice but to stand.
Very well, said Oliva, looking around at the four of us, his expression troubled. President Oliva was a young pixie. In fact, during his first semester at Public he had pa.s.sed for a student named Lealand and had befriended us in that guise. But his relationship to the students was different since he had been made President of Public. He was harder, colder, and there was no trace of the friendship he had once cultivated behind the eyes that now looked back at me.
Professor Zervos, lets start with the end, when Ms. Rollins disrupted carefully laid and very powerful spells in order to save her friend, said Oliva, getting right to the point.
I sucked in my breath. I had hoped Oliva would see that I had had no choice. When fighting demons there wasnt time to talk and share information, so anyone would have had to act quickly. I clenched my fists at my sides and looked straight ahead, willing myself not to lose my temper.
Professor Zervos nodded. Ms. Rollins does that sort of thing frequently, he said coldly, though shes not as bad as Verlans. Was. He sneered the last word, as if he relished saying it.
Oliva nodded thoughtfully before turning to me. Charlotte, he said, his face unreadable, you must understand why you cannot go about disrupting the powerful workings of paranormal professors, and why it only makes sense to have you at home this summer. Dacer was going to explain. Did he?
I nodded once, and then again, feeling numb. Why were we reviewing this? Dacer had already told me. Oliva just liked to drive the point home that I was powerless.
If you were any other student, Oliva mused, starting to pace, Id have to expel you.
I saw Sips eyes go wide, but I tried to remain impa.s.sive. There was no way Id let myself be separated from Astra.
As it is, Oliva continued, Im going to let you off with a warning.
He leaned back in his chair, signaling that he was finished with me, and turned his attention to Sip, who was sitting quietly next to me with her hands folded in her lap. Her face was equally impa.s.sive, although I was sure she was hiding a growing anger.
Now, Professor Zervos, I would very much appreciate it if youd recount how Ms. Quests missives in the Tabble caused disruptions at Golden Falls that hindered you from carrying out your proper duties as chaperone.
I choked on my surprise. From Sips expression, that was also not what she had been expecting to hear.
Sip turned slowly to look at Professor Zervos, but the vampire professor didnt bother to look at her in response. Instead, as if he was reciting one of his lectures, he started to explain in great detail, in a somewhat bored-sounding lilt, how Sips writing was a detriment to the paranormals and was possibly even helping the Nocturns.
Zervos launched, in great detail, into his version of how Sips missives had created tension with the Golden Falls students and staff. She had gone on and on, he said, without any thought to what her words might be doing to our hosts. He explained that he had dreaded the release of each Tabble and that Sip had ignored repeated requests by him to cease and desist.
At first Sip sat silently, but as Zervoss claims became more unreasonable - he had never once told her to stop writing in the Tabble - Sip started to protest. Oliva silenced her with a raised hand.
Ms. Quest, said Oliva sternly, we really are in a dire situation in relation to the demons. We are never going to reach an accord if all you do is create discord. I really thought you knew better, given that you are one of the very best students at Public.
I am not. . . was all Sip managed to say before Oliva talked over her again. Sip closed her mouth with a snap.
The Sign of Six is a childs organization, said Professor Erikson, cutting in for the first time. Up to that point I had had no idea what she might be thinking of the proceedings, because I couldnt bring myself to look at her. I can scarcely believe that any of the Nocturns take her nonsense seriously. She is, after all, still a child.
Lisabelle Verlans took it seriously, said Oliva grimly. Look where she is now.
Sip gasped and sprang to her feet, no longer willing to stay silent. How dare you accuse me of turning Lisabelle into a Nocturn.
Didnt you? Oliva asked quietly. Thats the story I heard.
Sip looked like she was close to tears as she glanced over at me. I wasnt sure I could help, but it didnt seem like there was anything to lose by trying.
Enough, I said, shooting out of my chair and glaring around the room. Were leaving tomorrow morning, correct?
Oliva nodded, surprised by my reaction. I went right on and asked, You want Sip to stop writing in the Tabble, correct?
Oliva nodded again.
Well, she wont, I said. She can write in it if she wants. Its still a free paranormal society, at least for now.
Not if I expel her she cant, said Oliva coldly, rising out of his chair. Again, Charlotte Rollins, you overstep your bounds. Did it ever occur to you that your stubbornness does more harm than good?
No, I said flatly, it didnt.
Sip was standing next to me, while Zervos and Professor Erikson stayed seated, looking on with shocked expressions. I had a feeling that not many students had ever come in here and defied requests from the President of Public.
You wouldnt expel Sip, because that would give her even more time to write in Tabble AND shes Lisabelle Verlanss best friend. Lisabelle would come for her, and theres just no way you want that. The Tabble would have a field day, for one thing.
Oliva ground his teeth, his lips glued tightly together and his eyes glinting. He was clearly not accustomed to being defied. I also had a feeling that I had just pointed out several possibilities that he hadnt thought of himself, and he wasnt pleased about that, either. Meanwhile, Sip was standing next to me, trying to hide her smugness by shifting on the b.a.l.l.s of her feet. It wasnt really working.
Now, I said, turning and grabbing Sips arm on my way to the door, we will show ourselves out. Have a special summer. I tried to keep the fury and sarcasm out of my voice, but both seeped in.
I cant believe he didnt want to hear what happened to you, I cried as soon as we were out of earshot, though it hardly matter at this point. Ice ran through my veins. It felt like every day we had fewer and fewer allies. I cant believe it.
Sip shrugged. Nothing much did happen to me. They kept me blindfolded. I rode in a carriage. I sat on a dirt floor. I was really hungry, and then they brought me back.
I looked at her in surprise. No torture? They didnt even talk to you?
Sip shook her head. They wouldnt have tortured me, not if they wanted Lisabelle.
When we got back to Airlee there was more bad news. Lough, who had already packed and was now at loose ends, was waiting for us, holding a copy of the latest Tabble. Apparently Sip wasnt the only one writing for it; Michael Mound was still making his contribution as well. The headline read: The defection of Lisabelle Verlans, by Michael Mound, Pixie President and Proprietor of Paranormals First, Last, and Only.
Do we really want to read this? I asked skeptically. I feel like weve had enough bad news for one . . . lifetime.
I think we have to.
How did he find out so fast? asked Lough. Hed been in the same state of deep gloom since Lisabelle had left, and I was starting to worry about him. Sip had pulled out of her dejection to start to plan, but Lough was still deeply upset. Mounds diatribe wasnt calculated to calm him down. It read: Lisabelle Verlans has defected to darkness. As with the other darkness mages who went before her, it was only a matter of time. Her desertion of the paranormals and her so-called friends at Public comes as a surprise to none of us. We here at Paranormals First, Last, and Only saw this coming. The darkness always knew that Lisabelle would come to take her rightful place with them; they always wanted her. But they didnt have to pursue her, because they knew she would eventually come on her own. They knew she could never stay light when no light existed inside her.
It is only sad that we have all wasted so much time waiting for this to happen. I do believe that I have said, and I can cite the article numbers and dates as proof, that this was bound to happen.
Charlotte Rollins and Sip Quest think they can save her. Well, I know that my esteemed fellow commentator Ms. Quest reads my articles (of course she does; who doesnt?) and I must say, speaking directly to this sadly confused college student, that there is no such thing as saving a darkness mage.
Moving on, there is also Ms. Verlanss family, her parents and her Uncle Risper, who for reasons that are still a spectacular mystery are still allowed to exist in the paranormal world as if they are not criminals.
The darkness is coming. We cannot stop it, all we can try to do is contain it. Ms. Verlans has just made that vastly harder by taking her considerable power (yes, I do acknowledge that shes extremely powerful; I am fair when its warranted) to the Nocturns at Vampire Locke.
Sip squealed. How does he know shes at Locke? Is she at Locke? Sip grabbed my arm with such force that I winced.
Shes probably there, I said. You dont have any idea where you were yourself, when you were being held?
Sip just nodded, then got to work.
One thing we did get to do before we all left in the morning - were thrown out? - was to see Lanca again. I had forgotten how much I missed the vampire princess until I padded down into the kitchen in Astra that morning. Sip was right in front of me, so we went in together. As my friend pushed through the door, the welcome aroma of cinnamon and oatmeal met my nostrils, only to be followed immediately by a loud yelp, or yip, from Sip as she skidded to a halt. Not expecting her to stop in the middle of the doorway, I rammed into her back, causing both of us to tumble forward. In the confusion that ensued, all I could see was the white of the counters, and two very red faces.
Sip pushed herself away from me and straightened, glaring at Queen Lanca and her personal bodyguard, the best fighter in the world, Vital. Sip was rubbing the bridge of her nose so hard I was surprised it wasnt turning red, but it didnt matter, because Queen Lanca and Vital were red enough for all of us. Vital was now on the other side of the island, as if he was hoping that putting enough distance between them would change what we had just walked in on.
Well! said Sip significantly, resuming her progress into the room. She was peering hard at Vital, as if she was trying to see into his very soul. The master fighter did not look the least bit frightened, but as Sip got closer he shifted his feet just enough to betray a bit of discomfort. He was standing in front of a piping hot bowl of oatmeal, which Sip deftly pulled away from him, saying, Ill take this, if you dont mind.
Vitals eyebrows shot up and he raised his hands as if in surrender. Have whatever you like. Across from him Lanca groaned, and he glanced at his queen. What? he demanded.
You cant say something like that to Sip, said Lanca, as if it should have been obvious.
Vital shrugged. Shes your friend.
Exactly, said Lanca, looking horrified. Shes going to eviscerate you.
Vital turned his head slowly to look at the little werewolf, who was nonchalantly spooning up oatmeal. When she caught his eye again, she grinned.
Now he did look a tiny bit terrified. You know, he said, crossing his arms and leaning back against the counter, Im pretty sure your close friendship with Lisabelle served you very well.
Sip took a bite of oatmeal before responding, while I sat down next to Lanca, who was still red in the face.
Why do you say that? Sip asked, when shed finished chewing.
Vital grinned. Because Ive just realized that everyone was so busy paying attention to how scary Lisabelle was that no one paid any attention to you.
Sip grinned. That suited me just fine.
I can see that, said Vital, nodding. So, get it over with. The lecture about me dating your friend.
Sip shrugged. I have no lecture. It seems very clear to me that you are dating a powerful female, a queen in fact, and that you understand the risks. Therefore, since youre so smart, it must be equally obvious that Queen Lanca has powerful friends.
Sip waved her hand when Vital started to point to herself. No, I mean, look, shes friends with the only elemental, who despite her modesty, controls lightning. I dont care how fast a vampire you are, Id love to see you outrun that, if you hurt her. Then theres Lough. Hes a dream giver, which, granted, sounds wimpy, but in reality, it isnt. You might be big and strong, but that doesnt do you any good if you have so many nightmares you cant sleep. Furthermore, said Sip pausing for breath, Queen Lanca is friends with Lisabelle, and I dont know if youve heard, but shes now helping run darkness.
Vital turned to Lanca.
I love you, he said. Just remember that the next time I do something wrong.
Lanca smiled at him, then turned her attention to Sip.
Thanks, she said, beaming.
Sip dusted her hands off and grinned back. Happy to help. She glanced at me. At least theres a little news before the last goodbye.
Chapter Twelve.